I have decided that I am going to choose optimism no matter what happens, because when you choose sadness or you lose hope, the few precious moments (isn’t that what life is?) you do have become overshadowed by the stressors of life.

I hope everyone who still chooses to read this (or you are just coming across it) is doing super well. It has been a hot minute since I last posted an update here.

Life has been intense lately but as my nani ma always used to say, it is always ok in the end – if it is not ok then it is not the end.

Chat soon ❤

This post was originally meant to be published in 2023

It has been a while since I have last popped on here and given a life update. This used to be my life line and the space that kept me sane when I made my big move from Singapore to Canada in 2011.

Over the years, this tiny blog has been my refuge from the realities of life and a way to escape for a few brief and precious moments each week.

The lack of updates hasn’t been due to my unwillingness to write or in a bid to stay private – rather things just got busy. It is like that old cliché – the days are long but the years are short.

Life Update: I am well. My kid is thriving and I am really grateful for everything in life.

I think it is time for a bit of revival on this blog though. I am trying to read 1 book a week and I will be here with some reviews and favourite passages.

My first book for October is On Lighthouses by Jazmina Barrera

You are the first and the last impression on my mind each day

As everything falls away

You stay there like a midsummer dream

A dream that is ripping at the seams

Alas, some dreams are just that… dreams

You can only rely on yourself.

For years…

I tried to find happiness in others.

Why?

December is probably my favourite time of the year, especially since we moved into our current place. I can’t wait for the weather to turn colder so we can light a roaring fire and sit around our fireplace sipping on cold drinks. Which reminds me, I really ought to remind our superintendent to get the chimney cleaned before it starts to snow.

This year also happens to be Iman’s first holiday season and we are excited to celebrate with her. Plus I just ordered our first ever Christmas tree! Both mine and hers! AHHHHH! Beyond excited!
Also… we are going to our first ever Christmas Market this Friday! WOOOO! I will definitely have to do a blog post about that.

In other news, my kid loves Gilmore Girls, which is amazing! I can’t wait for her to be older so we can watch it together.

Working on several projects right now and really need to get them done tonight, so I should stop babbling and get them done.

‪5 keys to success by @GabbyBernstein ‬
‪✨ Truly claim that success is an inside job. It has to be a priority to turn inwards. Ask yourself does this feel good to me? Do I feel excited? Do I feel energized?‬
‪Say yes to the things that make you light up. ‬
‪Say no to the things that don’t feel good to you. ‬
‪✨ Intention. Intention. Intention. ‬
‪The key trait of a high performer is intention. ‬
‪What is the intention behind this event? Blog? Copy?‬
‪✨ Slow down ‬
‪✨ You don’t have to be there right now. Take small, right actions to get where you want to get to. Remember to have fun along the way! ‬
‪✨Fuck it! Let’s go! Let’s make it happen! Let’s do it! ‬
‪Make it a mission to say yes to your dreams, one moment at a time! ‬

I am obsessed with the word Atelier and just in the span of last 3 days, it has turned up twice in my life.

1. I am watching a show on Netflix Canada titled Atelier.
   It is a Japanese show about a young girl from rural Japan who moves to Tokyo in hopes of kickstarting a great career. The industry of her choice is custom lingerie – since she is in love with fabrics.
   I am honestly fascinated by the show.

   

   Not everyone knows this, and I rarely used to talk about it here, but when I first moved to Toronto, I was working as a digital media strategist for a jewelry designer named 3Shahs.

   Through her, I have attended a number of fashion events and the show depicts them accurately. I also really enjoy looking at beautiful items of clothing, watching Japanese dramas & the language in general, so this is a rare treat.

   Custom lingerie seems so luxurious though and I will honestly give it a go. Would you?

2. I just heard the most recent episode of girlboss radio and it is with Atelier Doré!
   Fantastic episode and so many great learnings that I can start applying to my life right away.
   Go give it a listen by clicking here.

Side note: I am heading to girlboss rally on November 11 with my friend Marsha and I couldn’t be more excited! But I feel that it deserves a blog post of its own.

I don’t know what the point of this post was and to be honest I just wanted to check in here because in many ways this is my atelier and has been since 2011.

I really want to get into the habit of blogging regularly but with work and everything, it always takes a backseat. Maybe I should go back to my schedule of positing 3 times a week and spend one hour each morning just writing. Anyways, it is pretty late here so I am signing off for now.

It is so flippin hot here in Toronto right now. And while my brain is in the process of melting, I thought I’d update you all on what I have been up to. I miss updating this space with random tidbits and snippets from my life.
By the way guys I say flippin instead of fu**ing now, because we have a kid in the house.

hahhahah as if… Yeah… no So what was I saying?

Oh yeah. It is fucking hot and I am melting but it being this hot also means that le baby has been falling asleep for longer periods of time – in front of a fan of course.

This heat wave has also thwarted all of my plans to light candles during autumn. Thank God we are freaking lazy and hadn’t put away the AC yet.
It is a portable unit and usually during fall and winter we put it in storage.

My candles are all just sitting on our table, waiting to be lit but alas.

I am off to an event but have a very exciting post lined up for tomorrow!
How is everyone else doing?