CHERYL

Today is another rest day for me, and most probably my second last one until I get real busy towards the end of this week. So I pretty much slept in today and woke up at 10:30 instead of forcing myself to wake up before 10, like what I usually do heh. I must say that my body clock has indeed improved since the start of the year, since the latest time I sleep at now is at 1am in the morning. *pats self* I honestly didn't do much today except catching up with the latest episode of Cheese in the trap, writing letters and then meeting my BFF for dinner. We had vegan food at Tampines food court and as usual, we talked about life, relationships and our friends. And this silly girl was still kept in the dark about my departure date because I lied to her previously, hahah. And after she was in safe hands I walked home alone, and I must say I walked pretty darn fast today probably because of the really filling dinner I had. Before I got home I met my mum's closest bunch of friends and also my neighbours who were chatting happily by the pool since they wanted a photo with me before I left, hahah how cute. They proceeded to hand me red packets and said well-wishes, and man I'm so thankful for that gesture and their thoughtfulness. I ran home to watch the TV, and now after the episode has ended, I'm just going to REST. Tomorrow's going to be a day of filming, editing and maybe another day out. We shall see.

It's the first day of February today, and January was really good to me and it ended on an especially good note because I heard from one of my friends that he has been a vegetarian for a week now, and he also told me that another friend of mine has recently turned vegan as well. It just made me so giddy with happiness after hearing that because it was just so unexpected of him. It also restored my faith in humanity a little, hee. Last night I didn't have a good sleep so I had to drag myself out of bed this morning. I made myself another bowl of peanut butter oatmeal and quickly got changed because I was running late for my dental appointment. My dentist polished my teeth for me and changed thicker wires for my braces, man they HURT like hell. They have been hurting for the whole day today, and sigh it's going to last for a few more days. WELL.

And so after dental I went shopping alone nearby and got meself some basics, a pair of shorts, bought some gifts for my family and friends, and finally HUMMUS. I've been craving hummus on toasts for the longest time ever, and so I finally bought them today. When I got home I immediately made some toasts with hummus, and my tastebuds were SO satisfied. After that I just chilled lying on the floor and left home in the evening to meet a friend. I finally met JT after more than half a year, and it was so nice seeing him again. We chatted for almost two hours and then it was time to meet my aunt and uncle for dinner, so I said goodbye to him and met them. I had some sushis, noodles and lots of ginger and talked to them about life in general. After dinner my brother and I went to the supermarket together to get two bunches of bananas, HEHE. We held hands and chatted happily while walking home. I'm just so thankful for having him, his company and all his love. What a lovely way to end today. 

I woke up CAUTIOUSLY today, hahah. I felt like I've lost a few litres of blood over night, so I woke up a little earlier than usual today. But after my toilet business I went back to bed again because I still felt so tired...and after half an hour later I finally convinced myself to get up. Only because I was HUNGRY hahah. So after making meself another oatmeal bowl, I caught up on the latest episode of Madame Antoine. Sundays are usually my rest days and my laziest days, because I'd do practically nothing except lying in bed all day hahah. That said, it was just another typical Sunday today, and after watching that episode I went to the pool to TAN. Today the pool was surprisingly empty, but that's good news for me hee. So I tanned for slightly less than an hour and returned home after it started getting cloudy. After getting home I had a huge piping hot bowl of porridge, and it was so simple yet hearty and filling. Thereafter I rested, showered, wrote letters and caught up with some Youtube videos. Two hours later I got hungry again so I had some matcha granola bars and red bean mochis that Poh gave me, a few ginger nut cookies from Nicole, a handful of medjool dates and a cup of milk, all for tea break at 4:30pm. Another two hours later it was time for dinner so I was eating AGAIN. I had steamed dumplings with vinegar, spinach with beancurd skin and lots of RICE. My brother used to be the only 'rice bucket' in the family but it seems like I've taken over his spot unknowingly, hahah. After dinner I texted my favourite cousin and she said she's coming to my house sometime this week for a stayover all the way until the end of next week, just so she could spend more time with me before I leave. What a sweetheart she is. But I'M SO EXCITED. And while we were texting my brother and I were arguing about the missing case of bananas at home, because two nights ago we bought a bunch of bananas but we ran out of it today. So my brother asked why the bananas ran out so fast and I actually have one inside my bag, HAHAH. I actually took it down to the pool with me while I was tanning and I was intending to eat it for my snack, but because I forgot about it it's still alive. Don't tell my brother I still have one in my bag though, pssst. 

