Entries from December 2007 ↓

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times“

So goes the immortal words of Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities which happens to be one of my favourite classics. I remember loving the mini-series - I think it was the gore of the guillotine But I digress…

With 2007 fast approaching its end and 2008 peeping round the door it is that time of year for reflection and reflecting on it, 2007 has been quite a rollercoaster year for me but I love rollercoasters eh?

On the blog front

• I started this blog on my own domain and made loads of new friends *hugs to all of you*
• I learnt to set up sub-domains and to buy new domains
• I learnt Wordpress and CSS and relearnt HTML through lots of trial and error
• I made a nice tidy sum in USD from blogging - enough for me to indulge in a new couch and then some
• After much experimentation, I learnt that as with all things, less is more and thus this personal site of mine has a simple template with no adsense and minimum advertising.
• After much consideration, I decided I love all my sites too much to let them go down the drain just for money
• I (as Paris B) appeared in the press, not once but twice!!!
• I was #1 on Google for a long long time for “Pavilion Kuala Lumpur” and am still on the first page if you google it

On the personal front

• I took a giant leap into the unknown world of self employment and uncertain income and am still swimming with the sharks
• I suffered a lot of heartache over inconsequential ghosts
• I learnt to let go and look forward and am happier as a result
• Bloggers ended up being real when I met one and spoke to another on the phone

• I had my worst nightmare come true when my bag and personal documents got stolen for the first time
• I bought 2 new phones this year (not by choice both times)
• My best friend from when we were knee high got married!!!
• My only sister got engaged!!!
• I discovered I love treasure hunts after going for my first one
• I went white water rafting and loved every second of it even if I was swept away!
• My new car suffered a flat tyre and had to be towed and I discovered it was subject to “emo” problems too just like me
• I travelled when I could and ended the year on a travelling, shopping, gastronomic high
• My Dad graduated with a degree and I saw my uncle whom I haven’t seen in 5 years!!

Lots more happened throughout the year but these were the highlights and lowlights as it were. I would have done many things differently and there are some things I would not have done at all. But overall, 2007 looks like its been a pretty decent year.

I don’t make resolutions as a rule, but for 2008, I have one:

• To stay positive and be happy

If the “Secret” is anything to go by, this one little resolution will pave the way for all good things to come in 2008.

Here’s wishing all readers of Paris Beaverbanks - the fluff must go somewhere:

Happy New Year 2008!!

These adorable adorable bowls are the reason for my silence these few days. (I thought I’d better quickly explain before I get frantic SMS-es asking me to update hehe…) At 70% off, they came up to about RM8 each

I was down in Singapore (jetsetter that I am!) for an overnight business-pleasure trip. I cleverly arranged it so I went down in the morning and came back late the following day so I had 2 days to hit the malls where post-Christmas shopping was at its frenzied zenith.

I also viewed the annual Christmas light up along Orchard Rd. which seems to have diminished in splendor compared to their previous efforts. I remember that each mall would do a major decoration in front of the mall but this time, there was hardly even a Christmas tree to be found. Very disappointing.

Shopping was decent but I found that with the current exchange rate, some things actually work out cheaper here albeit choice and variety abound in Singapore. I ended up buying mostly fruits - Japanese Mikan Oranges and Australian mangoes and Japanese Honey Fuji Apples which weren’t cheap but were oh so much nicer (and comparatively cheaper) than the ones we get here, and some chocolate dipped shortbread from Marks & Spencers that were going for a song, to fatten up the people in my family hehe…

The household departments of Takashimaya and Tangs made me wish I had a hundred kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms to furnish. I love their choice of stuff and the prices were pretty decent too. 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sateen sheets!! Believe you me, I had a hard time tearing myself away from the selection.

Its been an awesome end to the year - let 2008 bring more travel and shopping!!

When I returned from Bangkok and took some pictures of my purchases, I was very surprised to see that the stuff cramming the numerous plastic bags I was lugging all over the place didn’t look that much after all when laid out

I indulged mostly in clothes from the clothes market at Pratunam, where the clothes were super duper cheap especially if you purchase at least 3 pieces or more. Quality is a little suspect, I’d admit, but choice and selection were awesome for “disposable clothes”. In fact, they looked suspiciously like some of the clothes you’d find at boutiques here in Malaysia!

Lingerie too was cheap. Dare I say cheaper than that found at Chicwear? Yes I dare! And yes I do say so! I bought up tons of silky satiny lacy bits for both sis and myself.

At Chatuchak weekend market where it was sweltering in the oppressive heat, I picked up some lovely pieces of handicraft that I’m getting framed for my living room wall. They are worked with beads and sequins and were, I thought, unique looking pieces that would go well with the increasingly eclectic theme of my home. Ironically, the framing is probably going to cost me a heck of a lot more than the piece itself!!

And finally, a Fiberwig mascara from Watsons at half the price I’d get here so I finally get to try it (hurray!) and a couple of pouches - one for coins and a bling bling one for my mobile so I can locate it easily in my cavernous bag that I carry everyday. There are a couple of other stuff I missed out so I guess you could say this is the edited version By the way, L’oreal products are usually cheaper in Thailand - it might be because its manufactured there but I always stock up on my sunscreen there (or ask anyone going to get it for me) and this time was no different.

The rest of my shopping was for groceries. Yes, I have a bad habit of shopping for groceries everytime I go to another country. Neighbour’s grass being greener and all. But when I go to Bangkok, I always make sure to stop by the Big C supermarket for my fix of instant noodle, dried fruits, Milo (believe me Thai Milo is tons tons yummier than our version!) and whatever else watches my fancy. On this trip, it was Nescafe Mocha Chocco and Cappucino instant coffee. Why don’t we ever get the interesting stuff here?!?! *grumble*

Ok I had more than one night in Bangkok, but it is never enough!

I’m sorry I have been silent over the past few days - this includes anyone who emailed me and thought I was terribly rude not to reply. The truth of the matter is that I was away on a family vacation in Bangkok. Needless to say, I shopped myself dry and stuffed myself more than a turkey with the yummy food in Bangkok. I only got back yesterday and I did not bring my camera so um… no photos sorry! I’ll try to take a quick pic of my purchases - somehow there weren’t as many by the time I got home and looked at them!

Today, I got into the office and saw this on my desk.

Aww… my first Christmas card (from friends) in a long long time and its from Tine! An electronic card is not the same and cannot compare to the joy of having a real honest-to-goodness card in your hand, with a lovely handwritten message in it. Thank you, Tine!

And here’s a picture I forgot about:

Christmas decor at Midvalley Megamall. It looked to me like it was on fire or something

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!

Having received so many requests to disclose what I bought myself this Christmas, here is what I bought me:

A Salvatore Ferragamo leather bag/clutch/pouch thingy.

Please excuse the grainy pictures. These ones taken on my phone camera didn’t turn out well at all. What caught my eye about this bag was the fact that the metal chain link strap is detachable so I can turn it into a clutch! And a clutch is what I’ve been wanting for a long long time.

Of course, the hefty discount played a part in swaying me too. So here we have it, my Christmas gift to me! Just 3 more days to go!!