Physiques And The Like...  

Posted by: Audrey in ,

A recent conversation with my personal trainer:

Trainer: You have the body, the build for this (fitness)
Me: Huh? Nah, I have a long way to go!
Trainer: No, I mean you have the physique...an athlete's body.
Me: *panting and huffing* Haha, thanks! But I don't have the stamina yet...=P
Trainer: That's why I'm helping you get it! Now go go go!

It was quite hilarious, thinking about it...how ironic that I should have an athlete's build, but am nowhere close to having the actual fitness level of one! But hopefully, I'll reach there some day =) Looking back, I am feeling more happy with how I am looking now. I mean, I can't really change much about my face (except concealing the scars with make up) but my body is SLOWLY getting there. =) I don't think I'll ever be a size S like my sisters but I'll be happy with a size M with my body frame *grins* At the moment, I'm still a size L (or XL, depending on the cutting, but L most of the time. YAYY!) but on occasion, I'll be able to find dresses or tops with a size M that I could fit into...so, that's a big motivation =) Let's see how this year will fare for me. *crosses fingers*

In other 'news', I want to post up some photos again...heh! Haven't gotten to many projects yet, but the coming holidays might help boost my motivation to go do some more baking since I have the time!

This was the fruit tart that I made for last year's NYE party....pretty happy with how it turned out! Didn't really know how to arrange the peach slices at first (they were going all crooked and stuff) till my sister suggested a fan-like arrangement, and this was the result =) The fruits in the middle were seedless grapes. If the grapes were an even darker color, I think it would be a better contrast, but as it is, it worked out good I guess.


Green pea cookies for Chinese New Year (CNY). I didn't make these from scratch....they were a pre-mix that I just added some oil to, shaped and baked them. I guess the 'dough' was a little too dry....the cookies turned out with cracks in them! But no biggie...all was forgiven when one takes a bite. It just melts in your mouth with a burst of yummy flavor =) Quite an addictive cookie for me...heh! 


Speaking of CNY....here's a tradition that I've always enjoyed. Yee sang! This was the first yee sang that I've had for CNY. It's basically a mixture of shredded vegetables, fruits, crispy condiments and on occasion, some salmon or delish 'exotic' meats like sea asparagus, abalone, etc. Everybody gets their chopsticks ready and start mixing everything together! As the mixing goes, it is said that the 'higher' we bring the ingredients together, the better our year will be...so you can imagine the 'chaos' with more than 10 pairs of chopsticks mixing! LOL! It was loads of fun though, and the 'aftermath' is always tasty *wink*



Another first for me....a red packet for CNY in the form of an Australian lottery ticket courtesy of my boss! It's kinda like a 'jack pot' thing where we have to scratch the panels and see if we get 3 same images in a section. You could see I didn't win...LOL! But it was super fun nonetheless...my manager won AUD5 and another colleague won AUD8! For those who won, they would pass the winning tickets to our boss where he'll collect the prizes on our behalf and bring them back. Hehe! 


 It occurred to me that I've become less and less excited about celebrating CNY every year...I don't know whether it's the lack of a 'festive mood' compared to previous years, or I am just getting old (LOL!) but it is beginning to feel more and more like a normal thing for me...*shrugs* Still, some days there will be some surprises that make me feel like, hey it's not too bad after all. Case in point, the last two photos...I really enjoyed myself with my colleagues during the lunch and even doing something silly like this lottery scratch-and-win card is quite fun =) Who knows what surprises are in store in the coming weeks, no? *grins* Happy CNY to you reading this if you're celebrating it...may the year of the Dragon bring you much prosperity, peace and joy! 

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January, oh January...  

Posted by: Audrey in

I've actually just watched this video not too long ago, and it inspired me to blog *grins* See the video here:




Have you broken your resolutions? Or are they still going strong? Looking back at my goals this year, I guess it would still be a little early to say whether I've broken it or not considering they're not as generic as I thought it would be =P I DO however, have a few updates:

  • I've actually been weighing myself a bit more frequently these days and if my weighing scale is correct, I've dropped another kg so far. Yayy! Hopefully this will stay off and I continue on to reach my target weight =)
  • I've also gone back for capoeira classes...oh, how I've missed them! Even though it's only been a few months since I've stopped capoeira, it feels a little awkward for me as I've almost forgotten the sequences and what not. A batizado is coming up for our school in May (a kind of 'baptism' for us beginners where we officially get our colored belts for our level!), so hopefully I will be prepared enough by then to deserve that corda =)
  • I have booked myself another ticket to go watch "Wicked" again in Singapore. Yes, crazy I know....but the show REALLY is that good! This time, I'm going with a fellow friend who has not experienced international shows before...so hopefully this will be a good experience for her! And, I guess since it's in Singapore, it's considered somewhat a holiday as well? LOL! I don't know...I'll see how it goes *grins*
  • My tattoo plans are becoming more and more concrete! Crossing fingers that all goes well and according to plan...=) I've actually booked an appointment with the tattoo artist! Will update more as the time nears...and definitely a post about it when it's done *wink*
  • I'm missing my baking sessions too...sad to say that I've not touched any projects since the New Year's eve party that I went to last year (I baked another fresh fruit tart). But, I have been invited to a baby shower in a couple of weeks....hopefully I'll be able to make time to bake some sugar cookies. Been wanting to try out some things *grins*

So yup, that's about it I guess....the other goals are still kinda, pending. LOL! Been also feeling a bit crappy these days...guess the moodiness of the old year hasn't rubbed off yet. But still doing my hardest to NOT think about stupid things and focusing on getting myself better. Here's to more good things in 2012 (even though it's the so-called 'Armageddon' year)!


