Eid Mubarak

the worst Raya eve ever! i am down with some gastric attack. at first, my doctor suspected food poisoning and jabbed my butt twice to ease the acute tummy pains BUT, day 2 pain continues and i haven't been vomitting or clearing my bowels as much - so i suspect it's gastric attack. God forgive me for all the sins i have committed and please allow me to enjoy Raya this year.

after taking medication, i feel slightly better. only slightly.

anyways, i managed to finish off my camera battery after taking some pictures of the kitchen produce of Residence Figaro. i am praying so hard i can eat all of this tomorrow. Pls God, please.

Main Course - secretly took these in the dark while my mom went out to collect more stuff. Hahaha! Arghhh, i need to EAT.

Here are the biscuits we are serving this year. A bit boring appearance wise but we promise the taste will make up for it!

Merengue on Biscuit


Putu Kachang - 'kuihs' of the past. my favourite!


i can't remember what the heck this is but my mom decided to bake good ol' fashioned cookies this year i.e. it tastes much better than it looks unlike interesting looking biscuits out there which terrify your tastebuds


Shortbread with cherries, ginger and macadamia nuts


Makmur - a naked Makmur that is, not dusted with icing sugar yet


cheese biscuits! we did it slightly different this year. crispy on the outside, soft in the inside


pineapple tarts


and finally my coffee cookie jar. it's huge! hope you guys enjoyed your portions!

on a serious note, wishing all a blessed Syawal. my sincere apologies if i have wronged you in any way. and to all who aren't here with us anymore, may God bless you. you're very much missed. love you much.

OH and before i forget, baby's breath is the choice of flowers this year


guess what! i bought this plant back in 2004 during ACJC's Fun-O-Rama event and it has grown as tall as me now!


okay so i finally folded all these boxes, kiasu i know...

Stationery for Eid

today has been nothing short of awesome. no i'm not talking about F1. the action, for me at least was in Motegi! thanks Vale for a great birthday present ; )

anyhow, today seemed like a big race for me. had many pit stops around pasir ris and tampines before coming home to complete the baking and send out greeting cards. i woke up at 9am (wow!) to bake the first batch of cookies, took a 1hr 'break' by watching Motegi and then out of the house to collect stuff. i'm pretty exhausted for sure! but the coming week is short - i'll be working for 1.5days only =) then hopefully a kick ass celebration for 5 days before returning to work where i'd be serving my last week as an intern.

okay so like previous years i made my own Raya Cards but unlike previous years, it's not too slack!

i designed these below. its not a typical Raya Card but more like Raya themed note cards for you to write your personal message and wishes. i think social stationery should be as personal as possible so i decided not to include the standard "Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir & Batin". wouldn't people be tempted to just write "dear whoever, from me?" meaningless right?! therefore, a blank space would persuade the sender to include something more personal i feel.

it's printed on 250gsm hammered paper, comes in different shades of green - from dark to lime to mint. 10cm by 15 cm in size and nicely fits into a C6 envelope.

no i'm not selling it - so dear recipients, feel special for having received them! HAHA! next year perhaps =)

my handwriting may have spoilt the whole card. sorry. hahaha.

(My) Project Runway

months before Eid, me and my mom will be doing the whole project runway thing. our project every year is the same though: design your First Day outfit. First Day referring to the first day of Syawal, Hari Raya. in the middle east, Eid/Hari Raya is just one day that celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadhan. this part of the world is a bit more festive! we celebrate it for weeks. so its tradition to wear something new and pretty for the first day, and many days after! i've been tailoring my outfits since birth but only appreciated the entire process recently. i was quite a slop you see until i graduated from junior college. hahah!

anyhow - traditional dresses like the baju kurung/kebaya are mainly worn but modern permutations are all you see these days mostly. i always make one traditional baju kurung at least, to keep tradition alive and because i like it while i opt for something with a modern twist for the one or two remaining pieces. this year is no different!

the materials i purchase have been the same every year! thai silk all the way baby even though we can easily die wearing it in such hot humid weather! but it's too beautiful to pass! i do plan to add more variety though, next year maybe. i'd consider investing in a lace/chiffon outfit (start saving). my favourite sources of materials include Poppy Fabrics, Bobby Fabrics and Jim Thompson for thai silks. chiffon and laces are usually purchased from Collezione and Alta Moda. Alta Moda has very beautiful high quality chiffon silk that costs a bomb/metre but it's the stuff high end designers use anyways. they come in the prettiest hues with that perfect 'drop'.

