Thank You!

Thank you for a beautiful day, little one truly enjoyed her birthday celebrations. The moment I walked into her school with a bunch of balloons and a birthday cake, you could hear her squeal and laugh in delight.

It's just priceless.













Stay sweet little one, you're one of the few persons I know who has a really big heart and a beautiful soul.

Much love.

I heart Coco

I have always lived organizing events for everyone. I loved throwing small parties, organizing a dinner, plays, competitions, a bake sale, a kid's party....... ack. my eyes sting from lack of sleep (6 hours of sleep is already LACK of sleep for me).

Lil One turns three today and I have stayed up most of the night going over the minute details of her school party. I know, it's not grand, but I want it to be perfect. I've run through the sequence of events and my checklist with everyone and repeatedly tell myself that everything is covered.

Then why the hell can't I sleep? I can't even write straight. I'm so excited, I want lil girl to come wake up already so we can start the day's events. lol

The other night, she wanted to play dress up- with which I happily indulged her. She even wanted to take the cam out, with her headband, shades and all. AND she was choreographing her poses herself and telling me how to to do it too. LOL and in the middle of everything, it just hit me. She's growing up too fast in front of my eyes! My lil one is no longer a baby.

AND I said: Don't grow up too fast, Co.

She didn't seem to hear me though, she was busy arranging and re-arranging her dress. Sometimes, you just wanna hang on to that kinda moment, wishing it's always gonna be like that forever. She'll always be a baby for me, I know.

Everyday, I live for those little hugs and the crazy laughter and fun that we share. Has it really been three years? TIME flies so fast! And as we welcome this new chapter, I'm crossing my fingers that it's gonna be filled with more of those kinda moments and a lot of happy times.

HUGS, I love you lil girl.

Slacking in between Panic

I have been a total slack.

As if my birthday warranted a week of no brain activity, I spent the whole week in total laziness - lazing around with little one too. But I spent my whole weekend with Cocobear. Just pushing crayons and planning her little party.

Today, we spent the first half of the morning packing little mermaid loot bags and finding more goodies to make it brimming full. We both have always believed that it's good luck to share treats on your birthday.

And so, we placed crayons, pencils, sharpeners, toy fishes and bubbles along with wafers, lollipops and jellyaces. AND lil one gave me a high five when lined them up ready to be boxed.

I suddenly remember that I still need to book the balloons and the cake and take a last minute trip to the grocery for additional spag. AND I remind myself that the party is not until the end of the week! SIGH.

What I love most about her birthday party this year is that Coco has a big hand in everything. She helped arrange, organize and has also taken the time to go through the details of the event. She really is as excited as I am. :)

Tomorrow, my lil one's birthday week starts. AND I have managed to stash a lil suprise for her every day until she turns three.

AND as they say in UK, I wish her many happy returns! :)

Love Love,
Mommie

Much L O V E

By far, this has been the best birthday I've had. No words can aptly describe how truly happy, how truly blessed and how absolutely thankful I am for the beautiful people that surround me and lil one, for the love they give, for the unconditional friendship.... for everything.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. It is very much appreciated.















My friends surprised me with a lovely bouquet and a good lunch and my good friend D created a clip for me too, with friendship captured in snapshots, moments frozen in 5x5s and a note from my only lil sis C. AND I cried. My heart was truly happy. truly thankful for these kinda friendships, these kinda relationships.

I guess, I really could be and am forever a loyal friend, a loving mother and sister and now, certainly a better person than I was 3 years ago.

Somewhere along the road, a few years past, I guess I must have done something right, to have these in my life now.

I don't need much, don't need the world. Just a handful precious and I am at peace.

What a bliss.

Cheers to a beatiful year ahead. :D

Once we were 18

Once I was 18, and I saw the world as one big adventure.
I hopped on planes, rode on buses
throw caution in the air
and chased the wind.

