Tag: vegas

Posted in Fat-shionista

Fat-shionista #516

Posted on by Chloe Happ

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This is what I wore yesterday when I had to get some lab work done at the doctor’s office (i.e. blood work for my diabetes). It’s not quite summer yet but there are some days where it’s so hot here, it might as well be Summer – I’m talking about 40degC days… Can die lah! So while I do slap on the sunscreen – especially on my face, even when I’m just home ALL DAY, I cannot layer up anymore. I bare arms and legs to the unforgiving desert sun in Nevada.

What I wore yesterday:

Top: Rainbow mosaic tank top from H&M

Bottoms: Light blue cuffed denim shorts from OLD NAVY

Accessories: Red beads and cowry shell necklace from herphotoblog by Seraphina & Co; Fuchsia bangle from Sonia Rykiel pour H&M; Brown cat-eye shades from RAY BAN; Black pleather weave belt from thestreetsofbangkok

Footwear: Taupe sueded ballet flats from OLD NAVY

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As you can tell from the most recent outfit posts, I haven’t really plonked down any moolah for new stuff lately. Partly because I’m always home and I haven’t got anywhere to wear these nice, new things to (YET); and because I’ve got so many clothes that I haven’t had the chance really maximise what I already own (I did give 2 bags away to the nearby Goodwill).

But style is style, it doesn’t require NEW and TRENDY things ALL THE TIME. When I was a school teacher, I was so obese and broke (and clueless) that I had maybe all of 4 outfits that I rotated in and out all year long. It was as if I was also required to wear a uniform like the students. And I know a number of my ex-students read this blog – AREN’T YOU GLAD THOSE DAYS ARE OVER? You don’t have to see me wearing clunky Doc Marts with black trousers and untucked long-sleeved collared shirts anymore!

Posted in Rants & Raves

Friends visiting from LA

Posted on by Chloe Happ

In the last few weeks, we’ve had 2 sets of friends who travelled 4 hours from Los Angeles, California to visit us. I love having guests in our house. Firstly because it’s too quiet here. Secondly because I get to see my Singaporean friends (and their families). And lastly, I get to go out and do different things with different people!

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Noel and Stella came with their 3-year old Kate and Kate’s nainai (aka Noel’s mum) 3 weeks ago;  Gill came last weekend with her husband Kevan, their 3-year old Conrad and their newest baby Allegra (who’s 2 months old). Despite the fact that they both had 3-year olds (who incidentally were born in the same year, just 3 days apart), I ended up doing quite different things and I loved it!

With the Yeos, we

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With the Petersons, we

  • had Chinese takeout from Jacky Chan Chinese Food
  • went to the Grand Opening of the new Goodwill Store & Donation Center on Rainbow (a post for another day)
  • ate at the Circus Circus buffet and also Island Malaysian Cuisine (yet another post I want to do)
  • watched circus acts and played many many games at Circus Circus (I won the Unicorn from Despicable Me 2 and Kevan pulled out 3 Smurfs from the claw machines for his son)
  • flew a giant pink flamingo kite (bought the day before at Goodwill) and went down slides (not me) at Exploration Peak Park

I love that some of my favourite people to hang out with don’t live too far away from me (even though they’ve been trying to get T and I to move to LA). And… Las Vegas isn’t all Sin City and party town vibes – it’s actually not too bad and can be quite family-friendly right? Also, we couldn’t have been able to afford all these extra bedrooms if we lived in super expensive California… So that’s another perk right, friends? Come visit!!

Posted in Rants & Raves

Making time for family

Posted on by Chloe Happ

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I’ve been in the US just over 4 months and it’s been really unreal to be so far away from home. I still have debates with T over whether I should return to Singapore (and have him come with me) because I still feel lost and somewhat empty. On weekends, T tries to show me the sights and we go out to do stuff even though he might be too tired from working all week. I try not to bother him but it gets really boring here when you’re so far away from your people.

My days are spent cleaning the house, making food, watching reality TV and keeping Max the Maximum Dog company. I really don’t have anything to do except relax and be happy. T doesn’t care if the house is a mess or if I don’t bother doing anything in the day at all. I spend most of the afternoons yearning for T to return home from work and I do still get a little anxious when we are apart because at the back of my head, it’s too good to be true. And maybe, illogically,  it feels like it’ll take months before we’ll see each other again and I am so relieved when he’s back by my side.

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Having my family here though has been a great help. My mother and my sisters keep me occupied and busy. Their company in our quiet house has been much appreciated. We have been going out (in fact, we’re in New York for the Christmas holidays now), doing stuff (i.e. sight-seeing and shopping) as well as just enjoying the space here – we live in a nice, big house in Singapore but being in a big city, there’s no way to escape the street noise and crowds.

It’s also great to have my family’s approval of my current lifestyle. My mother seems to find our house in good shape and is impressed that I “maintain” the entire house on my own. She’s been taking tons of pictures since she got here and proudly telling everyone that I can do it without external help. It’s weird to many because it’s just cooking and cleaning but if you know how she’s never lifted a finger at home in her entire life and that we’ve always had a string of maids taking care of everything… then yeah.

I must say that the Internet is great! Even my mother agrees because I’ve learnt how to do the most basic of things like folding fitted sheets and scrubbing toilets by watching videos. Thank heavens for high-speed Internet! IMG_2054While I’m deliberating whether or not to stay here for good, my family seems to enjoy what the US (especially Vegas) has to offer. There are the crazy bright lights and polished malls along the Strip and the beautiful nature reserves just over an hour away. It is comforting to know that at least my younger sister wants to come back every Spring and Autumn (when she can), and that my mother loves the cheap shopping (fashion, handbags, groceries, gemstones etc) here to stay away for too long.

Posted in Rants & Raves

Back in Las Vegas

Posted on by Chloe Happ

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.