Be carried away, wherever!

so true :)

2011-12-29T22:15:00.001+08:00

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you likeeveryone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

Be yourself

2011-12-11T22:53:00.002+08:00

Follow your own style. The common thing a lot of people do is copy others' actions because it seems like the better route to fit in, but really, shouldn't you stand out? Standing out is very hard, yes, but you need to try avoid assuming other people's perspectives of you, even if it's not something you would normally do; that's what being yourself is all about. Maybe you like to sit outside on the deck under an umbrella in the middle of the rain, maybe you have different ideas of things, rather than other people, maybe you like strawberry cake instead of the common chocolate cake, whatever you are, accept it.

Be yourself, make your own decisions and don't get influence by peers.

2011-11-12T23:22:00.002+08:00

Life has been rather happening. Being busy is good. Especially when you're doing something you like :) didn't expect situations to turn out like this but it was a happy problem.

gonna cherish this experience to learn from the best, be inspired and stay hungry.

A&S

2011-11-07T23:13:00.002+08:00

5 years.

1,825 days.

43,800 hours.

2,628,000 seconds.

thank you love for every moments spent together :)

2011-10-04T21:55:00.001+08:00

原来梦想和现实很难做朋友 :(

2011-09-21T23:22:00.004+08:00

天黑了，你怕黑吗？我不怕。
我从小已经习惯，在黑夜里独行，在兵荒马乱时，我也顽固的熬过。
你哭过吗，当然有。哭可以疗伤，也可以治病，是男人也可以哭。
你有和自己说话吗？有啊。那是当你身边没人，或没人理你时，

最好的治伤法。
朋友，不关你的处境如何坏，心情多糟糕，只有靠你自己才可以继续。加油！

Quoted from uncle sam.

2011-09-20T23:45:00.000+08:00

i wonder how long is my road to utopia.

you gave me hopes and took it away.

是你的就是你的，别人也夺不去，不是你的也别强求

there's so much to life...

we just need to say goodbye when it's time to bid goodbye.

2011-09-18T23:22:00.000+08:00

There are many roads to utopia so as long as you want to get there you will.

2011-08-28T20:30:00.002+08:00

说了，做了，借了，哭了。

我只想要简单的过生活。

现在的我，好累好累。

Great meeting you.

2011-08-19T21:00:00.006+08:00

I was walking up the stairs of the shophouse along boat quay where Asylum is located. Asking myself if I'm not dreaming. I never thought I would have a chance to meet Chris, the industry big shot aka god of Singapore Design. Someone who has inspired me back in poly days and is still insipiring today. I've been a fan of his creative work, philosophy and achievements. I'm always caught reading about his latest work/interviews online.

First thing he said, hey you look familiar. Guess we met before when I helped out at the design society exhibition few years back. The 80 mins conversation we had today was a rewarding one. We spoke about agency life, school days, our lovely clients and dreams. He summarized his life journey as a fresh grad, surviving in agency and eventually working in one of the best agency, the break through where he started Asylum. He was really nice to dig out some of the print works for me to see, feel and touch the actual creative outcome.

At the end of the day, it's about being passionate and hungry for good work. It been a while since I feel so enlightened and inspired again. I got my book signed! :) These sort of opportunities don't happen much. It still feel surreal. Back to thinking what I want to achieve in this lifetime before taking the next step. If life can be less complicated, less responsibility to shoulder. I would already had knew my answer.

Summer outfits

2011-08-09T23:48:00.001+08:00

2011-05-01T11:49:00.004+08:00

He always spend a long time talking to me (sharing his life experiences in previous agencies, his stories as a husband and father) and i got infected by his beliefs and passion for life and design. He has a heart of gold and I feel like I've met a 贵人. He didn't have to spend the time on somebody like me who just join the company and is only a junior AD. But he did just because he wants me to learn as much as possible. Perhaps we came from the same background. Started working as a graphic designer and somehow went on to do advertising. Maybe he experienced the same obstacles I was facing.

He's really sweet and thoughtful. To even make cup noodles for us being worried that we'll skipped dinner just so to have more time to rush out deadlines. It's been a while since I felt so inspired. To be wise and be able to give, share and inspire others is the greatest gift. I feel that my life is steered absurdly by change towards working in this agency just so that I can meet a wonderful mentor like him. Who'd imagine he would call me up for a interview after all the mad rush with the graduation show at raffles city last july? He isn't just a boss and my mentor. He has become my role model and a dear friend. I think it's fate that we cross our life with certain people in our life to rub off some of their colours and add on to our palette.

Into my 9 months here and I'm really grateful for his everything. I will continue to take with me his wisdom, words and encouragements to wherever i go in future. Thank you laoban!

First Rally

2011-04-30T12:44:00.005+08:00

Attended my 1st rally yesterday with laoban. I'm finally legal to vote thus decided to experience what's election all about. It was mad crowded yesterday at the stadium. We left office at 6.30 and only reached the stadium at 7.45 because of the jams. I'm not for any party but just feel it's interesting to get yourself exposed to what's happening out there :)

Because of some jams and cars stucked at the carpark gantry, both of us were stucked in the jeep for an hour plus! The weekend is here finally. Been fighting a long battle at work, hoping for a change to happen. Really exhausted. Shall go for a gd sleep and catch up on sleep.

Jia you my friends for the remaining papers and those at work!

Keep walking :) jia you!

Grace Santorini Hotel

2011-04-19T21:30:00.003+08:00

Definitely on my list of must visit country! Greece, you're so beautiful. It would be nice if money is nothing in this world..

feeling like a trip to emerald city...

2011-04-02T23:44:00.002+08:00

love these......

2011-04-02T21:48:00.003+08:00

Can't wait to get my hands on a pair of sperry boatman. Eyeing the bright colours as it's the spring season, or the navy blue/red for easy maintenance :) In need of a comfy shoes because timberland shoes gave me such a huge blister.

Invested abit more moolahs hoping that it can last me longer and i heard their shoes are pretty gd n comfy. Really disappointed. Once bitten twice shy. Will try to wax the shoes with candles and probably give it a one last chance!

2011-03-26T00:51:00.002+08:00

Woke up early to grab hold of a copy of TODAY. The adrenaline rush you feel when you flip and saw your work out there printed in don't know how many copies (maybe a few thousands?). Have experienced many first times for e past 8 months. Still learning and picking up. Bit by bit, step by step.

Same same but different.

2011-03-26T00:03:00.005+08:00

Been working hard at work thus i vanished into thin air for the pasts months. Until weeks ago, started catching up with friends. Met up with the gang, happy 3 friends, ex colleagues and rappers. Glad i managed to accomplish that :) It's impt to cherish the time spent with your loved ones. Some weekends just feel so staying hm, catching up on sleep and eat home cook food :) Very gratefully i've a cute mum who love to experiment in her kitchen and is gd in cooking. Perhaps I should really pick up cooking and be a gd wife? (kidding) Thanks love for picking me up from work aft OT and everything. You're always so understanding and sweet :)

Unpredictable deadline/ working shedule make it hard to meet aft work. Guess that life. The decision i made years ago. Still passionate, still have no regrets :) Really amazed how all the creative directors cope and still surviving in the industry for so many years.

