Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.
And when it subsides you have to make a decision.
You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is
inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement,
it is not the promulgation of eternal passion.
That is just being in love, which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has
burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground,
and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches,
they find that they are one tree and not two.
From "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" by Louis de Bernieres
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ngage or Dis-ngage Part o2
With the date set, it was pure madness planning & searching for vendors!!
What started out to be a smallish event at home soon turns to a void-deck reception. I still remembered me being so against the voideck reception idea. First and foremost, my voideck is dirrrrrty and not in the best condition. Second, we weren't going to have that many guest that will fill the space out. Third, the lift upgrading works has just started, so there's ugly hoarding everywhere. So odd right! Alas, the equation still stand as
number of people from the guys side + my guests = not able to fit in my living room :(
The next was trying to finalise the vendors. Since my mom & aunt decided to cook for the event, i had to focus on finding an outfit, make-up artist & photographer. For my outfit, what i had in mind was more the hindustani lehenga/ghangra. Since we both are of Indian descent and have no Malay blood, i thought it would be only fitting. So i searched and searched and searched...in vain.
I ended up with a Malay kebaya! hurhur... fell in love with the french lace and the simple yet elegant detailing.
I actually got my make-up artist through the net. No joke. I found her link on some website and was pretty impressed when i saw her portfolio. And she was the only vendor (apart from my photographer) that was prompt in her reply to my enquiries. I mean like seriously i had to email some of the others 3-4 times before they would even reply with a quote. But not for kak yatee, i felt like we were almost msn-ing. Instant replies! Definitely a reassurance of her service. And her style is more modern - playing up your natural beauty and features rather than just slapping inch-thick make up on your face. She is fantastic with hair too! I had requested for nude make-up and wanted a simple elegant look. She did a superb job, judging from all the compliments that came my way. If any of you like what she did for me, kak yatee is contactable at her online portfolio.
Next up was the photographer. This was a tough decision, as i couldn't decide whether to engage one or leave the duty to a friend/family member/willing party. LOL. Both my mom & the mister was saying not to waste money in engaging one. But me being someone who appreciates photography, was pretty dead set in having one. I do not want to look back few years from now and only have badly taken pictures to remind me of my engagement. As luck would have it, my bro-in-law said he knows of someone who's good and charges reasonably. Jackpot!
Enters Herry, the photographer! He is super funny and full of antics. Hurhur... if you thought i was a perfectionist, then u have not met Herry. He was extremely careful about my make-up. Yes, of all things - my make up. He said if there was no touch up done, there will fine cracks/lines that will show up in the photos due to smiling and all. So he will signal me to touch up when he sees lines appearing. So cute lar! We had a lot of fun esp when we were doing the solo shots of me. I am not a photogenic person by nature. Like seriously. Nodee will know... So i crack up everytime he asks me to pose a certain way. Esp when he said "give me that sexy eyes" That line + Nodee looking at me, set me off. He sort of gave up after, trying to get me to pose. Good times, good times...
What started out to be a smallish event at home soon turns to a void-deck reception. I still remembered me being so against the voideck reception idea. First and foremost, my voideck is dirrrrrty and not in the best condition. Second, we weren't going to have that many guest that will fill the space out. Third, the lift upgrading works has just started, so there's ugly hoarding everywhere. So odd right! Alas, the equation still stand as
number of people from the guys side + my guests = not able to fit in my living room :(
The next was trying to finalise the vendors. Since my mom & aunt decided to cook for the event, i had to focus on finding an outfit, make-up artist & photographer. For my outfit, what i had in mind was more the hindustani lehenga/ghangra. Since we both are of Indian descent and have no Malay blood, i thought it would be only fitting. So i searched and searched and searched...in vain.
can't remember where i got this image from but look at the gorgeous outfits!
I ended up with a Malay kebaya! hurhur... fell in love with the french lace and the simple yet elegant detailing.
I actually got my make-up artist through the net. No joke. I found her link on some website and was pretty impressed when i saw her portfolio. And she was the only vendor (apart from my photographer) that was prompt in her reply to my enquiries. I mean like seriously i had to email some of the others 3-4 times before they would even reply with a quote. But not for kak yatee, i felt like we were almost msn-ing. Instant replies! Definitely a reassurance of her service. And her style is more modern - playing up your natural beauty and features rather than just slapping inch-thick make up on your face. She is fantastic with hair too! I had requested for nude make-up and wanted a simple elegant look. She did a superb job, judging from all the compliments that came my way. If any of you like what she did for me, kak yatee is contactable at her online portfolio.
kak yatee & me
Next up was the photographer. This was a tough decision, as i couldn't decide whether to engage one or leave the duty to a friend/family member/willing party. LOL. Both my mom & the mister was saying not to waste money in engaging one. But me being someone who appreciates photography, was pretty dead set in having one. I do not want to look back few years from now and only have badly taken pictures to remind me of my engagement. As luck would have it, my bro-in-law said he knows of someone who's good and charges reasonably. Jackpot!
