New BTO application

Whew! It’s been awhile since I last wrote in here. Let’s see what we have been up to….
Seng and I have gotten our queue for the Sale od Balance Flats exercise. Not good, looks like we can trhow this application out the window. As it the sale of balance flats, there were ot many flats to start with, 16 in total for 5-room/executive units. We are number…

*drum roll

73!!!

So, it looks like we won’t be choosing a flat anytime soon. But!! No fear! We have applied for anotther BTO exercise in November for Punggol Sails and Ripples. We are looking a the 4-room units. Well then, round two of luck for us!! Haha! Results will be out in January 2010, and we keeping our finger crossed on this exercise. Hopefully we will be able to choose a flat of our liking. = )

But on the down side, it looks like we do have alot of work ahead of us for this flat. Like the logistics and where to stay when we are waiting for the flats to be built, the finances and the main event, the wedding. Wedding is still tentative in 2011, not to mention the wedding shoot in Taiwan. That’s going to be another cost. The wedding will be a killer, did I forget to mention the dinner as well? Shoot! 40 tables and counting. OMG!! I’m wondering where all the extra people come from.. Sigh.. Do we really have to invite some many people?

Sometimes I wonder, if weddings are for the family and close friend or for the whole wide to watch us like animals in an enclosure. Negative thoughts.. I need to wipe them out. But when almost half f the 40 tables are people whom you did not invite, its kinda hard not to think that way.

Anyways, Christmas is coming!! I can’t wait. It’s a 3 and half days week this week and next. Ok, I’ll end here for now.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!!

Corsages

Hey everyone!!

I’m back!! Haha…

Seng and I are now waiting for good news from HDB. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. It will be announced this month, so ya.. Wish us luck peeps!

Let’s see, what have I been up to? Nothing much really. I was surfing the net recently and came acros some really pretty corsages for the wedding entourage and our parents Just some ideas I had for the corsages. I was thinking if I should get a florist to make me the corsages or should I make them myself. Pros and cons for both ways.

Well, making them myself would mean that it would be unique only to me. Good! Making them myself would mean extra work and hours put in, sourcing for flowers, ribbons and such. Bad! Making them myself would mean a savings. Maybe? Hard to put my finger on that.

Whereas if I get a florist to do it for me. It would save time, that wa I can concentrate on other important stuff for the wedding. Good! They would have ideas that I can got inspirations from. Good! They will cost more definately. Bad! Oh! I might even be able to bargain with them, coz I will need the car decor as well. Good maybe?

There are a few things to look into for these stuff. Mum says to get the florist to do them. That way I don’t need to take extra time out to make the corsages and the find space to store them until the wedding day. Also, we can get the florist to have them delivered on the day itself or the evening before. Making them myself would mean I may have to forgo the fresh flowers, coz my fridge won’t have the space to keep them. Haha… I have to agree with Mum on this though.

Hmmm…
Well, this is all just a thought.

Love,
Qiuru xx

Applied for Flat / March in Song

Hey everyone!

I know, it’s been a long while since I last updated. I think I’m doing an average of one entry per month. Things have been crazy at work lately, and it has been bad. Have not been in the mood for much things. Sad… But in any case, after having slept for almost 14 hours in wonderful raining weather, I’m feeling a hell lot better.

So!! For an update on our new home.

Seng and I have applied for the Balance of Flats scheme. We’ve decided to go for the 5 room units. So we are keeping our finger crossed that we will be invited to choose a unit and also hopefully choose a unit that we really really want. We’ve got some work ahead of us for this if we get invited. It’s exciting but yet nerve wrecking at the same time. I am so afarid that we will not get invited, and will probably have to wait for the next BTO exercise. I’m praying so hard that we get invited. Haha!! I sound so desperate! I know… But the units are so near my parents, and we feel that it would be fantastic if we managed to get a unit near them.
Keeping our hopes up and our fingers crossed!! Pray for us ya? Haha!! =P

Well then, I have been listening to alot of music lately, and watching loads of movies that I’ve missed out over the last two months. And it has given me thoughts about wedding songs and the march in song. Like a typical chinese banquet, there are a few march ins throughout the dinner right? I’ll only be doing two, coz I think three is ridiculous. Haha!! In any case, I’ve been thinking about the second march in song. I have kind of confirmed my first song.

