mediacorp & stone grill

both sets of pictures are from yesterday, though i had mediacorp again today, but today was mostly class and filming our ptc (person to camera) - which is the part where the newscaster is reporting live, we had to do a mock storyboard to come up with the ptc. i did my story on pirates - which i like. i find pirates really really fascinating. i can still remember me ptc:

“Real Pirates” will present real history in an engaging manner that will appeal to all. The exhibit tells the story of real pirates – the life they led, the legends they created, the loot they acquired. This would provide a glimpse into the intrigue and lore that surrounds 18^th century piracy and how the team continues to plough through to discover more, hoping to unravel the mystery that is piracy. Sheryl Ong, Channel News Asia, Cincinnati."

(did you see the alliteration?? life, legends, loot? i don't even know if cna has a correspondent in Cincinnati. but ahwells! fictional ain't it? *grin* )

HAHA. yes. its only about 30sec long. but it took me awhile to memorise and like 3 takes to get it pat down. why 3? the first was okay, but my fringe was all over my face. so take 2! so i started take 2 "real pirates... (sheryl stares blankly at the camera) oh crap. can i start again?" haha. so brilliant huh. 2 words. well then there was take 3. so despite the nerves and shaking and bad hair. its over! (well there is still the assignment but yea, the scary part is done.) (:

just some random pictures of the studio at mediacorp where they broadcast news. we even managed to catch the 4 o'clock news broadcast! if you watched it carefully (though i'm pretty sure not many people actually even watch CNA, or the news for that matter, which btw i'm going to watch the noose later-finally-but out of point), you would see us walking in and out of the recording studio (where they manage the cameras and give cues to the newscaster) and the backdrop of the set. haha. very very cool. we got to talk to the newscaster (i'm not too sure how to spell her name, so yea, but surname edwards) and see the sets, the cameras, the behind-the-scene action, and the office set-up (i even managed to spot a rollerdex!) we decided to pretend we were the new interns at CNA (i wish), thus the first snapshot above.


and andrew and i had a lovely lovely meal at stonegrill. very interesting and novel concept of cooking your raw meat yourself on a piece of astonishingly hot (400 degrees i'm told) stone. sounds so caveman and primeval. it would have been perfect if not for the fact one's clothes would get that singed bbq grill smell (but hence the name stonegrill, so i guess thats the point). but the staff were really friendly and accommodating. we tried the soup of the day (clam chowder), starter (prawns with pancetta & cheese) and the combo stonegrill (which is a platter of veal, venison, lamb and ribeye).

the soup was good, you could taste like it was made from scratch and not just a can of campbells. but andrew said it wasn't creamy enough. i thought it kind of like a mix between a minestrone (cos of the veg) with the cream and clams of the regular clam chowder. prawns pancetta and cheese? grilled? 'nuff said. it was superb! prawns were very fresh. i'm going to try making that some day. the combo was pretty good. i liked the veal and venison the best. i guess we didn't get the best cuts since it was the combo, but still good nonetheless.

okay. long post. watching the noose now. haha. laters! (:
♥sheryl

new canvas art journals

i really really looooove these new journals i managed to scrap last night. its exactly what i had hoped squiggletown would be - quirky, whimsical, original. (that should be squiggletown's tagline. shall work on that) (:
♥sheryl

vanilla butter cupcakes

yesssss! i finally baked! (score one). and i finally made light fluffy cupcakes (score two)!! previously the recipes i tried yielded nice but either dense or fudge-full (not that thats a bad thing) cupcakes. but todays cupcakes were fluffy (albeit a bit moist but that can be excused). (: and and..its the first time that sherwin actually ate something i baked (score three)! i guess cos this tastes a little like the chiffon and or butter cake he's used to eating. and he's not adventurous, he doesn't like trying chocolate cornflakes or brownies or apple pies or anything else for that matter.

reminder to self: fill up more in bigger cupcake cups and make icing.
♥sheryl

flipped

peak at the new series at squiggletown! flipped over you pendants (they are named such as the middle can be flipped to reveal another picture)

my essentials: journal, diary, tag book (for random words or phrases that catch my attention) and tigger pencil case from UK. did i mention how much i love stationery? in particular paperchase. (:

these are card-sized mounted canvases. shall be using them to embellish..more pictures up soon.

i still haven't figured what to draw in the middle..the owl is still missing its beak.
shall bake this weekend. or today. well, soon enough. (:
♥sheryl

painting frenzy

incomplete works in progress. shall upload as i go along. (:
♥sheryl

MAAD jan 08

from squiggletown, entry dated monday, 7 jan 2008.

spot the difference? the first day i forgot my tablecloth. but i remembered the second day (thanks mom)! notice the second day the table is neater - nicer arrangements and all (thanks andrew) and also because most of the new stuff amongst others was quickly sold on the first day (thanks to all who stopped by).

