Her Pandora’s Box

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

I have been so busy.

Not feeling too chatty today so i’ll make this spotty (i hope).

Last Saturday, i went to watch Jimmy’s band, as mentioned in my post. My first encounter with LAFF after about 4 years or so. This time around, they’ve matured so tremendously much: musically. Just my candid opinion though. Also, the vox (mamat) ups three points for showmanship while maintaining his drug addict, never-sober look. Very nice. Well done, you guys.

I should’ve known that there was a hiphop showcase concurrently happening that day. Well, it was.. interesting? T’was pouring and dark outside yet i spotted a few dudes in shades. So as you can guess, i was frowning a lot. That aside, i met a number of friends which definitely made my day. Good to see you people!

On tuesday, the gang went over to Izy’s gorgeous, double-storey apartment (where she lives alone, argh!) for Coco’s birthday. We had so much fun. Food, drinks, music, sing-alongs and the best people in the world. You lovelies are drugs. Happy birthday Coco!

Okay, here’s breaking the news..

I can’t believe that it’s happening. Now that it’s in place, i’m all ‘mixed feelings’ about it. Knowing that all plans will change and my life is about to reshuffle, i’m a little panicked already.

So, I got accepted. So, I am moving out at 21. So, I’m going to make a home for myself in a foreign land. So, i’m going to study what i love. So, my dream came true.

Then of course, there is love. Leaving everyone i love so much behind. It pains me already.

Love is in Singapore. And I have never loved Singapore.

So i guess, it’s going to be goodbye in a little less than year. We make sacrifices, we don’t regret, we move on and we emerge victorious?

We’ll see.

Enjoy the rain while it lasts, everybody!

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

It’s been a wet few weeks and oh i love the rain. Off the sub this morning, i met with the crying sky that bathed the city in the softest blue, the ground glistening like it was littered with glitters. I wished for a pretty morning and was not disappointed today.

And these days my mind is clotted and i have been unhappy brooding over a cobweb of scattered nothing. In an anomalous twist of events, there is spinning confusion and i am feeling sick to my stomach. The problem is, the problem in itself. I should best perhaps explain. But first a question. With so many choices that the modern orbiting world churns and still at it, i continue to wonder what good it brings. Today’s people appear more flustered than ever. Is there destiny with this luxury of choice? I could’ve drowned myself silly in this locomotive of nonsense. What are these thoughts for anyway? I am struggling to survive these brutally killing riddles, one irrelevant to the next, that needn’t even be answered to begin with. But what an idiot i am to be indenial. Thus, the consequences as such. In emptiness comes the uninvited company of madness.

I have been tailing my mind for it is not in harmony with my heart, what more my soul. Perhaps, some help. They say those drugs won’t do. Where is the key, what is the hinderence, who is the keeper? And what, oh just what is the problem? Close to nothing. So what is an answer to.. nothing? And how do you escape NOTHING?

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

Sorry i’ve been absent. Thought i’d spent every last minute of my week away from the office as best as i can which works out to be ridiculously unproductive. I did, however, manage to put a third of my to-do list in place and that’s the only good bit so far. Ahh yes, also working on a top secret project which is tormenting to hold back and not tell you guys until its a-okay to. More of that when it comes. How’re you wherever you’re at?

I haven’t forgotten about my wedding posts though. In fact, i just had a phone conversation with an old friend who asked if i’d give her a hand with her bestfriend’s wedding. I choked with delight. Said she read my post on Elizabeth Messina’s dashing photography and digged my finds. Okay, maybe just one, for now.

I don’t know about even dipping a pinky into the wedding because to begin with, i’m just a blogger! Instead, i agreed to spill all the yummy websites and finds as i go about blogging.

And so without further ado. I second Abby Larson’s statement that a great invite makes waves of excitement and anticipation for that big day. Wedding invites should remain no less.

These are incredible, by the way.

Lift-ticket inspired.

I really like the silhoutte idea for this one.

Matching envelopes.

