My 23rd Birthday...

When I was young, I've always felt that birthdays need to be celebrated with a LOuD bang; lots of friends & family members invited, a specially ordered birthday cake, a well-decorated venue, heaps of presents, tons of good food and lots of fun & games!

Now that I’m no longer a kid, I’ve come to realize that the most important thing to have on a Birthday is the LOVE & TIME spent with the ones whom are dear; something precious that no amount of money can ever buy.

And so this year, I told my mother that I didn't need cake nor presents at all. A jolly good time and a simple good dinner was all I wanted.

But my mother wouldn't settle for a cake-less Birthday. And the first time in all my twenty-three years, she decided to bake me a Birthday CUPCAKE!

Okay, why cupcake?

Because her colleague baked her some cupcakes a while back and she said it was delicious, so she wanted to make me one for my birthday... ONE BIG CUPCAKE that's twenty-two centimetres in diameter - Wouldn't we call that a “CAKE”...? Her colleague and I tried to tell her that, but she insisted she wanted to “bake a big cupcake” for me... (I was touched deep inside nevertheless).

Although I bake, but my mother doesn't really; or should I say... Seldom.

Ironically, she was the one who had introduced baking to my sisters and me when she baked us a cheese cake over a decade ago. It tasted delicious, and it was her cheese cake then that sparked-off my passion for baking afterthat.

On the morning of 20^th October, my mother sat by my bed and awoke me with her Birthday Greeting and Kiss. She snuck under covers beside me and we talked about our schedule for the day... (Sweetness was what I felt)

She needed to go get ingredients for baking, and even though I had just fallen asleep not too long ago (after staying up for a whole night to upload all my photos from my Bintan Trip on my Facebook & to update my blog); I DO want to spend as much time as I can with her too!

I got out of bed, brushed my teeth, changed and we headed out. By the time we got home, she quickly started measuring, sifting, and beating... All by herself. I simply stood by her side; watching her all the time and took pictures!

After baking, she packed the cake in a box and we carried it out to our next program for the day; singing! My mother loves to sing too, so I decided to do something that the both of us would really enjoy and brought her to K-Suite @ Orchard Parade Hotel; whereby AMDG & I always hang-out whenever we feel like singing.

It was my mother's first time there and she was totally in awe of the place!

With such a BIG comfy Sofa-Bed...

Touch-Screen Monitor...

Two wide LCD Screens...

In-house Blankets & Slippers...

Cordless Microphones...

Desktop Computer to surf the web...

And an area within the room to play Video Games...

it is simply overwhelming!

On top of that...

I recommended the Black Pepper Sausage Tortillas to my mother...

And she absolutely enjoyed it so much...

That she ATE ALMOST ALL the Tortilla slices!

And besides the delicious Tortilla and the big jug of Iced Honey Lemon...

We also shared a slice of Chocolate Fudge Cake, which was a sweet gesture from the Captain of K-Suite;

Wishing me A Happy Birthday...

Seol, Thank You so much for the cake and your warm hospitality...

THANK YOU!

While I was singing with my mother, another surprise awaited me... Rena called to inform that someone had delivered a gift that was for me to the office and since she was heading to town for an appointment later in the day, she kindly met up with me to pass the gift.

I met Rena at the lobby of Orchard Parade Hotel and saw that she was holding a triangular box of flowers with a purple-wrapped box. I got closer and as she handed it to me, I couldn't take my eyes off the flowers... It was so dainty and sweet! I never knew that Roses, Carnations and Daisies made such a marvellous combination. The baby pinks and white had a soft, endearing effect, relating the senders' care and blessings...

Thank you so much for your flowers and gift Sky...

if you are reading this, I just want you to know I really like it...!!!

Never in a million years would I expect anyone to have my birthday gift delivered to AMDG's Office... It was a wonderful surprise indeed for me!

THANK YOU Sky!!!

The day ended with dinner in Watami Restaurant at The Central.

My little sister and her best friend joined us as soon as they had knocked off from work and together; we tucked into the Japanese cuisine...

Tempura, Salmon, Scallop, Tofu, Skewers, Hotplates... Etc...

We ate till we were almost full, because we all wanted to leave space for my mother's home-baked cupcake!

Like I had mentioned...

The only thing my mother had baked was Cheese Cake and that was a very loOoong time ago...

Her big cupcake didn't turn out as neatly-made or as delicious as a patissiere would have made it, but it was definitely one that's made with full of love that warms my heart deep...

And it was depicted by a colourful heart-shaped design on the aqua-blue frosted cupcake - There, in the middle of my mother's loving heart... Was a sweet, little sugar-candied girl.

My mother's entire effort in making this cake synchronized with the words that are in her Birthday Card for me...

Specially to my Princess Kasandra...

I want you to know

That I love you

Every bit as much today

As the day you were born.

And though I may not

Hold you in my arms

The way I did then,

I always hold you safely

In my thoughts

And in my heart.

Happy Birthday

Mummy

(Click To Enlarge...)

Though it is widely known and believed that all parents love their children (and vice versa), once in a while, all humans need to be reminded of how important and loved we are, because it's  only human to forget and think otherwise... Receiving a simple card that pens the feelings of love, means a lot to me ... This is already the best present I can have.

Thank You... Mummy Dearest!

For Giving Me This Special Day To Celebrate,

For The Loving Cake You've Baked,

For The Enjoyable Time We've Spent Together,

For Always Selflessly Sacrificing For My Wants,

For Always Patiently Putting Up With My Ways,

For Always Magnanimously Forgiving My Wrongdoings,

And For Having Me In Your Thoughts & Heart,

Forever & Always...

I Love You, Mummy...

And Not Forgetting This "Cheeky" Birthday Card

Given To Me By My Beloved Little Sis...

(Click To Enlarge...)

The One Whom I Adore Dearly & Quietly;

With All My Heart...

She'll Always Be My Little Sis

The One That I'm Glad

To Have Around,

Forever...

And I Love Her Much.