Author Archives: avnjl

About avnjl

Amanda is a lifestyle blogger who endeavours to better herself through reflective practises. She is known to be witty and analytical although at times she seems to be talking to herself. Cooking (food and literature) is therapeutic to her, so Indulge in her and perhaps drop her a note or two along the way? ;)

Marriage is not for me

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This came up on 9gag and I thought its deserving of a post, just as the next one coming up.

Heres to the writeup: http://sethadamsmith.com/2013/11/02/marriage-isnt-for-you/

My dad giving his response to my concerns was such a moment for me. With a knowing smile he said, “Seth, you’re being totally selfish. So I’m going to make this really simple: marriage isn’t for you. You don’t marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy. More than that, your marriage isn’t for yourself, you’re marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your future children. Who do you want to help you raise them? Who do you want to influence them? Marriage isn’t for you. It’s not about you. Marriage is about the person you married.”

It was in that very moment that I knew that Kim was the right person to marry. I realized that I wanted to make her happy; to see her smile every day, to make her laugh every day. I wanted to be a part of her family, and my family wanted her to be a part of ours. And thinking back on all the times I had seen her play with my nieces, I knew that she was the one with whom I wanted to build our own family.

…

But instead of matching my selfishness, Kim did something beyond wonderful—she showed an outpouring of love. Laying aside all of the pain and aguish I had caused her, she lovingly took me in her arms and soothed my soul.

Perspective and experience, you can never buy them.

Thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

Au Chocolat

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Didnt plan to visit this on purpose…
Stumble upon it when we were looking for a place to just sit down and chill.

Then I saw them Crepes on the Menu…………… >_<!

Doesnt even matter how it looks like. I LOVE NON-SAVORY Crepes…………

Ladies and Gentleman.. this is the chicken chunk w ham and mushroom crepes. Thats Post breakfast, lunch and dinner all in one.

Then there was chocolate tower cake…

What diet?

😀
Thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

P/S: all these gourmet dishes… they make me wish I plant rocket, have dried cranberries, walnut and balsamic vinegar on standby at home. …

The Notebook

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I finally watched “The Notebook”. Its gazillion years ago. I know. 😀

HBO in my Jakarta apartment, thats why.

I didnt notice a lot of dialogue, except 2,

ones the one where she was screaming at the mom, talking about her and dad never play. watever watever.

the other one, of course is the guy to the woman:

“Would you just stay with me?
Stay with you? What for? Look at us! We’re already fighting!
Well that’s what we do! We fight! You tell me when I’m being an arrogant son of a bitch and I tell you when you’re being a pain in the ass! Which you are, 99% of the time. I’m not afraid to hurt your feelings, you have like a two-second rebound rate and you’re back doing the next pain in the ass thing.
So, what?
So it’s not gonna be easy, it’s gonna be really hard. And we’re gonna have to work at this everyday, but I wanna do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever. You and me. Everyday.”
― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Its real, because thats how relationship is… thats how two very different and complete person coming together is.
Because one is assured about him/herself. 2 complete persons coming together, fighting because of the different opinion, and yet at the end of the day, agreeing to disagree and continue on “forever” “Everyday”.

Its realistic although poetic.

Thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

Chanel’s LBJ

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Went by to Chanel’s Little Black Jacket @ SAM

Similar jacket, in multiple different ways, different adaptations.

Not saying I would don it in 2014, just that style is understated. 🙂

As Rachel Zoe says, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.”

A quickie link to “10 Reasons Why You Should Dress Up Everyday”

Art Exhibition? Or a marketing tool to set Chanel on another level?

Labels are a force to reckon with. 🙂

Thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

Pole Dance

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They say pole dance is slutty and cheap?

I say its sexy, gymnastics and hardwork.

Okay, this one doesnt count, its just dancing next to the pole. Or making man wish they were the pole.
😀

But this one. Its gymnastics and hardwork. With a storyline.

*Heres to a Healthier 2014 ahead!! *GAM BAI!

Thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

Shoessss

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Shoess.. My Nemesis…

At the right shop, they cost me over $170 in less than 20mins.

Shoes… the right one, they help me float with poise and humanity on the street. They grab attention, they lift me up, they prance like everyday is a celebration.