My cramps have been killing me the whole day today, and I think it's going to stay until I sleep tonight. Wish me luck guys. It's about 7:30pm now, and I'm just about to nibble on my favourite sour plums and just CHILL the rest of tonight. 

Today's lunch was in fact a farewell lunch for me, and it's also sadly the last time I'm probably going to see them until June, or maybe the end of this year. We had lunch at the best vegan joint in Singapore at nomVnom, and we ordered four different burgers to share. We also had sweet potato fries, potato balls and a slice of banana cake.

Look at this yummy GOODNESS. Anyhoo, there was a few minutes of silence again when we first started eating. I assumed that all of them were as hungry as I was, because honestly we took the longest time ever trying to take nice photos of the food hahah. As usual, I was the most talkative person in the group AGAIN, and this always happens whenever I go out with them. Every single time really, hahah. 

This is Poh if you haven't seen her face already, and today's probably the fifth or sixth time I've met her thus far. We have been Instagram friends for probably more than a year now already, and I still remember the first time we met for lunch at The Boneless Kitchen when her holidays just started last year. She's just like a younger sister to me, but a good friend nonetheless. From the boneless kitchen, to our ice kachang, to the potluck, to Gokul's, to Cocowhip, to our vegan potluck, to Fill-a-pita, to Veggie cottage and to today's nomVnom, we have certainly grown a lot closer. In fact, I wished we could have met earlier, but life always has its own way of doing things, hee. 

This is Nicole, and this is probably the fourth or fifth time I've met her. She's two years older than me and I treat her just like a good friend and sister. She's so beautiful inside and out, talented and so hardworking in nature. She's definitely one of the most beautiful girls I've ever met, and I love the fact that we live near each other because that means we always get to go home together all the time. From your little bakes and sweet notes and company, thank you SO much. 

And finally here's Ying Yan, and this is only the FOURTH time I'm meeting her. She's in fact a lot older than all of us and I really look up to her so much. In all honesty, I've been wanting to meet her for the longest time ever before we actually met. I just felt like we had this connection between us even before I met her in person, and it may sound eerie but it's really just as it is. We're so similar in many ways and I actually found it so hard to believe it at first, hahah. She's probably my twin sister or something, but I really admire her a whole lot. She's just so crazily beautiful.

I'm just so bad at words, but honestly I'm just so so so thankful I had this crazy chance of meeting and knowing them in person. I've met them since less than three months ago but somehow it just feel like I've known them for AGES. I feel so comfortable with them around, and these girls are nothing but like treasures to me. Adieu girls, thank you for the farewell lunch and meeting you girls have been nothing but a blessing. I really hope there comes a day we can finally get to travel and live out our dreams together. 

And after hugging them for the last time, I got home and immediately sent them photos. I had heaps of rice with cabbage and my remaining last seven veggie balls for dinner, and now I'm just going to do nothing but just CHILL and probably start packing. Another day out today, but an incredible day nonetheless. Have a good night everyone!

(This is probably) my SIXTH last toast, and I'm not really complaining because I love breads and they are my second staple. I tried the COCO2 spread Nat gave me the last time we met and man I instantly fell in LOVE with it. It was so sticky, gooey, caramel-like and CHOCOLATEY. It's from my favourite brand Pure Harvest, and it's this coconut cocoa spread, hee. 