At some point of time, I've reached a stage whereby i need to find out my own identity. Identity crisis? Design or advertising? Or finding a platform to cope with what i am doing and want to do. Maybe a get away could help to sort out the on going thoughts. But i've to say I've never met such a nice lao ban. He's more than a friend. Thanks for all the HTHT sessions. I will remember all the little gesturers like making cup noodles for us, reminders to go home early, to knock off and enjoy every fridays. 你人太好了.

Gd night folks!

2011-01-30T23:13:00.004+08:00

这阵子好忙也好累。我已经习惯了这么繁忙和复杂的创意广告生活。

不过有时会停下来回头想想这样的人生，活着是否开心？

Been OT like crazy for the past 2 weeks. So glad i survived it!

3 more days to finish projs on hand before going on a short CNY break.

Need more me and sleeping time to make up for the past 2 wks.

Keep warm my dear friends, see ya guys soon!

C Campaign

2011-01-15T00:16:00.005+08:00

1st agency

1st paid photo shoot

1st ATL campaign

My first manifesto ad out today's in ST urban!

Can't describe the feeling of seeing your work in the newspaper :D

好累啊

2011-01-12T23:50:00.003+08:00

been down with flu since mon. feeling so tired and the tap above my mouth just keep flowing like a river. thank goodness there's vickpro by my side!

beginning to wonder the reason I'm here. it's true that designer should always stay hungry.

2011-01-07T23:44:00.002+08:00

Highlights of 2010

Graduated.

Organised a degree show with the committee.

Visited aussie & indo.

Landed in a gd place with nice people

2011 Resolution

class 3 (like finally!)

visit another new country

keep fit (more swimming + jogging)

lose kgs

focus in my career

work hard and try my luck to win some a. (lao ban we'll jia you)

winning is never easy, but a quitter never wins and a winner never quits.

Been into green lately.

2010-12-31T00:19:00.002+08:00

The Paradox Of Our Time

2010-12-31T00:08:00.002+08:00

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers;
wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less;
we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge, but less judgment;
more experts, yet more problems;
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we we have less communication.
We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
big men and small character;
steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce;
fancier houses but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom and little in our heart's room.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

2010-12-29T16:32:00.002+08:00

I'm back from my trip. Glad to be home safe and sound after hearing the boat incident :( On the side note, finally got time to sit down and work on a simple calendar to welcome the new year! It's a chop chop job so I'm satisfied with the outcome. All photos taken by me over the years. Some for paper promo proj back at RMIT, some holiday photos in MELB and CAMERON.

人生是要为自己而活

2010-12-20T22:31:00.004+08:00

YEAH! MY BLOG IS STILL ALIVE!

Enjoyed the xmas gathering yesterday :) had a great time shopping with bestful :P I'm looking forward to the short getaway at some ulu island. 5 more days! Really tired from work not physically but mentally for the past months. My shoulders are aching, eyes are tired from the computer staring all day long. Time to lend salonpas from mummy :P

So much thoughts. I guess because we're at this young age whereby we should be brave enough to take up challenges, to do what you like, to fight for your passion, to not stay in a comfort zone, to learn all you can from your superior and the most important is to make full use of the chance of being young once in a lifetime. I'm wonder where will I be a year from now. Hmm time to sit down and set some goals for year 2011.

2010-09-10T22:24:00.006+08:00

I've graduated, got a job and adapting to the world of advertising. I would like to thanks my parents for supporting my decision to study what i like and encouraging me to follow my passion. I guess not many parents allow their children or give them the freedom to do what they like. I'm really grateful :) Despite those late hours rushing grad show in sch, those days i work late, my mum will heat up the soup for me and all. Thanks love for fetching me to school/ print shop whenever i have to carry huge boards, can't rem how many days you dropped by sch and raffles city to help all of us out with grad show. The night you helped out as a last minute van driver. Also thanks for being the photographer whenever i need to 'model' my books/ projs. Thanks happy 3 friends for being there during the past 1 year. Will rem the times we spent toge and not forgetting those days in melb. The heart to heart chats at nights and washing laundry toge :) Thanks friends for being so understanding. Accepting my busy and unpredictable schedules and encouragement for the past years. I would not have come this far without everyone of you :)

Work has been picking up very fast. I must say working in a agency is quite different from a design house. There's always pros and cons. But I'm really lucky to have met such a gd boss and nice bunch of colleagues :) Going back to work tml, need to crack 2 new briefs over the weekends. Tough time don't last, tough people do :)

2010-07-25T15:01:00.004+08:00

I've decided to give my room a simple make over because i literally had got nothing much to do for the past 2 weeks. (convinced that i should be nice to myself for once and go for a well deserved break aft months of hardwork do grad show stuff).

Bought some new furniture, threw away loads of rubbish, painted the room. There's still places I want to touch up. Perhaps some green decor, DIY stuff as the room is too white for now. So much to do in a week time. Time files. One more week to AUGUST. I'm starting to feel nervous :S I'm looking forward to meet new people, adapt in a foreign & big environment but the most exciting yet stressful part would be doing something I've never done before.

2010-07-13T23:11:00.002+08:00

Have been going back to sch to work on the thank you dvd for guests who turned up on opening night. I seriously think I've grown too attached to the sch for the past one year. Will miss the cosy mac lab, those crazy late night in sch, happy 3 friends and the sleepy train journey home late in the night with ridz.

Over the weekend, I threw away many unwanted secondary sch stuff and my poly works with drew's help. (I took photos of those amateurish looking design i did back then in year 1). Came across the collaterals i produced for SC & NYAA and the mag + box that drew gave me at the bus stop. They mean so much to us thus i decided to keep it :)

From now till aug, i should become best friends with adsoftheworld!

And time to look for nice clothes for work. No more tees and short days :S

2010-07-11T00:39:00.003+08:00

It's july and half of the year is gone already. Thanks for coming to my grad show. U guys are so awesome! (: Hope you guys had fun exploring your 5 senses. I'm glad we made it irregardless what we went through. Looking back at the how much time we put in to plan an event like this . I really think it's amazing. Thanks guy, let's just hope we will not become strangers after graduation.

I'm taking a short break for now before starting work in aug. I'm looking forward to it yet for some reason... having those kind of mixed feelings -_- maybe sometime things happen for a reason.

To do list for july.

1. Recharging my battery after what I went through in sch for grad show.

2. Makeover my room (hopefully i will succeed this time)

3. Clearing junks out of my room

4. Catch up with friends & loved ones

5. More me time

6. Read up on advertising + see more ads

7. Stay passionate about what i want to do

I'm promise to be back when i think of something to blog about. Gd night folks (:

Come get your 5 sense worth!

