Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

cobwebs!!!

What can I say?  Life has juz taken over!!! .....  and facebook.  LOL!  It's so much faster to update my status via Facebook these days that this good ole blog has cobwebs growing already....

I apologize for the lack of postings... i should really try to be more diligent in doing so!  Maybe no one is reading this anymore.. hahahaa.

Anyways last week I took a short break and went with my mom, sis and aunt to Seoul.  I have not been back in 17 years and it was such a great feeling being back!  I *HEART* Seoul alot.  I studied in the International School for awhile back then as my Dad was posted there.

It was sooo good to go back and visit my school... Seoul Foreign School.... the old buildings are still there but they have constructed new buildings! 

The drive up to the school.... It is located on top of a hill. :)  This building is new and we almost could not recognize where we were!

the hallways look the same!!!

I had one of my best years of school life in this school.... so many good memories and soo different from studying in Singapore.  I really wish everyone would have an opportunity like I did.. it was really an experience!

Anyways... back to real life now.. lol!

This is the doily that I did for our latest swap.  I really liked how everyone's doily design turned out different...

this is mine :)

everyone had a different quote :)

In case you were wondering about the colours and how i achieved it..

The back of the doily was misted with DECADENCE Chalkboard Mist, then I used Sugar Maple for the alphabet stencils.

For the rolled flowers .. i used dictionary paper.  Misted with Cadillac Pink and Turquoise Blue.

Easy peasy! :D

 

@ home...

There are days that I enjoy working from home.  It's quiet and peaceful.. and I get alot done.  I used to work from home for quite a long while before MWL and i know some people say that it is very dangerous to work from home coz its too comfortable and nothing gets done.  Well for me, it isnt the case.  I like the quiet of an empty house (not that my house is always noisy LOL!) and just listening to the neighbourhood in the afternoon.  The children from the nearby kindergarten come out to play around 4pm plus... the birds chirping outside my home and the ocassional yells from the rag and bone guy.  I do get quite a fair bit done as no one is around to distract me.  I also got pretty good at multitasking as I'm usually working on both my PC and Mac and sometimes shuttle between my scrap area and the computers.

My mind is wired a little differently.. i kind of like doing little bits of things rather than finishing 1 thing in a seating.  Eg:  I can be purchasing for the store, doing some pricing, searching for something online, scrapping for a workshop all in the same afternoon. LOL.

The one thing that irks me when I am home is that without fail on afternoons, like clockwork, my neighbour downstairs would light up his cigarette and chat with his friend on the phone.  My study is just above where he likes to stand and chat.  I really HATE the smoke smell.

Anyways today in betwen work... i finally decided to clear my scrap area. (Can i say the clean table did not even last 2 hours as its a little messy now again.  I just scrapped a little. LOL).  Sighhhh what can I say... I am inspired by a clean space.

I finished up a layout that was sitting around for a few weeks.  During CHA, Allison from Hambly Screen Prints gave me some limited edition Hambly goodness (THANKS ALLISON!!!!).  I scrapped with them .. love the new prints so much especially the new Doillies overlay!

I had to scrap these photos about our visit to Jamba Juice @ Las Vegas.  The lady who made Eugene's order made quite a bit extra by accident and instead of throwing the extras away (like any store in Singapore would do *rolls eyes*), she actually poured the extras into a smaller cup!  Really worth the mention!

OH and can you see the exclusive MADE WITH LOVE stamp by Maya Road in the layout?  It was designed by KELLY!!!!!! Love the stamp!! :)

This is another simple layout I did with the Hambly goodness sometime back in Feb but never posted it.  
 

 

American Idol tonight!!!  ... and it's also LOST night with Eugene.  Have a great evening peeps!
 

Vegas ... and scrappy stuff.

Just back from Las Vegas last week... took some time off to go on a family vacation and to attend the

Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Vegas.  I had a blast of a time.... bought loads of stuff... walked till my feet hurt and took tons of photos!!!

We stayed at the Treasure Island @ Vegas. Pretty decent hotel... not the best but really convenient  location.  He are some of my favourite photos from the trip ...

 

JULIUS!!!!!! ehheheheee.....  so glad to have found a Paul Frank store @ Vegas.  I HAD to buy this soooooo sooo cute Julius plushy.

Outlet shopping - burnt big hole in pocket.

