Story about family and love.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from a renowned wedding website asking if they could feature me as their bride of the month. I was quite thrilled and excitedly checked out their stories on their previous brides of the month.

Being a bridezilla, I immediately looked through my wedding album for similar pictures that I could provide to the website (without having even said yes to them) and then it dawned on me….I neither had pictures of my main dress in full length on its own nor with me in it. I didn’t have a single picture of my beautiful wedding dress train, laid out and not scrunched up. I didn’t have a single picture of myself just looking like a bride in it. I had a lot of beautiful & precious pictures from the wedding but I didn’t have those. And it killed me inside.

Was I disappointed at my photographer? Yes I was. I was so upset I tweeted about it, of which she immediately responded to me so apologetically. She told me the reasons of what happened and I accepted them. Later I deleted those tweets because it was done without any thinking on my part. Anna is a truly wonderful, amazing photographer but due to some awkward turn of events…she uncharacteristically missed out on taking pictures of me in my main wedding dress. What can I say? Shit happens, even to the very best.

Anyway, I spent about three days crying my eyes out and somehow managed to calm myself down thinking I could always rent the dress again for another photo session. Because the dress, is what they in the bridal industry called a “Super VIP” dress….it was a little expensive to rent, especially since I just got a new car too (am sorry, I’m beginning to sound like a real spoilt bitch here but please bear with me).

My closest friends of course knew about my predicament. They were incredibly supportive, consoling me and telling me that in their hearts they will always remember how beautiful I looked on my wedding day. Thank you guys!

Anyway, this is not a story about the missing pictures of a dress. This is a story about my family.

Today, after dropping my car off for re-tinting (that’s another long story) at Jalan Gombak, my brother from another mother M came to pick me, Celine and Gareth up for breakfast. He drove us all the way to Jalan Imbi, making several detours in the traffic jam looking for a particular restaurant before M realised we were supposed to eat at Jalan Ipoh. In my head, I was like…omg M you dumbass I am so HUNGRY!!! Hahahaha.

We finally found the restaurant and had a nice breakfastlunch and then M said he wanted to show us a project he’s working on. So we made our way to the project site. He said it was at Jalan Tun Razak. Gareth turned on Waze on his phone, but M kept making wrong turns and they both blamed Waze.

While we were in the car, Celine was using M’s car USB point to charge her phone. M later insisted to Celine that she had to remove her phone so he could plug in his iPod when they were nearer to his project site.

I thought he had to present something on his iPod or something but then I realised he was trying to play a song. So I asked M, “Bro, why you need to play this music when you’re nearer to your project site?”. He said, “IT’S MY THING”. So I was like,”Hah? OK lor”.

Anyway, after a while, we were near Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka, and in my head I was like, “Gawddamn it these two men are useless at directions”.

I kept telling them Jalan Tun Razak is near KLCC and we need to get back into the city…but M turned onto Jalan Loke Yew towards Cheras as I was telling them to turn into the city! WTF! M kept insisting that making a U-Turn on Loke Yew was the better way to reach Jalan Tun Razak. T_T

As we were on Loke Yew, I pointed out the bridal studio which I got my main wedding dress to Celine. Celine asked me whether I was still upset about the wedding dress pictures and I said, “No lah….just a little sad lor”.

And then Celine said, “Babe, we are heading to the bridal studio to get your dress”.

Blank. “What?”

“We are getting the dress for you so you can take proper pictures in it”

Blank. “What do you mean???”

“We are getting you the dress. Cass is doing your makeup again, Anna is taking your pictures again!”

“What are you talking about???”

I started tearing up. M drove up to the front of the bridal studio. They walked me in and I still couldn’t register what was happening. Then I went in and there was my dress, on a mannequin.

# – My dress.

As I was asking Celine if she was kidding again, suddenly I heard, “SURPRISE!!!”. Out jumped Jayna and Sin Loo from the changing room. At that point, I began to bawl.

# – Not a pretty crier, sorry.

I couldn’t believe it was really happening. I was going to take pictures in my main wedding dress again so soon. I was really expecting to do it on our fifth wedding anniversary or something. But right now I do not need to wait so long because the most awesome people in the world have gone ahead and made it happen for me.

