haha! always knew i was to be forever "young"

You Belong in 1993

With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

a new venture of goodness

My friend just started this baking goodness! Please support! She's really good at baking! Yummy Yummy!

http://stewynmortygarden.blogspot.com

the lost & found terry

For those who are concerned about Terry, he's been home for a week now, but he's been acting weird. On the 1st day that we shifted here, Sandra "communicated to him" that he's supposed to pee and shit on the newspapers at the balcony...and he did just that (how clever)!

However, since his return, he's been urinating/shitting all over the house, and even likes to topple the dustbin to see what leftovers he can find! He even has the cheek to bring a whole drumstick (bone of course) up to our room to show us what he's got! What is most weird is that he seemed to have lost his bark - esp on the 1st day. Now, he's slowly barking louder, but sometimes it's out-of-tune.

Hmm...i hope he'll be back to the old Terry again soon - however naughty he might be.

Here's some pictures of our cute "terry baby":


Also read:
http://blabberingjo.blogspot.com/2007/03/against-all-odds.html

the big move, and a lost dog...and God's grace

Warning: Damn long story (only for those with heart)

My family shifted from Simei to Pasir Ris barely 2 days ago (on Friday), and the turn of events afterwards was totally unexpected...

On the 1st night, I had the chance to sleep with Terry again in my new room too. He was very obedient until 6+am (coz he sometimes wanna go in/out of the room a few times in the night). As always, we wouldnt know if it was to pee or what... But it always makes us very pissed. Haha... ;/

Anyway, back to the move, we realised on the 1st day that the grills at the main door was too wide, and Terry could squeeze through it. We wanted to go buy something to block it to keep him safe. BUT, we were too late. =(

On the 2nd day, my sisters went back to the old house TWICE to pick up some of the remaining stuff. The 1st time they came back, Terry barked at them as usual (his usual 'Welcome Home'). But the 2nd time, they realised he was not around. It was only then that we realised he had gone out of the house!

Prior to that, I wanted to take a nap in Sandra's room and my 2 nephews were playing games on her computer. At 1st, I had Terry leashed to the window coz I was afraid that he'll roam around as the other adults were busy unpacking downstairs. Then, he started to bark and I asked Xan to close the room door, so that I can release him. I remembered vividly that the 1st time my sisters came back (from Simei), I heard my mom said that she had blocked the gate. So, we opened the room door.

BUT, when they came back the 2nd time, who whould have known that Terry had already left the house!!! I jumped up from bed immediately and saw the gate was not blocked at all!!! We quickly went searching for Terry in the area, but realised it was TOO HUGE and so-very-open!!! White Sands was just across, and there's also the MRT, a fishing pond, and a park!!! It was about 2.30pm. By early evening, we were armed with flyers which Xan & Xavier helped to print from their house. It even showed Terry's photo, and a reward. On the other hand, Sandra & i - the helpless ones - only had hand-written notes. I wanted to find Terry asap before night falls.

Everyone in the family helped to search for Terry and put up the posters at the neighbouring blocks, fishing pond/park and bus-stops. We also tried to call out Terry's name so that IF someone had brought him home, Terry might have heard our shouts and responded by barking (Sandra & i can recognize his barking). My little nephew Xavier who was usually afraid of Terry (and called him Terry-yaki) suddenly told me that he kinda missed Terry...I was touched. I left a message at SPCA that my dog was missing, and hoped that they'll contact me soon (tomorrow). But there was only so much we could do on Sat night. We went home with a heavy heart. I was sure it was impossible to see him again. I read some articles online about missing dogs, and i left his dog bowl & water at the doorstep (hoping that he could smell it and lead him home). Elvis comforted me and was sorry he couldnt be here with me. He tried to make me more hopeful, but i was so pessimistic i knew it was 'the end'. I cried my heart out that night.