I Live My Life For You by Firehouse.

Yes yes… Slow rock! Woo hoo!! But I think it really has alot of meaning to this song. I love the lyrics of this song. I have been to a number of weddings, and alot fo them use typical songs. There was one period that a song by Shania Twain was over used. I think many of you might know which song it is. Haha!! But I want to be different and find a song that means something to me and Seng. I mean, you only have one wedding and you should make the best of it. I’ve been told many times about that.

So right now, I’m thinking of the second song. I have a few on my list. Let’s see….
1) Love of a Lifetime – Firehouse
2) On Bended Knee – Boyz II Men
3) Drowning – Backstreet Boys
4) The Gift – Jim Brickman & Martina Mcbride
5) I Do(Cherish You) – 98 Degrees
6) Valentine – Jim Brickman & Martina Mcbride

I still have other songs. I’m still listening and see which takes my breath away when I think of us walking down the aisle. It’s still a long way to go, but it does not hurt to think about it. I mean, it kind of gets me into the whole wedding mood. Ha….

I’m also looking into the list of songs to be played at my ROM since it will be done seperate from the customary wedding date. And at our Alma Mater for that matter. I think it’s going to be so cool and special coz we meet back in secondary school. Took us like donkey years to realise that we were meant for each other. So we had decided from the very beginning that we wanted to hold our wedding back at our Alma Mater.

In any case, I have not decided on the theme for my ROM. I’m running low in ideas… Hurr… But that is for another time. Hehe..

Love,
Qiuru xx

Wow!! It’s been a long time since I last update. I’ve been busy and have not much inspirations to write here.

In any case, I’ve been watching episodes of ‘Whose Wedding Is It Anyways?’ that Pris has passed to me. Pris!! I need more episodes, I’m finished with the lot you passed to me! Haha! With that aside, I’ve picked out quite a few ideas from the show, as well as themes, flowers and cake designs. After watching the show, I’m contemplating a wedding cake. A fully edible cake, not like the ones the hotel offers. The fake ones.. Haha! They look so pretty and yummy in the show! Looks like I will eventually have to dig deep into my budget to see if I can afford it. I’m hoping to and I hope that my parents and parents-in-law will be ok wiht the idea.

Also, there’s been a HDB Sale of Balance Flats exercise going on at the moment. It’s complicated, and with Seng away on his Induction Camp, I’m left to work out the finances, thank God for Dad’s help on this, coz I was pretty much was a noob trying to understand what the hell was going on, and look at the finer details of this sale exercise put up by HDB. We managed to squeeze some time last Saturday to look at the block and area where the flats were up for sale. I’m kinda feeling not too good about going ahead with applying for an invitation, even though the flats up for sale are really, and I mean REALLY near my parents. And in Pasir Ris, which kinda what both of us want. We’ve checked out the area and spoke to some of the residents there.

Apparently, alot of these flats have been vacate for a long period of time. Some for more than a year, and I’m wondering why. Some of these flats are in pretty good locations, really big, mid levels and above, and definately affordable, but someting does not really sit right with me. Spoke to my Mum about it, and she has expressed her concerns on the flats up for sale. Spoke to Dad as well, he says the flats are affordable, and it’s working well with out budget, so it’s really up to us on whether we want to go ahead with the application. The flats are REALLY limited, so there’s a chance that we might be able to choose unit, depending on our luck and the queue number that we get.