so for Eid 2008 i have 3 outfits lined up. 2 are ready and my final piece which i will be wearing on the First Day will arrive this wednesday. i hope it fits well, cos sending it back for alterations is going to be such a hassle! i tailor my clothes in JB, Malaysia by the way at this shop called Legenda in Angsana (this joo-chiat complex equivalent). i strongly recommend her services, she's even good doing couture-like cuts! unfortunately she doesn't do pantsuits =(.

i usually get inspiration for outfit designs through my 'style file'. yes very lame name, shoot me! basically its just a folder where i dump magazine cutouts and internet printouts. so now having browsed through vogue's coverage of nyc's fashion week, i saved a few runway pieces from my favourite designers (there's this whole list which i was too lazy to look through). and here are a few; hopefully i manage to create something from these for next years outfit!

Donna Karan on the left. i like the glittery embellishments on the soft material. on the right is a Reem Acra. i love the material/color, the whole piece is great but don't think i'm daring enough to carry that, yet? hahaha.


another favourite: Lela Rose! i like what she's wearing on herself. the yellow dress is as lovely. it's something i may just tailor. heh.


pretty coats! left: Lela Rose, right: Isaac Mizrahi. one of my outfits this year is that shade of purple by the way. the collars are something to note.


Carolina Herrera: love how she uses ruffles on these outfits


Ralph Lauren: went all Safari, these were my favourites - i want to tailor the one on the left in orange chiffon silk with a black velvet belt


Oscar de la Renta: really one of my most loved designers along with carolina herrera. yep, i'm quite old-fashioned. haha, classic alright! i totally love that platinum dress on the left! further below - super elegant black gown and a great combi of pink and yellow.




Monique Lhullier: as you can tell, i was serious when i declared yellow as my favourite color in a previous post! so its only natural i fall for these pieces. anyways, wd you ever wear the outfit on the left to work? hahaha! i guess if your boss is anna wintour she'd expect you to be that fashionable la! Below: I want/need a pantsuit like that! her black lace dress is pretty sexxaayy, no? i like.




Michael Kors: okay, finally! i love his bags too. his latest collection includes some Pretty Woman like pieces! don't ya think? i find it french riviera chic =) anyhow i'm glad to see the checkered prints cos that's my Eid 2008 theme! yeay so i beat Kors to it since this is his Spring 09 collection. RIGHT. hahah!

Alright, WOW. i've never written so much on clothes. Hahaha! okies, since i'm armed with a new camera this year, i will snap pics of Raya Fashion 2008. so dress up people!

Homey Sunday Reflections

since coming home last friday from work at around 620pm, i have not stepped out of the house. and i don't intend to any time this sunday. i hope it's a one off feeling and not a new creature the work-life is morphing me into - a weekend hermit.

i cleaned my room, not the full works but managed to clear the clutter forming on my chair, study table, drawers etc. my bookshelf has been screaming CLEAN since forever but it takes too much effort so i'm leaving it for another time yet again! anyways, i'm looking to revive my book-shopping days and so i better set time to MAKE SPACE.

apart from filling up the garbage bag this weekend - i finally updated my idea journal =) it's been left so lonely for the past weeks, ever since i started my attachement to be precise. but in between the mundane tasks and excessive reading of all sites that have not been restricted by the company's (very efficient) filter system, i gathered a few promising ideas for the business. it's great that i found something to develop and work on. i feared i was losing touch being too busy with the attachment, coming home all tired especially.

this attachment has taught me much and more importantly on how i will need to map my life and manage time if i wish to run the business and pursue a full time job all together. it's possible with sacrifices no doubt, which makes it like any other big dream out there - big doubters, skeptics, cynics included.

i have some Dinner Party updates too!
- finalised the menu (thank goodness recipe/food sites aren't restrictred at the work place).
- have not decided WHEN yet
- have not decided on the theme/concept (throw in suggestions if you may)

its a few hours more before iftar, again i lack the inspiration to decide on my menu. what's wrong with me!?

//

okay just a few moments ago, i was forced to break my fast. i managed only 13 days?! haha. darn - was aiming for 15.

Most Wanted #4

if you can't bear to part with your dollars for her wedding gown, a chemise maybe?


monogram mania




i really want this!


isn't this so cool - and affordable =) looks way better than my h50!


no flying commercial with these



and who doesn't love beautifully packaged anythings - tea this time round. does it come with the silver spoon?

