Momlife
Momlife never looked this good as it does in May. Unlike Valentine’s Day, where lovers increasingly eschew gifts, bouquets or dinners out, on account of inflated prices, Mother’s Day remains widely celebrated. In recognition of the usual drool & milk stained momlife, gifts are bought by husbands & children alike. Indeed, we moms even buy our own gifts to treat ourselves. And why not? We love our families but with careers stalled by homework or housework, success doesn’t come easily. Celebrations begin weeks in advance. In fact, I attended three such fabulous events and I must admit, I enjoyed each thoroughly.
Celebrating Mother’s Day With Flower Diamond
In the last week of April, Flower Diamond threw a ladies’ lunch at Origin Grill at the Shangri-La Hotel. Gracious host Belinda Chua organised the perfect menu for us. We started with fresh heirloom tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella. I always feel like I can have two platesful of that delicious starter. Then I had wagyu steak followed by earl grey crème brulee.
Throughout lunch, models sashayed around the dining hall, showing off bling that will surely take the edge off any troubled momlife. My favourite set was this clever combination of cabochon and faceted emeralds.
As I’m a fan of interesting jewellery, I love many of Flower Diamond’s pieces. On this day, I wore my unique Flower Diamond ring carved from a single piece of bi-coloured jade and adorned with diamond butterflies. I only took it off to try on some of the jewellery on display in the private shopping area. The most fascinating piece was an aquamarine & diamond necklace that unfolded like Optimus Prime to transform into something else. Specifically, it came apart as a pendant, chain and bracelet. Gorgeous, and more than meets the eye.
Shiny Mother’s Day With Sara Taseer
A few days ago, Sara Taseer’s eponymous jewellery brand organised an intimate lunch at the Churchill Room of the Tanglin Club. I made a beeline for the photo wall which featured angel wings and a halo. Unfortunately, I was too tall for the halo. So they couldn’t make a decent angel out of me standing straight. Consequently I literally had to step out of that box to take photos comfortably with friends & family. I’m pretty sure there’s an allegory somewhere but I’m too sober to figure it out now.
Regardless, we had fun milling around the jewellery display and mulling over possible acquisitions. Once again, I considered some opals that I had last discussed in October’s Opulent Opals. This time I was quite distracted by a butterfly ring that flaps its wings when you flex your finger. A number of us admired a shiny pair of golden hued pearl & emerald earrings but they were snapped up quickly by a decisive lady. We applauded her, slightly enviously for they were very pretty indeed.
As most of the guests were from the Chinese Women’s Association, we have known one another for years. Hence conversation flowed smoothly over the simple but elegant lunch, pausing only for Sara to give a speech and for us to toast her.
Happy Mother’s Day With Chopard
Later that same day, I went to Chopard to enjoy a little more pampering. I love my Chopard Happy Diamonds necklace as it is well-proportioned and versatile. Hence I was eager to visit the boutique again and check out more happy vibes. Indeed, happy vibes emanated strongly as I tried on their specially crafted pink mother-of-pearl Happy Hearts bangle. This was especially so when I discovered some of the proceeds go towards community projects: https://www.chopard.com/us/people-and-community . Initially I thought I would compare it with the lovely coral red bangle, but then I went a little overboard and stacked a rainbow of them on my arm.
When Shakespeare wrote that parting is such sweet sorrow, he must have been removing Happy Hearts bangles from his arm one by one. Alternatively he may have been referring to removing this lovely mechanical watch with spinning diamonds twirling across its oval face. Either way, he was clearly in Chopard.
As I was getting ready to head in for night duty, I declined champagne but snacked gratefully on the delicious canapes. After being serenaded by a flutist and having my portrait painted, I thought Chopard could spoil me no more. And that’s when they gave me lovely flowers accompanied by notes of encouragement. My goodness, what a treat. And a good thing too because that night shift turned out to be quite intense.
Back To Reality
When I came home from night duty, far away from jewellery parties, reality sank in. As usual, I took stock of the children’s homework, an insanely large part of my momlife. You see, the children don’t have a tutor. To make things worse, when they were little, I emphasised play over rote learning. As a result, this academic year started off on a rocky foot.
Now, at the tail end of the first semester, things seem to be looking up. After lots of practice, M4 & M5 welcome the fruits of their labor. They are proud to show me their grades and I am proud that they understand the value of persistence despite early failure.
And that’s why these shining smiles and happy hearts are the best gifts when it comes to celebrating Mother’s Day.
