Best family ever.

This is a really short post as i'm going to have durains with my family soon (Dad bought some, yay!) but i think..

God have given me the best family ever.

Although we are not rich as Dad is a teacher and is the sole breadwinner (irony: my brother and sister are ALREADY working but they haven't contributed anything monetarily to the family) ...

My parents are happily together, better than before because they're bonded with the love of God, they go to church together, go to choir.. listen to talks..go to camps. Sometimes, i see them practicing their singing together, very cute.

My brother and sister are good people (though they SHOULD contribute to the family or give my parents some allowance or what, its only filial. Sorry, but i feel strongly about this)

We don't quarrel, everyone loves each other deeply. Its just that sometimes we don't express it properly, don't know how to..or what. But its evident.


Thank God. :) I see many people/friends with some family related problem or another. Like a gambling relative who keeps borrowing money, broken relationships..money issues or what. But my family don't. Even my extended family are lovely, my grandparents are adorable.. cousins established in what they are doing....

I am really blessed.

:D principessa

Getting motivated to exercise

I've been back for three weeks but i've yet to post any pictures or do any real updates. But pictures speak the best. :)

As you know, staying in a place like the States can be hazardous to your diet because the main fare of most Americans are truly, greasy burgers with home made patties so yummy and juicy + deep fried fries + humongous humongous deep fried onion rings made of real giant onions + (you guessed it) coke or soda. Why? You may ask, these things are frightfully unhealthy!!! But well, these are the cheapest things you can get for food in US.

Burger joints are everywhere, this is a kids size burger.
Actually, the burgers all taste almost the same although the patty are home made. With onions + lettuce + meat + pickles and some tomato sauce, burgers are really standard. But these beat the Macdonalds burger anytime.

See the size of the onion rings? The amount of oil used per ring can soak up one napkin, no kidding! BK onion rings in Singapore are far more humble in comparison.

When you are a poor student, a 4USD burger is a more viable choice than a healthier meal of Japanese don that costs 12USD. Something like that.

So anyway, i gained quite a fair bit of weight during my 10 weeks stay in the U.S. Approximately 4-5kg, and I'm now like 50kg. :( From 45kg. Some are muscles because of the nature of my work in housekeeping, but some are unhealthy weight from the fatty food consumed. And because my appetite is so huge over there due to daily walking/lifting and cleaning etc, i still eat a lot more than before even when I'm in Singapore.

SO. The bottom line is that I have to lose weight despite my BMI is still 18+ , and i am in a very healthy weight range. Because they are all in the wrong places!!!

With my mum before i left - 45kg

At a Ghost town in Barstow, on the way to Vegas
(I think I was really slim, haha)

After 10 weeks of eating a lot. 49 - 50kg :(

Actually, I don't regret not missing out any of the food I ate over there because they are truly scrumptious okay. If I had a choice, i will eat those again, but maybe cut the portions and definitely, start an exercise regime now to go back to being healthy.

Having ice cream and cookies or apple/cherry pies on a daily basis is certainly not healthy. But that was my daily dessert there!

Some pictures of the yummy stuff I ate

Wake up to home-made and self-made Waffles as big and nice as Gelare at San Francisco USA Hostel!
Minus the whip cream, only the maple syrup and grape jelly is free.

Or the best Pad Thai I have ever eaten outside of Thailand. And even Bangkok's one may not be able to beat this because this recipe is really... really heavenly. From "The King of Thai Noodles" in Union Square. Approx 7USD.

Famous Dungess Crab from Fisherman Wharf

Hilton Buffet Breakfast that became my Brunch for 3 luxurious days
(no feelings of hunger until 4-5pm after this crazy spread)

Round 1 - Fruits and Granola with Yogurt

Round 2 - Tea and juices

Round 3 - Hot food with french toast, crepe with cheese, sausage, roast potatoes and scrambled eggs

Round 4 - Omelet made to order with chunks of ham, prawns, onions, peppers and huge serving of cheese

Round 5: Pastry, Breads and Baked Goodies

Round 6: Strawberries and Pineapples again. (only the sweetest and freshest need apply)

PS: I am beginning to wonder if any sane person can beat my appetite.

So, in order to start a healthy lifestyle again, i really need to exercise for the long term. Can't imagine myself being fat when I'm 30 or 40 or 50, i'll be so depressed.

The solution?
Exercise twice-trice a week for 30 minutes :D
Gym or swim or dance or whatever, do something, it'll make you feel more alive.

I have yet to try this at all, but i must be motivated because it will help me to be better able to cope with school and stress. Exercise is that good. So, let me know if you want to be my gym/exercise buddy! (HAHAHA)

Hoping to hit the gym at Clementi every Monday and Wednesday before my 2pm classes. And maybe swim once in a while in the public pool there. I wish i can be a member of those posh fitness clubs but i'm so poor!! :(

Hope to find a tuition job that pays $200-400 a month too.

xoxo, principessa

:(

At this moment, I am in such a terrible mood.

