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About Me

About Me
CrystalPhuong.net is a Personal Style & Travel Blog based in Singapore, written by Crystal Phuong. The blog was nominated FOUR times in Top 10 Best Fashion Blogs in the annual Singapore Blog Award from 2012- 2015, voted as one of the Best Lifestyle Blogs in Singapore in 2013 by Hotelclub.com, and Best Travel Blogs in 2016 by Foodpanda.com. Crystal hopes to connect and inspire young women to lead a healthy and happy life. Be confident, be positive, and be kind.
Showing posts with label LIFE WITH CRYSTAL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LIFE WITH CRYSTAL. Show all posts
BLESSED 36TH BIRTHDAY

BLESSED 36TH BIRTHDAY


I felt like I just celebrated my 35th birthday not so long ago, but now, I'm already 36 years old. Where has the time gone? I thought I would have a quiet, low-key birthday celebration this year with just one or two closest friends. But I ended up having many birthday celebrations instead. I'm not complaining.

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

We started with a yacht birthday party in the morning. (Thanks to my BFF Stefanie for arranging everything, and to everyone for spending their time to celebrate with me! I'm so touched). I just needed to bring my bikini and show up. We had a delicious birthday cake from American Express, too much wine, a good dose of vitamin sea, and endless laughter. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

The weather had been gloomy with heavy rain all week, and the sun came on out my birthday to play. I also wanted to thank Mr. Ang, owner of  No Name Yachts Pte Ltd, and his team for taking a good care of us that day. We had a great time. It was so perfect. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

My initial plan of having a quiet birthday was spending the weekend at Marina Bay Sands hotel, swimming at the sky infinity pool, reading books, or going for a walk at the Gardens by the bay. But, nothing can be quite quiet when my girl, Stefanie, shows up. In a good way, of course. She always brings sunshine wherever she goes. We checked in the hotel room just enough time for me to have an important meeting that I couldn't afford to skip. The hotel also offered the birthday girl a free upgrade to Deluxe room with a sky-view (exactly how I wanted) and sweetened my stay with a surprise birthday cake. Then, we had another birthday cake when we had lunch the next day at one of the restaurants. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration
    
Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

In the evening, I went out to have dinner at an Italian restaurant with my friends and colleagues. Thanks to Stefanie for arranging this again! Mazzo restaurant team surprised me with a flamingo Lamborghini shot and a delicious birthday cake. Thank you, Patrick & Mazzo team! I had way too much fun that night. My jaw hurt from laughing too much.      

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

The next day, Stef and I had a morning swim at the famous infinity pool, took a couple of photos, and enjoyed the city view while sipping our cup of coffee. We didn't get to stay long as our appointment slot was only for one hour per day. Who would have thought that we had to make an advanced booking to swim at the hotel pool before? But this is the reality we live in now during the pandemic. A lot of adjustments, changes, new rules applied. I did what I wanted to, and I was happy, regardless. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

After the swim, we had lunch at the hotel restaurant and went to the casino right after because Stef was feeling lucky. Thirty minutes later, we walked out of the casino with an extra $200 in Stef's wallet. It's my birthday. Of course, everyone is feeling lucky! At least, I like to think so. 

At night, we went to have drinks and dinner with my good friend, Javi, at the Fairmont hotel. Not only did I have a great laugh, but I also had another birthday cake, and a happy birthday song sang in Spanish, by the most fun & good looking Spanish man, I know. A big hug and thanks to Emmanuel, General Manager of Fairmont hotel, for the champagne. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

On day 3 of my 36 years old, I celebrated with two women whom I dearly love and admire. There are not enough words to express how grateful I am for their support, patience, and guidance in the last three years. They watched me grow and celebrated with me every important milestone in my career and now personal. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

Have I done all the celebrations yet? Probably not. I'm the kind of person who, if I can wake up and be happy every day, I will celebrate no matter how big or small. But every birthday, it's a chance for me to reflect, to look deep into my soul (and sometimes my insecurities), to question myself, "How much have I grown?", "What have I accomplished?" "Am I happy?". Then, I started looking back at old photos. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

The photo on the left was Crystal 2.0 ten years ago. She was young, innocent, ambitious, energetic, and impatient. The image on the right is the Crystal 3.0 now. She is still young at heart, more experienced, always ambitious, more patient, understanding, and compassionate. What have I lost over the last ten years? Perhaps, the insecurity about my flaws, the doubts about my ability, the negativity when I hit the roadblocks, and the need to find someone make me happy. What have I gained on the contrary? Some wrinkles on my face, a few pounds on my body, a lot more patience and emotional maturity, and a longer list of work-life experiences, and the contentment in life that is so hard to find. 

