My 30th celebration of life

It was just another typical day when I woke up on the day I turn thirty. The sun was shining in the blue blue sky, the grass looks greener than usual and the birds are happily chirping together. It was a beautiful day.

I felt truly blessed. As what I always say “Age is nothing but numbers”. It is the achievements and experiences of life that I want to celebrate. 

What are my achievements? 

This year, I spent my birthday with people I love. I have never measured achievements by counting how much is in my bank account or the number of Prada bags I have.

These are my achievements and the best moments in my life…

 Started the day with 'lou sang' lunch with my family.

 Got my birthday red packet from my granny!

  Longchamp Maroquinerie Limited Edition from my darling! 

Also, I know he spent a lot of time planning for a romantic evening with me...

Time for me to 'ban leng leng' (look beautiful) for the evening...

 Aahh... still looking gorgeous at thirty? 

Haha!

Here we are! At Tamarind Hill... 

Let's start ordering... hungry hungry...

 A quiet corner for the two of us...

 A lovely restaurant with relaxing and romantic ambiance...

 Camwhoring... 

hoping to capture more lovey-dovey moments for the diary

*Posing posing*

 Gorgeous wall decor...

Ok... dinner is served... let's see what we ordered...

 Duck & Lychee salad...

 Pandan Chicken with basil and tomatoes...

 The delicious and aromatic seafood tom-yam...

yummy!!

 The best part of all... my special surprise!

A birthday dessert made especially for me!

*happy happy*

 Happy Birthday!

 The gorgeous birthday girl! 

Haha!

After dinner, he decided to take me for a drink and he suggested to go to 7atenine... Well, after such a wonderful dinner... I have no complains... satisfied, happy and feeling blessed...

Off we adjourned our evening to 7atenine...

 Ordered a bottle of red wine...

 Sipping and slurping together...

Delicious!

Then, suddenly...

my birthday cake arrived!

Some friends joined...

He planned it all... without me noticing... without me knowing...

awwww...

*love love*

 Another birthday song...

another chance to blow the candle...

 *muaks muaks*

I felt like a Princess!

My Prince made it so special...

 *happy happy*

 A little souvenir from 7atenine...

 Continuing my birthday celebration the next day... doing what I love most...

Singing!

With my beautiful mummy...

Another amazing birthday spent with people I love most! Birthdays are no doubt celebrated every year, however I find the meaning behind every celebration is truly important. 

Why do people celebrate the date they were born into this world?

To celebrate life. But what is the meaning of life, if life is without all these people who make it so awesome? For me, the most important of a birthday is to celebrate 'love'... the one and most astonishing prize and achievement in ones life. It was a dream come true for me to have spent my special day with all the people I love! *muaks muaks*

Wait... my celebration has not ended... continuing celebration with my Chi-muiz (best friends) soon! *wink* Stay tuned for more!

A song dedicated to me

BUBBLES say: Here's a song for my everything:

"So long that I've waited for a girl
To come into my life
And in my world
I can't explain my feelings for you
I guess you're just all my dreams come true
And I'll be your lover
And I'll be your best friend
I'll be there when you're needing me
I'll be your everything
You're everything

I'll be your everything
I'll be all that you want
And all that you need
I'll be your everything
I'll give you all that I have
My love, my life, and me
I'll be your everything

Now that we're together at last
We shouldn't think about our
Problems in the past
'Cause true love takes a miracle to find
I guess that I've been blessed
'Cause I've got you by my side
And I'll be your lover
And I'll be your best friend
I'll be there when you're needing me
I'll be your everything
Your everything

When you're lost and you're down
And you're seeing darkness
And there's no one there that can be found
Just turn around
I'll be there holding out my arms for you
Just reach for me
I'll be the one to set you free

I'll lift you up when you're feeling down
I'll make your whole world turn around
I'll give my heart and soul to you
To let you know this love is true"

I'll be your everything!!!

Super delicious pork burger at Cristang

Our lovely first weekend of this year was spent cari-cari makan. Heard so much of this place which serves 'petai' pork burger, we made our way there for dinner!

The place:

Cristang Fusion Restaurant

B-G-19, 8 Avenue, Jalan Sungei Jernih 8/1,
46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7956 7877

Opening hours: 
Tues to Sun 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-11pm. 
Closed on Mondays.

Cristang is a quiet, laid back place that serves Malacan style Portugese cuisine with some western cuisine dishes too. Their best seller would be their 9 varieties of pork burgers; choosing from P1 to P9 in the menu.

The Menu:

• P1 - pork patty (RM 16.80)
• P2 - pork patty + back bacon (RM 19.80)
• P3 - pork patty + minced pork chili con carne (RM 23.80)
• P4 - pork patty + petai stuffed in patty (RM 25.90)
• P5 - pork patty + grilled cajun prawns (RM 28.80)
• P6 - pork patty + grilled fresh cut pineapples (RM 30.80)
• P7 - pork patty stuffed petai + minced pork with petai + melted cheese
• P8 - Tandoori Pork Burger (RM 28.80)
• P9 - The Korean Inspired (RM 30.80)
  

I chose the P3 and Bubbles chose P7.

 yummy!!

ooh la la!!

 We also ordered their super yummy mushroom soup!

 What a perfect dinner...

A must try if you're a 'petai' fan, however, if you're not...

there are always other delicious choices of local and western cuisine to choose from.

This place is pretty easy to find as well...

Map courtesy of KYspeaks.com

See if you are able to locate it this weekend!

