Whoa! Almost a month of no updates. Seriously having now worked with the Ministry (NOTE: Not Ministry of Magic, just the Singapore Muggle Government), I've seriously have lost touched with the writer in me. Even I see a decline with my English. It's so weird not having time to enjoy daily dosage of Harry Potter fanfictions now. *sighs* I just seriously wish for more time... just for myself.

Though yes. I do update my scrapbooking blog quite frequently -- ironically. That's the only way I find peace now. Scrapbooking is like a therapeutic activity for me.

I have to confess though, I've lost touch with many Harry Potter updates. Not that I've lost interest in it. NEVER! I'm just still a bit too preoccupied with my Bobby/Aishwarya... Yes. Very much still. I still find myself playing my DVD of theirs every other day. Without trying to sound like a cliche douche, they really do make me smile after a long hard day at work. Really hoping they'll sign a movie together again soon. I'm in dire need to see them together.

By the way, have I mentioned on my blog that I actually bought Emma Watson's Lancome perfume? I did, no? Honestly, I don't know about other fans, but I do regret purchasing that thing. Damn my loyalty to Emma! I love her, but I just cannot stand the smell. Initially the reviews I read were already pretty negative. Where some loved it, most brushed it off as a typical perfume. Luckily I'd gotten the smallest bottle. Don't think I'm going to use it. Perhaps to just spray around my room whenever necessary.

Anyway, coming back to my current hobby; that is scrapbooking. I've just recently got a Cricut Expression. If some of you remember, I had actually got a Cricut Cake machine earlier in January. Although that old machine is just to cut fondant and cake-y stuff.

The Cricut Expression is the mainly used model from the Cricut brand -- to cut paper materials... I think I'm in love with it. Never have I ever fell in love with a bulky machine. I just need to get more cutting mats and its complete set of accessories. No wonder I've read a lot of scrappers going on and on about their Cricuts. It's like my own immobilised pet.

So that's that, I think I want to do more cricutting now. Toodles!

Mood: discontent
Song: Dil Ne Kaha ~ 1942 A Love Story

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has given birth to a baby girl today. Yay!! Bless her! Both mother and daughter, Scorpio November babies. Luckily it was lunch time for me when her husband Abhishek Bachchan and father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan tweeted the news. I'm so so happy for her. Proud even to be her fan that Aishwarya even topped Yahoo's worldwide trend today. Only she has that power in Bollywood and no one else.

@juniorbachchan: IT'S A GIRL!!!!!! :-)))))
12:21 PM Nov 16th via Twitter for iPhone

@SrBachchan: T 561 - I AM DADA to the cutest baby girl !!
12:28 PM Jul 16th via Twitter for BlackBerry

@SrBachchan: T 561 - A dada ji ... Ecstatic !!!!
12:31 PM Jul 16th via Twitter for BlackBerry

@juniorbachchan: Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. Both Aishwarya and the baby are doing great and taking some much needed rest....
5:05 PM Jul 16th via Twitter for iPhone

@juniorbachchan: And I'm trying my level best to get rid of this caffeine high and get some sleep too. Don't think it'll work. TOO EXCITED!!!!
5:07 PM Jul 16th via Twitter for iPhone

B-Town celebrities are still pouring in their congratulatory messages. Now most of our curiosity is how BabyB looks like. Does she have her mother's beautiful grey-green eyes? No news yet whether the new parents have decided on a name.

By the way, I finally got Emma Watson's Tresor Midnight Rose perfume last Saturday. Not too impressed with the smell as I thought it seems too common. Nothing unique about it. But still, I bought a 100ml for myself. Like I tweeted, I'm too loyal a fan. *snorts* I even got 'Deathly Hallows Part 2' DVD. Hehe!

Mood: ecstatic
Song: Jagte Raho ~ Just Married

I think these days I'm more active on my scrapbooking blog rather than my own personal one here at Crystalled Roses. Every single week I've a definite new thing to publish there. *shrugs* Kya karoon? I'm just simply addicted to scrapbooking!