2010-06-19T22:59:00.005+08:00

The posters are up at Basheer and Fancy Paper! It's a nice feeling to see my hard work out there :) From thumbnails, conceptual development to press check. Thanks Des for being my assistant today :)

2 more weeks to go. Time to catch up on my personal proj submissions -_-

Check out the grad show web banner!

2010-05-26T11:11:00.004+08:00

http://www1.sim.edu.sg/sge/pub/gen/sge_pub_gen_home.cfm

Unglam 十连拍 :P

2010-05-16T21:52:00.003+08:00

Tay huay!

2010-05-16T21:36:00.005+08:00

Sudden craving after dinner on tue. Thanks love :) Ta bao one for uncle sam and return him his luggage. Thank you neighbour and pls stop going to BK! I must stop eating so much and forget about all the cravings. Sadly, i've gained weight and I'm hoping my diet plans don't fail on me :)

More veggies and less carbo + exercise! Way to go :)

What I miss about Melbourne

2010-05-15T00:52:00.006+08:00

1. The 13°C weather

2. Experiencing a foreign land

3. Staying in own apartment

4. Cooking with friends

5. Koko black

6. Nice cafes ( latte + pastries)

7. Starbust sweets

8. Wearing leggings + my brown boots (you will melt if you wear them here in sg!)

9. Food :D

10. QVM (somehow i have a thing for markets)

11. Smiggle!

If i ever revisit Melb again, i will go to Great Ocean Road, Chapel Street, St Kildas in the day, see kolas and kangaroos, DFOs. No matter what, though cliche home is where the heart is. Looking forward to my next holiday :) 2 more months to graduation. A year went past just like that. Not in the best mood to finish up all those projs and grad show. It's feel more like a chore but I know I have to find a way. 加油萨曼莎!

Happy mummy day!

2010-05-10T10:15:00.008+08:00

Had a great lunch over's at grandma place yest. Celebrated ahma's 82th birthday cum a birthday for all the mothers :) Went over to drew's house to watch Qinghui's dance performance video. It was awesome, she's born to be a dancing queen :) Then i came back, nap, woke up to bathe and sleep again! Must be due to the jet lag. Feeling good to be home. But i kinda miss the blue skies, nice breezes, cold weather, autumn leaves back in Melb.

2010-05-05T20:05:00.006+08:00

Skype session with love. Been busy with attending lesson over here in melb and grad show meeting. There's this nude drawing class we have to attend tml. I'm so not interested at all because i can't draw and why must there be nude model?

Going to do some last min shopping on fri and sat am before leaving for the airport :) Need more retail therapy. Bought quite a few bags from factory outlet today.

Got to go for meeting at 10.3opm :p

Gd day mate!

2010-05-02T18:16:00.001+08:00

Internet is so slow tonight. Can't upload more photos. More to come when I'm back. 6 more days!

Melbourne!

2010-04-26T19:26:00.004+08:00

Hello guys, I doing good here. Love the weather :) Internet is ex. Take care

Melbourne tonight!

2010-04-24T17:18:00.002+08:00

Leaving in a few hours. Pretty much excited. Thanks uncle sam for lending the luggage, it was still too small and couldn't fit in all my stuff. Appreciate the effort u went back to ur west house to get it in the middle of the night. Had a struggle with all luggages this morning, in the end we had to go out n get a 28 inch. It's gigantic! Thanks mum n love :)

It's the first time i had problem packing. Worried about the drastic change in weather plus I'm belong to the afraid of cold department. Will do laundry at night, some cooking with friends, alot of walking, shopping and whatever that comes along.

Not much free time to do any research or planning beforehand. Thanks twinny for the call last night to tell me what to do/ see/ eat in melb :) I will check out valley girl! Haha I shall read up on the brochures i get from the airport tml morning. Quite sure we're heading to great ocean road!

Thanks for all the well wishes. Will take care of myself. All the best for those who are studying for exams :) I will miss home and everyone of you. Take care folks! Mackie, you're going to aussie with me! Let's start packing up...

2010-04-09T22:30:00.003+08:00

First photo of mackie, my 2nd mbp :) Hopefully my 3rd Macintosh can be a imac with much bigger harddisk. But this is more than enough for now :) thanks pa & ma! I'll do my best for the remaining few months. Forgive me for the messy desk. Even mackie is drowning in the sea of projects. I'm so envious of some classmates who can just concentrate on their on individual assignments and not even bother to care about grad show. That 5 of us can't stop ranting. We need to rant to destress. And like i told ridz, i've been seeing him everyday for 12 days straight, even on weekends!

Grad show ppt & FA, definition of design, peter's proj, folio, 3 bks, social networking to be completed in 2 wks time. Back to the sea once again :P

2010-04-01T02:10:00.003+08:00

when the going gets tougher, think of seeing me! (:

my boy texted me this morning while i was on my way to sch. he knew what i was going through without me telling him. thank you love! it's been a busy month. no time for family, love and friends :(

grad show direction is stressing me out. i must say i'm really lucky to have met such a bunch of supportive and close friends :) sch would have be boring if not for penny and gang. soon we will be graduating... will miss the fun times and all but there's just so much work to do now to meet MELB deadline. Let's finish our work and have an awesome time in aussie. Looking forward to aircon weather.

PS. loving my new mackie! not the price though. will pay pa&ma when i start work (: hope it will serve good for many years down the road.

Macless

2010-03-21T23:50:00.003+08:00

This month has been a emotional rollercoaster ride for me. My mac crashed. My first mac, a machine that is so dear and impt to me. It was so sudden. Why died at this time when I'm about to graduate. I didn't know one can feel so helpless without a computer. There's something wrong with the motherboard, not harddisk prob so it's way too ex to repair.

Anyway, I shl be thankful that the Computer man managed to help me recover my data. Lesson learnt, always back up up files. Thanks love for helping me to settle down with whatever i need. So that i no longer has to stay in sch till 9pm to use the mac in the lab. Can't wait to get my new macbk pro. I need to get my files and projs organised before melb trip. 4 more months to grad show. Really hope the new one is coming out by April.

I really need a mac soon.

a vintage ride

2010-02-22T11:11:00.003+08:00

Some few wks ago, had the privilege to experience a ride in Chris's vintage beetle to buy paper for grad show CNY card. Manual car, boot at the front. Quite amazing that the 4 of us managed to squeeze into the beetle. I wouldn't mind a beetle but I'm still a loyal cooper fan :)

Awesome bunch of friends from NSEW :)

2010-02-20T00:28:00.003+08:00

fship.

2010-02-20T00:20:00.004+08:00

"I know the world isn''t fair, but why isn''t it ever unfair in my favor? Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not."

Bill Watterson

2010-02-14T00:31:00.000+08:00

We met on 14th not to celebrate Valentine's but lunar new year (: isn't it cool. Like what people often said, if you two are happy together, everyday is Valentine's day.

whole lot of love

2010-02-13T19:43:00.011+08:00

Just got home from reunion dinner over at ah ma's place. Love ah mah's signature Ngoh Hiang. The taste is so heavenly :)

Happy New Year my friends, and a Happy Valentine's Day!

May it be filled with lots of love and sweet surprises.

