Happiness Is Living With A Clear Conscience

Exactly how important it is to live with a clear conscience.

I guess it is very important to me.

It is very important we have joy, happiness, eat well and most importantly, sleep well.

And the happiness came with being able to love and be merciful despite what others have done to you.

When people are out to destroy you, that is the time you can make a choice to react in a revengeful or merciful way.

I am glad I have chosen the merciful direction.

Together with a clear conscience, I am still a happy girl.

Otherwise, I will be swallowed by guilt, unworthiness, throughout my life.

The Empire

My parents just came back from Brunei and they were arranged to stay at a suite in The Empire Hotel & Country Club.

Mum was telling me how splendid is the place and I decided to check it out myself.

The Hotel is spread out in acres of land.

I thought mum was just exaggerating.

Mum loves the Royal Touch Treatment at the Spa.

Dad likes the Empire Golf course, which apparently is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf course.

They came home happily, making me jealous.

I should have just tagged along.

"Thanksgiving"

I planned to watch Boston Legal with someone who enjoyed it as much as I do.

We laughed hysterically and we hugged along and it was the best memory I have.

Then I realized I shouldn't wait anymore because it is not going to happen.

I was in tears watching the episode of "Thanksgiving" in Boston Legal.

Imagine having thanksgiving dinner with a group of "dysfunctional" people.

It makes me wonder.

Many people around of us, our colleagues, our friends, our closed ones, every one of us has certain dysfunctional behaviour one way or another.

It was said in marriage, we have to bear and forbear.

Then, I believe in every relationship, we have to learn to bear and forbear.

Alan bear with Denny's nonsense all the time not just because he knew Denny is losing memory but because he really love Denny as a dear friend. Alan constantly tells Denny that he is not slipping and he will always be there for him. But deep down, Alan knew Denny's condition has worsen.

We laugh, fight, quarrel and laugh again, love again, fight again.

Is a cycle we go through in life.

Thanksgiving is nothing but just be grateful that you still have that somebody you can get angry with, love with and fight with and get angry again, love again and fight again.

Thanksgiving is also to be thankful that we still have our memory.

"Memory is a way on holding on to things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose"

I wish I was not alone watching this episode of Boston Legal, feeling so sad and cry like a baby.

In Search Of My Bachelorette Pad

I grew up staying in a house with 6 bedrooms, 2 living areas, 2 dining areas, 1 indoor kitchen, 1 outdoor kitchen, 1 extended area for painting, 1 front yard garden, 1 back yard garden and a drive-in big enough for 4 cars when there are only me and my parents, and a stay in helper.

High Ceiling height and space is always a priority to me.

I know what I want when I get married and when I finally have a family.

Something very similar, with additional of a pool would be ideal.

A family which consists of me and my husband and 4 kids (2 boys 2 girls, MFFM)

That is when I get married and have a family.

My parents sold away their wedding gift for me and earned a hugh profit recently.

Today, I finally convinced my parents that I really need my own bachelorette pad.

There are mixed feelings.

While I enjoyed being with them, I yearn for a space called my own.

And I know it will never be this big.

I have to settle for something maybe a 3 rooms apartment.

My bedroom is plainly for sleeping, a super king size bed and nothing else.

A study room for all my books, laptops, entertainment, and 2 massage chairs.

A room for all my art work.

And I won't have a room for my wardrobe.

What should I do?

So, I will need a 4 rooms apartment then.

Presently, I do my paintings in a little glass house at our backyard garden.

Beautiful sun rays and orchids all around.

Maybe, I will have to come back home when I want to paint.

I realized these are the sacrifices to make when you want to have your own place.

I intend to smuggle my helper back to my own place so that I can have food and my clothes wash and iron.

That was all in plan.

Then I realized my parents will probably be coming to my place so often that they might ended up staying at my place because I know they will miss me and worry if I have food.

Dad bought my neighbour place last year, with plans to build a new house for me when I get married so that I will always be near to him.

I am very upset today and it makes me wanting to have my own bachelorette pad more desperately.

I promised to look for a place which is less than 15 mins walk away from my parent's.

Next Destination

Machu Picchu, Peru

My travel style has never been adventurous.

I like laid back holidays, sipping coffee in a nice cafe, watching people, observing the culture of the country.

But, I want to visit Machu Picchu in Peru.

This fascinating video on the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu by World Heritage will entice you to visit Machu Picchu too after watching it.

However, when I read more about Machu Picchu, it says hiking.

And when I watch the video, I think I need to train myself before I go to Machu Picchu.

Hiking is not my cup of tea.

Then again, look at the magnificent sight and that is the reason why I will make some sacrifice, just for you, Machu Picchu.

In the morning of July 24, 1911, a tall lecturer-cum-explorer from Yale University set off in a cold drizzle to investigate rumors of ancient Inca ruins in Peru. The explorer chopped his way through thick jungle, crawled across a "bridge" of slender logs bound together with vines, and crept through underbrush hiding venomous fer-de-lance pit vipers.

Two hours into the hike, the explorer and his two escorts came across a grass-covered hut. A pair of Indian farmers walked them a short way before handing them over to a small Indian boy. With the boy leading the way, Hiram Bingham stumbled upon one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century—and what was named in 2007 as one of the new seven wonders of the world: Machu Picchu

The Smell of Rain

Just when I was having my cup of coffee in the garden wondering what shall I do today.