MAAD was great; meeting new people, making new friends, and getting the support from friends who dropped by just to keep me company, pitched in to help out at the booth or be it just providing entertainment (thanks lysa, mel, caleb, joshua, sk, san, vince). and for getting snacks and ferrying me to and fro (thanks dad)!

you see i've realised MAAD has shown me how one little hobby can bring people together, and its also helped me realised the many blessings life has. i don't usually wax lyrical on squiggletown, but i just felt it was expedient to state how very grateful i am to all who helped make my booth at MAAD a success. definitely a great start to the year! hopefully squiggletown would be at MAAD again soon.

and for some reason i've a compulsion to make chocolate cheesecake. or cookies. hmm.
♥sheryl

photoblog

i've been blogsurfing and i've realised that there are loads of creative blogs out there. i kinda wanted this blog to be more of a photoblog with ideas thrown in along the way. so one of the things i wanted to do was to journal/sketch/scrap just a little bit everyday. its been day 3 of the new year and i haven't exactly gotten off to a good start (new year resolutions concerned), but its okay, third times the charm (or so the proverbial saying goes) so i shall endeavor to do better! yes. shall attempt to take a picture i'm happy with before the day ends (i still have uh...approx 6 hours to go. yes).
♥sheryl

new year's day & MAAD

just some snapshots we took while waiting for sk's bus to some, which she almost missed again. haha. and a MAAD sneak to tempt you to visit squiggletown's booth! see below!

details are as follows:
date: 5 & 6 jan 08
time: 11am to 7pm
venue: little red dot museum

hope to see you there! (: ohh, and there's a 10% discount for all on the 2 days squiggletown would be at MAAD!
♥sheryl

sentosa & food for thought fair

sentosa

went in through monorail, the first time for almost all of us cos previously we took cars or buses in. then we had a picnic lunch - and it was then i came up with the gilbert mix (which is really yummy but healthy nonetheless). we did the usual luge, skyride, biking, playing in the sand (making mermaid tails) - with the extra sake and ice-cream. a definite "must try again".

food for thought fair

the fair went pretty well all things considered. the bauble collection was launched and "the quarterly" - which is the series of 4 little books, each with 3 months worth of dates and pages. coming up next - MAAD! details are as follows:

date: 5 & 6 jan 08
time: 11am to 7pm
venue: little red dot museum

hope to see you there! (: and to all - Blessed New Year!
♥sheryl

hustle and bustle before Christmas

idea - bauble tags:
i found these small little baubles which i was planning to use for squiggletown. but then i realised they make such pretty embellishments for presents and also make great gift tags! these were made in a hurry. but i'll be trying to make some that are more furbished for sale. the first picture depicts the tools and stationery needed.

the sale will actually be at a fair, this sunday at food for thought cafe:
date: Sunday, Dec 23
time: 12nn-6pm
venue: Food for Thought Cafe
(opposite the National Library - 420 North Bridge Road, North Bridge Centre, #01-06)

after camp, went out to get some craft stuff and then had a nice dinner with andrew at pizza hut. a word of caution to all who want to try it - its really filling. and while i like the pizza itself (the cheese is gorgeous!), i don't like the crust that much (which is oddly, the thing that i usually like). but the drink isn't half bad. so yea.

yf camp 2007:


yf camp was really good. the fellowship, the message, the spiritual high that tends to be generated. i was going to take ALOT of pictures, but then there were so many photographers already, so i got lazy. haha. shall cope the pictures from caleb instead. (: but here are some of the few pictures i got.

anyhow, its the 21st of december, 4 days to Christmas, 6 days to driving test (which i really really want to pass), 10 days to 2008...busy busy busy!

