#SmartWifeIsSmart - 32nd Birthday Edition

Learning new skill for retirement. Doing painting at Chinatown

"Why did you draw a statue of liberty?" "For the death of freedom"

As promised, I am trying my best to blog a little more so I shall be shameless and wish myself a happy belated birthday.

I'm not big on birthday celebrations but I am a big fan of gifting. Be it Vday, Birthdays, Xmas or simply just random gifting. It is not so much about the physical items but gifting to me means how much you know that person and how much that person is actually on your mind.

Like I've this friend who buys me boxer shorts during her trip. Yup, you read it right. She buys me undies because erm.. we had this conversation about how boxer shorts vs boxers vs briefs and what's the difference and I had never tried boxer shorts. And since then she got me two from two different trips. And they are erm.. pretty comfy to be honest. And I think about her when I put them on. Ok, it's beginning to sounds a bit weird. Sorry Nic.

ANNNNYYYWAYYYY....

I didn't get a 32 tables birthday party with 300 friends of mine at a expensive hotel nor a expensive present but instead we spent some time together at a simple art jamming session and dinner at the dancing crab. Not bad lah, quite lucky to get at least a decent dinner when I thought all I'm getting is... to help with diapers changing. HAHA.

Sauces are so hipster I cannot. 

Even fries are hipster. Truffle fries.

Nope. The crab was pretty dead when it was served. No dancing or jumping.

I'm loving this apron look. Probably should add it to my fashion accessories list. 

Dancing crab was pretty good but it is wayyyy overpriced to me. It's not like some fancy dinner but it was pretty decent. I actually went online after that and did some snooping around and found that they actually have very good discount if you have an amex card. My wife has a very big problem in life which is not knowing what to eat. So I was telling her about how good this deal is and maybe she can sign up for the credit card as well... And...

#SmartWifeIsSmart

Happy Birthday to me.

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Singapore's Best Bloggers

So recently one of my favourite blogger that became some sort of a news site wrote this article about top bloggers based on SimilarWeb Stats. And after that, a food blogger also wrote about it and even make sure it keeps up to date and updates it frequent enough. My guess is that they are not the 1st and will not be the last to write such articles.

Previously there were some other sites that talk about stats based on Alexa ranking etc as well.

Why? To tell people they are on the list of course!

So I did my part and share my thought about being on top (yeah, not everyone likes it on top but.. nvm) and also how sad I did NOT make any of the lists.

Back in time old skool post 1 

Back in time old skool post 2 

To be honest, I have no idea what I wrote in the last 2 articles.

Being sour and sad I will say things like numbers are not everything. Although I am a believer that there are more than just numbers, it is undeniable that I said it feeling all sad and tears rolling out at the corner of my eyes.

Someone once told me that stats can be orchestrated while good content cannot. There are many other reasons that one blog can get many clicks but such is life. We are so numbers orientated. It is not just you or me but it happens to everyone. We can click on an instagram and assume that this person is famous as he/she has over 100k followers but at the same time wonder what happened as their pictures ain't that nice.

Numbers has always been important. Since middle earth days.

Same thing when I clicked onto some blogs and I fall asleep almost immediately but apparently very searchable content and good click bait titles. Maybe, maybe not, maybe I am just sour again.

So, yes, numbers ain't everything but it is always good to have numbers isn't it? Well that is fact about things being tangible and how people can calculate their return of investment easier.

We always want to make sure we pay for the right returns.

Of course, besides number, we also have awards by different organisations, be it a one time thing or an annual affair to find out who are the "best" bloggers in each field. That includes the upcoming OMY Blog awards which I was lucky enough to be included as one of the award winners last year. Thus making this blog, one of the many "award-winning blogs". (Seriously, this title is really overkill).

So to end it once and for all and stop all arguments...  My buddy Melva and Rayman decided to bring peace to the realm and name me king of the north...

SINGAPORE'S BEST BLOGGER

And it comes with a card with very *cough* nice hand writing.

So very sweet lah this two person. Knows that I like very impractical stuff that makes me laugh and stroke my ego at the same time. So you see, all it matters is that you are the best in the eye of those that you care right? #DidntWinSoSaySuchThingsLor

So ya... I AM THE BEST!

YOU CAN BE THE BEST!! - Hall Of Fame.

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Happy 30th Birthday - 1st Anniversary

It is time of the year where I actually allow posting on my Facebook wall. (most of the time I disable it because people like to post funny things on my wall for some reasons) With advance technology like Facebook, we no longer forget people's birthday and I really appreciate it. It is not the motion of remembering my birthday but it is the motion that you took the time to write something that made me happy.

I didn't reply all the replies one by one because I really dunno what to say and I find saying thank you over and over a lil silly so I decided to write this post to thank everyone.

Thank you everyone for taking that time to post something on my wall, whatsapp or some even go the extra miles trying to catch up with me and sorry I am unable to meet everyone.

It is never easy to write a good birthday message to me, just like how you always attend weddings and stand at the entrance too long thinking what to write on the wedding guest card and still went back with 早生贵子...

So I would like to share a few that I thoughts was pretty funny! (Those that didn't get picked, please try again next year okay?)

Some of my friends took the chance to remind me i'm old. 

Some who knows how much I love to troll and things which doesn't makes much sense

And my favourite. Those that are blind

And of course, those that goes way back, those that brings back memories

old old friend but still kept up with me squating

yeah, my old skool online identity on IRC before becoming Smithankyou

Tagline I was given when I was at my 1st job

My intern

And of course those that went extra miles to buy me gifts, surprises and buying me gift that I requested. HAHA.

