Hey! I've got inspiration!

Autumn Leaves 2008 Design Calender

Sweet as a Berry

Together Moments

So Happy Together

Finally! I've done something! Enjoy!

Zzz...ZZzz...zzZ...zz...

Been sleeping on the blog. (as in "sleeping on the job") I have been scrapping. Really! I have! Scrapped! But simply too lazy to take photos and post. Hee hee! I sometimes wonder how all those wonderful gals out there cope with kids, husband, work, chores, scrap, blog, chat... I can barely cope with any of the above 2!
I seem to be fluctuating with the weather. Weird. That about describes the weather and me. Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and I see the sun shining through my window and I think... Hmmmm... wash clothes. THEN, when the load goes in, the soap goes in and the timer is set and the water starts to flow... I look out the window again and the sky is so dark I need to switch on the lights! What is wrong with our weather here??!! Does anyone else wonder too? But this weird thing happens only when I wash clothes. It never happens when I decide to sleep in late and not wash today. Then the sun is shining brighter than my daughter's eyes when she sees food!
Murphy's Law. My husband says. Why does it only apply to me? Traffic is green and smooth flowing when I'm early and wouldn't mind a few red lights. Traffic is red and the cab driver decides to stop in front of me to pick up passengers when I'm so late I dont even dare look at the time anymore.
Then, there was this weird thing that happened to me. I stopped at a light and there was this cab right beside me on the left. He seemed impatient to be off and zoomed off when the lights turned green. THEN he made an abrupt left turn and STOPPED right in front of me!!! I could not move and he kept raising his hand to apologise to me. I waited a couple seconds to see what he wanted. He didn't seem to want to move and I finally horned at him. Twice. He got angry and made a rude sign which I immediately copied back at him. What a ridiculous idiot! WHY did he have to make a left turn when there was a left filter lane? WHY did he have to be the 1st off the light when there was no car behind us at all? (He could have waited for me to move off before making his crazy move) WHY did he have to turn left and STOP in front of me? WHY couldn't he just move off? WHY did he have to make the rude sign at me when he was the one who was in the wrong? That is why I have utterly no respect for cabs on the road. I know that dumb @$%#* like him are the black sheep in an industry that already has a bad rep. I know that most cab drivers are nice fellows who tolerate drivers like me who hates the industry as a whole. I also know that I should not group all cab drivers in the same category. I know I should not be aggressive only towards cab drivers. But, often in life, knowing and doing are 2 utterly different things. Sigh...
Another weird thing. What all of you hope never to enocunter. Yes, an encounter with the "supernatural" kind. As most Singaporeans know, the 7th month was just over. The 7th month is the Ghost month where believers say that our "friends" from down below come up for some fun. Concerts are staged for them, feasts are prepared for them, entertainment is organized for them and worldly possessions are burned for them. Well, during the middle of the month, my mother in law would prepare a huge feast complete with prayers, food and all the works. That evening, our whole family went over for dinner. After dinner, the maid, my mil, me and I think my sister in law went out to burn joss papers. As it was a rather stiffling night, we were feeling the heat from all the burning. There wasn't a scrap of wind and the burnt papers were burning merrily in the huge bin. It was a rather sudden thing and I felt a chill around my legs. I looked around at the others to see if they could feel it. Nobody seemed to notice anything wrong. As a true blue Singaporean exposed to all the horror stories and the beliefs and superstitions, I sensed that something was nearby. (By something, I mean "those things") The burnt papers began to slowly twirl upwards whereas they were just lying quite still at the bottom of the bin a minute ago. Immediately my mil said, "Oh, got people come take the money liao!" in a matter of fact way. I felt the chill pass through my legs through the rest of my body! It wasn't my first time burning joss papers, nor was it my first encounter with the supernatural kind. Nevertheless, the sensation was chilling! I could sense things and I could see the papers twirling upwards in the absense of wind. Scientifically, it would have been explained as the rising of the hot air currents that carried the papers upwards. But unless one were there experiencing it first hand, it would have been difficult to convince a skeptic.

