First Year Anniversary!

 

My new pink luggage from Lojel!

On our special day yesterday, my boy surprised me with this luggage at my doorstep! 

I have been eyeing on it for weeks, contemplating whether to buy it even though it was on sale.I would love to travel with a pretty luggage but the investment is a tad high given that I don't really travel that frequent, at most 2 to 3 times a year. 

But no longer do I have to make that decision now, I have one now! :) 

This silly boy carried the luggage all the way from his house! 

The story behind how he got this luggage was so heart-warming. And our poor friend, Myo, was being approached by both of us separately, to shop with us and be our advisor.

A year has passed since we got together officially. 

Time really flies, whether or not it's the good or the bad. 

All couples will certainly have their share of fights but at the end of the day, it's the efforts of both parties that matter. In our case, I have to admit that most of the time, he is the one whom gives in and accommodates to my needs. He is always there for me whenever i need him, supporting me in whatever decision I make.

For now, I just know I'm blissfully in love!

Little White Wedding Dress

It was like a dream come true when I received the email that says "Congratulations, you are our winning couples for {29:6 Bureau Giveaway}". Out of 16 couples and having secured 230 votes, we won the photo shoot instead of the couple with the highest number of votes; 557 of them! I could still remember that I literally jumped in joy and went around the office to share this good news with my colleagues.

The photo shoot was specially packaged by a team of wedding specialists:

- Chris Ling International Photographers: Concept Photography Session with 10 images returned

- Z Wedding D'sign: Gowns & Attire

- TheLittleBrush Makeup: Makeup & Hairstyling

- Poppy Flora Studio: Hand Bouquet

- Seb's Bistro: Venue for Photo Shoot


Much to my disappointment, the gown fitting session was rather an unpleasant experience.
Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was a complimentary service, the gowns given to me were nothing similar to what they showcased on their website. I was still full of anticipation beforehand. Well, the explanation given was that as this was a concept shoot, only certain designs were suitable for the theme. Furthermore, not all gowns could be brought out for outdoor photo shoots.

Having my mood dampened, I wasn't really looking forward to the photo shoot anymore. But since this will serve as a good opportunity for both of us to have a quick sense of knowing what to expect in the future, we decided to proceed on with the shoot.


There was basically nothing much to prepare for the shoot, which I bet will definitely be the opposite for a real wedding! However, knowing that every single detail counts, I spent the night before trying to dress up my nails.
 

 

My first attempt at this glittery, pinkish nails adorned with crystals.

This photo really can't do any justice to the amount of effort that I've put in! 

Located at No.7 Rochester Park, Seb's Bistro is a Bistro Style Restaurant in a grand old colonial bungalow. Many couples hold their wedding here.

We met Clarice, the in-charged from Seb's Bistro and were brought to this cozy room on the second floor. 

 

Full length mirrors line one of its wall. 

The canopy drapes, albeit pretty, block off the room light.  

 

 My first set of makeup & hair.

This took me around 1.5 hours!

 

 Together with our Makeup Artist, Jovie Tan, 

after my second set of makeup & hair.

Really dislike this gown but it was one of the best out of the rest. 

If you agree with me that, ya, that's how bad it was!

and...

....

...

..

.

tadah! Here are the end products!

The returned images were given in soft copies and instead of 10 as promised, we received 15! 

Below are the selected few which are my favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

From The Wedding Bureau: http://weddingbureau.com.sg/blog/a-day-with-shirley-issac-by-chris-ling-intl-photographers/

It's time to bid farewell

Yes, I'm leaving this place for good, after three long years.

It's been a really long journey and I'm so glad that I managed to survive through those times.

Mixed feelings as I look back and try to recall what I've been through.

Summer on Sand Project

My first attempt to clear 80 compulsory CIP hours even before school begins.

Unfortunately, I was down with chicken pox right after the sandcastle training session, thus was unable to join my group for the rest of the project.

Having some real fun out in the sun!

Learning how water affects the quality of the sandcastle

Here's a secret that I'm gonna let out...

There was this guy whom caught my attention and somehow made my heart flutters.

He was probably the one and only guy that made me feel this way in school! haha!

  

Bondue Camp - Freshmen Camp for the Business School

This was the time when I started to feel a little out of place,

the JC kids outdone the Poly folks!

SMU Convocation as the backdrop says, this event marks the start of our journey in school.

