PIXIEOFTB.

Not The End, Just The Start of Something New.

2011-06-16T01:42:00.000+08:00

Yes, many of you would probably notice; that I've hopped from blog to blog; but there are reasons; for doing so.

So, yes, the purpose of me, writing this post; is to redirect you; to a brand new blog; that I've been thinking about, for a really long time.

So, please do me a favour, by changing your bookmarks, links; and stuff; to the NEW ONE HERE.

Why the sudden change, and other questions you may have; would most probably be answered there; but I guess, change is... Good; and for the better; in this case. But, don't say I didn't warn you; the welcome post on the other one is pretty... Awesome. (Rather long, actually!)

I'm definitely going to miss PIXIEOFTB, obviously; as I've had it since I was 17; but, oh well, we'll see where the next one brings us.

Kim.

2011-06-14T02:06:00.000+08:00

So, it was Kim's birthday last Saturday, and although it was SWOT VAC; how could we not do something special?!(: Thanks to her; I got to have a hot, frothy cup of Green Tea Latte (and a couple of mouthful of Krispy Kreme!) and we spent the entire afternoon shopping for chunky knits and new footwear!

Absolutely in love with my new Therapy low boots from Dissh. Love how it's slip on; and it's so... Chunky!

Have been spending the past couple of days studying; and now; I'm basically a whiz (I hope) at BLAW; The paper is on Wednesday and honestly; I would love to get it over and done with. Not that I'd be done for Sem 1 then; I have another paper coming up on the 25th; So not looking forward to Human Resource Management; But; we'll take it one step at the time.

Good night, sleep tight; xx

Exam Fever.

2011-06-08T20:14:00.000+08:00

Have been working on Business Law the entire day;

Till a point where I'm stuck at Financing a Business;

My brain would honestly shut off once I see the F-word.

Now that I've been annotating my notes the entire day; I shall too, number my post tonight.

1) One of the chores which I take joy in doing each morning would be preparing my salad; There's something oddly therapeutic about handling the spinach and rocket leaves, slicing the strawberries and crushing the walnuts and making a healthy-ish meal for myself;

2) Elle, Ally, Ali; Honestly, I didn't know that there could be so many variations to Ellie;

Once I honestly told the guy at Boost; that "The name's Anna." Heh(:

3) Ending the day with a trip to the Vietnamese place at Hawken; Oh the beef.

4) After watching Pirates of the Caribbean; On Stranger Tides; and lusting over Johnny Depp's rings; I was so glad when I saw the gorgeous black stone ring at Sports Girl;

Going for Preppy/Boho chic today; (Did I even manage to achieve that?)
Top (FCUK), Maxi Skirt (Supre), Scarf/Belt (Thrifted), Shoes (Aldo), Rings (Sports Girl & F21)

A Long Due Post, and Bits of Byron Bay.

2011-06-07T00:51:00.001+08:00

So, basically, I’ve been really, really terrible at updating my blog. The last post was in…. March. Gosh. How time flies; and yes, I’m definitely trying to put together a post.

For those who have been trying to find out about my life Down Under, no worries, all’s well. I’m definitely adapting better than I’ve thought. Doling out notes with the Queen on it is no longer an issue; and I can navigate round the City, (my postal code is 4000, eh!) with my eyes closed, well, you know what I mean; and I’m definitely more or less settled here.

As for school, I’ve finished all of my assignments, and it is quite a feat, considering how I haven’t touched on Report Writing in over a year! I’ve got two papers coming up later this month; Business Law and Human Resource Management; and I’m hopeless at getting started. Well, the fact that Law is an Open Book paper, doesn’t help!

People-wise; I’ve definitely met some of the nicest people here; not to say that I’ve forgotten my darlings in Singapore; you are all, always on my mind; and it takes this stint overseas, to know, who are the ones, that care; and one of two of you, have definitely surprised me.

As for my St. Lucians; I’m thankful to have found a group of friends; who are here with me, through the crazy, crazy times; and surprisingly, a whole load of crappy times too; I guess, coming over here; doesn’t only guarantee me an education; it truly taught me, independence; and I’ve definitely grown a lot; since I’m here.

Now, before this sounds like some persuasive cover letter; I’m going to leave you with a couple of pictures; (I’m sorry, the internet bandwidth here, truly… Sucks. No other words to put it; one of the teeny things that gets to me at times…)

Couple of friends and I headed up to Gold Coast & Byron Bay, up in NSW during the Easter break; and I’ve got to say that Byron Bay, truly took my breath away. It’s really one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen (not that I’ve been to many…) But; it’s gorgeous. It is one of those things, that cause you to stop, and stare in wonder.

Lots of Love,

Who's That Girl.

2011-03-29T23:18:00.001+08:00

So, I'm completely horrible at blogging now; I'm so terribly sorry; trying to put pieces of photographs together for a decent post; amidst my assignments and packed schedules;

Here's a really quick one though;

Went to the Farmers' Market at West End a couple of weeks ago; and it was just so full of people and stalls! There were so many different things to see and try; and it was definitely a great way to spend a Saturday Morning; Went to a Singapore Student Association event at the Sofitel; and it was just perfect; actually; it was the company that I've had that made that night enjoyable; Been exploring my host city more and more; and I'm just so in love with Java Coast; the Balinese themed cafe is absolutely gorgeous; and the coffee is just amazing. Really fantastic.

And how can I forget to mention; saw this absolutely lovely girl when I was having a picnic with my friends in the Great Court and Deidre & I locked our eyes on here immediately! She reminded us so much of Anna Wintour; especially when she had her shades on; I just, just had to snap a picture of her! She's absolutely lovely! Met Nicholas; a fellow Singaporean at the event at Sofitel and I just had to snap a picture of him too! Perhaps it was the dangerous amount of bubbly I had in me; but apparently; my friends thought it was the funniest thing they've ever seen! (The poor guy; having his picture taken; with so many people staring at us! Thank goodness he's a fan of the Sart so he found it extremely flattering. Still.)

Valentino Restrospective; A Preview.

2011-03-16T11:04:00.000+08:00

Awhile back; probably all the way in mid-January, I went to the Valentino Restropective exhibition in Resort World Sentosa, and to say that the collections were amazing; is probably an understatement.

As I'm rushing for time; and I would like to post something on this stagnant space before I head to school; I would like to upload some snaps I took of two gorgeous girls in the exhibition. I've got to warn all of you that the quality of the photos are extremely crappy; (I know, I probably should have checked before I left!) but the pictures are so, so incredibly grainy. (Time to get a new camera, seriously!) Oh well, perhaps I should pass it off as artsy? Heh, I wish I could.

So sorry Syafiqah & Jahiza, this is really the best shot I could find:/ I know; it's crap. I really wish you could all see the tops they were wearing!

Brisbane Photo Diary 2.

2011-03-04T18:51:00.003+08:00

The first time I saw these birds, I was so freaked out by them! They're really huuuge!

Can't believe there are actual, white coloured parrots by the lake in school!

Gorgeous view from my friend's apartment;

He's not a friend; a stranger in fact; felt bad I had to sneak this one; but I just love his persona.

This Kimchi Udon is definitely; the best I've ever eaten.

So sorry that this picture doesn't do her any justice; but she is Nikki; the super cool Londoner I met on the airport transfer shuttle whom I still keep in contact with; she is an exchange student from Oxford (OXFORD!!!) and she is doing Music (Guitar!) at QUT for a semester! Can she get any more awesome?! Ahh! Sorry Nikki! I'm definitely not a stalker!

Yes, it's basically the same Korean restaurant that I've been going to; but this Spicy Tofu Soup is amazing!

I laughed when I saw this! N's basically used plasters to keep her camera from falling apart!

The Mexican Night I was raving about! Thanks Deidre! You're a genius!

The nachos are amazing!!!

Needless to say; her dips are awesome! For the nachos; the salsa, and the guacamole is insane!

Mushed Apples & Bananas on Toasted Crumpets; Randall; you are a genius too!

So, school has officially started and I'm taking four modules this semester. All of them are my core modules; and only one of them, is not tourism/hospitality related (well, it really depends on how you look at it); it being Business Law. So far, it's Friday night, and I have not caught up with my readings/tutorials, but fret not; I'm definitely using my weekends to do something about it.

Brisbane is definitely growing on me, and my friends and I have unanimously decided that South Bank is the place to be when you're in town. The lush greenery, big spaces for you to sit around to have a chat or a picnic, or just soak in the rays, the eclectic mix of market stalls available on the evenings from Wednesday to Sunday, (one even provided tarot card readings for A$45!), not forgetting the famous churros stall, and the beautiful, beautiful view you get of the City on the riverfront is enough to make you want to stay there forever.

Still, with it being Summer, friends have commented that I've become more brown since my arrival; and I guess, it is inevitable, even though I do slap on a whole dollop of sunblock before I head out. Everyone around me is the same, getting a nice, healthy tan; but I guess, I'd definitely not miss all of this; and I'm desperately looking forward to the arrival of Fall. And it is definitely weird; mentioning Fall; when it's all about Spring everywhere!

Sorry about the inane chattering; but I guess this is the post where I start updating everyone back home about my life Down Under instead of posting endless pictures up here. Or maybe I'm just feeling a little melancholic. Not sure if it's the hormones swirling around inside me; (sorry, guys!) or maybe it's me feeling homesick; but I just feel the need to blabber somewhere other than in my worn out journal.

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad to be here. And, the friends I have made here definitely make up for almost all of my awesome experiences here! The endless chats, the food fest we always seem to have (I'm definitely blessed to be surrounded by so many great cooks here!) the movie nights (Black Swan is really twisted, though Natalie P. is amazingly awesome!) ; the boozey nights when we actually stayed up till dawn breaks; I'm thankful for all of you. You know who you are.

As for my friends back home, I'm sorry I don't seem to be online often enough; (I really, really hate the internet here! How can the usage be volume based?!) But I'm thankful for all your prayers and all of your love. When I expressed how homesick I was, thank you for all your tweets and messages on my Wall, and those Whatsapp texts! I LOVE YOU ALL, AND I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY!

As for my fellow Bloggers out there, who is still, reading this; thanks for putting up with my erratic postings; and my posts which doesn't really seem to have anything to do with fashion nowadays. You've been warned though; this is definitely more like a lifestyle blog with a very strong focus on good food!

Till the next time.

On a slightly revolting note; I've actually donated some 500cc of blood at the mobile blood bank which was in school on Thursday! Haven't donated in ages and I was definitely a little paranoid about the size of the needle and when I saw my blood oozing through the plastic tube. Ugh. Set up for another appointment in June; hopefully everything will be fine by then! I'm glad I used 10mins of my life to help save someone's life;p

Have You Cott On?

2011-03-01T22:30:00.000+08:00

About a month before I left for Aussie Land, I was asked by Jeslin to help her with a photoshoot for her final year project; The objective would be to pick a high street label; and completely revamp it! When I saw the final product; I was blown away! If this was what Cotton On is right now; I'd definitely be the first in line for their clothes! Won't you? Jeslin, you are ah-ma-zing!

Brisbane Photo Diary.