2010-02-07T23:56:00.000+08:00

happy birthday uncle sam (:

Double happiness (:

2010-01-30T18:30:00.003+08:00

TDS: 100 ICONS @ NLB

2010-01-30T18:10:00.008+08:00

Thanks Chris for the opportunity for everyone of us to be part of this event, to meet and work with the key creative directors in the industry. I'm really impressed by their work, dreams and their actions. Stay passionate and be hungry!

2010-01-30T18:00:00.004+08:00

I still dream of a house by the sea. With the sound of waves to wake up every morning to. And witness the sun floods the eastern horizon with glory.

2010-01-18T20:42:00.002+08:00

So glad that i'm still alive, able to to type out this entry. Went jogging with love over the weekends to train for the 5km in march. It was my first run this year and perhaps since poly days. Barely ran past loyang point and while jogging towards W2, i stopped and felt so giddy. Squatted down by the road hoping that i'll be okay aft a short rest. It didn't help. So we crossed the road, planning to take bus home. Waited for 15 mins which feel like an hour. Was feeling really terrible during the wait. My stomach feeling weird, face looking super pale and all. Could not tahan anymore, took a taxi and head home with 4 bucks in our pockets.

Hopefully, it's my fear or phobia that i need to overcome. and nothing else more serious than that. so happy to be able to step back into home. at the end of the day, i realised nothing else is more important than staying fit and being by the side of your loved ones.

2010-01-13T19:11:00.003+08:00

BUSY MODE.

*be back when i find time to 'breathe' :)

2010-01-06T22:57:00.005+08:00

1. BE REAL. Are you trying to be friends with someone to be accepted into a certain clique, or because you'd like to get to know someone else that he or she knows? That's not friendship, it's opportunism. Every new person you meet has the right to be accepted (or not) on his or her own merits, it's better to just be yourself than let anyone else influence you into being someone you are not.

2. BE HONEST. A dishonest person has no chance of having true friends. Keep your promises, do what you say you are going to do, and most importantly, don't lie! Lying is when you say "Okay, I will...", but you never will: people will eventually figure you out. If you found yourself lying about doing things, then not trying to keep your word. Admit how you felt, as well as how you may think that he or she might have felt (Explain that you were second-guessing that you felt like you had to say "Yes..." -- rather than trusting your friendship and just saying "I can't." -- or "I don't know when I'll have time..."). Be dependable.

3. BE LOYAL. If your friend tells you something in confidence, don't talk about it to anyone else.Don't discuss your friend behind his/her back except when it involves the other person, and you won't just make it worse. Nobody likes a gossip or backstabber. Never say anything about your friend that you would not really want to repeat face to face. Don't let others say bad things about your friend until you've had a chance to hear your friend's side of the story. If someone says something that shocks you and doesn't seem like a thing your friend would do or say, then

respond as, "I know him/her, and that just doesn't sound right. Let me talk to him/her, find out his/her perspective on this. If it turns out to be true, I'll let you know. Until then, I would appreciate it, if you didn't spread that around, because that might not be what was really meant or intended..

But, you can't play both sides of the fence. Agree with one -- or the other... not with both sides! But don't accuse either one without a real reason.

4. Be respectful. Know the boundaries. Things you and your friend discuss should be treated with care - your friend is not sharing this information with just anyone, and may not want to. She shared it with you - and only you, as far as you know. Example: If your friend doesn't want to name her crush, don't push her into it. If she has named her crush, don't tell anyone else. This is just common courtesy anyone and everyone deserves the expectation that you will keep confidences.

5. If your friend is going through a crisis -- don't say: "Everything is going to be all right." -- if it's not going to be. This goes right along with keeping it real. It's hard not to say that sometimes, but false reassurance can often be worse than none, and it may undermine your friend's ability to get through the crisis as well as one might. Instead, tell your friend that "Whatever you decide or need, I am there for you." If the need is to talk: talk; if it's to sit quietly: sit there. If the need is to relax and get your minds off of things, offer to take in a movie or concert "together." Give a sincere hug, if you are friends -- not strangers, after all. Stay honest, but upbeat and positive. Even a stranger would appreciate a sincere word or possibly a gesture of a "quick" hug, or a hand rubbed across the back for just "a moment," but don't overdo it.

6. Never make a promise you know you can't keep. Good friendship is based on trust - if you break a friend's trust, the friendship may be very hard to salvage. Of course, if you have made a promise and planned to keep it, but circumstances beyond your control conspire to prevent it, let your friend know as soon as you find out. Don't wait until 15 minutes after you were supposed to arrive to call and say, "gee, I'm sorry." Instead, a quick call to say, "Hey, I know I promised to help you with whatever it is, but my mom is telling me we are going to my aunt's for the weekend, and leaving tomorrow just after school - that means I won't be able to make it. I'm so sorry. Can we reschedule?" That's just honoring the fact that your friend is counting on you, and respecting the fact that, given a little notice, your friend might just be able to get someone else to help with whatever it was - or not, whatever. But at least you won't be hanging your friend out to twist in the wind.

7. Listen. you don't have to agree -- just listen to what is said. Make sure to stop talking to listen -- so you are not just running your mouth. Some people don't really find it interesting listening to someone talk about your/their feelings 24/7. If you're monopolizing every conversation with your feelings, the friend isn't getting anything out of the relationship (Don't sigh and groan like the world is against you. Seek help elsewhere and try to stop being paranoid.). Invite sharing hearts with you as often as you would share your heart -- but not so you have a monopoly on the friends time or have some juicy gossip or a cut down like to do to "teach a lesson" to your friend. A long or hard lesson may not be practical or appreciated at all.

8. Live by the golden rule. Always treat a friend as you would want to be treated. If you don't -- there will be repercussions. Don't do or say anything that you wouldn't want done to you. Be there through thick and thin as long as that is how you feel as a true friend. Don't begrudge everything as a favor that has to be repaid immediately

9. Don’t keep score. Who called who last? Who bought lunch last? Who spent the most on Christmas gifts? Who forgot whose birthday? Who cares? If you have a good friend, cut a little slack. If your friendship really isn’t that great, then maybe you need to re-evaluate it. The health benefits of friendship will outlast the score-keeping cards.

10. Notice the little stuff. The conversations that matter the most are the quick little ones that last only a few minutes. It’s not always the deep long heart-to-hearts that bond friends together -- it's the day to day minutiae of everyday life. One way to be a good friend is to have short, sweet conversations.

11. Focus on the positive. We all have quirks and weaknesses; focusing on your friend’s strengths and wonderful qualities will keep your friendship alive and strong. To be a good friend, forget about the things you wish were different

so, what's your definition of good friend? have you been honest enough?

Have an awesome new year ahead! :)

2010-01-01T18:16:00.003+08:00

2009-12-30T21:58:00.002+08:00

why am i always the one putting in more effort for most of the group projs?

i actually enjoy the process, don't mind giving more than i take. but i can feel that this is killing me softly. the world is never fair. I used to strongly believe in doing my very best in everything i do, otherwise what's the point of doing something half-heartedly..

i feel that this sem is pretty useless. no exciting new briefs to begin with. unprepared lectures and classes except for stephen's class.

time to chiong for proj! can't wait for the 18 Jan deadline to be over.

sabanta jia you!

