~ Why I Read New Moon in 1 Day ~

Let me warn you, there are spoilers about New Moon here. Stop reading now if you plan on reading the book.

A lot of people told me that New Moon isn't that good. And after the part when Edward left and Bella is just being crazy, I lost interest. I don't care for Jacob. One of my personal rule is that I don't date younger guys. So, I am not interested in seeing Bella with him.

Then, how did I end up staying up till 8am reading New Moon? Honestly, I was waiting for Edward to come back. I wonder if Ms Meyer expected this reaction from her readers. She makes it seem like Edward didn't really leave. He's still there, taking care of Bella through his voice. So, I read page after page, waiting for Bella to realize that it's really him or for him to come back.

Near the end of the book, when Bella jumped off the cliff and saw the "flame" in the ocean, I was fully expecting a big fight between Victoria, the evil vampire, and Jacob. And, I also expected Jacob to actually get to kiss Bella. I was sad, but I thought that would be how the story goes. I thought Edward won't be coming back till much later in the book.

I was actually pleasantly surprised that Edward reappeared sooner than I expected. It was exciting to read about the events in Italy, though it turned out to be a lot milder than I thought it would be. No fighting?? Come on! I feel like this book's climax is more like a plateau. Just dragged on and on, but not really peaking anywhere.

My favorite scene is when Bella was waking up and thinking that she's dreaming because Edward was right beside her. I am a sucker for the "sleeping" scenes because I love waking up next to my fiance every day. But, I don't get the whole marriage proposal and rejection thing. Why would she not want to marry him, but want to spend the rest of eternity with him. That doesn't make sense to me at all. It makes me feel like Ms Meyer is just doing it to prolong the series.

Anyway, I am not going to start on the next book till I get on the plane. I don't have time to pull any more all nighters :) But, I think this is going to be one of my most enjoyable 20-hour plane ride to Hong Kong. Not only do I have my fiance with me, I will have Edward. Ok, and Jacob too.

~ Why Every Girl and I Love Edward Cullen ~

I stayed up till 6am reading Twilight last night. I am on page 212. Yes, I know I am a little behind on this Twilight madness. I wanted to be cool and not swoon over Edward Cullen like every other female in America. In the books and movies, the cool girls who doesn't go gaga over the hot guys are the ones that usually end up with the hot guy right? As much as I don't want to like Edward just because everyone loves him, I find myself falling for him. Not only because he looks like a Greek god, but because he is a Byronic hero aka the bad ass who's good inside.

In a lot of ways, Twilight is like every other chick flick/book. You have this girl with insecurities who is a little bit different and thinks that she doesn't fit in. Which girl doesn't think that? And you have this guy who's awesome and perfect except he has a flaw. In this case, he's a dangerous vampire with a temper. Then, he meets this girl and he can't help but fall in love with her because she's so special. Who doesn't want to feel special?

Edward is like every girl's dream guy:

1. He's powerful and he can and will protect you from everything this evil world till throw at you.
2. He is flawed, but he wants to and is becoming better just because of you.
3. He's hot.
4. He only has eyes for you and thinks you are the most special person in the world. He doesn't even look at other girls who you think are better than you.
5. He break rules for you and he will go against his closet friends and family for you. That means he'll pretty much do anything for you.
6. He can drive very well. Ok, maybe I am the only one who feels this way. A guy who drives well means he can multitask and has quick reflexes and he can take care of you.
7. He's a bad boy. Who doesn't love a bad boy? He's exciting!

Basically, he gives you fun, confidence, security, and power. Yes, power. Power to change him. That's something that is often misunderstood by guys. No, a girl doesn't want to change you because she thinks a guy suck. I think we all know that change is hard. And if a guy is willing to change for a girl, that is a very indicative that he really cares for her. Everyone has flaws and it feels good to inspire another person to become better. That's the reason behind girls wanting a guy to change. Maybe for some girls it's a control thing, but for me it's really about growing together and become better people together.

Anyways, I am digressing. Every woman, no matter how old, will remember her teenage years and the insecurities she has felt then and even now. It's so easy to relate to Bella and so easy to feel happy because there's a special guy who will do anything for her. I must admit that I was smiling to myself when I was reading Twilight. Am I the only one?