Enters Herry, the photographer! He is super funny and full of antics. Hurhur... if you thought i was a perfectionist, then u have not met Herry. He was extremely careful about my make-up. Yes, of all things - my make up. He said if there was no touch up done, there will fine cracks/lines that will show up in the photos due to smiling and all. So he will signal me to touch up when he sees lines appearing. So cute lar! We had a lot of fun esp when we were doing the solo shots of me. I am not a photogenic person by nature. Like seriously. Nodee will know... So i crack up everytime he asks me to pose a certain way. Esp when he said "give me that sexy eyes" That line + Nodee looking at me, set me off. He sort of gave up after, trying to get me to pose. Good times, good times...
us & herry
And the photos didn't disappoint at all. He did a great job capturing my day. He even delivered the album & frame to my workplace one week after my engagement. So efficient right? I loved what he did for the front cover...
So that's part 02 and part of my vendors review. Next i will share all the crazy DIY stuff that i did. And rest assure there are many... Till then, have a great weekend everyone!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Ngage or Dis-ngage Part o1
Tomorrow would mark one month since we got officially engaged.
As Sha mentioned, i had stamped o5 may instead of 05 April on my scrapbook page in the previous entry.LOL. 5Th April is the date we got engage not may!! Oh well, here's part o1 of the Ngagement story...
it started innocently enough, wanting to errm go on to the next level in our relationship. so after sounding it off to both our parents, we planned for it to happen sometime in second half of 2008. yeap. second half would equates to june-dec, no? And that will give me sufficient time to plan...
then came the shocker. his parents want it to be MARCH or APRIL!! it was sometime mid-jan when this happen-ed and i was for-the-lack-of words, shelled shocked. Like seriously, i have not previously thought of how i wanted my engagement to be and all...and now i have 2 months to prepare? accckkk...
I've managed to googled this from here, some of the extracts below;
First stage - Merisik
""Merisik" in Malay actually means spying (but in this context, it's not the James Bond type though). It means to learn more of something through informal enquiries, and in this particular case, of the feelings of the intended spouse and her parents.
Merisik is carried out by the young man’s parents or relatives to informally enquire on the girl’s agreement to the intended marriage and more importantly, to seek the consent of the girl’s parents. Marriage is a serious institution and both families must feel secure, happy and comfortable with the proposed union. "
followed by the Engagement
"The Pertunangan (betrothal) or Malay traditional engagement ceremony actually crystallizes the verbal agreement made during the previous Merisik process. The highlight of this traditional engagement ceremony will be the putting of the engagement ring on the fiance’s finger by the future mother-in law, or, if the groom’s mother is deceased or unable to make the trip, his sister or nearest auntie. "
Day of Engagement
"On the appointed date and time, a delegation from the groom led by his close family members and relatives will arrive at the bride’s home. "
When everyone has been seated on the floor of the house in a sort of a circle, with the hantaran items in the middle, then the session starts with preliminary speeches of welcome and introductions – of course in a jovial and friendly manner.
With both sides alternately addressing each other about the coming union, reference is frequently made on the agreements reached during the Merisik session previously, but mainly to restate and reaffirm what were agreed then. "
"After discussion and agreements have been achieved, then, as is the Malay custom, the highlight of the traditional engagement ceremony or Pertunangan is the putting of the engagement ring on the would-be bride by the future mother–in-law.
The future mother-in-law, followed by other female members, will enter the girl’s gaily decorated room, where she had been waiting apprehensively all the time, and with the ring put on the finger of her future daughter-in law, hugs and kisses her cheeks. Likewise the girl will kiss the woman’s hands and hug her tightly.
During a traditional engagement ceremony, it is the Malay custom that the young man is not to attend the ceremony. He would be at home or away somewhere (perhaps fervently praying that the engagement would be accepted by the bride’s family).
However, if he is nearby, (which is normally the case as he has to show the way to his fiancé’s house) he will be invited for the meal or feast, but only after the ceremony has ended. "
And that is how a Malay/Muslim engagement goes... it can vary a little from the different countries and states but the essential idea is as above.
Part Deux to follow!
As Sha mentioned, i had stamped o5 may instead of 05 April on my scrapbook page in the previous entry.LOL. 5Th April is the date we got engage not may!! Oh well, here's part o1 of the Ngagement story...
it started innocently enough, wanting to errm go on to the next level in our relationship. so after sounding it off to both our parents, we planned for it to happen sometime in second half of 2008. yeap. second half would equates to june-dec, no? And that will give me sufficient time to plan...
then came the shocker. his parents want it to be MARCH or APRIL!! it was sometime mid-jan when this happen-ed and i was for-the-lack-of words, shelled shocked. Like seriously, i have not previously thought of how i wanted my engagement to be and all...and now i have 2 months to prepare? accckkk...
image from getty images
So it was then decided. Early April, that was to be our engagement date.
ok, at this point, i would like to give a proper explanation of the Malay/Muslim engagement and what it entails. Most of my non-Malay friends had no idea what an engagement was, they thought it was a ROM!I've managed to googled this from here, some of the extracts below;
First stage - Merisik
""Merisik" in Malay actually means spying (but in this context, it's not the James Bond type though). It means to learn more of something through informal enquiries, and in this particular case, of the feelings of the intended spouse and her parents.