I'm really looking forward to this year end to getting my Cricut Expression machine. It's like the ultimate thingamabob to own for every scrapbooker.

Anyway, Deathly Hallows Part 2 DVD should be out in stores for some of you by now. Unfortunately for me, the local video stores here are still lagging with their new stocks. Furthermore, I can only get it this weekend after my salary. I'm just curious as to when the Ultimate Blu-Ray Edition of Deathly Hallows will be release. If only WB are not money hungry and release them together with the standard DVDs. *sighs*

By the way, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be giving birth any time soon. Honestly, I've never been so excited for a baby's arrival in my entire life. I've so many friends, cousins and aunts who gave birth but I was never bothered by any of them. Not even the slightest -- I simply hate kids. But Aishwarya's is an exception. I really wish her a smooth delivery.

Then again, rumours are still going on that she's carrying twins because 'apparently' she went through IVF. But her husband, Abhishek denied that they're having twins. So hopefully, after the baby has been delivered, it'll silence all the bloody gossip-mongers. The poor woman... It's sickening how the media-folks are going about her pregnancy -- accusing Aishwarya attempting to induce her baby for a 11.11.11 date. How lowly can they get? Even having her publicist releasing a statement about the rumours, they just refuse to stop. And in addition, the commoners are actually already betting up to millions on whether it's a boy or girl besides the delivery date. It's crazy sick!

Ah! To be Aishwarya Rai... It's amazing how she can withstand all these shit going around her. Then again, I still remember one of her memorable quotes:

Right now, I'm following the Buddhist principle, "Smile as abuse is hurled your way and this too shall pass."

~ Aishwarya Rai

Oh well, I'll be forever putting Twitter on KIV as I await the most awaited tweet of Aishwarya's baby.

Mood: exhausted
Song: Nakhre Nakhre Hain Na Takre ~ Action Replayy

Gosh! My will to blog has debilitated these past few weeks. I'm so sorry Bloggy Deary. Honestly! Having a career life sucks! When I think back during all those time when I was still schooling and taking my diploma, every single day I bring home schoolwork that had to be submitted the day after. And yet, I never missed blogging even for a day. But ever since I started working some 6 years ago, even with no work brought home, I've just turned laggard. Your mind gets physically and mentally excruciated every single day that you feel bloody exhausted once you're home.


Anyway, it's my idol's Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's birthday today. Yippee!! She turns 38 today. So here's wishing her the best things in life. The countdown to her delivery date has started in full swing. Apparently, people in India are still queuing up to buy betting tickets as to which date her baby will be delivered. Such is her aura. Never there's been any Indian actress or actor popular enough to garner such interest. My personal bet is that she'll give birth on the second week of November. Honestly, even not being Indian in race or nationality, I feel very proud of her. She's the only Indian to have 2 different statues at 'Madame Tussauds'. Of course, nothing can recreate her real beauty. The latest statue was recently unveiled 3 weeks ago.

By the way, I can't wait to get my hands on that new Harry Potter book - Page To Screen. Although I don't think I'm going to buy it online like some of my fellow Potterheads did. I'll just wait to see if the local bookstores here will stock them in. The pictures in them are just awesome. Fans on Tumblr seem to post new scans non-stop. I never wasted my money on magazines with Harry Potter exclusives, because I know sooner or later fans from either side of the globe will compete to be the first to get a scan up. But this time round, this book seems special. And I want to own it. Besides, it seems like a Ron/Hermione shipper book of worship. So many lovely pictures of them two. But by far amongst all the recent pictures of them two, I love this one below the most. Rupert's right, the epilogue moment is definitely the most beautiful of them two, I guess.


Another angled shot of this picture is at my Tumblr post here. And like someone pointed out on Tumblr, Hermione looks pregnant in that shot. *giggles* Another mini-Weasley on the way for them two.

