older! again...

Our first birthdays as husband and wife. Born 4 yrs and 10 days apart, we're once again 'older'.

Ck fulfilled his wishes of being married before 30! among other things and I have 4 more years to check off the rest of my 'must do before 3-0' list. There were no big parties or celebrations this time round and for many birthdays to come I think. To me, birthdays MUST have at least some sort of cake, candles and a birthday song. For ck, he's a lucky man because he got it all! Provided by yours truly of course!

Breakfast in bed, a birthday lunch at his favourite restaurant, a birthday dinner/supper, a special birthday 'Baked Alaska' spiked with Rum & Raisins topped off with 'recycled' candles and Happy Birthday sign..

He even got to do a birthday treasure hunt for his 3rd gift! The only downside was that he had to work the whole day even though it was a Saturday...

I share my birthday with my grandparents' anniversary. They have been married for 55 years! Want to hear a scandal?!? My Ah Kong was my Popo's teacher! *eeks!*

Had to work that night so got to my grandparents place only after 9. Had plenty of cucur udang waiting for us. Anything with prawns is always good but to my horror.. NO CAKE! How can one have a birthday without cake?? There's this aunt of mine who's always baking some sort of cake for someone's birthday but this time round, NO CAKE!

"woe is me"

Mummy however had a surprise in store for me. No official birthday cake but she made a jelly cake instead! =) (by the way, her jelly products are for sale! call or email me)

Got my song, my cake but no candles.. My little cousin has the honour of blowing out everyone's candles til she's old enough to.. 'let others blow out their own candles!'

At 11.15pm.. 45 mins til my birthday was officially over, I finally got my candles! hehe.. Together with a proper birthday cake and song. (thanks I!)

So another birthday has passed and we both feel just the same.. except for the fact that we're older and perhaps wiser?? For ck, hitting the big 3-0, it actually signifies the start of life. (this applies only to men!) For me, *sigh*...

M asked, " So what's on your birthday list this year? Push up bra, eye cream n wrinkle cream? Multi-vitamins??"

me: "Eye cream, high metabolism and not so stretchy skin!"

M: "Welcome to the mid-20s". *grin*

Oh well...

two by two

Now that we're married, does that mean we should be hanging out more with 'coupled' friends? Or even married friends?

"common interest" - talking to each other about the other half.. hehe!

Ka-ching!

Money handling... who does it in your household? The 'man' of the house or the 'woman' who turns the neck of the 'man' of the house??

I never really got to see who did it among my parents. I know for sure with my maternal grandparents, it was my grandpa! Tyrant.. For a good cause too! 10 kids! I've got 9 aunts and uncles with the youngest two within my "hangout" group. In fact my unc married my ex-classmate! Making her my 'aunt'? Eeeek! Still have problems calling her auntie today.. Am being 'Ang Moh' and just call her by name! Hehehe..

Back to the topic. Money handling in a family. Should it be shared both ways? Or ultimately one person to handle all the bills?

Should the 'man' be taking full responsibility to provide even though the 'woman' works? Should it be shared out equally, right down the centre? Or 'man' takes some and 'woman' takes some regardless of cost? Surprisingly even in a modern age as this, tons of people don't see and don't like the idea of sharing.. Man = provider. Woman, what you earn is yours! I've seen quite a number of couples where both parties are earning and the equation above applies.

How about just plain ol' dates? Who pays 'most' of the time. When the non-usual paying partner pays, how does the usual paying partner feel?

I for one love my Independence. Love the feeling of earning my own money and spending my own money. Knowing how hard it is to earn money, I feel quite uncomfortable 'taking' ck's money. I'll go about finding ways to 'make up' for it! After all these years, I still feel that way. Unless! there's a

then I can do

What's your money solution??