Crystal Phuong- Singapore Lifestyle Blog- 36th birthday celebration

There will still be days when PMS syndrome hits me; I'll feel like I've not accomplished enough, I won't have time to achieve all the goals I set for myself, I haven't spent much time with the family, where will I be in the next 5 and 10 years, and the list goes on. But as soon as those doubtful feelings got me, I quickly realised that the hormones rollercoaster is trying to give me an emotional ride. I can let it swing my mood up and down, or I can choose to say, "Stop it. It's enough". Whether I'm at v2.0 or v3.0, I'm still fighting my own battles every day like everybody else. But at 36 years old, I learn to choose what's worth fighting for and what to let go. I'm lucky to be surrounded by many great people. Some help me before even meeting me in person. Some spoil me with their love and support. Some help me to grow from my mistakes. Some motivate me to go after my dreams. Some push me out of my comfort zone. My memory sucks, but I'll never forget these names. 

I'm always a work in progress because I'm nowhere near perfect, and I will never be. But I know what I'll bring to the table, and I'm not afraid to express myself. I love the woman I've become, and I am enough. 

As always, thank you for reading! To all my beautiful friends, thank you for being a part of my journey! 

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Crystal Phuong
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35 YEARS YOUNG

35 YEARS YOUNG



It's scary to think how fast time flies. The first time I wore this green dress was on my 30th birthday, and the second time was on November 5th, 2019. Five years have gone by so quickly that I felt like I didn't achieve much. 

How did I feel when I turned 35? I honestly loved it, and one month after my birthday, I still love the Crystal at 35. Besides, I had a fabulous celebration. 

It was the first time I celebrated my birthday overseas with my girlfriends. We flew to Bali, Indonesia, on November 1st, to attend our close friend, Jessica's wedding. 








It was my first time attending a wedding in Bali, and boy, it was truly magical. The location was fantastic, the decoration was beautiful, the couple looked lovely, and the food was delicious. We danced until midnight when the couple tossed their bouquet. Guess who caught it? 


This girl. 

Does that mean I'll be getting married next year? I don't know. That story will leave for another time. For now, I just wanted to share with you my roller-coaster ride to the 35th birthday. So buckle up! 

We booked a two-bedroom villa in the heart of Seminyak. It was my first time celebrating a birthday overseas with my girlfriends. We spoke about this trip a few months in advance, so I was excited. We had our breakfast at a cute Australian cafe in Bali, then went shopping along Legian street. We spent our late afternoon drinking at a beach bar in the Marriott hotel, laughing at each other's jokes, taking way too many #wefie photos, and enjoying the sunset view of Bali. 





In the evening, we found our way to Alila hotels for a lovely dinner by the beach. The day couldn't be better.   



On the second day, I booked a private tour for three of us to check out some famous places in Nusa Penida. We first went for snorkeling at Crystal Bay with the hope to swim with the majestic manta rays of Nusa Penida, but we weren't lucky enough to see any. I was just happy to be underwater, regardless. 



Then we drove up to the mountain to catch a magnificent view of Kelingking beach that popped up on my Instagram feed almost every day. The photo doesn't do this place justice. You have to make a trip here to witness its beauty yourself. 



After Kelingking, off we went to Broken Beach. This beach is not like any other beach that I saw before. Probably from thousands of years ago, when the waves hit the rock consistently, it created a giant hole in the middle of the cliff. Now, the imperfect cliff makes Broken Beach become one of the most popular destinations in Nusa Penida.


By the time we came back to our hotel, this was what I saw. A bedroom was full of roses on the bed, in the bathtub, and on the floor. That was the loveliest birthday surprise I've ever received from my girlfriends. 



The next morning, we had breakfast and went for a photoshoot around the villa, specially arranged and paid for by my girl, Jessica. 




At night, we went to Motel Mexicola, one of the sexiest, most colorful and quirky Mexican bar and restaurant in Seminyak. I had a surprise birthday cake, we drank a few rounds of alcohol and danced until our feet hurt. My heart was bursting with joy and love.