P/S: I noticed that my blog hits have been rising a little bit...all thanks to the Angry Birds cake and cookies that I've tried. Who knew that the Angry Birds craze will spread that far till it'll reach my little old blog here? Here's to more nicer-looking projects in the new year too =)

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Recap & A Fresh Start  

Posted by: Audrey in

My first post for 2012! LOL! Happy New Year by the way...hope you all had a nice celebration for New Year's =) Mine was a somewhat quiet one...I spent it with a few friends over a BBQ and we witnessed some very cool fireworks display right outside the house, courtesy of a generous resident in that neighborhood. My very first experience in 2012 was to see a fireworks display up close and personal...seems like it's a good start! *crosses fingers*

Anyways, I'd also like to do a little recap on the year that was. Who knows, it could be a sort of 'benchmark' where I can measure how much had I accomplished (or not) during the year. It would be nice to see it all documented, I guess =)

  • 2011 is the year I left my Bioinformatics job and pursued something entirely different job in IT...OK, technically it's end of 2010, but I was still learning a lot in 2011 so it counted for me I guess =) With a significant enough jump in salary and the fact that I am STILL learning quite a bit in this job, I am quite happy with where I am work-wise at the moment *grins* 
  • It is also the time where I got really serious with losing weight....up to the point where I was attending Capoeira & dance classes every single weekday till almost 11pm. Drove my parents (and almost myself) crazy. Then 'things' happened and I took a break, joined a gym with some personal training, and I THINK I'm slightly back on track. As in, I don't need to go to class everyday, but I'm still working out enough to at least maintain where I am. To date, I have lost 10kg from end of 2010...but I gained back another 2kg due to some muscle mass build up from the weight training with my personal trainer. 
  • 2011 is the year I found...and subsequently lost 'love'. Don't really like to talk about this much coz it still stings (albeit I try to tell myself to let it go....still working on this), but at the same time I guess I am grateful for the experience. Even though it's only a few short weeks, I could sort of at least say I've gone through one cycle of a relationship? 
  • 2011 is also the year that I went to Bali for the first time! In fact, it was the first ever holiday that I've ever been to since I've started working....though at the time, it was a 'spur of the moment' thing but I'm really glad I took the leap of faith and bought the tickets because I had a great time in Bali when I really needed the break. The scenery, the culture, the people...everything just makes it so memorable for me and I'm raring to go back someday!
  • 'Tis also the year that I've been baking (and sometimes cooking) in earnest. My baking projects have somewhat mostly yielded good results, and I'm quite proud that I've managed to accomplish at least this. I find baking to be very therapeutic for me, and the smiles on my friends and family's faces when they dig into the cakes / cookies / pastries gives me more encouragement to try out more recipes and 'experiments'. *grins* Heck, I've even had a few 'sales' with them. I don't think I'll plan to do this as a job, but to say it has been a fun ride with baking (either by myself or with some of my friends!) is an understatement =)
  • And I guess the most fun for me was being able to attend quite a few shows in 2011. Most of them were in the final quarter of the year, but it was still so very fun for me. From local productions ("The Secret Life of Nora", "In Perfect Harmony", "The Drive", "Short & Sweet" festival) to my very first international production experience ("Wicked" by the Australian touring cast in Singapore!), I had a blast at every single one of them =) 

Well, that's about it I guess...most of the biggest 'events' for me in 2011. Not a lot, but it felt like it was quite a bit for me =) Definitely a lot of ups and downs, but I think I can safely say it had more 'ups' for me...and am very thankful for the things that had happened.

And, since it IS 2012 now I guess it is time to wipe the slate clean and start anew =) So, here's to an even better year for all of us! As for resolutions, I would say these are my goals  =) Some of them are for this year, some are more towards what I can do every year. Crossing fingers hard that I will be able to accomplish them!

  • Drop more weight to my ideal weight, which is about 5-10kg more. I figured this could be possible as I took about a year to lose my previous 10kg...so, hoping it's all good and I can reach this target (AND hopefully, maybe....if I'm brave enough, to fit into a bikini? LOL!)
  • Go on a holiday at least once in a year. Doesn't have to be an international one, but it should be somewhere different to get away from the hectic life and work....beach, mountains, island. Gosh, I'm raring to go *grins* Now, to save up for it!
  • Attend at least three different productions in a year =) Again, it doesn't have to be international, but it'll be great if there are more productions like "Wicked" to be shown locally!
  • Spend at least two days a week with Scottie, be it taking him out for walks or outings. He may not be as handsome as he used to be, but he has been there whenever I need him...and I find I have neglected him loads while I was out there 'searching for myself'. He's the only boy I have in my life right now (aside from my Dad), so I should do more for him =)
  • Get a tattoo! Haha, yes you've read right. I know, it sounded really crazy but it's not so much of a taboo for me...more like, I want to find something that's significant enough for me to want it on my body for a LONG time. And I do believe I've found it...if I ever get enough courage to get it done, I will post it here =)
  • Be a tougher, more assertive person. The past year had been a lot of crazy 'downs' because I couldn't bring myself to say "NO" when I need to....up to the point where people think I'm too gullible or soft-hearted. So, this year is the year that I need to tough it out, close my eyes and just say "NO" when I have to, or speak my mind.
  • Be a little more social...yes, kind of a weird thing, but I do find that I'm a loner. And it doesn't help that I'm so awkward when it comes to social things...so since this is the new year, I need to (again) toughen up and go out and 'mingle' so to speak. =)

Wow, I realized those are a LOT of goals....LOL! Hoping it'll come to fruition when the year ends =) I'll work on these...heh! Happy New Year again!

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