Putting on a new face

I am not outgoing by nature. But after 6 years in a comms job, I've learnt how to appear sociable even if I feel like smacking you silly. And I've found that putting on make-up and certain clothes are a big help here. Itz like creating a different character. Kinda like a clown.

So, for the biggest ever PR event in our lives, Big & I decided we had to go put on our clown make-up.

THE haircut

Big is one of those boys who have always had their hair cut at an old-school Malay barber shop. Unfortunately that also means he is always amazed at the amount of money I spend on my hair and the time I spend in the saloon. So, it was my turn to be amazed when he said he wanted to get his hair done at the saloon I go to, and by my stylist (who also happens to be my nephew, twice removed). A mere (discounted) $35 later, this unfamiliar fellow strode out with me.

Big bought a tub of the strongest hair wax he could find, in attempts to style his very stubborn hair after the inital cut & style. Success has been kinda elusive. It seems the wax is not strong enough to straighten out his curls (or ducktails).

Trial bridal make-up session

The trial bridal make-up session was just that, a trial. I wear make-up 5 days a week for work, and on occasion, on weekends as well, but I still think itz a bloody botheration.

We've all seen people getting seriously transformed after a professional make-up session, and sometimes itz not for the better, speaking from a personal experience here, by the way. Yes, I know bridal make-up needs to be more elaborate than your everyday look, but I also don't want to look at my wedding pictures 5 years down the road and wonder who the girl in the gown was.

Anyway the make-up artist that Blu Mesh works with is Joanne Lau, who also works with Silhouette. Our photographer Kelvin has also worked with her. Which says a lot for her credibility since Kel's clients are all pretty put-together.

I think Joanne was pretty amused by the way I was perched very gingerly and upright on the chair. Here's how it went:

Joanne doing up my eyes. I had never worn eye make-up til about maybe 4 years ago AFTER I got rid of the specs. Altho I wear very basic eye make-up daily now, I'm not good at application. I really liked what Joanne did though. She promised no blues or greens - that is such a dated look =S

The other thing I was seriously worried about was the hairdo. Most brides wear theirs up. But I have a smaller-than-average face, which is why my stylist always makes sure I have some bangs. Joanne styled it such that I could wear my hair up, but still have some framing my face. The other thing we agreed on was NO tiaras. Joanne suggested flowers instead, and that's fine.

Here's me with make-up and hair done. Of cos this is just an idea of how the actual thing would go. But Joanne did assure me she wasn't about to do a wayang or drama-mama look. And looking her own make-up, she's definitely got good taste. PHEW.

Contacts:

Ivan Lim, Supercuts, Far East Plaza

Joanne Lau, make-up artist

Pumpkin Patch kids

Other than the Transformers who moved into their new home even before we did, there are a couple of other "babies" who have made a permanent home at the Pumpkin Patch.

Transformers

Sometimes, the 'bots get friends visiting them. Do note that these are a mere fraction of Big's (ever growing)collection.

Big-Mo

Domo, also known as Big-Mo or E-Mo (becos he watched Star Wars and thought he was an Ewok) was one of the 1st to move in permanently. On weekends when we are around, he can be found on the couch or sometimes waiting for food at the dining table. On weekdays, he lives in Big's cupboard. Big-Mo's a favourite becos he's so huggable.

The other Domo-Kuns

Big-Mo's smaller counterparts are Halloween exclusives from Target, specially shipped in to Singapore. They are Dracu-Mo, Pumpkin-Mo and Frank-Mo. Frank-Mo is mine. The pretty little black-haired girl next to the assorted Domos is Amy. She was an unexpected find in Wanchai, Hong Kong. Amy's pet Spooky is to her right.

Elvis

This baby snow leopard was adopted on 2 Jan 2o10. He is named for the King becos he's horribly vain, and loves to preen. Elvis is best friends with Big-Mo whom he uses as a perch most times. When he's not looking out of the window or chewing on Big-Mo's head, he likes to chew on his other best friend Mew.

Big's harem of Japanese girls

The 'weekend' girls cos he only sees them when we stay over at the Patch. The rest of the harem are still in his own room at home.

Tiny's Zoo

This is my tiny zoo. I am trying NOT to start another collection. But this is what happens when the zoo is too far off to work or volunteer at, and when you're deprived of a pet for the last 30 years... There are a couple more pets at home which I haven't brought over, like my 3 geckos...

"Opposite Hoover Cinema"

It does seem that furnishing the Patch has taken a step back to preparing for the customary wedding and dinner.

And trust me, there are a LOT of things to prep for one silly day of costuming up, running around, and grinning yourself silly, all for the sake of your parents' collective face.