2011-02-23T20:06:00.001+08:00

1) Drive from the City to Sunny Bank; and trust me; there is a reason for that name.
2) Can't get over how gorgeous Brisbane is; when it's all sunny and lovely; though I must have slapped on more sunblock in my two weeks here; as compared to all my life in Singapore. Which is incidentally, sunny too! Really the weirdest thing.
3) There must be thousands of Mac desktops around the library; and there are about nine, or ten libraries around campus?!
4) The Courtyard; in front of the Forgan Smith Building; my school is just so lovely <3
5) Last Tuesday was another lovely day; Cedric, Kim & I couldn't resist not getting an icy drink and having them in the courtyard; Definitely something which we will do again;
6) And what I love about Brisbane is that; it's equally stunning; even when it's sundown;
7) This particular Vietnamese restaurant is so packed when we were there! Definitely one of the more popular restaurants in Sunny Bank; and they do serve really awesome Beef Pho;
8) Madtongsan II; located on Elizabeth St which is essentially only three blocks from my apartment serves the best Korean food; Was telling everyone who bothered that this will be the place where I'd go for take out;
9) It's Market Day today on Campus; and it was just so crazy! Loads of things to see, do and join; loved the Photobooth to bits!
10) I'm definitely feeling homesick at times; but I guess; I'm slowly adapting to life down under; will be going to Fortitude Valley (or more affectionately known as "The Valley") tomorrow for a great night out; so, I'd definitely have more photos to come!

Hello From Down Under.

2011-02-19T19:07:00.002+08:00

Where I take the bus to school every morning;

Loving my new, gorgeous taupe flats from H&M (Got them in London though!)

My campus is reaallly pretty isn't it?

Thank goodness for an awesome coffee shop in school that does the nicest Soy Chai! It's no Green Tea Latte, but still; :D

A Greek Wrap; definitely going to have more of these when school starts;

Lunch on the steps @ Schonell Theatre! (The cafeteria was flooded with people!)

Deidre & Kim(L) ; So lucky I get to bump into such awesome friends like them!

Terrible Presentations 101

Knight & Day; Watching movies under the stars;

Gorgeous South Bank;

Looks just like SG, right?

So sorry about the long break there; but yes; there was the whole crazy thing with my 21st birthday celebration; the unfortunate flu that I've got the day after; the mad rush with packing for uni; and then there were just so many dinners and Esther's 21st before my flight out last Saturday.

I'm more or less settled now; typing from my single studio apartment in the City; got my +61 number, 8gb worth of internet per month ( I know, shocker right?!) And I've been to my gorgeous campus; met some of the most wonderful people and been to some of the most beautiful places in Brisbane; (South Bank!)

It's definitely surreal! Everything about this place; and this situation is. The whole walking about town; going to the bank and getting my Card; choosing and getting a mobile plan; buying household appliances in KMART; being all grown up and independent and getting my groceries and planning for what I want to eat; it's all so overwhelming! But definitely exciting.

I'll definitely keep this going; definitely going to do more posts; and making do with 8gb worth of internet; and I'm definitely going to keep all of you updated about life Down Under. Do keep me in your prayers yer?

10 745 Kilometres From Home.

2011-02-02T18:08:00.001+08:00

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica was absolutely beautiful; and Montmartre itself was such a charming little town. From the usual souvenir shops luring tourists in, (somehow, I ♥ Paris t-shirt and hoodies scream tacky; as compared to the I ♥ NY series) to the hotdog and crepes stands always, smelling so good; what I loved about Montmartre are the beautiful restaurants you see all over this tourist trap; and the throngs of artists that could be found here, drawing, sketching, painting; and offering to do a sketch for you, for a couple of Euros; Of course, how can I forget to mention the iconic Moulin Rouge; and I can't help but think of the particular Cancan/Lady Marmalade scene in the movie when I saw it!

The or rather, Les Invalides, was absolutely stunning. The architecture was so beautiful; but what I liked about this place, was the history behind it. Napoleon's Tomb was insanely huge; one had to marvel at the thought; of Napoleon's body; buried in the centre of coffin, encased by five or six other coffins; very much like the idea of the Russian nesting dolls. The impressive dome at Napoleon's Tomb; and the stained glass found here were just as equally stunning!

The Eiffel Tower was as incredible as I imagined it to be, if not more. Instead of taking the Metro, we walked to the Eiffel Tower from the Invalides; and as the Eiffel Tower materialized; you can't help but look at it in wonder. The very icon of Paris, of France; this was definitely a dream come true. I must have snapped a hundred shots of the Eiffel Tower alone; and it was still not enough. It was absolutely amazing. The long wait, the cold; it was absolutely worth it. And when the Eiffel Tower lit up on the hour; it feels just like Christmas; and you can't wipe off that dorky smile off my face, however you try! Would I go back to the Eiffel Tower again; the next time I visit? You bet I will; there's nothing that can be compared to this. Not standing at Mt. Fuji, not being at the top of the Empire State Building.

Seven Things.

2011-02-01T16:39:00.003+08:00

I want to thank Claire of Bow & Floral for giving this award to me; though I wouldn't exactly say that I'm "stylish" as compared to so many of you here; it seems pretty fun; and I thought it's a great way to share with you guys; so why not?(:

1) I've always loved flying; but up till recently, I would get really squeamish, especially, and only when the plane is taking off! It may be the many movies/news that I'd watched; but I would just be really uncomfortable! I swear, my heart wouldn't stop pounding!

2) I've always been madly jealous when I see photos of bloggers prancing around in fields of tall grass; I've wanted to do the same; but we do not have such fields in SG, so, naturally, I jumped at the chance when I saw these beautiful grass/flowers when I was at Hainan; Absolutely loved it!

3) I only love skinny pizzas! None of that, thick, chunky base you get from Pizza Hut!

4) My favorite drink is a tie between a Soy Chai Latte; or a Green Tea Latte; though I've been drinking more of the latter these days; so I say Green Tea Latte, actually! I just love the green, frothy and foamy surface!

5) 18 Dec 2010 was the day when I experienced falling snow for the first time in my life! It was also my first and last time making a dodgy snowman by the River Thames; definitely a day to remember(:

6) Absolutely love churros! Nothing can beat the smell of a freshly baked churro! (Now, I'm definitely craving for one; and it's not easy to get in Singapore!)

7) After reading an interview that Ben Adams, from A1 (yes, I read that interview years ago!) does not stick his feet out from his bed at night, for fear that someone or something would grab his feet; I have never stuck my feet out of my bed at night since! It's irrational, I know; but I just can't help it! It's scary!

I know, I'm supposed to pass this on to seven people; but it's so hard to choose! So, I shall pass this on to Winnie of Diamond Canopy, my longest friend that I've made through blogging! Can't wait to see what you've got darling! xx

Musée du Louvre, Place de la Concorde et les Champs-Élysées.

2011-01-27T10:21:00.005+08:00

Paris was such a surreal experience. And that is an understatement. This may sound like, actually, it might be a cliché but I've waited my whole life to go to Paris! So much so that when I was there; I was registering that I was taking the metro with all the French; when I was at the Louvre, my brain registered that I was in one of the most famous museums in the world; and that it played a crucial role in the Da Vinci Code; but it was only when I was in front of the Glass Pyramid; and walking along Rue de Rivoli, towards the Place de la Concorde that it hit me. I'm in Paris. The feeling is indescribable and as I'm doing this post, I can still remember the excitement, the buzz I had in me; I'm sure if I have the guts to, I would have probably done a little jig on the pavement or something!

Having said that, I'm sorry for the amount of photos which I've flooded this post with! A grand total of 30, I cannot bear to cut down on anymore pictures (there's more on Photobucket!) because there's so much that I want to share with you! As you would probably have guessed, and like many of you reading this post would have done, this Francophile here is trying to cram as much as I can, about the City I dream of and love; into three, maybe four measly posts; so, do bear with me. I mean, after all, how often does a girl gets to go to Paris? Okay, for you Europeans, please do remember that I'm from the opposite end of the Earth!

Coat (Uniqlo), Sweater & Skirt (H&M), Tights (From a really long time ago!), Boots (Jones Bootmaker)

On a side note, I would like to thank all of you who have been reading and commenting on my posts! I haven't been blogging to an... audience(?!) at least, those that I know of, for a long, long time and I'm still surprised by the number of comments that I've received! I'm really thankful for each and every one of you; and your comments are what motivates me to do a better job with my posts each time and they really do put a smile on my face when I read them! THANK YOU!

Onboard The Eurostar.

2011-01-24T13:00:00.002+08:00

1) Eurostar tickets; from London St. Pancras --> Paris Gare du Nord

2) Saying my last goodbyes to London; and I really wonder when I'd be back;

3) The boys and their game of Poker (or whatever they were playing).

4) Entertainment onboard; Room by Emma Donoghue is a great book; Albeit controversial, the narration from a 5 year old's point of view into his captivity is amazing.

5) Love my nail polish from Urban Outfitters; and my gorgeous ring from Topshop!

6) I'm definitely missing the grey, overcast skies; and the snow covered ground in sunny and humid Singapore;

7) Love these Japanese crackers!

8) One of the things I love about Paris is the myriad of grafittis all over! Some are downright vandalisms, but most of them are just so so vibrant!

9) And we're finally here at the Gard du Nord! The feeling is incredible! Though my brother had a very unpleasant experience; probably due to a man calling him a certain something. Oh well.

10) And our first meal in Paris. How could we not order our favorite dish.

Sorry about the break from blogging this week; I meant to do another post but I've had a long and busy weekend; filled with sleepovers with my best friends, doing decorations for my 21st in Feb, watching Easy A and Letters to Juliet late into the night, attending a pre-departure gathering with fellow Singaporeans headed for UQ next month at the Botanic Gardens; and having a major Chinese New Year baking session with my family and relatives on Sunday! Wow, I've really had a packed weekend huh; now that I've listed it all out! Anyway, these photos of Paris are long over due; and yes, I'll try to upload all of them before I get any busier! Spring Cleaning, a 21st' birthday to plan; and my big move to Down Under. Wish me luck! xx

Inspiration.

2011-01-18T18:09:00.000+08:00

There's no telling how much I love this photo of Jeslin.

Was looking at Twitter this afternoon when I noticed that she's changed her profile picture. She looks so sweet in that tiny icon and on a closer look; I realised how beautiful this shot really is! (Of course, I sent her a tweet immediately, asking if I could use her picture on my blog!) Really love everything about this; and after a couple of hours, I still do. The loose wavy hair, pretty off shoulder top; gorgeous, gorgeous soft pastel grey skirt; perfectly slouchy socks paired with a pair of beautiful vintage inspired clogs. And not only that; the lighting is absolutely beautiful and it is the perfect finish for this romantic look. Aww... I'm really in love with her now;p Know for a fact that J is absolutely nuts for everything Korean and one could really see the influence in this outfit; it's so pretty ♥♥♥

Sweater (Gap), Dress (Some Random Shop; her words, not mine;p), Socks (Zara), Clogs (Rubi)

Rounding Up;

2011-01-16T07:37:00.003+08:00

It's a shame that I'm coming to the end of my vacation in London with this batch of photos;

Looking back at these photos sure bring back lots of memories, and London was truly a great city! (And no, I'm not saying this because I didn't want to offend my friends in the UK ;p) The sights, the sounds, the people; the shopping at the numerous shopping strips around; and the food! If you didn't know better; it'd look as though as I'm in London for a food tour or something! But really, I'm going to miss having omelettes for breakfast at the Madeira restaurant a stone's throw away from our hotel; I'm definitely going to miss those days when we would schlep our butts to Leicester Square ( Oh God, how I miss saying that out loud!) for Dimsum because believe it or not, we don't have the habit of eating that in Singapore!

My favorite sight; beautiful Big Ben & Houses of Parliament; it's a tie, with the view you get of Tate Modern/ St. Paul's Cathedral from the Millennium Bridge;

Definitely Oxford Street & Covent Garden; what with Selfridges, Primark and the biggest Topshop, ever and gorgeous little shops tucked away;

Tate Modern; The V&A; The array of cultures, people and food you can find here;

London, You'd be missed. Really. Till the next time.

