Fine art of dressing

I love clothes and love to shop for them. I will also be the first to admit that I don't have a naturally easy-to-dress figure. You know how some people can just throw on anything and it fits them? Maybe that is you but it sure ain't me.

So when the occasion actually requires me to dress a certain way to portray a certain image. It.actually.takes.work. Like serious brain-cogs-turning type work.

So, I needed to attend one of many parentsevent in my daughter's school and I wanted to look:
• nice and approachable
• like a caring and involved mom
• intelligent and not a push over
• slim
• pretty

So yeah, QED. Not!

I had put on a black dress but it looked a little too short and showedoo much leg.
I tried on another black dress and it looked too work.

In the end, I decided on jeans for the approachability factor and heels for the pretty factor. The yellow shrug was to add a burst of color and a little fun factor. Hair was back to show a little seriousness and make up was kept natural to show low-maintainence.

Whoever said being a school mom was easy?!

First ailment of grade one

It is never fun to have a sick child - not just for the little one, but also for me as her mom.

I go through a host of emotions ranging from anger at myself (why didn't I keep a better watch on her so she didn't fall ill) to helplessness (I can't take away your pain and discomfort, my daughter) to calling upon my Lord God (here is your child Lord, please heal her).

I am sure most mothers feel this way. We accept that our children will succumb to ailments and we news to do our time nursing them back to health.

Kiddo was very upset at having to miss her first spelling session and disappointed at not being able to play with her friends.

Get well soon, little one. Fun at school awaits!

Dating my girl

Now that Kiddo is older, we get to hang out in more grown up ways - visiting shops and having grown up meals at nicer places. It gives me an opportunity to share with her about myself and also provides me a chance to teach her lessons that present themselves during our interaction. This is also a time when I get to  see a different side of my little one and observe how she sizes things up and expresses her opinions about them.

We take turns to browse shops that appeal to one another and even shops that draws both of us at the same time - such as home decor shops. Interestingly enough, this 5 year old has an affinity to home decoration shops as they often contain very pretty and unique objects and presentations are pleasant.

We went to Tanglin Mall (Singapore) to grab some groceries and supplies for Shanghai after her cycling lessons (Entry to come later) and decided to do dinner out as a treat tonight. Kiddo took me to a Japanese eatery called Tetsu. It was a joint that her grandma had taken her a couple of weeks ago as a treat. She was so proud to be able to show me something new and she knew exactly what she wanted for her dinner.

We wowed at the food, people watched, talked about the family and gave each other hugs and snuggles - a real successful date. I'm so looking forward to having more dates with my girl as she is really a fun person to be with.

An act of kindess

I was at a supermarket today and was bending over to grab a packet of Vitagen when the buttons on my top popped. Now, the top was not very tight to start off with, and it was one of those linen pieces that was held together with only 3 buttons and came fully apart at the back.

So as you can imagine, I was mortified and trying desperately to keep cool and hang on to whatever shred of dignity I had left, which was not much. I fumbled with the buttons on my back and was praying that the gentleman browsing the cheese section three feet away wouldn't notice. As if.

Thankfully, a lovely lady came over and offered to help me. She was so sweet about it and even jokingly asked what I did to have popped ALL the buttons. I told her it was one of those things that happened. She deftly did up the buttons, I thanked her and we parted ways. The entire incident probably lasted about 2 minutes at the very most.

I think we are daily presented with opportunities to show kindness to others around us. Think of how we interact with one another daily and these opportunities are just there - holding the lift for someone, pointing the direction to another, or simply offering help when someone looks lost without being asked for it.

I, for one, am guilty of playing dumb at times when it doesn't suit me to be kind to others - jabbing at the close button when I am late for a meeting when I can see someone trying to walk faster for the lift, waiting to see if anyone else will offer help to a lost patron who's trying to figure out how the sophisticated food-ordering system at the famous Old Airport Road Rojak stall works (I did, but only after watching the lady looking lost for half a minute), failing to point out to a male stranger walking by that his pants are undone...I admit that it is embarrassing to recount these actions.

The lady who offered help to me today could have easily walked away. Instead, she offered help that I gratefully accepted and very much appreciated. I think we all could do with a reminder to be kind to one another - don't you?

An insensitive comment and how it SHOULD NOT bother me

We all have bad days now and then.

I had one yesterday when someone very insensitively commented on how much weight I've put on (I have my reasons) and why I should watch what I ate.

I rationally know that I should not let what others say affect me. I am after all a MATURE person of a certain age, AND should know better. But it still hurts when someone close makes such a comment - its like poking a finger into an already raw and bloody wound.

Gee, thanks.

So here's a pout on my behalf.

Wish I was there

Himself is currently in

on a work trip and wouldn't allow me to
saying that his global bosses are there with him for his meetings.
That leaves me in Sunny Singapore wishing I could enjoy freshly made
whilst taking the sights in

and most importantly, playing my part in the

Summer Sales! Sigh.

Hopefully he brings me a little something of beautiful Paris when he returns.

Knowing that I am deeply loved

I am home in Singapore and after putting my Samsonite to rest, I realize how much I am loved just by a simple thing like a trip home.

• 
  
  My father shows up at the airport no matter what time my flight gets in. He has been doing so since I left home for university at 18 years of age. I also know that he gets sleepless nights in the days leading up to my arrival and departure home. He buys the durian that I love and still tries to wait up for me when I get home late at nights - even at my age.
  


• 
  
  My mother asks what I'll like to do today and when I say anything, we'll just go hang out together running errands. She offers to take me shopping for hard-to-find food items like steel-cut oats.



• 
  
  My helper ensures that I have my favourite everything set up before I land in Singapore and offers to cook my meals and look after my every need when I am around. She's been with our family for 14 or more years (I've lost count) and really sayangs me. She will even fix me pot noodles in the middle of the night if I ask her - which I honestly don't.
  


• 
  
  My husband ensures that I travel with my passport, SIM card and credit/ATM cards, placing them in order on the table before I travel as he knows that I can be a scatterbrain at times. Though he is crazy busy at work, he tries to ring or text when he gets the rare chance and though he still grumbles at my expenditure, his grumbles have lessen over the years. *Hee*


• 
  
  My best girl rings up the mobile company trying to activate my mobile so that it is ready before I arrive. Unfortunately I messed up by giving her to wrong identification number.
  

This is obviously just a select few that I've listed and I could go on and on. I feel so secure and blessed knowing that I am loved by so many people. This feeling really just can't be beat.

What are some ways that the people around you do to show their love for you?