I have seen things about Camp Edward and Camp Jacob. I am not exactly sure what that's about, but I guess I am in Camp Edward for now? Though, I was in that camp even before I read the book. I love vampires!!

I haven't seen the movies and I don't think I want to. Right now, I see my fiance's face when I read about Edward. I don't want the movies to put another face in my head for him. {｡◕‿◕｡}

~ Tag Heuer Link ~

It's my fiance's big 30th birthday today! I didn't get him a present yet. Well, I told him what I want to get for him, but I didn't know exactly which one he would like. So, we are going to pick it out together later this week. Here's what he has narrowed it down to...

Tag Heuer Link Calibre S chronograph

Tag Heuer Link Automatic chronograph

Calibre 36 chronometer

So, any opinions? Where would you get this from? I usually shop online, but I have never bought watches before. I saw these on Amazon. Is that a good place or should I get it at the mall so if anything happens to it, I can bring it back?

~ Show a Little Appreciation ~

It's story time! So, this girl had a long day at work. She rushed home because she wanted to cook an awesome dinner for her boyfriend. He was getting off late too, so she thought she had time for a well-prepared dinner. She marinated the steak, prepared the salad, made the mash potatoes with the little bacon bits that he liked so much.

Ninety minutes later, food was ready, but he wasn't home. She called him, but he didn't pick up. She waited and waited and finally, he came home. She heated up the food and started eating with him. He didn't say much...just trenched the steak in hot sauce, scarfed it down in 5 minutes, sat down on the couch and turned on the TV.

Now, she was mad. She started clearing away the dishes, banging stuff around. He continued to watch TV. She shouted "wash the dishes!!!" from the kitchen and stormed upstairs to get ready for bed. Then, he yelled after her, "Can't you wash it? I am tired! What's your problem?".

What started out as a nice dinner ended up with a 3 hour fight when they were both cranky and tired. If he just showed some appreciation for the wonderful dinner she made. Or, if she just mentioned that he should relax and enjoy dinner and maybe how she cooked so he would that she took a lot of time to make it. The evening might've ended with both of them relaxing in front of the TV or something a little more exciting. Who knows?

The point is, sometimes, you just don't know how much time and love someone puts into something he does for you. Something he doesn't have to do, but he does because he loves you. This is not just for couples. This is true with all relationships, between you and your friends, between you and your brother, or you and your mom. So, show some appreciation :)

All images used are from Etsy! Click on the pictures to check out that listing!

~ What's Wrong with Single Adults ~

How typical is the following conversation:

BFF A: "Hey, I just met this really cute guy. He's 28, tall, makes a decent living, knows how to cook and ...just so cute. Are you interested?"

BFF B: "Oh yeah? What's wrong with him? Does he have 2 heads ?"

Of course, this applies to girls too. I know I ask "What's wrong with him/her?" a few times, without really thinking about it. For some reason, when someone said to me today "How can she be single? She's so great!", I got a little defensive. I am not single so I am not defending myself, but I think this is more for all my wonderful single friends.

So, I just want to say this. Why can't wonderful people be single? Why do a lot of people assume that if people are over, say 25, and are single, there must be something wrong with them? I can think of many reasons that people are single:

1. Haven't found the right one yet.
2. Not looking for a relationship because they are planning on dramatic changes in their lives like a big move, or graduation.
3. Not ready for a relationship. Maybe they want to build a career first. Maybe they want to focus on school.
4. Don't believe in monogamy.

They can be surrounded by awesome, wonderful people, but don't have romantic feelings for them. Just because 2 great people meet, doesn't mean they will fall in love and date. If that's the case, there won't be monogamy in this world.

So, continuing from the conversation...

BFF A: "There's nothing wrong with him!"

BFF B: "Is he really picky? Does he want a super model with lots of money?"

Ok, in reality, who isn't picky about who they want to date? I am not talking about the "players" here, just regular people. Once again, if people are not "picky", there will be no monogamy. Everyone is looking for something different.

I think this whole attitude also contributes to a person's pain when a relationship ends. It's like people are programmed to think "He doesn't want to be with me anymore, there must be something wrong with me. No one will want me anymore." If you ever think that, take a good look at yourself. There's probably nothing majorly wrong with you. You have flaws like everyone else. He can't accept those flaws or he just doesn't have feelings for you anymore. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you.

