The Year In A Nutshell
Lowlights of '05
5. Getting kicked off the Dean's List
4. Getting drunk and blurting out all my deep dark secrets to my captive audience
3. Getting drunk again (I have now founded the Fruit Punch Club)
2. Witnessing five deaths in one year
1. Losing a great friend
Highlights of '05
5. Gaining new friends, reconciling with old ones (yes ET, this means you)
4. Going to Tiffany's with David
3. Getting a great holiday job at the airport
2. Having MOE finally approve my change of major from English to Literature, double yay!
1. Winning a marketing competition despite the apparent disadvantages of coming from an arts background
I thank God for seeing me through a challenging year. I haven't been particularly faithful to Him, but He has never once left me. I don't think it has been at all easy, but I have survived '05!
I thank all my friends for being there for me, whether you are from CCHS, FCBC, TJC or NUS. My highest moments were spent together with you and my lowest points made better because of you.
And I thank my family, for tolerating my quirks and showing me what unconditional love means on a daily basis. I thank you that our home is a refuge and oasis that I can escape to, not escape from. I thank God that in a world of discord and diffusion, we still have each other.
I thank God that my life is made richer because of each and every one of you.
Next year will only be better.
* * * * *
Edit: E. F. Schumacher once said that "the art of living is to make a good thing out of a bad thing".
I was chatting with Cindy during the supper buffet at the countdown service (I monopolised her company during the break and her poor boyfriend had to fetch us refreshments!) and I was telling her that my year hadn't been all that great. She told me she thought it had been.
I mulled over it last night when I got home, just before 2 a.m., having shamelessly hitched a ride home in my friend's friend's car. Thanks Mark and Andrew!
Perhaps my cell leader is right (again). Losing a friend made me appreciate the return of another even more. Having to deal with a family crisis midway through the year made me appreciate my flesh and blood even better. Death (of my gran-aunt and others) helped me appreciate the living more. And though I barely studied. I was blessed that my grades still held up. At time of writing, my subject CAP for Lit is 4.5 and my overall CAP is 4.33.
My resolution for 2006 is to pray more, shop less and study harder.
2005 ended with a big bang. Someone else whom I had had a major misunderstanding with came up to me on the last day of the year. We cried, we hugged and we made up. 2005 ended in a burst of balloons, streamers and party dresses, spent in the presence of some of the girls who had meant so much to me this whole year.
My camera conked out, so no photos during the bash, sorry. All I can say is that everyone looked wonderful, and I would like to thank Cindy, Eleta, Shu Lin, Joelle and Lauren for allowing me to experiment on their faces-- I lugged a whole suitcase's worth of makeup, a boxful of accessories and two cocktail dresses to Bukit Merah for the sake of vanity.
Oh yes, I saw my ex there, and I'm pretty sure he saw me. And you know what? I don't think I looked that bad. Say it with me: concealer rocks!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Currently listening to: All I Want For Christmas
The days have passed in a blur. The cell chicks held a Boxing Day party and Cindy, our cell leader, invited her boyfriend and brother, who invited his friend, and some of her students, whom we cooked for and entertained in the manner of silly games and stories. The clubhouse, otherwise aptly named the Jasmine Room, had full-length glass windows that overlooked the pool, so Jasmine made sure to drink Jasmine Green Tea in the Jasmine Room.
And because everyone made the effort to make something, we had a little cooking competition and guess what??? My sushi won by popular vote! I thought it would be a walkover for Shu Lin since she had made both shepherd's pie and cheesecake.
Oh there was a little incident at the party. I was delicately slicing the rolls of sushi when Shu Lin came along and said omething to the lines of how I was really slow and that it would be better if she took over instead.
I refused her offer nicely, because I had made that sushi from scratch that afternoon and I wanted to finish the job I'd done.
But she persisted, so in order not to cause any tension and ruin the festive atmosphere, I stepped aside.
But when she started cutting MY sushi, she took about as long as I had, and I could not resist blurting out, "About the same difference in speed, don't you think?"
She looked like she wanted to stab me with the sushi knife in her hand!
Oh wells... All's well that ends well and we had a blast at Eleta's condo.
Amongst other trinkets, I received three pairs of earrings from the girls! I think this is a sign that I need to change the Swarovski studs I have been wearing for a month. Yikes! The truth is that on normal days, I cannot be bothered, and anyway my ears have very expensive taste and have allergic reactions to anything other than white gold. Not kidding!
