And oh! i joined a women's gym recently too.. Amore. I shall talk abit more about it here cos some of yall have asked me about it, the rates and the range of classes they offer etc. Hope this may clarify some of yall queries. Actually i joined it in my 2nd year in uni.. but i did not continue cos it was really expensive. That time, i was still able to take the Under 21 package for students. Right now, i made the decision to join again else i know i wun do anything about my exercise regime at all. I am the kind who really needs to pay money to work out, i.e. my Hip Hop classes last semester. I am not self-motivated, so i gave up on telling myself i must go jogging etc etc. Sometimes people just have to pay money to be motivated in their exercise regime.. quite crazy right? And i picked Amore cos they have an outlet near my place, which save me alot of time and money in transportation in future when i start working. I decided to take on the Unlimited package which costs me about $108 per month. However, as i do not own a credit card, i cannot pay by monthly instalments therefore i have to pay a full year's fees in advance. Yall can calculate for yourself how much is that. I managed to persuade the consultant to let me pay in 3 instalments.. but it is still quite a large amount each time. Like von said, it's like buying 3 iPods. Blearghz. Anyway I did my sums and decided to take up the Unlimited package as it allows me to go for whichever and as many classes as i wanted to as well as unlimited usage of the gym. The other Limited packages were seriously not worth it if you are looking at this in the long run, which limits you to work out only once or twice a week. I am looking at a proper exercise regime for myself and i felt this Unlimited package best suited my needs. In a way, it would force me to exercise more regularly, and I can have my pick of classes. So far, im keeping to about 4-5 times in the week, so it is really worth it. So although it burned a big hole in my pocket, i'm hoping to see positive results soon too! Already, i'm feeling much healthier, less bloated, and i'm sleeping better plus the doses of endorphins help to keep my blues at bay! So i hope it is a wise decision for me to rejoin it. I'm actually starting to enjoy my classes. I usually go for the higher intensity classes so i can burn more, such as CardioBlitz, Hi-Lo and Kickboxing. I love kickboxing, besides it being higher in intensity than normal aerobics classes (one KB session can burn 600-800 calories whilst one aerobics session is only 300-400), i simply enjoy the destress factor that comes with it, punching and kicking away all the unhappy thoughts etc. I hope i can go for some of the more complicated classes soon--CardioLatino, Jazz and BellyBlitz.. but i need to attend the basic techniques classes first. And they are at the other outlets. Blearghz, Have to find a time to go down to the other outlets then. I am generally more interested in the classes they offer, which range from aerobics to pilates, yoga and dance classes, all catered to the woman, than the gym sessions. As i mentioned earlier, i am not the self-motivated sort, so I know i will not work out much in the gym on my own. I need a class, where there is a crazy aerobics instructor who'll motivate you and keep telling you to go on and on till you drop dead, or rather, your muscles drop dead. Since i want to work out, i want to make sure i make the best of my workout. On top of that, there is hardly any way u can stop in a class, not with all the moving bodies around you. You'll definitely look strange when you stop in the middle of the class and look at the other women moving around you. I know i'll definitely stop alot if i work out myself in the gym, therefore following the classes is still the best.
I hope more or less, that answers yall queries on Amore. Let me know if yall want to find out more. My consultant also offers free trial classes for my friends who are looking to join a gym, so just let me know.
Yeah, on to my Sylvanians part now. Many of yall would know that collecting these little miniature cuties is my hobby. It is not only just a hobby, but a form of destress to me, as well as an outlet for me to express my creative juices. It has also helped to take more than a day of blues away for me. I started taking a interest in them 2 years ago. What fascinates me about this collection is the intricate way the toys are made to look like the real thing. Maybe it is due to the fact that i enjoyed playing "Jia Jia Jiu" when i was a little girl, the Sylvanian Families appeal to me a great deal as well with their home-centred theme and collectibles. I enjoyed collecting the furniture sets, the shop sets, and especially the old sets that are no longer in the market. I started my purchases online on Yahoo Auctions, where i realised there are collectors who want to give up their hobby and sell off their toys. I managed to get a number of my sets for below the prices they bought at, and most of them are unopened too. As the Sylvanian collection originates from Japan, and you guys would know how fast things come and go, in and out of fashion of Japan at a very fast pace, alot of the older sets i owned don't exist on the market anymore, and can only be bought through auctions and if the collector wants to let them go. There are still a number of old sets i'm hoping to own, so am always keeping my eyes peeled for people selling them. The old sets, as compared to the newer sets nowadays are infinitely more well-made, with alot of attention paid to the details. Nowadays, the Epoch company (which produces the Sylvanians) has branched out to UK and US, and the toys they made are bigger and not as intricate as the Japan-made ones. I still prefer to collect the Epoch Japan Sylvanians, and 95% of my purchases are the ones from the Japan company. But even then, in comparison of features and prices, even the Japan Sylvanians nowadays come with lesser accessories and at a higher price tag as compared to the past.
