keeping it real

This last stretch in my pregnancy has been rough. Gone are the days of relishing in that pregnancy glow that everyone seems to be talking about. These days, I often find myself complaining about the 101 aches and pains that I feel all throughout my now unrecognizable body. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and don't recognize the person I see. Not to sound so much of a girl but this is the biggest and heaviest I've ever been in my entire life. And for a girl who managed to stay within the realms of 100 lbs for most of her life, I find it hard to look at 150 lbs register on the weighing scale (especially when you weigh in for your regular check up and the nurse's reaction to your weight is a resounding and unmistakable "WHOA!". Ah yes, please feel free to keep your opinions to yourself, thankyouverymuch).

I know this may sound selfish. After all, all this is for my baby. But sometimes, you got to keep it real. And I feel terrible to have to admit that there were days I caught myself saying I just want to get this over with.

But my husband, who is made of pure awesome, has a way of taking away all those nasty feelings. His encouraging words like "I'm so proud of you" or "Thank you for carrying my seed" (yes, it makes me laugh every time he says that), remind me to look at the bigger picture.

And this morning, he gave me another bit of sage advice. After telling him how boring it is to stay at home (did I mention that I am now in full time hatching mode?), he said that every day that passes is one day closer to meeting our little one.

And that thought changes everything.

the salad days

Lately, most of our days are spent like this. Relishing the quiet stillness of our apartment, indulging on spur-of-the-moment dates and late night dinners, unabashedly sleeping in til noon, and taking long guiltless afternoon naps after meals.

As much as we will miss the quiet, the freedom, the spontaneity of being just the two of us, I can't begin to describe how excited we are to welcome the new addition to our family. 60 more days til the little one arrives. D and I can't hardly wait.     

to my father-to-be

Today is Father's Day, and although you are not officially a father yet I want to honor you today. Why? Because I know in my heart you will be the best father any child could ask for.

We love you poppa!

epic march

It sure was. Who would've thought a month can turn your life around. It certainly was the case for March. Why?

Epic Germany: Frankfurt - Berlin - Trier - Bacharach - Frankfurt
It was truly a trip made of pure awesomeness. First long haul flight. First time out of Asia. First trip to Europe. First Doner Kebab. First currywurst... You get the idea. The whole time I was there, I had this goofy smile on my face and kept telling D to pinch me cos I can't believe I'm in Europe. It has always been a dream of mine to go, and when I turned 29 last year I told myself I'll make it happen before I turn 30.

 It's ok. I still love Berlin

 A walk along the Berlin Wall

 Soaking up the sun at Sanssouci Palace

 Climbing the walls of Porta Nigra

 Gorgeous Trier

Quaint little town of Bacharach 

And as if the trip in itself wasn't awesome enough, D and I received the most awesome (and I know I've been overusing the word awesome here but what the hell) news three days before leaving for Germany. Can you guess what it is? Here's a clue.

Baby Burckhardt coming out October 2012

D and I are over the moon. We said we were going to try this year but didn't think it would happen this soon. But we are overjoyed, just the same.

Funny story on how we found out: My mom was visiting and on her last day, she saw me making love to my toilet bowl so early in the morning. Upon sight of this, she immediately clapped her hands and jumped for joy. Perplexed by this behavior, I told her I must've eaten bad shrimp or something. She insisted I take a pregnancy test and wouldn't lay off it the whole day. I gave in and got a pregnancy test. We went home after a day of last-minute shopping and I took the test. And whaddayaknow, two lines! I was so excited and shocked and I-dunno-what, I broke the news to D on Whatsapp.

I know what you're thinking. Who does this? Ah well. It was joyous day nonethess.

A truly blessed month. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. The next few months will be interesting, to say the least. I'll keep you posted!

happy heart's day

Didn't I just say that one of the things I want to do this year is to blog more? 45 days in to 2012 and here I am struggling to keep up with my resolutions.

I know, I know. Allow me to make up for my slacking. I promise I. Will. Make. Time. To. Blog.

But for now, I leave you with snippets of my Valentine's Day.

Two for my second Valentine's as a Mrs

 Chicken Parmigiana made with love, by D

Something sweet for the sweet occassion

Happy Heart's Day, kids. May you always stay in love. 

powered by Skype

While D is in Berlin, we rely on our daily Skype dates to keep sane while apart.

I love, love, love this man. And I love, love, love Skype for making it possible to see him even when we're oceans apart.

