Oh Damn, I'm 30

Went for a facial today, and the beautician asked how old I am. 

30, I said.
 

Then she expressed her surprise saying she thought I was in my 20s.

20s..... Probably thought I was in my late 20s, right? I sure do not look anything younger than 25.

Anyway, this was a random conversation I soon forgot during the treatment until I got home.. 

 

Until now.

So, late 20s...... It isn't exactly that far from 30, but woah. I'm freaking 30!!! Sure does not feel that way..

30... and still stuck living with my parents. Though this isn't exactly a bad thing, I would think I'll live a little crazier being alone.... XD Cook a little more... Or maybe end up living with eating miso and udon for days 😂 oh oh and steak!! 

Just thinking about having my own space, my own kitchenware, is exciting.

30...I've said this so many times. Maybe we only truly grow up when we get married, and maybe more so after having a kid. The responsibilities are different, you are no longer one for yourself alone. Then again, maybe moving out is good enough to grow up. To truly feel like an adult.

30... Oh, at least I finally feel like I'm going somewhere in my career.... After almost 7 years of just feeling lost. At 30, I now see a glimmer of light.

People say we are all on our own journey.
Different from everyone else.
So, what journey am I on?

I'm 30 already, holy fuck.

Age is just a number, yeah? But I sure as hell feel it in the body too! Can't stand too long, can't sit too long...can't lay down too long too. Lol.

No, this is not a rant entry. Just randomly thought about being 30.

Oh damn, I'm 30.
But I'm happy, content and grateful.
If I could talk to myself from a decade ago, I would tell myself I managed to keep with my life's goal...

Staying happy.. Surprisingly difficult, but I managed!

And to myself from 5 years ago, everything just somehow worked out… at work that is.

:)

无理由的开心.

就今天，
无理由的开心

起床容易
工作有效率
开会有精力

就今天，
无理由的开心

随便就这样好好的过了一天

天天能这样就好
天天能无理由的好心情

什么都不需想
什么都不重要

健康快乐就好

🥰

A Korean Drama Weekend

 I woke up feeling oh-so-satisfied and happy this morning. 😆🙃😍😏 

It has been a great weekend filled with cheesy Korean dramas I didn’t know I actually miss! Hahaha. Has been a really really really long time since I last indulged myself with non-stop (almost) Korean dramas; jumping from one to another and forgoing my sleep to watch the next episode. I slept at 4am yesterday! HEHEHE. 

Have only started on 2 Korean dramas the past 2 days “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” and “The Undateables”. Can’t wait to download “About Time” and “Are You Human” later this afternoon. And yes, I enjoy watching shows that have not been completed because I do not mind waiting 7 days for the next episode. Helps me to control. Lol. Completed series makes me lose track of time too easily because I just continue on and on… and on… and on. 

I still remember my highest number of Korean dramas at one time was 9 different ones!!! Ongoing and completed. Sleep was really not my priority even if there’s work the next day. I just allowed myself to live in this other world with nothing but scripted dramas and pretty looking people. Lol.

Then, suddenly, there was this period of time I got really sick of romantic flicks like… damn all these cliche and predictable lovey-dovey stories!! Give me shows that focuses on other things like murders, crimes and all other psycho things 🤪 Korea has really good dramas, but almost 95% of the subbed ones are romantic flicks - I suppose it’s because love sells better? Plenty of lonely souls out there.

Later, I got introduced to Netflix and haven’t gone back to Korean dramas for at least 6 months! Netflix and chill is so freaking easy!!! Of course, not the R-rated “netflix and chill” people have now used it for… I just have to settle down, switch on my TV to flip through what’s available and stream them immediately!! Watch something halfway? Doesn’t matter, Netflix remembers where you stop and you can continue later. SO FREAKING CONVENIENT!! And no, this is not an advertisement for Netflix. Lol. Whereas watching Korean dramas require more effort - Turn on my laptop, check out the subbing site I visit (myasiantv.se) and download/stream the episodes I want to watch with a million advertisements popping up! Many of them are obscene!

I am so super glad Netflix has been increasing their Korean drama inventory though! Got extremely excited when they brought in “Live”. That is one good Korean drama; one of my favourites now! If only they have a list of upcoming dramas….. 