Once I was 18, I believed in true love
and wished for happy ever after
Watched as prince rode one after another
and wondered when mine would come

Once I was 18, I dreamed of big dreams
walked like there's no tomorrow
and thought the Universe conspires
for one thing my heart desires

Once I was 18, and then I was no more.

For the first time in almost ten years, I attended a debut. Unlike the traditional 18 dances, 18 candles, H's party was Korean inspired and everything was done in the one thing she loves most: Princess Hours.

Indeed, H looked every part of it.



I wished her more adventures to record and to write about. And shared that life is her story, she chooses what to write, she decides which happens next. And if ever she does make a tiny mistake, she could always press the delete button. haha but more importantly, I wished for H to continue writing, but to choose her words wisely, so one day she can look back and say her story was as perfect as that of princess hours.



And my closest friends tried dressing up for our choice korean character :) And we felt not really 18, but younger than we are now. lol One came as ninja assassin, another as a Korean Pop Princess, me from a character in Endless Love (OMG-LOL!!), one from Full House and another from a separate korean soap.

Would you actually believe we enjoyed our night?

For one night, it felt like we were 18 again. Only this time, wiser. more careful. more uhm, more on the reality side. lol at one point, it indeed felt like we were faculty members during a JS prom. lolz

I was teary eyed when H's dad took her for the first dance, when H's sister P said her piece as her first happiness, and I was beaming proud when I heard my friend T read her mother's message to the debutante. For what it really is, H's 18th birthday was a magical moment, filled with love, hope, laughter- for her and her family and certainly, for us too.

More love. Happy Birthday H!

Happy Birthday, Ma.

It was my mom's birthday yesterday. Coco and I woke up early to go to church and light a candle for her. It's been 18 years since she passed away but I've never really gotten used to the fact that she's really gone. I don't think you'd ever get over losing a mother. I don't really remember much of her, cuz she passed away when I was still young. But I could remember vividly the bits and pieces that I could.

Now that I am older, those bits and pieces fit the whole puzzle and a bigger picture was built. I got to know my mom based on what I originally perceived her to be. And I got to know her through the pictures me and Corie have. When we were little, I remember asking my dad stories about mom. It was our way of coping with her death. But I remember him shutting himself in his room for hours, and days. And I really couldn't remember anything he told us about her except that she was a good woman. Well, that was his own way of coping.

I still think about things being different if she were alive. Cuz I still miss her. And now that I have Coco, I want my daughter to learn more about her grandmother too. And her passing away always reminds me that we are all transits in this lifetime. We all get to pass once and we don't really know at what station we'd get off. So it's always better to make the most of anything. Every year, her birthday reminds me of the things we should be thankful for.

With the short time I spent with her, she has taught me everything a mother should know and taught me everything a woman should be. Like what D said, I want to be the kind of woman I want my daughter to be.

I miss you mom, I know you're happy now. You'd be happy to know that me and Corie have grown to be better persons. Know that you will always be loved and that you are missed every single day.

Friends make the World complete.

I came home from Lot's birthday dinner-slash-drinks. And i feel totally at peace. A bottle of vodka and two more mudshakes left us on a good laugh trip and some sober conversations. It was a good night with my girls. When I'm feeling empty, too sad, too whatever, these girls always come around. For one reason or another, being with Lot, Yen and Cookums always feels like home.

No matter the days or years, short distance or oceans apart, it never changes. it's always good to come home to a really good set of friends.No crazy conversations required. Just being there. sitting across each other, exchanging old tales and new dreams, I felt so much better. I feel sooo much better.

Thank you God, for giving me these people, whom I hold dear. For the times they've kept me sane, talked me through crazy situations, or for simply sharing dreams together. My life is better because of them.

And I wish for more nights like these. AND tomorrow, is another good one. Au revoir Lot, your send off will undoubtedly be the best.

Hundred Guba. and More! Tonight, I'll sleep a good night sleep, with my Coco tucked under the covers and some good writing, shut eye isn't too far away tonight. Good morning sunshine, good night Mr. Moon.

Tomorrow will be a beautiful day.