I know how to enjoy my life.
All my friends who know me well *know* I know how to enjoy life.

The secret to to making your life that little bit more fantastic,
is to applaud yourself on a regular basis (nobody has to know)
and reward yourself with things you love every time you’ve done something commendable.

Of course, everyone has a different view on what is commendable and what is not.

For instance, walking in between the lines without touching them is a very commendable feat (to me, and i’m sure to some of you out there too!).
I didn’t realise how often and unconsciously i do it… till Chelle started shrieking at me one day while we were walking in Gardens.
We were on the way to survey some new fabric,
and because we were talking while walking,
i had to jump every now and then to make sure i kept up with her while crossing that dreaded line at the same time.
She was wondering why i kept on hopping up and down in public like an idiot.
I couldn’t stop laughing when i realised what i was doing…
but i gave myself a BIG mental pat on the back for my commendable feat after that.

Sometimes a mental pat on the back doesn’t cut it
purely because a bigger effort at doing something
requires a nicer treat at the end of it!

Here’s a list of things i like to treat myself to 

1. A crazy funky something.

Usually when i pick clothes and shoes, i easily convince myself that this is fundamental to my work
i.e. look presentable at meetings, fashion events, etc.
Once in a while, i’d stumble upon a fashion piece that’s kinda whacky and not something i can wear every day…
which brings me to why it’s a treat.
I want it just because.
I want it because it’s so unique,
that if i let it go, i’ll probably never see something like that again.
Of course, if i bought every ‘unique’ piece i saw,
i’d be broke as a joke (i don’t know why that line exists, being broke is nothing near a joke..!)
So once in awhile, when i haven’t bought anything special and crazy for a long time (read: 2 months)
i allow myself a crazy funky piece which i really want and feel i deserve,
usually after garnering a good-paying freelance job!

2. Crispy Dove chocolate.

I’ve been really angelic and keeping off caffeine for two years now. *cue mental pat on the back* (i could do that all day)
Every once in a while when i do decide to have coffee (usually at a meeting so i feel pressured to have the same as the person)
it makes me so hyper and crazy i swear i won’t touch the stuff unless i absolutely have to keep awake for something.
Coffee used to be my thing while i write at home.
But since i’ve had to replace coffee with something else,
that something else happens to be Dove chocolate.
And not just any flavour of Dove chocolate.
It has to be the Crispy one.
It’s got little crunchy rice bits that swirl in my mouth perfectly with the sweet smooth chocolate.
Munching on the rice bits is a satisfying job that also makes it seem like half a biscuit, half a chocolate bar, so i don’t feel so sinful scoffing chocolate in the middle of the night.
Alternatively if you suck slowly on small bites to try to make it last (like i do), you feel quite proud when you end up with cripsy rice bits to gnash your teeth on.

3. Facials & Fashion

Something i try to indulge in every weekend for getting through the week!
Slapping on something nourishing to sit on my skin
while i lazily flip through my latest fashion magazines is multi-tasking at its weekend best.
Thanks to Aps, i just got obsessed with putting honey on my face and bought a few tiny jars.
Don’t bother buying the cheap one, go for the proper (and more expensive) honey for your face.
Other products i alternate with depending on my mood are from Clarins and Hada Labo.
Depending on which one i feel like scaring Clem with that day.

4. Steak Tartare

Ever since eating a number of delectable steak tartare dishes during summer and winter in France last year, it’s taken precedence on my list of ‘Fine Foods To Spoil Myself With’.
Top of the list used to be oysters and foie gras,
but after OD-ing on it (i never thought it possible…) last Christmas,
i’ve turned to something my palate has had less experience with.

Conveniently for me, there’s steak tartare at T42 right oustide Celebrity Fitness,
where i try to force myself to go for my own sake.
You have no idea how hard it is to make me go to the gym.
I’ve infamously done a U-turn before to avoid reaching the gym,
and another time i spent a record-breaking 25 minutes on a ‘full’ workout (11 – cardio, 12 – strength training, 2 – drinking water).

So you have to understand, that a feat such as going to the gym,
deserves delicate slivers of raw beef mixed with onions, capers and quail egg yolk.

5. Toys!

Maurice the Mouse whom i’ve just adopted from Sri Lanka!

Ok i know i’m too old for this.
No, inside, i know i’ll never be too old for this,
but the former sentence came to mind cos my dad says to me, “Aren’t you too old for this?”
One such occasion was when he saw me trying to carry my hula hoop quietly outside in the middle of the night.

