Thursday 13

As V-Day approaches, I thought I will just share with you 13 love songs that have touched me in some way or other. This blog post is actually inspired by the first song on the list. Out of the blue, this song just ‘jumped’ into my brain at me while I was sitting at my desk surfing through Facebook. 

1. How Could An Angel Break My Heart by Toni Braxton: “I wonder if she makes him smile, the way he used to smile at me, I hope she doesn’t make him laugh, because the laugh belongs to me…” I first heard this song when I was doing my A Levels in UK. Imagining myself in this situation, I can almost cry. It’s so poignant… and so heart wrenching.

2. Dreaming of You by Selena: “Late at night when all the world is sleeping, I stay up and think of you, And I wish on a star that somewhere you are, Thinking of me too…” It was the year 1999. Was driving a girlfriend home after school. We were listening to the radio. And this song was played. I kept saying… I won’t cry, I won’t cry. But I did anyway. Some songs bring back bittersweet memories. And in the year 1999, this was the song.  

3. Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh: “I’ve never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight, I’ve never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing, I’ve never seen so many people want to be there by your side, and when you turned to me and smile, you took my breath away.” I first got to know this song through the Ms USA pageant in the 1990s… yup, you heard right! I was probably 13 or 14 then. They played Lady in Red during the Evening Gown parade. And the girly lass then secretly dreamt that perhaps one day, someone will serenade her with this song… haha!

4. I’ll be There by Club Escape: “Don’t be afraid, oh my love, I’ll be watching you from above, And I’d give all the world tonight, to be with you, Because I’m on your side, And I still care, I may have died, but I’ve gone nowhere, Just think of me, And I’ll be there.”

5. Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle: “She’ll change her name today. She’ll make a promise and I’ll give her away. Standing in the bride-room just staring at her. She asked me what I’m thinking and I said “I’m not sure-I just feel like I’m losing my baby girl. With all that I’ve done wrong I must have done something right to deserve her love every morning and butterfly kisses at night.” They lyrics are just so weet. I love it so much that I chose this song to be played when my daddy walked me down the aisle in 2005.

6. Flying without Wings by Westlife: “Well, for me it’s waking up beside you, To watch the sunrise on your face, To know that I can say I love you, In any given time or place.” Extremely special song. This is the song hubby and I first slow danced to. At the Singapore Students’ Society Dinner & Dance in Manchester where we studied. We were led unwittingly to the dance floor by friends. And when this song came on, he asked me, “Shall we dance?”

7. Wind Beneath my Wings by Bette Midler:  “You were content to let me shine, that’s your way. You always walk a step behind. So I was the one with all the glory, You were the one with all the strain…” First got to know this song when my best friend sang it at the school assembly for a teacher who was retiring. Thought the lyrics were really meaningful. And at my wedding reception, I sang this song (together with my best friend) for my dearest daddy and mummy were have indeed been the wind beneath my wings.

8. Top of the World by Carpenter: “Something in the wind has learned my name, And its tellin me that things are not the same, In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze, Theres a pleasin sense of happiness for me, There is only one wish on my mind, When this day is through I hope that I will find, That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me, All I need will be mine if you are here.” Such a simple tune. Yet so memorable. And uplifting. I have liked this song as a child. And surprisingly, hubby loves it to. Haha! So this is one of the songs that we sing to our darling babe.

9. Eternal Flame by The Bangles: “Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling” This is a classic. Brings back memories of my clubbing days. Going out with a group of girlfriends. Dancing on the dance floor. Singing the song out loud. OMG, talking about it now makes me feel so old…!  

10. Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper: “If you’re lost you can look–and you will find me time after time, if you fall I will catch you–I’ll be waiting time after time.” This song became popular again after the movie ‘Strictly Ballroom’. It brings back memories of my high school days, where we hold parties at friends’ houses. I can still remember one of the exact moments when this song was played on a friend’s stereo. The blushing cheeks, the sweaty palms. As each girl awaits a boy to ask her to dance on the makeshift dancefloor, cleared by the moving of the sofas and coffee tables.

