[ f o o d i e ] A Fruity Paradise

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.
~Erma Bombeck

[ r e f l e c t i o n ] FANGIRL in 2011

“Never underestimate a girl’s love for her favorite band. Never think even for a minute, that she won’t defend them to her death. Because it’s not just the music that makes that band her favorite. It’s the guys, the gals. It’s the fans. People whom of which she has interacted with thanks to the band. That band might of saved her life, or just made her smile everyday. That band has never broke her heart and has yet to leave her. No wonder she finds such joy in her music.”

-Alexander William Gaskarth

There is one thought that encourages me and scares me at the same time:

I WILL ALWAYS BE A FANGIRL.

Even when I was younger I already exhibited fangirl tendencies, and it’s not just limited to my favourite boy groups (Backstreet Boys, N’ Sync, Westlife, A1, 98°, Boyzone anyone?).

I have fangirled on TV shows like HOUSE and CSI,and  Broadway Musicals like WICKED and Legally Blonde.

When I become a fan of an author I try to read as much as I can about them and also finish reading their complete works – authors like Jane Austen, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Banana Yoshimoto and Haruki Murakami.

The past year was about me embracing my fangirl side. There were a lot of times in the past when I had to restrain myself from exhibiting too much adoration for an author, a TV show or a musical group. Especially when it comes to Hallyu Wave related groups or shows or celebrities. There’s always the stigma and stereotype that comes along with being a K-pop fangirl: hyena-like screaming, peppering their conversations with random Korean words, listening to songs they don’t understand, and the list goes on…but most especially that a fangirl has NO LIFE.

I am not writing a defense on behalf of fangirls, but what I realized was that being a fangirl actually opened up a lot of opportunities for me this year. I was able to meet one of my literary idols, F. Sionil Jose because I volunteered for Singapore Writers Festival. I made a lot of friends not only from Singapore but also from different parts of the world because of the fandoms I am in. More recently, I was able to have the “press pass” experience for the Singapore promotions of a K-pop group (Block B) that I support. During their showcase at St. James, I was climbing ledges, bar stools and walls just to get that perfect shot. And by having that press pass, I was able to meet face to face with one of the Korean producers I admire – I don’t really dream big but this was a super awesome experience for me.

Being a fangirl has in some ways pushed me to be more creative – I have the chance to practice photography and even image editing, I am inspired to write more and create more stuff seeing how productive other people are. Through the inspiring stories that these people have I draw strength in pursuing my own dreams.

Because it’s not just a book, not just a song, not just a film, not just a performance  – no matter what media they use the message uplifts me, encourages me and challenges me to be a more creative person.

[ s e e n + h e a r d ] Public Garden Saturday

Hello! I know it has been awhile since I last blogged, I was really super busy lately. I hope to resume my regular blogging schedule for the next months of the year.

Last Saturday I dropped by at the Goodman Arts Centre for the first Public Garden flea of 2012. To be honest I was there mainly for the wonderful baked goodies from { S A D I E  R O S E } , here I am with Sarah! Her cookie mustache is adorable! My friend and I bought Earl Grey and Lemon muffins, slices of Banana Maple cake (I hope I got the name right), Red Velvet cake and Chocolate cake and a Caramel cupcake. We were so tempted to sample everything on the table but our waistlines were begging us for some reprieve with all the rich goodies!

I should have taken a picture of the cakes but I had no time – once it came out of the box it vanished straight to our tummies – but here’s the Earl Grey Lemon muffin. I think it was a muffin – can you tell that I have zero idea on how to tell  baked goodies apart? I only know one thing – everything from Sadie Rose is delicious!

Here I am with the lovely Sandy of the Cookie Cutter blog, she is one of the prettiest and nicest person I’ve met on the web. She also inspires me with her well-written posts over on her blog about her travels and also the quirky items she produces! So glad to chat with her for a bit! She also writes her own zine, and I am a proud of owner of both of her releases .