Merisik is carried out by the young man’s parents or relatives to informally enquire on the girl’s agreement to the intended marriage and more importantly, to seek the consent of the girl’s parents. Marriage is a serious institution and both families must feel secure, happy and comfortable with the proposed union. "
followed by the Engagement
"The Pertunangan (betrothal) or Malay traditional engagement ceremony actually crystallizes the verbal agreement made during the previous Merisik process. The highlight of this traditional engagement ceremony will be the putting of the engagement ring on the fiance’s finger by the future mother-in law, or, if the groom’s mother is deceased or unable to make the trip, his sister or nearest auntie. "
Day of Engagement
"On the appointed date and time, a delegation from the groom led by his close family members and relatives will arrive at the bride’s home. "
When everyone has been seated on the floor of the house in a sort of a circle, with the hantaran items in the middle, then the session starts with preliminary speeches of welcome and introductions – of course in a jovial and friendly manner.
With both sides alternately addressing each other about the coming union, reference is frequently made on the agreements reached during the Merisik session previously, but mainly to restate and reaffirm what were agreed then. "
pics from my engagement / click to view
"After discussion and agreements have been achieved, then, as is the Malay custom, the highlight of the traditional engagement ceremony or Pertunangan is the putting of the engagement ring on the would-be bride by the future mother–in-law.
The future mother-in-law, followed by other female members, will enter the girl’s gaily decorated room, where she had been waiting apprehensively all the time, and with the ring put on the finger of her future daughter-in law, hugs and kisses her cheeks. Likewise the girl will kiss the woman’s hands and hug her tightly.
During a traditional engagement ceremony, it is the Malay custom that the young man is not to attend the ceremony. He would be at home or away somewhere (perhaps fervently praying that the engagement would be accepted by the bride’s family).
However, if he is nearby, (which is normally the case as he has to show the way to his fiancé’s house) he will be invited for the meal or feast, but only after the ceremony has ended. "
And that is how a Malay/Muslim engagement goes... it can vary a little from the different countries and states but the essential idea is as above.
Part Deux to follow!
scrapbook-ing
and soooo..i've been kinda quiet this past week as work has been crazy busy!
Anyways, i went for a scrapbooking class last Tuesday at made with love at PS. first time i saw the store, i couldn't figure out where/what the store name was, and was kinda curious why it was full with people. So i wandered in. The shop concept is pretty fun - there's a cafe that serves hot chocolates and cupcakes amongst other things (1 brownie pt.), they have all these insanely pretty papers and bits (another brownie pt), they also stock pretty ribbons and showcases scrapbooking works all over the store! I was sold. However, the store gets kinda crowded at times so be ready to jostle and get jostled.
So about the class, it was great fun!! Me being a lil over-adventurous - decided to skip the basic class and jump straight into the 'beyond basics' class. Since i am a pretty crafty bunny, i don't really need to go for a basic lesson raaaaaaaite?
WRONG! hurhur... the lesson was divided into 2 portion. First being a straight forward cutting, distressing and pasting. Only challenging bit was the eyelet punching bit, where you use a mini hammer and just hammer out a nice clean hole to string the ribbon through. Since all the ladies went through the basic class except yours truly, they were nice enough to guide me through. And i was the first few to finish! Not bad for a beginner i thought to myself....
Self praising came a bit too fast as the next portion came, where we are allowed to choose 3 patterned paper from the store (hurrayyy!!) and 2 cardstock. So i chose my papers, not an easy task seeing how beautiful all the papers are. Then i showed the instructor and she gave the go ahead. In the midst of planning the layout and cutting my bits of paper, it didn't strike my mind that my background was too dark for the title. Title was supposed to be ink-stamped. So there i was pretty satisfied with all my cutting and pasting when it dawned on me. Alamak, how like tt?! hurhur...drama. Lucky, the instructor came to the rescue and allowed me to changed my cardstock to another color. But b'coz i was already running behind time at this point, i panic. People were already done with their page and i'm still struggling...so much for being a crafty bunny.LOL. The instructor was nice enough to give me some more time to finish up before the next class. Although i wasn't completely satisfied with the end product, i knew i could always continue at home.
So today after work, i went back to the store to get more papers, some ink and transparencies. This could be a real expensive hobby! Most of the items cost an arm and leg..hurhur..so i decided to pop by Spotlight as well. At least the items there (although not so chic) are easier on the wallet...heeee..
Ok, after all that talk, below is the end product of my first scrapbooking page. I finally finished it. yes, there will be more to come - now that i have stocked up the supplies and gotten an album to store all these pages in, be prepared for more...
like it?
paper love!
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