It’s not my birthday, it’s not any special day. But you guys took your own time and money out to plan and do this. For me!?

Thank you Bro M, thank you Celine, thank you Jayna, thank you Sin Loo, thank you Whey Lu, thank you Ee Laine, thank you Ruby and thank you to my husband Gareth for this beautiful surprise. Especially thank you to M and Celine. This is totally up there with my wedding proposal hahaha.

I love you guys so much you have no idea!!

# – Being fussed over by my loved ones – G’s feet, Jayna, Sin Loo, Celine and M’s body. The lady buttoning my top works at the bridal studio.

So all the weird detours earlier now made sense. M and his “thing” about iPod…actually he wanted to play the song “Favorite Girl” by The Icarus Account because it’s the theme song for our wedding highlights video /sniffs

What a surreal, amazing day. I feel so incredibly blessed. A long time ago, I used to think that I could never love other people like I love my family. Well, you really can.

Thank you my sisters and brother from another mother. You are family to me. I love you.

Why I changed my mind about pre-wedding bridal studio shoot.

Some of you might know that I was quite opposed to having a bridal studio shoot. I found it a bit cheesy but the real reason is because I actually really don’t like other people taking pictures of me, not even Gareth, haha.

Seriously, we have had numerous quarrels over pictures he took of me for my blog because I didn’t look good or right in them. Truth is, I should blame myself for being unphotogenic but of course, being me, I blame him lah hahahaha.

When this wedding thing happened, I told Gareth that we should go on a kickass holiday and then take our own pre-wedding pictures, armed with a remote trigger and tripod. He thought it was inviting trouble but hey, people have done it before! Damn pretty the pictures right?

Anyway, just the idea of having other people take pictures of me, important pictures of us freaked me out. Maybe it has something to do with all the horrendous press stuff I’ve done before. For instance, the last magazine shoot I had was so bad I had just completely lost faith in local “professional photographers/stylists”.

I mean, after all the makeup, hairdo and matching outfits, this photographer just made me sat on a chair behind a damn coffee table, and posed with my hand. The stylist also stood by the sideline and didn’t say a thing. Trust me, I tried to work it but dudeeeeeeeeeeee, I was wearing a billowy top with high-waisted trousers and the outfit was supposed to be seen full. Needless to say, when the pictures came out I looked like a chunky body builder thanks to having half my body blocked by an ugly table. Gah!

Even when Gareth engaged Anna-Rina to be our ROM photographer, I had my reservations. I mean, I knew Anna takes amazing pictures and all, but I was still stressed. What if my pictures sucked and I had to scream at Anna? I can be a big bad difficult bitch….

Thankfully, it never happened….my fears were unfounded! She restored my faith in local photography so to speak. Hehehehe.

Anyway, back to bridal studio shoot. I was dead against it but you know what they say….never say never. We had one done this afternoon and surprise, surprise, I had fun!

# – Getting made-up! This went on for about 1.5 hours.

# – Gareth too. 3 minutes tops…lol.

Why the change of heart? Well, it just made more economical sense to take a photography package and topping up for the dress I want rather than just renting the dress alone. Besides, my mom and granny think I should have some bridal shots taken because it should be part of my wedding experience. In the end, I agreed…why not? :)

I’m now very glad we did it. The photographer, Wah was patient and funny. My makeup artiste, Berry was just a lovely, lovely girl who is passionate about what she’s doing. I really loved the hairstyles and the makeup and the dresses, which I chose of course hehe.

# – Gareth, flanked by Wah and Berry :)

I really think Gareth should function in a tux full time. Today, I was like…wow my husband so handsome one!?

My first dress is a sleeved A-line gown. I had just wanted something simple & classic and hurmm young…hehe. I also wore my hair down but I had another sort of chignon later on.

# – The A-line gown.

2nd dress is a mermaid cut fuschia pink tube dress. This one, I just told Berry to go all out, make me SPARKLE! By the way, am wearing this on wedding day too…I was too lazy to choose another different dress. Choosing dresses is EXHAUSTING!

# – Getting ready in the evening dress.

Lastly, I got a traditional “kua” to wear. It’s got funny looking dragons on it. I don’t mind them one bit.

