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 ❤
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Life Updates and Book Recommendations
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
Simple truths I have learnt the hard way – (ii)
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
Simple truths I have learnt the hard way
You can only rely on yourself.
For years…
I tried to find happiness in others.
Why?
December + Holiday Things
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 New York Times Best Selling Author, Gabby Bernstein @ #GIRLBOSSRALLY!
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!
Atelier
I am obsessed with the word Atelier and just in the span of last 3 days, it has turned up twice in my life.
- 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?
- 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.
Ria has officially melted
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?
Consistency, September TBR pile & Bookstagram goals
Last week, while at a conference, I asked a blogger friend of mine how he managed to monetize his blog and he said, “I just blogged every single day for two years and it took off.”
While I don’t think it is just a matter of luck, I do believe that consistency is key to being good at anything. I see that in my 5 month old, who constantly tries to push herself further by first learning to roll over on her belly and now by trying to crawl. I am even beginning to see signs of her starting to sit.
My point is, she didn’t know how to do any of this stuff when she was born and with sheer willpower and daily practice, I am sure she will learn all of it.
Books I am reading in September:
I am currently reading a book titled “Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud. The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman” by Anne Helen Peterson. A series of essays aimed at highlighting stories of strong women who, for the lack of a better phrase, don’t give a fuck and always do their thing — and that’s exactly what has made them successful. The first chapter is about Serena Williams. I had no idea that the Williams’ sisters trained that hard to turn the odds in their favour and it is truly eye opening.
“As Richards later recalled in his autobiography, he’d arrange for kids in Compton to stand outside the courts while the girls were playing and yell every racial slur they could think of — a way to harden them against the white recoil that was bound to accompany their rise.”
Will write a more detailed review on this once I have read through the whole book.
I did finish reading Scarborough earlier this month and it is a fantastic read.
What did I like so much about it? The fact that it is set in a neighbourhood where I have actually lived in Toronto, realistic characters and heart wrenching stories.
I did, finally, start a book specific Instagram account on May 27 this year, which already has more than 300 followers and I am quite proud! The photos featured above are from my account.
Goal: Connect with 500 amazing book bloggers by end of the year!
What have you been up to lately?
New Mom Alert : April & Our New Family
April brought with itself many changes, the biggest one being the arrival of our daughter Iman (: We are thrilled to welcome our little angel into our family!
She is the funniest and there are many things I’ve had to do that I never thought I’d ever do for anyone, I love her beyond measure and she makes it so easy to love her. A massive thank you to everyone who has been supportive throughout my pregnancy & helped us prepare for the arrival of our baby and thank you to all of you sending gifts and offering help in different ways, Our little family really appreciates it.
Thank you Product Hunt Toronto team for these lovely flowers (:
I want to journal more and read more but tons going on right now. I am not sure why people think that motherhood is basically lots of sitting around. Sure, to feed I suppose but not beyond that, especially when it is just you and your partner. Will share my labour story on here soon!
Ria In The City 