My bro and I had a cycling date today, the last one before I leave. We headed out at 12:30pm and took an hour long bus ride to ECP, then we had lunch and finally rented our bikes at 2:30pm. I heated up my 8-minutes lunch and so I had my last serving of curry (It's still amazing I assure you) and shit tons of rice because I needed lots of fuel to cycle. Those carbs really gave me lots of energy though, considering that I already felt so drained in the morning hah.

We realised we were going the wrong way after a few kms so we took a detour and cycled past where we started at the beginning. We thought it was the correct way because we saw a road blockage at the other side before we started cycling, but Google Maps told us that we were definitely going the wrong way hahah. During the detour we stopped by the beach to take some photos and I was actually doing a vlog. I did a whole day worth of vlog today but I actually forgot to film DINNER, man. But I'm still contemplating whether to upload it because the videos are all so shaky and I look too horrendous hahah. 

Today was certainly not a good day to cycle, and in all honesty the weather just ruined my expectations and everything I wanted. At the second shelter I just felt so sticky and gross all over, and I wanted to do nothing but just to SHOWER and chill in bed. The sand from the beach earlier on got my body sandy all over, the humid weather made me really sweaty and the worst part was that while all of that happened, we were still under the rain and waiting for it to pass so that we could make our way to Marina. I was so ready to say "Let's u-turn and not do this anymore", but because I've always disliked how I tend to throw in the towel so easily each time I'm faced with difficulties, I felt more compelled to finish the journey. (The irony, hahah) So I didn't utter a single word, and instead of saying what my heart wanted, I said "let's continue" and peddled first. 

Even though it may not have been the best cycling experience, but you know what? I'm still happy I did it anyway. It was a true test of patience, and I'm glad to say that I DID IT. The weather was so bad today but instead of blaming on it, I was still thankful despite everything because I chose to believe that it happened for a reason. Maybe it saved us from an accident that could have happened if we continued to peddle during the time we waited for the rain to pass, or maybe there were some people we weren't meant to bump into at that time. Not to mention that the roads also became easier to cycle on after the rain. There are just so many little things to be thankful for everyday.

/Let us all take a moment to appreciate my photography, heh just kidding/ I can't be more thankful for my brother especially for today, for his company and his PATIENCE. He guided and brought me all the way to Marina Barrage, didn't utter a single word of complain, patiently followed Google Maps, initiated to take photos and film for me and reached his hand out for me literally the whole day today. 

Today was practically a whole day spent with my family, so for dinner we ate at Thai Express and I got myself this plate of basil tofu stir-fry with rice and another plate of glass noodles, hee. I was starving by the time we stopped cycling, and dinner really stuffed me up. I also had mango glutinous rice for dessert and it was just BRAVO. The rice tasted so sweet and it was just so tasty. 

We did a quick grocery shopping fix after dinner and stocked up lots of fruits and essentials, and after getting home I got showered and now I'm blogging and sipping on tea. I've been so flippin' exhausted the whole day today, and I think it's finally time for me to REST. Nights.

P.S New poll added on the blog! If you're viewing desktop version, it's on the right-side bar. If mobile, scroll all the way down.

I woke up feeling more tired than ever, mostly because my dreams took up 99% of my sleep. But I loved that dream because it was the first time I dreamt of my dad in probably more than half a year already. I missed seeing him in my dreams and over the last few months, I spent most nights questioning myself and wondering why he stopped appearing in my dreams. Sometimes I do think that dreams do exist because they carry a meaning to them, like some sort of a magical existence. I really don't know what they are, but I'm eternally grateful for having dreams, and that's an undeniable fact.

Anyhoo, I had lunch with four other girls at Veggie Cottage today and I really enjoyed the FEAST and the company. We had nasi lemak, spaghetti bolognese, "fish&chips", assam pedak and garden burger. SO MUCH YUMS. We waited so long for all the food to be served so when we finally started eating all of us were STARVING. So we quickly digged in and there were few minutes of silence at the start because we were too busy eating hahah. We talked heaps over lunch and dessert, and man it was my first time meeting most of them but I already feel I've known them for years. I honestly didn't know their names even before we met but I'm just SO happy I got to meet them in person. I think all of them started veganism before me and it's honestly so so so heartening to know that the vegan community in Singapore is growing (so much, in fact). With more vegans around, there will definitely be more opportunities to meet more like-minded people. AH-MAE-ZING. 