I hope everyone liked the gifts! I bought Origins hand cream for my grandmother, because she'd been looking for something like that for awhile, as well as an Origins fruit scrub, Clinique foaming mousse cleanser, Clinique duo eyeshadow in gold and plum, puches and travel brush kits for the girls in my cell, and along with what I got for my family, That Was It This Christmas. But my favourite present this year was the Bloom lipstick and clip-on mirror that I got for Valey. Next year, I must cut down to nail polish for everyone. Hahaha cheapo...
I've been spending lots of time at home. My mum must be very (dis)pleased.
Yesterday, my dad brought my brother and I out to cycle, and after that, our mum picked us up and we drove to Ikea. Ikea is very bad for my mum because it gives her all sorts of home decor ideas, and then she comes home and rearranges the furniture.
Today, my mum and I went to the Metro Warehouse sale and met my dad for coffee at Killiney. Well, they had coffee. I had iced Milo. I don't drink coffee (with the sole exception of Starbucks frappes).
What else?
I've been up to my usual antics:
-Bonne Belle straw tote
-Fasio 3D Curl+Long Powerstay mascara
-Ikea floral-printed tin boxes, set of seven
-Anne Geddes blank card set
I think it's a great pity that girls don't take the time to write proper pen-and-paper letters anymore. To revive this vanishing tradition, I bought three sets of letter writing paper and notation pads from Anne Geddes for random dissemination during 2006, Year of the 21sts (because so many of my friends will be reaching that magic number of independence and that calls for extra-special gifts to commemorate the date by). It's an investment, but it's worthwhile. I, for one, love receiving bath and letter-writing sets... Call me traditionalist.
Okies, going jogging now! Wish me luck!
The days have passed in a blur. The cell chicks held a Boxing Day party and Cindy, our cell leader, invited her boyfriend and brother, who invited his friend, and some of her students, whom we cooked for and entertained in the manner of silly games and stories. The clubhouse, otherwise aptly named the Jasmine Room, had full-length glass windows that overlooked the pool, so Jasmine made sure to drink Jasmine Green Tea in the Jasmine Room.
And because everyone made the effort to make something, we had a little cooking competition and guess what??? My sushi won by popular vote! I thought it would be a walkover for Shu Lin since she had made both shepherd's pie and cheesecake.
Oh there was a little incident at the party. I was delicately slicing the rolls of sushi when Shu Lin came along and said omething to the lines of how I was really slow and that it would be better if she took over instead.
I refused her offer nicely, because I had made that sushi from scratch that afternoon and I wanted to finish the job I'd done.
But she persisted, so in order not to cause any tension and ruin the festive atmosphere, I stepped aside.
But when she started cutting MY sushi, she took about as long as I had, and I could not resist blurting out, "About the same difference in speed, don't you think?"
She looked like she wanted to stab me with the sushi knife in her hand!
Oh wells... All's well that ends well and we had a blast at Eleta's condo.
Amongst other trinkets, I received three pairs of earrings from the girls! I think this is a sign that I need to change the Swarovski studs I have been wearing for a month. Yikes! The truth is that on normal days, I cannot be bothered, and anyway my ears have very expensive taste and have allergic reactions to anything other than white gold. Not kidding!
I hope everyone liked the gifts! I bought Origins hand cream for my grandmother, because she'd been looking for something like that for awhile, as well as an Origins fruit scrub, Clinique foaming mousse cleanser, Clinique duo eyeshadow in gold and plum, puches and travel brush kits for the girls in my cell, and along with what I got for my family, That Was It This Christmas. But my favourite present this year was the Bloom lipstick and clip-on mirror that I got for Valey. Next year, I must cut down to nail polish for everyone. Hahaha cheapo...
I've been spending lots of time at home. My mum must be very (dis)pleased.
Yesterday, my dad brought my brother and I out to cycle, and after that, our mum picked us up and we drove to Ikea. Ikea is very bad for my mum because it gives her all sorts of home decor ideas, and then she comes home and rearranges the furniture.
Today, my mum and I went to the Metro Warehouse sale and met my dad for coffee at Killiney. Well, they had coffee. I had iced Milo. I don't drink coffee (with the sole exception of Starbucks frappes).
What else?
I've been up to my usual antics:
-Bonne Belle straw tote
-Fasio 3D Curl+Long Powerstay mascara
-Ikea floral-printed tin boxes, set of seven
-Anne Geddes blank card set
I think it's a great pity that girls don't take the time to write proper pen-and-paper letters anymore. To revive this vanishing tradition, I bought three sets of letter writing paper and notation pads from Anne Geddes for random dissemination during 2006, Year of the 21sts (because so many of my friends will be reaching that magic number of independence and that calls for extra-special gifts to commemorate the date by). It's an investment, but it's worthwhile. I, for one, love receiving bath and letter-writing sets... Call me traditionalist.