Penang, Berlin, brie and maple bacon

Before I left the office yesterday, my boss told me to be safe and have a relaxin' good time. I took her advice to heart and I now find myself in cool hotel room, on a comfy bed, exploiting the hotel's wifi and downing a bag of Skittles. Now, this is what I call a relaxin' good time.

More often than not, this is how I end up when travelling alone. I end up locking myself in a hotel room. It's such a waste, I know. But sometimes I just can't be bothered to go out, especially after the madness that came with the wedding and diving right back to work; not having enough time to breathe. So this is me breathing. Let me get away with it, just this once.

I did go out earlier today to explore Georgetown, have a cup of coffee and grab a bite. I took Diana with me and took some shots. Penang is gorgeous. A perfect mix of old and new. A melting pot of cultures. A fusion of people. And although I haven't seen much of it, I am already in love. I know I want to go back. Hopefully, with D tagging along.

Speaking of D, he's now in Berlin. The time difference is a bit of a struggle. The highlight of my day usually consist of a call or an email from Germany. In his latest email, he wrote of his first experience of deep fried Camembert (which was "da bomb") and drinking in a 200-year old building with 20-foot ceilings and mismatched furniture. Sounds like my kind of place. I picture him having a good time, and wish I was there with him.

Maybe someday.

Sorry, I'm rambling again. Anyway, I think I'm going to give this 'explore Penang' thing one more shot. Maybe I'll fall for it some more.

For now, I leave you with this mouthwatering shot of an egg sandwich with melted brie and maple bacon. Melted brie and maple bacon. Yes, I just need to emphasize that.

[Photo via Framed Cooks]

fashion for him

D is leaving for Berlin tomorrow and I'll be off to Penang on Wednesday. We're both having separation anxiety over being apart. We're trying our best (try being the operative word) to just focus on the day we'll both be in the same continent again.

All week long, D's been a little worried about going to sub-zero Berlin. He hasn't worn a sweater in years, much more a coat. I, on the other hand, am very excited for him. Since I've been dreaming of dressing up for a colder climate for months, I can just live vicariously through him as he wanders around Germany for the next ten days. I went out and snagged him a coat (a steal from Zara), two sweaters, and a burgundy cashmere scarf. I've also been pinning different looks in Nerd Boyfriend and The Sartorialist to come up with looks for the hubby.

Here are some looks that I absolutely adore:

[Photos via 1 / 2 / 3 / 4]

the ultimate party

So. We got married. It's been a month now, and yet I still can't bring myself to write about it. I mean, seriously, where do I begin? I feel that to put everything that went on that day - the whirlwind of emotions and events - into words will be nothing short of  futile.

But that's what pictures are for. Here's a handful of my favorite pics from the big day. As they say, let the pictures do the talking.

Getting ready: The girls were busy making me pretty. I, on the other hand, was more concerned about loading film into my Colorsplash. I got priorities!

To the aisle we go: Not exactly a flattering picture but it is pretty memorable. Right as I was about to walk down the aisle, my throat felt really dry. I think I finished the whole bottle in one gulp. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who was parched. D had a beer right before he walked down the aisle. 


Funny, too, that tourists who were staying in the villas lined up on the walkway were taking pictures of me. Damn paparazzi... Ha!

Here comes the bride: One word: Surreal. I couldn't believe it was finally happening. I was nervous, giddy, and extremely self-conscious. I'm not used to having people gawking and staring at me. But when I looked up all I could see was D, and that made me feel a lot better. At that point, everyone disappeared. All I could see was him. 

The handover: I honestly thought I would be bawling at this point. Every time I thought about this moment months before the wedding, I cried. But it wasn't the case on The Day. I just hugged my Dad real tight and said, "This feels like a rehearsal but I guess this is really happening."

At the altar: Again, everyone disappeared. It felt like D and I were the only ones there.

His vows: D's vows made everyone laugh out loud. He said he didn't want it to be so serious. He vowed to go shopping with me even though he hates malls, protect me from the birds that I am so afraid of, do the dishes for the rest of our lives, and ended it perfectly by saying, "I vow to always remember how much I love you right now."