It's the most wooonderful time of the year!

2009-12-26T01:08:00.003+08:00

Realised I haven't been uploading any photos blog. I guess FB is alot more convenient but i will definitely update here once a while about bits and pieces of my life.

Xmas is over, thanks for all the wishes and presents my dear friends. Loving the xmas starbucks tumbler from my classmate. Got one for love, cheers to our couple tumblers. Thanks for the mango cardigan which will put to gd use in april. Time to make new year resolution again :)

Take the one week Debrand your life challenge

2009-12-22T23:13:00.005+08:00

* in the midst of doing research for my upcoming presentation. Come to think of it designers create brands, design advertisement to create awareness and all. Does it make us a evil person? Anyway, I'm inspired to take up the challenge. I shall give it a try because i believe in living a simple life. I don't need an iphone, all i need is a phone that can call and sms. I don't need a designer top nor a branded bag. Life goes on.

If you have a problem with shopping, you’re obsessed by brands, or you just want to make life cheaper and easier, try following these tips for a less branded lifestyle.

1. Avoid advertising

Have you ever started reading a glossy magazine feeling good about yourself, only to finish the thing feeling fat, unfashionable and poor? Advertising images are specifically designed to present idealized images of people with new products. It’s a fact that the more ads you see, the more dissatisfied you become with your own life. Studies prove that less you look, the stronger your self-esteem will be. Watch less TV. Stop buying glossy magazines. Block pop-up ads on your computer. It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel, and you’ll be less inclined to go shopping to cheer yourself up.

2. Separate wants from needs
In many ways, branding is used to manufacture need when there is none. It’s easy to get stuck on the shopping treadmill by mistaking the things you want for the things that you need. Try working out what you actually need to survive comfortably and you’ll see how much money we waste on non-essential items. Do you really need a new pair of trainers, a new bag, a new phone?
Every time you’re waiting in line at the till, ask yourself do I really need this stuff? If the answer is no, put it back on the shelf. Life goes on.

3. Shop around
Brands often tell us that the more money we spend, the better quality we’ll get, but that’s often just a myth to get us paying more. It’s easy to find cheaper versions of expensive brands online, in markets or second hand, be it clothes or gadgets or even food. And they’re often just as good quality. It takes a bit more effort, but once you get used to paying £5 for a t-shirt, you’ll never go back to spending £50. See the links page for a list of non-branded suppliers.

3. Plan ahead
Brands rely on us being too busy or too lazy to plan ahead. Most of the stuff we buy each day is due to lack of planning, like bottled water for instance.
Try to plan before you leave the house each day and you’ll rely less on impulse buying. Try to buy your weekly essentials in one go, or better still get it delivered – you’ll need to visit fewer shops and be less tempted to splurge.

4. Have a clear out
Rummage through the back of your closets and you’re bound to find stuff that you’ll never use again. How long before the stuff you bought last week becomes redundant too? Clearing out your junk is a useful reminder that the things we ‘invest in’ rarely turn out to be as useful as we once thought.

5. Stop shopping for leisure
Try finding other things to do over the weekend beyond shopping. Chances are you may not know what to do with yourself at first, and you might feel increasingly anxious and bored, but stick with it. Play sport, do art, go to the country, visit your mates… anything but shopping. I promise you, these things become more interesting and more rewarding as time goes on.

6. Cut up your credit cards
Living within the means of your pay packet as opposed to your overdraft turns non-essential purchasing into a luxury rather than a habit. Just like Mother used to say, you’ll value things more when you’ve saved up for them.

7. Live simple
Brands complicate everything in life. Even the simplest purchases – which coffee, which underwear, which toaster? – can be racked with status anxiety.
Once you stop worrying what your brands say and mean, life gets so much simpler. Keeping your life clutter-free can become just as addictive and shopping, but it is so much more rewarding.

8. Forget about glamour
None of the above points sound very glamorous. But then glamour is really just another myth perpetuated by brands. It’s important to remember this when you’re barraged with aspirational ads day in, day out. Will you really become more glamorous with Beyonce’s brand of hair dye? In any case, the people who appear to have achieved real glamour – Posh & Paris – are miserable wretches themselves. And they don’t use home hair dye kits anyway.

9. Understand the triggers
This is the tough one. If you’re habitually buying into brands, it’s probably to medicate another issue that’s rumbling on in your life. Most psychologists agree that conspicuous consumption, habitual shopping and constant striving for wealth are symptoms of deeper emotional issues. Perhaps this is a time for self-reflection? Psychologists often joke that the best thing a lottery winner could buy is therapy.

10. Be realistic
Trying to live brand free is like keeping to a low fat diet – a little bit of chocolate cake once in a while isn’t going to kill you as long as the bulk of your diet is healthy. Buying branded when you really need to isn’t the end of the world, just don’t expect that purchase to change your life. And be careful not to slip back into the old routines!

2009-12-21T22:48:00.002+08:00

my back (or is it the spine) has been aching for the past few days. don't know what causes it, let's just hope it will go away soon :)

2009-12-21T01:42:00.003+08:00

Came across this old post written in May 07. We are already into the last 10 days of 2009. I'll pick myself up and face the obstacles ahead.

From my idol (guess it was extracted from his email):

"When you are stressed about work, always take a break. Think of someone out there who is supportive and thinking of you!" Other than the experience working with sports teams and other student leaders of TP, there is another thing that I have gained and should cherish throughout my life. This person has shown me tremendous willingness, perseverance and independence. I truly admired her style of work and the motivation that drives her on. She is none other than my girl friend. She also understands my commitments and never once complained that I have little time for her when in school term. She has designed all the posters, banners for Sports Club events. Even SAA events such as Sports Symposium and the Jam & Hop were using her design work. All these were not easy, her designs had to appease everyone’s comments and also after many modifications, then they were approved and was constantly working with the pressures of school work and tight datelines. Keep on this positive attitude, your efforts will be appreciated!

2009-12-21T01:05:00.002+08:00

Had a great time meeting the gang just now :) This should be a happy post but i just had some random thoughts that maybe there's no reason why people get married just like how people fall in love.

Projects, projects. So much going on in my head, so much work to do. Somehow i missing working and earning money. I need to find more ME time to sit down and be more productive soon. I wish to get away from this sunny island, i want to take let my mind take a break from everything. Can't wait for melb trip in april!

May 2010 be a better year.

2009-12-17T23:12:00.002+08:00

tell me why?

2009-12-17T20:29:00.003+08:00

Stephen's lectures have been very inspiring. How can one live and breath typefaces every second of his life? I'm still very amazed by his work and studio. 3 more days of intensive lectures (:

The 7 Steps to Happily Ever After

2009-12-12T00:48:00.001+08:00

I thought this is a rather interesting article.