On Sun, I was hesitating if i should go to church with my family least Terry should find his way home in the morning. Then i thought that maybe i should just leave it to God, and maybe (who knows), by the time we're back from church, Terry would be sitting at our doorstep! At the service, whenever i thought of Terry, i just sob helplessly. It was just impossible to see him again.

Then in the afternoon, we got a call from someone who said that he found Terry roaming nearby on Sat afternoon (but) brought it to his friend's house to bathe and feed him. Then they left him at the blocks again. We were somewhat "angry" becoz we had the posters well-covered in "our area", but he had left Terry in "another area". This would mean all our efforts the previous day was useless! Anyway, we rushed to those blocks where he had left Terry and shouted our lungs out. My nephews Xan & Xavier also went home to print more posters, then helped us in the search. I realised that there was a connector in that area, a bridge and a highway...so if Terry had gone either way, it'll be totally hopeless. The teenagers (who left him there) also told us that they would help to look for Terry. What bugged me was also coz they said that when they brought Terry home, he didnt have his collar on him anymore.

As we were about to give up and go for dinner, we got another call saying that Terry was spotted in "our area" 30 mins ago, and we went to search for him again. By evening, we somewhat gave up hope again and went to my sister's house for dinner. As we sat down eating (seemingly happily), everyone knew we've done all we could (to no avail) and it was all left to God now.

As we ate, we got a few SMS/calls from some people that Terry was spotted on Sat at some blocks (which we had already covered). Finally, 1 guy called and said that he had brought Terry to the SPCA on Sat evening! His description matched our only-2-teeth & cataract Terry! We were so relieved that Terry didnt have to roam the streets and learn to fend for himself in the dark and cold. He was safe and under shelter both nights. WOW! It was so amazing!

It must have been God's grace that brought Terry home.
Thank You, Almighty Father.

i'm back, i'm back!

I just came back a couple of hours ago, and after "settling in", my sis handed me 2 packages - from Sweden & Scotland! Didnt think I'll get both my recent swap packages so soon! WOW! I'm sure they'll be great...and they were! My best ever!

Will try to upload some pix next time. Got to rest now.

P.S. My luggage was tagged 'Heavy' again! Haha!

love is in the air - as always!

It was our 1st wedding anniversary yesterday, and Elvis was sorry he's away in Beijing for work. But he got flowers delivered to our home! Wow! He's such a great husband! I'm soooo touched!

I only saw the card today (coz it was hidden amongst the greens). It was hand-written by Elvis!!! I'm really soooo touched! ;D

see how much baby grew!

At 5 weeks, only a black dot (in the middle)...

At 7 weeks, white vertical bean-shaped (in the middle) with heartbeat!

At 11 weeks, baby-shaped...seems to be sucking his/her thumb and sleeping very soundly. And she's only 2 inches long! Shh...

good news!

We're having a baby!
And I'll be home soon! ;D









Love,
Elvis & Jo

last drama

While packing some of the DVDs last week, i realised i have this Smile Again in my cupboard, so i decided to finish it before my friends arrive later this week. Judging from the progress so far, i might just be able to finish it within the next 2 days! Heehee...

This supporting actor Lee Jin-wook (far left) is really handsome! Check him out!

last of swaps

Last week, i've mailed out what i thought would be the last of my swaps - at least for 2007. I've been excited about these 2 swaps for the longest time! Haha... In fact, it's the only 2 swaps in which i had 'made the first move'. What they sent to others looked really enticing. Heehee... ;p

So, i put in more effort in these 2 swaps - not that i didnt in my other swaps. I really hope that they'll like what i've put together for them. Probably they wouldnt expect China to have these cool stuffs! ;p

This is for Marceline, Scotland

And this is for Malin, Sweden


I've requested for them to mail mine to Singapore since i'll be away for a while... I cant wait to get home sooner for the packages! ;)

Also decided to go ahead with my final August swap with Lyz, USA. Here's what she requested for + some little surprises (since it's really gonna be my last)! I'll mail it out before i leave. ;)


UPDATE:
All my 3 swap partners (including Little Swap from Italy) loved everything I've put together for them! Of course, lah! Who wouldnt, right? Heehee... ;p

UPDATE (finally on 7 Aug):
Here's some of the lovely stuff i received from Marceline & Malin! Both are equally wonderful! I'm also thankful to Malin for buying my baby's 1st gift - cute bibs from H&M!