Taken at Ceasar's Palace.. hehehee... cute butt eh? Squeeshy squeeshy..... :P

At a Chinese restaurant in Ceasar's Palace.  Nice decor!  Look at the ceiling?   BUTTTTTTT... really horrible food. US$3 for a bowl of rice (small bowl!)  and US$16 bucks for a bowl of soup that tasted like what we get when we order wonton noodles - really bad soup.  It was advertised as "mouth watering".  (smacks forehead!)

Taken at THE VENETIAN.  I love how vibrant everything looks in the hotel....especially with all the "al fresco" diners by the fake lake. hahaha..  The false ceiling with the sky makes it look like day time but these photos were taken at about midnight. LOL!

I have a ton more photos to seive through and sort .... between Eugene and I, we took more than a thousand photos!  Will post them up on flickr soon.

So anyways I'm off to CHA in LA again on Friday.. looking forward to soaking in the whole CHA atmosphere and walking the floors... gonna be soo tired though.  I found out that I will have inflight on board power for my lappie... hmmmmm maybe i should load in some serials on my lappie :P   Another loooong flight ahead...wish me luck.

Okay and FEB is around the corner.  Did not get to teach any workshops this month as the store's been under renovations.  Lots of delays in the opening of our new wing due to various factors but I'm so excited to teach at the new wing soon!  We've made our workshop /classrooms ALOT better and so much more condusive for having scrapbook fun!

If you've not taken my Dec workshop "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" featuring the bright and cheerful GREENHOUSE collection from K&Company... i think we are going to have 1 or 2 more sessions in Feb.  In addition, I have a new workshop lined up using the coolest and trendiest of colours right now in the scrapbook industry!  You will use some really fun papers from Basic Grey's ORIGINS collection, together with lots of Hambly goodness (overlays, papers, stickers, rub ons!).  The layouts are gonna be COOL!  You will also use unexpected materials to add texture to your pages :)

Here's some sneaky peeks........ hope you like what you see :)

As I will be loading the workshop pack with lotsa goodies, alphas for titles will not be provided for this workshop.  But i'm sure you'll have lots of alphas at home to add on :)

OHHH... and have you seen the new SASSAFRAS collections? CUTE eh!  So now tell me... for FUN-TAS-TIC workshop - NERDY BIRD or APPLE JACK? hehehe.

 

ORRR

 

Cute eh?  OR... BOTH for 2 Fun-Tas-Tic workshops! hahahha.

let me know what you think!   

 

Bangkok - Mar 2009

So BANGKOK was a blast.... Mom, Jac and I decided at the very last minute to go on this 'Whirlwind Trip'... 2 days and 1 night!  Well we did not really have alot of time but we actually had 2 full days (reached Bangkok at 8am their time and took the last flight out the next day).

What else to do in Bangkok?  SHOP.. SHOP.. EAT.. SHOP.. EAT... SPA.. SHOP... WALK ... WALK... SHOP... EAT.  (you get the idea. lol!)

Here are some photos to share of the trip:

 

Jac and I ......  early Sunday morning (think this was taken on board the plane?)

Here are some random photos -

 

 

 

 

 

First thing we did when we reached bangkok (after going to the hotel...) was to hit CHATUCHAK market.... the rest of the inner 'lanes' kinda bored us and it was REALLLLY too hot to walk but Jac and I loved the first section of the market that featured alot of new and young designers and some nice photo ops. 

 

 

 

We found quite a few (major understatement here) really interesting pieces of clothing and ermmmm.. actually went back twice within the day. LOL!

After walking for quite abit.... we needed to stop for some light snack and a drink!  This yummmy place at the market had really good mango deserts. 

 

Here is a photo of what else but none other than Thailand's famous Mango with Sticy rice (as you can see.... i was not fast enough with the camera... LOL!)

 

 

In between the 2 Chatuchak trips ... we went back to the hotel to check in.  We stayed at Pathumwan Princess right next to MBK and was pleasantly surprised when they upgraded up to an executive deluxe room instead of a normal deluxe room we booked.  YEY!

 

 

 

(yes.. we messed up the room almost immediately LOL!)

After checking in... it was time for LUNCH ..

 

 

and then walking at MBK....... and of coz.. erm.. Starbucks. (lol)

 

Then it was back at Chatuchak again .......  walked around a little at Siam Square....afterwhich dinner at Chinatown......

 

 

We did not go to any night markets as by the end of dinner.... we were all really exhausted from waking up at an ungodly 4am (having only 2 hrs of sleep.. for me) and we figured.. we already did ALOT of shopping... so it was back to the hotel to shower and zzzzz.

