'Tis The Season To Be Jolly

Christmas, like always, is the most beautiful time of the year. And i don't say this simply because i believe in the birth of Jesus Christ on one beautiful day in Bethlehem. I say this because i reckon it is a holiday celebrated by people of other religions. Be it a Hindu, a Buddhist or a Muslim, you see them buying presents, putting up Christmas trees and marvelling at the beauty of festive decorations at malls. It is one time of the year when so many people of different beliefs come together to celebrate a religious holiday that is not their own.

My Christmas this year was as expected, great. Sure, things have been different since my Mah Mah and Yeh Yeh left us but that doesn't mean it isn't good. There were the usual good food, great people and presents but no Christmas is ever the same thanks to the different happenings that take place and put a smile on my face.

As a kid, Christmas Day at Dad's home was often filled with the smell of curry and chocolate. Mah Mah would make curry to celebrate the day while Aunt Rita would come visit with her homemade chocolate cake in hand. Hoping to help Dad relive the beautiful days that were, Mom decided to do the same. And that was why instead of turkey, stuffings and brussel sprouts, i had a meaningful Christmas Eve dinner of chicken curry and chocolate nutty brownie.

I've stopped shopping for Christmas (or any other celebrations) clothes for the past few years. One, i cannot buy new clothes weeks earlier and wait for Christmas to wear it. Two, i think it's ridiculous to stress on getting an attire - shopping should be fun. But miraculously, this year somehow worked out for me because while Christmas-gift shopping, i found out that the top i've been eyeing on is on a 50% sale! And my dear heels that have been sitting in the cupboard for a month now, waiting for an appropriate event where it can make its debut, finally got its chance thanks to the Christmas mass! Super loving this outfit.

Christmas cards are beautiful. It's sad that so few people send them these days because of the convenience of email. Sure, emails are easy and free but they don't 'feel' sincere. Anyhoo, i was given THE BEST CHRISTMAS CARD EVER this year by a dear friend. Having grown used to usual folded cards, i was slightly surprised at this glittery one that is good enough to be a deco. While marvelling at the beauty of it, i noticed something and started laughing my lungs out. There, at the centre, was a little picture that only the dear friend knows how much it means to me. Creativity = 100 points. Sincerity = 200 points. Thanks! (Oh, dear friend, Mom just saw this picture and asked 'Why do you have a picture of a tomb on your screen?'. Haha! Choi! *touches wood*)

Christmas day 2010 played witness to the addition of a new member of the family. Meet Rachel. She so real, she even gets a baby seat! She is one part of the Baby Alive line with an ability to eat mushy bananas and drink apple juice. She also giggles, burps and says smart things like, "Yummy in my tummy". Apparently, there is a more expensive version of the doll that poops! And it comes with a juice mixture and diapers! What in heaven's name happened to normal dolls that do nothing but eerily blink? Tsk tsk tsk. Technology these days...

Then there's Mr Andrew who got a vest from Dad. He was so excited about it *cough* vain *cough*, he went to his room to try it on immediately after opening the present. The next thing i knew, a businessman-looking lad somehow assumed my t-shirt-wearing cousin's identity and came down the stairs. A before-and-after transformation worthy of a makeover reality series!

There is one more week left until the end of Christmas. Make the most of it, have a blast and a kickass 2011!

Tiny In Size But Big On Value

Few months ago, i was out with a dear colleague and somehow, glue gun, hairband skeletons and pendants came into the topic. I asked her if she knew where to get em because sometimes, my hands get itchy for some DIY action.

Then to my surprise, i received them as gifts for my birthday this year. Knowing that she remembered and took the effort to get them means a lot to me. No expensive gift can beat a gift that comes from the heart.



Now, someone get me something to glue!

A Proud Product Of UQ

When i first started college yonks ago, i knew i wanted to go overseas but never really envisioned it happening because well, i wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. But i was born into a family that i am very thankful for, and who was willing to cut back on their own expenses to make the dream come true for me. So welcome to the University of Queensland, Australia!

For someone whose previous college is a mere two-storey thing (i still love you Taylor's ADP), this is education heaven. It's so cool it not only has a few lakes, colleges, libraries, cafes and museums (including one with an upside down wooden Hummer), it even has its own ferry stop! Oh yeah.