And these people are my groupmates from Freshmen Team Building, aka, FTB Camp!

We were once so closely bonded despite the different schools we were in.

Lunch out with my groupmates at Astons. (Luo Qin)

Eugene & Shou Woon

Could you imagine having 3 seniors whom are freakingly outspoken and seriously the MR "know-it-all" for my very first module in school??

I totally freaked out during every lesson as I was so worried that I could not meet their expectations!

Luckily, they weren't the sort of demanding or arrogant seniors!

This guy especially, mr Jeremy!

All in green because our project was mainly on teaching the kids how to save and protect Mother Earth!

LTB, think it stands for Leadership and Teambuilding.

This was probably one of the most useless modules but it certainly taught us how to work well as a team.

My one and only CCA in SMU; the Squash club!

I was once so passionate about it; I attended almost every single training session, invested in a good solid racket. But strangely, things changed after my 21st birthday party. Guess I was busy with other commitments.

SQUASH FEVER!

A competition organized only by SMU Squash Club, cool isn't it? haha!

Another community project!

Bringing joy to the kids at Siling Primary School

Actually it was more like ME having fun!

We brought the kids for a HIPPO Bus Tour, fully sponsored.

This was certainly one of my greatest achievement in school and in life!

SMU Adventure Race, SMU AdRace in short.

A real challenge to test one's determination!

More than 30km of running, cycling, inline skating, swimming, kayaking, & vertical climbing.

I must be out of my mind when I agreed to join this; being the only girl in the team.

Food Trail, typically what I enjoy doing the most! 

EAT + PHOTO-TAKING! 

Signed up for a photography session that involves running around to satisfy my palate!

A year after Summer on Sand project, the awesome committe came out with this Balloon of Bliss project.

This time round I got to learn how to do balloon sculpting.

I have almost no recollection of this event till I saw this photo.

Some leadership training camp and I was sent to represent Squash club.

To mark the end of my final proper full semester in school, these people are the most AWESOME ones I've met!

They were basically my source of motivation, the reason why I didn't have monday blues at all even though it was a morning class that starts at 8.30am!

 Love ya girls! :D

Where we will be in few years' time ~ Punggol Topaz

This is where my boy and I will be at in few years' time! 

This flat is officially OURS! 

Ready in 2016!

It has been a long and challenging process for the both of us.. 

If given a choice, we might have waited for a little longer. 

Anyways.. 
Here goes the entire process..

We happily applied for this flat (Our second application, first was Senja Gateway), thinking that "Well, don't think we'll stand a chance! Anyway, it's at Punggol, which is so so far away from where we are now, let's just try our luck and see."

and, 

SURPRISE! 

We received an email stating that our queue number is 25! This number is of great significance to us as we got together on July 25. So we thought, is it a sign to us? Should we purchase the flat?

We looked through the brochures sent to us, deciding which block and unit to choose. There were numerous conditions: No sunlight, Can't be near to the main road, Should be near to the LRT and bus stop, gotta be near the carpark and the list goes on.. 

We sought advices from our friends and families, and finally set our heart on this specific unit, which is on the highest floor, 17th! 

On the selection day in Feb, I was so anxious that we arrived hours before the time allocated to us. We look at the 3D model, spoke to some other couples whom were buying their houses too. 

It was finally our turn and we walked hastily into the room. 

Deep within, I was praying so badly that our first choice is not taken yet. 

Then came the bad news! We applied under Married Child Priority Scheme but with this, it would mean that Isaac's mom has to sell off her house as her name should not appear on two properties!! 

We were then told that removal of her name could bring a change to our queue number! Which means, we can't select our house today!

Devastated, I was thinking, "oh no, there goes my house!"

Amazing, miracles do happen! 

The lady came back saying that it's alright this time round, they will make an exception for us and with that, we paid our option fee - $2000 and secured our first choice! :D

Months later, 

the letter came, asking us to make our first 5% payment, which totals to $27K++. 

Initially, my calculation says that it will be around 20K. But after adding all the stamping fees and miscellaneous, there was this 7K more! Well, they sure know how to earn from their citizens! 

Anyways,

within those couple of mins and a cheque signed, 

we can now say, "YES! We have our own flat!!".

To some, they might think that this was an impulsive act. 

But hey, no way am I going to wait another five more years in my late twenties to get a roof over my head. :)