With the little time I had I managed to buy my staple flea market must-buys  – PAPER GOODS! The LetterBox Project will be resurrected soon so I bought some awesome cards from Ong Hwee Yen:

This gorgeous notebook was from Kariton by 1372 Designs. This is made of kraft paper I think and I was pleased with the concept they had – recycling to create paper products. I love the hand-drawn print on this notebook and in keeping with the nature theme of the cards above I chose the one with the tree on the cover.

Though I spent a short time at Public Garden, it was a wonderful Saturday for me to have met these women who inspire me to pursue a creative life and to also to get to know some of the incredibly talented makers in Singapore. Really can’t wait for the next Public Garden flea!

[ r e f l e c t i o n ] FOCUS in 2011

Once the new year approaches, I have the habit of reflecting on what has happened during the year. It is something I started practicing the first year that I was in Singapore. Looking back, the previous year can be summed up in three words: FOCUS, FAITH & FANGIRL. This post will be all about FOCUS.

“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny.”

- Anthony Robbins

 

LAST YEAR

2011 was the year that my focus became a little less hazy. I realize what I love doing and what I don’t, what I say yes to and it has made a big difference in my life.

Having no focus during the first half of the year made me feel irritable and frustrated. I felt like I was spinning out of control but couldn’t pinpoint what it was that made me angry. It was as if I was in the eye of the storm, everything around me was being destroyed but I was still apathetic. I now understand that it was the fear in me that stopped me from focusing. The fear of focusing on the wrong thing – thoughts like failure plagued me.

Writing, Volunteering and Photography were my main points of interest this year while Blogging and Crafting took a back seat. I am so thankful for the opportunities that were opened to me and I feel that because of these open doors I was able to meet people who have inspired me to embrace myself and do what I love.

The clarity that I received while working through different projects with different people gave me a clearer purpose. Making tough decisions were easier for me because I have a firmer grasp on what I want.

THIS YEAR

I still would want to incorporate Blogging and Crafting in my life. I just love to create and be with people. I think I need to achieve the perfect balance between Self, Creativity and Community.

I value my solitude and my time to create. But my social commitments usually eat away most of the time I should be spending creating and just nurturing myself. I hope to be more precise with my focus and really learn how to say “NO”. Stop having the Superwoman Syndrome, like running out all the time trying to fix things.

I will strive for balance in all my interests and commitments. That is my hope for this year.

[ u p d a t e ] HAPPY 2012 EVERYONE!

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“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”

- neil gaiman

[ r e v e r b ] Dreams & Goals

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. – Harriet Tubman

What are your dreams for next year?

To follow my heart. Create. Write. Laugh. Live.

I hope to make more friends, and grow my relationships. I hope to write more and create more. I hope to be a better person than I was in 2011.

WHO WILL YOU ATTRACT IN YOUR LIFE?

I hope to attract Dreamers and Doers. People who can guide me along the way. People who inspire me to be the best person that I can be. People who will support my dreams just as much as I supported other people’s dreams.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN 2012?

I want to spread my wings more. Do something that scares me. Challenge myself. Grow. Maybe get hurt. Trust people more. To be always in awe…to be in wonder.

WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO BE IN JANUARY 01, 2013?

I hope to be in a place where I am happy with myself, surrounded by friends and family. I want to be in the place where I belong. To be in a place of fulfillment and yet a place where I can still challenge myself.

This is it! Thank you for reading!

[ r e v e r b ] Those Sweeping Flashbacks

WHAT WERE YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS?

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A mix of old and new. I listened to a lot of 90s English songs, and a bit of clubbing songs. My interest in Jpop/Jrock has waned and with my attachment to an epic historical mainland drama (what a mouthful!), there is an equal number of Mandarin and Japanese songs. My favourite Korean groups and singers have been busy this year so there’s still quite a number of Korean songs on my list.

ENGLISH/FRENCH:

I Believe in You ( Il Divo feat Celine Dion), I Got You (Leona Lewis), The Call & Better (Regina Spektor), Brave (Idina Menzel), Crawling (Superchick), Cannonball (Vienna Teng), A Drop in the Ocean (Ron Pope), Sympathique (Pink Martini), Concrete Angel (Martina McBride), Merry Happy (Kate Nash), Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen (Baz Luhrmann),If I Fell In Love  & Hey Jude (Beatles),Hello Alone (Anberlin), Singing Over Me (Kari Jobe), Only Exception (Paramore), Grenade & Count on Me (Bruno Mars), What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction).