Her vows: Weeks before the wedding, D reminded me incessantly to write my vows. I told him I'll just wing it on The Day. He laughed and thought I was kidding. Well, guess what? I wasn't. I didn't write my vows. I didn't prepare at all. I guess I wanted to speak from the heart and just be as spontaneous as possible. I told him that two years ago, I didn't think this day would even be remotely possible; that he changed my life; and that the last two years with him has been the happiest years of my life. I told him that everything I did with him felt like the most natural thing in the world, that I've never been so sure of anyone in my life.So that day, I told him that promising ever after with him felt like the most natural thing I've ever done.

The red kiss: After our first kiss as husband and wife, I looked at D and saw that he was wearing my lipstick. 

Husband and wife: Once pronounced as Mr and Mrs Burckhardt, we were ready to par-tayyy!

And what a party it was.

we did

We did it! I still can't believe that the madness that was our Ultimate Wedding Weekend has come and gone. A gazillion thanks to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join us in promising ever after to each other. D and I are overwhelmed with love and gratitude. Each and every one of you made it the best party we've ever thrown in our entire lives.

A special shout out to...

To our parents: We've said it once, and we'll say it again - thank you for bringing us into this world so we could find each other and fall in love. We couldn't have done this without you. Seriously.  

To RAD, who is the most badass officiant the world has ever known: A job well done. Asking you to marry us was one of the best decisions we've ever made.

To Teddy, the bestest man ever: Thank you for flying all the way to Bangkok from the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. You were the best man not to just to Dieter, but to me as well. 

To Alex, who kept me sane throughout this whole shebang: Thank you for shooing away random strangers taking my picture while waiting to walk down the aisle. And for just being there. You deserved to win that bouquet toss. You're next! I can feel it in my bones.

To Edmir, Shane and my cousin, Russel: You guys turned my vision to life. D and I were amazed with what the three of you have done with the place. You guys rock.

My AA girls: Thank you! Thanks Angelica for my make-up. Thanks Dimple for my hair. Thanks Cat for taking control of the fujidroid. Thanks Binx for being there against all odds. It was nice being surrounded by familiar faces during what was possibly the most stressful and nerve-wracking day of my life.

Truth be told, D and I's favorite part of the wedding was when we got back from the shoot and saw all of our friends, in a sea of white, mingling and drinking, with the sun setting in the background. At that point, D and I turned to each other and smiled because that was exactly what we were thinking of when we were planning this wedding - our families (Bangkok friends, highschool and college friends, and immediate family) coming together. It was perfect.

So thank you, thank you, thank you. And just for good measure, thank you. We can never say those two words enough.


*Cross-posted from our wedding blog. 

us married

WARNING: If you're not a fan of cheese and mush, move right along...

This is the first weekend that it's just us again, us being married. It's surreal. D and I always figured the wedding is just a wedding; just because we signed a piece of paper and said our vows in front of a group of people, doesn't mean we'll love each other more than we already do. But somehow it feels different. I look at him from across the table and remind myself that this man is my husband, my partner for life. The thought of spending the rest of my life with him excites me to no end. It makes me want to bust a move, jump around, and slap on the widest grin I could muster.

Three weeks have passed since the whirlwind that was our wedding weekend, and I am still beaming. When friends ask us how it feels to be married, we joke and say, "21 days in, and the magic is still there!" The magic is still there. It really is.

I didn't think it was possible to love him any more than I already do. When I think of just how crazy I am about this guy, my heart feels like it's going to explode. Words fail me and I am afraid I won't be able to rightfully express just how much he means to me. Like Dorothy Boyd saying "I love him, Laurel. I love him. I love him!" over and over.

The Monday after the wedding weekend, I went straight back to work. I went home everyday that week feeling an inexplicable sense of calmness and contentment that I have never experienced before. As I made my way home at the end of the day, I thought, I just had a productive day at work and now I am coming home to my husband. We'll eat dinner, talk about how our day went, sit on the couch, put our legs up on the coffee table and watch TV.

And that made me think, Man, this is the life!

PS Pictures will be up soon!

the answer will always be yes

D has been proposing to me ever since I moved in with him. Usually, I would answer with a coy smile or a "let's play it by ear" type of reply. It was not until we celebrated our first year anniversary that I finally gave a definitive answer.

I didn't think he had anything planned that day. He just told me to meet up with him at Siam Paragon for dinner. But little did I know, this remarkably clever man had something up his sleeve. Once at the meeting point, he gave me his first surprise. A Fuji Instax 200 camera. The one I've been eyeing on for months. I was beaming. Then it was on to the next surprise. Sunset cocktails at Sirocco Sky Bar. We sipped our ice cold mojitos while enjoying a 360-view of Bangkok. Slightly buzzed and on a high over these lovely surprises, we then headed to the third and last surprise of the night. A romantic candlelit dinner for two at Arun Residence.

