Everyday, I pick my son up from school.

When we get home, the first thing I have to do is bark: PLEASE TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF OUTSIDE!

Because, if I forget to remind him, I’ll have sand sprayed all over the house.

I assume all the sand is from the school sandpit. But there’s so much of it! I don’t even know how there can be enough room in there for his feet. There was like ¼ cup of sand in each shoe.

Maybe I need to get him thicker socks.

Years ago I stumbled across a blog who linked to me, Kinky Blue Fairy. I found Joyce Wong, a hot, pixie-faced chick, with attitude, who seemed to party non-stop!

Over the years of popping in and out of her site, I’ve found myself quite entertained and deeply fascinated – for me it’s seeing how the other side lives. Ah, so that’s what real party girls get up to! What a jam packed life! She has so much energy! And I love her outfits!

Joyce’s pet project is Tongue in Chic, a very cool fashion blog based in Malaysia (such a great name!). It’s definitely a regular stop for me when keeping in touch with fashion in the Asia region.

I just love the range of stuff that she and her team covers. Everything from fashion shows, fashion events, bargain hunting, latest trends, sales, designers, fashion ideas, fashion scouting in Hong Kong, Bangkok, China and more.

Tongue in Chic are launching the new version of their site on the 20th August 2008, complete with a rocking launch party! Wish I was there!

I also asked Joyce if she was interested in “Doing The Karen Cheng”, she laughed and said SURE!

So you can see her pics on her Kinky Blue Fairy site, and on the Doing The Karen Cheng Facebook Group. Enjoy!

Years ago I stumbled across a blog who linked to me, Kinky Blue Fairy. I found Joyce Wong, a hot, pixie-faced chick, with attitude, who seemed to party non-stop!

Over the years of popping in and out of her site, I’ve found myself quite entertained and deeply fascinated – for me it’s seeing how the other side lives. Ah, so that’s what real party girls get up to! What a jam packed life! She has so much energy! And I love her outfits!

Joyce’s pet project is Tongue in Chic, a very cool fashion blog based in Malaysia (such a great name!). It’s definitely a regular stop for me when keeping in touch with fashion in the Asia region.

I just love the range of stuff that she and her team covers. Everything from fashion shows, fashion events, bargain hunting, latest trends, sales, designers, fashion ideas, fashion scouting in Hong Kong, Bangkok, China and more.

Tongue in Chic are launching the new version of their site on the 20th August 2008, complete with a rocking launch party! Wish I was there!

I also asked Joyce if she was interested in “Doing The Karen Cheng”, she laughed and said SURE!

So you can see her pics on her Kinky Blue Fairy site, and on the Doing The Karen Cheng Facebook Group. Enjoy!

On the weekend we went to a birthday party picnic at the South Perth Foreshore.

The boys mucked around on the beach, gathering shells and broken rocks, until we gave them a little project -

To build a little path of shells from the shore to the car park. Man, they loved it. It must’ve entertained them for a good hour.

People walking past asked if it was a public art thing. Families and children passing by would join in the fun for a few stones then leave. Many people just stood and watch. It was painfully slow, but they did it!

After leaping around in the afterglow of pride, we had to convince the kids to pick up all the shells and return them to the beach.

I would have loved to have left it there, but I’m sure the lawn mowing men would not be happy with our “art”.

A week ago I received an email from a reader, who happened to be one of the organisers for the UWA Singapore Students Society.

She invited me to a Singapore’s National Day Parade event they were holding at the University of WA tavern - where they were serving up Singaporean food and watching the NDP on the big screen. They had quizzes, games, prizes, drinks and it all just sounded like a lot of fun.

The whole place was decorated in red and white, there were barbeques cooking roti pratas, and pots of simmering chicken curry. I thought it was actually very sweet of them to organise this for the Singaporean students living in Perth.