....................................................

The 7 Steps to Happily Ever After

What makes love last a lifetime? Affection? Yep. Respect? Sure. But a great marriage is not just about what you have. It's about what you do to make a relationship stronger, safer, more caring and committed. Here's how to make your "forever" fantastic.

By Marjorie Ingall

Marriage is a home, a refuge against the outside storms. And like any house, it requires a strong, lasting foundation. To build one, every couple needs to take certain steps — seven, to be precise — that turn the two of you into not just you and me but we. You may not move through all the steps in order, and you may circle back to complete certain steps again (and again and again). But if you make it through them all, you'll be well on your way toward creating a marriage that will be your shelter as long as you both shall live.

Step 1: Find a shared dream for your life together.

It's easy to get caught up in the small stuff of married life: What's for dinner tonight? Whose turn is it to clean the litter box? Did you pay the electric bill? But the best partners never lose sight of the fact that they're working together to achieve the same big dreams. "Successful couples quickly develop a mindfulness of 'us,' of being coupled," says REDBOOK Love Network expert Jane Greer, Ph.D., a marriage and family therapist in New York City. "They have a shared vision, saying things like, 'We want to plan to buy a house, we want to take a vacation to such-and-such a place, we like to do X, we think we want to start a family at Y time.'"

This kind of dream-sharing starts early. "Couples love to tell the story of how they met," points out Julie Holland, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine. "It's like telling a fairy tale. But happy couples will go on creating folklore and history, with the meet-cute forming the bedrock of the narrative." As you write and rewrite your love story ("our hardest challenge was X, our dream for retirement is Y"), you continually remind yourselves and each other that you're a team with shared values and goals. And P.S.: When you share a dream, you're a heck of a lot more likely to make that dream come true.

Step 2: Ignite (and reignite) a sexual connection.

In any good relationship, sex is way more than just a physical act. It's crucial for the health of your emotional connection, too: It's something only the two of you share; it makes you both feel warm and loved; it draws you back together when you're drifting apart. And did I mention that it's a whole lot of fun?

Striking up those sparks when you first meet is easy. Nurturing a strong, steady flame? That's the hard part. When you've got a mortgage, a potbelly, and a decade or two of togetherness under your belts, it can be hard to muster up the fire you felt when you first got together. That's when it's even more important to protect your sex life and make it a priority. "You have to keep working to create allure and seduction for each other or your sex life will become lackluster," Greer points out. "Who wants the same turkey sandwich over and over? You want it on whole wheat! On toast! As turkey salad! On a roll!" (And now I will imagine my husband covered with Russian dressing. Thanks, Dr. Greer.)

As the years go by, you'll keep revisiting and realigning and reimagining the passion you have for each other. And if you keep at it, you'll have a sex life that transcends your marriage's lack of newness, the stresses of family and work, the physical changes that come with aging. Now that's something worth holding on to.

Step 3: Choose each other as your first family.

For years, you were primarily a member of one family: the one in which you grew up. Then you got married, and suddenly you became the foundation of a new family, one in which husband and wife are the A-team. It can be tough to shift your identity like this, but it's also an important part of building your self-image as a duo (and maybe, eventually, as three or four or...).

For me, making this transition meant stopping the incessant bitching to my mom when I was mad at my husband — my behavior was disloyal, and I had to learn to talk to Jonathan, not about him. My friend Lynn tells the story of her mother's reaction to a trip to the Middle East she and her then-boyfriend (now husband) had planned. Her mother hit the roof, calling incessantly to urge Lynn not to go. Eventually, Lynn's boyfriend got on the phone with Mom and explained why they were excited to share this experience. "It was clear then that we were the team," Lynn says now. "Not teaming up against my mother, but teaming up together to deal with her issues."

Whatever your challenges — an overprotective mom? an overly critical father-in-law? — you have to outline together the boundaries between you and all of the families connected to you. Not only will you feel stronger as a united front but when you stick to your shared rules, all that family baggage will weigh on you a lot less.

Step 4: Learn how to fight right.

I'm embarrassed to think of how I coped with conflict early in my relationship with Jonathan. I stormed out — a lot. I once threw an apple at his head. Hard. (Don't worry, I missed — on purpose.) I had a terrible habit of threatening divorce at the slightest provocation. But eventually I figured that this was pretty moronic. I didn't want out, and I knew that pelting someone with fruit was not a long-term marital strategy.

"Fighting is the big problem every couple has to deal with," says Daniel B. Wile, Ph.D., a psychologist and couples therapist in Oakland, CA, and author of After the Fight. That's because fights will always come up, so every couple needs to learn how to fight without tearing each other apart.

Fighting right doesn't just mean not throwing produce; it means staying focused on the issue at hand and respecting each other's perspective. Couples that fight right also find ways to defuse the tension, says Wile — often with humor. "Whenever one of us wants the other to listen up, we mime hitting the TV remote, a thumb pressing down on an invisible mute button," says Nancy, 52, an event producer in San Francisco. "It cracks us up, in part because it must look insane to others." Even if you fight a lot, when you can find a way to turn fights toward the positive — with a smile, a quick apology, an expression of appreciation for the other person — the storm blows away fast, and that's what matters.

Step 5: Find a balance between time for two and time for you.

Jonathan and I both work at home. This frequently leads to murderous impulses. Though I'm typing away in the bedroom and he's talking to his consulting clients in our small home office, most days it really feels like too much intimacy for me.

But that's my bias. When it comes to togetherness, every couple has its own unique sweet spot. "There are couples that are never apart and there are couples that see each other only on weekends," Greer says. With the right balance, neither partner feels slighted or smothered. You have enough non-shared experiences to fire you up and help you maintain a sense of yourself outside the relationship — not to mention give you something to talk about at the dinner table. But you also have enough time together to feel your connection as a strong tie rather than as a loose thread.

Your togetherness needs will also change over time, so you'll have to shift your balance accordingly. "My husband and I spend a lot of time together, but it's almost all family time," says Katie, 40, a mom of two in San Leandro, CA. "We realized a few months ago that we hadn't had a conversation that didn't involve the kids or our to-do lists in ages, so we committed to a weekly date. We were so happy just to go to the movies and hold hands, something we hadn't done in ages. It felt like we were dating again!"

Step 6: Build a best friendship.

Think about the things that make your closest friendships irreplaceable: the trust that comes with true intimacy, the willingness to be vulnerable, the confidence that the friendship can withstand some conflict. Don't those sound like good things to have in your marriage, too?

"Happy couples are each other's haven," says Holland. "They can count on the other person to listen and try to meet their needs." Greer adds, "When you're true friends, you acknowledge and respect what the other person is; you don't try to control or change them. This creates a sense of safety and security when you're together — you know you're valued for who you are and you see the value in your partner."

Then there's the way, when you've been with someone a while, that you become almost a mind reader. You have a shared history and inside jokes. Your guy knows what you'll find funny, you forward him links to articles you know he'll enjoy, and best of all, you two can make eye contact at a given moment and say volumes without opening your mouths. And is there anything more pleasurable than sharing the newspaper with someone? Sitting in companionable silence, absorbed in your respective reading, sipping coffee, occasionally reading something out loud, but mostly just lazing happily together, communing without needing to speak? Ahh....

