First wedding and vacation this year

The past week was soooo exhausting, tiring, stressful, but also exciting and most importantly FUN! I must apologize upfront for the extended post - I'm sure some of you will skip the huge text parts, while my loyal readers will go through every word :)

On Friday evening I rushed home, ran around my block to run the last errands before heading to the airport to go back home to DUS.
On Saturday morning, my sis and I drove up to NL to visit my new baby boy nephew (son of my cousin M) Dylano, who is just 12 days old on the day we visited him. He was so tiny and easy to get along with - and very cute! He is a mix between a Chinese and Iraquee (?), but he looks more like his dad (which is the latter). Click on the pictures to get a larger image!

Babyful weekend (Kirsten on the left, baby Dylano on the right and sister Tara on the bottom)

After a short visit, we went to my other (then soon to be married) cousin W for our final bridesmaid dresses fitting, altered by her (then) future mom in law, which she managed very well and quick. Simultaneously, a high tea for my other cousin C (I have a lot of cousins) was held, who had her birthday that day. In the eve we went for dinner at the Satébar (opened by one of the gm) with the other bridesmaids and groomsmen to go through the last details, which was fun and the food was good and spicy!

Randomness: bored in the car, feeding baby D, high tea and dinner

On Sunday, after buying the last wedding stuff in the city, we all met at the hotel to start with the first preparations, like going through the location, starting to decorate (inflating balloons), etc. Afterwards we drove down to Zeeland, where the bride grew up and her parents still live. This was also the place where the bride was picked up (along with Chinese traditions). The eve got very late due to other (last minute) preparations, eating tong yuan, preparations for the tea ceremony, etc. It was also very crowded since many people were there, which let us stay up long, which resulted in 2-3hrs sleep only.
On the next morning/night still we got up at 5 to start with hair & make up with all the girls. I tried to make some light wavy curls with my friend's GHD hair straightener, which was easy and quick to use. Since I don't have the straightest hair, I'm not sure if others noticed. As for make up, I used my usual going out make up, since I don't like too much stuff on the face, especially by day .. One of the bm helped me to apply eyeliner to accentuate my eyes. For jewellery, I decided to keep it simple with Swarovski earrings and a bracelet, on top of that I had a fashion ring in yhe shape of a flower in a similar color as the bm dress, which I somehow lost - probably during assisting the last tea ceremony. The shoes that I wore hurt a lot, but luckily I had silver ballerinas for in between and in the end I didn't take them of anymore (see pic below for the whole looks). The guys came around 7am and we played some games that are meant to proof themselves in honor of the groom. It was hilarious since they had to put on granny's lingerie (and they kept asking whose undies they were - they were like size XXL), apply lipstick to the other guys with their mouth (!) and pass on thin seaweed sheets with their lips (although they of course cheated), but we girls had our fun! After the groom listed up things why he loves his fiancee so much - in Chinese (and he never speaks Chinese), we were ready to go after the first quick tea ceremony (where the future bride pair show their respect to their parents and relatives by pouring them tea and in return get jewellery). The bride pair left immediately afterwards for the second tea ceremony for the groom's family in Rotterdam. The others followed shortly after to the city hall. The ceremony was beautiful and a little glamorous since all the bridesmaids and groomsmen (in total 8 couples) walked in front of the bride and her dad. After the ceremony ended, we congratulated the couple, took some pictures and had a little private photo session with the girls and guys, where this one was made:

Very nice shot!

We were on a tight time schedule, so we drove to the hotel to have a quick bite and started preparing the venue (mostly checking out the preparations so far, continue decorating the reception area, setting up the beamer, etc). Around 3pm the third and last tea ceremony for the bride's family took place, closely followed with th cake cutting, tossing of the bouquet and garter - and guess who caught the bouquet?
All of the girls were stepping more and more to the back and somebody said the bouquet should not fall on the floor (bad luck?) and I was encouraging the other girls to catch it (since I was one of the two single ladies), but they didn't want to. In the end, the bouquet fell right into my hands .. It was even worse with the guys - they stood like 5m away from where the garter landed and it fell right on the floor. Then one of the groomsmen picked it up (who has a gf and a child), so maybe I'll be dancing on his wedding soon?!

