Quick Life Update

So I had grand plans to do a series of blog posts about my family's epic trip to the United States, (read Part I of our time in Washington D.C. here!). Just like I had plans to make an elaborate Christmas gift for my parents this year.

And due to...well, life problems + my procrastination + other life things you know, both of these grand plans have not materialized. They will get done eventually, just not soon. Although I'm working hard on that Christmas gift for my parents...

Anyway, I thought I'd do a quick update in case anyone is wondering what is going on with my life...not that many people care. 😂

1) I've moved back to Singapore, and am finding a job here! It is GOOD to be home. Do I miss living in the U.S.? Some parts, such as living on my own and having my own apartment. It's also been a struggle to not have a steady paycheck these past few months as I job hunt. But with the U.S. in such political chaos now, I admit that it's nice to away from it all.

Plus Singapore is home! It feels right, so I'm very glad to be here. I'm applying to jobs in Singapore and the States (and anywhere frankly), but I'm crossing my fingers I find a job here.

Picture source: Pinterest

2) I've took up a traditional Peranakan shoe beading class, and love it. The Peranakan culture is indigenous to Singapore and Malaysia, and evolved from the inter-marrying of Chinese and Malays in this region of the world. On the right is a picture of a pair of traditional Peranakan shoes. Please note that the shoe pattern is not cloth, but BEADS. Yes, tiny beads are covering the entire surface of the shoe "cloth" -- the flowers, leaves, and white background.

As you can imagine, it is painstaking to bead these shoes, and I'm experiencing it first hand. Here is a sneak preview of my first pair of shoes I'm beading (and at the rate I'm going, probably my last as well...).

My eyes, my eyes! And my hand. And back. 

Yet, I love it. It's soothing, and I garner an immense sense of satisfaction from seeing the beading come together. Now I finally understand why each shoe is sold for hundreds of dollars! Hoping to get it done before I start work.

3) I've started another blog! I know, I can't deliver on my promise to write those posts about my family trip on this blog, and there I go starting another one. 😁 But I've had this idea for the new blog for a few months already, but didn't have the time to execute it. Since I'm jobless now, I decided to take the plunge and just do it. 

So introducing my new blog, "The Hack Test Lab" (https://thehacktestlab.blogspot.com) 💖 Have you seen those million and one hacks on social media, and wondered if those hacks actually work, and are worth the effort? Wonder no more! My blog to the rescue. I tests all kinds of hacks on this blog, and give it a rating from 1 to 10. I'm hoping to post 4-5 times a week, though I've never posted so frequently so *gulp* I'll try my best.

Anyway, I need YOUR help. I would love it if you read this new blog, and let me know what you think of it. And if you have a hack that you would like me to test, let me know! I would love to do it for you. Or hey, if you would like to do a guest post, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME TOO!!! 

FYI to kick off my blog, I've tested a bunch of Christmas hacks because Christmas (hooray!), and why not use some hacks if they work, right? I just posted my verdict on using a potato chip bag as a gift bag, and the hack that allows you to mail letters without envelopes. Please go check them out! 

*Muaz 💋* to all you readers, and if I don't post again this week, MERRY CHRISTMAS! My annual "Miss Keesh's Top 10 Memories" post is coming soon...hopefully before 2018.