MARCH EXPERIMENTS: SUN, SAND AND A NEW BLOG HEADER

I said i would go to the beach. 

And so i did.

If you have also noticed the change in my blog header, you would have known that its way nicer than my previous one and way more professional. Obviously because it's not done by me but rather, hand-drawn by my talented friend, Ellia! (@ellialynleow) If you are interested in her art pieces, please go to her online store to pick up a few of her works because they're great and reasonably priced for each piece! 

If you're more interested in getting something customised to your preferences, you can get in touch with her at her email: ellialynleow@gmail.com or her Facebook page at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/Elliawrites

Till then,

Melissa

MARCH EXPERIMENTS: LOVE PORTRAITS

I've always been up for trying something new in my life. Adventurous of some sorts but i like experiencing new hobbies more than i love trying new foods. When it comes to food, i'm a stickler for my favourites. But with hobbies, I am probably the total opposite. 

This time around, i explored my non-existent artistic side. And with Tim as my trusty aide, we went to a "Love Portraits" workshop by artist Puffing Muffin held at a charming quaint studio at Rowell Street. I had chanced upon her work at flea markets previously and followed her on her Instagram (@puffingmuffin). So when i learned that she had this workshop coming up, i thought it would be a good learning experience to learn from an artist whose works i had grown to admire. 

Lucinda, the owner of the studio and the website (http://www.within.sg) is an impeccable lady and artist that oozes warmth and comfort. One day prior to the workshop, she sends me an email, welcoming and thanking me for being part of the workshop. What she didn't know was that at the end of the workshop that she had organised, i would be the one thanking her and Candice (Puffing Muffin) for imparting me with information and trade secrets to being my own kind of artist. 

On the day of the workshop, Tim and i walked through the streets of Little India searching for the studio, and discovered treasure troves hidden there. A fat dog resting here, a graffiti art wall there, the dim sum restaurant where we first ate together as a couple and so many more little things. Little India, undoubtedly holds the most memories for me being together with Tim. We found the studio, and Lucinda welcomes us into the warm space. Everything is set up nicely on the table for us. Markers, pencils, colouring tools and everything needed for us to create our love portraits and then we start, going a round to introduce ourselves. 

There are a lot of laughs going on, this group is not awkward and quiet like other groups i've known.

It's a good start. 

The workshop begins and soon enough, i am engrossed completely. Learning mathematical ratios to face structures and key features to a person's portrait. It is an eye opening and informative experience. Candice does a demonstration and we take it all in. As the time came for us to venture on our own, there are a lot more laughs going on. Tim and i decide to draw each other and obviously, i am a lot more vocal in the way i want him to draw me. 

"How does that look like me?!"

"Can you not give me such a square jaw, i want a sharper chin!"

"I want wind-blown hair"

"My face looks weird"

It turns out, my attempt at him, was a feeble one as well. He came out looking like a gothic mime in my opinion. The second one was much better, if you compare it with the first. After some time and colouring techniques from Candice, our final product was done. I think ultimately, Tim did a better job than i did. In mine, he came out looking way too much like a pretty boy with eyeliner. *chuckles* 

Our group did well with some truly outstanding artists. Putting our work next to them was a little nerve wrecking. But we did it and Tim and i completed our first ever love portraits of each other. Not too bad if i do say so myself. Lucinda showed us into her secret garden in the backyard and after the photo taking session, we ended the class. Went for a late dinner at the dim sum restaurant before eventually calling it a night. 

And it was a great night.

Till then,

Melissa

MARCH WORD EXPERIMENTS: GETTING SOME SUN

I miss the beach

Miss getting wet, the sun in my eyes and sand in between my toes. I'm all about ready to turn into a beach bum and then i think, tomorrow is Monday. 

Deep sighs.

Maybe i'll head to the beach this coming weekend, and do a little nature walk or something. I'm itching to get out and do something that requires me to pant a little harder and sweat a little more. I need to move around more. I've been spending a lot of lazy time back at home lately and some days, it's a good thing i tell myself. I need the time off. I need the breathing space. Other days, i just feel like i should be up and moving. Out there getting some sunshine on my face, looking at nature at its best, and getting that laid-back beach vibe. 

Weird, spontaneous and impulsive.
 That's exactly who i am. 

Good thing or bad thing, i can't really decide. All i know is, I vow to get some sun this week!

Tomorrow's Monday guys, good luck everyone.

Till then,

Mel

MARCH WORD EXPERIMENTS: FINDING YOURSELF

Thoughts for the day: Anyone ever mentioned how hard growing up was going to be? 

  In our lives, at some point in time, we all meet that someone. The one with all the right words and all the sweet gestures meant to sweep you off your feet. The one who makes everything feel right when you are together. He's your happily ever after, the Mr. Right you've been waiting for all your life. And then by some hook or crook, this nice guy falls through the cracks. He's hard to get ahold of, he doesn't respond with the same enthusiasm as he once did and he has tons of excuses. 