It was beautiful. We went home that night feeling extremely lucky to have found each other.

Back home, we settled in our bed with laptops in tow. Both of us were glued to our laptop screens. Then moments later, I felt his gaze fixed at me. I looked at him to see what was wrong. As I turned to him, he exclaimed, "Marry me!" It caught me by surprise but it didn't stop me from answering with a resounding "Yes!"

And that was that. D and I got engaged in our bed, without a ring, and with only the words Marry Me and Yes.

Months passed. There was still no ring. I didn't mind. Ring or no ring, I plan to spend the rest of my life with this man. Ring or no ring, the answer will always be YES.

Until a trip to Chinatown. I chanced upon cocktail rings sold in boxes by the side street. I spotted a beautiful turquoise one and I instantly knew I had to get it. D saw how much I wanted the ring and so he offered to buy it for me. For 2 for 100 baht, he got me two. He took the turquoise ring and asked for my hand. He slipped it on my finger and again, asked me to marry him, right in the middle of Samphaeng market. Of course, I said yes.

Since then, I've been proudly wearing this gargantuan turquoise ring on my left ring finger.

Until one day, D suggested we look at wedding rings. Take note: wedding ring not engagement ring. I was perfectly happy with that. We set out that day to look at wedding bands. But somehow we ended up with a beautiful sapphire engagement ring instead.

The ring had to be resized and we wanted one in white gold so we couldn't take it home that day. We had to come back weeks later.

And so last Saturday, after what seemed like a long wait, D and I went back to the jewelry shop, picked up my engagement ring, and once again, he asked me to marry him.

Naturally, I said yes. Again.

meet mrs. b

I haven't met my soon-to-be mother in law in person yet, but we have spoken many times over chat and Skype call. I've met moms of boyfriends before but Mrs. B is different. She makes me feel right at home. I don't think I've ever felt so comfortable with a mom of a boyfriend before. She's just too sweet. In one phone conversation she said to me: "I'm so excited to have another daughter! Thank you for making my son very happy." It made my heart melt! I'm really excited to meet her in person in January!

Anyhoo, I came across this vintage picture of her posted by my soon-to-be father in law on Facebook.

I love this picture of her.
 

D said his Dad always looks at this photo fondly. Now that deserves a resounding aww...

of house color and world cup fever

I recently caught a sneak peek of the talented Karen Barlow's home at D*S, and was instantly drawn to the brilliant mix of vibrant colors and rich textures in her home. Just check out the bold colors in her living room!

[Photo from Design*Sponge]

SO JEALOUS! I swear someday I, too, will have a home that will be so colorful it will put Rainbow Brite to shame! I can't wait to go crazy with paint.

Want to see more of this awesome home? Click here.


In other news, World Cup fever has started and has infected D. D, albeit not being much of a sportsman, grew up in a household where football matches are always on. My soon-to-be father in law is a football fanatic. D describes him as a "couch kicker". If there are 11 players on the field, D's dad is the 12th player hitting goals from the comfort of his own couch.

Tonight (well, more like Sunday morning), D and I will go to the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel to watch the US vs England game together with other Brits and Americans. The event is being sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM) and the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (BCCT). Although I am not a big football fan, I will be there for the free flowing drinks and the ever-so amusing trash talking. It'll be a lot of fun!

this is it

Last night, D and I gave the down payment for the hotel reservations for our big BBQ party in 2011. As soon as the transaction was made, D turned to me and said "This is really happening! Seems more real now. We're getting married!"

So for you guys who haven't caught on, the BBQ Party I keep referring to is our wedding which will be in January 2011. I didn't really want to make a big fuss about the announcement but...

YES! WE ARE GETTING MARRIED!

*happy dance*fist pumps*high kicks*chest bump*do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about*

I'm excited! elated! ecstatic! over the moon! ridiculously and deliriously happy that I am marrying the bestest man in the world! What can I say? I'm one lucky girl.

So with that I leave you with the first pictures of D and I, taken on our semikindasorta first date.

Probably One of the happiest days of my life. 

Afternoon picnic at the park followed by dinner and drinks at Heineken Green Space, Central World.