And that leaves Deathly Hallows: Part 2 DVD releasing next week. The deleted scenes are already up on YouTube last week. Seriously, damn Warner Brothers with their marketing techniques. If only they could just release the Ultimate Editions of both Deathly Hallows, it would save me so much money. So I guess I'll just buy this one first. And once the Ultimate Editions are out, I'll but the new pair again to complete my Ultimate Edition Blu-Ray collection. I've already up to 'Half-Blood Prince'.

Mood: anxious
Song: Ramta Jogi ~ Taal

I think my mind is made up. I'm not going to get the new iPhone 4S. I'm going to stay patient and wait for iPhone 5 instead (which I hope against hope will be out by mid next year). I guess I'm more partial to odd numbers. *guffaws* My old and loyal 3GS iPhone is still working smashingly. I did download the latest iOS5 last Thursday, and it's been super great so far with all those sleek new features.

The only drawback of owning an old version is that the only camera available is located on the back, not to mention the tad bit of speed of the overall phone. Otherwise it works pretty fine like any of the newer models. I'm not too querulous over the camera's photo quality; because to me however large the megapixels a phone could get, they can never oust a personal digital camera whose megapixels are always twice the amount.

By the way, remember me being all, "No, I'm not going to go all scrapbooker" on my previous entry? Well, guess what? I've just opened a new blog for it last Saturday. *chortles* I can't help myself! When I'm interested in something, I will always set out to making it happen. There're already so many scrapbooking blogs out there, so I had a little trouble of making a unique title for my own blog. Unfortunately, I am never creative with my words... so I ended up with a crappy one -- 'Jazz Those Scraps'. At least no other blogs had that as their title so far. Most of the impressive titles I could think of were apparently already taken up whenever I googled them.


Yes. It's all pink! To think I can hardly stand the colour, I actually made a website which is totally pink. Before I even started designing the website, I did a quick flip-through on all the previous websites that I've done. And none of them were ever pink. So I thought since scrapbooking is like a girlish hobby, why not pink?

Anyway, I haven't actually beta tested the blog's design on any other screen resolutions other than mine (1280x800). The screenshot above is how exactly the website should look like. So if by any chance you guys with different resolutions found that some images are out of place, do send me a screenshot.

I haven't really done a lot of scrapbooking to showcase on the blog. I'm just starting. The first one is of myself that I'd titled, 'Gazebo'. Seriously, like I ranted on that blog, when you're at a beginner stage, it's really hard to create something when you lack so much stock. I'm just eyeing the Cricut Expression machine. Once I get my annual bonus end of this year, I'm definitely going to get that. I already got the Cricut Cake Machine earlier this year in January. But this time round, I want to cut paper! Too bad they're still not marketed here in Singapore. Only way of getting it is to purchase them online. I will just need to endure the shipping charges and the probable shipping taxes.

Moving on to something Bollywood, I can't help but be excited for Aishwarya Rai's baby shower that's going to be held tomorrow afternoon. Not that I'm invited of course, but as a fan, I'm just excited and happy for her. All the celebrity wives have been invited to the event. She's due next month. It's disgusting how some people (especially her haters) are speculating that she's faking her pregnancy, and is using surrogation. Goodness! Just because her tummy couldn't be clearly seen on all those paparazzi pictures, they speculate! Poor Aishwarya. I can only imagine being her. Indians are obsessed with her; either with love or hatred. Really amusing when you come to think of it.

As for our British girl, Emma Watson... man! Can you ever really hate this girl? She's just starting her term at Oxford University. Seriously, how I wish I could be her just for one day and experience what it's like to be Emma Watson. She's got the money, beauty, talent, fame and intelligence. I think the only thing I don't like about her is the fact that she keeps changing boyfriends. Other than that, she's just perfect. I was just discussing about her with my mother late at night last week when both of us couldn't find sleep at 3 AM in the morning. She was so impressed with her Fair Trade business. Said that only a brilliant person can make a business by helping the poor. Emma has made an admirable use with all that money she has attain from her fame.

