The point of this post was to marvel at how much I can spend on books, CDs and DVDs on a single trip to a book store. ._. Occasionally, I even splurge on stationery. This is dangerous! Someone keep me away from these places! Dx

I met up with Lorraine, a dear friend I hung out with back in college, two Friday nights ago. I dragged her (not quite literally) to Borders, without the intention of getting anything, seeing as just the previous week, I got two design books (this and this) which were on 50% off.

However… *danger music* I decided I wanted to get Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith, it was on offer and was only $24.99. :p As we browsed through the store, I spotted some design books on a row of shelves with other random books, so I flipped through the design ones. Then I looked up… to a sign that said something along the lines of “spend at least $30 and get any of these books for $10!” BREAKING POINT! I had to have those design books.

I mean, if you’re a design student, you know how much design books cost, and how crazy it would be to get a few of them just for referencing. Part of the reason why we’re always broke, lol. I grabbed the two design books (this and this) and went in search of other things to up my purchases to $30. Lorraine also grabbed a book she liked to put on my tab, since it was only going to be $10 anyway. xD

I looked around the DVD section since I had CD & DVD coupons from the Borders newsletter, and ended up getting Up and Night at the Museum. As I was about to go pay, we passed by a wagon with DVDs below $15, so I got Final Destination. xD

So… there you have it. This is how I can go into a bookstore without planning to get anything, to coming out with way too many things. :| Emptied my gift card and paid for the rest myself. Scary, huh? Haha.

Have you had this experience before? Or are you really disciplined with your money? :p

October 2008, my mother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Everything happened so fast after that. She underwent surgery in November and started chemo early 2009. It was a tough period for the family, especially my dad. He lost a lot of weight. I was praying so hard throughout the entire time, and right now, mum’s doing fine. She’s still going back to the hospital every now and then to have injections for her immune system, but she’s gone back to her normal lifestyle and I cannot be more thankful.

We were in and out of the hospital a lot, because just before all this happened, my grandmother had a bad fall, and dislocated her hip. She underwent a successful surgery. Mum then had her surgery while gran was recuperating. I’ve never been happier to stop having visits to the hospital.

While this recent situation has daunted me, I can only continue praying for her wellbeing and trust that God will keep her healthy. It has also made me realise how thankful I actually am for the parentals. I haven’t actually been a model daughter, so this year, I’m going to try and change that. Family is something that can’t be replaced, so please don’t take yours for granted. :)

God was kind enough to answer most of my prayers in 2009, so I’m really thankful for that. Praying really helped me through last year.

With chemo all done, Mum’s pretty much back to her normal self. :) Pray the cancer doesn’t come back and she stays healthy.

As for work, it’s been crazy. My first full-time job after graduation; I shouldn’t be complaining. It’s a good stepping stone, even if the hours are ridiculous. I’m literally overworked and underpaid, no exaggeration.

The second half of 2009 was really the highlight of the entire year, because I got to go back to church after a really long absence; the result of a really random friendship. :3 Thank God for drawing me back to Him.

For 2010, I have quite a bit more expectations than I did last year.
Note: Expectations aren’t the same as resolutions.

I’d like to:

• Be a better Christian, to grow more spiritually and learn to listen more to God. I need to be more in tune with Him instead, and absorb less from my surroundings, because He matters most.
  Pastor’s vision for me was an antenna that was facing downwards instead of up. He said I should not be too concerned about things of this earth and to be more in tune with God. It made me think of the time when God showed me this verse:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
- Matthew 6:25

• Have a stronger family bond. After secondary school, I’ve really drifted away from my family, and I don’t even know why. I’m completely distant from them and I don’t tell them as much as I did when I was younger. I’d love to be close to them once again.
• Be an inspiration and a living testimony to my family, so that one day, they would join me in church to worship God. :)
• Take up something active! If only I could get someone to go for hip hop dance classes with me. :p
• Do more creative things to boost my portfolio.
• Take care of my health better; eat better and live positively.

That’s pretty much all I can think of for now. The first day of the new year is coming to a close. With that, I bid 2009 goodbye. May the new year bring good things to everyone. :) God bless!

Speaking of technology, I went and collected my MBP at the end of last month because they kept me waiting for two weeks and it was more than I could tolerate. Dad was kind enough to drive all the way to IMM Jurong for me. :) It’s been working amazingly and I’m in love. :)

Over the last two weeks, I also finally got a contract line. I think it was long due, and I no longer need to be anti-social. May my friends rejoice? I got a free phone with my new line, and Dad got the iPhone 3G after renewing his. We made a deal to exchange, since he already got the iPod Touch. :p My iPhone’s been awesome, and I cannot stop playing Tap Tap Revenge 2, lol!

Besides that, work’s been the same as always: fun and stressful. There isn’t really much to tell about it, the only time I really look forward to, is lunch. xD Since ION Orchard opened, we’ve been heading over there everyday during our lunch time. I cannot get enough of that place! Totally need to go back to Topshop and get me a pair of their cute canvas shoes, haha.

It was also nice that I managed to chat to Will today. He’s currently doing a course in Germany, so I haven’t spoken to him in days. Texts don’t really count for much talking, does it? Haha. I totally forgot he was going there till I noticed he hadn’t been online in a few days. Shows how good a friend I am, I guess. xD