“The greatest wealth is to live content with little"

Life has been pretty much the same for the past weeks. But was much busier since the grandfather was admitted to TTSH due to a viral infection which kinda spreaded to the rest of this facial veins and caused him to have frequent headaches, crooked mouth and his eyes can no longer close properly when he sleeps. But the good thing is he's all discharged and back to M'sia now. Will be undergoing op on Monday to get the virus out. Hope he will be well by CNY!

So the other day we had a team lunch cum pre farewell for our dearest team leader who will be going for her maternity leave! We headed to Da Paolo at Battery Road for lunch! I had a sandwich while the rest had pasta. HAHA, always being different. 

This was only 1/2 of it! I couldn't even finish the whole thing by myself. Wasted the sandwich somehow!

On Saturday, the girls (ling and LYY) & myself went down to Real Yoga @ Jurong for the 1st Hot Yoga Trial tgt! So thankful these girls are being sportenous enough to try out a new sport together! 

We had a good stretching and sweating out for an hr, headed for breakfast then to JEM with ling while LYY had to leave for some sch matters!

Accompanied her for some xmas shopping for Bern! She had decided on a shaver for his xmas and some Muji xmas shopping too! Then we headed over to Paris Bagette to rest our tired legs!

Love bread and pastries which is somehow not a good thing. Sometimes, i can just hv bread whole day and not a proper meal and my mom will be nagging me so badly at this cause its super unhealthy.

On Friday night, met up with the bff, Steph over at my place! Packed some salad,drinks and we sat by my house pool to share some thoughts and caught up with each other!

Some random snaps of IG

On Monday, I had a dinner appt with the girls (tiff, A & G) aft work at Paul, Takashimaya!

So glad we finally managed to squeeze out time to meet up! It was a good session of bitching, gossips, nonsense and sharing and catching up. Though time seemed to pass by with a snap but i truly enjoyed their company. I am looking fwd to us making more time together again!

The Mommy in our group, A, made us this bodyscrub for xmas gifts! :) Such a sweet thought!

Paul is known for their desserts however I'd say there are def better desserts with a more pocket friendly pricing around!

Made a bad decision to go ahead to satisfy my cravings for peanut roll and ended up with a  bad gastric in the evening. I guess it was jus cause I only had that and nth else for lunch :/ Thats what I meant by how I can skip proper meals to eat junk food all the time

Received some christmas loving from the dept head-secretary who's like a mother to take care of us at work. So sweet of her!

Pretty much been sorting out thoughts & resolutions for 2014. I am in the midst of getting them down into words and do up a blogpost for it.

Love,

Rachh

"Siblings are the first playmate and usually a lifetime"

Love the view from my place balcony some times when I am home on a weekend. I get to enjoy snippets of peacefulness just stoning looking up into the clear blue skies. It's a good time to reflect upon my life & self. I usually do during runs but somehow when I hv times like these, these reflections jus came in and I'd start thinking about every single thing in my life till current. 

Dec had def started off VERY busy. I was just back from a trip, ran my first half marathon in my life and back to work with a terribly sore body on Monday. Cleared most of my work and the work week continues. Somehow getting use to no one beside me and talking to me from time to time. G's officially left the company. Kinda still missing how we used to share a desk together but those were good old days worth remembering. I am meeting her next week for a good session of drinks! Looking fwd!

Well, just recently, some incidents had made me learnt grealty abt life & family. And how I am more determined to kick away my bad temper and to be an even better sister to my siblings and daughter to my mom. Kinda still in the midst of change but i pray for strength to keep me going thru the rough times and of course to push me further. Life has alot more chances for us to really cherish our family so we shld do it when we have the chance. Not regretting in the end. In 2014, i am determined to kick have kicked that bad temper away. Maybe this serves as a good change for myself to be an even better player at work, friend and partner to my unknown future partner. 2013 had been a good learning journey. I learnt alot both at work, family and abt life. I will bring these with me to embark in my 2014 journey well. 

Lots of work on still but not giving up yet.

As for now, i am indulging myself in this festive mood!