Love these girls to bit Rebecca on my left and Stefanie on my right.

It would have been my perfect birthday celebration if only a burglary didn't happen at our villa that night. We were so careful to keep all our valuable items away in a locked suitcase and a safety box. Somehow, someone managed to open our villa gate, room doors, and knew where to find all our money and high sentimental value items. It was unfortunate that this happened on my birthday. From feeling extremely happy and grateful, to extremely angry, upset, anxious, and scared, we experienced all levels of human emotion on one night. Like the craziest roller coaster, we rode on. I was glad that we were safe, but still I was enraged. Some closest friends also reached out to offer to send me money in case we needed cash to go home. For that, I'm thankful! 

I've known Rebecca for almost four years now, but this was the first time I saw how calm and yet strong she was to deal with the situation. She never shed a tear when speaking with the hotel staff and the police, but broke down the next morning when telling Stefani and I how much the rings meant to her. I love and admire this girl so much.

This is life! Nothing is perfect. There will be many unexpected circumstances happen that are out of our control and imagination. It will make you wiser, stronger, and braver. On a brighter note, I had the most unique and memorable 35th birthday celebration. I can't wait to see what this new chapter in life has for me. 

Thank you so much for all these lovely wishes, presents, and cakes! 
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WHERE I AM AT 34

WHERE I AM AT 34




I should have written this blog post on November 5th when I turned 34, but I was too busy celebrating, and I didn't know what to write. So I left it until now. As 2018 is going to an end in just a few minutes, I’ll make this as a 34-years in a nutshell post. One stone kills two birds. 

I love looking back at old photos. They remind me of my younger-self: how insecure, inexperienced, and innocent I was and how much I’ve grown up. I hope by the time I’m 40 years old, I’ll have solved some puzzles in my life which I’m still trying to figure out. Right now, I know I’m on the right path, and if I continue improving myself, everything will fall into place. Writing a post like this every year is like patting myself on the back and saying "You've done well. Don't give up!" 

BEAUTY & HEALTH

When I was 25, beauty was never on my priority list. Unless I went for a dance performance, competition, or a photo shoot, I never liked to put on makeup, let alone spending a few hours in a hair or a beauty salon. Besides, I was still young. My hair and skin looked good, why would I waste money on beauty treatments? I also never went to a gym. My mom forced me to take her healthy supplements, but I always forgot until they were expired. 


Now that I'm 34, health becomes the most important item on my list. When I was sick, my mom and dad couldn't sleep at all because they were worried about me. If I can’t take care of myself, how can I take care of my family? That thought motivates me to take my health seriously. I started practicing yoga since last year, eating healthy, taking health supplements, going to the gym or exercising at home whenever I could. My body transformed. I feel healthier, stronger, and happier. It's incredible. I still don't like to apply heavy makeup, but I put more effort into skincare. Honestly, I love the Crystal at 34 a lot more than the Crystal at 25. Growing old suddenly becomes less stressful and more fun. 



FAMILY

If you follow my Instagram stories, you’ll know how close I am to my family. The family has always been a strong pillar of support for me over the years. Living far away from everyone means I'm often missed out on family events, unfortunately. Many times I wished I was home so I could give my mom and dad a big hug on their birthday, take them out on Mother's & Father's Day, or even have a drink with my brother. That is why I will do everything I can to spend more time with them and make them feel happy. Whether it's a Taiwan trip with my mom and dad or a short trip home to throw the 1st birthday party for my nephew, it makes my day whenever I see a big smile on their face. As long as they are healthy, I'm happy. 




CAREER

For the longest time, I've always been questioning myself "What do I want to do in my career?". I was lucky that I had many opportunities to do different things at a young age (5 years old). From a singer, a dancer, and a dance teacher to an actress, a host, and a model, I enjoyed being on stage or in front of the camera so much that I thought I was born to be a performer. At the same time, the other part of me wanted to be a businesswoman, so I chose to study "Business Management" instead of accepting the Performing Arts scholarship.