Wow….. I can’t believe I just typed this much talking about my weekend with Korean dramas and about Netflix. I am supposed to be working on this project challenge la. Dammit, Jasmine.

Appreciation

Received this message from my team lead on Friday afternoon.
So humbled and thankful to know people actually 'sees you'. :')
It is not the first time I have been told something like this, but it’s because people here are not stingy with their compliments that makes work easier somedays. :’)

Blogging it only now because I just fully took in the message today; Having afterthoughts 2 days later. Lol!!!

I read it on Friday and felt a quick burst of happiness, but was out with Jo and Karena, and left it in a corner of my mind. Then, I proceeded to waste my weekend with dramas that I kind of forgot about it until........ now. System hanged so bad. Lol.

I read the message again tonight and thought about it.

Showing appreciation is not common these days. People jump on making criticism faster than acknowledging a job well done. These people don't realize how much this little appreciation could make someone go much further.. how much this simple thought could make someone have more pride in their work. (Not just brightening up their days.)

I say it's a 'little appreciation' because, seriously..... How difficult is it to say "Thank you" or "You did well" that people say it so little? Such simple remarks won't cut your flesh when you say it anyway, right? But I guess, this is a company culture issue?

At least for me, when people tell me that, it shows that they see what I do and makes me want to put in even more effort to complete a job. Making someone happy makes me happy too.

I am proud of how far I have come.

From not being the first candidate my team lead wanted to hire (because I was so negative during the interview), to hating the change on my second day (I actually doubted my life's decision then lol), to completing my first year here and getting appreciated for the work I do.

It's been a great journey.

I won't say there weren't any bad days. Of course there were. I struggled here and there with my own self-doubt, but there were definitely less bad days than in the previous job. Sad to say. Though it wasn't that bad there either...

It is just a different culture.

My team members often tell me that I am the best PMO thus far. I am thankful for this thought, but I never really regarded these feedback because they were just being nice about me being nice (getting good pantry food). At one point, I actually got frustrated for being recognized for just this (like once or twice only la!).

I mean.... food ordering is so simple! I wanted to be recognized for better things! Then I realize it was still something they were grateful for; I could save the trouble, do a halfass job and order just the cheap stuff in bulk, but I don't. I maximize the budget with good snacks so people enjoy them amidst their work.

I can't see myself doing a halfassed job.

Besides, getting appreciated is better than nothing right? That's what this entry is about anyway! Lol.

So yes, I am proud of how far I have come despite getting second thoughts every once in a while. And I am very grateful for the people I am working with right now. Thankful that the managers I work with recognises the work I do. And I am really happy that the people in this organisation are good people - or at least those that I interact and have met with. ♥

Mum's Birthday!

💖

Happy Days At Work

It's late, but I'm still working on my damn minutes because I am so freaking slow and easily distracted to complete them on time........ And now I digress from my main blogging purpose tonight because I got distracted again by my own train of thoughts. -.-

So....

While I was summarizing my meeting notes, making sense of things and trying to minute the discussion in my own words, I suddenly had a thought...

"I've been happy. I've been happy at work. . ."

It's not exactly a random thought flashing tonight. I've been having such quick thoughts lately, but tonight... I just want to pen type out my thoughts because..... You know, this is definitely more interesting than my minutes even if it means I am going to be sleeping later than planned.

SOOOOOO going to be dead at work tomorrow.

And here I am digressing from the main point again. Tsk.
It's been a while since I've done this typing 'diarrhea'... And I miss it. Just nonsense typing whatever comes into my mind because I'm having too much thoughts running around in my head, and... mostly because I'm just bored. Lol! I wish I could quickly complete my blog entries for 2015, get over with all that, and start on current affairs updates!

Anyway, back to the point of this entry. For real.

I've been happy.

It's been almost 6 months since my start at the new place (trust me, it feels like a year have passed), but it's only lately that I've been laughing a lot more at work amidst the mountain load of work. Laughter is a good medicine to stress. A very good medicine. Especially for someone who enjoys laughing like me. HA.HA.HA. Really.. It's good.