Love,

Rachh

"Goodbye is not forever, life has endless possibilities"

Back from the very well-deserved break! So thankful to be able to make it for this trip with the family (excluding my parents). Learning to appreciate every single thing in life better.

It was a good 7D6N getaway to Seoul, a bustling city (other than the COLD), there's no other reason not to love Seoul! I shall blog more about that some other time when I can draft out a better post of the holidays.

Sometimes I think practising thankfulness in life indeed is important. You receive those thankfulness in different forms. G is one of the angels that I believe was sent to love me more. Knowing that I've serious anemia, she prep this blue box filled with colors, rich in vitamins and of course filled with brims of love for me. I def love it (other than the aftertaste of grapefruit). 

She has left the company and well, I'd say this is another journey for us to begin with; embarking on a new form of friendship tgt. 

Being back never fails to make me get a cuppa from my fav trad coffee chain.

Very thankful that my family loves me just as much and can't be more thankful that they have been around me this whole year; when I was gg thru shit. And of course sharing my joy during my convo this year. Thankful to the bro-in-law for the early Christmas gift :D

Every year, I'd set out to achieve something different from the prev year. This year was no exception. I made it for my first 21KM in 3hrs without stopping. Despite the damn slopes, I continued slow-jogging. It was a good exp for myself to push past my limits. I think I could easily do a 8KM run now on a weekly basis. Hehehe.

Proud of my silver badge :DD

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It's the month of love, joy and giving! Gonna spend the last month of the year well and party hard with my friends to end 2013 with a big bang! I am thankful to every single angels in my life; family, friends and everyone else. Couldn't hv made it so far without their blessings and support.

New resolutions next year calls for me to be someone better.

I reckon a solo backpacking trip to Tasmania or Sydney next year so I could better learn and see the world. I wanna go around and learn the cultures, eat the food, talk to people, know more and just experience a life in their country. Aiming to be travelling in August!

Sometimes, we need to take the leap of faith to know how far we can achieve. This year I rcd more than I expected and I am in every single way thankful. The bad brought out the better of me, the good builds me to being even better and of course, thats what life is about; happiness and sorrow. When you have experienced them, only will you know how simple happiness can be :)

Love,

Rachh

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength"

Back here for a quick update! Let's backtrack to Monday!
Started off the week with a good run after work, 4KM clocked. Was amazed by my energy to clock the distance after a long day of work, usually my body would give in at 3KM but pushed myself to go another 1km more. Dinner was fruits. Happy colors makes my day :)

Tuesday was the usual cardio class after work at 7pm with le buddy, Pam. We always pushed harder each trg. It's not the speed that matters but the reps and posture of the workout. So thankful to have known her through FF and stayed on for a good 3mths tgt!



Dead beat after the workout class on Tuesday. Crashed damn early that night.

Wednesday calls for a white day, I felt vain to dress up in my new white Laude Exquisite Lace Dress frm #ohvola!



Perfect dress that does not make me look fat! :D

Thurs breakfast was a change! I decided to try the Charcoal Red Bean Bun that I've been walking past every single day to the coffee hut. But it turned out not as good as it shld have been. How disappointed!



Saturday noon clocked a good run of going pass my usual limits. I could have done 2KM more if not for the treadmill which auto stops after an hour of using it. But am proud to have ran so far and motivated to go further than this!



And so this morning at 5.30am, I clocked a 7KM outdoors run! It felt so so refreshed and cooling. Love how the roads are quiet without much traffic and the pavements are just empty. I could have them to myself. I always sort my thoughts during my run. It's a good way of self-reflection as well!

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It's gonna be less than a month to a new year of 2014! I am looking fwd as I've set aside a few person goals for myself in the new year. I hope by dec, I can clear all debts (with my sis) and then work harder in the new year for myself. 

New quote to live by ' Learn to live and accept with what you can't change. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength". I shall, thus, live by this in 2014. May the work brings in new challenges and greater heights, may myself be stronger than 2013 so I can set out to achieve more, may my family and friends be blessed to always be safe, to laugh more, worry less, travel more and play hard in the new year. By 27, I hope I can start to achieve my dream- having my own cafe.

