Posted in Rants & Raves

Back in Las Vegas

So if you’ve noticed the lack of daily updates, that’s because I haven’t been at work and Sianny hasn’t been taking my pictures for me. To be exact, I’m currently on leave (and then some).

Shuttling back and forth has been quite tiring. Some of you might know how much I hate flying and this journey takes me about 24 hours (Singapore – Narita – Portland – Las Vegas). But I’m glad to be back home (where my heart is). I miss my bed back in Singapore though… then again, when I’m in Singapore, I miss T so much.

IMG_8469I’m so happy to be physically next to him again. It’s very hard, this long distance relationship. Isn’t he cute as a baby? He says he was a big nerd as a teenager and he found it difficult to gain weight – so much so that he was insecure about how thin he was. That’s him and his older sister, Julie , in front of their Dad’s old car.

IMG_8457So anyway, we haven’t done much. I’m not so much into partying and shopping – which is what people usually go to Vegas for (especially since I’m kinda skint these days. My flights cost half my monthly salary). He does want to get a new Jeep Wrangler and has been going on and on about it. And since I’m here, he finally went down to the car dealer to check them out in person. As you can see from the pictures, it’s quite a big deal for him and he was really engrossed in the details. I’m just glad that we’ll have a bigger (less expensive) vehicle and Max can now go on rides (or camping or road trips) with us! Right now, his 2-seater 2008 Corvette isn’t very useful. Each time I come here, I have to take a taxi from the airport because his trunk wouldn’t fit my gigantic suitcases! So fingers crossed that the plan to get a new car for free (after selling the Corvette) and maybe make a little money…

IMG_8487While he’s at work though, I have been home alone with Max the Maximum Dog. The house is erm… not quite apocalypse (to his credit, T did try to clean up before I returned), but I have to do a lot of work still. Sorting things out, throwing away expired food, dusting, vacuuming, etc. I haven’t got much done yet to be honest. I reckon as long as I do a little vacuuming and packing (say 2-3 hours a day for now), as well as cleaning up immediately after we use certain areas, I’ll soon get this place tidied up.

IMG_8508Other than that, I’ve been cooking. We ate out once so far (The Cheesecake Factory… YUM!!) but because it costs as much as 2 weeks worth of fresh/frozen groceries, I reckon it’s better if I cook. I do rather enjoy cooking (okay, I enjoy eating as I cook more). T also appears to like my food. I guess it’s a matter of perspective. He has limited cooking skills and relies a lot on frozen foods and pre-made sauces. I’ve watched my maids and aunts cook growing up. Also, living on my own helps. I can’t say I’m a good cook but I can make stuff that I myself love eating. T seems to love it too, so that’s a big plus! The funny thing is that he always asks if I made the sauce/gravy myself because “it’s so delicious” but it’s a very simple gravy made of the exact same steps EVERY TIME – sauteed minced garlic (or sauteed onions), vegetarian oyster sauce (mushroom sauce), water and corn starch. That is all. I just put in different vegetables each time. Hahahaa…

IMG_8517The other thing is when I arrived, T had this huge gift all wrapped up in HELLO KITTY wrapping paper (he said it took 2 rolls) in our bedroom. My birthday is in about 2 weeks and I turn 35. I can’t imagine what it could be. Maybe it’s a tent! We can go camping when we get the Jeep Wrangler! w000t! But for now, your guess is as good as mine. Bleagh… I can’t wait to open it! In the meantime, if you’d like to add to my happiness, here’s my AMAZON wishlist (hahahahaha…)

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I love how T has done up our bedroom and the vestibule since I was last here in May. All I did was pay for the furniture and he put them together. The tapestry behind our bed is from URBAN OUTFITTERS (Oh how I love that shop!!). The nightstands, hall tree, shoe rack and night stands are from AMAZON (so convenient hor?) and every time they deliver something I buy, he’d excitedly send me photos of the package and open it (because he usually has no idea what’s inside).

Life is simple but good. No need for wild parties, late nights, eating out or crazy shopping. I’m taking it slow for now and enjoying my time in the quiet neighbourhood of Cameron & Crestone.

Posted in Rants & Raves

Surviving the Distance with Selfies

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I love the selfies that T sends me on a daily basis. Some days I get more than 1. Other days, I get photos of what he’s eating or of Max running in circles, wagging his tail excitedly. I also have a lot of location shots of different places in Las Vegas as T does his groceries or shopping at the malls.

What would we do without technology, smart phones and 3G connectivity?

T and I are constantly communicating. Whatsapp, emails, Facebook, Skype and phone calls are a daily occurrence. We drop pin and let each other know where we are; send photos of whatever is in front of us; update each other of daily routines; and of course… Fight. *Koffkoff*

I love his selfies the most. You can see how he’s changed over time and I love looking back at the older pictures to compare too. The goofy ones are of course the best. He’s such a big nerd, he can wear hipster clothes without a hint of irony. I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

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How do you survive your long distance relationship?