We’re slowly working things out, and it’s been slow. Seng’s been busy at work lately and we hardly meet up, and when we do, we don’t normalyl talk about the wedding, since it is another year away. Pris and I are collating ideas for the ROM reception, and I’m hoping that we will be able to do someting within our budget, which includes the catering, flowers and decor. Whew! It’s alot and I am kinda glad that wedding as been pushed back, it gives me more time to work out the finer details and manage our budget better. But normally, 1 year, is good enough time for planning.

Well!! That’s about it for now. Keep reading to find out what I might discuss about next!

Love,
Qiuru xx

No yellow and purple flowers

When Qiuru highlighted to me that her MIL stated that she wasn’t allowed any yellow flowers or purple flowers, she felt kinda disappointed because her favourite flower is sunflower.

Dear girl, who said you can’t have sunflowers?
As long as they are not yellow, you still can have it!

Just like roses, there is a huge colour variety for each flower to choose from actually, since the botanists and the scientists love to play around different breeds and mix and match to get new colours.

Thanks to these clever brains, now we have more decisions to make!

Below is a list of sunflower breeds to choose from!
Info is taken from: http://www.turntothesun.org/sunflowers.html

	Autumn Beauty: Bold, beautiful up to 8″ flowers in bright yellow, bronze and purple with some spectacular bi-colours, all reminiscent of autumn hues. 1.5-1.8 ( 5-6’) tall. Pacific Northwest Seed Co., West Coast Seeds.
	Bright Bandolier: Exceptionally ornamental mixture of sunny yellow and warm burnished mahogany. Big flowers with plenty to cut for perfectly contrasting bouquets. Heat and drought tolerant. 1.5-2 m (5-7’) tall. Renee’s Garden
	Cinnamon Sun: Glowing cinnamonbronze petals and chocolate centres. Sturdy stalks topped by clusters of 5-6 flower faces. 1.5-2m (5-7’) tall. Renee’s Garden
	Earthwalker: Deep orange terracotta flowers. Dark centres, strong stemmed, multi branching. 2-3m (6.5-10’) tall. Mr Fothergill
	Evening Sun: Multi headed velvety maroon flowers are radiant when backlit by the setting sun. Variations include pale cream edging at the tips or hints of cream edging the centres. Plant stalks and leaf venation are also maroon. Stunning cut flower. Seeds of Change ***Certified Organic***
	Giant Sungold: Big (19-20 cm/ 7-8) thick fully double yellow flowers on a 1.8 m (6’) plant. West Coast Seeds, Pacific Northwest Seeds
	Kong: The big one. Covered with (10-15 cm/ 4-6″) thick yellow flowers on a sturdy multi branched 3.6 m (12’) plant. Pacific Northwest Seeds
	Italian White: Creamy white petals surrounding a dark brown centre make this variety truly unique. Thought to be an heirloom variety brought to the US by Eurpoean immigrants. Multi-headed. 1.2m (4’) tall. Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	The Joker: Brightly bi-coloured ray petals are a warm mahogany-red with golden yellow tips and surround pretty tufted centre disks. Blooms early on strong stalks with branching stems. 1.5-1.8m ( 5-6’) tall. Renee’s Garden
	Mexican: Also known as Torch. Fiery orange 2-3″ flowers attract lots of butterflies all summer long until frost. A favorite because of its extremely long bloom period. Nice for fresh arrangements. Branching plants 4-6’ tall.
	Peredovik: Handsome Russian cultivar with black seeded central disk for oil or for bird seed. West Coast Seeds
	Red Sun: Deep red flowers, mahogany centres, on long stems. DT Brown Co.
	Ring of Fire: Golden petal edges and a ring of red surrounding a chocolate brown centre. 1.3m ( 4.5 to 5’) tall. Mr. Fothergills Seed Co.
	Sunzilla:Giant sunflowers, easy to grow big framed strong plants reach up to 14 feet tall! Some single heads, some branching. Renee’s Garden
	Sun Samba:carefully chosen colour blend on strong branching stalks with free flowering big blooms in the full array of ringed and bi-coloured faces and fully double flowers. Shades include sunny yellow, deep gold, lemon, mahogany, bronze, golden orange with many variations. Renee’s Garden