Love,

Rach

"Of blessings"

Happy birthday to dearest Auntie Siew Ping. 

May this year 2013 been a great year filled with love, happiness and good health for you. 2013 is ending in a month's time and I wish you much more happiness, love, luck and better health in the upcoming 2014.

It has always been the greatest blessing to have met you and known you. Times flies, knowing you had been a good coming 2yrs. Despite all that had happened, you do drop bits of encouragement and love to me. I appreciate every single bit of it. Even though we mayn't be as close as we used to be but you're always inside my heart and I will always keep a blessing for you to always be happy and in good health :)

Till then,
Love, Rach

"With contentment, you'll realize that you're happier"

Always thankful to have the sweetest girls around me in life.

Ling brought me my fav Tiramisu in a Jar by @empiredsg from Lola Cafe!



Lola Cafe is a quaint cafe located in Kovan. It's a travel away from my place hence I only managed to go there if I ever have time off enough to travel down :) So I was so thankful to be able to have fav Tiramisu again!

My sis-in-law came over for dinner today with my family. It's been a good long time everyone sat down tgt to have a proper good dinner. Def love such family bonding time tgt.



Mom seems to cook better dishes whenever we've family dinner. On usual days, dinner are kept really simple. So I appreciate times like these cause i hardly have dinner home on weekdays due to work & gym.

Wes started packing for the upcoming Korea trip after dinner



Thats a total of 3 bags for my brother! HAHA.

This weekends was kept pretty simple as I was tasked and planned to help Ling with her wedding favours. So glad we managed to keep in track with our timeline. And we're ALL done for the ROM party on the 11 Jan 2014! Don't say we're mad but it is VERY true that time flies so fast before you know it.
I am planning to work on my cupcakes during weekends after Korea Trip to churn out the best for my gf's ROM!

So many plans to work towards to and I am making sure I keep to them. Hoping 2014 will be another new fresher year for myself to improve myself and financially. 1 more month till we bid 2013 a good bye and welcome 2014 with a fresher self and mind. I am looking fwd to a good new 2014 ahead with my family,friends and everyone else.

Till then,
Love, Rach

“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.”

Finally got down to some decent scrapping with the girlfriend, Ling, today over at my place this late evening. I was so glad that we managed out some time together to finish up all her wedding ROM items. What's left now will be my bakes and just DIY stuffs the night before the ROM and I reckon 2 months can get pass so easily. 

One of my new work piece for a DIY wedding pen :) Brings a huge sense of satisfaction across whenever I see how many smiles and happiness I bring over to people. It's some little things like these in life that I think makes us truly happy.

I love the quote - "The greatest wealth is to live content with little"

I used to be sucha spendthrift on clothes, shoes and just in life. I never learn how to better appreciate all I have and just spend like a king. I throw away things whenever I feel they aint of any more use to me. Hence, I never realize the monetary value that I've thrown away. It was only till today or rather this year that I began reflecting on self, life and how I am as a person towards family,friends and colleagues. I reckon I had so much more to improve on; the way I talk with people, behave outside, spend, look, think and way I do things. I think I had learnt grealty of how inconsistent as an individual I was. Now as I began to earn my own income and to provide income to the family, I learnt to save and scrimp better. What caught me most was after the lesson learnt on being a spendthrift and end up not be able to prioritize my bills well enough. I am thankful my sister was there to give me a good learning point. I then better learn to appreciate and think better before I spend every single dollar now. I prep my lunches and I will in turn put in more effort as I would want a better lunch at work, I'd think about the breakfast $$ before I splurge, I'd think of how much working clothes I had before I decided to get a dress again, I'd think of how often I hang out before I promise to meet my friends up for dinner/drinks, I began to think that other than a happening life, I could learn to lead a fulfilling life; making every workout count in gym, trying to make a change with a morning run, handling r/s better with people at work, focusing more on work to better do well in them, spending time learning and reading of the country I am visiting this month. 

