REYREINA.COM

To me, the worst feeling in the world would be helplessness. Knowing you can’t fix the situation right there and then, that really sucks.

So today, little picanto decided to give way. Just when I was about to leave home to fetch Ivan, Fiona, and my mom, from three seperate locations, my car refused to start. Haha. So I called my uncle to come downstairs to take a look, and asked my neighbour to help assess the situation. And we concluded that it was time to change the car battery. I guess living near your relatives and having (and being) good neighbours count a lot.

Well it really sucks to know I can’t fix the car right now, and that I’ve to wait for tomorrow when workshops open before I can fix it. Also, just when I had to fetch 3 people from 3 different locations, it sucks having to call them and tell them to take public transport home. Sianzzz.

So after I came back up, I decided that I would blog about it. And then I thought, feeling helpless really sucks. So of course before I claim that helplessness is the worst feeling, I tried thinking of other feelings that could be worse than feeling helpless. And FYI, I even googled “worst feeling in the world”. But after I thought about it, I think helplessness ties in with a lot of situations (like death, break ups, etc.) where you feel sad/angry/frustrated/whatever bad feeling. So anyway, if you have time, you can go google “worst feeling in the world” and see if you agree with me! Some of the situations people mention are actually quite funny, like “Having to poop but there’s no restroom”. HAHAHA.

Love, Samantha

Things to do before I’m 30

• Get married

I’m favourite-ing this post so I can always update it. Found loads of ideas from this book I just borrowed from the library: 2 DO Before I Die, the do-it-yourself guide to the rest of your life. Hahaha. This paragraph will probably be deleted next time when I update!

Oh ya, and I forgot to add, the good thing about this list is that, you know, just in case you only have one last day to live, you don’t have to spend hours thinking of things you should do before you die lol. Sad, but true.

Love, Samantha

Did you kiss your mom on Mothers’ Day? Cos I DID! Hahaha. My mom is such a great woman in so many ways. I can list a million reasons why I love my mom, but at the end of the day, I’m most grateful to my mom for sticking out through the difficult times for our family. She is the bravest, strongest, most supportive person I know.

I guess now that I’m 20, I’m starting to appreciate my mom more. Not that I didn’t appreciate her in the past, but because I was really attached to my dad, so I was always harping on “What could have happened if Daddy was here” and not really appreciating “What’s going on now BECAUSE Mommy is here”.

Sometimes we take for granted what our parents have done for us. We think little of the sacrifices they’ve made for us, taking that it’s just part of “parenting”.

So today, for a change, I treated my mom and sis to black pepper crab. Hahaha NO, it’s not because I’m treating that’s why it’s different, but because for the past few YEARS, every time we order crab, despite knowing that my mom LOVES black pepper crab, we’ll always order chilli crab because it’s my favourite (not sure about Fiona, she did not seem to take a stand today haha). You should have seen the smile on my mom’s face when she DEVOURED the crab. HAHAHA. I’ve never seen such enthusiasm in her while eating. LOL.

Love, Samantha

I just can’t wait for SUMMER BREAK!

Love, Samantha

BUSY BUSY BUSY! Just had a one week break last week, but I was soooo busy I didn’t get to touch my books at all. And it seems like I’m falling sick. Argh!

Well, February’s gone and March is here now… So GOAL SETTING TIME!

In February, I managed to run twice, baked a failed strawberry cake, and improved my Photoshop skills a teeny weeny bit. On top of my personal goals, I also clinched the Marketing Director position in E.y.E, so honestly, February was one hell of a month (ESPECIALLY SINCE IT ONLY HAS 28 DAYS! Squeeze 31 days of hell into 28, not good at all).

I realized I was overly busy in February, and I ended up not having enough time to spend with Ivan. Seriously, it’s not easy balancing school, CCAs, and a relationship, and everything has been going smoothly only because Ivan’s such a tolerant boyfriend So for March…

• Spend more time with Ivan
• Catch up on my schoolwork
• STOP WATCHING SHOWS (or max 1 a day…) and be more focused + productive (THIS ONE FAIL ALREADY LA…… I’VE BEEN WATCHING SIMPSONS EVERYDAY!)
• Run 6 times (HAHAHA) Run 3 more times woo!
• Bake heart-shaped cut out cookies

To end off, here’s my 6 year old cousin GROOVIN’ hahaha. This happened while we were baking one Saturday night, and I have totally no idea why he’s dancing HAHAHA. Oh and if you notice carefully, he has a flour spot on his head. And this is what he said ‘Eh Samantha jie jie, see I am apunehneh’. So 20 year old me will now say, KIDS! Hahaha! Oh Oh and, I’m actually saying “Chao slack de leh ni men (Super slack ley all of you)” because my sister and cousin were supposed to be helping me with the mixing and baking but they were fooling around, leaving me to do all the hard work! Ugh! Anyway, enjoy!