There has always been a 'silent' gift-exchange among vegan meetings, and honestly I have ABSOLUTELY no idea why hahah but it's just y'know, the way we love to do things. I personally love sharing and giving whenever I can (food and letters especially) because I truly believe in the art of giving. I actually wanted to make them cards initially but I couldn't, well because I didn't know them personally before so I made them an orange cake instead. Correction, orange CAKE BALLS hahah. I felt so ashamed for sharing those disfigured and gross-looking orange cake (balls) because they honestly looked so unappetising but those girls actually said they tasted good, PHEW. One of the owners of the shop also took one and she said it was nice, and man that really allowed me to heave a sigh of relief hahah. Charissa baked some matcha granola bars and wrapped it so nicely for us, Joylene wrote me a beautiful note, Ling gave me a pack of snacks with a small note inside and Megan bought Charissa and I a box of Carman's muesli bars each. Charissa got the classic flavour while I got the super berry flavour, so we both exchanged half of what we had, because DIVERSITY hahah. Man I really didn't expect those gifts, but I really really appreciate their kind gestures. 

We went to Peace Cafe next for dessert and had some vegan apple strudel. Each of us shared one whole strudel and so we got a tiny piece each hahah. We chilled a bit there and took some photos. The old lady who helped us with the photos was so patient with us, and I really appreciate her kindness. So after dessert, we parted ways after we reached Mustafa Centre. Joylene and Ling left and Charissa, Megan and I continued to do some grocery shopping at Mustafa heh. I got meself a pack of almond cashew milk, some black sesame soy milk, quinoa crisps and a huge SOURSOP. I just couldn't let myself go home without getting any soursops so I lugged them with me the entire day. Dem gotta be one of my favourite fruits, EVER. 

I don't know what got into me after lunch, but I just felt so SLEEPY. I just wanted to collapse and sleep like a corpse, hahah. The food coma is REAL. So after I left Mustafa it was just about time to meet my girls for dinner. We had two hugeass PIZZAS, one arrabiatta PASTA and CHOCOLATE ICE-CREAM parfait. (Oh, and people say veganism is restrictive......yeah you're totally LEFT.) We had the BBQ "chicken" pizza and the Four Seasons pizza which comprised of four different toppings - artichoke & soy ham, taggiasche olives, sundried tomatoes & capsicum and truffle mushroom. Both were so GOOD, and it honestly made me so happy seeing both of my non-vegan friends enjoying their food too. 

Of course, we also had DESSERT. We ordered this ice-cream parfait called Monkey Delight which was supposed to have peanut butter caramel and french chocolate ice cream with banana chips, brownie and chocolate chips, but because they ran out of the peanut butter ice cream we replaced it with the coconut one, and man it was YUUUUUUM. We had the coconut and french chocolate ice cream with brownie, some caramel gooey granola and chocolate chips. Second round of AH-MAE-ZIIIING. It made me even happier after hearing one of my friends say "I love how this is dairy-free but it's so good". Go give Brownice a try if you haven't, they are amazing I promise.

If you guys are wondering who Sophie is (since she has never appeared in any of my social media platforms), she was actually my OGL during my school's orientation last year. OGL = Orientation group leader, btw. So technically I met her exactly a year ago today, and I can't be more thankful for that opportunity. During our conversation today I also realised we were quite similar, especially our personalities hee. It was definitely unexpected but I could really get along so well with her. We three talked a lot, ate a lot and I definitely laughed a lot too as well. I just couldn't stop laughing at her blunders and man, I really really enjoyed today's dinner. 

I took a cab home, dropped Xin Yi off at the mrt nearby, watched the TV and finally got some time to read the small notes the girls gave me earlier on. Those girls are really such sweethearts, even though we have barely gotten to know each other, they have left so many kind words in their cards. I'm just unbelievably thankful for them today, for their cards, for their words, for their gifts and for THEM. Thank you Instagram for creating opportunities like this, and thank you girls for taking your time out to meet me as well. 