Coco Mademoiselle

2011-01-12T17:14:00.003+08:00

Coco Chanel - Photography by Douglas Kirkland, 1962

Via artnet | five foot nine.

Chanced upon these gorgeous photos of Coco Chanel, and I was instantly transfixed. To quote one of the comments I've received for Harrison's b/w photography from the previous post;

"Black and white photography really brings out the power of expression within each photo."

I couldn't have said it better.

Adored by millions of women out there; these photos allows us to have a sneak peek into the life of one of the most influential women in the industry. Somehow, looking at these snapshots of Coco Chanel going into the House of Chanel at Rue Cambon, watching her at work, preparing for the upcoming F/W 62' show; made me feel as though I was privy to an intimate side of the designer herself- Douglas Kirkland really did her justice with these shots; She really is an inspiration and what she does, is art.

Sometimes, All We Need Is Black, White & Shades of Grey.

2011-01-11T09:56:00.005+08:00

Photography by Harrison T.

I'm a huge fan of black and white photographs and Harrison's camera is somewhat like a treasure trove for me. He don't really show me what he had taken during the day, so it's only when I've uploaded the pictures onto my laptop, that I realized how beautiful, are some of the pictures he had taken! (My favourites are that of the man going down the Underground in Trafalgar Square, the stairs at Urban Outfitters, the pigeon taking flight, and of course, that of the train!) Though these are essentially b/w; I've never felt that London's looked more beautiful. We were really lucky to be in London; because the beautiful architecture, the weather, all provided a stunning backdrop for these pictures. I just simply, can't stop staring at them! (I'm scrolling my mouse up and down and up again, many times; obsessive compulsively!)

On a side note; the second last photo is of my youngest brother eating a nutella + banana crepe at the St. Pancras Railway Station. We absolutely loved his Zara jacket; but what so note-worthy about this is that; we've checked out the price of this jacket at the Zara in Oxford Street and it is only retailing for £99?! We've got it for close to $290 back home; and that is actually, probably about the time when I've really started to keep my eyes opened for some Zara goodies!

PS/ Had to add in the shot of Westminster Station with Big Ben in the background because Harrison kinda just told me that it was his favorite shot, (because of Big Ben) ;p Owell. It's his photos(:

Blazer & Scarf (Zara - Unfortunately I've got them in SG), Hooded Scarf (American Apparel), Oxford Booties (Bershka)

A Digital Park Bench For People Watching.

2011-01-10T11:39:00.000+08:00

Curious about how street-style photographers work? Watch this short documentary video courtesy of Intel which discovers the philosophy of street photography from Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist and also shows him on hunt for stylish people to feature on his blog. Scott describes his job/hobby as “going out there and letting yourself fall in love a little bit everyday, let yourself be seduced a little everyday”.

Rock The Trend

For anyone who loves Street Style Photography as much as I do. (Actually, in this age, who doesn't, right?)

Covent Garden Station

2011-01-08T06:35:00.003+08:00

Sweater (Topshop), Maxi skirt & Belt (Zara), Boots (Jones), Glasses (from China), Scarf (the warmest thing; from Accessorize), Rings (Diva, F21 & Topshop)

All of these were captured on Harrison's camera and from the moment I saw these shots, I knew that I had to do an entire post of these shots; as narcissistic as it may be. Went vintage shopping in one of the quaint little shops tucked away from the main street in Convent Garden and I was like a little girl in a candy store! There were tons of leather, tweed and velvet blazers around, and so many pieces of colourful tops and dresses! Got my hands on a beautiful, silk ruby dress (only £20!) and I was this close to bringing it home. Unfortunately, as versatile as I know that dress would be, and as beautiful as that shade of pink was; I know that I could never go out of my house dressed in pink! ( Just look at how colourful I always dress!) Anyway, back to the narcissism I mentioned earlier; I guess if I would have to choose the best outfit I wore in 2010, this would be it. One thing I love about fashion is how fun it could be; especially when I could look like an entirely different person; with just a tweak here and there! One of my best memories in London is when the station master in the Underground told me how much he loved my (SGD$4) glasses as I was tapping my Oyster Card; Even my boyfriend thought that I looked Korean-ish with the bun; glasses and all that excess fabric. And yes, you bet I'd try to recreate all of that, in Singapore without giving myself a heat stroke!

PS/ There are plenty of gorgeous shots of London from Harrison's camera; I'd definitely do a post on that soon!

V&A Museum, Hummingbird Bakery & The Ritz.

2011-01-04T00:55:00.002+08:00

1) The Victoria & Albert Museum; It certainly lived up to its name! I've thoroughly enjoyed all three hours spent in it;

2) Loved looking at the sculptures; there's something calming and therapeutic when you're staring into the smooth white marbles planes.

3) Loved the Textiles gallery too; where I could pull out shelves after shelves of vintage French lace and old, old Chinese embroidery.

4) However, I loved the Theatre & Performance gallery best! The costumes on display were absolutely gorgeous! It reminded me of the Christian Lacroix exhibition I went to years ago in Singapore; and this did not disappoint either! Of course; there was a hands-on section; and we went crazy; putting on the outfits and pretending that we were a sorcerer, a jester; the likes.

5) Was walking from the V&A to the Hummingbird Bakery when we saw this carousel in a church; there's something magical about the little horses that goes up and down and up and down; and of course; who could resist those bright lights?! (Yes, I loved carousel rides when I was little!)

6) Winnie (from Diamond Canopy) and I planned to visit this charming bakery when we were to meet in London; but thanks to the weather; we had to cancel! (Couldn't risk her getting stuck on her train! Snow isn't that great after all huh!) However; I still went to the bakery with the guys and it was great! The array of cakes on display were stunning and I was like a little girl in a candy store! I couldn't choose just one item to take out!

7) Harrison is such a big fan of Arsenal's that he had to drag us all the way down to see Emirates Stadium. Mind you, it was absolutely freezing and the wind was blowing and there were tons of steps to climb! However, it was definitely worth it as his face lit up like a Christmas Tree when he saw the entrance and boy, did he spend, in the souvenir shop!

8) As a Christmas treat, Harrison brought me for dinner at the Ritz's and it was amazing! The hotel and restaurant were absolutely stunning! The interior was so beautiful; and the... things on the table were so exquisite, I was afraid to use them; look at the colours on that gorgeous teacup! Of course; there was nothing to complain about the service! It was impeccable!

9) The absolutely amazing Seared Salmon and Halibut which I've had for the night;

10) Wearing a H&M dress; which I've bought specially for the occasion; and New Look shoes.

Dimsums, Tate Modern & Harrods Food Hall.

2010-12-25T01:43:00.000+08:00

1100 Wanted to have dimsum today; but we went out too early; had a quick snack at a HK
bakery first; as we were absolutely starving!

1200 And finally, our dimsum spread! Siew-mai; chicken feet & glutinous rice galore;

1300 On the way to the Tate Modern, passed by St. Paul's; we were absolutely awe struck!

View of St. Paul's & the Tate Modern from the Millennium Bridge

Going for the Hobo look; with a thick chunky sweater, maxi skirt and beat up boots;

1400 Tate Modern; what I came for- The Unilever Series: Ai Wei Wei

I love the symbolism behind the use of sunflower seeds; and how each and every one of these seeds; more than hundreds of millions of these; were handmade and painted by skilled artisans in China. The money these villagers received in turn were definitely a great help for them!

1500 Where I sat gazing at Claude Monet's Water Lilies, Philip Guston's The Return and
Gerhard Richter's Material Gestures;

I did not spend a lot of time at the Tate, but these works were a few of my favorites; the use of the colors were extremely captivating; and I especially love; the reason why Richter made his Venice Women sculptures as skinny as a piece of spaghetti.

1600 Harrods Food Hall

I've never seen eggs that come in purple, green, yellow, pink and orange cartons;

1700 Dinner at Caffe Concerto;

Yummiest, and creamiest Broccoli Soup;

Hot Duck and Pear Salad; One of the best salads I've ever had; The duck was cooked to perfection; the greens and pears were so crunchy and fresh; Would really recommend this restaurant if you are in the area; it's got a lovely ambiance, great service and the food is just marvelous!

88-90 Kensington High Street
Kensington
London
W8 4SG

T 0844 335 8403

1800 Walking to the Victoria & Albert Museum

And so after dinner, Harrison & I decided to make our way to the V&A Museum; as the Lonely Planet stated that the museum will be opened till 10pm on Wednesday! We took our time, shopping for magazines, warm woolly sweaters; and then we realised; the V&A is closed! Yes, we did feel pretty stupid at that point in time...

1900 Harrods Pet Kingdom, L7

Thanks to extended Christmas shopping hours; Harrison & I decided to go back to Harrods. We went straight up to the Pet Kingdom as neither of us have any use (or rather, £££,) for expensive gowns, suits and shoes; and still, we were blown away when we saw diamond/gems encrusted collars, actual fur coats for dogs and £200 doggy leashes on sale. Not wanting Kobe & Nono to feel left out back home, we bought them the run of the mill Harrods saucers and some £10 doggy treats and grooming brushes. It was definitely a crazy half hour in there for us. Hah.

That's all I have for now; actually no, I'm lying; I've got tons of photos saved on my laptop, but not enough time to do a post! Every night; I fall asleep at around 9+, without fail! It's annoying, actually; but I can't help but feel so drowsy! So, as it's Christmas today, and all the shops are closed, I took the opportunity to do another A Picture An Hour post and I think it turned out to be pretty fab;p Anyway, have a Merry Christmas everyone; hope you're having a jolly good time where ever you are; xx

Leopard Prints & Checks.

2010-12-21T18:52:00.001+08:00

Dress (People of Asia), Coat (Uniqlo), Gloves (China), Tights (DKNY), Boots (Jones)

Third day in London was all sightseeing and enjoying what London has to offer!

Went for an absolutely lovely breakfast at St. James Park, when we happened to catch the Changing of Guards at Whitehall right after our English Breakfast, omelettes, £3 orange juice and tea;

Went to the Tower of London next and queuing in line for the tickets in the cold was no joke! But it was definitely worth it; even my brother was amazed by the Crown Jewels and the instruments of torture used in the Bloody Tower! Grisly, but really fascinating! Saw London Bridge within the compound of Tower of London and nothing could replace the fascination and awe we all felt when we saw the good ol' bridge! Popped by Bond St. and it was mind blowing! The window displays were absolutely charming, especially Ralph Lauren's and what really made Bond St. stand out was when we saw a Rolls Royce pull out and the most well dressed woman stepping out, accompanied by her security! You certainly don't get to see such display of wealth and status in Singapore, well, at least not me! Rounded up the night having Taiwanese for dinner at Chinatown and according to Harrison, it was not fabulous, but enough to satiate his appetite for some hometown food!

This was what I wore for the day in the freezing temperatures, and yes, I definitely wore another layer of thermals under my tights and added another layer of knee high socks too! Leopard prints and checks turned out to be surprisingly easy, and fun to wear; and I know, I'll miss dressing up like this everyday! PS/ My first purchase in London, I'm absolutely in love with my Jones boots! xx

London's Calling!

2010-12-18T23:31:00.002+08:00

1) At the boarding gate; red eye to London Heathrow!

2) My entertainment; absolutely in love with Sophie Kinsella; though I ended up watching three movies! Yes, one of them being Titanic <3

3) Continental Breakfast suits me best! I am definitely a breakfast cereal girl!

4) Starbucks on a snowy day; Can't believe it's really happened!

5) Look at the amount of snow! And actually it's my first time experiencing it!