All the laughing these days is probably because of this one colleague. She's so fun and easy to talk to, and we're so similar yet different. Birthdays a day different and age 12 years apart. We share so many similar thoughts and such. Lunch time have been a lot more enjoyable; we tease each other so much and just feel... comfortable and relaxed with each other. It's good. I don't think I've felt this much comfort with people I've worked with before.. And so quickly. I think it's just almost one month for this colleague of mine.

This level of comfort. It's scary though, because when you get used to things and like how things are, any form of change could shake things up... Which may not necessarily be a good thing.

On a closing note, because it's really late and I have to get back to my minutes... Ermagawwwd, the minutes. T_T

I really hope this happy phase continues for a longer time....

And I hope one day, I'll be good and quick enough to complete my minutes - For now, I'll just dream of the days I never have to do this damn thing ever. For now. :'(

I really hate taking meeting notes.......... Hate.

Simin's Bachelorette Party!!

Love is in the air;
Simin's getting married next month and we threw her a bachelorette party over the weekend!!


It was super fun; right from the planning stage!
And I came to realise, how much a weekend could do to really recharge someone!
I am actually a little grouchy from the lack of rest HAHAHA, but I felt really energised having spent a good weekend with friends! Does that even make sense? It's like you go on a vacation and head straight back to work; though you may not have had enough rest, you still feel refreshed and energised! Ready for more work, yes! Well, at least for me.......? lol.

That is, of course, apart from the withdrawal syndromes you'll inevitably get after knowing that the vacation you've been looking forward to is over....... I sometimes get it even right after the trip begins so screw that. Lol.

Anyway, I think what we did was a pretty typical bachelorette party? Booked a hotel room, decorated it with balloons fairy lights and rose petals (albeit fake), prepared food, surprised the bride-to-be, camwhored, went for dinner and drinks before coming back to the room for much needed "sleep".

We also came up with some dares that Simin didn't do, so tsk. They were so simple!!

It's okay, we had fun and that's what matters.


While the staycation wasn't a surprise, she probably didn't know we styled the room and prepared food!

So.... While we set a pretty late meet up time with Simin, the rest of us met up much earlier (like 10am) to get all the necessary items from a party shop at Tekka Mall and food from Somerset 313.


Clara in the lobby of Mandarin Orchard Singapore with our white and blue balloons!


Tekka Mall's party shop is relatively cheap!! Especially if compared to other shops; we didn't get enough though, so there was a mix of smaller sized balloons we got from Centrepoints' party shop. Our decoration expense was slightly under $88. Not that bad, right? Heh.


Everything is up and lighted!
The fairylights were damn tricky! And we might have slightly peeled off some of the hotel's white paint :(

Speaking of hotel..... We got the room at a really really good price thanks to Christina who works there! It was just $105! Covered by 4 of us, it was like $26 per pax; affordable and worth it! We tried searching for other hotels and venues (like Airbnb), but they weren't good enough for our pocket or plan.


The final setup; ensured the balloons were evenly placed. LOL.


&Here's me placing all the food we got!
This is ensuring everyone (but Simin) gets what we want/crave for. LOL.


Tired Christina after ensuring we don't ruin her hotel. Lol.


And all these food (&some Gongcha) cost us about $93.
Damn filling for us 5, so I would say it was just nice and not too overboard?


Unsuspecting Simin~ heheh.

So we ate and caught up a bit here and there with each other's life before we freshen up; camwhored and left for bites and drinks!



Photoshoot; start-o!






I look like I'm screaming, laughing so big, and Huanqing is just sitting there almost enough with our shit already. Lol.


I am glad to have known them during the very beginning of my Polytechnic days though. ♥


Huanqing totally had enough with us face. Lol.






One of the very few dares we got her to do and I think the only one she did; put on that sash.
Lol.

Fun night with predrinks, shots, dares and great company. ❤

A post shared by ღ Jasmine Chua ღ (@jasmeaan) on Oct 22, 2016 at 11:21am PDT

The one thing that costs us the most this weekend would be drinks..... Everything we have spent so far won't even match the expense on the drinks! That was like a frigging $208........... Drinking is so freaking expensive here. Should totally buy our own drinks and be our own bartenders or something.