11. Remember Me This Way by Jordan Hill: “I’ll make a wish for you, And hope it will come true, That life would just be kind, To such a gentle mind, If you lose your way, Think back on yesterday, Remember me this way.” When I was about 20, I had no idea how I would grow up to be. I had no idea how life would be in 10 years time. It just seemed appropriate to ask to others to ‘Remember me this way’…

12. Never Saw Blue Like That Before by Shawn Colvin: “And I never saw blue like that before, Across the sky, Around the world, You’ve given me all you have and more, And no one else has ever shown me how, To see the world the way I see it now, Oh, I, I never saw blue like that.” I first heard this song when hubby and I were still dating. And when I heard the lyrics, the first person who came to mind was hubby. He has really opened my eyes up to many things. To see the world in a different perspective. To look at others in a different light. I incorporated part of the lyrics of this song into my wedding vows.

13. 今生注定 by 高明骏/王馨平:”如果爱情烦恼真的太多, 或许心事都交给我, 为你耽忧对我来说 也是快乐” English Translation: The title of the song is ‘Destined to Be’. And the lyrics that I have chosen, “If you have lots of worry, just share them with me. Because even worrying for you, to me, it’s happiness.” Erm, that just does not seem to come out right. Haha! Anyway, hubby and I love this song very much. And, he sang it for me at our wedding. Many of my girlfriends were touched by his gesture because firstly he does not really sing, and secondly, he does not speak Mandarin…

Based on the songs I have chosen, you have probably (1) guessed my age, (2) come to the conclusion I have not listened to the radio for the past 10 years. Haha! Or I probably just love oldies.

What about you? What are your most memorable love songs?

P/S Have just put up a new poll for ladies… what’s your most ideal V-day present? Share, share!

 

1. Search up a great image consultant. Revamp my image. Get a new haircut. Have a complete makeover. As they say, first impressions count.

2. Enroll in a personal makeup class. Learning from the magazines is going to take too long a time. Knowing the right techniques and skills can immediately make me feel more confident.

3. Set aside at least 2 going-out nights a week. Never mind I have no plans as yet. I will fill it up.

4. Read recommended dating and relationship books. Even if I just get one or two tip from each book, it’s worth it.

5. Search up my old address books and start establishing contacts with long lost friends or colleagues. You never know where you will find love. Or they might know of someone who is a good match for me.

6. Take up a new hobby that I have always wanted to do. Re-discover my passion for life, as people who are passionate about life are attractive.

7. Be a happy person. Men searching for love are looking for a woman to make their life happier. Nobody wants to date a girl who is negative and complains all the time.

8. Join one or two reputable dating service. It’s all about casting your net wider. There probably are some quality men who join dating services that I would not meet on my own.

9. Make myself available. Let my friends know directly or subtly that I am up to being a fourth wheel should she go out with her boyfriend and boyfriend’s friend.

10. Go for networking events. Be friendly and approachable. Be genuinely interested in people. And follow up whether it’s a girl or a guy. You will never know who you will be introduced to by my new friends. It’s always good to be widening my social circle.

11. Hire a dating coach. It’s better to know where I am screwing up, and what action steps I can do to drastically bring me up the learning curve.

12. Stop wasting time staying at home. Realize that I am not going to meet any single and available men by staying at home doing my laundry.

13. Stay positive. Because I know that the most important thing is to have a positive mindset. Things might not go my way in the beginning, and I might even encounter many challenges along the way. The important thing to know is that I am getting closer to my objective with each step that I take.

 

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1. “So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.” – Oprah Winfrey 

2. “True love does not come by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” – Jason Jordan

3. “It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute… that gives meaning to our lives.” – Anthony Robbins

4. “To the world you may be one perseon, but to one person you may be the world.” – Heather Cortez

5. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects and always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4 

6. “The Universe favours the brave. When you resolve to live your life to its highest level the strength of your soul will guide you to a magical place with magnificent treasure.” – Robin S. Sharma

7. “Don’t waste time on jealousy. Sometimes you are ahead, sometimes you are behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.” – Unknown

8. “To be loved, be lovable.” – Ovid

9. “Great opportunities are not seen with your eyes, but with your mind.” – Robert Kiyosaki.

10. “Love is friendship set on fire.” – Jeremy Irons

11. “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” – Anthony Robbins

12. “Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth.” – Mark Twain

13. And last but not least, my life motto… “Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.” – Gandhi

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. http://lifeisrantastic.blogspot.com/

2. http://www.danielfranklingomez.com/blog/

3. http://mga-munimuni.com/

 

 

 

Thought of doing something different this week.

