Colt: A Stalker and (more) Soccer

As of lately, Colt’s been up to his usual antics of trying to get pets from any passer-byers in sight and playing with his soccer ball until he can barely make the ¼ mile walk back to the condo.

No, I do not want your kisses!

Me and my best boy :)

Colty sure does love his soccer ball!

I've also been up to my usual antics and realized this last time that Colty was at boarding that I am officially a full-blown dog stalker.

Where's Colty?!

Other than his soccer ball, he's also enjoyed playing with some new friends and hanging out by the pool at one of our BBQ’s.  He was almost immediately swarmed by children, who were surprisingly unafraid to pet him, and he loved every second of it.

Colt and his new friends Buddy and Kierra

Mark and Colt enjoying some time by the pool

While Mark was out-of-town for hockey, I decided to let Colt sleep in the bed with me.  As you can tell from the picture, it didn’t work out exactly how I had imagined.  Colt took up most of the bed and blanket leaving me with only a small corner.  They weren’t the most comfortable nights of sleep I’ve ever had but we made it work.  We also stayed up and watched the sunrise together one night/morning :)

Yeah, the little section in the right corner is what I had left.

This perfectly illustrates Colty's night in the bed, haha!

Singapore sunrise from the bedroom balcony

Photo #1 of Singapore Sunrise

Colt post-bath. E.T. phone home!

Hong Kong Hockey Tournament May 2013

Mark traveled to Hong Kong for a hockey tournament with his team the Manimals.  He left on May 8^th and was gone until late Saturday May 11^th.  In their division, there were a total of 8 teams playing in the tournament – 1 each from Canada, Tokya, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi; and 2 each from Hong Kong and Singapore.  Although Mark’s team didn’t do as well as they’d hoped, only winning 1 of 4 games, they still had a lot of fun!  They even got to play against the Prince of Abu Dhabi!  I don’t have any actual pictures of them playing hockey from the tournament but Mark did manage to get a few pictures of the team enjoying the Hong Kong nightlife.

Boracay, Philippines - April 2013

Mark and I recently went to Boracay, Philippines from Thursday, April 11 through Sunday, April 14.  It was a bit of a trek to get to, especially given how close it looks on the map! But we made it after a 3 hour and 40 minute plane ride to Cebu-cancelled flight/6 hour unplanned layover-1 hour propeller plane ride facing backwards (if you are envisioning this not mixing well with my fear of planes, you are correct) to Caticlan-motorbike sidecar ride from airport to Caticlan jetty-boat ride to Boracay-another motorbike side car ride from Boracay jetty to hotel!

Motorbike with side car that Mark and I rode in. A typical mode of transportation for people in the Philippines.

Even though we were pretty exhausted from the travel once we got to our hotel and saw the beach, we knew it was worth it!  It truly is beautiful!  While in Boracay, we spend most of our time soaking relaxing and soaking up rays at the beach, trying new foods, and just enjoying the beauty.  Visiting The Philippines was just one of the many times we’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to live in Singapore and see places that otherwise we might not have!

White Beach, Boracay.  The beach in front of our hotel.

Palm trees. Blue skies. Clear water. White sand. Dreamy.

Boracay is one of those places that you can’t quite accurately describe with words so I feel like pictures do the best job.  Click here to view our Boracay Facebook album.

Pool Days and Game Nights

Spring in Singapore definitely “sprung” upon us and flew by just as fast!  Mark and I found it hard to believe that, as of the end of April, we have been in Singapore 2 years!  But, like they say, time flies when you’re havin’ fun!

A big part of the fun things I’ve/we’ve done to keep busy revolve around coffee group.  Like I said in a previous post, I joined an expat coffee group earlier in the year that meets every Wednesday in the mornings.  It’s not just U.S. expats but women relocated to Singapore from all over – Australia, Europe, other parts of Asia – you name the place and we likely have someone in our coffee group from there!  Bonding with other women in my same situation has been a great way to meet new people.   

Aside from just the once a week coffee meet-up which I routinely look forward to, the ladies I’ve met in coffee group have also helped keep me busy during the day with activities ranging from workouts to lunches to pool parties.   

Trying Vietnamese noodle soup with the girls from coffee group

Coffee group girls celebrating Ashley's birthday at Din Tai Fung, a dumpling restaurant

The girls at our pool (L to R: Bahar, Niki, Amy, Kristy)

Mark and I have made quite a few friends through this group and plan a lot of our weekend hangouts with those friends.  Fun recent activities include: celebrating a friend’s birthday at Tanjong Beach Club, enjoying some Mexican food during a night out, and participating in a Minute to Win It party inspired by the T.V. show!

Amy and I had a baking session to make a cake for her husband, Evan's, birthday. Who would have ever thought that I would be teaching someone how to bake?! (As you can see, Colt helped too!)

Friends at the beach club celebrating Evans birthday!

Drinks on Club Street (L to R: Niki, Amy, Charlotte, Melissa, Kristy)

Mexican food at Lucha Loco: Charlotte, Niki, Melissa, Kristy, Amy, Evan, Nate, Dan, Mark, Rod

Mark and I enjoying drinks at the Club Street whiskey bar

The Boys (L to R: Dan, Nate, Evan, Mark)

Minute to Win It party! These pictures are ridiculous but too funny not to share! Mark, Brad, and myself trying to get oranges inside a hula hoop with a banana.

Still trying! Mark already got his oranges inside the hula hoop!

Trying to get an Oreo from our forehead to our mouths using only our face - notice Mark's celebration!

Bubble Boy!

I'm 25 (again)!

It’s been a while since my last blog!  But a few days after that blogging session, I celebrated my 25^th birthday for the second time – and my second birthday in Singapore!  Even though I was far away from my family, Mark and my Singapore friends made me feel very special :)

The day before my birthday, I had some friends over for a pool day.  It was really nice to celebrate in the sun and in the pool (not something us March birthdays get to do very often)!  My sweet friends made it all the more special by thoughtfully bringing cupcakes which I ate entirely too many of!

Delicious cupcakes - thanks Ashley and Amy!!

The day of my actual birthday, I didn’t make any plans because Mark said he was planning the night.  He told me to be ready by 7pm so we could head off for drinks and dinner, although I didn’t know where he was taking me.  Before we left the condo, he had another surprise up his sleeve!  He had sneakily found out the name and type of purse I was in love with ("purse-girls" out there understand – you really can be in love with a purse!!) and surprised me with it!  

The purse surprise would have been more than enough but he also took me to Club Street – a trendy little street near Chinatown that is lined with restaurants and bars – for some celebrating.   We started at a martini bar called Bartini that makes delicious drinks and finished at an Italian restaurant (man, he knows me well) named Cugini.  He picked the restaurant after going there for a work function and trying a truffle ravioli that he thought I would love – he was right!

Delicious martinis - Mark even drank out of a girly glass ;)

Adorable shophouse converted into Italian restaurant

Us at Cuginis

I’ve had a lot of great birthdays but this one was especially memorable thanks to an amazing husband and awesome friends! Thanks again!

Capping off the night with a movie at home

Roses 2 red and 6 white. Welp, I guess the secret is fully out, I'm officially 26!