But no, we weren't drunk - My face is only red because of the lighting at the bar. We are all responsible drinkers and could very safely cab back to our hotel, find our room and shower before bed. ;)




So going to look back at these and feel blessed with them in my life.
I actually find it pretty amazing how we stuck out so long since DPA days. Though we hardly meet each other now, it is still nice to have a group of friends you can meetup to have a nice dinner together and even do these sweet celebrations together!! Hopefully not the last one? Hahha.

Seriously, all 5 of us have very very different personality... So different that it's a wonder how we haven't fought with each other, but could remain as friends? Lol. Life.

Or maybe, it is precisely because we hardly meet each other, thus we don't spend enough time to be annoyed with each other? HAHAHA.


Can't wait for her wedding; 1 month 2 days to go!!

Project P: The Solemnization!

Finally, after 2 extremely monotonous months......... Something exciting happened!!


Our baby Karena is now legally married!!!!!

👰 💐 💍 🎊 🤵


YAY!! The clique's favourite and best looking couple ♥♥♥


My heart feels so full right now, I cannot! ♥

To be completely frank, while I am overjoyed for Karena, it does feel a little weird that someone you've known for so so long is getting married. Feels so surreal... Like life is telling you we've really become adults. Life is really happening; shit is getting real. Lol. But oh wells, here I am still green as ever. Tsk.

Back to the solemnisation~

I had the great honor to be with Karena from the very beginning of this day! Watched her get her makeup and hair done, and helped with her dress!

Here's her at the wedding boutique~








So they say our smile is the best makeup we can wear, and indeed it is! Also, feeling happy from the inside.
No need heavy makeup to look beautiful.. 😍

&then we were off to the solemnisation venue!


John looking super serious trying to fix the background for the photo booth!
You can also see a little of Weishan at the back too, but no idea what she's hiding there for. 😜




The reception table with really cute cards for guests to write their well wishes for the couple..

Looks a lot nicer when the lights are dim and the table lights up!


TADDAAAAHHH!!

Photo booth: Check!
Reception table: Check!

&It was time for the bride-to-be (&groom) to get dressed! No pictures from that because we were too busy trying not to mess up her dress. THERE WAS SO MANY CRISS CROSS TO DO AT THE BACKK!!

Blisshouse is so beautifully decorated!! Just stepping out of the dressing corner is a nice area to camwhore!

(Fast forward 2018 and it's unfortunate that they are permanently closed already!)


Karena posing on a fancy looking piano while her cousin and Weishan shifts her dress to make it nicely flow down the seat.

Great effort required for a nice picture to be taken! But I don't have the shot because there was a professional. Lol.




♥ The real groom looking happy


&The fake one
(LOOK AT THE PEEPING JOHN BEHIND HAHAHAHA)

WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT LANCE WOULD WEAR SOMETHING SO SIMILAR TO THE GROOM!!! Super scene-stealer this boy. hahahahahah. It was later agreed that they better coordinate their colors and not clash again on their wedding banquet.


Who's the right groom?
Karena had really on point photo props too!!


Short interview while waiting for more guests to arrive!








Us and some of her other friends + batch mates. :)


&The other girls finally arrived!
I definitely did not get the memo to wear white or be in light color.
So exclusive these 4. Pfft.
But my angels in white~ 😇


&The dukes of the clique.




Walk-In!
Gracefully making their entrance while John sings "Beautiful in White" - should have changed the lyrics to "Beautiful in Blue" HEH.

I actually felt quite emotional when they exchanged their vows; to the extent of wanting to tear... Is it silly? Hahaha. I don't know... I think it's really touching, heartwarming and just... magical(?) to witness such a good friend tie the knot with the love of her life. Or maybe I'm just emotional and getting my heartstrings pulled because I'm getting older. LOL.






It's Karena's birthday today; and her cousins prepared her a gorgeous cake as a surprise!
So sweet of them AND THE CAKE WAS GREAT!!! From Antoinette (X).








Got so tired meh this guy! Hahaha.


💓

After the wedding, we headed down to Hooters for round 2!
Chilled and talked about what's ahead for us all.

Life. I'm happy to have them in mine.


早生贵子哦!
Give us a baby Karena / baby John soon!!