Surviving the post-Christmas coma..

It's a couple of days after Christmas and you're still reeling from all the food that you've been scarfing and chowing down on. Piles of potato salad and turkeys and various bits of foods that you've been nibbling on are dancing through your dreams nightly. In fact, you feel like a turkey yourself. How do you get back in shape to celebrate the New Year in your new and sparkly clothes? Here's how :

1. Water! Water! Water!
We can't emphasize how important it is to continue drinking water (even though every bit of your stomach feels like it will explode if another milligram of water was added to it). And by water, we don't mean those carbonated drinks. Just plain water is vital to keeping your body processes working properly - yup, getting all those barbequed and fried toxins out of your body.

2. Eat less, but eat more often.
Holiday seasons are when most tables will be overloaded with food. Variety is fine as long as there's moderation. Control that desire to overeat and space it out with more frequent meals. Your body will thank you for it.

3. Sip, don't glug.
What Christmas holiday will be complete without all that alcoholic drinks floating around? Eggnogs, beers, wines... those top the list of most popular drinks. Alcoholic haze aside, try to space out the drinks with some sips of water (can't emphasize how important it is...). It helps to keep you sober and keeps you from dehydrating more quickly.

4. Get up, get down, get around.
Visiting friends and loved ones are the best way to get some exercise. And we don't mean just exercising the mouth. Take a walk around the park with your family. Play some games with your group of friends. Go jogging with your normal exercise pals.

These tips will help you for your post-New Year daze as well. Good luck and Happy New Year!

Holiday Gift Ideas For The Engaged Couple's Family

Ok, so you're engaged, and you're happy.. but you're kinda in between families at the moment. And the holidays are looming ever closer... what do you do for holiday gifts?? Well, no need to fret, just take a look at some of our gift ideas for everyone.

Gift Ideas For His/Her:
-Dad
Has he always wanted that expensive gardening shears to cut the hedges? Or does he appreciate a fine bottle of brandy? Perhaps that new golf club he's been eyeing lately? If those are a bit on the expensive side, how bout getting him a new pair of shoes (for your wedding, perhaps....)? Ties and socks are always safe and easy, but the gifts are a bit tired and uncreative.

- Mom
Giving moms some item to grace their home is usually a good idea. Take a look around the house, does she have a collection that she proudly keeps and displays? Help her add to that collection. Beauty items are usually well-received as well - perfume tops the list here. Take note of the brand she uses and what items are running low.

- Siblings
Again, the key to giving a good gift is to notice the interest that your recipient has and to get a gift in line with that interest. This shows that you have given thought and care into the giving of the gift. Are the siblings a more tech-y group? Do they like reading? What kind of books if so? What are their interests? Where do they spend their free time and what on? Think about these questions, the answers will normally give you an idea.

General Gift Ideas :
A bottle of wine, a fruit basket, or holiday cookies are always safe bets if you don't really know what else to get. To give a more intimate touch (after all, you're almost family now!), personalise it with a handmade card and finish up the decorations with some flowers.

Wedding Planner Checklist Part II

Continued from Checklist Part I, here's the final part to our guide to help you through the best day of your life.



1 month before the wedding :
1. Call guests to confirm RSVP.
2. Confirm the gown and suit fitting.
3. Run through the checklist and make sure that the details have been taken care of.
4. Confirm the seating plan for the dinner.
5. Schedule time for a rehearsal.

1 week before the wedding :
1. Prepare red packets, thank you cards, payments and money gifts.
2. Finalise the honeymoon travel arrangements and start packing.
3. Call the vendors and make sure all is in place.
4. Collect the bridal gowns and suits.

1 day to the wedding :
1. Have a manicure and pedicure.
2. Decorate the ceremony and reception area.
3. Decorate the bridal car.
4. Take a deep breath and prepare to look radiant for the day!

Wedding Planner Checklist Part I

Once you've settled on the date of your wedding, you will need to start planning for the big day. The best way is to get a general idea of what to do by having a checklist of the things you need to do. It's better to break it down by time line and categories to get a clearer picture.

Here is a guideline to help you plan the best day ever!

8-12 months before the wedding :
1. Meet the parents.
2. Decide the theme of your wedding.
3. Agree on the budget and decide how to split the bill.
4. Start on your guestlist.
5. Begin shopping for wedding vendors like the florists, caterers, photographers and musicians.
6. Assemble the bridal party.