Please note that those statements are not directed at anyone specific. I am just saying :)

All pictures shown in this post is from art work by gorjuss™. Click on the pictures to go to the listing in Etsy.

~ My Treasury: Vintage Romance ~

I just can't get romance out of my head. I recently discovered that vintage rose and golden shadow looks really good together, so this is a spotlight dedicated to that vintage, timeless romantic combination.

~ My Treasury: Afternoon Romance ~

Haven't done a spotlight for a while! So...here it is...a little Afternoon Romance...

~ I Recommend: Fated to Love You ~

One of my all time favorite TV show is this Taiwanese show called Fated to Love You (命中注定我愛你) that aired in Taiwan last year. It is in Mandarin and my Mandarin is not that great. But, I still love it so much!


So, basically, the story is about a girl who's very ordinary, a regular office lady, a doormat. Due to a misunderstanding (or fate, depending on how you look at it), she slept with this tall, rich and handsome guy. Yeah, the scene when they turned on the lights and realized they didn't sleep with their significant other was pretty funny.


That isn't too bad. Right?? Except, she got pregnant. And he's the only son of the big, rich family so his grandma forced them to get married. He thought she was only with him for money and he was still in love with his girlfriend who was working overseas. So, they came to an agreement that they will divorce after the baby is born. She's super nice and even helped him sneak off to be with his girlfriend. So, of course, they fall in love.


So, eventually, he was forced to choose between her and his girlfriend. Through an unfortunate accident caused by the girlfriend, she was in the hospital and he had to make the decision to between her life or the baby's life. He chose hers, but she blamed him for everything. It was so sad!!!!


So, what happens now? Will they get back together? I don't want to spoil the story for you, just in case you decide to watch it. But, I must say, this show has an awesome mix of humor, drama, and romance. I watched it with my fiance and there were lots of laughs and I almost cried in a lot of scenes. I also love the songs, and use one of them as my ring tone.

I also fell in love with this actor, Ethan Ruan (阮經天), who plays the main character. He's about 6 ft 1 in and I love tall guys. Did I mention that Ethan is one of my favorite names for a guy? I just love characters like the one he played in this show: rich, handsome, tall, who loves someone for who she is and genuinely cares for that person. I just love Cinderella stories too.



He's so hot! *drool*

~ My Treasury: Star-Crossed Lovers ~

Last week, I was too busy with the yart sale to do a spotlight. I hope this one makes up for it! :)

I have this song stuck in my head.....Love Story by Taylor Swift

We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts:
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air.

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd
and say hello;

Little did I know
That you were Romeo; you were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
And I was crying on the staircase,
begging you, 'Please, don't go.'"

And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'"

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew.
So close your eyes; escape this town for a little while.
'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said "Stay away from Juliet,"
But you were everything to me; I was begging you, 'Please, don't go,'"

And I said,
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'

Romeo save me - they're tryin' to tell me how to feel;
This love is difficult, but it's real.
Don't be afraid; we'll make it out of this mess.
It's a love story - baby just say "Yes.'"

Oh, oh.

I got tired of waiting,
Wondering if you were ever comin' around.
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town,

And I said,
"Romeo save me - I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting for you but you never come.
Is this in thy head? I don't know what to think-"

He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said,
"Marry me, Juliet - you'll never have to be alone.
I love you and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad - go pick out a white dress;
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'"

Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

'Cause we were both young when I first saw you...

~ My Treasury: I Will Wait Forever ~

Wow, for some reason I thought it was Tuesday when I posted my Summer Dress entry. But, duh, it's Wednesday! I am supposed to do a spotlight. Maybe I need to sleep more...

Anyway, here's this week's spotlight! I was feeling sad and romantic, thinking about the sad love stories I have read and seen on TV, still thinking about the ocean too. So, this spotlight is a little bit more somber than usual. It's a love story. A story of a girl who fell in love by the sea. And how she lost her lover to the sea. And how she despairs and prays for him. For one day, she believes he'll return. She'll wait for him forever.

~ My Treasury: A Geisha's Longing ~

I was thinking about one of my favorite books,  Memoirs of a Geisha, and listening to wistful love songs.  So, this week's treasury is dedicated to that.  I wanted to capture the feeling of an incomplete glamourous life, a person who's missing something.  Is it love?  Is it freedom?

