32nd

 

Happy 32nd birthday to myself and it's the first post of the year. 

This birthday, I spent it with my family celebrating it and cutting cake 2 nights in a roll back to back. 

It's also the first time I'm spending my birthday at my very first property! I love the backdrop so super much!!! 

I also requested for my family to just write a birthday card for me with a nice sincere message and all of them did, including my parents! My parents' messages are so cute! Can't wait for the day that Ning can write birthday cards to me. Haha. 

Jiali went the extra mile to buy me workout clothes and brought me to enjoy high tea at Sofitel 1864 bar! 

I'm thankful for all the cakes and treats that my friends and colleagues have sent me! I appreciate the thought and action taken to shower me with love. I'm also grateful for all the messages that I've received through social media and whatsapp! Thank you for remembering me! Thankful that my in laws also took the time to type out very heartfelt birthdays wishes for me. Loving my god-mum too who brought me out for a sumptuous meal at a popular Japanese restaurant!  

The person I'm most thankful for is Junrong. He was doing everything outside of his comfort zone. 

I'm super high maintenance esp on my birthday to him because his family never celebrates birthday to this elaborated extent. Thank you for making me feel super special hubby! I wrote a super long whatsapp back to him to appreciate him and it's not something I do all the time too. So, I'm truly truly thankful! 

I can't wait for staycation at MBS!!!

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Moving the parents to their retirement home

I built my dream home this year, not for myself but for my parents whom I've always been grateful to all my life. 

Location is 3min walk from Novena MRT, Velocity, Square 2, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and most importantly, 5min walk from Ning's new school for the playgroup that she is in. 

Facilities include a mega huge main pool, 3 massage pavilion, a super tall full height glasshouse as the clubroom, 2 tennis courts, 1 training pool, a play ground, a mini soccer court and 2 swings. 

It is a 581 square feet studio that includes an open kitchen, a balcony and an open concept bedroom area and living room area.

I've always been sending my parents to staycations during occasions worth celebrating like mother's days, father's days, birthdays and festive days for the past 8-9 years in my career. This is finally the year, I send them to a permanent beautiful staycation where they can enjoy their retirement life with their children and grandchild(ren) every single day. 

Certainly, the first biggest decision I had to make for this dream home was to make The purchase. The down-payment was a substantial amount that I have never parted before in my life for any other purchases. Nonetheless, I knew that I wouldn't be happier to purchase this property for own stay because the moment I decided to let this be my parents' retirement home, my world felt complete. I knew it will bring me way more contentment and meaning to house them there.

It was really not a walk in the park when I had to attend to so many details after the handover of the keys. This is definitely the first time I was so involved in the renovation process of a home. My residential property is Junrong's purchase, so he set a few restrictions to how the renovation can be done. This solo renovation experience guided by my uncle, who is my ID, was very eye-opening. 

It started from my moodboard on PowerPoint slides which I sent to him. I spent a great amount of time researching for renovation inspo on Pinterest for the bedroom, study and balcony. I'm really grateful that my uncle helped me with many useful suggestions and advice on how to make this dream home functional yet beautiful. 

My uncle communicated with me very regularly on every single aspect of the renovation. Due to time constraint, we split the work load in order to allow my parents to move in in time. I did the shopping of the lights, choosing of the bay window cushion material and of course went all over the place to search for suitable furniture. My uncle took care of the carpentry, design, balcony leaking problem, the blinds, the installation of the lights and fans and the wallpaper. Sure enough with teamwork, everything was completed in less than 2 months. 

I grabbed the opportunity to bring Junrong and Ning for a staycation there in this dream home that I built 1 day before my parents moved in officially. Dreams do come true. 

We brought Ning to swim and she enjoyed herself so much like she was the happiest kid in the world. I'm sure it is the perfect environment for Ning to grow up well in and for my parents to enjoy quality of life in their retirement years. 

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Jiali is off the rack!

I shall keep this space filled with more thoughts than pictures.

Simply because it's harder and takes longer to upload photos and videos compared to my favourite instagram. 

So my family finally married off my sister to the guy whom she loves most and treats her the best.

There have been many tests and obstacles between the both of them and seriously nothing can tear them apart because the love that they have for each other is stronger! 

Jiali has always been a girl with strong determination and a heart of gold. She has been through a lot of challenges in her life and I'm super proud of the girl that she has become. She is filial to our parents in her own genuine ways. She is a very capable and admirable play group teacher who has taught me a lot in my relatively new journey in parenthood. I also salute her for her tenacity to lose 2 inches around her waist in just 1.5 months, from following the diet and workout plan which I designed for her. She followed through till the final day before her big day! She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. <3

Kenny has always been very black. Hahaha. I always like to make fun of his skin tone and his size (with zero ill intentions). He has always been looking after the family, especially our parents and Jiali, very well. With a new addition to the family in 2020, he continues to extend his love for his niece-in-law whom he treats as his daughter. Welcome to being the newest freshest addition to the Tan family officially and we really look forward to create more long-lasting, happy and meaningful memories together. I sincerely wish that both of you look after each other to your best ability now that you have formed your own little family. Family is forever and sometimes even though I say harsh things to both of you, I am always practising tough love to help my most precious sister and brother. 