Ever wondered what you will find in a modern-day matchmaker’s handbag?

Rummaged through my bag, and these are the items I found.

1. Wallet. Looks like it’s going to burst at its seams. Have it for 3 years now I think. Time to get a new one. Problem is, I have not find one that I truly like.

2. Phone #1. This has my Malaysia SIM card. Not all my contacts in KL has my Singapore number, and since I travel often between the 2 countries, I have my KL phone switched on too.

3. What does this look like? Yes… it’s a personal alarm. My mum-in-law gave it to me.

 

4. I am not sure what you call this actually. Hair band? Basically I use this to tie up my hair. Can’t stand my hair falling all over my face while I am working.

5. Lip gloss. I don’t use this very often frankly. But it’s good to have when my lips are chapped sitting too long in an air-conditioned room.

6. Phone #2. This is my Singapore phone. See the trinklet hanging on to it? That’s a Christmas gift from one of my fellow cupids.

7. Tissue pack. My very out-of-shape tissue pack from Watsons.

8. Those of you based in Singapore would know this one. With the new password authentication scheme implemented by the banks, we now have to carry these tokens. You can also see my thumbdrive on the far left, as well as the keychain that’s holding all of these together. The keychain is a Christmas gifts from another one of my fellow ‘cupids’ at Lunch Actually.  

9. My Ipod Shuffle! Christmas gift from hubby 2 years ago! Comes in very handy when I just want to listen to some classical music to relax…

10. My LOVE notebook… is this where all the matchmaking secrets are kept? That’s for me to know, and for you to find out!

11. My Blackberry. I love this. With pushmail, I can always stay in touch. I am no longer a slave to my laptop! Yay!

12. My namecard holder. My best friend Tsiao Yi gave this to me when I first started Lunch Actually as a show of support. In case you are trying to read the words on the case, it says, “Nothing succeeds like success. -Alexander Dumas”

13. And last but not least, this is the pink little gadget, my IXUS, birthday present from my daddy and mummy, that took all the photos shown above. I can never leave home without it… now with Babe, I want to be able to capture every cute little moment.

Care to share with us what are the 13 things you have in your bag/handbag?

Here are 2 other TTers who coincidentally also shared on the same topic: Julia & Coco

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. http://shelley1005.blogspot.com/

2. http://dibookblogetc.typepad.com/my_weblog/

3. http://stilltakingbabysteps.blogspot.com/

 

 