Posted in Rants & Raves

Rants & Raves: My “Female Things” in the house

This is probably the first of many “Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars” posts. So we’re engaged and while still very hazy, we are deciding on how we want to proceed with the new life. One thing’s for sure, my presence in T’s house (or as he says “our house”), will be increasingly felt and it will also be the beginning of our “domestic issues”.

T currently lives in one of the upstairs room because it’s smaller and now he’s preparing to move to the Master Bedroom downstairs. He’s recently bought a new bed which he has started calling “our bed”. I like the word “our”. It makes me deliriously happy and incredibly secure.

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In case you’re wondering, it’s a

  • Simmons Beautyrest Recharge Luxury Firm (King Size) from Best Mattress
  • Pure Beech 100% Modal Sateen Sheets (300 thread count)
  • A Bed, Bath & Beyond Comforter
  • Sedona Style sideboard that’s made in Mexico from reclaimed wood

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This bed caused a little kerfuffle in our cross-continental household but it’s all settled now. I love it, it looks comfy and I’m very grateful that he’s so excited to set everything up. It’s great even though I wouldn’t be too fussed if we continued using the old bed upstairs. I just don’t think it’s necessary to have NEW everything.

The sideboard is another little *koff* cause for contention. It’s a gorgeous sideboard that was actually sitting in the vestibule all this while. I didn’t think it was necessary to buy new furniture for the room because I’m not about to move in just yet. Since it was already there, he could just move it into the room and use it as a dresser. BUT he also moved in all the pottery as well… WHICH brought me to ask, erm… which side is your room? I want my things on my side – you know, where I’ll put my boxes of accessories, make-up, mirror and what-nots. So anyway, it currently sits at the foot of the bed and we’ve decided that his side is near the bathroom and mine is nearer the door that goes out in the yard – natural sunlight to put on make-up… YAY!

T says “I love girl things” because “They remind me that a girl is there”. Sigh… how can you be upset with this guy for putting pottery where your jewellery boxes are supposed to sit?

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And then there’s the issue of shoes. Yesterday morning, over Skype, I told him I need shoe cabinets. But we don’t have to get them now because I’m not moving in yet. BUT Mister went out and bought the above (see photo) – a over-the-door shoe hanger pockets thing. We have no hallway closet. This means that it has to hang in our rather compact walk-in closet – next to my nice, fresh, clean clothes. 4 issues – outside dirt inside the house; only flatties can sit in the pockets; smelly used shoes stuffed in the same small space with freshly laundered clothes; there are only 24 pockets (12 pairs of shoes). OMG!

I jokingly said that I’d bring only 2 pairs of shoes with me so that should solve the problem – sneakers and sandals. Mister replied “But if you are only bringing two, we can put them on the floor and get something larger later on”. In what universe can I survive on 2 pairs of shoes?

Anyway, that’s that for now. As the Chinese saying goes “when we get to the bridge, it’ll all straighten out” – the same as, we’ll cross the bridge when we get to it. Watch this space as we transform the bedroom over the next few years!

Welcome to the Happ Household!

Posted in Rants & Raves

Rants & Raves: My beloved gave me a toilet bowl

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Yes, he did! And it has made me deliriously happy for the last few weeks…

In case you’re curious, it’s a

When he went shopping for the throne itself, T kept sending me pictures and links via Whatsapp. Would you like it higher? Which one do you like better? I said I preferred one with dual-flush to save water. He said he preferred something higher. We read reviews online and compared prices. The bidet attachment was something we talked about because we were spoilt by the nice hotel toilets we experienced during our last holiday. Aren’t we wannabe fancy-smancy? I love it because it’s OUR toilet! However, in T’s own words, he “haven’t had to poop at home” yet and “so no chance to test its mettle”. Perhaps I might even do a separate review about my loo! Mwahaha!

This toilet is in the new Master Bedroom which T has been trying to put together for ages. (He laid the tiles, grouted and caulked on his own.) In the last few weeks, he’s been speeding it up so that he can finally move into it and I get to share it with him when I go visit in May! I’m really a practical person and this means a lot more to me than a luxury holiday or other material goods. And I appreciate that this is how T shows love. Instead of fireworks, romancing me with fancy dinners or expensive gems, I get a high-tech, sanitation device. Here’s an open secret – I love pooping and a good, thorough poop with smooth delivery puts me in a good mood ANYTIME! So here’s a man after my heart… C’mon and say Aawwww…

I suppose in a very important way, this toilet is more than just a toilet. He’s giving me my very own throne. Instead of a pedestal, he puts me on a comfortable toilet.

So yeah, my beloved gave me a toilet bowl and it sent me to the moon!