Step 7: Face down a major challenge together.

You're sailing along through life, and suddenly you hit a huge bump. A serious illness. Unemployment. The loss of a home. A death in the family. How do you cope?

The truth is, you never know how strong your relationship is until it's tested. All too often, the stress of a crisis can pull a couple apart. But the good news is, when you do make it through in one piece, you might just find yourselves tighter than ever.

"What didn't happen to us?" says Daryl, 28, a preschool teacher in Harrisburg, PA. "My husband lost his job and took a minimum-wage job he was way overqualified for just to make ends meet. He was offered a better job in a mountain town outside San Diego, so we moved. Then during the California wildfires several years ago, our house burned down and we lost everything. We were living in a one-room converted garage with no running water and a newborn. But we found that this chaos somehow brought us even closer together. We took turns losing it. We really kept each other sane."

Hey, marriage is no roll in the hay. It's tough, real work. But the reward, the edifice you build together that will shelter you through years of tough times, is more than worth the effort. The small, friendly cottage you build — decorated with your shared history and stories, filled with color and laughter — will be the warmest and safest retreat you can imagine.

so is he or she the one for you?

or maybe not?

Inspirations

2009-12-07T23:52:00.000+08:00

5 more mintues

2009-12-05T23:08:00.001+08:00

Just Five More Minutes
by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.

“That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.

“He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.”

Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?”

Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”

The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?”

Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.”

The man smiled and said, “OK.”

“My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.

The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.

She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.”

Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities?
Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today! :)

2009-12-03T21:56:00.004+08:00

who wants a weekend filled with sudden love and a entire weekday filled with ___________________ (blanks)

just some thoughts going in my mind, not feeling emo..

have a gd weekend folks :)

Yeah to new mac battery!

2009-11-30T10:53:00.006+08:00

For those who know.. my mac battery has died on me since few months ago! Aft much consideration, decided i really need one for convenience sake. Let's just hope my beloved mac will last me another 2 or 3 years. In fact the longer the better because it's just too ex. I'll take gd care of it. Otherwise, i will have to convert myself to a PC lover. Thanks dear!

Done with quotation, email sent out. *cross fingers*

Time to work on Art History. Why is it so diff to conc on my work this time?

Ganbatte!

2009-11-29T00:14:00.003+08:00

Life brings simple pleasures to us every day.

It is up to us to make them wonderful memories.

Awesome night with the birthday boy & beauties

2009-11-27T01:30:00.002+08:00

2009-11-27T01:26:00.003+08:00

Isn't it so cool?! I'm so gonna take a shot like this when the time comes.

Bai

2009-11-27T01:19:00.010+08:00

New book written by kenya hara. Time to check out book stores again (: Be inspired, always.

2009-11-25T22:44:00.003+08:00

haven't been so busy for the longest time since those working days.

i feel so breathless at times.

i need to organise my time/ thoughts more wisely.

i want to be more productive.

2009-11-18T23:23:00.005+08:00

Been catching up with sch works and some personal stuffs thus the lack of updates :p So much to do yet so little time. All the best to all having exams! Jia you baby, missing you! (:

A-ha-ha-choo!

2009-11-16T21:15:00.002+08:00

I caught the flu bug! :( Been drinking lots of fluids and eating the yellow tablets. Finally intensive is over for now! No more having long lectures in the super super cold classroom. Maybe we shl start bringing winter wear to sch for the next intensive :)

Finally more me- time!

Hope to get well soon for the des's party :)

2009-11-12T23:34:00.002+08:00

It's been a busy week in sch! Looking forward to the weekends, finally sometime to rest and sort out things to be done (:

Your view on yourself:

You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love:

Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

Your views on education

You may not like to study but you have many practical ideas. You listen to your own instincts and tend to follow your heart, so you will probably end up with an unusual job.

The right job for you:

You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:

You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

2009-11-08T23:09:00.002+08:00

Tomorrow is the start of a whole new semester.

So tonight is the end of the 3 wks vacation. I can't believe it will be over so soon when i didn't even touch on any sch related projs throughout e 21 days. Not to even mention those DIY proj that is still on my to do list. Haha This is so amazing! I am so gonna work hard to restart my engine tml. No more procrastination and slacking around :D

2009-11-03T12:16:00.002+08:00

Inspiring story from bestful..

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong - she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile her Mother is baking a cake and asks if her daughter would like a snack, the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."

Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross" Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

Life works in the same way. Many times we wonder why we through such bad and difficult times. But when everything is put together, the result could be very different! We just have to be patient and try to piece everything together.
I hope your day is a "Piece of Cake"!

2009-11-02T23:40:00.003+08:00

Still in the midst of tidying up the files in my mac. I think designers have way to much inspirational photos, design artwork and some rubbish here and there. My mac is only 2 years old and i'm left with 20GB. New desktop wall paper. Have you tried it? It's very fun. Check it out over here (:

Lunch date with G

2009-11-02T20:14:00.004+08:00

Met up with gena for lunch last fri. We went chinatown for food hunting. You see photos of food and nothing else as she rejected my offer to take a photo with her. Haha Looking back, i've left I for close to 5 months. Yet I've been still rather close in contact with Ge, Wil and Gab. It's a gd thing because i really enjoyed working with them and they really take care of me just like big brothers and sisters taking care of 小妹 :) kinda miss those working days even though i very much enjoying my carefree days now. no matter what, i should cherish whatever that is in front of me now. It'll be a different story a year later from now.

2009-10-27T14:48:00.002+08:00

生病了。

All i had for today is a slice of bread yet my stomach is feeling so bloated. Sis vomited yest in the middle of the night. Dear hasn't been feeling well too. I hate the smell of medicine and the thought of having to do nothing but sleep. Let's get well together, shall we?

2009-10-26T22:29:00.002+08:00

I need a therapeutic resort house away from home. It has actually became a need and no longer a want. I don't know how long things can last as it is. So much has been happening back at hm yet even my closest friends have no idea about it. I don't know how to go about it. I don't know how to resolve it. For once i really don't know what to do.

2009-10-24T18:25:00.003+08:00

mixed feelings. relieved that i've been there and done that but it's still not over yet just yet. i keeping my finger crossed for the next couple of days.

Just 2 days more to go!

2009-10-22T14:27:00.004+08:00

要做就做到最好，否则就不要做。

(you should do your best in almost anything, otherwise you must as well not do it at all.)

Am inspired by this quote aft watching some tv programme the other day :)

Have been editing some photos in preparation of something big this coming sat. I think it will be a good exposure for me to experiment something new. Since I think my holidays have been pretty boring, i need something to spice it up a little beside thinking of so many ways to escape from this red dot (which didn't really work, otherwise i won't be still here). I hope this motivates me to work harder and save up for my traveling plans after i start working next year. 沙班达加油!

