Happy Birdday Angry Birds!

(word of caution: Graphic heavy post!!)

It’s my all time favourite iPhone app game’s birthday and these cute little feathered creatures are turning two!

What’s makes it even more cool is that Rovio will be updating its app to include MORE levels to play today! *dances around in excitement*

I’ve shown my undying love for this super addictive game by posting my Angry Birds Achievements in the past – both Part 1 and Part 2.

May I be given permission to brag more?

Here’s the beautiful stars from Angry Birds Seasons.


2011







 

 

 

2012

 
And the latest addition for this Christmas season. Clearly it’s only be played up till yesterday as they only released each level per day. (sooooo sloooowww….)

NEXT!

Angry Birds Rio – considerably an easier game to play compared to Seasons with much better graphics, imho.

Pictures have said enough..

Engagement Party

I’ve actually never heard of any couple organizing an engagement party in Malaysia before, well, at least not that I’m aware of. The ones that I’ve seen were only from the ones in the movies and so to be asked to have one was pretty much stepping into uncharted territory.

We were pretty excited to announce our engagement to our families and small group of friends and what better way to celebrate it in his mother’s newly built house in Nilai.  We’ve posted most of the pictures up on Facebook but here’s a few I’ve chosen to put up here.

His mother was super kind enough to handle the venue and the catering section of it. We were pretty much just in charge of coming up with the guest list.

The cake, of course, how could any party be complete without a cake? We didn’t want an ordinary round chocolate/cream cake with the bride/bridegroom figurines on the top – plus, that wouldn’t be quite right for an engagement party.

I was so pleased to stumble upon Mama Min’s blog. She is one heck of a super creative and talented cake designer. Seriously, the cakes she made and showcased were so cute and beautiful.. and I knew at that instance, I’d like a cake designed by her. He was totally in for it too.

Then came the question of what kind of design would I want for that day? That was a tough one to get through. It was silly to have the typical wedding cake design when it wasn’t even a wedding yet! Since my engagement ring wasn’t going to be with me for that day as it was sent for resizing overseas (which takes a month long.. and I was missing having it already!), so what a better way to have a cake to commemorate the missing ring, so to speak.

Take a look at the magic Mama Min came up with. I mean, isn’t it a gorgeous cake or what? Nobody actually thought it was a cake at first. I didn’t even have the heart to cut it to eat. By the way, it was an orange poppy seed cake.

Here’s a picture of the two families together.

My loving family.

He wanted a reunion for his university friends as well… so here’s a group of the Moscow grads.

So now that we’ve got the engagement party out of the way, we’re on to the next item from the checklist.

Exciting year ahead

 

There’s so many things to get used to once you’ve become engaged. For instance, to start referring to him as the fancy F word (which is no other than fiancé, mind you) and to get accustomed to wearing a ring on your finger when you’ve never been wearing one for your entire life. There’s so much to do, so many people to see and so much decisions to make (that costs a lot of money!).

I took this off a wedding website called the Knot for just a glimpse of what’s in store for the year 2012. Pretty stressful just looking at the list!