	Taiyo: single large yellow flower with a black centre reaching 12 diameter. 1.8m (6’) tall. Thompson & Morgan
	Large Russian: The perfect plant for a childs garden! Grows to a towering strong plant with a single, massive bloom. 2.4-3.6m (8-12’) tall!! Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Valentine: Almost black centres contrast with yellow petals that blend to distinctive creamy white tips. Multiple blooms. 1.5-1.8 m (5-6’) tall. West Coast Seeds, Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Velvet Queen: One of the darkest of all sunflowers, in hues of burgundy, mahogany, chestnut red and bronze with an even darker centre. Early flowering variety. Multiple blooms. 1.8m (6’) tall. West Coast Seeds, Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
to top
	Dwarf and Medium Height TallPollen Free
	Claret: Chocolate brown with gorgeous metallic sheen to the bloom. This mid height habit makes it the ideal addition to borders. 1.2-1.8m (4-6’) tall. Thompson & Morgan
	Floristan: Multi headed, striking reddish-brown petals with yellow tips and dark centers. Medium height. 91 cm (3’) tall. Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Irish Eyes: Dwarf plants loaded with multiple blooms that have golden pointed petals with green centres. One of the best for pot culture and cutting. Plants grow 0.6-0.76m (24-30″) tall. 60 days Seed Savers Exchange
	Lemon Queen: early flowering variety, nice contrast between brown centre and lemon yellow. 1.5m (5’) tall. Thompson & Morgan
	Music Box: dwarf sunflower in beautiful bi-coloured flowers in mahogany, bronze and cream hues. 70 cm (28″) West Coast Seeds , Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Sparky: Unusual attractive, quilled flowers, on multi heades plants flower over a long period. Some clear yellow, some bronze-orange. Add spark and interest to flower arrangements. 1.2-1.5m (4-5’) tall. Thompson & Morgan Seeds
	Sunbright:Very uniform1.3-1.5m (4½-5’) tall. Large golden yellow petals and beautiful contrasting black centres. Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Soraya: Distinct more golden yellow flower than any other sunflower. 1.5-1.8m (5 to 6’) tall and branching. Pacific Northwest Seed co.
	Teddy Bear:dwarf bushy golden flowers. Blooms for 6 weeks in late summer, makes a nice cut flower. 45 cm (18″) tall. West Coast Seeds, Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Pollen Free Dwarf and MediumTall
	Chocolate Cherry: Rich chocolate burgundy ray petals surrounding dark chocolate centre discs. Pollen free. 1.8-2m (6-7’) tall. Renee’s Garden
	Indian Blanket:A mix of double, semi double and single petalled flowers in shades of red, lemon/red and other bi-colours and combinations. All branched habit. 2m (6’) tall. Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Monet’s Palette: Exciting array of colour and texture in single and double, artistically hued flowers. 2 m (6′) tall. Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Moonshadow: Rare white sunflower produces many small, beautiful blooms around a dark disk. Perfect for bouquets and arrangements, these branched plants and open bluish pink but develop into pure white. 1.2 m (4′) tall. Pacific Northwest Seed Co.
	Starburst Lemon Aura: Pastel yellow, double 10 cm (4″) flowers. Compact, multi branching plant with long sturdy stalks. Perfect for borders and arrangements. 1.2 m (4′) tall. Aimers Seed Co.

Choosing a wedding song (Entry by Pris)

A wedding is a celebration between two individuals who are announcing to the world that they are coming as one.

So during a reception, I suggest a couple to look for a song that make the ceremony a special one that will remind you the special day for the both of you.

This song must also be the backbone of your whole wedding planning process that both sides of the couple could listen to so they can be emotionally hyped for the wedding itself.

