Many things happened for last few weeks but I know that God has provided the best plan for me. So here I am, I want to to be faithful, focus my eyes on Him.

For His promises is always true: Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Huih…finally I can get a breather this coming look weekend. I have been looking forward to this after busy days for past 2 weeks.

It started with piling up of work stuff in the office after my 1 week holiday in Indonesia, my pre-wedding photo shoot, liaising with church on marriage counseling, and lastly meets the parents' session to talk about preparation.

Finally, it is over, all are pretty much in order nowJ, thanks God for that.

Talking about pre-wedding photo shoot, Oo.. man it is extremely tiring, I guess I have been concussed after each session of photo taking. Since my dear little brother is a professional photographer himself, I have the "privilege" to have multiple session of photo taking hahaha ..

For photo shoot with casual wear, We went to MICA building for its colorful window, East Coast park for sunrise with John's doggie "Chop-chop" (manage to take few nice shoots here), Little India, Raffles Hotel, Chijmes, Clarkequay, inside the MRT, Food Republic Suntec, and MPH bookshop (You may wonder what to take in the bookshop, just wait and see, will upload the photo once I have it ha!)

For Wedding gown, this is the one that take most of my time, from sourcing for makeup artist, planning the route to go to, car rental and who to drive!! Luckily, David is willing to help us to drive us around, not only that, in the end he also help us to carry our stuff hehehe…Thanks David!!

So, the day started with Heavy pour in the morning, but nevertheless I still go ahead to do my makeup and hoping the rain would stop soon. Indeed it was a blessing in disguise, with the rain; the weather was much more bearable. So, we went from botanical garden, National Museum, and Esplanade/Fullerton night scene with many people looking. All are wrapped out with very nice dinner in Esplanade Makan sutra huh….I still miss the oyster omelets!!!

Knowing this all, there I go again to Bali for my "Actual" pre wedding photo shoot this coming weekend J.. Will update more once I'm back….

love this song!

You are not forgotten

by Israel & New Breed

People walking by
Very seldom they say hi
They don't know how wonderful you are
If they only knew
all the things you've been through
if only they could see your heart

I hear you crying for help
Please don't blame yourself
You are not forgotten (2x)

When it's time to go to sleep
And try your best to keep yourself
falling apart
Hmm…There's no need to fear
because I'm already here
And I'm the One who sees your heart
Yes I am
I hear you crying for help
Please don't blame yourself
You are not forgotten (2x)

You are not just a face in the crowd
You are not forgotten, child
Let me whisper it loud, "I LOVE YOU."
"Oh, I love you."

You can hold your head up high
cause I'll make everything alright
I'm committed to you smiling again
And eventually you'll see people's similarities
Everyone just needs a friend, yeah

And when they're crying for help
You'll be able to tell them
Please tell them for me
You are not forgotten (9x)

You are precious to me
I'm the One, I'm the One
Who sees your heart
You are not forgotten
(Repeat)

Just remember…you are not forgotten.
You are not forgotten.

"You Are Not Forgotten," is one of the first songs Israel and his wife, Meleasa Houghton, ever wrote together. "My wife is a deep well," Israel states. "She's very much a feeler and a seer. When my Mom became a Christian on the streets of San Diego while she was 8-months pregnant with me, the lady that brought her to Christ told her, 'You are not forgotten.' That phrase stuck with us. Years later - once we were married - Meleasa was moved to sing to a girl in a Chicago church, saying, 'You are not forgotten' over and over, moving the girl to tears. It was unbelievable. The next day I said, 'We have got to write a song around those words.' We finished in 15 minutes - both of us praying, crying and singing. "

When things especially those that are precious to you in terms of memory values, how will you feel?

SAD and HOLLOW inside L

Saw an interesting article hahaha… Kacau…

==============================================================================

A British man fed up with his wife's complaints advertised her for sale -- and got a number of offers.

"Nagging Wife. No Tax, No MOT. Very high maintenance -- some rust," wrote Gary Bates, 38, in a small ad in Trade-It, more usually used to buy and sell cars or household goods.

Bates, a self-employed builder from Gloucestershire, southwest England, snapped after his wife Donna on got on his nerves while she was watching television and decided to place the ad as a joke.

"She was nagging me for doing something small, while she was watching some rubbish on TV. So I just thought I'd put an ad in to get rid of her.

"I didn't think anyone would ring up but I've had at least nine or 10 people calling about her. It's gone mad. There was no one I knew -- just people asking, 'Is she still available?'"

The couple only married last year, and Bates said his 40-year-old wife -- whom he advertised in the magazine's Free to Collect section, along with some of his fishing tackle -- initially gave him "a bit of an ear-bashing."

But he said: "She's seen the funny side of it now though!"

Source:yahoonews

Top 12 locations for Asian expatriates: (last year's rankings in brackets)

1. Singapore (1)

2. Kobe, Japan (2)

3. Yokohama, Japan (3)

4. Tokyo (5)

5. Hong Kong (4)

6. Taipei (6)

7. Macau (7)

8. Kuala Lumpur (9)

9. Bangkok8)

10. Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia (9)

11. Shanghai (11)

12. Seoul (12)

Singapore was also named the top Asian location for European expatriates, followed by Kobe, Yokohama, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Source: straits times, Channel News Asia

Wonder when will any city in Indonesia make it into the list?

Long due post that has been sitting in my drafts for few days, but I'm posting it anyway!

The long awaited Oscar result is finally out; guess who the big winner is?

It is Slumdog Millionaire – sweeping off 8 awards!

Here are the results!

• ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE : Sean Penn in Milk
  
• ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Kate Winslet in The Reader
  
• ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
  
• ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
  

  
   

• ART DIRECTION: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
  
• CINEMATOGRAPHY: Slumdog Millionaire
  
• COSTUME DESIGN: The Duchess
  
• DIRECTING: Slumdog Millionaire
  

• DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Man On Wire
  
• DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Smile Pinki
  
• FILM EDITING: Slumdog Millionaire
  
• FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Departures
  
• ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Wall-E
  

• MAKEUP: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
  
• MUSIC (SCORE): Slumdog Millionaire
  
• BEST PICTURE: Slumdog Millionaire
  

• SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): La Maison En Petits Cubes
  
• SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION): Spielzeuglang (ToyLand)
  

• SOUND EDITING: The Dark Knight
  
• SOUND MIXING: Slumdog Millionaire
  
• VISUAL EFFECTS:
  The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
  
• MUSIC (SONG): "Jai Ho" in Slumdog Millionaire
  

• WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY): Slumdog Millionaire
  
• WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY): Milk
  

Do you know that Slumdog Millionaire movie is adapted from novel by Vikas Swarup??

You can check out more details here

www.popcornandchips.blogspot.com

Share with you some interesting facts that I have read regarding recession, what people do to save and cut cost….

1. US states may axe executions to cut costs.
   

   Reason given: Carrying out the death penalty can leave a state footing a bill that is 10 times higher than for an inmate serving life imprisonment.
   

   Activists have calculated that in Kansas the cost of executing a prisoner is 70 percent higher than keeping someone in prison. The bill for a death row inmate tops 1.26 million dollars, while for someone serving life imprisonment costs 740,000 dollars, according to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC)
   

2. Retrench… your mistress
   

   A married Chinese tycoon who could no longer afford to support his five mistresses during the economic slowdown held a contest to decide which one to keep. The contest took a tragic turn when one of the mistresses, who was eliminated based on her looks, drove her former lover and the four other women off a mountain road in an apparent fit of anger, the Shanghai Daily reported.
   

   
    

   Source: yahoo
   

   More to come if I see one hahaha
   

Song by Hillsong United

Your mercy found me,
Upon the broken road,
And lifted me beyond my failing,
Into Your glory,
My sin and shame dissolved,
And now forever Yours I'll stand.

(Pre-Chorus)
In love never to end,
To call You more than Lord,
Glorious friend.

(Chorus)
So I throw my life upon all that You are,
'Cause I know You gave it all for me,
And when all else fades,
My soul will dance with You,
Where the love lasts forever.

(Bridge)
And forever I will sing,
Lord forever I will sing,
Of how You gave Your life away,
Just to save me, Lord You saved me.

With You, where the love lasts forever mercy found me,

I created a new blog called Popcorn and chips. It is a blog to review movies that adapted from books or novel. The trigger come since I read P.S I Love You the novel but have not got the chance to see the movie myself. Have been keep wondering if the movie is as good as the book?

The other trigger comes when I saw 8 Days magazine that cover about movies to be released in 2009, and guess what Dan Brown Angel and Demon is coming up; still with Tom Hanks acting as Robert; Confession of Shopaholics by Sophie Kinsella (I have read all the shopaholic series and wonder how it is in the movie!); My sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, one of my favorite author and many many more…I'm so excited!!!!

If you happen to drop by the blog, do let me know your feedback!

www.PopcornAndChips.blogspot.com

For the past few days, the people in my office are busy packing due to office. I as one of them also tried to clear out my stuff early especially stuff you rarely use.

So, I started with my cabinet drawer. I know there should be many stuff that I can throw away especially those receipts, papers or even the small - small gifts from company events. Somehow I have the habit to keep things and clear it at one time. At home, I do keep my phone and credit card bills up to 2 years ago. Well …yeah this is me.

Back to the story, in the midst of clearing the unwanted stuff, I stumble upon one slip of paper and it is a check dated back to 30 Oct 2003 payable to me only. I tried to recall how did I get this check and the company name also did not help much. Till one point, the date did give me some clue; it is a check from my part time job in Japanese restaurant before I get this permanent job! I started my job on 1 Nov 2003 and this check somehow landed on my drawer and sitting there for the past 5 years!!!

Trying my luck, I deposited this check to my bank account, however as expected the check bounce back with the reason that the account has been closed. I have expected that since the restaurant I worked in has closed down few years back. This has been a good lesson to money in regards of handling money; I can still feel the pinch when I imagine what I can do with this money huhuhu…..how all my work for 1 whole month were gone….

Relate this back to bible, I was reminded by Matthew Chapter 25 that talks about the parable of the Talents. Everyone are given their own share of talent (money, wealth, happiness, etc), it is the matter on how you handle it. Are you going to MULTIPLY it or just like the servant with 1 talent that go and hide it? We all have the responsibility to be the steward for what God has given us.

I know from this episode, I have acted like the servant with 1 talent with check hidden in the drawer for past 5 years but God has been good to me! This is the good time to learn it rather than when He entrusted me more. In fact, He has been very good, after I learned my lesson; He replaced whatever I lost with the same or slightly more amount through the profit from stock options. He is AMAZING!

I have found an interesting website selling books. You may wonder why, there are maybe thousands of website selling the book, what is so special about this website.

Basically, this website still purely sells books, but if other website is categorized say by topics e.g. Business, Finance, Leadership, non-fiction, etc. This website categorizes the items by the recommendations of famous people!

Say if you are big fans of Oprah Winfrey, you may wonder want kind of books that she read in her free time, what kind of books that she will recommend for her friends. Same goes to other famous name like Barrack Obama, Brad Sugars. By knowing what they read, you will know what are their interests and it may help you to be as successful as them

Go and check it out www.famouspal.com