Phew, I finally got that scary episode out. I could feel the goosebumps rising again! But as a Buddhist and having a husband who's Taoist, I try not to let my imagination nor my fear get to me as I believe that if you do no evil and do not disturb the peace and make no fun, we will all leave each other alone and not cross each other's path.

Hi September mojo!

Frenz!

I made this for my neighbour cos her daughter is very fixated with my son and always comes over to play! Hee hee! She's 6yrs old and my son's 8 yrs old. But they seem to enjoy each other's company and my son doesn't mind playing with a younger girl. That's what so good about him. He plays with anyone and everyone and has no prejudice against anyone.

Water Play & Snow Fun

I got this hanging holder from Daiso (where else??!!) and was wondering what to do with it when I realized that the 8x8 papers I had fitted in nicely! So this was very quickly conceived and just as quickly churned out! All in one night!

Happiness Is: ...

I did quite a lot of sewing on this LO but because the colours I used were very pastel like the paper, it wasn't very outstanding. But I still had fun sewing it!

U're so TweetThis altered art was inspired by a visit to scrapping pal, Jaz's house. I saw the bird cage and how she used it and was totally hooked! I love the little cage and was thrilled to find it at the new Daiso at Rivervale Mall. This Daiso is sooooo near my place that I'm afraid that I'll go there and stock up every week!

Mommies day out!

THE MIGHTY MOMMIES!

This is the 1st time I'm meeting so many scrappers at J's place. Some of them are old time friends and some I'm meeting for the 1st time. But regardless of how long we knew each other, there was instant bonding. There's really something to be said for this scrapping hobby. It's an expensive hobby, but the rewards of having and meeting friends like these... Priceless! (Sorry for sounding like the advertisment!) We all had so so so so much fun!! Talking, gossiping, eating, laughing, sharing! I'm so gonna remember this day. It's really been such a long time since I enjoyed myself so much with so little restrain. Sometimes, with colleagues, it's quite a different type of feeling and depending on what type of colleague you go out with, there's always a level of guardedness and isolation. Today was really a hang loose and let your hair down kinda meeting. Ladies, I just wanna thank you all for such a GREAT GREAT time and your priceless company! May we be able to do this again! But must find another location or else J will collaspe and faint!!!! Wahahahaha!

I really love this candid shot of E taking a "lovey dovey" shot of herself and A! Hahahaha! It was just such a scrappy shot!

Sexy sexy sexy leggy! Hee hee! Don't kill me for posting this eh, Mee Kia Girl!
Trying for an "artistic" shot with mini digi cam. Not so successful eh! Looks more like a wrong shot that's back lighted.....

Don't we all look like we're having fun?!

Of course we had to have food right? What's a day out without loads of sinfully yummlicious snacks, drinks, cakes, salads... *Smack lips*!


And what's the use of 8 gorgeous scrappers coming together without at least a gorgeous scrapping bag??!! Thankx S for the lovely shot of your lovely bag! Ok, that's all for the pics! I'm off to buy that bag! Online of course, at this time of the night!

More layouts!

Did I mention.... I'm in a posting frenzy!! How can anyone understand the computer so well??!! I'm so very blessed that I have such a fantastic husband who is so good and so willing to help me resolve my computer problems! Lovely!
Here's one I did a couple days ago.

Gentle Giants

tkd

Roamy has gone back to Scotland. We'll miss him and his family. We've had so much fun together in the short time that we knew each other. But we made a promise to them that we'll go visit them when Bri is older. I so wish to go Scotland too! Read so much about Scotland and Ireland that going there will be a wish come true and a vision fullfilled!

Norwegian reindeer snow shoes

My wonderfully technically inclined husband has resolved the missing post pic buttons for me. It's just so great to be able to blog again that I'm gonna make this a picture filled post! Here's a very cute pic of my daughter wearing this Norwegian reindeer snow shoe. My husband bought this back 10 years ago on his trip with his band to Norway. Why he bought this is anyone's guess!!