Whitney Houston - One Moment In Time

Each day I live, I want to be
A day to give, The best of me
I'm only one, But not alone
My finest day, Is yet unknown

I broke my heart, Fought every gain
To taste the sweet, I face the pain
I rise and fall, Yet through it all, This much remains

I want one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel, I will feel eternity

I've lived to be, The very best
I want it all, No time for less
I've laid the plans, Now lay the chance, Here in my hands

Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel, I will feel eternity

You're a winner for a lifetime
If you seize that one moment in time, Make it shine

Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will be, I will be, I will be free
I will be, I will be free

10 life lessons in my first 30 years

In less than a month, I will be attaining the unspeakable age. Yes, I am still unconsciously rejecting the fact that I am upgraded to a higher level in the age category.

Thinking is no more than a tiny aspect of the totality of consciousness, the totality of who you are.

By Eckhart Tolle

OK. Maybe I am thinking too much. AGE is nothing but just numbers. Looking at this in a more positive angle, the numbers are reminding us of the tasks we are to complete before we leave the earth.
So, right now I am asking myself “What have I learn in my first 30 years in life?”

Lesson #1 Money is not everything; family is on top of anything

I was brought up in an environment where money is so important because my parents have to work very hard to earn cash to support the family. There were times where the more money they make, the more they wanted. The sky is the limit. It was a never-ending affair.

Not until the day my dad passed away, I realized that money and all those things that money can buy are useless because it cannot bring my dad back. All those expensive material goodies that my dad treasured when he was alive are left untouched in the cupboard and some ended up in the bin. It was then that I realized family is more important than anything in the world. My workaholic life stopped at that instance.

Lesson #2 Work life balance is the way to sustain a healthy work relationship

This lesson is an extension from Lesson #1. 

Realizing that family is top priority, my life is now balanced between work and personal life. It has to be this way because working to a point of obsession is way too unhealthy. I believe in producing high quality work and balancing with good quality time spent with family & friends.

Life has certainly been so much happier. Plus, I am so much healthier too!

Lesson #3 Appreciate the man who willingly shower you with true love

Men are everywhere.

To find the one that truly care for you and love you for who you are, is the true challenge. I have found mine after years of searching and unbearable years of dating disaster. He is more than what I have dreamed of in a man.

“Bubbles, thank you for being in my life and I love you more each day”.

However, to be loved and cherished, I too need to express appreciation and gratitude for it takes both hands to clap.

Lesson #4 People are too busy minding their own business

I used to mind what others think of me but then how can one control thousands of minds? 

So, now I am who I am, do what I do best and mind my own business because everyone is actually doing the same. No one has more than 5 minutes a day to think of what you do or what you wear, so don’t be obsessed by it! 

Lesson #5 No decision is ever completely right or wrong

Even a spoiled clock is right twice a day!

That’s why I always say there are no wrong or right answers, for it is the only answer available at that crucial moment. 

Lesson #6 Happiness is not given; Happiness is a state of mind

Ever said to yourself, “If only I earn ten thousand dollars a month, I’ll then be able to buy that diamond and be the happiest woman on earth!”.

Well, guess what? That kinda ‘happy’ condition will not last forever because soon you will be miserable again for you have another wish in mind to accomplish. However, I know some rich people who suffered from depression everyday! 

Don’t ever relate happiness to materials or even to another person. Happiness is something that is nurtured within yourself. Be happy for who you are, where you are and how you are. Start to appreciate your life and happiness will always be there for you.

Lesson #7 If you want something, you have to DO something!

There are no free lunches in this world. Everything you achieved or owned has a price to pay. I have seen people who moaned and grumbled each day about why life isn’t going the way they want it to be and yet they still continue moaning and grumbling every single day. 

I am not as lucky as some people who were born with everything on their plate. No doubt I have wonderful parents who will try to provide me with the essentials of life. However, I know what I want in life and I will reach out to do whatever I can to arrive at my desired destination. So far, I am truly satisfied with the results and will still grab any opportunities that will lead me to my ideal situation. 

My motto is if you want something, go out there and get it! Opportunities are everywhere. Are you reaching out for it?

Lesson #8 Having good quality friends is way better than having way too many friends

I have made lots of friends throughout my life and will be making more friends as I walk further in life. However, good friends are not easy to find. In a bunch of a hundred friends, only a handful might be considered good friends. I have not a hundred good friends but I have a couple of dear friends who will be cherished and loved because they have done the same for me. You know who you are and you will always be in my heart! Love you gals!

Lesson #9 Learning to love myself

If you don’t start loving yourself, who is going to?

I walked through a painful stretch of my life to realize this simple theory. 

Lesson #10 Living life and seeking passion all the way!

Know what you enjoy and doing it every day is the only way to truly lead a fulfilling life. This is something that I have learn so far and yet to achieve. I will take this year to seriously consider my passions and how to live it every day!

Well, I guess it is not that bad because I realized that I have certainly lived a wonderful and fulfilling life so far. Saying this, I should be looking forward to the next 30 marvelous years! Tick tocking to my birthday where I will blow the candles and proudly announce that I am 30 years old. 

 *proud and pleased*

2010: Closing cycles (from Paulo Coelho's Blog)

Paulo Coelho's Blog 

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through.

Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents’ house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden? You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. 

You can tell yourself you won’t take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that. But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister.

Everyone is finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.

That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home.

Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts – and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place.
Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them. 

Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood. 

Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the “ideal moment.”

Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.

Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person – nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need.

This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life.

Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust.

Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!