Anyway, it’s been a while since I’ve set foot in the UWA tavern. I didn’t know anyone, I wasn’t a student, I wasn’t Singaporean and I didn’t even study at UWA! So I must admit that I felt a little awkward as I approached the event.

But as I arrived, a man sitting in the front row caught my eye. My uncle! Born and bred Singaporean, with a glowing list of academic and business achievements (and a medal!), he was there as the guest of honour to give a little speech before the proceedings.

Hehe it was such a completely random, but nice surprise. Great to catch up with him. Then it was lovely to meet Joanna (who invited me) over a cup of buttered corn. Thanks Joanna, it was a fun night!

Only as a parent can you walk out the door with a satellite stuck to your butt.

And 3 rubber sharks in your handbag.

A few years ago I was in a boutique and I tried on a beautiful tan, vintage leather jacket.

It was GORGEOUS and I wanted it so badly! The only problem was: it was $720, and there was no way I could justify spending that much money on it. So I put it out of my mind and decided to forget about it.

However, today I was shopping… and I think I have fallen in love again.

This one is just as gorgeous. Looks and feels just as yummy. Plus it’s much more affordable… but argh! Do I really need it? I can’t decide! Argh! I can’t believe I’m posting about this! I’m such a girl!

(You can tell how much I want it by that strange smirk on my face.)

(Pic at the Doing the Karen Cheng facebook group.)

Every month I make myself think about my personal life goals.

I might set new goals, revisit on-going ones, check up on how I’m doing in various areas in my life. I’m not strict about it. It’s just nice to create a space for my thoughts.

I decided to skip my reflections for July. It was the month I turned 30, and really, I had one goal – to turn 30 and celebrate it by doing something significant.

I can’t exactly pinpoint a beginning, but I think I have always been plagued by a “wanting to achieve something”.

A wanting to be special. A desire do something significant. A yearning to stand out of the crowd in a special way. A hunger to be someone amazing and inspirational. To live an admirable life and make a difference.

I have always looked up to amazing women. Female scientists, politicians, designers, humanitarians, artists, writers, public figures. Women who have conquered death, climbed mountains, helped build hospitals for dying children, inspired millions. I would read about their lives and be filled with utter amazement and awe.

And who am I? Absolutely nobody. Just plain old Karen. Living in Perth.

Until I realised that my life is how I choose live it.

I can choose to make a difference. Or I can choose to sit back envy others.

I can choose to be significant in my very own way. Or I can focus on my inadequacies and insecurities.

I choose to live!

Here’s me hoping that everyone has a wonderful August!

Every month I make myself think about my personal life goals.

I might set new goals, revisit on-going ones, check up on how I’m doing in various areas in my life. I’m not strict about it. It’s just nice to create a space for my thoughts.

I decided to skip my reflections for July. It was the month I turned 30, and really, I had one goal – to turn 30 and celebrate it by doing something significant.

I can’t exactly pinpoint a beginning, but I think I have always been plagued by a “wanting to achieve something”.

A wanting to be special. A desire do something significant. A yearning to stand out of the crowd in a special way. A hunger to be someone amazing and inspirational. To live an admirable life and make a difference.

I have always looked up to amazing women. Female scientists, politicians, designers, humanitarians, artists, writers, public figures. Women who have conquered illness, climbed mountains, helped build hospitals for dying children, inspired millions. I would read about their lives and be filled with utter amazement and awe.

And who am I? Absolutely nobody. Just plain old Karen. Living in Perth.

Until I realised that my life is how I choose to live it.

I can sit back and envy others, or I can try to make a difference.

I can focus on my inadequacies and insecurities, or I can work to be significant in my very own special way.

So, I choose to live as well as I can.

Here I am. I am 30, and it is a new beginning.

I stumbled across the Spring 2008 collection of Vicente Villarin, by fashion designer Joanne Cordero Reyes.

I just love the way her pieces have an artful form about them, full of texture, depth and subtlety. Gorgeous stuff.