Secret place!

2009-10-11T22:11:00.004+08:00

Just came back from ikea again! Love brought me to a secret place aft dinner with his ah gong. It a nice place to lay back to watch the planes taking flight in the horizon, the marshmallow like clouds floating in the air, the soothing sea waves in the background. We stayed till the sky turned dark and discovered that it is also a ideal place to watch the stars. It took us quite a while to walk in but i think it's worth the effort and time :) Thanks dear for e little surprise!

Resort house!

2009-10-10T19:52:00.005+08:00

Been busy with sch, feeling rather restless to finish off the last lap. On a lighter note, it's just another wk more to go before the vacation. Jia you! I didn't know that sunset view in the east can be this spectacular. Loving his resort house alot :) Glad that the weather in taiwan is good. Have a gd time there :D

♥

2009-10-05T00:41:00.003+08:00

A sneak preview of my 21st birthday. To be updated this weekend as it's gonna be a long week in sch everyday! Thank you my dear ones for all the well wishes and presents. Thanks for making an ordinary 21st birthday extraordinary ♥ Haven't been sleeping enough for the past whole week, check out my eye bags! 2 more submissions due this week.

沙班达加油！

2009-09-28T23:29:00.006+08:00

I had a wonderful birthday celebration with the gang. The company was incredible. Thank you all for the presents and everything (: I'm loving my new toy! Can't wait to bring it out for more shoots and more outings. Look like i should order the films in bulk! Ha ha

Thanks dear for the cake. Thanks bestful & kiam for the lovely 9 presents and the sun flowers. Thanks desful for the handmade book. Thanks jev, glor, nivel & des for the polaroid camera. Thanks mum for the watch. Thanks dad for the ang bao. Thanks auntie doreen for the necklace. Thanks auntie & uncle for the earrings. (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (:

I'm really grateful to have such wonderful friends and loved ones who never fail to be there. And they make an ordinary day extraordinary. I will be back with photos aft I'm done with the processing. Back to sch tml, hang in there. Hoping that my book will turn out well!

19Ms/10Hs

2009-09-26T00:27:00.002+08:00

2009-09-24T22:53:00.003+08:00

Taking a break from projects. I thought i am a perfectionist, only until today i realised maybe i'm not (: 7 days to deadline. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! So looking forward to the vacation (:

BFF

2009-09-20T23:56:00.003+08:00

Met up with bestfuls for dinner at whitesands just now. Love nights like this, catching up over simple dinner. What more important is the accompany :)

I'm really thinking of dyeing my hair after some serious talk. Shall do that before mine 21st if i've the time beside all the other projs on hand. Time to try something new i guess.

It's projects time! Good nights folks.

Let's start from here

2009-09-17T21:24:00.004+08:00

By Joanna Wong. Her voice is so beautiful!

In my opinion, her english album is much nicer than the chinese one.

Giving up, why should I
I've come too far to forget
We're beautiful, we just got lost
Somewhere along the way
So much was missing when you went away

Let's start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don′t need a finish line
Let's take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn′t seem to keep
I don't care where we go
Let's start from here

Standing here face to face
A finger on your lips
Don't say a word don't make a sound
Silence surrounds us now
Even when you were gone I felt you everywhere
Let' start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don′t need a finish line
Let's take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn′t seem to keep
I don't care where we go
Let's start from here
Let's start from here

I've never been the one to open up
But you've always been the voive within
The only warmth from my cold heart
Let's start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don't need a finish line
Let's take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises
Let's start from here, lose the past
Change our minds, we don't need a finish line
Let's take this chance don’t think too deep
Of all those promises we couldn't seem to keep
I don't care where we go
Let's start from here
Let's start from here
Let's start from here
Let's start from here

XIN

2009-09-16T17:45:00.005+08:00

信心 = faith

2 more weeks to deadline.

3 more weeks to another deadline.

4 more weeks to another another deadline before the vacation.

I should be thankful there's only consultations on tue and thu for e next few weeks. I shan't complain as long as i don't have to waste 3 hours on transportation (:

2009-09-14T15:37:00.002+08:00

Was chatting with Penny while taking a break from work.. she sent a link to my birthday astrology. I think it's quite true (:

Libras born on October 3 have great poise and composure. They are able to withstand difficult times without complaint and can learn major life-lessons without seeming to change. They are often charming and good looking, but they're not vain. Although they may show a hint of Libran frivolity, they possess self-sufficiency and are very logical.

October 3 men and women try to integrate themselves into the mix but usually end up having others look to them for answers. Inlove, they have emotional ups and downs. They look for someone who shares their level of commitment and high morals. Once they find such a person, they begin thinking marriage.

Children and Family
These positive people have only happy associations with childhood. They prize tradition and have probably inherited many of their parents' ideas and prejudices. They have a knack for parenting and are naturals at creating stable, loving relationships that offer their little ones spiritual and material comforts.

Health
Few people have as positive an outlook on life as people born on October 3. They refuse to let setbacks or delays frustrate them and so are amazingly healthy. October 3 people don't particularly enjoy exercise, but they have remarkably busy lifestyles that keep them active.

Career and Finances
People born on this date do well in careers that allow them to use their powers of analytical reasoning. Their persuasive attitude makes them adept at sales, real estate, law, and marketing. October 3 individuals are as skilled at handling money as they are at making it.

Dreams and Goals
October 3 natives want to live the good life. Though they may not be willing to bend all their efforts to this aim, they understand the need to diversify their energies. They know that to be happy they must give equal time to their personal lives. People born on this date understand that money isn't the answer to everything.

you can check it out:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/october-3-birthday-astrology.htm

Chomp chomp!

2009-09-13T11:30:00.007+08:00

Met up for dinner with andrew and sam over at chomp chomp. Good to see him again aft 2 months (: I finally got a chance to try the super big cup of sugarcane (: We shared hokkien mee, rojak, stingray and chicken wings! Then walk over to the dessert bowl which was located on the 2nd floor. The cafe was rather empty on a sat night. We were lucky to have the chance to seat on the huge red sofa seats. Oh, i think uncle sam is going to join the canon family soon (:

It's always after catch up like this make me feel like... a feeling beyond words could say. I miss those days hanging out in sc & nyaa clubroom and saa. Somehow everything is different now (: I want to travel again so all the most i need to work harder!

Love these.

2009-09-13T11:07:00.002+08:00

2009-09-08T00:47:00.001+08:00

miss miss miss miss you very much.

Little Ms Goh's 21st

2009-09-06T16:09:00.008+08:00

Happy birthday Ber! A very creative theme. I didn't have those missy tees so i made do with ms checkers :p Bestful aka ms sunshine and desful aka mr smiley if i rem correctly :) How time files, it's september already. The gang has celebrated so many birthdays together this year. There'll be many more to come i believe :) I'm going to take a break from the computer!

2009-09-04T01:53:00.003+08:00

I seriously think designer should have the basic courtesy not to copy other fellow designer works. Do you know how to spell integrity? It's people pure hardwork if you don't know. What has become of society?