My travel dream is still to tour the Sylvanian Families theme park in Japan, and buy lots and lots of Sylvanians there heh=)
Recently, I shifted rooms in my cousin's place and decided to give all my Sylvanians a cleanup and makeover. Without a display cupboard, my Sylvanians really get dusty very fast. As i displayed alot out, it took me 3 days of my term break to clean out everything, and rearrange their homes and shops. I have more furniture than i have houses to house them in, so i decided the ones that are still in their boxes should come out for a breather. So here's an entirely new look for my Sylvanians!=)
:::My Dream House:::
In my dream house, I would be hanging out with my family or close friends, doing what I like to do...
**The Attic**
Ling Bunny is in the attic, her working area. She has just made a new pink dress and is holding it up for you to see. Her working area holds the brain of her creations, and is a place she spends long periods of time in, coming up with pretty stuff. Her dream is to own a label making pretty clothes for plus-sized girls, she wants them to be able to wear pretty stuff that they used to only be able to envy their slimmer counterparts wear, which will make them feel like princesses too.
Ling Bunny's little working table. The pink cover covers her sewing machine which has been a gift to her from her aunt. It is ancient but has made many pretty clothes from her aunt's generation to the present.
Sometimes she likes to sit in the corner and do some sewing. Cross-stitch is an art her mother has taught her from young, to cultivate patience. She also likes to make little keepsakes for her friends here. The heart-shaped cushion is something she has made herself.
This is her fashion dressing room area. All the dresses and clothes on display are her own creations.
An overview of Ling Bunny in the attic.
**The Kitchen**
Feng Kitty enjoys cooking. She enjoys experimenting with recipes and cooking for her loved ones. The kitchen is her haven, a simmering brew of good food cooking and warm pastries and cakes baking. It is the nicest-smelling room in the whole house.
She is making chicken and vegetable stew for lunch-- a new recipe she is trying out. Look at her concentrated gaze on the recipe on the wall! She does not want her stew to go wrong=). At the same time, the chocolate muffins she has been baking for teatime are ready, and she is removing them from the oven. ooh.. hot!!
Feng Kitty's little haven... she always keep it neat so that it is easy for her to find the utensils and ingredients.
This island, an extra cooking area, has been set up by Ling Bunny for her. This is because the house will have gatherings and parties at times and the stove may not be enough to cook for all the people, and Feng Kitty enjoys letting her guests taste her home-made cooking. On normal days, she can invite her friends over to cook and experiment with her.
A close-up of the baking table.. Feng Kitty is making a lava cake next! yum yum!
A close-up of the island...
A close-up of the bread Feng bakes for breakfast everyday... doesn't it smell warm and fresh?
A breakfast tray containing all the essentials for breakfast: bread bin, coffee pot, a thermos flask, jars of jam, mugs and eating utensils.
The table spread with breakfast: A fruit juice blender, glasses, a pot of homemade strawberry jam, crispy toasted bread and an omelette!
Feng Kitty prefers to grow her own food, vegetables that is. So there is a glasshouse set aside in the house for her to grow her own garden. (Actually the reason why i use a glasshouse concept is also because I don't have the Sylvanian Garden set.)
The vegetable patch.. fresh lettuce, pumpkins, carrots and corn! Makes for a delicious salad too!
The strawberry plants and spice garden...
**The Bedroom & Relax corner**
In Sylvania, hard work should always be accompanied with good rest, so alot of emphasis is placed on rest and relaxation as well=)
Ling Bunny's bedroom. The bedside table holds a jug and bowl for washing-up purposes. The room is simply furnished.
A Relax corner is attached to the bedroom overseeing the countryside. Ying Cat likes to sit in the rocking chair with the heart-shaped cushion (also made by Ling Bunny) and read fashion magazines while looking out of the window at the wonderful view of the countryside. A small coffee-table stands at her side, holding a mug of freshly-brewed coffee and little biscuits and chocolates made by Feng Kitty.
A close-up of the sideboard... the coffee equipment stands on it. Quality coffee beans are used in the house so the coffee made is always very fragrant. the sideboard also holds precious crystal glasses on display but are not very visible here.
**The Study Area**
Ling Bunny is still schooling.. at the Sylvania School of Art and Fashion. She takes her studies very seriously. The quaint little oak desk has been made by her daddy for her.
A matching chest of drawers set also made by her daddy for her...
Ling Bunny loves variety in her things, so she has alot of accessories, bags and clothes. These are some of her favourite bags=)
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And herein ends my first Sylvanian post on The Dream House. Stay tuned for more!
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