...which by the way, have any of you seen the preview of the Harry Potter documentary that's going to be released together with the Blu-Ray? I got all teary eyed just by watching that 4 min video. Can't wait to get my DVD. And exactly when will the Ultimate Editions of the two Deathly Hallows be out?

Anyhow, any of you readers are planning to go to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London? It's having its grand opening in Spring next year. Tickets are now already open for booking. I seriously envy all those fans who're going. I'm definitely going to go there if I ever get to London. Sure I've already went to the Harry Potter themepark in Florida last year, but Leavesden Studios is where the real magic is. Then again I'm appalled to know that no tickets are sold at the studio itself. I would have thought they'd have a ticketing counter or something. But apparently you can only book them online. Not sure if that's only applicable for the opening period. Hopefully that's not how it is after a few months.

Oh well, I just received a parcel from the online cake store earlier today. Hopefully I'll get to bake some key lime cupcakes tomorrow as planned.

Mood: creative
Song: Usure Poguthey ~ Raavanan

You know, I find it amusing that at times I find Tom Felton hot and at times I find him 'ugh'. He seriously should stop slicking his hair back because it'll make him look more like the balding man that he is. The latest rumour that's going around on the Net is that he and Jade broke up... I don't believe it. As long as Tom's hair keeps receding, it means that stick woman is still with him.

Anyway, Tom, Rupert and Matt attended the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards last Sunday; in which Rupert won the Best British Actor.


I've not seen every single British teenage actor out there to say the award was really deserved, but big congratulations to our favourite redhead. Although I thought his acceptance speech was very sweet and humble.

I'm just the ginger one in the background, this shouldn't be happening!

That's one thing I think which makes him most charming -- his genuine modesty. Most celebrities nowadays attempt to be humble but they made it sound like some rehearsed dialogue.

As for their female counterpart, Emma Watson, she's back to continue her 3rd year at Oxford University. Seriously love this girl. A true role model for modern girls. Whilst all her contemporaries are busy continuing with their individual acting careers, she still insists on completing her academics. And speaking of which, I love her look in that new still (on the left) with Logan Lerman from 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' in which they looked to be studying together. I must add that I love that jersey jacket on her (perhaps because I love jackets). Honestly can't wait to watch this movie when it releases next year. Her other film 'My Week with Marilyn' just got its first official trailer released last week. Then again, Emma seems to have a small role in it. Nonetheless for now, we know that the film is releasing on November 4th.

By the way, are any of you getting the new iPhone 4S? Truthfully, I'm still half-mind in getting it. If I am, I'm definitely getting the white version. My mobile contract's ending this December and I'm still unsure if I should take it up. Apparently this new model will start rolling in by the end of this month for us Singaporeans. Little late than those first few lucky countries. I was one of those fans who were disappointed when iPhone 5 wasn't announced during Apple's announcement last week. Pro Apple fans predict that if Apple still follows the pattern of releases, iPhone 5 should get announced on June 2012. Then again, that's just a prediction. It'd be a low blow if I get iPhone 4S next month and then find out the new iPhone 5 is releasing 6-7 months later. Hmm... decisions... decisions...

Moving on to something crafty, I would really love to start scrapbooking as my new hobby. It looks so fun. Then again, this hobby is rather 'money' consuming. Without the right tools and stock, your creativity gets delimitated. Besides I noticed that this hobby's most active members are housewives and mothers who apparently have lots of spare time for themselves. Then again, I have done my fair share of digital scrapbooking. This blog's blue-ish Emma Watson header design is considered as 'digital scrapbooking' itself. In fact if you have noticed, most of my fanlistings' headers and recent wallpapers are done with that style of art. But fact remains the original way of scrapbooking looks so much better with the raw textures and layers.