Love, Samantha

“It’s good to be scared. It means you still have something to lose.”

I think of Ivan and myself now, and how we’re so happy, living our lives as young adults. And then, I imagine us as a married couple, with small kids running around and we’re busy chasing after them, doing amazing balancing acts every day. Then I think about the in between. And I realize it’s a mixture of fear and excitement. How we’re going to get from where we are now, to a married couple with kids, it’s such an amazing process that I simply cannot imagine.

We are a strong couple, but there are times I’m afraid that this will all go away. And just at the right moment, this quote came to me. “It’s good to be scared. It means you still have something to lose.”

So yes, sometimes we do get too comfortable with each other that we take forgranted what we have. But one thing we know for sure, is that we have reached a stage where we can’t do without each other. Ivan keeps me intact and grounded, he’s the one i rely on for strength every day. I love to pursue a million things, but it’s Ivan who keeps me in perspective and reminds me what truly matters to me. So yes, it’s okay to feel afraid of the ‘what ifs’, because we have so much to lose. And that’s why we’ll strive even harder to make everything work.

Haha and for those who’re wondering why I suddenly get all ‘reflective’ and stuff, it’s because I’m in my Grey’s Anatomy craze, watching episodes that I’ve watched like 3 times before. And if you’re a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you’ll know that quotes similar to the one above (quotes that make you think about stuff) pop up throughout every episode. Haha. I know, I’m mad.

AND I’d like to sincerely thank my bondue friends for trying to organize a surprise party for me, which I stupidly foiled. I am sooooo sorry, and sooooooo thankful for the thought that you guys put into it. Wanting to surprise me with KFC is seriously something I didn’t expect. Come on, I love to eat, and at 10am in the morning, I had already decided what I wanted to buy for dinner before the EyE meeting (by the way it’s the hokkien mee from the tze char stall in Kopitiam opposite SESS HAHA). So, I’m sorry for leaving earlier than you all expected, and, if I was indeed there during the planned surprise, I would totally scream. So, AHHHHHHHH! Haha. I love you guys, thanks

Love, Samantha

PEILIN! I LOVE YOU SO I DO THIS FOR YOU FIRST LEH! HO HO HO!

Thanks to my failure to make prompt payment for this website, my blog has been deleted. Sobsobsobsobsobsobsobsobsob :( But then again, let’s look on the bright side. I get another chance to restart my year, and to restart my blog. Plus, it just so happens to coincide with the Chinese new year. Hehehe.

Well, since it’s nearing the end of the month, I guess it’s only right to slow down and reflect back on the past 29 days. 2009 hasn’t really started out well for me. I’ve done some stupid things that proved to be very costly and they’ve forced me to learn about responsibility the hard way. I’m also constantly reminded by the fact that I’ve got to work harder to generate more money if I want to lead the life I want next time. 

Nonetheless, I’ve achieved many personal goals that I’ve set for myself for 2009. For one, I’m very glad that I finally set up reyreina.com, a dream that I had since 2007. I’ve also started a blog (reyreina.com/blog), baked cupcakes (twice already), bought a camera (Nikon D40X), and attempted to cook oyster omelette (sadly, failed). I’ve also done things that weren’t on my list that I’m proud of - taking part in the Bain and Company business case competition and getting into the top 16 teams.

Tomorrow, I’m turning 20 and I’m starting a new chapter in my life. I’ve often wondered whether turning 20 was really my achievement or my mom’s. Haha. I strongly believe that it is my mom’s achievement that she has successfully raised me till I join the 20s club, not really my achievement that I’m able to live 20 years. Lol. It just sounds retarded.

OKOK I should reflect more. This month, most importantly, I’m thankful for my family.

Fiona, for always being by my side despite my constant naggings and scoldings that don’t seem reasonable to you. Sometimes I do things that annoy you, and you try to fight back. But most of the time I do things because I care for you, and because I want to do all I can to protect you. I’m blessed to have you as a little sister, and I’m grateful for the strong bond we share, something that I believe can weather all storms.

Mom, for being such a strong woman, an awesome role model I look up to. I’ve done many mistakes and have upset you countless times, even putting others ahead of my own family. Thanks for your understanding and patience in guiding me.

Anyway, now’s a great time to set my personal goals for February. The hectic lifestyle I’ve had in January was tiring but nonetheless exciting. I found that I’ve not been able to rest enough, not able to focus enough on Ivan (thanks for being understanding <3), and not able to carry out the goals I had set for January. So for February, I hope to achieve:

• Spend more time with Ivan
• Run 4 times this month
• Brush up my photoshop skills
• Keep a food diary
• Learn more about investing
• Bake a strawberry cake

So in summary, here’s January 2009

(will do up something nice. stay tuned.)

Love, Samantha