6) Had Mediterranean for lunch! Absolutely yummy! The waiters were really charming! Really awesome service! Thank you Nar!

7) Hummus, lentil soup; and chicken casserole;

8) Mistletoe by the side of the road! At least, I think they are mistletoes! Nevertheless, they're so pretty!

9) Walked by the riverbank and we decided to have an impromptu snowball fight; and a snowman making session; Big Ben looks absolutely gorgeous in the distance!

10) One thing I love about London? Pretty details in the most random objects you see on the streets! Look at that fish I found on a street lamp!

Anyway, thanks so much for all your comments! I was truly blown away by the amount of comments I've received! (Honestly, I thought I would have like only, 2, or 3?!) Right now, I'm typing this post in the hotel room; and would be leaving to Oxford Circus to get some boots soon! London's weather is frigid and when I'm out and about, I can't feel my toes even with thick socks on! Will definitely reply your comments soon(!) but in the mean time, enjoy this wintry post! xx

A Picture An Hour (Almost).

2010-12-16T02:27:00.001+08:00

Day 2 9/12/10

0700 Oscar Resort Hotel

0800

0900 A really blurry shot; but I was determined to keep this.

1000 Yes, I've seen chickens before; but this is so different!

1200 Boao Scenic Zone

Couldn't resist taking pictures of tourists wearing these Hawaiian inspired outfits; they are everywhere in Hainan!

1300 Making the 129km journey to Sanya

1400 The only chips available in the gas station; this is the start of my obsession with Minute
Maid on this trip!

1500 He's got quite a good taste in choosing nice watches; for a 16-year-old anyway.

1600

The electronic buggy we took to go up the mountain; it's great that they are doing their part in being Green!

Look at the City!

Cap (Stussy), Blazer (Club Monaco), Plaid Shirt (Uniqlo), Jeans (Edit), Shoes (Nike Air Jordans)

Open Cardi (Urban Outfitters - By Corpus), Raglan Tee (Topshop), Pants (Zara), Shoes (Aldo)

1700 G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S.

1800 And it's Dinner Time

All In A Day's Work.

2010-12-15T11:12:00.005+08:00

1) A delicious glass of Cafe Almond Roca all by myself at Blue Mountain Cafe / 313. Catching up on my London Guidebook at the same time; I can hardly wait!

2) Absolutely in love with Uniqlo; How is it possible that they have so many things I love in there?!

3) Dinner at Ramen Play / J8 with Audrey & Esther. How I love spontaneous dates! <3

4) Maybe it's China, or maybe I've had enough of feeling ill after having coffee and tea; but I've ordered a Pepsi Light for dinner; A first!

5) A yummy Tonkatsu Ramen; with Dangoes, Gyozas and Misoyaki sides;

6) This is a fairly new, standalone building; and I love what they've done with this space; love the woodsy accents on the walls;

7) Was at the cashier when I spotted this; I just couldn't resist!

8) Isn't this the sweetest carousel?

9) Urban Outfitters Truly Madly Deeply Scoopneck Tee, Uniqlo Jeans, New Look Suede Shoes, F21 Teddy Necklace

10) Organic Chamomile Tea given by my brother's girlfriend; And the cutest, underwater camera ever!

3/12 + 5/12 Food Diary

2010-12-14T11:57:00.001+08:00

Friday's Dinner at Watami Ion;

Met up with Shuxian, Joel, Zixuan & Fengyuan; whom the latter thought I was going to be staying for an extended period of time in Hainan, thanks to a very misleading text from Joel! It was pretty funny, looking at his facial expression when he realised that I was only going for a short trip;p

The queue was a pain; we had to wait for 20mins for a table, (no reservations taken!) and when we finally got our table, we had to wait for another 20mins before all our food is served. Still, I loved this restaurant; maybe because Harrison & I had our first date in Taipei last year in Watami too;p Absolutely loved my Beef Bibimbap; personally, I could see no wrong with this dish; and I can't visualize having Korean Hot Pot with anything; other than beef; yes, I know my friend had the Salmon one; but even he said it was 'so-so'; Shuxian had the Cheese Gratin and it was amazing! It is definitely the right choice for anyone who loves their cream & cheese; and that layer of tomato fried rice under it is perfect!

Sunday's Dinner at Kim Gary Tampinese Mall;

Met up with Belle, Elizabeth & Jeslin; whom I haven't met in ages! So dinner was definitely awesome! I've forgotten how much we could chatter about everything and anything! It's pretty amazing how we could all sit in that booth for close to three hours, only pausing to eat/drink! My glass of Yuan Yang is... Unforgettable; because I'll never forget how sick I got after mixing my coffee and tea together; and that Ribena Freeze which Belle & Liz ordered was absolutely delicious! (I'd definitely have that the next time!) My bowl of Kimchi Ramen was absolutely yummy; (and a huge serving!) And Belle & Jeslin's Beef Curry was too! There was a long wait for this dish; but it smells absolutely absolutely wonderful and thinking about the beef now is enough to make my mouth water! (It is really, really good!)

Okay, so that is all I have for now; but trust me; I have tons to blog about, and so very little time! Have to haul my lazy ass from bed now if I want to make it for my 2:30 appointment at Browhaus! Hello to beautiful brows again! xx

Back From the Land of Coconuts;

2010-12-13T23:45:00.003+08:00

Missed him terribly; I'm just finding any excuse to post a picture of him;

And after six days, I'm finally back from Hainan; which is yes, the land of the coconut trees (I've had tons of coconut juice during my stay!) and incidentally the Hawaii, of China. Everyone has been telling me what a beautiful place it is; and it really lived up to its name. It did not rain one bit during our stay; and the sky is always such a gorgeous, blue. There were plenty of beach stops during our vacation and if you could blank out the throngs of tourists milling about; (the downside about Hainan) it was rather pleasant- the soft ivory/white sand and the beautiful, beautiful sea.

Hainan is definitely not a shopping paradise; unless you're into coconut candies, biscuits, coffee... You get the picture; or sea shell necklaces so I've still got plenty of renminbi stashed in my wallet. My biggest purchase was definitely a beautiful mini cast iron coffee grinder; (yes, you got that right. Coffee Grinder. There will be pictures!) And more money was splashed on food and foot massages; and I think, the only piece of clothing I've got was a cute zebra printed tshirt!

On this trip, we visited my grandpa's brother; I call him Pek Gong, and his family too; other than Pek Gong; I've never met my uncles, aunts and my cousins and it was pretty incredulous to know that you have another, set(?) of relatives that you've never known for 20 years of your life! Still, it was awesome, knowing them; and they're such an incredible bunch of people! My uncle owns a gorgeous resort in Xin Long which he started from nothing; and my 20 year-old cousin is doing a small business of his own too! (It's pretty inspiring to know that I've got so many entrepreneurs in my family!) I was truly touched by them after spending a couple of days with them; the way they treat Pek Gong only made me miss my grandpa more and made me wished that I've spent more time with my grandpa, getting to know more about him. Well, as much as I really wished I could have more time with him; I can't- And I guess my greatest take away from this trip was finally grasping the concept of cherishing and treasuring the people you have in your life now; especially your family; and knowing that they will be there with you when you, no matter what. <3

Just a little snippet I'd like to share from my trip; pictures will be up in the next couple of posts! xx

Jeslin Summer.

2010-12-05T10:10:00.003+08:00

Had an awesome, awesome dinner date yesterday with Belle, Liz & Jeslin; (whom I haven't seen in ages!) Can't believe that we've spent close to 3.5h sitting in that booth in Kim Gary's; catching up and well, it's a good thing they put us in a corner as we just kept talking! Pictures will be posted in another post; but for now, I'm in love with Jeslin's outfit (And this candid shot of her!) Loved the all-black ensemble and anyone who even suggests that she adds a little color into her outfit ought to get a knock on the head! I definitely went "Wow!" when I heard that she got her leotard for a bargainous $7.50 from New Look and I'm swooning over that perfect, ankle grazing, pleated black skirt which she'd got from Seoul! To top it off, her jet black, ramord straight hair is the perfect style for this look! Love you Jes! You've always been my inspiration; xx

Starbucks & The Hand Burger.

2010-11-26T22:17:00.001+08:00

Have been taking pictures of food on a couple of occasions; but I haven't got the chance to do up a post; so I shall go the easy way; and consolidate everything in one post;

Met up with the girls last week for a quick dinner at Aston's; unfortunately, due to the awful Salmon Spaghetti; not only did I not finish my meal; but I forgot to snap pictures of my friends too; However, we did pop by B&J's to satisfy our sweet tooth. No B&J's trip is complete without a waffle bowl; Strawberry Cheesecake and the mandatory scoop of colorful sprinkles all over; And because we're sharing the waffle bowl; I added a scoop of Cookie Dough and Chocolate Fudge Brownie which is a nightmare; but absolutely amazing(:

A simple brunch at Starbucks with girlfriends was the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon; Who knows that the Chicken & Apricot sandwich tasted so good; and how could I forget to mention my favorite Soy Green Tea Latte; One thing that I love about Starbucks is their Christmas packaging; I rarely go for the hot drinks; but I am sorely tempted to; just to get my hands on the festive, red; and Christmassy tumbler. I know, I know; we're just paying for the packaging. But; it's not always Christmas, is it?(: As the girls were busy typing up their presentations and essays; I was flipping through my Paris guidebook; it's already the 26th today; I can't believe that I would be flying off in three weeks time! How exciting!

Thanks to Audrey's recommendation, we went to The Hand Burger for dinner; and as always, it was really amazing! Shirley and I ordered the vegetarian option; and sadly, they've only got the Portobello Mushroom Burger as the veggie option; but nevertheless; it was really good! The Portobello mushroom was really big and fresh; and the stuffing was nothing like I've ever had before. Looking at the menu again, I found out that the stuffing was made up of spinach, walnuts, cheese, and even beancurd- Definitely a strange combination and I've got to admit; I would never put that stuff in my mouth if I had known/read about it previously; but trust me, though the smell leaves a strong aftertaste in your mouth, (nothing that one or two mints wouldn't fix) but the texture; and that tangy flavor, is really worth it!

I'll definitely go back again; I even know what I want to order when I'm back; I've spotted something called the Duck Confit Burger; and it sure sounds like something fun!

The Hand Burger
Raffles City Shopping Centre
#B1-77/78
Tel: 6334 4577

So Won't You Please?

2010-11-23T00:50:00.002+08:00

Another year, another video.

I've kind of taken it in my stride that Harrison & I wouldn't be celebrating each others' birthday the conventional way; but it's kind of nice; and really fun to be able to do something special for him. (Which I have a feeling I would not be able to go about doing if he's right beside me. Oh, the distraction.)

Originally, I've wanted The Song to be a little more contemporary; or perhaps; a really sickeningly sweet Chinese song by one of his favorite artiste, but when I stumbled upon a video of the Sonia Rykiel SS11 fashion show; I knew I had to use this bubbly and catchy 1963 number, Be My Baby performed by The Ronettes. I had so much fun doing the video; (especially the chorus!) and not once did I get tired of the tune. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have the entire song memorized!

Moving on to the actual, birthday bit of this post;

Baby, I am sorry that I can't celebrate your birthday for you, again. But I hope that the video could be a really good replacement(: When I saw your reaction as you were watching the video; and when I heard you singing "Be my, be my baby..." after everything; it made staying up late; and getting sick as a result of sleep deprivation; kind of worth it. Almost ;p

I'm showering you with tons of blessings; that for the next 365 days till your 21st; your days would be filled with joy, laughter, happiness; most importantly, love. And now that you are about to complete the first semester of your Senior year at IU; I pray that you'll be able to find courage, determination and perseverance;

Happy 20th Birthday Baby(:

Missing you terribly; but I won't complain; Looking forward to seeing you in less than a month's time at London Heathrow ♥

I Want Lanvin, Not Flowers.