The One Direction song is the most memorable because it is attached to a lot of happy memories for me for 2011:

KOREAN/MANDARIN/JAPANESE:

International Love Song (The Black Skirts), Airbag (Tablo), Strong (Park Kyung feat PO), Still Fly (ZICO), Tell Them (Block B), Tonight & Love Song & Stupid Liar (Big Bang), I Am the Best & Lonely (2NE1), Can You Hear My Heart (Infinite), A Goose’s Dream (Hyorin), 君がいるから (AYAKA),Cherish (NEWS), Hello (YUI), 一念執著 (胡歌 & 阿兰·达瓦卓玛), 三寸天堂 ( 严艺丹), 我們都傻 (楊丞琳). 

And since my love for 步步惊心 trumps all other Asian dramas I watched  this year, I can’t believe I’m actually sharing a video of 一念執著 (A Persistent Thought).

WHO DID YOU MISS?

University of the Philippines-Manila, BS Occupational Therapy Block 20 (2006)

More than ever I miss my friends from university – somehow they managed to get me and accept me. And it’s not just the nostalgia talking. I missed them so bad the first year that I came to Singapore, after that it waned and this year I found myself missing them even more. No culture gap or generation gap or even wavelength gap, we were all sorts of crazy but managed to meld together into a cohesive group. They are a super intelligent yet super fun bunch of people.

I miss aimlessly walking along Roxas Boulevard talking the night away. The food trips, the out of town trips -  I miss mainly the conversations I’ve had with them. I miss them so much my heart aches. I want to visit them soon!

WHEN DID YOU TAKE THE EASY WAY?

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I don’t believe that there is an easy way. Or maybe I just grew up with not taking shortcuts or escaping the inevitable. Hard work pays off that’s what my parents have always taught me, and the rewards are more fulfilling.

For me, taking the easy way was when I gave in to my frustrations and snapped at people. Even when I push myself to become a better person – tolerant and understanding , there are just circumstances or people who bring out the worst in me. Blowing up in anger or venting out my frustrations on others when I could have been more understanding, more loving and more considerate is taking the easy way. There are things I’ve said and done which I am not proud of, and I hope that as the years progress I don’t make the same mistakes.

 

WHERE DID YOU EAT?

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I am so fortunate to work around the Katong area. Whatever craving I may have it is just a walk or not more than four bus stops away from my office. There’s the Korean restaurant – I just cross the street and I can get my fill of bibimbap or tteokbokki. Not to mention two ice cream cafes that’s a mere ten minute walk from the office. A great selection of Western, India, Penang, Hong Kong,Japanese, Filipino and local Singapore cuisine and of course the  famous Katong Laksa. There’s Awfully Chocolate, and a ramen place at the newly opened Katong 112.

Not to mention Arnold’s Chicken at City Plaza in Paya Lebar – the most sinful fried chicken I ever tasted. Four bus stops away from my office is the Old Airport Road Food Centre – for the best bean curd and a wide array of affordable yet delicious food! I go there  for the pasta!

My good friend C brought me to a restaurant at Novena that serves Penang food, and I fell in love with Penang Laksa. So hearty and the right blend of spicy and sour, just thinking about it makes me drool!

WHICH BLOGS DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST?

I enjoyed a lot of blogs but here are the blogs that I keep frequenting the whole year of 2011 – so much inspiration!

Mr. Kate

iHanna

A Beautiful Mess

Oh My Handmade

Awkward and Beautiful

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WHEN DID YOU CELEBRATE?

There were a lot of things to celebrate about, but my birthday celebration was the most memorable for me. It was the first time planning for my own birthday party – it was a lot of stress but I was happy. There were friends who helped me plan it and friends who made the atmosphere so fun that there wasn’t a dull moment.

I invited those who were very close to my heart and to have them there on my special day made me feel so blessed and loved.

Yay! I’m almost done with Reverb 2011 ~ Thank you for staying tuned!