Oh and since Jac had her hair clipped up the entire day due to the heat... she had beautiful 'curls' by the end of the night.. hehehe

Next morning.. Jac and I had an appointment with the spa....aaaahhhhh.

 

I love this spa.. it was recommended to Eugene and I by our hotel many years back and since then, everytime i go back to BKK.. I would make it a point to visit the spa.  It's pretty near Chatuchak market and very easily accessible via their BTS (skytrains).  Ask me if you want directions to go here.

Anyways while we were at the spa in the morning... Mom managed to walk around on her own and bought some really nice Thai silk blouses.... yey!

After the spa.. we went to the new Central World shopping mall to shop and have lunch.. didnt really take anymore photos after that as I developed a tummyache and had to keep going to the toilet.. uggh!  Thank God for Charcoal pills.

However.. i just had to snap this photo.  We were standing in front of the lift at CentralWorld and trying to figure out where the food/restaurants were.... look at their signage.  Not very helpful eh?

 

ermmm its all the same on every floor. LOL!

Anyways.. i'll blog more about the trip soon .. got to go now!  :)

Road trip to Kuala Lumpur / Genting

I'm back.. from a 2 day road trip up to Malaysia. Here are some photos that we took on the trip.

We began the day with our hunt for this supposedly VERY FAMOUS and DELICIOUS Duck Rice place just outskirts of Kuala Lumpur itself.  I do not know the exact location of this duck joint but if you want me to find out (from my ever resourceful and prolific forum-hopping mother), let me know!  We had the help of the GPS system to locate this quaint little stall that was situated in a residential district. Thank God for GPS!

Anyways... the duck did not disappoint.  Between the 7 of us, we 'whacked' 2 and a half ducks!  This was at 11am in the morning.  The stall was FULL and bustling with activities barely 5 mins into opening.   Rumours have spread that they run out of ducks by 1-2pm.  Goodness, that is only a total opening time of 2-3hours per day!

Here are some shots..

this is name of the duck rice place - RESTORAN SUNRISE.

Check out the ducks hanging... they look so perfect ya?  So different from those roast ducks that we see in Singapore with 'wrinkled' skins.  These ducks here have been made with tender loving care to perfection.  Even the colour of the duck are all consistent and nice.

Yummmmmmmmmzzzzz.  As you can tell, the 'fat' under the skin of the duck is gone.  The skin is very crispy and tasty!

That's me.... satisfied! HEHE.

After the yummmy duck meal, we drove into KL town itself where Dad and the guys (sans Eugene) went to attend a HIFI exhibition at JW Marriott.  Mom, Jac and I (with Eugene who wanted to go visit a KL branch from his workplace) went over to Pavillion to shop.

I was actually quite disappointed with Pavillion as a whole.....most of the shops were ermmmm too 'high class' for me.  I got bored walking the mall after awhile.

So this is what Jac and I did to entertain ourselves.  We went into a FOREVER21 boutique and cam whored. LOL.

LOL! There are more pics in the photo album on the left panel of this blog... we had so much fun entertaining ourselves, making silly faces and poses.   Funny eh?

Oh ya.. here's something funny I saw at Pavillion too.

What a rip off?!? They must be trying to ride on the current popularity of SEX AND THE CITY.  Such a corny tagline.. i mean... c'mon! LOL!

After Dad and the guys finished walking the exhibition we went up to Genting to escape the HEAT. LOL... well we did more than juz enjoy the cold air but I'll just leave it as that. HAHA.

and oh ya... Starbucks in the higher places (ala Genting) is super EX... even after converting back to SIN dollars.  Much more EX than in Singapore itself.

On our way back today, we did what we usually do... go have the REAL AMPANG YONG TAU FOO.  Those that advertise that they are the real deal in Singapore are all full of crap.  Nothing comes close to the REAL Ampang Yong Tao Foo in AMPANG itself.

I blogged about this place in my old blog that is now RIP (Rest In Peace) already so I'll post it here again.  This place serves the BEST Ampang Yong Tao Foo.  Period.

Name of Stall - Restoran Foong Foong (one of the 'foongs' got cut off in my pic)

Check out the yummmmmmy Yong Tao Foo:

Handmade Fishballs.. not those commercial factory made ones that we eat all the time in Singapore.  Their fishballs are really very very nice.