Surprise party after bball with wife, BBFF and new friend Jeremy Oh. 

Surprise gift from @Melpig

The best munckin ever.

Being 31 ain't exactly the hardest in many ways. By the age of 31 we have already opened a lot of hand cards. Although we always say that "it ain't over until it is over" so there's still a lot more to come but I would say it is much better than when we were 25 where everything was uncertain.

By this age I am blessed and lucky to say that I've already gotten quite a fair bit of things settled down. Not the biggest house but I got a roof over my head, not the biggest pay cheque but I have found a job and a career path that allows me to sleep soundly every night, not a victoria secret wife but this wife has got no secrets, might not be the most famous or popular guy in town but I know I have friends that I can count on when I need them and not the fastest car but my car comes with a loyal and beautiful driver so I guess I have nothing much to complain. I hope that using my birthday wish, everyone that I care for can find what they want in life and be happy as well. Not everyone is as blessed and as lucky as I am so I hope the best for everyone.

I guess the time we want to be young wild and free is over. So I was thinking about this and I thought I wanna share it here again.

But often enough, we still question our presence. What are we doing here on earth. What are we suppose to achieve. Who am I in an alternate universe?

Anyway, here's my current ear worm questioning about life.

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My wife the gangster.

There are 3 facts about me that sounded more like a myth to most people.

1. My age.

I am 30 this year but I get carded at clubs all the time and people telling me I look 25. I guess the baby fats did help. I remember how my client was rude enough to tell my boss in front of me that "I am too fresh and young" for her project. meh, but definitely a compliment in time to come.

2. I am broke.

This is a funny one. Considering how much I eat, drink and buy. People think I am rich. They always like to find me to borrow money, investment, buy their things, invite me to wedding or even buy them dinner (actually I am very okay with that). The thing is I have a HDB, isn't that the biggest clue about my finical status? Debt. Look on the bright side, still a compliment.

3. I am married. 

I am not too sure if this is a compliment but I get this a lot. Not too sure if it is because I am too ugly to look married, looking too young to be married, too much a flirt to be married or simply act and look too single for my own good.

Truth is I am very married and my wife is a gangster. Most people are usually #TeamChris instead of #TeamSmith simply because I always seems like the bad boy and the one bullying her. For example how many female friends I have, flirting around with girls and always talking about sex. Truth is she is the silent killer not many people know. Everyone like to go "Wah Chris, I have no idea how you tahan your husband." Eh Eh Eh! Don't like. I am a very nice husband okay?

Very sweet looking right? It's actually a lie! 

Fine. Even for those who knows, they are still on her side. Just look at these status on Facebook and how many people actually liked these conversations. I realised all my friends like it a lot when my wife owns me. like what? who's your friend here hello?

She sets trap for me.

She doesn't let me spend money. Which is actually not too bad at times when you meet impulsive buys.

She can be very lame when it comes to just the both of us.

She sets trap for me once again. 

She can be very competitive too. 

So now you know under this sweet looking face she is actually quite a witch right?

old picture from 2009 thus old watermark. 

Whatever the case, thank you for being there for me (most of the time), allowing me to be who I am (besides restricting the amount of tattoo I have), being supportive of the things I do (but did not vote for me during SBA, doesn't really read my blog nor like my instagram pictures), always cooking for me (despite the fact that you can't really cook and it's not always edible but I still appreciate it.) and always trying new things with me. (when you feel like it and only those things you approve because they do not throw your face or not too dangerous which makes it left with not exactly a lot of things.)

EH EH... JUST FOR LAUGH LAH! 

Happy belated Birthday Post to my Smartie Pants Wife!! 

Mr.Smith, Eh wah Eh wah Eh wah~

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Carvers & Co

The wife's birthday celebration continues. After some pussy fun at the cat cafe, we hit to Carvers & Co to get my wife some meat.

You will be greeted by random old story books at Carvers. Do not be alarmed, their menu ain't that thick. It's just the front and back that offers food, as well as drinks.

We choose the seats outside because that's how I like it. I don't really like to be seated inside unless it's a hot day, lucky for us it was a cooling evening. #HappyWifeHappyLife

 

Here comes the food. We ordered the "The Carvers" which says MEAT. Important note. The picture below shows the serving for ONE! Do not be greedy and order for two!

Ham, Chicken Leg, Roast Pork Belly. With potato sides as well. 

Sweet Potato fries

This is heaven. As ugly as it looks, but it taste like heaven because it is bacon. Bacon chips FTW! 

Our dinner. Total Damage from left to right, $6, $35 and $10.90.

The meat were very well done. Tender and tasty. Totally worth every single cent of my money. I would totally go back and try the rest of their offerings on the menu!

The guys knew it was my wife's birthday and they even offered her a free champagne! How nice!

Carvers & Co 
Address: 43 East Coast Road near the famous 328 Katong Laksa
Postal Code: Singapore 428764
Operation Hours: 11am - 10pm on Mon, Wed - Fri. |||| 8.30am - 10pm on Sat & Sun. Weekday kitchen closes from 2.30pm - 6pm. Weekend kitchen closes at 5pm to reset for dinner.
Parking: Parallel parkings are available along the street but if you prefer multi-storey parking, you can park at I12 Katong or Katong Shopping Centre. It's not too far away.

Mr.Smith, I don't usually blog about food, but when I do it's because I love it and I wanna share!

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