My taitai life
Every once in a while, someone will remember my existence and start a conversation with me, asking me if I am enjoying my tai tai life.
(Taitai: A woman, usu. wealthy, who does not work but spends her time shopping, meeting friends, etc.; a lady of leisure.)
Anyone who knew me since I started becoming sensible knows that one of my many ambitions was to marry a rich man and be a taitai. I mean, that is 50% of my ambition unlocked - it's everything I ever dreamed of! (Besides being a cardiologist, neurosurgeon, an SQ air stewardess...)
Amazing, isn't it?
Well, I thought it'd be nice to share a little more about my everyday taitai life in this post, to make you all green with envy.
You ready? Let's go.
TAITAI SHOPPING
Sorry hor, that like never happens. Those are for people back at home.
When I go shopping its always this instead.
The best part about it though is that I get to spend money almost everyday and not feel guilty about it haha.
TAITAI MANI/PEDI/FACIAL
There was a time when my nails would always be in tip top painted condition and I complained when work chips the poslish off abit though they generally can last for about a week.
But now, they don't even last for 2 days!
And the only time I got to steam myself to get rid of black heads in the past year was when I cooked myself together with the fish.
Yah. Very pain.
TAITAI MAHJONG AKA DRY SWIMMING
The only washing and stacking (and peng and pong) I do these days:
I definitely work out more doing this though (as proven by my fitbit. Housework burns more calories than yoga, can you believe it?) and it's still a very good form of exercise even though it isn't quite dry. I always end up splashing dirty dish water on myself whenever I soap the dishes, especially the bowls.
BUT it's really not all bad, I get to do some fun stuff too!
Fun stuff #1: Make yummy food
Like my own glorious Pandan Chiffon birthday cake.
I know. A little depressing that I make my own cake but hey, at least I get to choose the cake I wanna eat! Besides, I'm not sure if it will be any less depressing (for my stomach at least) if Mark made it. haha.
Here are some other desserts that I've dirtied my hands and kitchen with.
Yummy strawberry heart cheesecake. Mark doesn't care for them though. He despise everything no-bake. Charcoal, on the other hand...
...would go to any lengths or uncomfortable positions (we call this the "chicken wing pose") just to get a bite. Oh, he is really the world's greediest dog ever!
Summer came and fruits were cheeeap-cheeaap so I made big tart and mini tarts.
More cakes below. I only make Asian cakes though, cause I can't get them anywhere.
This, below, is my favourite.
My almost near perfect Strawberry Shortcake! I really like this, it's always a winner with everyone too!
We also bake bread at home these days. It's so easy especially with this no-knead recipe from New York Times. No need to knead! Yay!
I would love to post pictures of the food that I've made but they usually vanish took quickly for pictures to be taken since we have this I-must-eat-it-while-its-hot idea going on here at home.
Well, except for sushi. lol.
Fun Stuff #2: Plant a garden
If you've been reading my previous posts, you'll figure that I do spend a decent amount of time labouring in the garden!
Fun Stuff #3: Learn photography and photoshop
Since I am unable to put my twenty-four years of mugging to good use because of circumstances, I decided to start learning again.
I've been doing sciency stuff all my life and free-lancing in those fields either involves me blowing up my apartment trying to create a new element or just being a plain boring tuition teacher - no, don't get me wrong, it's not the job, it's me. I'm just boring. (Hi tutees, I'm sorry for putting through all those boring lessons in the past!).
So... I turned to photography, since its the only kind of art that I don't screw up. Plus I thought it will be nice to help capture moments for my family through the years. Anyone can take a picture, of course, but I'm so vain I just wanna look good in all my photos so I started studying/youtubing stuff about photography and PS.
Until I realised that if I become pwningly (or somewhat) good at them, everyone will look good in pictures except me. Because I will behind the camera. Ah well.