It doesn't really help when said parents suddenly try to offer well-meaning advice such as:

1. Learning a simple waltz to lead the dancing during the dinner
(I didn't even know there was going to be dancing...)

2. Big serenading me with Elvis Preseley's Hawaiian Wedding Song at the dinner becos that was what his dad did (if Big is singing Elvis, *I* am choosing the song!)

3. Tailoring a suit at some shop "opposite Hoover Cinema" (where?!) instead of buying a cheap one from "Oriental Emporium" (um, didn't that kinda close down years ago?)

4. Me wearing a rather thick head band with an accessory that is way too large for my head but is "cute" (cute on other occasions perhaps, but not at my wedding!)

5. Big wearing a cream suit in the day, and changing to a dark one at night (yep, here comes the white elephant! oh wait, it's the groom...)

6. Me having to buy & carry a little bag on *MY* wedding day to hold cosmetics for touching up my make-up (huh??!!)

7. Wearing as high heels as possible and piled up hair so our discrepancy in height won't be so obvious (I am so looking forward to tottering around on over-high heels, and looking like Marge Simpson)

Any other sound advice?

Swathes of cloth

With the flat almost ready to move into, we have progressed to preparation for the customary wedding in April. Now, this was supposed to be my project, as the flat was Big's. Itz starting to look like a more thankless project than his really...

I started looking out for gown designs online sometime last year. It proved a good break from frustrating work in the office =P But even before I started surfing randomly, I had already decided I didn't want the following:

• a tube top gown (too common & generic)
  
• a fluffy skirt with cancan underneath (can't walk with the cancan)
  
• anything too lacey or poufy (don't want to look like a cupcake or too girly)
  

The keywords were - simple & elegant - and the result was a Grecian gown. These gowns feature a sleeker silhouette and the skirt usually either lightly skims the body or flares in a slightly A-line from an empire-cut bodice. The overall look is clean, simple and elegant.

Our gown designer, Debbie from Blu Mesh (contact courtesy of Yen Ling), did a couple of sketches of variations from a picture that I had sent to her from online research. One of them was a very simple gown - the bodice is a cross-over both front and back, with a sash knotted off to one side, overlay of silk organza (or chiffon) for bodice, opening up in the front of the skirt, and lace and beading details on shoulders, front of bodice and skirt. We jumped on it immediately.

Hunting for material

We spent the whole afternoon of 2 Jan trailing Debbie around Arab Street while she draped duchess satin over me, showed us bits of lace, and hunted for other materials. For someone who already doesn't enjoy dressing up, this experience was quite a chore. But this highly personal service is actually very good becos it inovlves the bride-to-be from the very beginning, and you get to choose the fabrics, and get an idea how they would drape on your body even before the gown is made. I know I can't wear stiff material and was initially quite worried becos gowns tend to be made of duchess satin which is rather stiff. But we found a softer duchess satin and this draped nicely.

1st gown fitting
The 1st fitting took place some 2 weeks after we had gotten the material, and just like the Arab Street hunt, was quite an experience.

1st, I hadn't expected the boning in the bodice or at the waist, obviously I wasn't used to it and felt like I was in a corset.

2nd, I seldom wear full white or off-white, so the result was a bit disconcerting.

3rd, when Debbie tied the sash on, it was all I could do not to fall to the floor in a dead faint (ok it wasn't all that tight but it sure felt like I was being squeezed in the middle...).

4th, the damn hem kept getting in the way. And when I hitched it up to walk, I was greeted by gales of laughter from my (unsympathetic) audience. Especially Val, who obviously delighted in telling me to "glide" becos that was exactly what I told her when she got married last year...

I'm not sure how I'm gonna avoid toppling over or tripping on my skirt, especially in my 3.5" heels...

Contact: Debbie from Blu Mesh at debbling@gmail.com or 9459 4995. http://www.blumesh.com/

X'mas & New Year

We rang in 2010 at the flat feeling a bit cheated.

We rushed back to the flat from feeding & laser-pointing Spooky at Big's family home, becos we wanted to be there for the annual midnight horn-blasting from the ships anchored off the ECP. Marina Bay counted down with fireworks, MediaCorp counted down with confetti. 15 min after midnight, and STILL no deep foghorns from the ships...what the heck...

Anyway, we spent the long X'mas & New Year weekends at the flat, and apart from all the rushing around from family gatherings to parties' at friends', buying stuff at Ikea, furniture delivery on X'mas Eve & cleaning, it was actually quite fun.

X'mas 2009

We had arranged for 2 furniture deliveries from 3-5pm on 24 Dec becos we were both on half-days. The plan was to meet for lunch and then go back to wait. It ended up me grabbing a burger, and trying to get back before 3pm becos we both got off work late. Fortunately, I made it back in time for the 1st delivery at 3.45pm.

