End of 2009

What a year! As I flick through my blog posts, I realise how much has actually happened this year. So many events - big and small. Some felt like they happened ages ago. I can't believe it all just happened this year!

Project completed

Biggest thing to happen to me was getting engaged. Although its been in the 'planning' for a while, it's only when we started looking at wedding stuff did it hit home that it's really happening. Or maybe its when the priest asked us to raise our kids in a Christian fashion did it really hit me. Kid for crying out loud!!! We went from dating to thinking about our future children's school in one week! Crazy stuff!

And weddings were aplenty this year. My brother and my best bud got married. I think we went to a total of five different weddings in 2009.

Its a bit scary this age when everyone is getting married. Next year, apart from our wedding, we've already been invited to four! But I do see a light in the end of this tunnel. We're starting to run out of unmarried friends. Must be Baby Shower season is on its way (Update - my good friend Leslee just posted on facebook that she's going to be a mommy!)

But not all were happy news this year. Biggest surprise for me and our family was the death of my uncle only last month. He was 59 and died of cardiac arrest. Its really sad news and up to now, I sometimes stare into blank space thinking how sad my cousins are that they lost their dad. My dad had to fly back for his brother's funeral and missed our engagement celebration. It was a difficult time and I really missed my dad when he was gone.

Good thing he's back now and celebrated Christmas with us.

Speaking of Christmas, 2009 was an eating extravaganza! Maybe its Masterchef or maybe I've just been reading too many food blogs. Either way, there's been a lot of eating in 2009.

I can't believe this was the year we started the 20 Under $20 Best eats journey. Feels like we've been doing it for a while! We still have a few to do and we intend to finish it. We're already planning to make another list after we finish this :P I intend to start the Ready-Steady Cook nights next year (credit to friends Serena and Kong for their cool dinner ideas).

In terms of entertainment, the Wii and the television (and the fiance and parents) are missing me because I hardly see them anymore. Hehehehe. All thanks to Steam and its easy game downloading system. The best part is I can play with my friends all in the comfort my room naked.

I also finished watching Jumong a few days ago (81 freaking episodes!). This Korean drama was good, but it got really long in the end. The subtitles were really really bad and it made it so hard to watch other shows because I already started this one (once I start something I have to finish it!). I'm looking forward to more regular Korean movie watching in the future. Maybe more Korean-flannel nights :)

2010 has many big big things in store. Weddings, trip to KL, a PS3, maybe new car? who knows. I was even thinking of going back to study (as if!)

Either way, I hope not to be too busy to blog it.

Take care all.

Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.

Wasabi Printer

Very excited today :P

Got my new Dell Wasabi Printer!

No wires - just bluetooth!

If you haven't heard of it before, the Wasabi printer is Dell's version of the Polaroid Pogo. These printers are Bluetooth printers that let you instantly print your mobile phone pics!

This printer replaces my old Polaroid camera which I loved.... but had to get rid of because Polaroid didn't make the film for them anymore. Probably because Polaroid film were hell expensive! Worked out to be over $2 a shot!

The Wasabi print outs are only 2x3" in size and the colours a tad greenish, but are quite good. They not super fantastic, but so was the Polaroid :) And the film is almost ten times cheaper at 96 sheets for $20.

Plus you can peal off the back and make it a sticker!! Instant Purikura!!

Now these printers used to be US$200+ each. But for some freaky reason (maybe coz the quality is only so-so hehehe) they now selling of about $30! Bargain!! :P

Looking forward to lugging this thing around and printing fun random stuff!

Hehehehe.

~~shake it

~~shake it

~~shake it like a polaroid picture! Heeeeey yaa~~~~!

**** Edit - Another case of stupid me not reading the manual!! The Zink photo paper comes with a calibrating sheet - which I threw away when I did my first prints. I thought it was just backing material - who knew the bardcodes were important :P The printer infact reads it to calibrate the printer. The prints are so much better now - not as greenish. Very happy with it :P

Drive Home

Don't get us wrong.

We don't mind driving.

But a topic which struck a chord during one of our regular MSG (Men Support Group) dinners was the drive home.

You see, its quite common for the guy in a relationship to drive the girl around. Has nothing to do with us guys not wanting to be seen in the passenger seat of a girly-girl car.

Or that we don't trust your driving.

It's about us wanting you to just relax, sit and enjoy and let us worry about the traffic, parking, fuel and rage associate with driving (this doesn't work with my girl, because I constantly nag her for directions).

But one thing that did bother my support group friends (and something that bothered me before) was our girls refusing us go home early.

Here's what I mean.

Its a weekday, guy picks up girl at her workplace, they go out to dinner, they both have a good time. Around 10pm, he drives out of his way to drop her off. When when he gives her the goodnight kiss - she gives the sad puppy dog pout for leaving her there.

*pout *pout *don't leave me *pout *pout

!!!!?!!?!!!!

So he does the 'right' thing and stay awhile. They talk, watch TV and spend more quality time together. And only when she starts yawning, will it be okay for him to go home.

When its already midnight.

So the guy in the story now needs to drive home, tired and just wanting to get to bed. And its often too tempting to get back home quickly by giving the car a bit more juice than needed.

This happened to me a few times and I was really quite surprised how many of my guy friends go through with this. They were like "ZOMG I go through the exact same thing!!!! Do you get McDonald's drive-thru too?"

We realised that if it was the other way around, in that our girlfriend dropped us home, we'd be wanting them driving home before the sun went down.

We wouldn't want them staying and driving so late because we know there's heaps of tired and crazy drivers then.

Engagement BBQ

Haven't been blogging for a while. Been busy with so many things lately. Primarily playing games on Steam wedding and engagement related stuff :P

Last Saturday was a HUGE milestone for Anh and me! We organised our first big event together and held our engagement BBQ!!

We didn't want it fancy, we just wanted it super fun - so we pulled out every trick in the book to make it a super enjoyable event :P

We had a big lamb roast,

Soooo goood, I can't wait for the next lamb roast

Octopus hotdogs,

Weiners

Slushy machine and watermelon vodka,

Epic fail - watermelon vodka = gross

and then we played games.

Toilet paper - wedding dress game

But the best part was setting up a video camera to make a diary room!

The idea was from Big Brother and we were hoping friends would just leave short clips and heartfelt messages. Who would have thought alcoholic slushy and a video camera would make such hilarious combination.

Pam and Ben's clip included sign language for the deaf

Som with some really really random and funny clips

The party rounded up quite late and was already 3am Sunday before we got to sleep.

But even so, we're so happy. We feel super blessed for having such awesome family and great friends around us.

Love you all!