The Nightingale: November 2012

To make myself more motivated to earn more moolah, I'm going to set a target buy every year.

Celine Black Mini Luggage Tote

This costs like 3k in SGD (if prices stop skyrocketing) and I will buy this by end 2013. It won't be an IT bag forever but it's quite versatile and black leather is timeless.

2013 is going to be one of the most climatic years of my life. For one thing, I'm moving on to the next phase in life of being a married woman. I'll give my CNY angpaos for the first time (OH NOOOOO!!!), renovate and move into the first house I own in this lifetime, and take on all the additional responsibilities of being a wife.

Marriage is, as expected, not romantic - more like a partnership, or merger of two organizations (or families, in this case). I will need to learn how to cook (though I've cooked before, like a million years ago), how to do household chores, and be less stubborn or 'xiao jie'. It's inevitably tough, like being stabbed in the eye every time I hear of yet another expectation of me, but like I said... it's inevitable, because I really want to be a good wife to my man. I'm not perfect (far from it) but at least I want to do my best.

Next year will be tough. The husband will be overseas very often at least for the first half of the year due to work, so I might have to oversee the house renovation on my own. The next thing I need to do is get a driving license, at the ripe old age of 27 going 28, by next year... realized that I am actually quite handicapped without one.

I've given some serious thought to my future as well. What do I see myself doing after five years, and after ten years? Actually I've come to terms with the fact that it's more practical to earn money to invest in your passion than to work for passion - when it comes to the time you need to feed and be fed, life's a different story altogether. Everything's about money these days... houses, cars, education; everything is expensive and you'll have to compromise just because. I guess I'll take some kind of action next year.

Change is scary, but most likely the only way to soar higher. We'll see.

A death happened last Thursday... It was so abrupt, and he was way too young for this. It's too heart-wrenching to elaborate further, so I won't. Life is really too fragile, and most of the time way too short. It is so, so important to treasure the people around you... your friends, your family. Regret is too late once a soul of a loved one goes to heaven.

The rush begins! Countdown is less than a month now. So many wedding preps undone. D: There's really alot on my mind nowadays. Really stressed out. :(

Stuff to do:

~~Fix appointment with La Belle Couture for final fitting and choosing accessories~~ - Done; 10 Dec, 7.30pm

Confirm make-up artist for MIL's make-up on 15 Dec and sister's make-up on 16 Dec.

Confirm wet weather programme for mini-photoshoot during AD.

Order helium balloons for mini-photoshoot.

Buy flower hair accessories for sisters.

Finish planning AD schedule.

Emcee script.

Data entry and formatting for guest list & seating arrangement.

Mail out invites.

DIY: Angpao boxes x 2

DIY: Reception standees

DIY: Love Contract

And so forth... can't remember! D:

HDB appointment is happening next Friday! I dunno what to expect, but I do hope everything goes well...

Things to bring for the first HDB appointment:

Both our I/Cs

Marriage certificate

Resale checklist (with our agent)

Letter of Offer (from the bank)

Option to Purchase (just in case, not listed in HDB website)

Most likely getting our keys in the first week of Jan and we can officially start renovation! :) Since we're not rushing for CNY, I'm thinking of halting the works one week before CNY and continue one week or so after that... should be in time to move in by March.