2010-11-19T16:17:00.001+08:00

Want. Need. Need. Want. Need.

Absolutely in love with the Lanvin for H&M collection;

When is H&M coming to the shores of SG?!

I can only imagine the queues outside the H&M stores all over the world, on November 23; waiting for the launch of this coveted collection. Yes, although the dresses are more suited for prom; and the designs of the tees are unique; (but they don't warrant the sky high price that we have to pay for one) I believe; this is what the collaboration is about; what fashion, is all about! Bringing world renowned designer; Alber Elbaz himself; and creating a capsule collection; which is somewhat affordable and much more accessible to the masses! Thanks to this collaboration, owning a Lanvin creation would not break our bank! Thank you, H&M!

That man; is pure genius!
J'adore Lanvin ♥

Pictures taken from Google & HM.com

Down One of the Aisles.

2010-11-16T15:01:00.006+08:00

Was at Kinokuniya Takashimaya last Sunday when I spotted this guy standing a few feet away from me; browsing through some books from the Interior Design section. It might be his hair or his perfectly casual cool pullover; or even those shoes; but I was instantly riveted. There is a certain Je ne se quois about him; and I was glad that my inferior iPhone camera did him justice. I don't exactly condone snapping pictures of unsuspecting people; but I just couldn't resist this time round. Besides, there is a certain anonymity about him this picture; that makes it legit (?) and all the more, perfect.

Special effects obtained from Phototreats App available on the App Store.

The Skinny on Skinny.

2010-11-15T02:45:00.003+08:00

Met up with the girls last Monday; for what was supposed to be a birthday celebration; but I guess the joke was on us as the Birthday Girl couldn't make it! Yes, I guess we were to blame as we were organizing it in secret; without informing the Birthday Girl of the date in advanced; but oh well, we figured we could still hang out and make full use of that dreary Monday. As we were a little sick of the usual HK Cafe that we would frequent; thanks to Audrey, we went to a different restaurant that day. And it was definitely the right move.

Skinny Pizza is definitely the place to go; if you are sick of the run of the mill Pizza Hut creations. Not only is there a wider selection of pizzas; one thing notably different about those at Skinny Pizza are the crusts! It is wafer thin; but it definitely packs a punch without that huge chunk of flour at the side. We tried the Wild Truffled Mushroom Pizza and the Meatball Bolognese Pizza that day; and it is definitely my kind of thing. The generous serving of greens on the pizza made me feel extremely healthy; like I was having a salad with my carby meal; and it was definitely a great combination. And I really have to stress; that with the crunchy and tasty base; the delicious and exotic toppings and sauce; it is value for money; and a must try; especially if you've had those thick; chunky Hawaiian Delights for years. Other than the pizzas; we've also ordered a side of Chicken Bratwurst and Truffle Fries. Both certainly did not disappoint; the bratwurst was amazing; it was greasy, and it had all the right aroma and taste; no thanks to the herbs in the bratwurst. It was the first time I had Truffle Fries; and it was... Alright; though I couldn't help thinking that the fries were a tad skinny. And at $7; I felt the pinch; though we were all splitting the bill.

The desserts were amazing.

All six of us got different desserts and when the goodies came; it was almost like we were playing pass the plate; we got a taste of each others' desserts and every single one of them were equally amazing. Maybe I've got a sweet tooth, and I'm definitely biased towards sweet creations; but trust me on this; if you've got the time and money; you should really find a way to try each and every one of the desserts on the menu.

I've ordered the Lemon Cake; and right from the first bite; I was transported to the time where I ordered the Lemon Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory in Chicago. It tasted exactly like the one at Cheesecake Factory- It was rich; tangy and absolutely a delight. I could almost taste it in my mouth; as I was typing this paragraph. Needless to say; that particular dessert is my favorite; and I would go back again; just for the Lemon Cake.

I realised that I've been doing more and more foodie posts (which was a lot of fun to do!) and I'm truly thankful that I've got an awesome family and a great group of friends; that I can dine with and have a great time together, which I could later blog about. I have a sneaky suspicion that even if I'm at a Hawker Centre or even McDonald's; I could have the ability to churn something blogworthy up! Great food; and an awesome company definitely go hand in hand together.

Skinny Pizza

Wheelock Place Singapore

501 Orchard Road #03-04

Tel: +65 6235 7823

いらしゃいます!

2010-11-10T22:13:00.008+08:00

IRASSHAIMASE!
TripleOne @ Somerset
Fukuichi Japanese Dining
Spider (Soft Shell Crab) Maki
A genius blend of century egg, tofu and really yummy stuff;
Caterpillar Maki; full of yummy, avocado goodness.
Seafood Kaminabe
Beef Teppanyaki
Apple Juice
Night Lights

Although Fukuichi may be a relatively new restaurant; from what I saw when I was there the other day, it has been gaining quite a following. Thankfully, we made a reservation before we went; because when we were waiting for our table, quite a couple of walk in guests were turned away. The alfresco area is beautifully done up; and with the setting sun and the cooling breeze, it was pure bliss, sitting at our table, with my family around.

Needless to say, the food was amazing. I really can't think of a better word to describe dinner that day. First of all, the century egg appetizer was nothing like we've tried before. The taste and texture of that dish was absolutely tantalizing. It was cold, runny, smooth and absolutely delicious. As always, I ordered a Spider Maki and the avocado maki for my family and I was not disappointed! Everyone at the table had only good things to say about the soft shell crab; and the Caterpillar Roll was equally amazing! Maybe because I am an avocado freak, but the presentation and the taste; definitely left a good impression on me. Having the seafood kaminabe in the alfresco was definitely the right move; firstly, the fire looks absolutely gorgeous at night; my family almost felt like we were having some kind of warm, fuzzy Chinese New Year reunion dinner and also the soup was absolutely rich and tasty; the prawns, scallops, shiitake and the likes were so orgasmic; it is definitely a must try if you are crazy for Japanese too!

I am so blessed, and thankful that even though my brothers and I are all grown up now; we still manage to have such nice family dinners every week; it is something that I always look forward to on the weekends; and something that I will sorely miss <3

Fukuichi Japanese Dining Restaurant
TripleOne Somerset Road

#02-11/12 Singapore 238164

Tel: 6271 5586 / 6472 8269

Minestrone, Apple Strudels & Iced Teas.

2010-11-07T23:50:00.000+08:00

The usual;

Soup Spoon.

Minestrone & Beef Goulash;

A side of freshly baked sour dough.

Something new-

Dessert at Ritz's,

Apple, Mango & Strawberry strudels,

As always,

Long, long chats;

About nothing; about ourselves, about what we want right now; in the near future.

Love times like these with my girlfriends;

Aww, will definitely miss all of you so so much; and moments like these in aussieland;

Review: This is One Delicious Magnum!

2010-11-04T11:16:00.002+08:00

Maybe it's due to the presence of Maybelline ads everywhere, but I have been wanting to try a Maybelline mascara for quite some time; however due to a certain bad experience in the past; I was a bit hesitant about the quality; Nevertheless, I took the plunge the other day because I have been eyeing this bright yellow tube of mascara for the longest time!

When I saw the mascara wand, I was a little disappointed because I was used to using wands with thicker brushes; however, this was very easy to apply and needless to say, it glided onto my lashes perfectly! Unfortunately, I bought it in brown instead of black; but honestly, I could not tell the difference. The first coat stayed on perfectly and it was easy, to apply a couple of extra coats without it clumping at all! (I know, it's magic!) The end effect was stunning; and true to its name, my lashes looked thicker and longer!

I used to use Dior Blackout (and nothing could compare with that); and currently, I'm using Benefit Bad Gal mascara. Although it is a great product; I feel that if you are on a budget and you want something which actually works; the Maybelline Magnum Volum' Express would be your best bet! It is definitely a great product and at $18.90; it could give the Benefit Bad Gal a run for its money! It is so much easier to apply and you don't have to worry about it getting onto your eyelids; moreover, this is more volumizing than Benefit's actually. Trust me on that.

However, in spite of everything, I have to deduct a star, or a thumbs up or whatever it is to this product because it... Works too well; I would say. I bought the waterproof one because, honestly, you might never know when your mascara would run and looking like a streaky panda is not an attractive look. However, at the end of the day, I got more than I asked for when I was trying to remove my makeup because even after spending five minutes in front of the mirror, I could not remove my mascara with my makeup removal wipe! I had to spend a great deal of time trying to soften the mascara and remove the gunk from my lashes without pulling out my lashes, (I pulled out, three strands?!) And so, this is the only downside to the product.

But at the end of the day, if you are looking for a new mascara, I would definitely recommend this product because it actually works, and in certain cases, much better than some expensive designer ones out there. I would love to try the black one sometime soon, because I'm sure it's going to be dramatic and gorgeous, and you'd definitely look like you're wearing falsies even though you're not!

* I don't think I've ever reviewed a product before, so this is my first; I know I can really long winded but I had fun, playing the role of a beauty editor wannabe! Hope you've enjoyed this post as much as I had fun doing it! Have a long weekend ahead! xx

Smurfs, Marie Antoinette and DJ Zeus in the House!

2010-11-01T22:34:00.002+08:00

For most of us in Asia, Halloween is just an occasion for people to dress up as fairies, ghouls, superheroes and the likes; when they will carve a scary looking pumpkin and go trick or treating in the neighborhood. In fact, one of my earliest exposure to Halloween was when I was watching ET when I was about five or six!

Although pumpkin carving is not as common in Singapore, in recent years, Halloween had been a great reason for a good night out! This year was the first time that my friends and I are celebrating Halloween; and boy, was the crowd crazy! Clarke Quay was just a melting pot of cultures with locals and tourists alike mingling in the crowds. It was definitely an eye opener as there were so many different costumes out there; Other than what was mentioned in my title, there were Beefeaters (yes, there was that huge, furry hat), Grecian Goddesses, Harajuku Girls, a walking toilet bowl complete with a seat, bloody Valentine killers with big gas masks and Zombie brides!

My friends weren't too bad, costume wise; Yina had a zipper attached beneath her eyelid with eyelash glue and she looks bloody, and really gory. Thinking about her eye is giving me the creeps right now actually; Priscilla used her nursing uniform from school; and she looks like a psycho nurse on the loose complete with a syringe filled with fake blood. There were wounded soldier, mad scientist, hot Milkmaid, a sad, broken doll and on top of that; my friends and I were pretty impressed with the bartender in that Geisha getup!

Although the crowd was insane, and there were hardly room for you to move (much less dance) on the dancefloor; it was certainly a great night out. Throughout the night, I had to catch myself from uttering; "Can't wait for next year's!" as I wouldn't be here; and that thought was definitely pretty depressing. Nevertheless, I am going to remain upbeat! I mean, there will definitely be other occasions! Deepavali anyone?! Heh;p

Have a great week ahead everyone, xx

At Professor Brawn's

2010-10-31T14:07:00.002+08:00

So it was Hallow's Eve and as usual; I left my Halloween shopping to the absolute last minute; wheedled and dragged my brother to accompany me to Novena/United Square where I felt, I could find the greatest selection of Halloween goodies without having to go down to Orchard. I have no idea where I got the idea that United Square sells "tons of novelty stuff" but apparently, other than Toys 'R' Us, I could not find a single shop selling a witch's hat; or even fake blood; well, maybe Cold Storage, but that doesn't count. But anyway, the main point of this post was not to talk about Halloween, (I shall leave that for another post) but rather; the surprisingly good food that we've had that afternoon.