• Congratulations, you’re engaged! Announce your engagement to family and friends. Consider making the announcements in local newspapers. – CHECK (refer)
• Having an engagement party? Set a date, choose a location, create a guest list and mail invitations.  - CHECK (refer)
• If you’re having an engagement party, start a small gift registry now.
• Decide on the budget, and enter it into your Budget Tool. - CHECK
• Start the guest list.
• Determine a time frame for your wedding date. Narrow down your wedding date to a few weekends that don’t conflict with other family events.
• Need help from a professional wedding planner? Start searching for one now, since the help provided can make the next decisions easier.
• Search for a ceremony venue.
• Search for a reception venue.
• Choose a colour scheme for your big day.
• Book your wedding planner. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
• Start your wedding workout routine now! Eat well, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. You may even want to join a gym or get a personal trainer to give you some motivation!
• Create your wedding website.
• Search for a photographer.
• Search for a caterer.
• Search for a florist.
• Search for a videographer.
• Book your reception venue.
• Get inspired! Browse your favorite wedding dress gallery to get ideas for your own dress!
• Search for a band.
• Search for a DJ.
• Book your ceremony venue.
• Book your caterer. Begin working on a menu.
• Book your photographer.
• Finalize your guest list.
• Set up your registries.
• Search for an officiant.
• Search for a ceremony musician.
• Book your florist.
• Book your videographer.
• Start shopping for your gown.
• Choose the members of your wedding party – maid of honour and best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring bearer, flower girls as well as your ushers – and invite them to take these roles.
• Start shopping for bridesmaids gowns and flower girl dresses. View gowns in every hue and for every body shape.
• Reserve blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. Add accommodations and travel info to your wedding website, so your guests know what to expect.
• Send save-the-date cards (be sure your guest list is finalized first). Include hotel information for out-of-town guests, if it’s available, plus your website address.
• Search for a wedding cake maker.
• Order your wedding cake.
• Search for a wedding stationer for invitations, plus place cards, menus, announcements (if you’ll use them) and thank-you stationery (which you may need to order now).
• Search for rentals supplier if you need to rent chairs, chair covers, a tent, etc.
• Book your band.
• Book your DJ.
• Book your officiant.
• Select your wedding dress and place the order.
• Book your invitations vendor.
• Book your ceremony musician.
• Discuss rehearsal dinner with the groom’s parents.
• Select your bridesmaids dresses and flower-girl dress, and have your attendants place their orders.
• Search for a vendor to help with your hair, makeup or any pre-wedding pampering.
• Contact out-of-town guests and notify them about the hotel block and other discount travel information.
• Finalize your order for event rentals.
• Check your gift registry.
• Plan and book your honeymoon, including travel, accommodations and activities.
• Choose groom’s attire; will you purchase or rent?
• Purchase accessories for your gown, such as a veil, shoes, undergarments and jewelry.
• Schedule your ceremony rehearsal and alert your attendants, officiant, and ceremony musicians of the date and time.
• Finalize the text for your invitations and place the order. Also consider purchasing thank-you notes and wedding announcements from the same vendor.
• Book your hair and makeup appointment.
• Book accommodations for your wedding night.
• Search for a transportation vendor.
• Choose your bridesmaids’ accessories (shoes, jewelry, etc).
• Choose groomsmen’s and ring bearer’s attire (including a rental shop if they’ll be renting formal attire).
• Discuss and confirm party plans for bachelor and bachelorette parties, as well as any shower that is offered, with your maid of honour and best man.
• Provide guest lists to your maid of honour and best man for your shower, bachelorette party, bachelor party and other social events.
• Address your invitations (they should be mailed 6 to 8 weeks before the event, so leave yourself plenty of time if you’re using a calligrapher). If you’ll be sending announcements, address them now as well.
• Book your transportation vendor.
• Finalize the menu and service details with your caterer.
• Design and create favours.
• Schedule gown fitting appointments. Your first appointment should be directly after you receive the gown and the last appointment should fall no later than three weeks before the wedding.
• Purchase your wedding bands.
• Ask your readers to be a part of your ceremony. Begin a search for readings and discuss them with your officiant.
• Mail out wedding invitations.
• Confirm number of bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces with your florist.
• Purchase a guest book and a few nice pens.
• Purchase or make gifts for your bridal party and close family. Don’t forget ushers, flower girls, ring bearers and readers!
• Track gifts received from guests and send thank-you notes.
• Check on your hotel room blocks to ensure important guests have made their travel arrangements.
• Order alcohol (wine, champagne, liquor) if they are not included in the catering contract. Discuss with your caterer to determine how it will be transported to the wedding.
• Design your ceremony programs and print them. Create menu cards for the reception tables, if you’ll be using them.
• Research local marriage license requirements. Schedule a blood test appointment if one is required in your state.
• Write your vows if you choose to personalize them. Send a copy to your officiant.
• Alert your wedding party to the rehearsal.
• Determine your ceremony music selections and send the list to your ceremony musicians.
• Shop for all additional accessories like undergarments, jewelry, headpiece, bridal purse, etc
• Pick up wedding rings and check the inscriptions before you leave the store.
• If you have a DJ, work on a list of ‘must-play’ and ‘do-not play’ songs. Be sure you also send them selections for your introductions, first dance, cake cutting, etc.
• Finalize any special preferences, readings, or other ceremony details (in writing) to your officiant.
• Create a wedding day schedule. Send the information to your wedding party and vendors.
• At your final gown fitting, bring a friend to learn how the bustle will be tied.
• Obtain a marriage license.
• Call guests who have not yet RSVP’d for the wedding and rehearsal dinner to get a final head count.
• Pick up your gown. Before leaving the shop, try it on to make sure there are no additional alteration to be made.
• Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
• Verify with your reception venue to make sure your vendors will have access to the site when they need it.
• Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with your wedding cake vendor.
• If you’re having a receiving line, determine the order everyone will stand in .
• Determine any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding party and make sure they’re aware of their duties.
• Create your seating chart. Make place cards or give typed names to your calligrapher.
• Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangements with your florist. Make a list of who will get bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres and recruit someone to oversee this on the wedding day.
• Confirm the rehearsal details and wedding day schedule with your officiant.
• Pick up tuxedo/suit and try it on at the shop. See if there are any additional alterations to be made.
• Prepare your toasts and thanks to family and friends.
• Give the seating chart to your caterer, reception venue manager and wedding coordinator.
• Send your transportation vendor the schedule, addresses and contact phone number for the wedding day.
• Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors. Mail your payment checks or make arrangements for the wedding day.
• Shop and pack for the honeymoon.
• Confirm location, date and time with your photographer. Create your ‘must-take’ photo list.
• Confirm location, date and time with your videographer.
• Confirm your wedding day beauty appointments.
• Confirm all honeymoon travel plans.
• Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, make-up, hairspray, safety pins, mints, etc)
• Drop off favours, placecards, guest book, pens, cake knift, toasting flutes, and all other reception items at the reception venue.
• Rehearse the ceremony with your officiant and wedding party.
• Give wedding announcements to your maid of honour to be mailed on the wedding day.
• Write a note to your spouse-to-be to deliver tomorrow, just before or after you marry.
• Enjoy your wedding day! Take a moment to step back and enjoy a quiet moment with your new spouse.
• Help future brides by reviewing your wedding vendors!
• Ensure all your vendors have been paid in full.
• Arrange for gown and veil to be cleaned and preserved. Make sure the provider is experienced in preserving wedding gowns.
• Write thank-you notes for all the gifts you received at the wedding and before. Traditional etiquette gives you an 8-week grace period.
• Take a bridal bouquet to be preserved, or save a petal to be pressed for your scrapbook.
• Arrange for all insurance policies to include you and your future spouse: health, auto, homeowner’s and life insurance.
• Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.
• Upload your wedding photos and share them.
• Review the remaining items in your registry.