#- Berry gave me what she called, “ball ball” hair. Hahahaha. It’s really just those Shanghai 1920s inspired wavy side bangs with a puffy updo. LOVE IT!

By the way, my red stilletos…got ’em for RM75 in Sunway Pyramid. I love Payless Shoes!

# – My wedding shoes, revealed. I’ve got another similar pair in blue with chunkier heels which I got from Bangkok, so I might wear those too…not sure yet.

You must have noticed I’ve only got 3 dresses, that’s cause I reduced the normal 5-6 dresses down to 3. Even with only 3 dresses and a strictly indoor shoot it was so tiring!!! I salute all the brides who can do 6 costume changes and outdoor shoot and still look gorgeous as hell. Just seems impossible for me! I will never be a fashion model, not that I’m unaware that I am genetically incapable of being so already :P

So pre-wedding bridal studio shoot or not? If you’re renting a dress from a bridal studio anyway…why not? It works out cheaper, you’ll have pictures you can remember fondly or funnily by (depending on outcomes) and it is quite fun to play dress up :)

I am quite excited in seeing the pictures next week. I hope they turn out well. Actually I think they will turn out well because Wah showed me a few on the camera and I was like, heheheh how come I can look so nice one :D :D :D :D

Slightly elaborate Instagram updates with a Tomato & Ham Pasta recipe.

Do you know what this is?

# – Take a guess.

It’s a pet overall that my mom has fashioned out of a pair of old granny pants. My mom even made a hole for the tail…it is freakin’ brilliant!

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This is Charlie looking absolutely miffed because I tied his patch of hair up.

# – Dude needs a groomin’.

FTS, while writing this post I forgot he had a grooming appointment at 3pm today. Completely forgot about it T_T.

Looks like a couple more weeks before we’ve got time to make you look more presentable, boy.

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This qipao is 31 years old. My mom wore this on her wedding day and soon, I will be wearing it on mine too :)

My mom was a really tiny girl and according to her, the dress was loose on her.

I’m just glad I could fit in it now because I remember trying it when I was 15 and it wouldn’t even zip up pass my hips!!!

My mom has a good strategy, that I wear this while saying goodbye to guests on my reception cause I won’t be sitting down. Cause if I sat down, my belly layers will jut out. Well, thanks for the advice Mom!

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This is Mom being a total fan girl posing with Sam Lee, a HK actor. We were at Unity Store KL launch.

She’s currently watching a TVB show with him in it called Ghetto Justice. I think he looks a lot cuter in real life!

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Today’s dinner was pumpkin gnocchi with spinach & tomatoes in Chinoz BSC. One of my favourite foods and about the only vegetarian that rocks my socks off.

# – Top is fish & chips (ordinary) but pumpkin gnocchi below is OMGZ!

Pillowy but light gnocchi with a mild pumpkin taste with blanched spinach and tomato sauce. So simple but soooooooooo gooood!

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And now….recipe for my simple tomato & ham pasta. This is a truly simple recipe and doesn’t require many ingredients. Very tasty and quite healthy too!

# – Simple tomato & ham pasta.

The ingredients:

  • 200grams of pasta (I used tagliatelle), cooked according to instructions on packet
  • 2 tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 slices of ham, julienned
  • 300ml of tomato juice
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • #1 – First saute the sliced onions until translucent.

    #2 – Then, throw in the ham and stir fry until slightly browned.

    #3 – Next, throw in the quartered tomatoes.

    #4 – With a potato masher, squash the tomatoes till they break down. Crying.

    #5 – Pour in the tomato juice, little by little and stir until you get the consistency of a slightly thickened sauce.

    #6 – Season with salt & pepper. Remember to taste as you go as tomato juice is quite salty on its own!

    #7 – Dump in the cooked pasta (which you of course, was already cooking while you were making the sauce) and mix to coat evenly.

    #8 – Tomato & ham pasta with a sprinkling of grated parmesan, DONE!

    Love this dish, I have made it several times actually. It’s quick & easy to make and really flavourful without having to use an entire can of plum tomatoes or herbs. You’d be surprised!

    Have a good week, peeps :)