Kaleidoscope of Memoirs: Five Years in Bloom: A Journey with Elsiewithlove

October 2025

Every year on October, Elsie & Ryan would gather around the table at home to talk about the future of Elsiewithlove. Five years may sound long, but it feels like yesterday when Elsiewithlove first began. In the blink of an eye, here we are, a half-decade of memories. Sometimes I sit back and wonder, how did five years pass so quickly? Each year feels like a heartbeat, yet together we’ve built something I’ll always treasure. What started as a little dream has grown into five years of creating, sharing, and connecting.

Time really does fly. Sometimes it feels as though I only just started this journey, yet here we are, five years on. Wow! Elsiewithlove is already five! What began as a small dream at my desk, just me and my daughter giggling over sketches, slowly grew into something I could never have imagined. From a doodle to a name, from a name to a story and from there, Elsiewithlove was born.

It all began during the pandemic, when the world slowed down and the days at home felt long and quiet. To pass the time, I picked up a pen and started doodling with my daughter. Together we imagined a world of this little darlings , we were being really silly and out of those playful moments the name Kakpoot just pop up. To celebrate this beautiful memory and moment I decide to keep that name. Kakpoot where 'Kak' means cactus in Malay, and 'poot' is her cute version of 'pot'.

Of course, Elsiewithlove would not be what it is today without the people closest to me. Behind the scenes, my brother, Ryan, has been there from the very beginning. While I sketched and dreamed, he quietly took on the mundane work that often goes unseen. The tasks, the details, the steadying hand that kept things moving forward. His perseverance has carried us through so many seasons, and for that I am deeply grateful.

And then there is my mum, whom we affectionately call Mama Cat. Always ready to lend a helping hand, she has been the anchor whenever things felt overwhelming, offering support in the simplest yet most meaningful ways.

Elsiewithlove has quietly grown into something bigger than I ever imagined. Along the way, there have been late nights, tiny victories, unexpected surprises, and so many kind souls who walked this path with me. My heartfelt thanks to the community who has supported Elsiewithlove through every twist and turn. Over these five years, our paths have crossed in the most unexpected and beautiful ways through messages, markets, festivals, and little moments of connection. Each encounter, no matter how small, has been a reminder that this journey is not mine alone, but one we share together.

Five years may sound long, but when I look back, it feels like a collection of moments, each memory a little stamp of its own, marking laughter, challenges, and growth. Like a kaleidoscope of memoirs, these pieces come together to paint a colourful picture of the journey so far. This milestone isn’t just about the years gone by; it’s about the people, the community, and the love that has made Elsiewithlove what it is today. For that, I am forever grateful.

Here’s to five years of Elsiewithlove, and to the many more stories still waiting to be unfold~

Together we grow🌿

~Elsie