When both Qiuru and Seng were talking about the wedding, I ask them what song would they choose for their wedding? They both said this song:

I live my life for you by Firehouse
You know you’re everything to me
And I could never see, the two of us apart
And you know I give myself to you
And no matter what you do, I promise you my heart
I’ve built my world around you and I want you to know
I need you, like I’ve never needed anyone before
I live my life for you
I want to be by your side in everything that you do
And if there’s only one thing you can believe is true
I live my life for you
I dedicated my life to you
You know that I would die for you
But our love would last forever
And I will always be with you
And there is nothing we can’t do
As long as we’re together
I just can’t live without you, and I want you to know
I need you like I’ve never needed anyone before
I live my life for you
I want to be by your side in everything that you do
And if there’s only one thing you can believe is true
I live my life for you
I’ve built my world around you and I want you to know
I need you, like I’ve never needed anyone before
Wow, yeah I live my life for you

click here to listen this song

Cheers~
Priscilla.

We are getting married!!!

Hi Everyone!

My name is Qiuru and my co-author and husband-to-be is Jeremy. And from the title of this entry and our blog, we are getting married. Next year in fact...
This blog is pretty much to our diary from now, the planning and research, till the wedding day next year. When is the wedding day? Hmm... That's a very good question. That's one of our biggest problems at this moment. Like all traditional chinese families, we rely on the Chinese Almanac to choose and auspicious date for the actual wedding. As I've just managed to get a copy of the Almanac today, I'll be handing it over to Jeremy's parents for them to choose the most auspicious date for both of us. Until then, we have look at another important thing, which is the registry of our marriage.

As of today, the only thing we kind of achieved is the signing up with a bridal studio for our wedding photos. We've signed up with Ivy Brides, who are a Taiwanese based bridal studio. As such, we will be flying to Taiwan to have our wedding photos taken sometime in May next year. That would be after our ROM.

We've settled the date and location for our ROM. It will be on 24 Apr 2010 at St Hilda's Secondary School. We had initially wanted 23 April instead, however, 23 April 2010 happens to be a Friday, thus the 23th instead. And we choose to go back to our Alma Mater to register our marriage. As cliche as it sounds, we are highschool sweethearts. We met back in 1997 when we were in Secondary One, and we were classmates. Haha!! And my wedding coordinator is my bestest friend Priscilla. Weve been working out the details of the ROM together. Lots of ideas have been poured out from both of us and its kinda dauting. There's alot of details to look into for a ROM for family and close friends. We are expecting about between 20-35 people for our ROM. That's quite alot of people. Haha!!

So for now.. Its more planning and researching.. Loads of things to look into.. Keep checking back for updates on our progress.

Cheerios!!
Qiuru

Our dream coffee maker

Hi Everyone!

Been awhile since I last updated. Well, the planning for the wedding has sort of come to a halt for the moment. But I'm still looking around for inspiration and ideas for our ROM and wedding.

Well, having said that, we should not forget about our home. Which we are still looking around for. The BTO sales in Punggol is way over subscribed, expecially for the 4-room units. Darn it! But then again, Seng and I are not fans for Punggol, and its kinda out of the way, if you know what I mean. So.. We will continue to search for our perfect house. Since we still have time anyways.

Talking about new home, I was in and about town area with Pris on Sat walking around, window shopping and chilling out. We stumbled upon the Nespresso boutique in ION Orchard. We were like, 'Look!! There's George Clooney!!' So we walking right in and had a lookabout. I fell in love with their coffee maker. In any case, it was my birthday on Sun, so I dragged Seng to have a look at the place. We walked in and was served by a really nice young lady, and we tried 3 of their coffees. And she explained about how the machine works. We both fell in love with the machine, and its definatly going to be an addition to the kitchen.

Check their website out:
http://www.nespresso.com/precom/home_sg_en.html?

