This is an added wishlist…

I just signed up for CELCOM package for UTM staff. The best thing about this package is that you get to sign up for 6 other numbers under your name.

Is raya shopping necessary? After spending 4 years in a foreign land, we didn’t bother to do any Raya shopping. I didn’t put in any budget to buy clothing for my kids. Is it really necessary to have a change of wardrobe for Raya. My family doesn’t have a specific time for shopping. We shop and buy stuff when we feel like it…I would say it’s a year round thing…

We buy a change of outfits during the Easter holidays, or Boxing Day. I must admit that I have plenty of clothing, mostly tops which I have yet to wear. I have unused handbags and shoes which are waiting eagerly to be “shown off”.

So why do Raya shopping? No answer…

For this year’s Raya, I sent a set of baju kurung and baju melayu to the tailor, not because it’s for Raya, but because hubby needs a baju melayu for work on Fridays, along needs one for his univ clothing, anga needs one as most of his baju melayus are getting small. Ain doesn’t have any baju kurung at all. The ones that she used to have were small, and when we got home in April, I made (forced???) my nieces donate their old kurungs/kebayas to my daughter. Knowing that she doesn’t quite like wearing baju kurung, why bother buy more for her? One should be enough! As for me, I sent 5 cotton materials to the tailor for new baju kurungs. Well, for raya is one…but most importantly I’m getting prepared to get some outfits when I return to work in November. Well, what can I say…I’m getting bigger each day! 🙂

ma passion dans tout je fais: Where can I find Black Soap?: “Have you heard of the African black soap? I have, and have used it. I bought it from the United States last year and it worked great especi…”

I change my handbag depending on ‘the weather’. This week, it’s a small black bag. Well, regardless of the size of my handbag, the content of my bag will remain the same.

2010 was the year when I got crazy over a few things. First, it was watches and I started collecting watches of different designer brands and of different sorts. Then I was going haywire with the china ware and began hunting for these in whatever markets I could land on.

Of late, I was passionate over bags. Yes, bags, bags, bags and more bags…which I have stored safely (or secretly???) all over the place.
My madness over bags started after watching Bride Wars. I was so overwhelmed with the bags that Anne Hathaway & Kate Hudson carried in their hands/shoulders which I found to be so tres chic.

The totes (which I fell for) used by these celebrities in the movie.

So, I started buying one bag. And the next came, and I started eyeing for more, and more. Within 6 months or less than that, I had 6 new bags. And the bags I bought were simply stunning and I hate to part with any of them!

At first, I thought all bags are just bags to me. But there are the hobos, satchels, tote, the crossbody, the top zip and you will find countless names to the bags you actually own! Let me describe (to my knowledge) in the simplest terms what these bags are.

The satchel is the doctor style bag with two handles. Sometimes there is a longer strap attached to the bag which allows you to carry the bag on your shoulder.

A hobo is a classic that many women own. It’s oval in shape with small handles which are just big enough to carry by the shoulder. I like hobos because they tend to crunch down when carried, and I thought that looks really awesome!

A Tote (pronounced toht) can hold hold everything you need! The tote was inspired by a shopping bag and can be carried either on your shoulder or by hand. I think this type of bag (like the ones in Bride Wars) makes you look trendy.

A top zip, I guess is zippered on the top. I don’t quite favour this style, so I don’t read much about this kind of handbag. The crossbody, swing pack and the messenger bag are all the same to me (in my eyes). Some designer brands give different names to their styles of bag, but these are all sling across your body. I plan to buy one as they are excellent if you are always on the go, like you travel a lot! (p.s: not that I travel a lot)

Now, I have to start hunting for shoes to match the new bags I have…..will this be my 2011 passion? Who knows?

Bing Crosby’s “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” is just one of those songs which will never hold true! For us in New Zealand, we can never have a white Xmas….It’s a green, green Xmas…after all.

Christmas in NZ is nothing about snows and sleighs but it’s more of the sun, the sand & BBQ!! Unlike the other parts of the world, NZ celebrates Xmas in the middle of the summer. So, at this time, people would go out camping or spending their family time at their Baches or holiday homes. Celebrating Xmas here is nothing about being religious, but it’s more about spending time with family and friends. Most workplaces would organize Xmas BBQs, lunches or dinners to get the staff together in close spirits.

I’m currently working at Knighton Normal School Before &After School Care and at Silverdale After School care program. Last year, KASP treated us for a Xmas dinner at Lonestar while this year, the grande dinner was held at Domaine on Victoria Street. I would say that Domaine is rather posh from its deco but the choice of food was quite limited. I don’t think I can be picky at this when KASP is paying for my dinner. Thank you KASP…I had a great night last week. I just wished I could stay longer and spend the rest of the night ‘partying’ with the girls…

Silverdale ASC hosted a light lunch at the Pumice in Terapa last year and we had a sort of ‘traditional’ Xmas lunch at Hazel Hayes this year. Hazel Hayes has its retro look, very charming indeed…with quite a variety of choices especially for a ‘vegetarian’ like me…Here are some pics I took during our social outings.

Fish of the day
Diana & me
The girls: Amy, Nathalie, Louise, Jasmine, Hayley
More girls…Gaye, Val, Daphne our boss
Gaye, Bela, jacquie, paula & me

Courgette Fritata with Feta Cheese & Pumpkin Seeds with Strawberry & Mango salad, and Lime Chutney
Yummy Trim Latte
The retro deco at Hazel Hayes
We had presents exchange with the staff at ASC..It was Christie’s turn to unwrap her Xmas present

Frances (ASC supervisor) & me
Margaret Anne & daughter Michelle
Christie & Bryce
Margaret Anne, Michelle & me posing outside Hazel Hayes Cafe on Victoria Street

2009 CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Knighton Normal School 2009 Xmas Dinner at LoneStar

The gang from Knighton (KASP) gang: Myself, Bela, Gaye, Louise

The gang from Knighton (KASP) gang, Christine, Margaret, Diana, Daphne, Val, Paula, Emma
2009 Xmas Dinner at Lone Star with the KASP gang

2009 Xmas lunch at the Pumice with Silverdale School ASC gang: Christie, Emma, Lauren, Jean, Frances and Margaret Anne