Check out the chilli and other stuff..  I did not attempt the chilli but i heard it was pretty darn good too.

Their fried stuff - Tao Ki (beancurd skin with fish paste stuffing) and Wontons.  Really very tasty.

All in all, we ate up a storm till we could not stomach anymore and guess how much the bill for the food came up to?  About RM$70+.  That's like less than SIN$5 per person.  CHEAP huh???

I really recommend this Yong Tao Foo joint to anyone who really want to try the REAL McCOY. It's Fantastic!

Okay I'm signing off for now... just looking at the food again makes me hungry.. LOL.  If you have the opportunity to go up to KL, go hunt these places down.  Won't regret!

Have a great week ahead!

honey.. im home!!

Well actually I've been back since early Thursday morning. LOL!  I've just been too tired to blog.  I spent the entire Thursday in bed (well almost the entire day).  Guess what time I woke up?  4.30pm.  Yep!  Think my body clock is suffering some major jetlag here.  I'm wide awake at 3am and can't sleep till 4 or 5am then somewhere during the afternoon.... I'm yawning and getting really tired and zonked. LOL!  Let's hope this jetlag passes soon.  I need to be able to function normally!  Coffee DOES NOT help, apparently.

So here's the low down on what happened in Chicago.  It was a busy couple of days during CHA...trying to complete our rounds and orders.  The days whizz by so quickly it ain't funny.  It was a good thing that we managed to squeeze in some time during the last day in Chicago to go visit Chicago town itself coz next year's CHA Summer will be held in Florida.... do I hear Disney world???? 

So.. CHA... hmmm I met ALI EDWARDS again!

It was nice to meet her, grab a photo with her and watch her do an interesting demo at the Ranger booth. She was doing an 'anti blending' or 'anti Tim Holtz' (LOL!) technique using Ranger's Alcohol Inks.  You can see her samples on her blog.  Somehow Ali makes everything look so easy and fun.

I got her to sign one for me! *happy dance*

 

I really love some of the cool releases for this Summer show.  Here are my hot favourites.

1.  Basic Grey - omg!!!! I love everything they released but I must say "OffBeat" was my favourite.
2.  October Afternoon - total yummmmness.
3.  Sassafrass Lass - again.... total yummness.
4.  Hambly Screen Prints - birdcages, moustaches, bicycles, typewriters.. ohhh i can't wait!!!!
5.  American Crafts - can't get enough of thickers... love the new epoxy ones and chipboard too!

There were loads more that I went GAGA over but these are the ones that I can recall off hand.

On to the last day in Chicago - EL, SC, SO and I took the train from Rosemont all the way down Town.  I have never taken those 'American Trains' that we see so often on TV so it was quite an experience.  The train ride was pretty comfortable (we appreciated the aircon in that HOT weather) but rather 'noisy' LOL.  Our MRT rides are sooooooo quiet in comparison.

We stopped by a local scrapbook store .. walked arnd a little, did some damage to my pocket and then took the train to the town itself.

Here are some sights of Chicago town.. I'll let the photos do the talking.  These were taken while we were enjoying the Chicago view from their FREE Trolley rides around town.

That's us! On board the FREE Trolley... *wonder what EL was so shocked about?" LOL.

here are some funny chinese restaurant names:

"LAI LAI" (i almost missed it - see the right of the photo)

"Wow Bao" - Hot Asian Buns.  LOL!!! ROFL!

and this is what frustrated me... I went past 2 Jamba Juice stores but could not get to it! UGGGGGHHHHH.. once was when we were in a taxi and the other time on the free trolley ride.  I missed it on this trip.. so sad!!! :(

In the evening, we went to NAVY PIER (and by then we had bags and bags of shopping.. LOL) to chill and have dinner.  Navy Pier was pretty okay... though the shopping could have been better.  I thought Darling Harbour in Sydney was much better.  However, I did like the ferries wheel!  Made nice backdrop for photos .. HAHA.

and just before we left the Pier......

FIREWORKS!!!! Sorry for the lousy photos... was too excited about the fireworks and I only had my Point and Shoot with me... LOL!

Okay so there we go hehehe......I didn't buy much on this trip for myself (Eugene got 3 Old Navy shirts and a polo T) but I must say my favourite score was this suuuper nice Tote bag (the bigger of the 2 in the pic) we found in a quaint 'book store' somewhere in Chicago town itself.

LOVE it so much.. it's nice ya?