Back in Singapore!

I'm finally back in the sunny and humid (argh) sweaty shores of Singapore! Since July 21st but as usual, i was busy to update.

Here's a quick list of what I did

- Angus 23rd Bday surprise (yesterday!) with Fydi

- Met up with Joy and Anna, just talking and hanging out and having a Bedok Hawker Centre experience

- Met up with Jasper for dinner and catching up after months

- Met up with Watson kor for lunch ;)

- Met up with my boyfriend and almost broke up with him, but patched up. It was a completely irrational decision but i'm glad my friends and my heart talked me out of it.

As Angus have put it "Good guys are hard to find"

I was delirious with the feeling of freedom when i was in the States, and my frivolous mind had an impossible attraction towards else-one.

But we're wonderfully appreciative of each other again, and happy.

- Going to karaoke with the girls and guys (Anna, Alvin, Jolly, Grace(?), Nopp)

- My laptop is officially dead with a broken fan and corrupted hard disk, but it is currently under repair so all will be well soon.

- I am back in Church with all my old friends of the past, it's great to be back in Fellowship! We all have something to contribute and seeing the difficulties my friends have faced in church, i think we all need encouragement and new blood.. more people more effort more love more growth!

There are other stuff, such as..

- My pretty pink Western Digital External Hard-disk drive

- My new ipod pouch, its a Domo! It is so cute and irresistible i just had to get it.

xoxo, principessa ;)

Escape

I am increasingly thinking that this work and travel thing makes a splendid escape from the realities of Singapore.

But i do miss home.

Principessa-travels

I just created another blog at (http://principessa-travels.blogspot.com) for my trip so as to separate travel-related stuff from my main blog. This is more personal to me while the travel blog is solely to record my travel experiences for my friends, family and others.

I love to micro-manage things, as you can see.

xoxo, principessa

Short Hair again :(

I went to Color Bar again, pre-knowing that they will cut my hair shorter than it is but took the risk anyway because my hairstylist April is very pleasant all the time and i wish to give them one more chance after cutting my hair twice there before and all attempts were aimed at chopping off my hair.

I did a hair highlight to this coppery red-brown color ($75) and a student's haircut ($30) so it was $105 spent in 2 hours! :( Never mind about the money if it makes you feel gorgeous but..

I always feel that i look nice and okay when i am in the hairdresser chair because the cloth makes me think that the hair looks good, and doll like. I have naturally fine hair so it always gets blown in the wind very easily, but the bonus is that my hair usually look like a doll. So this dolly (AGAIN) hair cut with straight fringe (i can scream china doll) and bob look and a concave back + the natural sunlight that makes my hair look brown actually looks nice on the stylist's chair. BUT ONCE the cloth is taken off, it feels really short. :(

I have to promise myself i am not going near ANY hairdresser for at least 6months, or even better 9months or 1 year so i can grow out my hair again. I miss my really long hair because that makes me look slightly older, and possibly more sophisticated? I miss my old hair stylist Calvin although he charges me a bomb at $65 (possibly higher now) per haircut. But his cuts are ALWAYS satisfying, always nice always elegant and chic. That is because he counts LV and Balenciagia and YSL bag-toting ladies as his customers. And my girlfriend Cheng recommended me to him.

I miss my long hair, catch me if i cut my hair again before December. I AM NOT DOING IT and i refuse to cut my hair again until it is long. Hmph. Unless it is a fringe trim.

UPDATE

PS: Holland V's Provence/Povence (?) Japanese style Bakery has the nicest bread i really like - this swirly cutie bread called the Wassant. They have it in Chocolate and Custard flavour, $6 per packet of 10 mini ones.

It is not easy to get this at 2-3pm usually because i've been there 4-5 times and never had the chance to even catch a glimpse of it. It is always sold out when i am there but this time i'm so lucky! I saw a few packets although the mixed ones like this is the last one! I grabbed it immediately. Great for people who wants to try it.

Just look at how intricate the inside it, it's really swirly! Small strip like portions of custard in between layers of thin soft bread. Same with the chocolate one. It was love at first bite, yummy! :D I can imagine how hard it is to make this.

In the end, i devoured 4 at a go just for TEA. The rest were for my family to try, this is easily the best piece of bread i've ever eaten that looks so interesting and pretty! I especially love carbs in the form of bread and chewy pasta or chewy ban mian, or chewy brown rice/ purple rice/ black rice. Not too much of a fan of white rice though i appreciate its subtle fragrance. No wonder i gain 'flesh' so easily....and fat.

xoxo, principessa