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Karen Cheng

A Perth Fashion and Lifestyle Blog

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Random Things About Me

June 20, 2006

I always wanted a tattoo on my back, but couldn’t find/design an image that I’d be happy with for the rest of my life.

I first met my husband at university. I studied in the same department in which he taught. He was the super-cool, young-hottie, brainy-academic lecturer that everybody loved, and I actually sat in a few of his lectures. But, truth be told, I was too caught up in my own men-troubles to notice. A couple of years later, in very different circumstances, I contacted him out of the blue for some industry contacts. We struck up a casual email conversation that lasted for 6 or so months. All along I thought he was married. And the moment I found out he wasn’t, I asked him out.

Most of my adult life I’ve been 47kgs. After the birth of my first son, I dropped to 45kgs. Then after the birth of my second son I dropped to 43kgs. Which, I thought, for my frame was probably a bit unhealthy and boney. Currently I struggle to keep it up at 44-45kgs. I eat so much. Running after my two boys certainly keeps the weight off. Unfortunately I’ve also dropped 2 cup sizes. Which I’m rather bitter about.

I absolutely refused to let Andrew buy me an engagement ring. I wanted to chose one myself. So the plan was – after we got married, go overseas for our honeymoon, I can go shopping for the engagement ring. But on the day… I decided to spend the money on a digital camera instead. Ha! And I still don’t have an engagement ring! It’s my own fault really.

Just under my bellybutton, I have an impressive swathe of stretch marks – the result of two 8-pounder babies. I treat them like the awesome battle scars of a real woman. I am also quick to show them off – if you ask nicely – and especially if you show me some of your scars.

Until I met my current husband, I had only ever dated Asian guys. It wasn’t a racial preferences, it just kinda happened that way. In my list of dating/relationship requirements, I really didn’t care about a guy’s look or race. It was all about confidence, stability, eloquence, a sense of humour and the ability to hold an interesting conversation.

Issues of being in an “interracial marriage” don’t seem to apply to me. I think deep down my character is based more on Australian and Christian values, with strong Asian cultural quirks that flavour my personality. My husband and I have very similar (and passionate) attitudes and values towards family, food, health, friends, work, money, stress, children, holidays, tv, time, the future, etc. So we don’t have many typical “cultural” differences.

I don’t like to sleep. There are just so many other things I would rather do.

I’m really sensitive to the cold.

I’ve always wanted three children. I love big families.

I’m the middle child. And having a second child has given me great insight into how “middle child-ness” has shaped my being. In particular, my natural propensity to try a little harder to be a little different and stand out in everything I do. Not to show off to others, but to confirm to myself that I was different and special.

Sean’s conception was planned during the time my husband had cancer. We didn’t know whether we’d be able to have anymore children (after chemo), so we had our last shot at it while we could. Thus Sean was born not long after we recovered (mentally and physically) from the cancer episode. I went through a long spell of hormonal depression and had to constantly check myself to keep myself on track.

I’m really good with directions, maps, charts and decoding foreign instruction manuals.

I absolutely love card games and strategy board games. I can’t wait to teach my kids how to play bridge. But I don’t play any kind of video or computer games.

In high school I was a serial truant. I used to skip classes, took a bus to the city and walked around day dreaming.

I have 20/20 eye vision.

Related Posts

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  • Finished Reading List For 2018

Daily Life

« The 3 Year Old Genius
Sean at 15 months »

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Welcome

Hi I’m Karen!

I’ve been blogging since 1999, which pretty much makes me an internet dinosaur… who is a bit addicted to Instagram filters.

I strive to balance my blog with a nice mix of fashion, lifestyle, fitness, cooking, parenting, adventures with my 3 kids and nerdy talk about books and brain training.

Currently obsessed with:
Isabel Marant’s fashion aesthetic, trying out intermittent fasting (not going too well thanks for asking), reading about ancient Roman history and 19th century Russian literature.

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  • 💕 Don’t think I could find a cuter cotton linen dress to wear! This beauty is by Australian designer @binnywear, ft. lovely details and unique prints✨ Can’t believe the weekend is over already! 🙈 #binnywear #partner
  • Happy Friday! 🍊 Absolutely loving my @danielwellington Classic Petite watch in the 32mm size (which suits my small wrist better than the regular 36mm or 40mm size)⌚️💕 You can enjoy 15% off discount on ALL #danielwellington products with code "karencheng" ~ Featuring Lunar New Year limited edition Suffolk Watch (Dark Red Strap) #lunarnewyear #cny2019 #sp
  • Happy Lunar New Year everyone! 🏮✨ Spent the last few days feasting to show in the year of the pig! 🐷🎊 It’s not a public holiday here in Australia, but I still managed to take some time off and visit my parents and family! 🍊🍊💕
  • Finished my first book of the year - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley! One reason I read it was because… my oldest son starts Year 11 this year and I was very sad he didn’t choose to do English Literature. 😐 I also discovered that the first novel that was being studied in English Lit was Frankenstein. So I felt that someone in this house had to read it!
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💕 I have a few new blog posts up on my blog, including weird and wonderful discoveries about the Frankenstein novel, a full health and blood test I did recently and our new baby plants that my kids have named after rappers 🤷🏻‍♀️ Please pop over to have a peek! 😬✨
  • How amazing are balmy summer nights?! ☀️🌴🍹 I enjoyed myself SO much at the @fringeworldperth last night. I haven’t laughed so much in ages! 💕 On the flip side, I’m looking forward to Chinese New Year and the kids going back to school next week!👌🏼✨
  • Date night details from the weekend! ♥️
Always so fun to wear a pop of red 💋 By the way, you can get 15% off discount on ALL @danielwellington products with code "karencheng" ~ Featuring Lunar New Year limited edition Suffolk Watch (Dark Red Strap) #danielwellington #lunarnewyear #cny2019 #sp
  • Lately, I’ve been a lot more mindful about the fabrics and clothes I buy; trying to select better quality pieces that will last me longer, feel amazing and hopefully good for the earth too! Do you have a favourite sustainable fashion brand? I’d love some more ideas! Xx
  • Morning details with @chloe and @kitsense ✨ Lots of exciting things happening here! Can’t wait to share soon! Look out for updates on my blog 💕✨
  • ✨ New on the blog: Wearing this gorgeous @ganni dress but needed to modify it because I’m short! I always have to modify my clothes! 🙈💕I picked this dress on sale (approximately A$105) and it’s still on sale! 😍 Link in my bio 👌🏼
  • 📚 I've finally put together my Finished Reading List for 2018 - head over to my blog to take a peek! Link in bio.
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👌🏼 I managed to smash my record and read 21 books last year - mixing it up with some classics, new and old sci-fi, new releases and lots of books about Ancient Roman history! Swipe left to see a few titles I've read. 👉🏼
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💬 What are you reading to start off your new year? .
(I'm reading more about the history of Rome - Livy to be precise! 😜)
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