Like I said, WHAT A DAY. What an incredible, fun-filled day it was today. I'm filled with nothing but just pure gratitude, and in all honesty I don't think I'd be able to sleep early tonight because I'd probably spend the whole night smiling to myself. I just enjoyed myself so much today, and I can't be more THANKFUL. THANK YOU LIFE.

Last night I went to bed pretty early (at 12am) but I still couldn't sleep until 1, mostly because I was worrying about my friend. I just couldn't sleep, so I did a small prayer (I'm a Buddhist, by the way) and tried to distract myself. At about 4am I suddenly woke up because I felt like it was getting warm, so I switched the fan on and went back to sleep. Despite everything, I woke up earlier than usual and I woke up STARVING. So I made myself some chocolate pancakes, which were the best pancakes I've made so far. I realised that the rule-of-thumb to getting some flavourful pancakes is to slather peanut butter or chocolate spreads between every two pancakes. (HEE,YOU'RE WELCOME.)

So after breakfast, I caught the latest episode of Cheese in the trap and waited awhile before I headed to the pool to tan. I checked the weather forecast in the morning and they predicted that it would be a whole day of raining, so that really dampened my spirits. But thankfully, there wasn't any rain at all today and the sun was practically out the whole afternoon. Not to mention that it was ESPECIALLY HOT today. I was literally melting under the blistering heat, so I only stayed for an hour.

After I showered I made myself lunch using the mung bean fettucine pasta my friend got me last year and I made some spicy arriabatta pasta. It was UNEXPECTEDLY GOOD, the sauce was perfect and it made the whole dish really tasty. I was actually not hungry at all before I cooked lunch, but man this only made me HUNGRIER. So I had another red bean bun, four chocolate muesli cookies and TEN sesame snaps. My hunger cues and appetite are both crazy. I feel like I can eat my whole house down sometimes.

So I cried while watching a drama today, and nope not because someone in the drama died or broke up. But because of a girl who overcame her fears and eventually succeeded in the end. It was my first time crying over something like this, and recently I've gotten so emotional and I don't really know the exact reason why. Whenever I see or hear something, I'd just subconsciously put myself into whoever's shoes and feel exactly the same way. I feel like I've become way more sensitive than I used to be, and it's kind of scaring me in a sense that I get too overwhelmed with emotions sometimes and unconsciously allow those feelings to take over all of me. That said, I've always hated to feel because I thought that feelings were toxic. I thought that life would be thousand times better if feelings didn't exist, because that way no one would be hurt, sad or depressed. Everyone would be like a walking rock: detached and emotionless, but safe and harmless. Ultimately I hated being sensitive because I thought it would make me more vulnerable. But I've realised that without feelings, we are nothing. 

(Well, that was today's thought of the day.)

Had so much curry, veggies and rice for dinner and I felt like I was TEN YEARS pregnant right after eating hahah. I couldn't even sit or stand properly because I felt so uncomfortable with such a heavy stomach. WELLS at least I'm fine now. So after dinner I watched the TV and checked out Instagram, and in all honesty my high spirits were brought down when I saw and read all my friends' post on their private accounts because so many of them were talking about how unhappy they were. It really makes me sad seeing those people I care about being unhappy because I genuinely believe that they don't deserve to suffer at all, but then again, who are we to say anything? Our lives were already destined before we were born, but I believe we still have the power to make a change and choose happiness for ourselves. I wish they could see how much life could still offer them, and only focus on what truly matters. And before I end, today's quote of the day is:

Just like how there must be sadness for us to understand joy, and know what happiness feels like. Just like how there must be bad days in life for us to truly appreciate the good days. Just like how there is death for us to cherish our own existence in this lifetime. 

Count your blessings and be thankful for what you have. Everyday is a lesson and every yesterday is something learnt.