I think when they say time do change a person, I truly believe cause I felt the change in myself was the most prominent evidence. I no longer felt the same old way I did last time. I do not see r/s as being my first but self,family and work. I place time on more impt tasks and see everything as a learning journey. I see putting myself to talk to my family better as challenge to change. I set achieveable goals and I keep myself discipline towards certain principles in life. I've never felt so great. And my next year 2014 goal is to become even better and to achieve much more financially, visit a new country, learn  a new sport and just move on to the next destination that my work brings me to.I am seeking greater heights and I will achieve it slowly along the way.

Till then,

as we grow.

"Focus on the bigger things in life, for they are the things that bring you far in life"

It has been a good few weeks of being tied down during work & weekends. Finally found some proper time to do a proper write up and update here. As of recent, the health hasn't been at its best. Got my blood test results and they didn't turn out as well but with the med given to me now, I hope I'll get better soon. 

Then I caught a serious flu which there is still some phlegm around but I am def recovering. So proud of myself for not taking any MC despite the heavy flu. But somehow this week didn't end well either as I had gotten a food poisoning somehow which I don't recall having any uncooked/dirty foods. But it was terrible cause I was like a merlion and also having runs :/ But I am so glad it is all over now.

So we spent this year's Halloween at USS! It was supposed to be a 3girls 1guy date with our dearest Benny as the only male but it turned out that Ish couldn't make it last min and we had to call one of benny's friend along. But it was overall fun experience which I think it is worth a one-time experience and thats it. Wouldn't be intending to go back next yr since I had been to this year. But it was a happy halloween tgt!

On Sunday evening, I had gotten some spinach, raspberries (didnt know they taste sooooo good), strawberries and banana for a smoothie blend. It was my first attempt hence I think it turned out pretty weird but I am still on the hunt to make better smoothie to replace some of meals sometimes.

The girlfriend, Tiffany, came by for lunch with me during my lunchtime at work on Monday. So thankful for her company and happy to have her around with me. We caught up quite a bit and it was def a pity we couldn't do any longer since my lunch time was pretty much the 2hrs. But nonetheless, I had a good time. Oh ya, we had tea thereafter along with his god-bro whom we met at ChaiTime.



Salad stop for bunny-me. Always so on for anything veg.

I had the thought of a evening run around MBFC,MBS and Esplanade. There I went after work on Monday. Good to be catching the evening sunset whilst running! Something new and different. I reckon I'd do this more often!

What's Monday without a good #ootd shot?! Well, I was named the "lawyer" that day since everyone thinks I look so much like one given my black pencil skirt with white shirt dressing. Hehe, so OL-ish nowadays.

,3

Health week calls for more salad lunches. It was a tuesday lunchbox exchange with my twiny :)

Who doesn't love surprises and gifts? Thanks for the love,twiny<3

My colleagues are just as enthu as I am when it comes to working out. I am pretty thankful for this bunch of happy pills at work. Always whining and complaining to each other and being so on for every single plan tgt!

And of course, the singles in the group had to have some after work-tgif time tgt with just beer,chips and meatballs. Good end to the week :)

Saturday calls for G's birthday dinner @ Lola. Wanted to hit 49 seats initially but realize that their food maynt seem as good hence I decided to bring the foodies to Kovan for Lola!

And I was glad they love the food and Tiramisu!

Happy birthday G! Your the bestest sis ever <3

Thats Tiramisu in a Jar by @empireD by Dennis. 

So aft a workout on a weekday, I headed home and decided to open up my rice crackers bought during grocery shoppin'. Tried with peanut butter, OMG it taste heavenly!



Tuesday gym class with my very on gym bud; Pam!



Midweek at Joe & Dough with Gillian, my lunch buddy, siao on kia, gossip girl and everything else at work. 

Met up with the gf ytd evening for her wedding prep shopping at Spotlight & Daiso! She was so hyped on getting every single thing and I had to stop her. Hahaha, but it was def very fun!

I finally received my Ohvola clothings and couldn't wait but just don on them for a friday night of drinks!

SO thankful to have met her and know her, so much to share, talk and just drink. One of the girls whom holds her beer level so well as much as me :) Thankful for the night tgt.

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Wow, time flies and another year had gone pass! It's Auntie Siew Ping's birthday on Sunday and I will be calling her up to wish her, hopefully able to pass her a shawl as well!