Okies, going jogging now! Wish me luck!
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
christmas at scotts
Former classmates, current friends from TJC gather to catch a sliver of the Christmas spirit together at Royal Plaza on Scotts.
From bottom left: Shuyin, Kia Dai (whom I hadn't seen in forever), Yingling, Zihui, Rozana our dligent organiser, a dressed-up Joan, Shuhui, a dolled-up Eunice and myself, quite unabashed about having two plates of dessert to myself, it seems. (Like I said, I was trying to make up for my earlier loss of appetite thanks to the diarrhoea and tummy cramps.)
From bottom left: Shuyin, Kia Dai (whom I hadn't seen in forever), Yingling, Zihui, Rozana our dligent organiser, a dressed-up Joan, Shuhui, a dolled-up Eunice and myself, quite unabashed about having two plates of dessert to myself, it seems. (Like I said, I was trying to make up for my earlier loss of appetite thanks to the diarrhoea and tummy cramps.)
christmas at scotts II
Despite the endless giftwapping (and forgetting which present is whose), late night card-writing frenzies, rushing from one party to another, etc, I can tell you that there is nothing like Christmas!
Currently wearing: Pure Poison by Dior (very fitting considering the events of the day)
I was really grateful to Kaylyn for coming down with me to the Apple Service Centre. We tried to upgrade my iBook during the family Christmas party, but after running the installation program or 20+ hours, my baby crashed and burned. There was no choice but to replace the hard disk. Thanks are in order because Kaylyn had worked at the Apple service centre before, so she knew the people, who attended to us on the spot when it would normally take a couple of days at the least, and for helping me negotiate a better price.
The original quote was $339, and I was horrified because I not only did not have that kind of money to throw around on geeky things like hard disks, but that I was pretty certain I would be footing the bill myself, straight through my teeth and with my savings (on which my constant acquisition of cosmetics has already taken its toll). But because of Kaylyn's connections, the price inclusive of Rick's services was lowered to $170. My parents also later offered to pay 50% of the bill (which I may or may not take up), claiming that it was a good lesson for me to learn. Trust me, seeing my poor iBaby lying upside down was not a pretty sight. In fact, when Rick was removing the outer casing and detaching the corrupted hard disk, I felt as if a piece of me was being cut out from my insides. So yes I have learnt my lesson, thank you very much!
Yes, yes, I know I'm being silly and hyperbolic. I lost my appetite and couldn't finish lunch at Delifrance. I wasn't in a party mood so I turned down dinner at Carl's Jr with the girls. I was hanging around Funan like a vagrant from 1-7pm and I broke out in pimples because of that. I am praying the outbreak clears up, ASAP. Pray with me. I have a formal ball on Saturday.
And when my baby was ready to go home, my mum noted that I was carrying it in exactly the same way she had caried me home from the hospital twenty years ago.
Like I told Melissa, i's very different when you buy something you really love with your own money. There are girls I know who can afford personal trainers and designer clothes on Daddy's money, and girls I know who will complain about the thousand-dollar meal they had in Japan or Switzerland or wherever, when the furthest place yours truly has been in the last six months is K.L, can?
You might say I have fierce money pride. I don't sit around hoping for blue boxes with white ribbons; I buy them myself. I paid for my laptop with my own money, so I really feel the pinch when something goes wrong. I had not realised how attached I was to my iBaby until today. My mum did not bestow a magical makeup collection on me when I turned twenty, I used my airport salary to finance my purchases.
Some of my friends think I am rich. I am not. I am just a girl who would rather go hungry and buy a lipgloss instead.
I need to speak about this because rich girls do not know the value of money. I must confess that I cannot stand you. Your pretenses, your airs, and I ask your forgiveness for not being able to forgive you.
I've learnt alot more from NOT having money than having money. I'll be saving hard and uh, visiting more houses during Chinese New Year to make up for the outflow of cash today.
Rick managed to save my essays and short stories, but not much else. I lost all my photos and my music, but I don't really care. We'll start again.
I was really grateful to Kaylyn for coming down with me to the Apple Service Centre. We tried to upgrade my iBook during the family Christmas party, but after running the installation program or 20+ hours, my baby crashed and burned. There was no choice but to replace the hard disk. Thanks are in order because Kaylyn had worked at the Apple service centre before, so she knew the people, who attended to us on the spot when it would normally take a couple of days at the least, and for helping me negotiate a better price.