6 months before the wedding :
1. Reserve the wedding venues.
2. Confirm the vendors and pay the required deposits.
3. Start shopping for the bridal party attire.
4. Take wedding photographs for bride and groom.
5. Shop for wedding bands.
6. Plan for the honeymoon.
7. Design the wedding invitations.

3 months before the wedding :
1. Decide on the wedding favours.
2. Finalise wedding invitations and guest list.
3. Book makeup artist and hairstylist.
4. Pick out the music to fit your ceremony and reception.
5. Get friends to help out as ushers, emcees, guest registrars, drivers and others.
6. Mail wedding invites.

If you've passed the timeline and your wedding day is impending, not to worry. Just readjust the timeline, and also check out our Part II post to catch up on the planning for your wedding.

A Cool Engagement Party For Two

If parties aren't your thing and you prefer more private settings to celebrate your engagement together, try a road trip just for the two of you. If you prefer a cool place to snuggle up together, head for the mountains. If you want fun and sun, try the beach.

A good highland area to head to is Cameron Highlands. Temperatures range from about 15^o C to 23^o C, but it usually stays at a mid range point around 17^o C. The room prices depend on the quality and location. You can get a reasonable room in the Brinchang area for anything less than RM150, allowing about RM25 - RM50 surcharge during school holidays and festive seasons. For more than RM150, you should expect a better than average room and a good view thrown in as well.

The cool weather is perfect for the adventurous couple to hike the numerous trails on Cameron. For those couples who prefer a quieter atmosphere, consider having high tea with the famous Boh or Bharat tea to accompany your meal.

Other activities you can do, aside from visiting the tea plantations and hiking, is to visit the strawberry farms that can be found almost anywhere and try your hand at self-plucking the strawberries. For flower and plant fans, most of the roadside shops sell a variety of plants - mini roses, cactus, ferns and daisies just to name a few. Take the opportunity to get a big bouquet of flowers for your other half - at a much cheaper price. :)

During the evening, don't forget to visit the night market and finish the day with a steaming hot steamboat dinner. You can even take this opportunity to start planning your wedding. Check out the next post for ideas on how to do that.

Enjoy Your Engagement Party!

Any excuse is a good excuse for a party, and what better excuse could there be than an engagement? Here's some tips to help get your feet wet as a newly engaged couple.

1. The theme
If you've already decided on the theme and colour of your wedding, you could choose to host an engagement party in complement to that theme. Else if you don't want to provide a sneak preview of the wedding, pick a contrasting theme.

2. The guestlist
Decide on how big you want your party to be. Do you want it to be an intimate gathering of family? Does it include friends? How about work colleagues? Neighbours?

3. The venue
The venue is largely dependent on the number of guests, but options to consider are your backyard or house (which helps cut down on the costs), a nice neighbourhood restaurant or a hotel hall.

4. The food and drinks
Going for something fun and light like finger foods and snacks? Or aiming for something more like a sit-down dinner? Do you want to provide any alcoholic beverages or just stick with fizzy and light drinks? Remember to count in any children that your guests may bring and provide some suitable food for them.

Whether small or big, formal or informal, it's your engagement party. Celebrate the news together with people near and dear to your heart, and remember to have fun!

Getting In The Groove

Lights! Music! Flowers! Having the right peripherals helps you set the right mood to the central theme of your proposal.


1. Lighting helps. It really does.
A major mood-setter is the lighting of the environment. Yellow lights or soft lighting tend to give a more romantic feel to the overall environment. That's the reason why candlelight dinners remain one of the top places to pop the question. In a place that does not offer candlelit dinners, the dreamy, soft effect of candles can be duplicated by lamps or muted lights. Of course, this setting also helps ease any nerves a guy may have about proposing (hides the blushes!).

2. So does music.
Depending on what mood you're targeting to set, music plays an important role. Though most would probably opt for a more traditional approach with the typical slow love songs, others may choose to go with alternatives. Jazzy music helps set a bluesy mood, while classical instrumentals may give a more formal feel to the situation. Perhaps to you, playing head-bangers is the way to go. Anything goes as long as it helps you both to get into the mood.

3. Flowers add the final touch.
Unless your gal suffers from hay fever, think about getting her a bouquet of flowers to complement your proposal. A single stalk can also provide an elegant feel. Make sure that the flower you choose gives the correct meaning to the occasion. The color of the flowers is also important.