Hmm... There are other items that I must have in my kitchen. And that is a KitchenAid Mixer and and Ariston Oven. A big ass oven. Haha!! But that would be for another time. Let me continue to drool over my Nespresso machine.

Qiuru xx

Announcement!!

Hi Everyone,

It's been awhile since I last updated.

The planning has been one hell of a roller coaster ride, and me and Seng have come to a decision.
We have decided to postpone the wedding to 2011 instead of our current plan now. We have taken into consideration our parents input and such, and have decided to hold it back one more year.

As such, I will still be doing my research and suff, and will update here with ideas in preparation for my wedding come 2011. Other brides-to-be are welcomed to input your suggestions and ideas as well. Let's all help one another out, as I understand that the wedding is only one day, and all brides want their wedding day to be perfect.

Oh ya!! I will be inviting my bestie, Pris, to co-author this blog with me on ideas for weddings. Just in case you'll be wondering why there is another author in this blog other than me and Seng.

Well then.. Let's get on with the research and start putting them down before I forget the ideas.

Qiuru xx

Complications

Hi Everyone,

I'm back for an update.

Things have been slow moving recenlty due to the fact that we had not yet been able to confirm the Actual Wedding Day (read: Customary Marriage).

Things has gotta quite out of hand lately due to picking and confiming the date. It seems that Jeremy's parents had found out, that next year is a bad year for them. In what way, I don't know. It seems that the Year of the Tiger, 2010, will have an adverse effect on them. Therefore, the wedding will be pushed back to 2011. The tentative date right now sits on 20 March 2011. And this is when things start to get complicated.

Well for one, I'm not happy nor convinced about the Tiger year is a bad year thing. But as it is, people around me has advised me to go along with the date. As such, me and Jeremy will be going back to the Geomancer to confirm if the date and time are the most auspicious. And we might get a second opinion on the date and time.

Well, I guess the date was the catalyst to the next arguement that me and Jeremy had. Whew... It was upsetting and everything, but we worked it out and things are better now. Oh well... We have to expect more to come as his parents are way suspicious, than any normal persons out there. = (

Also, there's the thing with the Taiwan photoshoot trip. Alot of troublesome details to look into, like the lodgings and transport and all the stuff you look into when planning for a holiday. Sigh.. It just keeps getting more and more complicated.

Then there's the things about Jeremy wanting to get a house by the actual wedding day. As the wedding will have to be moved to 2011, I guess we can look around for a home of our own, IF our finances will allow. I'm just worried of having to pay for the wedding stuff as the time draws nearer to the actual wedding and the initial huge deposit for the new home. Our finances will be so tight that there's no room for honeymoon discussions. I guess that we will only know when we meet up with Amanda, Jeremy's uncle wife who is in the property business, to find out if we are able to manage the weding budget and the housing budget.

On a lighter note, me and Pris, my bestie and wedding coordinator, went to Tanjong Pagar, where there is a street of bridal studios to have a go at trying on wedding gowns. It was really fun, and its just amazing to see oneself in a wedding dress. Never thinking that white was every colour, but I looked darn good. Although I still have some weight to lose and shoulders and arms to tone up. I've also realised the kind of cut and neckline that my body is suitable to wear. So right now, all I have to do is look around for designs and colours, as well as hairstyles to suit the dress. But I guess that when I go over to Taiwan for my pre-wedding photo shoot, the coordinators there will be helpful.

I can't wait to head over to Taiwan for my pre-wedding shoot coz I feel like it's going to be alot of fun, as Pris and my family will be tagging along for the ride. As for now, I'm looking into the minor details for the ROM in Apr 2010. I'm dropping by my Alma Mater tomorrow with Pris to have a look at the place and the rooms that we have in mind as the venue for the solemnisation. Sigh... Jeremy can't make it last minute due to work commitments, but I guess that's fine. We can always make another appointment to see the place together.

Qiuru xx