[ r e v e r b ] Excavation Ahead

“People travel to wonder at the height of mountains,
at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers,
at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of
the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.”
St. Augustine

There are good things and bad things that I have discovered about myself. As much as I am always trying to be a better person, there are moments when in my anger or frustration I snap saying or doing things that I will regret.

I am not patient as I would like to be. And my capacity to understand and be tolerant has its limits. I could endure for a period of time but when I’ve reached my limit, my reactions tend to be ugly.

On the plus side I am thankful that I have opened up more to people. Having an almost nomadic lifestyle has made me a guarded person. Believing that all things are fleeting and moments never last, I didn’t see the need to cultivate friendships. This year I am more trusting and open to people. Even if this also means I am more vulnerable to getting hurt, I am not that scared anymore.

Discovering things about myself is like mining for precious stones – most days I get crap but there are days when I find a gem in my hands.

[ r e v e r b ] Matters of the Heart and Mind

I am on a roll with the Reverb 2011 posts, mainly because I want to finish at least ONE blogging project!

WHAT DID YOU ACCOMPLISH?

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performing at a talent show. writing two short stories. pulling off my own birthday party celebration. getting a full-time job. playing with analogue cameras. writing a script for a drama that was well-received. watching a musical. scoring tickets for dance performances and concerts. getting to volunteer at Singapore Writer’s Festival. starting the LetterBox Project. having photography gigs. sending off lots of packages for swap-bot. winning for the extraordinary challenge.

WHEN WERE YOU THE MOST GRATEFUL?

I am having problems with the superlative word “MOST” probably because I can’t pinpoint the time that I was MOST GRATEFUL this 2011.

I was grateful when my Permanent Resident Status renewal was approved.

I was grateful to volunteer at the Singapore Writers Festival.

I was grateful for the opportunity to represent my department at the talent show.

I was grateful when I met and talked to F. Sionil Jose.

I was grateful for the chance to watch performances like Lion King the Musical, Cirque d’ Eloise, and Alp Bora.

I was grateful to my friends who made my birthday party possible.

I was grateful to plan and host the department’s Christmas party.

I was grateful for the opportunity to write the script for the GLO Drama.

I was grateful to become the Assistant Team Manager for the Greenades during the Extraordinary Challenge.

I was super grateful when our team won.

I am grateful for the new friends that I made.

I am grateful for friends who have stuck with me.

I am grateful for my awesome job.

There are a lot of things that I am grateful for, and I can only say that at whatever point in my life, I am always MOST grateful that I am alive.

WHO TOUCHED YOUR HEART?

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Samantha. Clarisse. Raisa. Esther. Pauline. Manfen. Santy. Alfred. Hui Yan. Joey. Angie. Shawwn. Kimberly. Caiwen. Seow Shi. Alicia. Vivian. Shirley. Joey (another Joey!). Jourden. Zihao. Celine. Jessica. Christine. Xiao Ping. Barbie. Shin Ae. Andy. Li Lyn. Loewe. Deborah. Anna. Carisse. Fia. Family.

WHERE DID YOU VISIT?

Universal Studios Singapore. National Museum of Singapore. Sentosa. Changi Airport. SUNTEC. Singapore Art Museum. Singapore Management University. The ArtScience Museum. Katong. Jurong Point. Marina Bay Sands.

These are the places I went to have rehearsals, have fun, learn more about art, meet people and eat and eat and eat. I had more chances to visit museums – which is something that I want to replicate in the next year!

WHEN DID YOU CRY?

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Lion King the Musical. Alp Bora. the last two episodes of  步步惊心 . my quarrel with S (this was the chest-tightening kind). after I messed up my performance at the talent show. when I was frustrated. when in meditation and prayer. when watching sad news.

As my friends always say, I am emotionally rich which basically means I feel too much. I noticed that as I grew older it has become easier for me to cry along in movies or dramas, and even be moved by musical performances that I am reduced to tears afterwards. I attribute it to getting older – as I go through more circumstances and gain experiences, it is easier for me to draw the same emotions that an actor or piece of work wants to convey. Tears are my outlet when I am frustrated because they’re not destructive. I would love to diffuse my anger through Hollywood’s smashing-plates-on-walls  tactic, but I don’t have the luxury of a clean-up crew.