Now, you're all set to propose. Good luck!

Choosing The Best Place To Propose

Picking the right spot to propose takes some thinking. Here are some tips to get you started on choosing that memorable place.



1. Meaningful.
Select a place that has been memorable, or that you want to make memorable. Such spots would include the place where you had your first date, first kiss or even the place where you first met. Of course, it does not have to be a place you've been before. Perhaps she has been talking about going to that new restaurant down the road. Kill two birds with one stone by bringing her there.

2. Conducive.
Naturally, just choosing a meaningful place would not work if it wasn't also conducive to your impending proposal. Perhaps you had your first date at a hockey stadium. Yet it would not too good an idea to shout the proposal in her ear amongst cheering fans! So make sure that the place you choose has the right environment and ambiance for your perfect proposal.

3. Re-visitable.
Opting for somewhere that has relative permanence could also be a place to consider. Taking a walk in the park followed by a romantic proposal could give you a place to re-visit during your anniversaries.

4. Play by ear.
Of course, sometimes you just have to be spontaneous! It may not be the place or time that you've picked out, but if it feels right and the flow's going, why not consider just going for it? Being flexible and responding to the situation is one of the most important factors in making your marriage proposal the best it could be!

The Perfect Engagement Ring

Choosing the perfect engagement ring can turn out to be a headache. Especially if you're planning on keeping the proposal a surprise... Well, here are some factors to help you find the perfect ring for her (or, him!).


1. What's the style of the ring?
Though the solitaire is the most popular choice, there are various other styles that you can consider. Some may go for the plain band and others go for the multi-stones set in a band. Some may inherit engagement rings from their mothers or grandmothers. And still others may consider designing the ring for a more unique and personal touch.

2. What gemstone (if any) do you plan to get?
There are many types of gemstones that you can buy as the centerpiece of your ring. Diamonds are usually the most popular choice, followed by precious gemstones like rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Choosing her birth stone is also an alternative that you can consider.

3. What's the stone's shape?
Once you've decided on the gemstone, it makes it easier to decide on the shape of the stone and its setting. The shape normally would either be round, oval or square. For the round shape, the most popular setting would be the Tiffany 6-prong or 4-prong setting. Square settings would usually be the princess cuts.

4. What metal does she like?
There are the usual selection of yellow gold, white gold or platinum. Of course, another metal that you can consider is the humble silver.

5. What's her ring size?
The most beautiful ring would still look awkward on her finger if it's the wrong size. Try sneaking away one of her rings to get it sized. Or get help from someone who may know her size. If all fails, you may have to just re-size it later together with her.

With so many choices, it can sometimes be overwhelming to make the choice. Regardless, propose with a sincere heart and she will most likely love the ring and treasure it.

Will You Marry Me?

The first step in moving towards a life together is the marriage proposal. Few things to keep in mind when preparing to propose :



1. Getting the engagement ring.
There are many different types of rings that you can get. The choices vary depending on the price. You could go for a plain band or one with a stone. The usual favorite would be the diamond solitaire. Well, as they say, diamonds are a girl's best friend. The choice doesn't stop there. For the ring, you can choose to have it made in platinum, white gold, or yellow gold. Even silver if your budget is limited. Ultimately, it is up to you to find out what your intended likes and get that for her. That will certainly help in increasing your chances to get a YES when you pop the question. (Read more...)

2. Choosing the environment and atmosphere.
The right environment is vital to creating a special memory for your proposal. Again, this depends on your partner and what you have shared in your relationship. Most people usually opt for "that special place" or probably going somewhere or doing something that has a special meaning to both of you. (Read more...)

3. Setting the mood.
Make sure the mood is right before popping the question. Music, flowers and lighting helps to set the mood, but getting that intimate feeling is much more than just making sure that the external setting is correct. Reminiscing of old times and sweet memories usually helps in keeping the mood sentimental and receptive. Should there be a downturn of events during your planned proposal, you might want to adjust the timing or try to patch things up before going ahead with the proposal. (Read more...)

4. Popping the question.
Now, remember to rehearse the question before actually popping it. You could do it facing the mirror in the bathroom or facing a photo of her. It does not have to be a 50-page speech, but make it something that gives meaning and depth to the proposal. After all, it will be a cherished memory for the both of you. Why not make it a good one?