Lost again!

What's the matter with Blogger??!! The buttons are gone again! Does anyone out there know how to restore those buttons?!

IT'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah! My "buttons" are back! I can finally post pics! Never knew these few small buttons could control my cyber life like this!

Life In Macro

Here's the LO that won me the wonderful goodies loaded prize from Japan! Here's where you can find her wonderful, lovely and inspirational blog! Tessah

TA DA!! The lovely package I received from Japan!

There's also a couple of LOs I did over the last 2 weeks. Been quite productive! Hee hee!

You & Me

H is for Home

Friends

Still missing.... Sigh!

My upload photo buttons are still MISSING!! I'm going bonkers soon! I really so wanna post my latest LOs, my gorgeous stash from Japan, my kids.... Arghhhhh!!!!

Sigh.....

I have no idea why.... But Blogger is not allowing me to post any pics. There isnt a post pic button on my Posting page anymore. Anyone out there can help? I just received a gorgeously scrap ladden package from Japan and so wanna "show off". Guess this is fate's way of telling me that I should not be such a fluff head show off! Hahahaha!

Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker's Soul

I laughed when I received this as my birthday present. Chicken Soup is such a success that even scrapbooking is playing a part in one of it's titles! Hahahaha! I thought it would mostly be about what sb is, why others sb, the hoarding instinct, etc. What I didn't expect was the touching stories about how scrapbooking changed the lives of some and made it easier for others. Scrapbooking for these people was about leaving behind a story, yes, a story, not the bombastic word, legacy. Why use the word legacy at all? It's not like we're leaving behind millions of dollars for our next generation. But what these scrappers were leaving behind were worth more than the billions of dollars. They document their lives, the children's lives, the laughter, the tears, the breakups, the weddings, the funerals, the sickness. Everything. Nothing was mentioned about competitions, Design Team, pretty embellishments, admirers, being recognized.
After reading it, I realized that I had strayed from my original aim of scrapbooking. I was too caught up in the buying (who isn't) and the opinions of others. I let the trends take over. I slaved over ONE single LO for days just to make it look pretty and trendy and acceptable by others. I blogged hopped, magazine hopped, friend hopped.... just so I could create the loveliest LO that would be praised and admired by others!
Finally, I felt so tired by it all. I had no more mojo left in me. I needed to make another gorgeous LO to be admired and fawned over. I wanted everyone to drool over the wonderful creations I had come up with, I wanted the praise and the recognition. I had lost myself.
Chicken Soup had done its job again. Reading it brought me back to my senses and reality. It was nobody's fault that I became this way. It was too easy to lay blame. That was what I did initially. I blamed the manufacturers for always coming up with new stuff, the LSS for bringing in all that drool worthy goods, even my friends for their bad influences! I must have been mad!
When at last I ran out of excuses, I looked deep within myself and dug out that worm called "GREED" and squashed it flat. Greed for new things, greed for recognition, greed for money, greed for everything! I need to relearn to scrap for myself again. Not every LO needs to be beautiful, to be admired, to be nice. Each project that I undertake now must be for myself only. To please myself. To leave behind a story. To make me happy that I've done another LO...
I am happy now!

Happy enough that I cleared my cabinets of years of mess and dust. I carefully packed my coke collection and made space for my scrapbook collection. The display shows many of my years of work. Whether it is artistic, childish, out-dated, I dont really care. I just want to clean the dust off my work and give it a nice place to reside in. If it is admired, I'm happy. If not, I can live with it too!

Love the clean, clean display shelves. Weeks of hard work cleaning and throwing and packing resulted in this!