The nice guy gone wrong. 

The nice guy who only enjoys the chase. 

Stupid nice guy. 

 You know the saying.  

Fool me once, shame on you, 

Fool me twice, shame on me

Guys like these at that stage are worth nothing. Not your thoughts, not your tears and definitely not your heart. I'm not saying all guys behave like this, but some guys are. With the benefit of the doubt, they might change in time to come, with experience and a few heartbreaks under their belt, but until that time arrives, the guy who ignored your message the day before because he was "busy" will not be the one you will spend your whole life with. Busy is and will never be an excuse to someone of value.

Everyone deserves a special someone in their life. You will find that in time to come, without the stupid nice guy. You will meet someone nicer, more sincere and much more real who will sweep you off your feet and make you feel like the luckiest person in the world. But until your Mr Right comes along, you have your whole life ahead of you. Take up a new hobby, open your mind to brand new experiences and live life, happier each day. Somewhere along the way, you will get the chance to meet your true self, who you really are deep down inside, the self you might have lost along the way with stupid nice guy. And when you find yourself behind all those walls and facades that you've built up, you will feel amazing. 

Because the best way to take revenge on someone, is to show them precisely what they had and what they've lost. 

Eat that suckers. 

Till then,

Mel

MARCH WORD EXPERIMENT: PRIORITIES

Its funny how our priorities can change as we age. And its funny how the things that people told you before, the life quotes that made you roll your eyes and exclaim loudly that it was going to be different for you because of how much you were in control of your life at 16 years old, actually come true. And right at that moment, you finally realise that you really don't have as much control over life as you think you do. 

A couple of months back at 24 years, i decided to skip the usual circle of life and travel around the world while i still could. I had the entire works in my head. The grandeur dreams of quitting my job and taking on a backpack much larger than my self to expose myself to the cultures and traditions of the world. At 24, i was all about living life one day at a time. It was the time to bask in my youth and my ability for non-committal travelling.

 I had no baggage, i had no commitments.

I was good to go. 

Procrastination aside, i didn't quit my job and i didn't buy a backpack too large for my size to handle. So 2014 passed by just like that. 

At age 25, i took action. 

I signed up for whatever i needed to, went to the appropriate agencies and got the approvals. I was going, this was actually happening. And then a funny thing happen. One fine day, while mentally noting the things i had to do, i realised that i didn't want to go. It came out of nowhere and just hit me, this weird intoxicating and yet gratifying feeling. I didn't want to leave anymore. Which is seemingly mental considering i've been spending the better half of my years dreaming about leaving. And in close to 3 days worth of thoughts, i completely put the notion out of my head and let it go. 

It really got me thinking as to what changed in my life for me to make a 180 turn in my mindset and in my thoughts. And for a while, i couldn't figure it out. There was nothing stopping me this time. My parents were supportive, Tim was supportive and i told all my close friends. Nothing in my life was different, but my mindset had taken a different mind on its own. As i grew up, i realised that my priorities had changed purely because i've changed as a person. I didn't need any drastic event to make a difference, i simply grew up. 

I grew up realising the importance of my family, my friends and my relationships here. Everything at my life was a constant but my thinking was a variable. It was only because i changed as a person, so did my mentality, my dreams and my goals. They all changed. I learned to appreciate what i had now instead of reaching out to appreciate something much further away. I learned to be thankful for the support i've received that makes me want to repay each and every person with ten-fold of that very same support. And for the people who stood behind me in every single decision that i made, patiently waiting for the day that i would come to truly understand and appreciate their value in my life. 

For that i am ever grateful.

"As i grew up, i realised that my priorities had changed. But it was only because i changed as a person, so did my mentality, my dreams and my goals. They all changed."

My first proper post back is kinda wordy without my usual self-obsessed pictures but this is one of those special posts that holds a lot of sentimental value for me. The precise reason why i started this space was to jot down the things that matter to me, so that when i get too complacent or ungrateful in life, i can look back and reflect on the mentality i had while typing this. 

My thoughts, my feelings and my reasoning. 

It's good to be back.

Till then,

Mel

EXPERIMENTAL: THE EXPERIMENT OF WORDS

Out of the blue, i miss writing and i miss my blog. Its so easy to get distracted so often with the other quicker, more accessible social networking apps that sometimes, all our thoughts and feelings are summarized down to a square picture and a few lines. I know i've mentioned this a couple times and i feel guilty like a cheating party who strays on my blog to use some newer, more hyped up app. And then suddenly, slowly slinks back to this page with an immense amount of guilt and self-pity.

 Shame on me.

For this whole month of March, i will be conducting a couple of lifestyle experiments for myself and documenting everything down. The first experiment is to come back to my blog and write a post for every single day that should consists of no less than 300 words. I love writing so i feel like this shouldn't be a problem. I just need to get back on track and not let fatigue and other distractions get in the way.

One Month, 4 experiments. Lets go