Then, when I started writing a blog and stepped into the fashion industry in 2012, I gave up the "art performer" dream and had a desire to run my own fashion business and being a professional blogger instead. But when I had to choose between getting paid to blog full time and working in a technology company in the hospitality industry. I wanted to be in the hospitality industry instead. I wanted to travel. I'm glad I made that decision, and I found the career that I've been looking. Not only do I have a good job, but I also have a wonderful boss who trusts, supports, and helps me spread my wings to fly. She makes my days at work so fun and fulfilling. We are only at the beginning of our journey. I can't wait for the new year to start.  



FRIENDS

They say good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they are there. I'm lucky that I have many shining stars around me. They are there during my good and bad time. They don't just lend me their listening ears. They offer their helping hands when I need. I wonder “what have I done in my previous life that I have many guardian angels with me in this life.” They are like my brothers and sisters. Some I know for more than ten years, others I meet less than a year but feel like we already knew each other for a long time. I’ll probably have more bridesmaids than I need by the time I decide to be a bride. I'm not complaining. It's a happy problem to have.



LOVE

Every girl loves being a princess on her wedding day. Some take a longer time to find their true love story than others. I’m very good at managing other parts of my life (Work, Health, Family), Love is the only thing that makes me feel out of control. I lost count how many times in the past 16 years (since I started dating), I looked up at the sky and wondered: "Where and who is my Prince Charming? Why it’s so hard to meet him?". Every time I fell in love, I had my heart broken over and over again. After so many heartbreaks and lessons, I learned that Love is not just a feeling. It's not just a word. It's not about the number of expensive presents a guy gives you. It's a choice, a commitment, and an action. We chose to love someone and accept them for who they are, including their flaws. Loving someone means we'll do everything we can to make the other person happy. We are inspired to be a better version of ourselves. We are willing to stay with them during the tough times and be their best supporter. In one of my love stories, I came to realize that loving someone also means letting them go and wishing them all the happiness whether you are a part of it. They say “God knows when you are ready for a marriage, he'll send the right man to you at the right time.” Apparently, I wasn't ready.


I wanted to get married at the age of 25. It didn't happen. I set my marriage goal at 27 years old. Again, I broke up. The same thing happened when I was 29 and 30 years old. All these years, I asked myself "Why do I want to get married?". The answers were: I want to get married because I'm getting old; My parents want me to get married; I need to find stability and security, and the list goes on". None of the answers was "I want to spend the rest of my life with him." Not that I didn't have a feeling for any of my ex-boyfriends at that time, I just had too many doubts and fear in my head. I didn't feel "right" like what everyone kept telling me "You'll know it if he is the right one."  So I walked away before things got worse and wanted to focus on loving myself first before I can love someone else.



Now,  I still don’t know if and when I will get married, but I no longer have the pressure of "I'm getting old" or "My parents want me to get married." I'm self-sufficient and enjoying my single life to its fullest. I love myself and I'm content with what I have. I don't need a man to give me financial stability. I'm not looking for a man to bring me happiness because I'm already happy. When I think of getting married to someone, I think of how much I want to share my positivity, joy, and my life with that person. Life is not always sunshine and butterflies. I won't mind going through storms with that person as long as he respects, trusts, and loves me as his life partner. A great relationship requires hard work, open communications, honesty, and a whole lot of bedtime activities. I get that.



Have I given up on love? Not yet. I still believe somewhere out there in this world, my Mr. Right is still finding his way to me. It might take him some time to get here. Until that mysterious guy appears, I’m taking one day at a time and keeping my mind open to see what happens.
For now, I’m happy, and I'm thankful for all the experiences life has given me. I'm ready to move on to the next chapter. And I’m so ready for 2019!

Happy New Year to me, you, and your family!
Thank you for reading! 
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Crystal Phuong
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[name=Crystal Phuong] [img=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2fJIeV0maiu1iSZBqXUcw3MA0I5aIOIFkNquz-3I9TubKru_nT6RtBidB9SShTMn6L8YRjDf8q3JtWSNcG2Z4aHEUT51k5X5eyzYXHwKUDM_Rglx1_kBrnE0wIbuRq2Gmr6Ngg/w345-c-h245/Crystal-Phuong] [description=Singapore Travel & Lifestyle Blogger, hoping to connect and inspire young women to lead a healthy and happy life] (facebook=https://facebook.com/crystalphuong) (twitter=https://twitter.com/ncrystalicious) (instagram=https://instagram.com/crystalphuong)

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