We now have a shoe rack (on the right), which we both hope will hold all our shoes - my middle name isn't Imelda (unlike Val =P) - which is also supposed to serve as a lookout for Spooky when she moves in. And we have a bench which will also hold shoes (on the left). This is supposed to also hold people becos the couch only seats 4 Asian butts of average size. I love the bench. Itz a great lookout for me - when Spooky comes, we can both look out together.

On 26 Dec, after the Ecosystem party at Val's, we headed to Ikea, with the package of Swiss raclette cheese tucked into my new Longchamp Le Pliage bag. We got a step-stool for me becos I have problems reaching anything above the counter-tops...and the most wonderful invention of all - a plastic bag holder!

We also finally got a bin for the kitchen. On our last visit to Ikea, we had spotted a rather impressive "Oscar" bin - yes it looks like the one Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street lives in. Big wanted the large version - it stands about slightly under 1 metre. After much discussion, he agreed to get the smaller version (phew).

New Year 2010

We bought a Play Station on New Year's Eve. So New Year's Day was spent fiddling around with it - Big played Little Big Planet and downloaded Street Fighter - and drilling. He put up the curtain rod (and the curtains) for the front room, which looks very cheery now if you ignore the huge box which the oven came in. And his bedside shelf.

Apart from the adventure on Arab Street and Gwen's birthday dinner, I spent most of the long New Year weekend either helping around the flat or reading with my feet up.

At the end of it, Big wanted to know if we were going to spend every Sunday with him gaming and me reading with my feet up. Doesn't sound all too bad to me.

Happy New Year from the folks at Pumpkin Patch.

Home-ifying the Patch

When Jul came over to bake 2 Sundays ago, she said our flat looked really quite lived in. Big & I take that as a compliment. A home is not a home if it looks like a showflat.

Over the weekend (it was longer one for us as we were on leave Friday), we bought a couple more essentials, cooked 2 meals at the flat (not including breakfast), put up a clock, a small shelf and used the washing machine. We also ordered the shoe rack and a seat, and argued over whether Spooky should be confined when she's alone in the house next year.

At the same time, we seem to be embarking on some kind of personal mission to add little odds & ends to the place. It reminds me (rather embarrassingly) of what my ex-boss Charlene once said about how her shoe, bags & clothes collection grew & grew & grew when she moved to her new flat becos she had her own space, & there was no one to complain about her taking too much space. Oops.

Pumpkin cheesecake from the Pumpkin Patch

The Patch hosted its first official "gathering" over the weekend - a spurt of baking with 2 of Big's colleagues Jul & Lif, and my sister.

The idea actually begun in late Nov when Big & Jul went on a complimentary baking class at Shermay's school. They came back armed with a sheaf of recipes which called for some really posh ingredients like high quality nuts and honey and Valhorna chocolate and pumpkin puree. Big thought it would be fun to initiate the new oven by trying out some of the recipes at home. He especially wanted to try Pumpkin Cheesecake and Panforte, which is like an Xmas fruitcake of nuts, dried fruits and honey. Panforte was subsequently dropped from the list becos it is not easy to make, and Big thought it might be better to do in his own time. We decided to take on the simpler but popular all-time fav Choc Chip cookies instead.

So, we spent Sat running around Phoon Huat, Carrefour and Cold Storage snatching up baking equipment, and ingredients. Pumpkin puree was especially elusive. In the end. Big made his own puree from baked (and microwaved) butternut pumpkin. And we still missed out salt which had to be bought at the last minute by my sister.

In the midst of the mad rush, we also managed to grab a small cupboard for the master bedroom, a cheapo beanbag, a step ladder which can be used as a (rather high) stool, a magic floor cleaner (which, according to Big, I spent the whole of Sat night talking about - OMG I'm turning into my mother), and a fire extinguisher (don't ask).

Sun turned out to be a very fruitful day.

Big put up his country-styled shelf on the orange wall of the dining area. And plonked three tiny pots of cactus on it. Only to realise that he had chosen an orange cactus which of course blended neatly into the wall behind it...

The baking session was surprisingly accident-free, with the exception of one poor Pumpkin Cheesecake cup which decided to commit suicide flat on itz front. The oven is so air-tight that you can hardly smell anything baking. And it cools down rather quickly too.

So, we churned out, 24 Pumpkin Cheesecake - cup-cake style. And a nice number of Choc Chip and Pecan cookies, which, for some reason, were still bread-ish inside.

And I put together my magic floor wiper and tried it out immediately after we got it. Kinda like how Big takes his Transformers out of the box to play with right after he gets them. Talk about new toys.