I love art. I won't claim myself as a good artist, but I just love art. Have been since I was a child. I think it must be the genes. My late father used to be a painter and even took occasional commissions at custom designing motorbikes and helmets. My Mum on the other hand loves paper crafts. My Mum's dad used to love creating beautiful bird cages and houses. And my father's dad used to do these beautiful bird pieces glued and hanged onto these beautiful small branches. As a kid I remember asking my Granddad, "Why aren't these small birds moving?" And he used to laugh it off saying that's because HE made them out of dried bread. So much because they looked so beautiful and real.

Well, I have tried my hand on a few scrapbooking but I won't make it as a hobby yet. There are the time factor and the money factor that hinders me from making it as a hobby. *laughs* Honestly, sometimes I wish humans do not need sleep. There are so many things to do. Sleep is like an annoying part of life.

Mood: angry
Song: You Don't Know Me ~ Augustana-Boston

Quite honestly, I've yet to log in to my Pottermore beta account for the past weeks. I guess I'm not that obsessive as to getting as many house points as I can like some other Potterheads. So far my house, Ravenclaw and Slytherin are always vying for the House Cup. At times Ravenclaw is ruling the roost, and at times the other. I'm just waiting for the end of this month when the full version of Pottermore is open to everybody. Like most of the fans know, currently the beta version is only open till the 1st book. The other 6 books are still locked; waiting to be opened for public at the end of October. So I guess I'll just wait for that. But so far, whatever I've experienced with Pottermore has been great. I'm just hoping that they won't end up like those pay to play sort of thing in the times to come. It should stay free for the fans. Sure it'll be a lost for them since they'll have to stomach all that bandwidth and webspace charges. But hey! Let us be reminded once again that we're the reason JK Rowling is a millionaire. *winks*

Anyways, I was quite impressed with Emma Watson's latest winter shoot for Elle UK magazine. Having heard that Autumn has already started in some parts of the globe, I guess it's time the fashion industry showcase their collection for the following snowy season.


By the way, I've yet to continue on my Disney Princesses artwork. I'm probably guessing that this will be another time I'm going to abandon it for another while. Like usual, I'm not too sure when I'll continue on it. Let's just hope it won't take me another two years. *snorts*

Well moving on to something 'technical', I've been on a search for those VHS Head Cleaner for my old VCR player. It's been years since I last used it, hence quite understandably when I tried playing one of my old video tapes, it refused to work. The only thing that appeared on my TV was a screen full of nonsensical noises. I did contemplate on purchasing the cleaner off EBay, but I thought if I could get it in Singapore itself, it'll be better. These used to be available so easily at any neighbourhood mini-marts a decade ago, but now... Gosh!

The thing is I have loads of old VHS tapes that I've yet to convert to DVDs. And I thought if I keep them any longer, I'll lose all those precious memories since some of them are my old home videos whilst some are of my old Aishwarya Rai collection (which are not available on the Internet at all). So I thought, if I can get my VCR player working, I can sort them all out and preserve them onto DVDs.

Speaking of which, I've been planning to compile every single video song that Aishwarya appeared in throughout her movie career onto one big Blu-Ray disc for my own personal entertainment and collection. (2 or 3 BD discs if it's not enough) I've listed every single one in which Ash appeared in, and apparently since she first appeared in movies in 1997 with her 'Iruvar', she's been in a total of 172 songs till date -- 'Guzaarish' being her last. Sadly, those Aishwarya song DVDs that are available on the market never have a complete compilation of hers. So like an old wise crab once said, "You want something done, you've got to do it yourself." But first thing's first, I need to compile/rip all those videos with a HD quality and widescreen presentation; best if they're of 1080p. Some I could easily download off YouTube. But it's very difficult to find a perfect one on YouTube without the penumbral watermarks. So I guess I shall have to thrive and not be lazy by ripping those video songs from my own DVDs.

Mood: devious
Song: Chori Chori ~ Om Jai Jagadish