My Beloved Coke Collection

I finally made the decision to give away my coke collection. It was not as painful as I thought it would be. I had to make space for more of my scrap stuff to be displayed.
It wasn't too painful maybe coz I had a good friend who was willing to house my collection. I definately have more than the pics I showed here. I wanted to take pics as I packed them away, but I got so carried away that I completely forgot about taking some memories. I cleaned them, polished the bottles and scrubbed the years of dust away. As I cleaned them lovingly, I savoured the memories each bottle had for me and I almost put them back again. But I knew that if I did that, I would never be able to part with them again. So now, here they are, most of them in a box, ready for their new home.
I really have to thank Ed for so kindly taking them in. I'm really glad I don't have to throw them away. I was not even willing to sell them to Cash Converter, which was what one of my friend did.

All my coke collection are from around the world. Italy, Nepal, Japan, Cyprus, Dubai, England, Thailand, Hong Kong, Denmark, Alaska, Canada.... Can you imagine the effort it took me to carry them all back? Especially the glass bottles.
So my beloved collection is now going onto a more worthy home. One who will take care and display them for more people to enjoy. Thanks Ed! Will remember this favour!

Has it been almost one month??

When I saw the date on my last post, I thought, "Hey, Blogger ate some of my posts! Where did those posts go? I specifically remembered that I had posted some photos, some musings in between.... Or was that in my dreams? Hmmmmm..."
In reality, I must have forgotten to blog again! Why do I do this to myself? Why must keep up with this blogging thing? It's not as if I like such a popular personality and thousands read my blog everyday. Aside from my few really loyal friends, no one actually reads my blog. Hahahaha! I'm not belittling myself. I just wonder why I even blog really!
Recently I just got a new bag. It's a first for me. Not the buying of the bag. But the price tag that came with it. I have not bought such an expensive bag in my life. I enjoy the good things in life, just like anyone else. But to spend such an amount on a simple bag is just not my style. It's not like the bag costs a couple thousands, just a couple hundred. But still, it was a first for me and then I realized that it would not be the last. I finally understand why young girls are willing to blow their 1st paycheck on a thousand dollar bag. It's the thrill of buying and carrying it around for others to admire. And after buying my first couple hundred dollars bag, I'm now more willing to blow a few more couple hundred dollars on another branded bag. Would I carry on this way? Would I now think that a couple hundred dollars for a handbag is nothing? Would I start to lose my sense of perspective? Should I even allow myself a second expensive handbag?
In this current economic downturn, to even spend on this sort of frivolous thing seems very sinful to me. Especially when there are others out there who are living from hand to mouth. Not so much the adults. It's the kids. Are there kids out there who do not have enough to eat coz their parents had lost their jobs?
I think the next time I give in to my impulse to get another couple hundred dollars handbag, I should think of those kids out there who are eating only biscuits drinking water to assauge their hunger. Really. There are such kids out there. I have met them.....

Busy...

Who isn't? You ask. I am an almost full time mother and almost part time worker. Hmmmm.... nice life, I'm thinking...
But I'm a fairly lazy person especially when it comes to work. I'd prefer to spend my time lazing around and meeting up with friends, sipping a latte on a breezy Wednesday afternoon.... Alas, on a breezy Wednesday afternoon, I'm rushing through work, kids, laundry, cooking, ferrying kids here and there for holiday programmes (I must have been mad to sign Brandon up for so many holiday programmes!)
I often wish I were one of those ladies who are always so well turned out, with narry a hair out of place and lipstick bright and glossy. They will always have 2 or 3 kids in tow who are just as well turned out as the mother. And if you look carefully, there'll usually be a maid trailing behind looking harassed and wild haired! How nice to have a maid taking care of your kids, housework, cooking. And all I'd have to do is to take care of my hair and nails and clothes before I come out looking like a million bucks!!
POP!! There goes my dream bubble. I am the perfect example of someone who is not contented with her lot. Sigh.... I've read all the requisite books on how one must be contented with life and that money is not everything and cannot solve everything... Blah blah blah....
Jeez.... I can always dream can't I? Hee hee! Maybe tomorrow I'd strike lottery and then I'd have that breezy Wednesday afternoon in the Bahamas! Hahahaha!
Have a wonderful breezy week everyone!