♥sheryl

Christmas cards

managed to finish my Christmas cards yesterday. i think for the rest of the presents shall be making little gift tags instead. i also decided to start on my diary/planner/organizer/notebook for next year. i printed out the calender for the various months and added some paper. but i'll probably embellish it as i go along. i might share various pages now and then. got this idea from ali edwards with her "December daily" album. i thought doing that to my diary might be more practical, in the sense that i'm using it daily?

went to ikea yesterday too and bought more of those little candy storage jars. (did i mention how much i love love love ikea? i want an ikea house someday with ikea beds and ikea plates with ikea jars and ikea chairs) realised i could put my embellishments in there. (: also, i'm kinda psyched about the booth squiggletown will be having at "Food for Thought" on the 23 Dec. so much to do, so little time!
♥sheryl

fish & co. @ changi airport

daddy's off for a day trip to penang. so we had dinner with him at the airport. i love the Christmas tree there! its acrylic fish cutouts in various colours! with the lights shining thru the fishy tree, it gives off this disco effect against the ceiling. and the lights above the tables look like barnacles! ohh, and i didn't know that if you had a boarding pass, (i think) all the shops will give you 10% off your total bill!

note to self: use that to my advantage the next time.

♥sheryl

chocolate cinnamon cupcakes

these are actually a bit more like brownies - slightly fudgy inside. (: but for namesake, (and alliteration) they shall be called thus! thinking of making these as part of Christmas presents.

i finally cleared some space and uh, took over san's shelf space (which to my defense she wasn't using anyway! haha) and now have my little craft corner. (: the shelves present easy access to embellishments. but i couldn't fit all there, so my beading stuff and other doodads and gewgaws are stashed in ikea boxes under the table. and my study table has some too. oh, the the high cupboards. but nonetheless! finally! some semblance of a craft corner.

and my new gallon waterbottle. hahaah. no, its more for my room. think my litre nalgene (no pun intended) is still more handy.

i like this sign i saw at vivo. its for the singapore design festival or somewhat. cute huh? (batman theme song). haha.

okay, i'm off to luncheon. laters! (:
♥sheryl

the chicken rice shop

had lunch with my parents and sherwin at the chicken rice shop yesterday. funny thing was that we ate at the same place in Malacca. and the exact same set meal! haha. but the franchise here is nicer!
♥sheryl

warning! picture overload!

our trip to beijing in pictures. 5 pictures a day. there are loads more but its just too many. will prolly share some along the way.

DAY 1: 03/12/07

on board air china.

dad and mom.

san and i.

our first dinner at beijing: peking duck!

upon arrival in our room, we decided to take a picture in our full length mirror. say cheese!

DAY 2: 04/12/07

the trio walking to forbidden city. (: i like this picture.

forbidden city. it is really really huuuuuge btw.

our trishaw ride to see how the typical citizen's house looks like. now and in the past, it has remained the same.

us kids at the summer palace. jia min, li jie, sandra, hui min, sherwin and sheryl.

beautiful sunset outside the summer palace. we went to the pearl factory after that. the fantastic thing was the pearls from that shop were from the lake in the summer palace!

DAY 3: 05/12/07

jade factory. how to check if a jade piece is real? first, the colour (by looking through this glass thing) and second the sound. the clarity and pitch of the sound is a clear indicator.

ice-cream at the great wall anyone? i know it sounds insane. its like sub-zero yet we're eating ice-cream?!! well, cos when you climb up the great wall, its like super steep. so you end up panting and sweating. an ice-cream is a welcomed relief!

at the great wall. taken uh, circa 1970s! haaha. (:

the ming tombs.

tea appreciation at dr.tea (:

DAY 4: 06/12/07

didn't get a chance to take a picture of the hotel till then. so this is how the hotel looks like. looks kinda like all those other ancient buildings huh? like the forbidden city, summer palace, heavenly temple...

us at heavenly temple. dad, mom, san, me, sherwin, aunty, li jie, jia min and hui min.

guess whats wrong with the picture? (grin)

our free government provided foot reflexology. there were these TCM doctors who read palms to determine the type of illness you have. and they are really accurate. they can actually tell what type of sickness you have just by looking at your face!

we finally had hotpot!! (: the meat is missing from this picture tho. they practically shaved the meat into reaaaaaaly thin slices so that they would cook almost instantly!

DAY 5: 07/12/07

the bridge we took to cross over to more shopping centres! the last day was actually mostly shopping. sadly most clothes were for winter wear, not suitable for sunny singapore.

sherwin's very happy cos daddy's buying a boxful of spinning lighted tops!

there was a lot of veggie in our meals for the past 5 days. and so we were craving for some good ole steak! so daddy brought us to this fab western food place.

us at dinner. the last meal at beijing.

one last look at the hotel.

♥sheryl