Just like acquiring any other new skills, practise is key. I needed models but Mark loves the camera as much as he likes no-baked stuff and Charcoal just can't keep still so I started out by offering people complimentay sessions and took it from there!
I never thought this would be so fun and I am so happy seeing pretty pictures! Wonder why I never did this before.
If you are interested, you can find my portfolio here. The amazing website is done by Mark! #Perksofmarryingageek
Fun Stuff #4: Spend time with people I love
And doing crazy stuff like buying a huge floating island and floating in Lake Sammish.
We went out the first time without ores and drifted off with the current so bad that Mark and Zichun had to paddle us back to shore with their arms. It was a pretty hilarious sight and I caught it on my phone but unfortunately my non-waterproof apple went for a swim at the end of the session T.T
The second expedition went alot better.
The great thing about teamwork is that everyone contributes their best to the team and the girls happen to be better than chilling and enjoying the view than the guys haha. And I chill with my camera for selfies - duh.
The hipster music in the background was not added into the video by the way. We were really Ah Bengs (noun: A man perceived to be loutish and uncouth, and who follows fashion trends but is often viewed as lacking taste; the male counterpart of Ah Lians) and Ah Lians blasting music from our imba speakers while we drifted around.
I also found time to bring our dear Charcoal boy herding! Look how scared the sheep are of him.
Hmmm.. I guess they took turns chasing each other. lol.
I doubt I would be able to spend so much time with my family if I had been working. Firstly, none of my jobs has ever been the strictly 9-5 kind so I always set off early and come home pretty late. Secondly, I woulnd't have the energy to hang out so much, I'm already dying trying to catch up with my two boys right now.
Last but not least, I hope you guys realise that all these excursions and happenings are only possible because there has to be someone behind the scenes organising it, perparing food for picnics in the kitchen and cleaning up after, making sure your laundry is done so you have clothes to wear etc.
So, IN CONCLUSION, I think my Taitai life has been pretty awesome overall, despite some aspects of it that I'm trying to get better at, like cleaning my house.
Housechores are not exactly my favourite pastime and I hardly even did any (correction: none at all) when I was back in SG. Now that I'm running the house and packing up after my husband and my dog, I fully appreciate my domestic worker back in SG and am ultra duper super grateful for her. Seriously, I spend a whole day doing housework and my home in the US isn't even as clean as my SG/parents' home. Plus there are 6 of us at home whom she has to tidy up after.
THANK YOU ROSIE FOR ALWAYS CLEANING UP AFTER ME AND FOR KNOWING WHERE I PUT ALL MY STUFF SO THAT YOU CAN HELP ME FIND THEM WHEN I CLAIM THAT I'VE LOST THEM.
The biggest challenge for me, however, is not being able to work. I have had some kind of income ever since I was 17 years old through odd jobs and working part-time. Not having cash come in every month is quite a bummer now and there are still times I wished I could be out there working and climbing the corporate ladder. I think it has been so deeply ingrained in me that my worth = my capabilites = my salary.
Somehow, though, as I continue to try my best to rise above this struggle, I'm secretly find comfort in this situation because I know that it would be hard for me to stop working when I eventually have to. Like when I have kids. I'm sure that is because God knows me well and loves me so He knew that He had to take away this opportunity from me now to save me from making a really tough decision later on (you know how indecisive and stressed I get about such stuff). He did this to prevent me from making a bad mistake and regretting it 40 years down the road when I realised that I missed the all the first times my babies (yah, I intend to have more than one) crawl/walk/say mummy haha.
Or like when 可可 (Ke2ke3) boy* squeezed his way from the back seat (in between the door and the front seat) to Mark's lap at the driver's seat when he got freaked out that night.
So yes, I am extrememly thankful for that and contented where I am =)
And, of course, not forgetting that I have the flexibility of waking up at noon everyday.
FTW. Kthxbye.
Love,
Belle
*Charcoal's newest nickname given by Nana who started calling him 查可 (Cha2ke3).