Occasionally i find a toy (or how i like to say, the toy found me)
and i allow myself to buy it because:
1. I think i’ve been a good girl.
2. I’m buying it with my own money.
3. Nobody can stop me.

Well okay, Reason No. 1 is the only plausible one,
but i had to add in the extra two so it seemed like i had more.

6. Cheese & Wine

This is considered a regular treat because it has to be taken in small doses anyway.
I like nibbling on the cheese (like a little mouse, as Clem says)
and sipping on shiraz while divulging in a documentary or E! News.
Clem doesn’t like strong cheese (i know… don’t say the F word) nor E! News.

So it’s something i get to do if i’ve had a damn long day!

7. Whatever You Can Get

The first day we were in Sri Lanka, Clem and i climed to the top of UNESCO World Heritage Site – Sigiriya.
The hardened magma plug of an extinct volcano has been a monastery since 3rd century BC,
though local legend deems it to have been a palace and gardens of a past king.

The climb up was 12,000 steps.
12,000.
By 9,000 we realised we didn’t bring enough water and had to ration it -_-
When we reached the top we were so thirsty and i (as usual) was hungry.
It would have been unrational wishful thinking to hope there would be a stall up there selling cold drinks (like they do on Mt. Batur, Bali)
and i was digging around desperately in my bag when i found
a melted and squashed bar of Dove chocolate.

“I found chocolate!”
“Why didn’t you bring the crispy one?”
“Hey, at least we have something okay.”
“Are you going to give me some or what?”
“I thought you didn’t want any -_-”
“This one with nuts and raisins is quite good…”

Guess who ended up licking the wrapper clean…
Answer: The person who had earlier on sneered at my squished chocs.

Look at my red face… it was THAT HOT.

Sometimes after you’ve done something that almost deserves a certificate (like climb 12,000 stepts)
you can’t get yourself the ideal reward (an icy cold watermelon juice would have been nice).
But just like in every day life, it doesn’t mean a reward isn’t within reach.
You just gotta make it convenient for you.

I asked some friends what *they* do to reward themselves for little victories…

” Going to buy myself a nice breakfast when i, for some reason, am early for work (and then this makes me late in the end, of course). Or eating a gigantic, fat-filled, greasy, delicious meal for dinner after having a healthy salad for lunch.”
– Yishyene, Professional Prankster, www.yishyene.com

“I’m a kickboxing junkie. After every soul crushing session, i look forward to having something awesome for dinner (and that first sip of ice cold 100 Plus) and spending some quality ME time to think about what I’ve just accomplished – 6 months ago, I would’ve never been able to complete a class without being completely knackered. I suppose the fact that I’m much fitter and healthier now is a reward in its own right!”
– Sarah Chan, Copywriter, sarchan.tumblr.com

“I personally like alone time to watch and learn the choreography of Beyonce and Lady Gaga videos, and if they aren’t dropping singles, alone time to perform ones i already learned for myself. Sounds silly, but i like to have a little fun and a good sweat after a long, strenuous day.”
– Claudia Low, Sub-editor of Harper’s Bazaar, cloudeeya.tumblr.com

“Ice-cream on my left, crisps on my right, chick flicks up ahead, and clothes wayyyy out of sight (they don’t call it a birthday suit for nothing).”
– Eleanor Ng, Designer & Mother, ginjacqie.com/blog

“When I catch up on my daily entries in my journal after a lapse of a couple of days I treat myself to an episode or two of Grey’s Anatomy! Or after working long hours on a shoot or project, I love to treat myself to a supermarket sweep! No reading of labels to find the ones with the healthiest ingredients. No rules! I get to put anything I want into the cart. Ahhh… I LOVE the grocery aisles.”
– Chelsia Ng, Actress & Singer, http://www.facebook.com/chelsiang7

“I reward myself after a hard day’s work by playing futsal with the girls / playing on my ipad with the TV on in the background / playing on my Wii! The simple (albeit techy) pleasures in life!”
– Melissa Indot, Singer, www.melissaindot.com

“When I manage a little victory, I like to treat myself to a holiday! My favourite form of escapism is to sit on the plane, miles above ground, knowing I’m on my way to discovering a new destination i.e. when Wedding Guide Asia was awarded columns in The Star and Hello magazine, I went on holiday to Hong Kong.”
– Stephanie Chai, Model & Founder of www.weddingguideasia.com

I guess everyone has their version of rewarding themselves!
Theirs sounded so different from mine, especially Claudia’s -_-

What do YOU do to reward yourself?
Maybe i can adopt it into my own list too!

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