If you haven't read the book yet, go read it!  The book is so much better than the movie.  I read it in 2 days 'cause I couldn't put it down.  And yes, I have a thing for the Japanese culture.  I think it's all the anime I watched when I was a kid.  I even took Japanese in college even though language isn't a requirement!  

Nihon-go o benkyo shimashita!  hmm.... I wonder if that's right....  ja ... mata ne!

~Happy Cloud's Love Story~

Warning:  Extreme sappiness and amateur writing...

Once upon a time, a girl was born in the tribe of Fragrant Harbour.  She was named Happy Cloud, for her smile can melt even the coldest hearts.  She was an ordinary girl, destined to live an ordinary life as a worker bee in her tribe.  But, her fairy god mother saw more in her and wanted to give her a chance to be something spectacular.  

One cold, winter night, fairy godmother took the girl and flew to a land far, far away.  There, in the Windy City, Happy Cloud grew up to be a girl who's strange but special, 

A most peculiar mad'moiselle

It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in
'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty but a funny girl............

 

Happy Cloud had a simple dream:  to get away from the land of ice and snow and move west to warmth and sunshine in the City of Angels.  And, find a prince charming, of course.  A prince who is tall, and wise, and speaks the language of her tribe.  Sounds so simple, but such a prince was nowhere in sight.

Happy Cloud trained very hard at the School of Champaign, to become a master of enchanted boxes.  But, she could not find a job at the City of Angels.  One day, she passed by the market and kind gentleman offered her a fortune cookie.  She took it and chitchatted with the him through the evening.  He said to her, "My elders are looking for a girl with your skills.  If you are willing to move east to Columbia's District, my elders will treat you well."

Happy Cloud didn't want to go.  Columbia's District is only slightly warmer than the Windy City, and even further away from the City of Angels.  But, she found out that she must go.  Her fairy godmother didn't have enough powers left to support her anymore.

Her fairy godmother put all her belongings in her pumpkin carriage and took her to the east.  Happy Cloud was far from her dream, but she figured she will be strong and find a way to reach her dream soon.  "Forget a prince charming!  There are plenty of those in the City of Angels, just wait!"

Fairy godmother needed her pumpkin carriage back.  So together, they headed to the market to get Happy Cloud a brand new carriage.  Along the way, they passed by a shop with a bright yellow, shiny carriage.  Now, Happy Cloud has been obssessed with the color yellow even as a baby.  She must have that carriage.

A tall, handsome boy waved to them from the shop and they went to see the carriage.  To her disappointment, the yellow carriage was out of her budget and the boy would not lower the price.  She was so disappointed, that she barely noticed that this boy, the very first boy she met in this new town, was tall, and wise, and spoke the language of her tribe.  She left empty handed that day.

The boy, whose name is Wise Walker, was upset that Happy Cloud didn't buy the carriage.  He already gave her the best price that he could.  But, her smile made up for it.  He called on her the next day to offer her assistance since she's new in town.  For many months, he helped her with her new cottage and showed her around town.  She visited his shop often with homemade food from her tribe.  They started to spend more and more time together.

Happy Cloud had a dilemma.  Should she give up her dream of moving to the City of Angels and stay in Columbia's District with Wise Walker?  Is he really her prince charming?

On the night of her first birthday in this new town, Wise Walker planned a big fiesta with all her new friends.  It was a wonderful party.  At the end of the night, when it was time for Wise Walker to go home, he looked into Happy Cloud's eyes and gave her a soft kiss, the most memorable kiss in her life.

One kiss changed everything.  On March 12, 2004, as spring creeps into town, Wise Walker professed his love to Happy Cloud.  Miles away from her home tribe, miles away from her dream city, Happy Cloud found her prince charming and they lived happily ever after.

~The End~

Thanks for reading this far :)  Today is our 4-year anniversary.  I thought I can be just a little bit corny and sappy.  

~My Treasury: Unforgettable Romance~

It's Wednesday~!  Time for my weekly treasury curating practice.  

My fiance and I started officially dating almost 4 years ago.  Just thinking about that got me in a mood to look at romantic things.  Maybe it's the sappy HK pop songs that I am listening to now, but the soft blue romantic pieces really caught my eye.

All the best, unforgettable romantic songs and stories carry a hint of sadness.  And the soft blue and vintage look bring out that feeling so well.  So here, I present to you, Unforgettable Romance.