A whole lot more that you can do with that wedding invitation, just get wildly creative. And just so you know, i found these goodies and plenty more great stuff over at Abby’s excellent website, Style Me Pretty.

Wishing you a good night’s sleep (just as i need it).

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

Yas called to say he’s taking me out for a nice dinner. The dude has his way with words and nice dinners tend to mean expensive ones. Not that i’m rejecting his nice surprise, i’m beaming. But the thought’s priceless already, the splurge takes the backseat. Big time.

Can i share something? Well i think that any date out can be nice even with the smallest budget. Think take-away by the beach! All you need is a mat, a snuggly sweater and maybe 10-15 bucks for your takeout. On an even smaller budget, prepare yummy treats from home.

Its golden, always a trick on squeezed finances. By the beach at night is nothing less than romantic and that sets the mood for just about any conversation/quiet time/etc. You could also get a leg up by getting creative. Perhaps candles, a picnic basket, whatever. Go try it.

p.s I wouldn’t mind Mcdonald’s hotcakes in bed later this morning. Eeek! Does that not sound sooo good?

Moving on.

Further to my last entry, I’ll also be missing Death Cab For Cutie in a couple of hours. How smashing.

Now, i did mention i was going to do a series of wedding posts. So recently i started with a little research on wedding photography since i can’t come to terms with the ones existing and look what i found! The magnificent, Elizabeth Messina. Go see her amazing works!

Pictures by Elizabeth Messina via Glamour This!

Remember guys, its not the camera, its not the location, its not the editing, its not anything BUT the eye behind the camera. The photographer’s eye for details, the creativity and the ideas.

But again these days, anyone with an expensive camera is a photographer. Oddly enough the more advanced your equipment, the more ‘talented’ you appear. Hmm.. its way interesting.

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

How’d the weekends go?

I am crushed I couldn’t watch Envy perform at the Esplanade. It’s hard to tell if they’ll ever be back. Everyone’s talking about it and it’s breaking my heart.

Oh and get this, i just got word from my precious Jimmy about LAFF’s comeback performance coming our way after a long halt. Discount of two bucks for the brave souls who come cross-dressed! Eeek. I’m chuckling at the idea already. But i wonder why the theme?

Moving on, Aaron’s birthday’s just round the bend and seemingly an addition to the bee line of events that i’m headed for. Yay! He’s celebrating it lavishly at the Blu Jazz Cafe with the theme: Mafia. This will be so good considering it’d be just us, the entire space and of course, the whole buzz of dressing up. Pfft, i am such a sucker for theme parties.

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

Oh thank god it’s Friday. I barely had a wink last night and i’m paying the price right now (at noon!). Bad news. I am about to rant.

I’m pretty pissed with my maternal relatives at this moment. No, just kidding, i’m pissed with them all the time. My mother’s weird family of about 14 (i think), has this ridiculous and disgusting tradition of being competitive over each other’s… WEDDING.

But first, I’ll help you with a brief introduction about my standing in this absurd family. I am perceived, in their eyes, as a person who has lost all of her roots and tradition. This amounts to a great deal of nasty remarks being thrown back and forth about how gross i am as a malay/muslim girl. For some reason, its become so overwhelming THAT i have an aunt or two who hasn’t spoken to me in years. Actually, just one. Have a think about it.

So being this worthless person that i am as compared the their highness in the form of tshirt wearing and malay dancing beliefs, i only have one theory about weddings. A person (whether or not you like or dislike, no matter the distance in relation) is getting married, be happy for them. Bless the couple with your best wishes and prayers.

VERSUS

"How can her wedding decor be nicer than mine?"
"Argh, they’re just showing off."
"If they’re doing this, i want to do something better for my wedding."
"Oh the ring is so expensive! Who does she think she is? A princess?"

Now that i’ve said it, try imagining how all that sounds in MALAY. Pretty damn awful ain’t it?

But oh well, what would i know about the malay tradition hey?

My response to all that funk is: what-the-fuck.

So the question is, will they ever be happy for the newly weds? Never, not a chance.