Bouquet

Afterwards, it was time to sit at the reception table to greet the incoming guests, accepting the red pockets on behalf of the married couple, assigning them to the right tables, etc. We were blessed with excellent weather, but it was really warm in the dining room, since the airco broke down, which resulted in people sweating, undressing and make up running down the couture (yes, this is taken from SATC). Nevertheless, the speeches were beautiful and touching and the food was good (although too tired to eat further than the 3rd of 10 courses, which was a waste) - I didn't even eat the cake until the next morning, because I was rushing around taking care of things, but the cake was delish! It was a mango-passion fruit cake covered with sugar! At the end of the eve, I even managed to dance a little bit after the bride and groom performed a sexy first dance.
We were all pretty beat around 1am, since we were awake since more than 20hrs, therefore we didn't stay so long. All in all, it was a successful day despite some minor hick ups in between and I enjoyed myself, especially having fun with the guys (and girls). More pics will be revealed, when the newlyweds are back from their honeymoon in the Caribbean.

My sis & I in our dresses

 ***

The next day, my sis and I were in a rush to get to Schiphol, the airport of Amsterdam and dropped our car there to take off to MALLORCA! We landed in the late afternoon and headed right to the Mango outlet. Luckily we rented a car, since public transportation sucks on the Balearic island. Although it was a tiny box on wheels (Kia Picanto), it fulfilled its purposes. The Mango outlet was a little disappointing, but we scored each 3 items nonetheless! Since we were late for the hotel dinner (which is located more than 1hr from the airport and outlet), we walked to the city center of Cala Ratjada to get some first tapas.
On Wednesday, we went to the beach of Cala Mesquida to get a little tan (no sun allergy, yay! Therefore 5 mosquito bites in the hotel lobby. :(), then drove to the city center of Palma to do some shopping and a little bit of sightseeing (since Sam hasn't been to Mallorca before), which was quite successful. In the evening, we decided to have paella in the city instead of rushing back to the hotel.



Snapshots of our holidays

On Thursday, we woke up early to head out to Cap de Formentor, a lighthouse on top of a hill/mountain. Unfortunately, I broke one of my contact lenses the night before, so I had to buy new ones. If I go on vacation for a longer period, I always bring spare ones, but not for a short trip. Next time, I will (and I advice all contact lense wearers to do the same) since I don't feel like walking in my glasses. The drive up to the lighthouse was fun, since the road is very narrow, steep and bends sharply for some parts. The view was breathtaking and worth the drive up (also for the second time, since I've been to Mallorca 4x already and on the lighthouse noe for the second time). Then we went to another part of Palma to finish our shopping route, which was less successful for me. I was saying to my sis that I haven't bought anything yet, then she said: You bought two pairs of shoes! I already forgot since she bought so many more clothes .. In the end, apart from the shoes, I "only" bought 1 dress, 1 pair of pants, 1 skirt, 1 pullover, 1 leggings and 3 shirts/tops.

My purchases (incl. the one, I'm wearing) and I (taken from Cap de Formentor)

Now I'm killing time in the plane by writing this blog entry (time is precious) with my iPhone! We have a 2.5hrs drive back to DUS ahead of us. I'm not sure if I will do anything for the rest of the weekend, since I am really exhausted and have to drive about 4.5hrs to HH on Sunday afternoon - by myself. I will be drop dead tired if I get there .. But it was worth it!

Oh two things that made my day:
1. Hilarious video of how I caught the bouquet
2. I bought a bottle of wine and got asked for my ID!

Happy last days of May!

First hosted bachelorette weekend

It’s only less than one week (actually it is only 5 days) to go until my cousin’s big day and I’m really excited for her. Last weekend we surprised her with a weekend with the bridesmaids in Hamburg. Some details on the events will come later, but some things that happened on Hamburg, will stay in Hamburg (like the grooms men swear on). But all the girls enjoyed it and the bride to be even considered it perfect! So mission accomplished. :)

On Monday and Tuesday my parents visited Hamburg (and me) with my aunt from Hong Kong and her friend, who have both never been here before. Unfortunately the weather was cold and rainy, so they couldn’t enjoy Hamburg as they should have. Everywhere they went, it rained – harbor, Reeperbahn, Jungfernstieg, etc. They have done some shopping, had seafood at the Restaurant Fischmarkt (traditional fish restaurant near the Portugiesenviertel), checked out the most important things to see (in the rain), so I guess it was okay for a short trip. 

Thai dinner @ Hafencity

There are still so many things to do and I haven’t been sleeping in (for a while) and won’t be for the next couple of weeks. Next week I will be off, so there are 2 busy work days to go. On Friday after work, I will fly home, but will leave for the Netherlands on Saturday morning to visit my cousin’s baby boy Dylano – what a special name! Maybe even another baby girl of a friend, if time allows it. 