Initially, I wanted to go to Cedele as I was craving for a piping hot bowl of soup, but thanks to individuals that occupy tables for four; and couples that continue to sit around for a tete a tete even though they've finished the ice in their glasses; we decided to roam around Novena for a cafe that would be suitable for a tea;

Saw Professor Brawn's Cafe almost immediately when we went up the escalators and I got to say that the concept is pretty interesting! Had to fill up a survey form at the end and I actually said that my favorite part about the restaurant was its decor; well, that counts for something right?! The walls were gorgeously done; and I loved the hot pink seats so much that my brother and I decided not to sit on the white, plastic chairs.

My brother ordered a bowl of Clam Chowder and although I didn't get a taste; he told me that it was pretty satisfying. However, what I liked most about his soup was that it came with a large, side of panini bread ( I think) it was almost like the ones that Modesto's uses with olive oil and it tastes really amazing! (I'm not a bread person, so, that really says a lot!)

I did not have my soup fix but I did have an order of Chicken Caesar Salad; it tastes pretty much like what salad tastes like; but it was definitely to my liking, and at a price of $8.90; it was definitely worth for money!

One thing about Professor Brawn's Cafe is that not only does it look pretty; and its price are pretty kind on the wallet; however, one thing pretty commendable about the restaurant was that they hire autistic teens to give them a safe haven; to help them build their confidence as they interact with patrons. I did not know about this till I read a review on the wall behind us and it definitely made me look at the restaurant in a different light!

Needless to say, I am definitely giving this cafe two thumbs up; and if you happen to be in the area; do drop by Professor Brawn's for a quick bite; one thing to note though, the music playlist in the cafe is rather... Erratic; At first, it was mostly Top 40 and for some reason; the entire playlist was all Jay Chou. Definitely a little weird; with its settings; but oh well, that's not a good reason to stay away for sure!

Friday Night Lights.

2010-10-30T01:54:00.001+08:00

There's nothing quite like winding down after the end of a long day, and welcoming the weekend at home in a pair of comfy old sweats, good music and a super masque slapped on your face. As I've mentioned on different occasions, no thanks to Tumblr, I've neglected this space horribly and of course, it's time to make amends though this is nothing but a little peek into what I've been into these few days. Well yes, apart from Tumblr.

Thanks to Shirley's brother, I've got him to help me get a copy of Nylon Japan while he was there with his school (lucky guy!) because I knew that the November issue of Vivi would not be out on the stands yet. I'm absolutely in love with Japanese editorials and it doesn't hurt that this awesome issue comes with the cutest Crystal Ball bag! (Scans to come, once I've figured how to connect this laptop to the scanner at home.)

Also, as majority of you would have known, I've been accepted into University of Queensland to do a Bachelors in International Hotel & Tourism Management. I'd only be there for about 1.5years, thanks to credit transfers and terms starts at the end of February next year! There is definitely a mixture of emotions; as I'm excited about starting school again, in a different environment (which has always been what I've wanted) but I'm also worried about the usual stuff; like leaving behind my family and friends back home and also about living in an entirely different country. Anyway, moving on to happier things; I've treated myself by getting some gorgeous stationery from Art Box; that place is certainly not for those with a soft spot for pretty things and I ended up walking away with two files because I could not decide between the gorgeous pale green kitty one; and the one with hearts plastered all over. Same goes for the panda and koala post its; I mean- they are all so adorable; how is it even possible to choose?! Besides, I know I'd be using them; so it is not exactly considered a waste(:

So, other than reading magazines which are in a language that I could not comprehend; I've been catching up on some reading. After watching Vanity Fair last weekend, I could not resist picking up the book by Thackeray and although I have to admit that it is a struggle, reading Classics after pouring myself into Sophie Kinsella's chick lits; but there's something strangely therapeutic about reading about the wild life of the cunning and manipulative Becky Sharp and the things that she would stoop to, to get what she wants. Also, I've started writing in my journal after a long hiatus; what with the wide range of sites like this, which could help keep an archive of my memories. But it is definitely good, going back to the old-school; and pouring my heart out onto a piece of paper and not having to share some of my thoughts with anyone with internet access. (However, I have to admit, having a gorgeous lime green notebook definitely helps me in getting into my groove, heh.)

Okay, so I guess, after taking a long break from blogging, I come back by writing long -winded paragraphs about my life and doing this at night doesn't really help, because I seem to have lost my sensor on the things I should blog about and I just seem to have some sort of virtual, verbal vomit on this space. Either way, this feels... strangely good, in a way. I'd leave for now and I promise, I'd definitely come back with a post on Sunday/Monday about Halloween and the crazy things which I know, my friends and I will be doing tomorrow night!

PS/ Will be getting my witchy hat tomorrow so wish me luck about finding the perfect one!

A Burst of Spontaneity.

2010-10-22T15:23:00.000+08:00

I was going through Jane Aldridge's blog @ Sea of Shoes when I saw the pair of gorgeous "face" wedge from Dolce & Gabbana. At the same time, I was doing the unglamorously boring job that required me to go through stacks of recycled paper, so that the other staff could reuse them and save some trees in the process. And you guessed it- I actually made a correlation between the Mt. Everest stack of papers in front me; and the beautiful shoe on the screen.

For those who know me, they know, I can't draw to save my life. I can't exactly tell you what happened, that inspired me to draw; but I did, and I worked really, really hard on it. When I was done, I showed my little brother my piece of art and he laughed! Not only that, he added, "No wonder you're not a designer;" Maybe because my brain had turned into mush after all that unusual activity, but not only did that comment bounced off me like a beach ball, I knew that I had to scan it into my laptop and post it here. On a second thought, I think I might actually put the original into a frame or something. (Yes, now you could tell, I don't draw/sketch/paint/do art; ever.)

Of course it is nothing like the Dolce & Gabbana ones; at all. But I love mine, like crazy. And I wish I could kiss myself, for putting in the effort; and being brave enough, to do something this crazy. Trust me, this is crazy. And perhaps, I shall put in a little more effort in future, and post up more of my craziness. Well, we'll see (;

*Please, please don't laugh for all that's worth. Lol.

Birthday, Beer & Bratwursts.

2010-10-20T23:54:00.002+08:00

Brauhaus Restuarant and Pub

Just as I've mentioned in the previous post, the entire weekend have been one huge feast and Monday was no exception either! Initially, our family wanted a nice, quiet meal at the Japanese restaurant outside our place; but because it's closed, we had to think of a place to go at the last minute! Thought of Brauhaus almost immediately as it is still Oktoberfest, and with Dad being a huge fan of German beers, we had to make a visit to our favorite German restaurant to have their awesome, awesome Pork Knuckle dish;

I've forgotten which beers we've had; but it was their home brew and it was awesome; definitely nothing like the usual draft and bottled beers we've got. There wasn't a huge variety of food to choose from the menu; but I've got to say that they've got a wide selection of German sausages to choose from. If Harrison were here, he would go nuts, but I'm not really a fan of sausages; so.. I decided to order a mixed selection of sausages and share it with everyone instead. Needless to say, their pork knuckles definitely lived up to its reputation- it is exactly like how the Chinese would do it; crispy on the outside; soft and tender inside. I had to put my inhibitions aside for that minute and savor every bite, but like I've said, it was definitely worth it!

Can't believe that my Dad is really 49 this year; This birthday is definitely.. More special in a way because I've received my acceptance letter from University of Queensland! I'll be starting my semester next February and will be there for 1.5years. I'm not sure how the semester goes; but with the exception of my Mom, I won't get the chance to celebrate my family's birthday, much less my Dad's big 5-0 next year. Although I did stay in Taipei for half a year, this will definitely be another experience of a lifetime; moving away to a new environment, starting out in Uni; and really creating memories which they are not a part of. Maybe reality have not really hit me yet; because I'm sure I'll start freaking out in no time, but I know; no matter what, it is going to be amazing. xx

Happy 49th Birthday, Daddy!

2010-10-18T00:44:00.001+08:00

I love how my Dad's birthday falls on a Monday this year; because the whole weekend feels like a huge, extended birthday celebration! I do believe that for lunch tomorrow (or technically, later), my uncle and aunt will definitely bring him out for a birthday treat; and I will get to have yummy food again! On a... serious note; I can't believe that my dad will hit the big 5-0 next year! Many of us have hit the 2-0 this year; and it is a pretty big deal for us; so I can't imagine how it must be for my Dad;

We went to Modesto's @ Vivo City for some great Italian food; and it did not disappoint! I have been craving for some skinny pizzas and I love how there was a huge variety for us to choose from! In the end, I chose a pizza with pretty fancy Italian name; which is essentially artichokes, mushrooms and ham; and it wasn't too bad! At least; it is a deviation from the usual Hawaiian that we have! On a side note, I loved Jason's order; he had the seafood risotto and it was amazing! I was sitting right next to him; and I couldn't stop... (well, I did try my best!) stealing from his plate! As some of you may know, aside from oysters, I'm not a huge fan of shellfish; but the clams in this dish; were done so amazingly! I'll definitely order the risotto the next time I visit!

Anyway, as a special request from Shirley, this was my outfit for Family Day this Sunday, inspired by my favorite darling, RUMI! I'm absolutely in love with my new knitted mesh top from F21 and I could see myself wearing it many times this Fall! (Am I even allowed to use that word, in Singapore?!) And as for the oxfords (From Bershka) which I've bought with London in mind initially; I'm seriously breaking into them whenever I've got the chance! They're absolutely comfortable and they go with anything; from that skirt to jeans! It is definitely the best $99 spent on shoes- Ever.

With that, I'm signing off. Got to wake up early in preparation for the good ol' Monday Blues! Cheers, xx

10/10/10

2010-10-11T22:32:00.000+08:00

No matter how cheesy it is; you've got to admit that 10/10/10 is a pretty special occasion; like I've mentioned on Facebook; I've even got 10 friends who were celebrating their birthday on this day! Met up with some of my secondary school friends, whom I haven't seen in ages at Manhattan's Fish Market @ Iluma to celebrate Shuxian's 22th birthday and it was great! The food, (anything with calamari, goes!) the catching up; and the polaroids were great fun! The birthday girl was gorgeous, as always and an incredible hostess!

Wore my new, favorite pair of pants from Zara and I can't get over how comfortable; and yet how incredibly chic it is. It is a complete random thought; but the moment I put on the pants, I just thought that it looked like something Erika would wear! It definitely made me smile when Shuxian told me how she couldn't keep her eyes off me when I sat down at the table, heh! Lately, I've been wearing some really old pieces of clothes or accessories out; and the faux pearl necklace is no exception! It's been hanging in my closet for like forever; and finally; I got a pair of tweezers out; removed some of the knick knacks hanging off the necklace and I like how I've got something pretty Carrie Bradshaw-esque going there.

I still love my pants! <3

Tassels & Fringe.

2010-10-07T16:14:00.001+08:00

via coco rosa @ mypreciousconfessions.blogspot.com

Yes, after much deliberation; I've gone ahead and got myself a tumblr account. There's just too many pretty things out there that I want to share; and it's become almost impossible for me to put it on blogger; besides; did I mention how convenient is it to click just on one button and that image will be posted on your wall?! With blogger, I'll still have to right click; save the picture; and then upload everything again; well, you get the picture. I've only started my account a few hours ago and I know that I'll go crazy on tumblr as soon as I have the time; or at the hint of anything pretty! And that's pretty perfect! Do drop by and take a look! <3

When I Was Younger and a Little Braver;

2010-10-06T14:39:00.008+08:00

 Spotted Kong at the lift lobby in school; he's one of my friends whose wardrobe I want to raid;

Spotted this guy in the canteen; for obvious reason; but really; I loved his layers of On Peddar necklace! Owell, and his Gucci loafers got him extra cookie points!