Bazaar Burger

in the spirit of ramadhan, i shall dedicate a few posts on special ramadhan things like...burger ramly! i know this can be eaten any other day of the year but for me, i only eat ramly during ramadhan and so it remains something to look forward to every year =)

despite the apparent ban on outdoor cooking, there were still a no. of stalls selling on-the-spot made ramly burgers, dendengs and other fried food. thank goodness! the point of these bazaars is to come out of it smelling like cheese hotdogs, ramly burgers, dengdeng, ayam percik and any other food deep fried or soaked in oil at least twice! (when you return home to shower, only then will you know how good your shampoo is)

anyways ramly is so well known, it's got its on wikipedia profile! Read Ramly Burger's History here.

courtesy of ieatishootipost.blogspot obviously

my favoured ramlys are those that are neat and balanced. by that i mean a proportionate amount of ingredients, cook's skill in wrapping patty with thin layer of egg and burger bun finish.

there are 3 sauces, chilli, mayonnaise and worcestershire sauce. shredded lettuce and cheese. egg-wrapped patty, chicken or beef. pepper + additional spice/seasoning. buns are usually smeared with margarine and heated on the pan for crispy edges. margarine is also used while frying the patty.

today's one was missing veggies and cheese sauce was used instead of cheddar slices. the meat was overcooked and there was too much mayo such that when i took my first bite all i ate was a sauce-soaked bun. i rate today's inauguaral ramly experience 6/10. i got it from from the stall that's directly opposite darul arqam. what was unique about it however was the way the cook applied the maggi (?) seasoning. he sliced the patty into half (butterflying the patty its called) instead of adding it on the burger's surface only. i guess its better cos i really tasted it while eating but there's a danger of losing patty juicy-ness while doing this apparently. in the past, the seasoning was lost once the 3 sauces were generously added. as i walked around, i saw other stalls adopting this new 'technique' too!

SGD3.00 - i'm not sure if this is the bazaar-wide price. last year, ramlys were going for SGD2.50.

pastikan ramly...baru beli

Free Worksheets

i recently received an enquiry regarding my wedding planning & consultancy service. the caller wondered if i offered planning services not as a whole but a la carte i.e. hire me to develop a timeline and manage your overseas guests for you only for example. well no, i don't.

why? event design is our core service. our planning & consultancy service was developed for clients who (a) are super picky about visual harmonization of the entire wedding and (b) have absolutely no time or (c) those who just want to get their hands on our pretty wedding kit, okay i was kidding about (c) but it could happen ;) haha!

so for those who don't need too much help, i suggest you get extra organised! plan early (booking your event designer 1 year in advance is not kancheong, its just right.) and if Martha's wedding planning tool doesn't appeal, there're Russel+Hazel wedding worksheet templates to download for FREE!!! Click HERE.

checklists, guest lists, timelines and more

And after you've downloaded them, make sure to file it properly (this would be a perfect personal wedding memorabilia for yourself) and prettily =) and who know's you might decide to be a wedding planner. also from Russell+Hazel, you may consider this Audrey Expanding 5 or 8 file Tote. your folder couldn't be any more stylish than this! they have other lovely stationery too. Go to Russell+Hazel now.

USD70

A Better Reason to Stay In

what's one thing you want to avoid during lunch? the lunch time crowd! yucks. to save me and rightfully pamper myself with good and healthy food, someone should franchise UP Box or open an UP Box equivalent in singapore! *ka-ching* business idea.

basically its a high class version of an ordinary take-out. the lunch box menu offers cuisines from the world over. so choose - spanish, moroccan or thai? freshest, non-GM ingredients are used and the entire packaging is environment friendly. checks all the right boxes there aight? it's available in the UK and one lunch box will cost you GBP6. That's almost SGD18. Ooops!

learn more of UP Box.

Departure Gates

i was speaking to dzaarr who is currently in paris for exchange with asilahma this fall. anyhow!, travel-talk brought back my own memories of france and particularly the summer of 2007. well point is - i need to leave this country! it's either to an asian city this year end or europe next summer. in between that, i'm praying for money to fall frm the sky.

i hope you guys get to visit strasbourg, if you're exploring the alsace region! take care =) for those in SG, save that final installment of GST credits we're all getting in october from the gahmen and forward it to your Summer Holiday 2009 Fund (SH09F).

wander