And being the scatterbrain that i am, i had forgotten which of these 2 packages these cute stuff (below) belong to. Oops! I had also misplaced the cute pink Barbapapa cellphone strap & gift cards which Malin sent me at the time of shooting this photo. Found them since...n the strap is on my cellphone now! Heehee... I also suspect that I got some of the items mixed up (from the 2 packages)...eg the pink Hello Kitty letter-memo pad. O ya, Marceline also sent me a box of delicious shortcakes cookies! ;p


UPDATE (finally on 20 Aug):
I just received the LAST of my swap package from Lyz in the US! Here's some of the lovely stuff! I really love the Cram Cream patent bag...and those craft/cook books are so neat!


And this marks the HAPPY ENDING of all my swaps in 2007, Shanghai.

our all-in-one dinner

Elvis will be leaving for Beijing tomorrow morning, and we had planned to go for our wedding anniversary dinner tonight. He had to come into the office to do some packing (coz they are shifting when he's away), and also for a conference call. So we came in after our brunch. As soon as his meeting started at 3pm, i left the office and went to Cheng Huang Miao to look for nice zhongzi. But sadly, the Duan Yuan Festival fair was over. Still, there was a lot to see in Cheng Huang Miao, and i enjoyed myself despite the really warm & humid weather.

When i went back to the office, their meeting was not over!! So, i waited and waited... And till now (920pm), we're still in his office! Haha!

We had wanted to go out for dinner, then come back again, BUT it started to pour really heavily - with thunder too - in the evening!!! So, i decided to order pizza and eat with the rest of the team. Actually, i'm really not disappointed at all although Elvis felt bad about it. (He's the more romantic one)

It's really ok. We can have a good dinner again when he's back from Beijing (for 3/4 days) before he leaves again. (For this short trip home, i've rescheduled my departure a few days later) After that, i'll be home in Singapore too...eating at my fav Japanese restaurant, Fish & Co (i have a craving for good Fish & Chips today), yummy Nonya bak zhang...

I think i need my supper now! Keekee...

home sweet home

I've booked my flight home! Yippie! ;)

The reason why i'm going back to Singapore now is becoz Elvis will be away on biz trip from this Sunday...and for ONE month! Sob sob... But i cant leave the same day as him coz i still need to wait for friends to come here for their holiday a week later. That means, 1 looong week ALONE! I really hate that! ={

But i'm booked on a flight as soon as they leave! In fact, just hours away from theirs! Keekee... I'm sooo happy! =D

Of course, i could also fly back this Sunday and pass them my house keys when i'm in Singapore. Haha! Then they can find their own way to my house and stay here. That's a very good alternative, though a rather irresponsible way. ;p

Another downside is that my part-time maid is NOT coming in anymore! So, from now (and esp when my friends are here), i'll have to keep the place as clean as possible so that i dont need to do any mopping. Sweeping is fine with me. And Elvis will also have to manage on his own when he comes back (coz i'll still be away). After that, we'll have to look for another maid. Headache...

But anyway, i'm just too glad to be HOME!

finally!

Yday, i had a haircut. It was kinda on impulse...coz i had planned to wait till my hair is a bit longer (till the curls grow out). The stylist said that i'll have to straighten some of the curls to achieve the style i wanted. So...i went along with his suggestion. Hmm...but this style needed some volume leh... Hmmmmmm... It didnt touch my scalp, so i guess it was alright too. Besides, it's not rebonding...just a milder form of straightening. Perhaps it's "relaxing" - the pre invention of the amazing rebonding. (But it smells equally bad)

Anyway, this is what i've got! Just took it today, so maybe not as nice as when i walked out of the salon. Nice??? ;)

little swap

Yesterday, I received my 5th swap package from Chiara (aka Kiarolla). It was meant to be a little swap coz i was already booked for June, and she contacted me anyhow. I had wanted just a package of Ferrero Giotto chocolates which are from Italy, but Kiarolla said she's never seen them before. (Hmm...weird, coz i also couldnt find them when i was in Spain) So, she picked out 6 items from my wishlist.