祝你们：

百年好合

白头偕老

子孙满堂

幸福快乐 

Let's continue to stay close-knitted and united as a family till we are grey and old, till our children are married and be the best role models to the next generations. I love you my 妹妹 and 妹夫!

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Taking a break at the chioest hotel

Hello from Park Royal Pickering.

Today is Junrong and my 8th paktor anniversary and we are cooped in the hotel room because he has not cleared 14 days after his second jab. 

I decided to do up this blog post because i really miss blogging and I want to take this opportunity to do something I never find time to do at home. 

I looked back at all the drafts in this blogger account and I realised that I have not completed soooo many drafts on the various topics I was writing halfway about - parenthood, my birth story, finland and the list goes on. I guess I must have been someone who is too distracted by the ongoing things happening in my life, living in the now and future. 

So, I have been going to visit a therapist. 

I have kept it very low profile but I never intend to hide it from anyone. I openly share about it with my secretary, some of my agents, my boss, my parents and of course some friends whom I am in contact with. 

In essence, I visited her because I want to further improve all the relationships I have in my life, not that they are bad. But, after so many years of working, I realized that my responsibilities might have changed me inside out and something has been missing in me since I don't know when. I simply wanted to get in touch with a deeper self through her. 

The sessions were super eye-opening. 

I got to understand that innately, I don't love myself and have deemed myself as an unimportant person who does not need love. It was a very interesting discovery because I never thought of myself that way or rather I do not usually have time to think for myself. It was a very crucial discovery because she told me if I don't know how to love myself, how do i love the people around me well. Trueeeee. 

I also got to know that my body works constantly on a fight or flight instinct. My mind takes over my heart at almost every instance so that my emotions are protected at all times. My environment and situations have polished this survivor reflex very well as a defense mechanism. The sessions were good because they have helped me unclog my emotions and let them flow in a safe setting.

The therapist also helped me see a clearer picture of myself in my childhood and teenage years and even resurfaced some unhappy memories that I have completely forgotten during my younger days. I was super shocked at this unearthed memory the most because even though it was not a traumatic memory, it was one that I felt sad about for a long time. I now finally believe that one can really choose to forget and bury an unhappy memory deliberately. It was important for me to unforget it because if I keep doing it subconsciously, I might make it habitual and dementia will come looking for me sooner than I want. 

Finally, I also managed to find out from deep down at the core of my heart, which were the 2 moments/periods in my life that I was at my happiest. I flashbacked and now I know what I really want my financial freedom years to be like. 

Off we go for a jog now!

IG highlights on: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODk1OTA0MDMzODExNTc2?story_media_id=2656057794643310366_1597764&utm_medium=copy_link

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The waiting game

Hi all,

I'd have hoped that I didn't have time to write this post at all but my baby girl is still taking her time to grow comfortably and adequately in her premium lounge inside my tummy. As long as she comes out healthy, I shall be patient!

I can't help but I really need to express myself on this space of mine that I MISS WORKING!!!!!!
I'm referring to meeting my wealth managers face to face for strategies talks, planning 1-2 weeks ahead to pack my calendar with meaningful meetings and actively servicing and planning for my clients face to face as well.

I'd say that the coincidence of the virus and my final month of the last trimester is quite timely. I've been staying home for 1 full month preparing for Aurora's arrival since the 2nd week of March and it was just announced yesterday that all citizens are to stay home for 1 full month starting from next week. As Aurora can be arriving anytime these few days, this means that my confinement will fall almost perfectly within this 1 month of lock down.

As much as I am yearning daily to leave the house to eat good food at nice restaurants and go out for walks or shopping, it is really a very crucial time for all of us to observe responsible behavior to stay home for the safety of ourselves, our loved ones and my baby girl.

Honestly, this is the very first time I can remember that I have stayed home for 1 full month. While it sounds very enjoyable, this kind of lifestyle is definitely not for me, even though once a week sounds perfecto! The greatest joy that I can think of is to be able to zrx everyday without any stress. I online-shopped a lot for baby essentials and home necessities. I get to decide and cook what I want to eat every day. I watch a few episodes of shows daily as well. Life is in fact very stress-free. But, 1 month of this is very very overkill for me.

Another reason why I can't wait to deliver Aurora is because of the full blown acne outbreak that I am experiencing in the last month of pregnancy. I've never had serious acne problems in my entire life but this explosion of hormones really gave me a shock to how my body can be disfigured in a matter of few weeks. I swear i've done my best to make it go away by showering multiple times a day, adjusting to cleaner diet, ensuring that the temperature at home is optimal and applying antiseptic and moisturizing cream on the affect areas. None of these works.

When are you coming out my baobei girl girl? Mummy cannot wait to see you and have my life changed 360 degrees for you!

Last few days of "freedom"! Lai ba!

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