To wrap everything up, I am using this very angry post as an excuse to kick start a series of entries on all things ‘wedding’. So stick around folks.

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

I just had two fat kentucky fried chicken and a large whip potato to go along. To be honest, i would trade it for a plate of nasi padang anytime. Hot green tea works really well for me after a heavy lunch and that’s exactly what i’m sipping on right now. What’s for lunch?

Anyway, i’m working with the bastard movement on a number of projects. More specifically, another charity event. This time round we’re inviting a few malaysian bands to perform, one of which i’m crossing my fingers would be: Bittersweet. Eeek! I loooove them. Pray for us.

I found these crazy but gorgeous houses over at Jennifer Ramos’ blog. I looove her site and of course, her little Etsy shop.

Too pretty!

Enjoy the rest of today everyone.

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

My father stands and will forever remain as the heroic figure in my life. Every few days of every week of our lives, my father sits with me in our stuffy little kitchen and we talk, and we talk, and we talk. Our voices competing with the noisy old fan of no good and the smell of his ciggarette in the air. We talk about life, how our day went, what our problems are, we share our good and bad news, we throw ideas, we self-reflect, we laugh, sometimes we argue, sometimes we even cry but most times, we say good night feeling refreshed and inspired.

I love my father very, very much.

For years and years my dad tells us that he has nothing in his life but his two children and that he wants to see them grow up, be sucessful- be happy.

While he was courting my mother, he likes telling her how he dreams he will sit with his children and listen to all the amazing stories they want to share with him. Someday, he said, they’ll tell him how they want to conquer heights and pursue big things in their life.

Just lately, he tells her with eyes drowned in pride, how his dream came true.

And did i mention he likes being his childrens’ bestfriend? Days when i come home unhappy, he likes saying, "what’s wrong? You can tell me. We’re friends right?"

Today, I am feeling alright and I brought home a new idea to share. And like always, he fuels it with his every support. I am burning with enthusiasm, my head exploding into a psychedelic mess. I am ready and about to take another leap in my life.

Dad is a disarmingly charming character, ever so passionate about fatherhood. He braves odds fearlessly and tirelessly, just because. My father is the force and spirit that guides me back onto that path whenever i go astray. One day, whenever that day comes, I will be the parent that he is.

His wisdom- food for my soul. As long as i live.

Dear Sugarplum Fairy,

Happy August! Sounds wrong doesn’t it?

Yesterday, the lunch gang, as i’ve introduced to you, went out for drinks after work. We were taking forever to decide on a place to go which eventually narrowed down to two: Ice Cold Beer or Loof.

Over MSN that afternoon, we were in a speedy, colour-blinding window of 8 chatters taking hours to agree on just one pub. So Fii had this hilarious voting list up on the whiteboard of our pantry. We were to individually move to the pantry, tick against the bar of our choice and pass the marker over to the next person.. IN AN ORDER. Here’s it.

Ice Cold Beer won the votes. But for the record, we went to both.

All of us at Ice Cold Beer, Fii behind the camera.

If you haven’t been to Loof-
Loof is a gorgeous bar up on the roof of Odeon Towers. It boasts a semi-futuristic, very pretty interior. I’d say yes to its ambience. However, I hope it was just yesterday but the service was pretty damn horrendous. We waited for over a half hour for every round of drinks and the floor staff had a yucky attitude.

Most of us ordered Mojito and it was sloppily concocted. On a separate note, the lamb racks were soooo good. If you happen to give it a go and try it, I suggest you shut you eyes while you chew on its tenderness. Two points for that! Wrapping up, everything on the menu was pricey and we burnt our pockets. Yes, it matters.

A toast to the best work buddies in town. I am going to miss them.

Kenneth, who is still bartending at Balaclava, famous for his notorious alcoholic expertise- taught us how to drink the BlowJob.

How to- Get hold of the shot glass with the whole of your mouth, tilt your head and get everything to slide in.

And this is how wrong it looks. Oh this is Kenneth by the way. 

And of course, the very yummy lamb racks.

A great night out with my lovelies.