I  was browsing through the clothes rack at this shop in Shilin  Nightmarket when I saw the shop assistant! She was so shy about having  her photograph taken; but how could I not- I loved her hair against the color of her knit dress. And this picture really does not do her justice!

Yet another shop assistant, this time round at WuFenPu; She looks so edgy and put together and I loved her androgynous style; She's dressed in black from head to toe; but the draping fabric and details keep her from looking all dull and blah. 

And Samantha; aww what more can I say, she makes carrying a backpack all cute; and at times; tres chic- Depending on her outfit of the day!

Shirley was chatting with me the other day; and she needed to get some pictures from my Pearls & Sands blog for an English assignment; I was browsing through my blog and what struck me most was how brave I used to be in the past; stopping people; and asking if I could get a picture of them because I loved their outfit! Of course, there were some rejections; after all, I'm not The Sartorialist nor the Facehunter! My most memorable/harshest rejection would be when I was with Esther in Taipei; (the girl was wearing a bejeweled Union Jack tank top; raddest red skinnies; Doc Martens; topped off with a fedora) And the couple continued to walk away from me at lightning pace; without a word, even though I used English & Mandarin with them! ( Maybe they're Japanese?! But I was secretly, slightly wounded after that incident!)

Nevertheless; I still loved the thrill of getting a great shot of people and their style; and trying my hands at being a little Scott Schuman wannabe. Browsing through my archive; I could still remember my encounter with everyone that I've snapped a picture of, and it certainly brings back nostalgic feelings and memories. Who knows right? Perhaps I'll start snapping pictures of people again! Aww, that would be nice.

Pardon the grainy pictures; all of these were taken over a year ago- Back when I didn't appreciate photography and the absolute need for sharp images.

Red Dot B. @ Dempsey

2010-10-04T09:38:00.004+08:00

There's just something about Dempsey that gets me all fizzy and excited, at the prospect of a great night out in the area- Well maybe because it's so out of the way that I don't usually go there; I mean the last time I was there was when I was with Harrison when we went to PS Cafe in June! (Remember the awesome meal we had?) Why don't I feel the same about Clarke Quay, which is also a great nightspot in Singapore, I have no idea. But I guess it's the exclusivity of the location and I won't feel like I was going to be mobbed by throngs of tourists and party-goers at Dempsey, that's for sure!

It was almost a last minute decision to go to the mini UNLV get together, but I was glad that Audrey asked me along! ( I was the only non-UNLV student there!) The atmosphere at Red Dot Brewhouse was amazing- The restaurant/bar was really comfy, airy; not at all intimidating and pretentious; and the staff were a friendly bunch. In short, it is a great place for you to hangout with your friends- What with the lumbering towers of their home brew beers and wide selection of skinny pizzas! Of course, the live band, consisting of a singer and a keyboardist were really awesome and they've definitely got my attention with their opening song- Hey, Soul Sister; which is my absolutely favorite song! Their rendition of Bruno Mars' Just The Way You Are, which we had requested, definitely brought goosebumps to my arms and made one of my friends melt into her seat! (Yes, she was so full of love! Pamela, you're one lucky girl!)

I'm a very visual person; and don't get me wrong, but I do eat at hawker centres and food courts! I just, appreciate sitting down, and having a nice meal in a beautiful setting too. I'm definitely for building and designing a space around the environment that you are in; creating a sort of harmony. Dempsey is definitely a great location for restaurants to go all out in this area and Red Dot B. definitely did well in this area! The gorgeous open bar, all that warm colors, woodsy accents, vines against the foliage.

It was great hanging out with the people from UNLV; I mean, at my workplace; I am working with adults everyday and sometimes I need to let loose a little; around people closer to my age isn't it?! Conversation were flowing freely, from guys wearing jodphurs, to army boys doing the do in toilet cubicles late at night; to cute Korean boys who are all the rage in SG right now, and how they hate the attention that they are getting. It was crazy, but really fun; hats off to you UNLV Rebels! Really made me regret not accepting my offer to UNLV in the States; well, just a little! University of Queensland, give me a reply already!

This is what Tuesdays are for;

2010-09-29T01:47:00.003+08:00

Went on a date with Esther,

At the so called, Hong Kong Cafe;

Positively drooling over the Holgas; I so want one in red!

And look at our nails! It was only after the manicurist had painted my nails that I realised the salon were using China Glaze's products! Love my For Audrey nail color; it is something that @missyAud would go for, I'm sure!

Virgin trip to Botak Jones, and again, thanks Willis, for the treat!

It was definitely fries overload; to quote A Cinderella Story, D.I.E.T is definitely a four-letter word in this place! They're a cute couple, who succeeded in making me miss Harrison; Plus look at how color coordinated they are! (And I love Esther's vest which she got from Hong Kong!)

As we were making our way to 313, we saw graffiti, on a wall! Well, graffiti is considered an act of vandalism in Singapore; so this was probably some controlled, government sanctioned work; but owell; it's not too bad; I'm actually quite drawn to the white masks and the boy in the middle; with an upside down smile;

Popped by Candy Empire; and there were loads of jelly beans on the shelves! I'm love my jelly beans and it took alot for me to look away; and not get them! (Just got some sweeties and chocolates on Sunday! So, a girl has got to learn how to C.O.N.T.R.O.L!) Although I did scoffed like, five of Esther's gummi bears! (They're definitely a close second to jelly beans!)

Watched The Wedding Singer yesterday and I loved how cute Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore looked together! Surprisingly, I find myself attracted to the loud colors and big hair that were prevalent in the movie! This was certainly not the case when I watched other movies which were set in the 80s' or that were actually from that period like Pretty In Pink; So, just as I was getting ready this morning, I found this colorful, knee length skirt which I got a couple of years ago from F21 and I decided to go all out in being all 80s' (inspired)! It is probably not as wild you'd imagine but it is certainly a deviation from the norm especially with my t-shirt knotted above the band of my skirt! Now, if only my hair were as big Christine Taylor's; but I guess, I'll never manage that without a wig!

To The Airport We Go,

2010-09-27T23:13:00.004+08:00

Crowne Plaza w/ the Control Tower in the distance
What I love about T3 is their green initiative;

The Runway! Though it wasn't as busy that day.

SIN - LDN

Colorful, traditional confectionery

Standing in front of the leafy wall; feeling a little well, knotty(:

Back when we were living in Pasir Ris, my family used to go to Changi Airport on weekends just to have dinner ( it was mostly Swensens's), hang out and watch the planes take off or land from the viewing gallery. Maybe because we were still little; but that activity used to entertain us for hours! The latest terminal is definitely much more inviting as compared to the other two and judging by the crowd, I would say that Singaporeans definitely love their airport more than any other country! I really don't see hoards of families heading out to the airports in the States, Taiwan or HK; but I guess, to be fair, the airports overseas are not as accessible as compared to Singapore's! It is always fun on these little jaunts to the airports; especially as you walk past the departure gates because you'll always wish that you were the one with passport, with some place to go! I admit, I still feel the same way when I was there on Sunday! ( Didn't help that there were flights out to London - Heathw and CDG!)

The Place To Be.

2010-09-26T03:02:00.007+08:00

The food was, mediocre; The meet up was rather short as compared to previous occasions'. My energy level was probably down to the pits; but I've never felt more, contented and safe in the knowledge that I'm with some of the best girlfriends I can ask for! How they managed to see a picture of me with my mouth twisted wide open as "kinda cute", I'll never know- But I do know that I can always look forward to more dates with them because there can never be a dull moment; what with all the squabbles and slight lesbo harassment at reluctant individuals. And of course, I can pull the fugliest faces in the world without a care and I'll still get hugs and kisses at the end of the day.

Every time (i.e. now) I think about how different are the things that we are going through right now in our lives; what with having to endure Professors with no concept of punctuations; being on the road to being a campaigner for human rights; facing tiresome reshuffling in the office; attending three hours lectures, three days a week and learning things like Arts History and Foreign Affairs (ahem, cute Korean seniors) I can't help but feel so excited! It's going to be a long, arduous journey ahead; and maybe I've been reading/watching the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2 and 3) one too many times; and also because I'm an eternal optimist; but I can't help but feel that there's going to be so much to learn, as an individual; and as a group. So let's say it together; "The World is Our Oyster, Baby!"

Can't wait for the next meet up; (for the next decades' too!)

And Charmaine Ashley Ng, we've missed you!

PS/ I've been rambling wayyy too much than I should; but I really don't have the heart to "cut down" on the words! So I really appreciate it if I've come this far to the "PS" section! And if your face were in the photos that I've posted, you've better done that already! Love,

Spider Roll & Sanma Fish.

2010-09-25T12:35:00.000+08:00

Sangokai
Salmon & Avocado Maki
Spider Roll
Sanma Fish
Salmon Belly Soup

This was just a Daddy & Daughter Dinner and I can't remember when was the last time when it was just my Dad & I having a meal together; We almost didn't make it to Sangokai as Dad was a little hesitant on it's quality; but by the second dish; he was convinced that it was much, much better than Sushi Tei!

The salmon used in the sushi was so fresh; and the salmon belly was beyond awesome; I've never had cooked salmon that would melt, literally(!) in your mouth! The Sanma fish which is in season right now; is very different from the usual sashimi that I would order but it really lived up to the hostess' recommendation. What I liked about it was that the fish bone could be taken back to the kitchen to be deep fried to a crispy golden brown; and then everything could be eaten.

Considering that we were both really tired from working close to 12 hours that day; this meal had certainly been more than enough to make up for the OT! And yes; when we went home to rave about our dinner; my Mom and brothers were definitely green with envy!

Ali Baba & The Forty Thieves.

2010-09-11T00:14:00.000+08:00

I was mortified when my little brother exclaimed, "Ali Baba!" when he saw me this afternoon; but on the other hand, what does he know about my gorgeous, silk, cropped Topshop pants, right? Perhaps it was due to the massive dose of Who What Wear Daily and the gorgeous editorials in Marie Claire; but I took the liberty to dress up for Fall when I saw the overcast skies. But I guess, what I love most about this outfit was my white button down shirt; I think the last time I wore it was... A really long time ago; and it felt good; to bring it out and wear it about town again! (At least my Mom wouldn't accuse me of not wearing my old clothes after having new ones!)

Anyway, both my brother and I have a shared indulgence for Starbucks coffee, (he's absolutely in love with it's iced mocha with a generous serving of whipped cream on the top!) and it was just great to hang out together; with me poring over my Paris travel guide; and him jabbing at my phone. And I want to add that; Fodor's travel guide is one of my favorite, to source for information; somehow, Lonely Planet's lengthy paragraphs isn't my cup of tea.

Although we usually shop as a family; it's been ages since my Mom paid for any of my purchases, what with my allowance and my salary; so it came as a surprise when she bought the quirky Anna Sui Ring Rouge almost on a whim- for me! Perhaps she was in a good mood as she was getting her lip balm, after it's been out of stock for months; but it's nice to receive a gift from your Mom once in a while, isn't it?

The Reason Why I Can Never Be A Vegetarian.

2010-09-06T14:29:00.002+08:00

I will give up on chicken and pork in a beat;
Beef... Maybe with some real determination and if you don't wave a medium rare steak; done which ever way; in front of me.
But sashimi; and some really great sushi.
I'm sorry.
No way; can I give up my ikuras, tuna bellies, uni-s and salmon mentais for anything; and I really mean it; unless of course; there was some real threat to the eco system;

Except for that awesome Japanese restaurant Harrison and I went to in Manhattan East Village; Nothing really compares to Sushi Tei; with it's price and quality.