WHERE DID YOU SPEND YOUR TIME?

Libraries, cafes, museums, my church and my workplace are the places I spent most of my time with aside from home. Though this year will probably be the year I spent lesser time at home, I spent most of my year on buses, trains and cabs going from one place to another. This is the year that I became more adept at traveling around Singapore.

Bras Basah MRT Station has been like my second home – during the Singapore Writers Festival, rehearsing for the GLO Drama, meeting for the Extraordinary Challenge. It was also the MRT station that brought me to the museums and favourite haunts like Cat Socrates.

Next year, I hope to spend more time at home. To tinker with my crafting stuff, to write more and to just rest a whole lot more!

[note: images are my own unless a source is indicated. please do credit images correctly. also, if I failed to properly credit an image source please do inform me.]

[ r e v e r b ] Tiny Questions

This is my second batch post on Reverb 2011, I am freewriting all the way through, editing just the grammar and spelling. I take a few moments to gather my thoughts then dive into writing:

WHO SURPRISED YOU?

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This was a tough question… and I really took a looooongggg time to write down my thoughts. I was pleasantly surprised by a few people yet there were also times when I was met with disheartening disappointments. It’s not easy when that happens because of the emotional attachment that I tend to strongly form with friends.

There are people in my life, that I am sorry to say I have given up hope on. Resigning myself to the idea that their behaviour patterns have already been set, and there was no use to talk things out or make them see reason. Sometimes however, there’s a glimmer of light and they will do things that are opposite from their expected behaviour.

While there were people who I thought that I couldn’t get close with, but they ended up caring more for me than I thought, and have made me smile more than I expected.

Expect the unexpected. Let people surprise you.

Or as was said by a toy solider at the Christmas drama I watched, “Don’t judge a toy by its box”.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

This year I learned more about myself and how I relate to others.  There’s always an incident that will increase my self-awareness. I think this year has been about reacquainting with myself more than any other year.

In more practical situations, I learned how to shoot with analogue cameras, perfect my tuna curry rice recipe, eat with chopsticks (!),  and let embarrassing moments slide, after all this was the year where I fell face flat while alighting from a bus, managed to forget the lyrics and chords to my song during a performance at my company’s talent show, and a whole lot of other cringe-inducing moments that I would rather not divulge.

WHEN DID YOU FEEL MOST RELAXED?

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I always feel most relaxed at home – whether I am writing, reading, crafting, playing my guitar, or just looking at all my favourite things, my little space at home always makes me feel that everything is right with the world.

WHERE DID YOU LEAVE A MARK?

Another tough question because I have totally no idea what is considered as “leaving a mark” unless I did something Mother Teresa-esque, or Steve Jobs-esque. I know I don’t have the resources nor a very big heart to make a big impact but I hope in one way or another I have inspired confidence in my friends, encouraged them when they least expected it, or just made them laugh.

I’m usually known as  the mood-maker or the entertainer among my friends, I like to make people comfortable. Making people laugh through my gags or witticisms is what I am proud to be great at. Even if I can’t touch the whole world, I just want to make my family and friends’ days brighter.

WHAT MOVIES DID YOU SEE?

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I am so hard-pressed to list down the movies I actually watched at the cinema, most of the movies I watched were watched at home at the comfort of my own bed – especially the times when I was sick. I managed to watch a few on my list like Norwegian Wood, Bridesmaids, The Man from Nowhere, Mother, and some that were not on my list like Green Lantern, Rango, Flipped, Finding Mr. Destiny. There were  a lot of rom-coms and action movies, but most of all I rewatched a lot of my favourite rom-coms like Love Actually, Sweet Home Alabama, While You Were Sleeping, Mrs. Winterbourne, 10 Things I Hate About You, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates and then some.  These movies were my go-to movies when I felt really suck-y about life in general.

There you go! I have sixteen more questions to answer for Reverb 2011! I will finish this well!