The Last Day of 2013

We're finally here.

31st December. Day 365. The last day of 2013.

How was your year?
I certainly hope it was one with much love and growth. :)

Anyways, although I'm always a little reluctant to say goodbye, there seems to be something promising and hopeful of a new beginning.

I used to do this with friends, but I guess I'm the only one left in the running in making predictions for the new year. I say predictions because I was a huge fan of One Tree Hill (stole the idea from Haley and Lucas), and predictions are something you think most likely will happen; because you take one year of working on yourself and towards your goals, instead of resolutions where it seems less likely to stick long term...? Or it takes that much more willpower to fulfil a resolution. I don't know. So!

2014 Predictions:

- I ate healthier/cleaner
- I have a hotter body! Fit/lean/toned (Gosh been repeating this one for years heh)
- Le Prince and I are stronger together
- I became a stronger person
- I had a huge growth
- I love what I do - my job, my side job
- I saw the world more
- I spent Christmas in London with Le Prince
- I (Le prince, too) grew closer with my family and have learnt to treasure them more
- I learnt to/became a better friend
- I was invited to Korea by Le Prince to meet his family (Oh gosh huge one!)
- I love life
- I am happy

I guess that's about it. Not too far-fetched right?

Will check back in a year and see what happens! :)

Yesterday on the eve of NYE I went shopping with my good friend Rikun :) No pictures of her because my camera died on me just as I was about to leave the house. :(

OOTD! But it's not a very exemplary photo because you can't really see what I'm wearing inside and I'm still in room slippers. I am sorry. Haha.

So this was what I bought!

100% cashmere sweaters for Le prince and myself!

Guess where they're from? ...Uniqlo!

I know what you're thinking, because you wouldn't usually expect this from an economical brand like Uniqlo, but no, they really are 100% cashmere! I mean, it was initially 7990yen at its original price but it was 5990yen for guys (SGD72) and 4990yen (SGD60) for girls at a limited new year's sale!

Worth it or what!

Okay, given that it's my first time ever owning a 100% cashmere item, I don't know much about the quality, but I really can't complain it feels so damn soft and comfortable to wear!

Incidentally, the sweaters make up the main colours of Christmas. Not that I'm complaining (still suffering from X'mas withdrawal symptoms). Mine's the forest green! It looks navy blue, only because of the lighting + my lousy photography skills. Hur.

One more pretty picture with the Harris Tweed pouch Moni Per gave me for Christmas - the colours all go so well together!

And, although it's going to be a leeeeetle lonely I will be spending this New Year's alone, I'm so excited for it's finally this weekend that I'm going to Seoul and I'll get to see Le prince again! :') 

Previously (omg it was this year Feb) when he went back for 2 months +, I was a wreck, I cried a lot and felt very lost without him. I know I know, it's bad and depressing and seriously unhealthy, but this time, I just did my own stuff and time flew! It's so nice to receive little texts from him too, everyday, saying he misses me and even saying that it feels like weeks has passed when it has only been days, without me with him! Hehe okay sorry la no more mush.

I guess, even if it's hard being apart, you really only realise your appreciation for that person when they're not around; and seeing those texts/messages make it all worth it. And those words/thoughts won't come unless you're both in different places, right? ;)

Going to give him his sweater all wrapped up pretty, I really can't wait!

Goodbye, 2013... So much happened but I am thankful for everything this year gave/didn't give me. 

Happy new year, everyone, I hope 2014 will be nothing less than a stunning year for you, filled with lots of love and happiness! 

Date With Monica

Oh God.

4 more days to 2014!
I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Mostly unready because I feel there is so much unfinished business left to be done - and it's nowhere near that. Sigh. Feeling really stressed and discouraged; especially peevish/sensitive when I'm in this state (was hurt by a trivial incident haiyah I hate myself for being like this).

Am trying my best to calm down by thinking other things and taking deep breaths.

Oh I saw this on Pinterest which cheered me up! :

Is it cute or what?

7,8,11,15 and 19 are very applicable to my life right now heh.

Anyways that was a digress - the main topic of today was me meeting up with my beautiful Ukranian/Japanese friend Moni Per (hehe) for a late lunch!

You know last time when I was younger I told myself I would definitely marry a caucasian and make beautiful babies. Well. I can still make beautiful babies but they won't have caucasian blood la ahem. I mean. Just look at that face!

We went to Slappy Cakes in Lumine EST to satisfy Monica's craving for pancakes.

We were both still suffering from Christmas withdrawal symptoms, so Moni Per here decided to be festive with her pancakes and made... Well can you guess what she's making?

Hehe... Rudolph the reindeer and a Christmas tree.

If you're wondering what the eyes/nose/mouth are made of, it's roasted mushrooms lol.

Because I wasn't in the mood for pancakes, this is my order of Salmon Benedict!

I actually don't know what makes a good eggs benedict - mainly because my love for scrambled eggs overpowers all other styles done. I can never refuse the classic All American Big Breakfast if it's on the menu; it's the first thing I search for heh.

But on this rare occasion I felt like I didn't want too much; Slappy Cakes' Classic Breakfast or Truck Stop! (which is basically the classic breakfast with an additional pancake) is really a lot, so I opted for something slightly healthier - and it was pretty good in my opinion! They were generous with the hollandaise and the salmon and greens went so well with the muffin and of course, the poached egg was done perfect! Oozing yolk when your knife cuts through it.