And in all my years that I've been going to Sushi Tei; yesterday was my first in ordering their desserts and for those who frequent Sushi Tei; or you're thinking of making a trip down someday; please do yourself a favor and get that Chocolate Wafer Ice Cream. It's beyond amazing and really worth every buck; it's great for sharing too; but of course- there might just not be enough!

I Love My Best Friend.

2010-09-04T23:28:00.001+08:00

I love having long, leisurely chats over our Minestrone and Chicken Ragouts; and sipping ridiculously overpriced coffee at Starbucks and people watching; and crazy camwhore sessions have never been more fun!

It's so hard to imagine; that after three years; we're no longer going to classes, and lunch together anymore; and hanging out after school could no longer be a spur of the moment decision; But I won't have it other way- Can't wait to see @Shiiirley soon!

Anyway, I suppose it's abit of an understatement to say that I'm pretty obsessed with jazzy photography effects nowadays; morelomo and moremono are some of my favorite iphone apps now and I can't imagine why would anyone bother with boring, bland photographs anymore!

xx

Je vais a la patisserie.

2010-09-03T15:46:00.004+08:00

Via The Cherry Blossom Girl

Have you seen anything more delectable than these? They look absolutely wonderful. Aw, I think I'm going to take every opportunity I can to savor some of these when I'm in Paris.

On a side note; I'm a teensy worried about getting along in Paris. Sure; I know how to order a coffee with a slice of strawberry cake; I know how to ask around for directions; I know my right (a droite) from my left (a gauche) but I seriously doubt I know the reply that is a tumble of words flying out from their mouth;

For those of you who had taken foreign language in the past; I'm sure you know what I mean; ugh. Culture shock at its peak. And I'm still here in Singapore.

Winter Wonderland.

2010-09-02T10:19:00.004+08:00

Via The Sartorialist; February 03 2010

I was browsing through The Sartorialist's past entries when I chanced upon this amazing picture of family and friends together on the streets of Milan; Being so obsessed with everything that is fit for December right now ( I know, you are probably sick from all the repetition) It's impossible for me to not feel anything when I see such gorgeous coats and boots on display; because for me; that is the epitome of that elusive ( in my case; ) winter wonderland.

I have been lusting after a gorgeous leopard print coat from Topshop and this display of prints is raising an animal lust in me and right now; it's of no help to me, at all. You see, I was thinking of getting a simple, black coat; very much like the one the lady's wearing, second from left; because it is most safe and functional for me; as I won't have that many opportunities to parade around in my winter wear; but you see; I used "safe" and "functional" like it's some kind of dirty word.

So it is function over fashion? Superficial and trivial as it may be; it is indeed a huge dilemma; as I'll want to invest in a nice and warm coat. But I'll let you know.

xx

Musings On Mary Kate, Fur And The Parisian Dream.

2010-08-31T20:13:00.002+08:00

Every now and then, when I have a bit of money and would like to indulge myself in the least... fattening way possible, I would go to Borders or Kinokuniya and I would get some of my favorite editorials; (because it's either that or Ben & Jerry's) No matter how tech savvy the world is; nothing compares to flipping through the glossy, colorful pages and inhaling the smell of the print and occasionally, intoxicating-ly sweet or woodsy perfume samples.

Before I lose you with my long winded prose; what I really want to say is that; this is the first magazine cover that I would like to immortalise by framing up. I don't know why I did not get magazines with MK on the cover in the past; but whatever it is; I'm already planning on flipping through the IKEA catalogue for a suitable frame when I get home later.

Alison Edmond and Tesh, fashion editor and photographer of the shoot really did an awesome job! MK looks amazing in the editorial and the clothes are beyond amazing; these are two of my favorite shots of hers and what I loved about them is that she looks so vastly different; and yet, the pages manage to ooze the essence of Mary Kate Olsen; (Which for the uninitiated; is something that a million girls, and some guys, would die for; including myself!)

Anyway, back to MC; I just wish that I have some fur in my closet; faux fur of course. For those who are following me on Twitter; you would have seen that the tiny display picture is a picture of me in the huge, shaggy, Zara fur coat which caught my fancy the first time I laid eyes on it. Call it the case of unrequited love; you always want something you can't have. Just my luck that this Fall, fur is seen everywhere; from coats, to stoles, to even bags.

Perhaps, being in the tropics; demand is > than supply; and that's why fur is hideously expensive in Singapore; I should really try my luck on the other side of the pond; and pray that I have something warm and snugly to bring in the New Year with- In front of the Eiffel Tower; with champagne and beautiful fireworks lighting up the night sky; oui?

Okay; give me a tight slap; I am dreaming now.

xx

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' And That's Just What They'll Do.

2010-08-28T23:47:00.003+08:00

I've been wanting to get a pair of knee high boots even before I knew about my trip; and right now; I've just got the perfect reason to go boots shopping! But; unfortunately; there ain't that many places selling pretty boots, but my brother and I have found these pretty kick ass boots at New Look!
I didn't, ( or rather, my brother didn't) take a great shot of the boots but it's got sort of a greyish, distressed leather and it's really amazing; and perfectly grungy "for London".
It's totally the opposite of what I'm looking for; and it's really not me; but I've decided to zip it on and give it a go around the store; I feel like such a bad ass biker chick in these denim shorts and boots; but yes; my top gave me away!

PS/ Now, I can't stop humming to the chorus of the title of this post!

Roman Holiday

2010-08-27T14:10:00.001+08:00

Well, it's not a Roman Holiday that I'll be embarking on ( this was the first title I could think of!) Okay, I digress, but thanks to my incredible boyfriend; I'll be going to London and Paris in December for a couple of weeks! It's so surreal; being able to see him again; but it's so amazing that I'll be meeting him on an entirely different continent! I can't believe that he'd planned it behind my back; asking my parents if I could go; but it is true! (The fact that my brother(s) is coming along is doing absolutely nothing to dampen my mood) I can hardly contain the excitement in me as I'm doing this post; Aww.. I'm just so thrilled that I can see him again and on top of that, I'm thankful that I get to spend Christmas and New Year's Eve together with him; which was something that I can only dream of.

Seems like December is going to be a busy month for me; because before my European getaway, I'll be going away for a couple of days with my family to Hainan and Shanghai; but who's complaining, right?

I can hardly wait!

Thanks Baby(:

Simple Pleasures.

2010-08-26T09:38:00.001+08:00

Although it may not be the shockingly blue, azure sky I saw yesterday evening; I never thought that the sky could be more beautiful. I am not a natural geography student; but I do know that there was something... Different about the clouds; and it was so dreamlike and utterly beautiful that I couldn't stop staring out of the window.

Sometimes, it's little things like this that cheer me up after a long day at work; and I felt so blessed; because in a way; I was reminded to count my blessings; instead of whining and complaining about everything that I can think of.

Of course; that and avocado sushi rolls could do no wrong;
My boyfriend had really cultivated my taste buds for great sushi and I really have got to have avocado; cream cheese or that little bit of something extra in my sushi; Really wanted to go to Sushi Tei for my fix; but since we were at Lot 1 yesterday; we've got to make do with Sakae Sushi bleugh (And yes, this would probably be a good time to remind myself of what I've written the paragraph before; and thank the Lord for my wonderful dinner when others are starving or living off rations)

Simple pleasures like these.

Ellie & Harrison

2010-08-18T09:40:00.000+08:00

I knew that he was going to do something like that but it's just so weird to see to see both our names right there at the back of the sneakers! Harrison's totally obessed with customizing his sneakers; and I think this is already his third pair from Nike! But of course; this is my favorite:D

Owell, what we have to do now is make sure that we're still together, in a couple of months' time, or it will be a shame if he has to throw these pair of sneakers away isn't it?! Heh!

I love gold + white together;

The Cherry Blossom Girl

2010-08-17T09:42:00.001+08:00

I'm a little slow on things; and although Alix of The Cherry Blossom Girl blogged about these about a month ago; I have to share them again; they are just too beautiful not to.

As you can probably tell, these are wedding dresses and no; I do not have a crushing urge to get hitched after staring at these but I'm absolutely in love with the colors and textures of these dresses. I'm really a girlie girl; and frankly speaking; anything pastel, soft, and dreamlike is enough to capture my heart's fancy.They are really so beautiful and these dresses is that they are the epitome of ethereal. (Awww.)

I can go on and on about them; but I guess you should probably see it for yourself on her blog. I guess that's why brides always look so blissful; I feel bliss, just by looking at them; now; imagine wearing them.

xx

Hey, Soul Sister

2010-08-15T15:16:00.000+08:00

Graffiti walls, lime juice, yummy wanton noodle;
Japanese moshi from HK;
Thanks to Mel <3
Catching up and goss on the steps in front of Takashimaya-
Camwhore sessions with all seven; then six of us.
I love my girlfriends!

The title of this post; as a result of listening to Hey, Soul Sister on replay a gazillion times; Catchy, catchy melody and absolutely sweet lyrics!

I miss my boyfriend.
xx

Happy Birthday Singapore!

2010-08-10T15:58:00.006+08:00

To be clear, I'm not really into the whole, National Day festivities; not because I don't love my country; I love Singapore; don't get me wrong; but; somehow I find it really lame to sing patriotic songs; and let's not forget about the plastic flag that we are obliged to wave, when given, shall we?

But anyway, I thought that it would be fab to wear my favorite, floral maxi dress; not only is the dress reddish; the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid is our National Flower; isn't it; so it's so right to wear florals! :D

The sky was gorgeous; even at 9 in the morning; and I know that it will be a great day to borrow my brother's Canon SLR for some great fun! When we arrived at the Istana; I knew that there was something wrong; apparently, lots of people turned up at the gates; only to be turned away because the Istana was opened only on the eve of National Day and not on the actual day itself! How weird is that?!

Undeterred, we took the opportunity to take plenty of photos with the backdrop that the Istana Park had offered and it was not too bad. Thereafter, we decided to go for ice cream and shopping in the area and it was great! ( I'll definitely do a post on my New Look finds!)

Okay; I guess I shall let the photos do the talking; there are plenty!

I've always loved such blue, blue skies

Istana Park; and the YOG Mascots; 

My little brother; I have no idea why is he so happy!

 I love him! He's always so cheeky!

Wearing the National Colors

My Dad will make a good paparazzi; I was looking for him; apparently; he's already on the other side!

Our favorite haunt; I think we've been to 313, thrice this week!

At Marche; Waiting for my Sauteed Mushroom Crepe;

Having a meal with Jason; it's been so long! (He's always so busy!)

Isn't he handsome?(: I love his nose!

Love the fixtures they have around the restaurant! So pretty!

The colors of these veggies are so rich! Especially the zucchinis!

And, not forgetting my outfit; dedicated for this day;

I can't believe that I've had this maxi for about a year and it's still one of my favorites! This dress definitely brings me lots of memories; of Shilin Nightmarket where I got this dress with Esther, of Taipei 101 when I went with Harrison when he was back in Taipei; of Raohe Nightmarket when Mel and Kaheng were having a vacation in Taiwan; aww~ Okay, before I get all sentimental; Let me just say that; it's a really good TWD$600 spent!, Ever!

Oh, by the way; this is my 301st post! Which is quite a feat; considering how just a couple of months ago; I wasn't at all inspired to keep this blog going! Now that I've found a balance between fashion, photography, food, friends and whatever I want to blog about; I'm definitely in a much happier place!

TO THE NEXT 300!