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With the biggest night of Hollywood – The Academy Awards just come and gone,I thought it would be fun to list- 13 Favourite Love Movies of Mine    1. Forrest Gump: One of my favourite movies of all time. It is not only about unconditional love, it is about a man who might not have big brains, but have big heart, and how he managed to be such a wonderful inspiration to people around him.  2. Jerry Maguire: This is the show that propelled Renee Zellweger to fame. I fell in love with her in this show. She just has this endearing quality, not very sure the exact word to describe it. And who will ever forget the line, “You… you complete me…” 3. Love Actually: What a fantastic show! Very heartwarming. A movie with love stories that intertwined. So many different aspects of love – romantic love, fatherly love, puppy love, love that transcends beyond borders and language, love for a sibiling, unrequited love, and even love in the most unlikely places, between the rock star and his manager! 4. While you were Sleeping: Love Sandra Bullock in this show! Watched shis show like 10 years ago! Wow, now I feel old! 5. Bridget Jones Diary: This is such a funny show. Yes, another Renee Zellweger show. I think eventually you will see a trend in the love movies that I love. Haha! They usually feature the same actresses. Love this show for the plot, the actors and actresses and the fact that it is real. One of the very few shows around that they feature the lead actress to be 60kg and above, even though Renee had to fatten herself for it. 6. Pride & Prejudice (2005 version): This is a classic, and I love the portrayal of Elizabeth by Keira Knightley.  7. Ever After: I love Drew Barrymore’s spunk in this show. The epitomy of the modern woman even though it is in a medieval setting. Love the scene where she outsmarted the rogues. They said you can leave with whatever you can carry on your back. And she stunned them by whipping the prince off his feet onto her back! Haha! 8. 50 First Dates: Yes! Starring Drew Barrymore. When I first heard of this movie, I thought what a dumb name for a show. But after I watched it, I just couldn’t help tearing. It is just so sweet! Imagine your husband having to make you love him everyday because you have no memories of anything that happen everyday when you wake up. Have a box of tissues with you when you watch this tear-jerker. 9. City of Glass: The only Chinese show featured in this list. Hubby have asked me once, “Why do you like this show? Isn’t it about 2 people who are having an affair?” Actually – yes, it is about 2 college sweethearts who parted ways because of long distance, and 20 years later, met again, and realised that even though they have chosen to live separate lives, have their own family, their lives are unfulfilled without each other. Actually, it is a love tragedy as they died in a car crash. And it is because of that car crash, their respective families found out about their love tryst. The story is told in the eyes of their children, who eventually fell in love. Actually, what I love most about the movie is the cinematography. The director managed to capture the essence of Hong Kong I felt. It actually spurred me to visit HK! 10. Sleepless in Seattle: Another classic. Tom Hanks + Meg Ryan. Amazing combination. The part where Tom Hanks talked about his love for his wife over the radio show… always bring tears to my eyes. 11. Pretty Woman: Understand why people are so crazy about Richard Gere. He looks dashing in this show! And Julia Roberts… she looks so great in that red dress! And for some reason or other, I always remember that scene where she was crying watching that opera which she does not understand a word of. 12. My Best Friends Wedding: Another Julia Roberts movie. I think it is just so amusing how she tried so hard to win over her best friend, who was going to get married to Cameron Diaz. And yes, I love the songs! And Rupert Everett as her gay friend, he was fantastic for the role. 13. 13 Going on 30: Jennifer Garner played a very convincing 13 year old stuck in a 30 year old body. The reason I love this show is the fact that even though her best friend from school Mark Ruffalo was totally bowled over by her and her change of heart, but he stayed true to his fiance and went ahead with his wedding. Unlike some other Hollywood movies where they simply run off with the new girl and ditch the old girl. Love afterall, is not just the instant sparks, but a commitment. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!Gette | Annie | Rose | Sparky Duck | Janet | Nancy the Romancechick | ali | ancsweetnsassygal Â

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Since Valentine’s Day has just come and gone, thought I will share with you the 13 Things I Love!  1. The back massage that hubby gives me daily. 2. The contented smile on my babe’s face after having his milk. 3. Waking up in the morning, seeing the faces of the 2 men that I love. 4. Blue skies and white fluffy clouds. 5. Reading chic lit on a lazy afternoon. 6. Hanging out with my girlfriends, catching up about each others’ lives. 7. Spa! 8. When I catch hubby stealing glances at me across the room. 9. Catching up with my mummy over the phone, sharing gossips. 10. The sound of waves. 11. Philosophical talks that hubby and I have in the middle of the night. 12. Reflecting on my life. 13. Finding out that another couple have found love through us! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Leah 2. Mary

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Thirteen Things about VIOLET

1. I am an only child.

2. My first degree is in Law.

3. I hated Advanced Mathematics. It’s beyond me why I still decided to take up A Level Mathematics.

4. My first real job is at Citibank, Singapore.

5. My life motto is “Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever.” – Gandhi

6. Jamie and I want 3 kids. One down, two more to go.

7. My first pet dog’s name is Lucky. Named after the dog in Mr Galliano’s Circus. If you read Enid Blyton books when you were young, you will know what I am talking about.

8. My proudest outdoor achievement is completing my Duke of Edinburgh award expedition segment where I had to carry a 12kg bag and walk for 15km for 3 days. Plus setting up camp and cooking my own dinner.

9. Never in my wildest dream have I thought I will set up a dating service. If you have to know, my childhood dream was to be a lawyer + a doctor. Haha!

10. My favourite soft drink is the Iced Milk Tea at MOS Burger. Well, it’s not exactly a soft drink, but it’s something you can get at a fast food chain.

11. My favourite burger at McDonald’s is Filet o Fish. I think I have been eating the same burger for the last 20 years!

12. My favourite local fare… it has to be a tie between chicken rice and char koay teow and katong laksa. Haha! I just cannot decide!

13. And last but not least, I can bend my left thumb backwards. Yes, freaky. I know.

Rudy, Andrea, Irene, Kea – you are tagged!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!

1. Lisa

2. Chickadee

3. Mary

4. Jessica

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