Oh by the ways did you spot the red nose on Rudolph Monica added using my Ketchup? Hur.

Her finished product.

"The tree looks like it has chicken pox." in Moni Per's exact words haha! I don't disagree. :x

After a wonderful time of catching up we proceeded to walk those nasty calories off and went shopping! Seems like everywhere has started with pre-year end discounts... I want so many things! :( 

Monica also wanted to get an eyeshadow palette for smoky eyes but she wasn't sure how to do it or how it would look like on her, so she went to M.A.C to get the staff to demonstrate on her! 

Maybe I suck at taking photos and am not able to fully capture how good she looks, but I really think smoky eyes work on her! They were smouldering when the staff at M.A.C was done with her. Me, I will just look like someone who got punched in the eye.

Moni Per also got me a lovely Christmas present... That girl. I love her to bits. Always has me in her mind. 

I love you Moni! 大切にする♥︎

Okay End!

TOKYO SOLAMACHI 東京ソラマチ 2013/12/16

First of all, Merry Christmas!

How do you like my Auto Awesome photo? I recently only realised that Auto Awesome makes fun versions of your photos and videos, like the one above! I assumed that it was simply an auto upload to my google+ account. Whoops.

Anyways, I'm here typing this entry alone on Christmas day, because Le Prince is in Korea. I'll get to that later.

I wanted to blog about my trip to Tokyo Solamachi - where the Skytree is located, because I've been wanting to go there for the longest time! So I did, with le prince, on his birthday as a surprise heh. (I thought he probably wouldn't want to go if I told him. His bday but I dragged him to somewhere I wanted to go heh.)

Okay so besides sightseeing, I was also on a mission to deliver another surprise - his present, but I wanted to tell him while we were seated down at a nice place having lunch... Aiyah, all the stupid fantasies playing out in my head I wanted to realise them.

Sucky picture sorry. Galaxy Note II's camera is just... so not up to par. We had unagi! I can't believe that that was the first time I ate unagi in Japan, when I've been here 2+ years! 

Le prince's very solemn expression while reading my letter I wrote to him. Y U NO shed tears from reading my touching letter?! Okay la I give him the benefit of a doubt because there were other people in that restaurant.

Anyways after he finished reading the letter I handed him another letter-like thing wrapped in a ribbon, which he stared at with a slightly alarmed expression. I didn't get to document that moment in photo boo. Yes, that was his present from me - an air ticket to Seoul! While I imagined that he would be really happy and smile as a response to his surprise... He looked up at me slowly and heaved a sigh of frustration. Then he got angry. :(

The first thing he said to me was, "I also might have other plans, right?"

Then the next thing was if the ticket could be cancelled and/or how much it would cost.

I felt hurt but also very sorry, because his reaction made me realise how I didn't consider his situation... I just happily assumed all would be fine; (it did la obviously if not I wouldn't be alone right now) especially since I also booked a ticket to Seoul myself to join him for the last few days and head back to Japan together. But I couldn't tell him that anymore because he would probably absolutely flare up into white hot flames.

The food came and I just said to tuck in first, talk later. 

After a few silent mouthfuls of (very good!) unagi,  he said softly, "I'm sorry for hurting you."

"I'm truly happy, I really am, but I didn't want you to spend that money."

Truth is, this year has not been all well for me, and I should be twice as careful with my spending. I guess he was just concerned about spending on luxuries I/we don't need. But it's his birthday/X'mas present! Just for this one time of the year! Let me take in the magic of my most favourite season in its entirety and bask in the spirit of giving! (And take... Thanks to my wonderful, most amazing parents who gave me a huge Christmas present <3)

After an emotional lunch haha we decided to work off the food and do some sight-seeing! But end up buy food again!

Customary purchase! Tokyo Banana Tree - limited to Tokyo Skytree, but actually I always purchase these at Narita airport (not sure if Haneda has these too?) as souvenirs when visiting Korea.

♥︎

Then we settled for drinks and rest before heading out to look at the pretty illumination later in the night at CHEESE GARDEN:

My god they had samples for their signature cheesecake and omg. I'm going to get that when I have the chance to go back again!

Tutoring his highness in English.

It's so hard to tutor someone in English, being a native speaker - and because he asks SO many questions in such detail, I am often rendered speechless! Like, "Why is this sentence structured this way? What is the reason for its sequence?"

And I'm just like "..."

I really don't know! :(

I feel really bad for him because he's trying so hard and he gets so stressed when I can't explain/don't have the answers/can't understand... I'm not of any help to him. I need to try harder too. 

So this was when we headed out.

So beautiful! We didn't go up, but I hope to if we get to go next time! 

I remember feeling so happy and content.

And I know that's what really matters in the end. Often I wish I had more of this, more of that - especially in terms of material things, because it's true. I won't deny it. I like material things, and many times I wish I could just buy anything and everything I like without having to worry about money. Who doesn't want it easy? 

But if true happiness came that easy, we definitely wouldn't cherish what matters most.

My parents have always drilled the importance of having a tight bond with your family. I knew of that importance, but I didn't, really. I was complacent and took them for granted many times... But now I have le prince, being a relationship really pushes me to look into myself, because it's not just about one person anymore. And when they say that sacrifices and compromises must be made, I don't think it's in spite of oneself, it's that it just happens naturally because you want this person in your life. A part of you.

I'm still very much a kid inside... With so many things that I take for granted and am complacent about. But I think, being away from home all this time, has finally made me understand how so very lucky I am.