Well, it all gets better in time :)

Till then
Rach

"Not clear, just blank. No vancies, just emptyness"

Has been yet another weekend that just passed. I would reckon it to be laidback since I hadn't been brunch-ing/drinking/partying and what not. Decide to hv a more toned lifestyle this few months.

Also to cut down on alcohol to prep better for the run in Dec'13.

Sudden thought came to my mind on certain things in life and I just had to put them down to feel better. Been glad for certain grp of friends who has always been around through the years. We don't meetup weekly but we do when we have time, birthdays and such. You know these people will be the ones whom you can always hv things to catch up on whenever there's a meetup. And that you enjoy the company as well. At the same time, there are certain pts in time/life that you somehow make the wrong moves.

Maybe let's jus touch on this today.

2013:

I reckon I started the year with a new beginning. A new 23rd year of entering the workforce, bringing home income and being an adult. I've many things to be dependent on self (financial, responsibility, life, work). And I am learning every single day. At work, there has been diff issues that occurred which has led me to being better in handling work/bosses/people and see things in a different better picture. The way one treats you is a reflection of how you treat others- Very true saying. I used to flare up so much easily towards people (people I dont really knw) and I believe it wasn't feeling good to be in their shoes. Cause I was arrow-ed to be in their situation. It somehow dawned alot on myself and I learnt to be better towards others nowadays. I think it does makes a good change. 

I started to pay attention to more details in work/life. Doing things with greater eye for details, attention and patience. Patience is a virtue which I hv also been not able to inculcate. Somehow with friends/people around you having that virtue does help u inbuilding them into urself.

My challenge that I've set myself is to "be a more eye for detail person, inculcate patience and to hv a better temper".

However, there are times when you made the wrong moves. As such, dating the wrong person. I would say I rather a friendship than having to date someone who isn't in the right level of perspective of a r/s. I think thats impt. If someone else doesnt see things as the way you do then u had better do not attempt to try to date. It will make things turn out likewise. I went through that 2mths back. And hurt was def done to someone so I reckon not to continue further to impact anymore. And of course it has made me see the better light of knowing how the other sees a date before commiting into one. 

There are times you dont know whether it was the right or wrong move. I am someone stubborn by nature. I could stick to a decision and be so firm in it. That makes a strength and flaw as well. And of course, I see friendships as friendships and if anyone ever tries to come by with "different" feelings towards me, I'd at all cost,avoid. Avoidance is a right/wrong thing. Right- not to impact anymore wrong diff feelings for that person to "drag" him or her further in their feelings. Wrong- cause afterall we're all friends and adults. But I still reckon the first. Don't believe too grealty in things like "time will tell". Words are always words. I think its more of a having the right rational thought. We don't spell out exactly everything in words. So if you may get the message then move on from there. It is benefical for self. I always truly believe in having things go their way, if it flows to u someday, it will. You do not need to do anything to make it work.

I am glad I lighten alot on my perspective towards r/s. I don't see them as important or priority now. I choose to have fun now for another good year before I ever will consider a proper r/s. I think I somehow can't put my focus in place for long- meaning to say, I can't face the same thing for long, I am easily bored. Other than food and alcohol. So I think life is still very much perfect now for me at least. I choose how I want to spend my time & days. 

So for now,

Love,

Rach

'Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war, love is a growing up.'

Happy Sunday! Finally the wifi is working well and I am able to update my lil space here!

Let's backtrack to last weekend which was a blast!

Friday started off well as I was on leave, woke up to settle all misc stuffs for the trip, went to the salon and back home to pack all my stuffs before cabbing over to the airport. 

Needed this bangkok getaway so badly since things hadn't been at its best recently, esp at work.

I was so looking fwd even though it was a solo trip. But what makes this more interesting was this is the first time I venture outta my comfort zone to take the big courage to travel alone!
Even tho I was so forgetful that I had to pay $50 for check-in baggage! :/ 

So off I was to the Land of Smiles- Bangkok!

Having my so-called "High Tea" while waiting to check in! Fav green tea frappe with gigantic cookie monster!