Shoes… the right one and they take you to everywhere you go. Not like a duck or a marching band, but a nimble lady, gracing the public with your presence.

Shoes…

Thought I should start an album since they deserve that attention. Being a teacher doesnt take away my desire for pretty shoes. I still believe I can wear heels and maintain that poise though I have to stand for a couple of hours each day. So heres some beautiful ones to share. Share yours if they are donned differently~

These whites are so Cinderella… (in other sense of “Cinderella” that is, not the glass slipper)

These fuchsia is insane, but well, whats a little colour right? 😉

The very versatile black. Needs no introduction. Not a big fan of wedge, but well, this height is good for teaching, and why not since wedge is good support?

Perhaps can be used for teaching, 🙂 These versatile blacks, they are for all occasion. A little dressy for the nearby mall? A little height but not too high, for the town window shopping? A little formality for the formal occasion. Its all it. *thumbs up!

This is insane! Its so glittery, but, its fine, thats what shoes are for, so when the audience look from the bottom up. You’ve already scored! Yes I do have blue dresses. and they go well even with black 3/4s! 😀

Ladies and gentleman, this needs no further talk. 🙂

This is an old enough pair. I love its red (oxblood, as listed) but its subtle. Its presence and persona all in one.

Confidence is more than what people perceived of you. Confidence is what you present to people.

I had a dilemma…
Bought these 2 fabulous looking shoes, and I want to use them as soon as I can. I bought them.. I believe in Sept or Oct. Its never a wise idea to keep shoes for too long. >_<

I love the leather wanna be look. Its chic and the height is just right. The details of the rims. *sluRP! BUY. If it fits, BUY!

and then theres this pair of wedge.

When was the last time you see checkers on height? Checkers are so casual, so youthful, like a child skipping steps as he walks. But its in height. Its classy, its a ladies’ shoes.

So theres this Chanel’s Little Black Jacket exhibition that I wanted to go for. I wanted to decide on which one of these 2 shoes to go with the dress… Although the answer is obvious… 😀

and in the end…

tADA!

Now it raises the question: What do I match the wedge with???

3/4 pants? The heels look better 🙁

Jeans skirt? Not a bad idea…

We’ll see…

thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

P/S: I think the dress, though it looks great, needs tapering… no waist line, no hips. :/

Merry Christmas!!

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Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

Happy New Year Ahead too!!!! 😀

Loads of thought but no time, I’ll catch up real soon okay! *winks!

*MUACK! MUACKS!*

thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

Piled Life

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🙂

Heres another excellent writer colleague of mine:

http://piledlife.wordpress.com/

I’ll better make good of my English with Psychology.

thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

Behavior & Predictability

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Was just looking at a “neighbor’s” behavior and it hit me that sometimes being predictable provides the certain form of security, especially for little kids.

So there was this time when he got onto the bus, kinda squeezed in cos there wasnt enough space, he slammed the door when he got on, he slammed the door when he got off.

he kicked the door really hard, kinda normal cos the door was stuck.

But seriously, whether there is anger or not aside.. if I’m a child I’ll be frighten. “My dad has that kind of capability and strength to do that…”

and then the next day, he lost his usual seat, he commented ” <person name>, seriously?”

I didnt remember him asking to make a reservation.

If we put both of that incident together, me as a child would be damn frighten, because, “dad blames me for things he didnt make arrangement for… and he could have beaten me up with that kind of strength…”

I hope you get my point.. just saying that, dont allow your child to ever be frighten and feel insecure.
If possible, explain and be rationale.

Children learn from your behavior. Be the father they can look up to.

🙁

Thanks for coming by

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda

Exhausted

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Oh … My … Tian …

I am exhausted …

Think its the 2 consecutive weeks of being occupied thats driving me this exhausted. Its so bad that I almost wanted the 2 whole days of a weekend to myself, completely skipping church and all that.

Like just wanna serve the net, blog a little and basically hide under the blanket…

I’m sorry if you missed me, I missed blogging too… thank you for coming by…

and as they say

whoever that came up with this beautiful graphic about introverts deserve an award

thanks for coming by~ 🙂

Be Bless
Love,
Amanda