This is the cute baby card that I still haven't received (copyright by Justine)

In the afternoon, we have to be in Rotterdam for the dress fitting. Later, a sort of rehearsal dinner with all the bridesmaids and grooms men is planned. Sunday is packed with the last preparations at the hotel and in the evening, we will head to the bride’s parent’s home to follow some Chinese traditions, like eating tang yuan and brushing the bride’s hair (I didn’t know this one). The next morning we need to get up really early – I believe around 5 am (most importantly for the bride) to get the hair and make up done, wait for the grooms men and the groom to play games with, so that they can pick up the bride. Then we rush to the city again to have a second tea ceremony, since the ceremony will start at 11am already. Everything is planned well-through by the brides pair and my sister, so we know exactly when to be where and what to do. The official reception will then start at 5pm, but there are a lot of things to be done in the meantime, like decorations, a third tea ceremony, pictures, etc. It’s gonna be a long, but for sure, fun day. On the next day I will fly to Spain to REST and SHOP and after the weekend at home, I will be driving back to Hamburg. So it’s gonna be stress for sure, but I’m looking forward to it! 

It will be 25°C next week! :)

Today I skipped squash to get another spray tan and this time I was brave and took level 2, but I have to wait 3 more hours until I can shower and I must tell, it’s darker than the last time. I will probably get a shock, when I wake up tomorrow morning. At least I have a few buffer days before the wedding. Shoes I already have, still looking for flats that I can wear in between, as well as a proper handbag/clutch to match with the lilac dress. Also, I still need to figure out with my hair. I don’t think I will pin up my hair, but probably make some water curls instead (first learn how to do so). For the rest, I also have to think of the make up .. for the boys it’s easy – they just slip into their tuxes, put away their phone/camera/money (red pockets) and done.

Anyway, I’m curious to see how everything goes and will get back to you (with more pictures) afterwards .. cross your fingers for me that everything will go smoothly, the weather is good and I will come back happy and relaxed!

First healthy month

Since the wedding of my cousin is in a month, I decided to cut back on unhealthy snacking, meaning no sweets (including all kinds of candy, chocolate – and I already started before Easter, so no chocolate eggs), no chips (not that I have bought any in months), no cookies, no ice cream, no (cup)cakes, no alcohol (besides maybe the bachelorette weekend), more fruits and veggies and more sports.

Too bad I missed squash again this week .. a meeting ran way over time and therefore, I was too late .. at least I cycled to work. And I must say, I’m getting faster and faster, although much more cannot be expected, since it’s a really simple bike from the super store. ;-) Today I actually checked out a fitness center close-by (by bus, I must admit), but I am proud to say that I worked out for an hour. I did the step for 15 minutes (and burned 200kcal only) and for the rest all kinds of sports equipment to strengthen and train my muscles in the back, breast, arms, legs and stomach .. and I must say: I have no condition at all! I wonder how I can manage to play squash for 2 hours straight, but am short of breath after 15 minutes of stepping .. weird! I will challenge myself again this Wednesday! :)

No more sweets for me!

My empty fridge .. mostly yoghurt and fruit!

For the rest, I have been a little grumpy and tired these days (lack of sugar?) .. I didn’t even “dance into May”, which is a German tradition .. an excuse for Germans to party! Yesterday I spent the day with sofa-hunting (even out of Hamburg) – again no success (I guess I am too picky) and eating (of course healthy) Vietnamese summer rolls and phô. I have been buying a lot of fruit lately, but too lazy to peel the paring of pears and kiwi .. so I have been throwing everything in a blender and make smoothies out of them – yum! Oh and the weekend plan of doing nothing and resting didn’t quite work out for me .. yesterday I got thrown out of the bed at 9.30 am, because my shoes (I mentioned in the last post) arrived! They fit and are quite comfortable for 3.2” (8cm) heels, so I might keep them, although I have seen prettier and more unaffordable ones:

Boss Dixie Sandals

Then I have been on the way all day with the sister of a friend and her little daughter. I sat in a carousel (which happened to be in front of a furniture store) like 10 times, because she just couldn't get enough of it. I was kinda dizzy afterwards .. Then at a ice parlor, she wanted to get on a toy horse (where you can put money in it and it starts to run) all the time, and then off, and on .. that went like 20 times :P Maybe that's why I was so exhausted at the end of the day!

Anyway, I hope I feel better soon, since it's my favorite month! It's first of May already .. how time flies! Happy May ahead!