Landed in Bangkok after a good 2hrs of flight. Headed straight to get a cab to the hotel. It was quite a mess when we were at Pratunam cause the roads were too small and narrow for the cab to drive in! But thankfully, the cab driver was nice enough to stop the cab and asked for help from one of the street hawkers to direct me to Citin Pratunam. Wouldn't consider staying there again due to the location.

I had a quick dinner, washed up and slept. Wanted to combat enough energy for my long day of JaktuJak!

Waking up to wet roads since the prev night was a rainy one. But I was thankful the sun came out throughout my whole day at JaktuJak!

Weather was perfect, food was cheap, I spent the day shopping at my own pace, having coffee and chilling around whenever I needed a rest from the walking. Life's seems so good. I couldn't ask for a more perfect time alone in Bangkok! and with so many singaporeans ard, I do feel that it's more like a land of Singaporeans! Whats more to say, people are def friendly!

Bangkok is a city that never sleeps. Massive traffic, endless people all year round and filled with so much cheap foods and drinks, what else to ask for? I'd def go back once every year, be it alone or with the friends just to enjoy this layback life. And time passes so slow there, which I am not complaining. I am instead loving every bit of it. I got bck to the hotel earlier to shower and rested before dinner was at Pratunam and light shopping, massage and a beer to end the TGIS!

Will always have at least 1 cuppa Black Canyon when I am in Bangkok, good cheap coffee! I need them in the morning if not I am totally dsyfunctional. That was on Sunday before I started my day of Pratunam and Platinum spamming!

Lunch was a simple crepe filled with Ham and Pork Floss. Nothing very fantastic but I do like crepes and I like mine to be savoury!

Spend the whole Sunday doing all kinda of shopping and packing dinner bck to the room to enjoy. 

Then I was so worn out after a shower and I decided to head for an early rest and to pack my luggage and double check my documents.

Arrived at the airport really early and decided to wander and just chill around. I even had a good nap of 1hr at the benches. HAHAHA. Then went ahead to check in before the quene forms! 

So thankful the luggage wasn't overweight at all!

Decided to have some decent thai food since I hadn't been able to!

So there's the SUPER spicy papaya salad which I had only 1/4 cause it was burning my tongue! And a club sandwich before the flight!

Landed back in Sg around midnight and gotten home ard 1am. Washed up,unpacked and went to bed since I had to be back at work the next day. I was still feeling the tiredness when I woke up for work but thankful the coffee did the trick in keeping me awake and I was glad I came back to work to settle all admin stuffs.

So that was one thing off my list! 

I am glad I did it and I was handling it very well when I was overseas. I was all alone and I knew I couldn't panick nor feel afraid cause I wouldn't be able to know how far I can go. I make sure I was safe and surrounded with people all time and my belongings were always with me. It doesn't feel like I was alone since the crowd in Bangkok never ends. I did felt more relax and off the mind from Sg. 

And I plan to do this yearly. The next destination would be Bali next year for myself to get away to an island and just spend the weekends there chilling. I think everyone deserves a good time alone from time to time to clear the mind from work,life and everything else.

Till the next destination!

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Friday tht had jus passed was a short yet hectic day for all of us as we were shifting office!

Our last lunch was bound at Room Cafe and I had my salad for my eat-clean regime.

SO THANKFUL THAT I AM GONNA BE NEIGHBOURS WITH THIS SIAO CHAR BO again!
But she's just gonna be around for 1 more week :( gonna miss verbal diahorrea to her always during work! But nonetheless, I wish the best for her in her next destination too.

Received a very saddening piece of news on Thursday night. I just thought life is def short and many things could happen within a night. I was lost upon hearing it but I knew that the people who were facing it were even more lost and emotional. The best we could do was to be there for them.

The weekends were here and I didn't felt like spending it out so I spent the day lazing in bed with my tablet to catch up on my shows, went for a workout and then back home for dinner before I opened a bottle of wine at night, feels good drinking the night away at home. I needed that badly due to the busy week ever since I came back frm Bangkok.

Till another better day ahead today!

Its Sunday but tuesday is a PH and so I am looking fwd to a day of sleep,brunch and maybe workout too!

Love,

Rachh