Then, thunder and lightning came, and it starts to rain.

I love the rain, the smell of rain, the touch of rain on me.

It makes me happy.

I asked my dog, "Shall we go for a walk in the rain, Goldie?"

And he jumped, so is a yes.

Goldie loves the rain too.

I put on a raincoat on him and myself, and we just walked and walked and we came to the Botanic Garden.

And because it was raining, everyone was in the cafe and we have the whole garden all by ourselves.

I let Goldie walked on its own, and he is such a good boy.

He just stayed by my side. I leap, he leaps. I run, he runs. I dance, he looks.

When we are tired, we just lie on the grass and let the rain pour on us.

My Goldie, he just rolled on the grass, enjoying himself.

Lovely!

"Life is like a rainbow. 

You need both the sun and the rain to make its colour appear."

I have a beautiful Saturday enjoying the simplicity in life.

I Am A Pluffy Puff Girl

Imagine piles of fluffy, 

white snow that has just fallen 

and then imagine the perfect all winter white bed. 

A quilt with hints of hand embroidery and fanciful pom pom detailing, 

along with ivory silk or linen pillows covered in sparkling crystals, 

downy feathers and intricate embroidery, 

will make you feel as though you drifted off to sleep and woke up in Chamonix. 

For the past decade, the husband and wife team of Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia have worked hard to make an imprint on the couture and ready to wear fashion world by sourcing fabrics, and designing the rare fabric finishes and embroideries for many top ready to wear houses; 

Oscar De la Renta, Escada and Vera Wang, 

to name only a few.

The idea of fusing fashion and home has been a vision of theirs for many years. 

While the ready to wear design business is still bustling and flourishing, they longed to create a home product that would cater to the people who have a “passion for fashion”…The idea of offering people with a strong sense of color and style, a home textile collection that would inspire, was just what the home industry and customer base was craving. 

ANKASA utilizes many “couture” finishing techniques in the line. 

The majority of the collection is embroidered by hand and the color palettes each season, mirror what is presented down the runway.

And I love all these pillows from the Snow Drift collection, 

simply because I love white.

Have you hugged someone today?

We never need a reason when we give a hug or ask for a hug.

I always love a hug for everything.

There is only one person I knew who did not hug me after a special moment.

I wish I have asked for a hug instead of just walking away.

This hug is for you.... 

"Analysis is the way of the mind, 

hugging is the way of the heart. 

The mind is the cause of all diseases, 

and the heart is the source of all healing."

My Love For Peonies

I felt bad blogging about my love for Peonies.

After all, Orchid was my first love.

But..... look at them... lovely.

This bouquet is composed of giant, lush peonies and ruffly sweet peas 

in various shades of pink, and is tied with an ivory satin ribbon.

Blousy pale tree peonies, Dutch garden roses, 

and charm-like bleeding hearts are made all the more vivid 

by the contrast of burgundy Japanese maple leaves. 

Tied with a silvery-brown silk ribbon, 

this sweet-smelling cascade exudes romance.

A bundle of pale pink and peach peonies make a striking bouquet.

Cybister amaryllis burst from a cluster of abundant tree peonies 

that are the lustrous color of seashells. 

Airy astilbe fringe the edges. 

Vintage velvet ribbon drapes below the blooms.

Just a few lush 'Coral Charm' peonies and hosta leaves create lovely bouquet.

My Love For Orchids

I have only ONE problem.

I cannot decide who is my true love.

I love both Orchids and Peonies and I cannot decide who I should love more.

I shall first show you my love for Orchid in this post.

This bouquet was a pink-tinged variation with

white cymbidium orchids, tied with a silver-gray ribbon.

This bouquet included white gardenias, peonies, tulips, and cymbidium orchids.

This compact oval cascade is lively with fiery hues. 

Cheerful little narcissus with orange centers dance 

among freckled vanda orchids, red-striped roses, 

and deep-orange gloriosa lilies with buttery edges. 

Young gloriosa blooms with their still-green petals provide contrast.

Pinkish-purple hues and splashy markings pull together an 

unexpected blend of exotic vanda orchids and parrot tulips with striped garden roses. 

Beadlike white-tipped gomphrena and a tailored satin bow are appropriate finishings 

for the elegant and quite formal composition.

What appears to be a single luxurious bloom is formed from layer upon layer of cymbidium orchid petals. 

White at the center, the cluster gradually becomes a coy pink: 

The trick is using petals from blossoms of varying shades. 

Pairs of petals are slipped on wires, then assembled to create the unique bouquet. 

The wire stems are wrapped in velvet ribbon and tied with two satin bows that match the bottommost petals.

An ethereal bouquet gets its elegance from fluttery sweet peas and emerald-striped lady's slipper orchids, 

bundled together with white satin ribbon.

Graceful, arching stalks of many-blossomed cymbidium orchids create a wonderfully festive hand-tied bouquet.

Buttercream-and-pink phalaenopsis orchids flutter like butterflies 

among ruffle-edged, magenta garden roses, pale-pink rounded garden roses, 

and still paler spray roses. 

The tails of a light yellow ribbon emphasize the bouquet's downward sweep.