Hmm...it was very sweet of her to wrap them individually with notes like 'Something to write on', 'Somthing blue', 'Something for your hair' etc... Anyway, here's what's inside the package: pastel blue/pink straw-like tote, recycled paper notebook, teabags, pink pearl necklace, glitter star hairband, wall pocket hanger.


And here's the stuff she requested for:

earrings similar to what i sent Phyllis, the Hello Kitty tote bag i sent Jean's daughter, Poky, deco tapes, socks and the Paul Frank bedroom slippers i sent Jean. But i couldnt find the slippers, so i got her a Hello Kitty pouch instead. Hope she'll like everything.

more surprises

Today, i received 2 packages! What a BIG surprise!

Stella sent me a "life-saver kit"! Here's it!

Seaweed, "bags", recipe book, Hainanese chicken rice paste, Nasi Lemak mix (with RICE inside!!!), and Meesiam mix!!! O my God!!! These are the food i've been missing!!! I felt soooooo touched! She really made my day...and made me feel instantly energized! Haha! I cant wait till i feel better to eat all these glorious food! ;D

I also received my little swap package from Chiara (aka Kiarolla) from Italy. But that was a wee bit disappointing though. Nonetheless, it's nice to get it so quickly. Kekee... Will write about it later. ;p

A few days later, my dear friend Catherine also mailed me another life-saver item! It's a sea-sick band i've been searching high & low here in Shanghai! Thanks sooo much! You gals are GREAT! =D

so elaborate!

Sat morning, we decided to try a Tang Dynasty Restaurant's dimsum which our friend recommended instead of our usual Crystal Jade. When we finally found the restaurant next/linked to JW Marriot (i was starving by then), we walked in and realised that it's super glam! Just like a hotel wedding dinner setting! When we saw the menu, we realised that we had gone to the wrong Tang Dynasty. They do not have a wide range of dimsum...so we ordered some dimsum and had lobster, abalone chicken soup, birds nest (inside the eggtart), and we even had GOLD (which came in a small foil on top of the har gau)! WOW!

What i have to praise them was the food presentation! (And too bad i didnt have my camera with me) Everything was so intricate! We had a dimsum that was shaped like a tiny pear, complete with a green stem! The skin was cooked till flawless light golden brown, and the 3 tiny pears were served on a glass pedestal. I didnt know what was inside, but it looks delicious anyway. Even a simple vegetable & mushroom dish was also very delicious! But a beef dish we had was a bit disappointing. We left feeling "rich" after our very elaborate brunch! HAHA! And yes, it was the most expensive dimsum we've had! ;)

For dinner, we met up with Aey and had steamboat together. I was so disappointed that the prawns were sold out. It's one of my favourite food in steamboat. :_[

Also, on Fri night, we went back to the Thai restaurant Coconut Paradise again for dinner with some friends. After that, we walked some 20-30 mins (coz we couldnt get any cabs) to Man Ji (Honeymoon Dessert) for some authentic Hong Kong dessert. I had yang zi gan lu (mango sago with pomelo), and it was good enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. Yummy! ;)

jollysoya

Since i bought the soya bean milk maker, i've been too lazy to start using it. Also, i needed Elvis to read me the instruction manual (in Chinese) first. Okay, this is an excuse. Haha! I saw how it worked on TV, and it was pretty idiot-proof. So this morning, i decided to make some soya bean instead of my regular milk.

- pour in 1 cup of dried soya beans
- pour in 600ml of water
- close every lid on the machine
- press Start! (the machine was loud)
- About slightly more than 5 mins later, i could hear the water being transferred to the "kettle" part, and heating starts
- Soon, a beep sounded, and my soya bean was ready!

I quickly rushed to the machine, to see a lot of froth, but seemed like 600ml of soya bean was also produced! I added about 3 teaspoon of sugar to my cup, and it taste GOOD! Well, maybe not as good as JollyBean's, but i'm sure i can experiment with the amount of water/beans, and make it more yummy next time! Keekee...

Success!

satisfying weekend

I havent been updating much about my life here of late. Partly coz i was sick. :_( I havent had much appetite the whole week, and ate mostly whatever i can bring myself to swallow. Thankfully, i felt better over the weekends, so i ate and ate... There's only 1 word i can describe after every meal - SATISFYING!

Sat morning, Elvis went for a run organised by his client, so when he came back home, it was just in time for lunch. We decided to try the frog's leg porridge at a restaurant called 'Chinatown 牛车水' in HongQiao area. It's nothing like the yummy frog's leg porridge at Bras Basah Road, but their chaipo egg was good. That for me was satisfying! Later, i had an Anderson's Belgium Chocolate Chip icecream cone for teabreak, and it was super satisfying! For dinner, Elvis brought me to this very nice steamboat place called Colourful Hotpot. I've seen it on TV before, and must say that the ambience is really nice. Everyone has its individual pot, and you can choose from a range of soup base. Elvis chose sharksfin! I realised that the prawns served (on skewers) was hopping on the plate!!! So i made sure it stopped moving for a while before i put them in my pot. It's also much more expensive than the other steamboat places we've been to. But it's a nice place to go once in a while. It was satisfying!

Sunday, we decided to try the Delifrance here instead of our usual CJ dimsum. I had the egg mayo+salmon mayo croissant, veg soup and iced chocolate! And it felt soo satisfying! Then we had teabreak of McDonalds nuggets and fries, and it was also satisfying! Dinner, we headed to Sushi Tei. I had so much of everything except the o-so-raw-but-i-so-love sashimi. But that still felt satisfying. I liked it so much more than Sakae Sushi (which buffet's standard has become rather bad), and wanna go back again this weekend! Haha!

Ironically, everything we had is so Singaporean! I even read June 1 & 2's of the Straits Times! (It's usually at least 1 day later than published date) SATISFYING! =)

HEY! I just came home from another satisfying dinner again! This time, it's a Thai restaurant Coconut Paradise at Julu/Fuming Road. We ordered papaya salad, shrimp cake, tomyam gong, green curry chicken & a fish in lemon sauce. I finally took my camera out with me too. ;p Just saved their number in my cellphone. Will definitely go back again! SOOO SATISFYING!

Thank you sooo much, Elvis, for always buying me good food. =*

craze

When my sis was here in Shanghai, she told me about this soya bean drink maker that my youngest sis bought...and it makes soya bean milk just as good as Jollybean's! I love Jollybean esp with extra sugar syrup! Yummy! ;p

A few days later, i happen to see on TV "sellavision" promoting a soya bean machine! It seems rather easy to make coz u can use DRIED beans - no soaking, peeling, boiling. So, after discussing with Elvis, we ordered it! It arrived yesterday! Was bigger than what i had imagined, so i had to move the electricals around our tiny kitchen. Here's a pix of it. Will try making some yummy soya bean drink over the weekends! Yeah! ;)

powerful

I just received an email from my eldest sis which i wanted to add in my blog - to constantly remind me the gist of it.

"...Why meditate? Because when you do so, whatever you do will prosper, and your leaf (for medication, hence represent health) shall not wither... and you can eat whatever you want! Amen!

Psalm 1 (Amplified Bible)
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

1 John 5:14-15 (Amplified Bible)
14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] therequests made of Him.

...God Bless!"

YES! God Bless ME! ;)