The original quote was $339, and I was horrified because I not only did not have that kind of money to throw around on geeky things like hard disks, but that I was pretty certain I would be footing the bill myself, straight through my teeth and with my savings (on which my constant acquisition of cosmetics has already taken its toll). But because of Kaylyn's connections, the price inclusive of Rick's services was lowered to $170. My parents also later offered to pay 50% of the bill (which I may or may not take up), claiming that it was a good lesson for me to learn. Trust me, seeing my poor iBaby lying upside down was not a pretty sight. In fact, when Rick was removing the outer casing and detaching the corrupted hard disk, I felt as if a piece of me was being cut out from my insides. So yes I have learnt my lesson, thank you very much!
Yes, yes, I know I'm being silly and hyperbolic. I lost my appetite and couldn't finish lunch at Delifrance. I wasn't in a party mood so I turned down dinner at Carl's Jr with the girls. I was hanging around Funan like a vagrant from 1-7pm and I broke out in pimples because of that. I am praying the outbreak clears up, ASAP. Pray with me. I have a formal ball on Saturday.
And when my baby was ready to go home, my mum noted that I was carrying it in exactly the same way she had caried me home from the hospital twenty years ago.
Like I told Melissa, i's very different when you buy something you really love with your own money. There are girls I know who can afford personal trainers and designer clothes on Daddy's money, and girls I know who will complain about the thousand-dollar meal they had in Japan or Switzerland or wherever, when the furthest place yours truly has been in the last six months is K.L, can?
You might say I have fierce money pride. I don't sit around hoping for blue boxes with white ribbons; I buy them myself. I paid for my laptop with my own money, so I really feel the pinch when something goes wrong. I had not realised how attached I was to my iBaby until today. My mum did not bestow a magical makeup collection on me when I turned twenty, I used my airport salary to finance my purchases.
Some of my friends think I am rich. I am not. I am just a girl who would rather go hungry and buy a lipgloss instead.
I need to speak about this because rich girls do not know the value of money. I must confess that I cannot stand you. Your pretenses, your airs, and I ask your forgiveness for not being able to forgive you.
I've learnt alot more from NOT having money than having money. I'll be saving hard and uh, visiting more houses during Chinese New Year to make up for the outflow of cash today.
Rick managed to save my essays and short stories, but not much else. I lost all my photos and my music, but I don't really care. We'll start again.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Christmas.
What is it that makes this day so special?
To me, what makes Christmas special is the celebration of love and of people you love. Christmas is never complete without family.
This year, I was really glad that the Lims flew back from Perth for the holidays. We had a heckuva lot of great food (including culinary gems like turkey with apple sauce by my first aunt, nachos and avocado dip, my mother's banana chocolate log cake, and a chocolate fudge brownie baked by my younger cousins Desiree and Wei Lin). Presents were exchanged in a flurry of giftwrap.
Most people find soap sets boring, but I heart them, especially when they're scented. Thanks to the Lims for the wonderful (and apt) gifts of the book, "How To Dress Like A Million Bucks Without Spending It", title self-explanatory, and the wonderfully Parisian French milled dress soaps shaped like the female body. Thanks to Malcolm and Cindy for the lingerie-themed bookmark from Christopher Vines- bra-vo! And so many others whom I will be thanking at a later date for their presents, presence and greetings. (Yes, I believe in thank-you letters. Or text messages, at any rate.) Thanks to my brother and sister, for buying me the Body Shop blush brush, only to find out that I already owned one from M.A.C.. Never mind, I will use one brush for each cheek. And Gabriel, please pay Charlene back before she kills you.
I feel extremely fortunate and blessed this Christmas. You should know that Christmas is the only time of the year when I do ot expect any return on gifts.
Mum, I hope you like the Origins liquid blush. You may stop lusting after the Shu Uemura Glow Ons now.
Gabriel, the Origins cleanser is perfect for your skin. I hereby command you to use it.
Charlene, I agonised over your darn Clinique Dramatically Different moisturiser and High Impact mascara for very long. Hopefully, they will come in handy for you when you start work at Gio Junior.
And Daddy, I know you're a man's man, but Mum instructed me to get hand cream for you, so I went out and bought Clinique.
We didn't want to go home in the end, becase us cousins were having too much fun forfeiting each other in Jeremy's room. Ken Wei did a Full Monty (obviously, his dancing is NOT what gets the girls for him), Gabriel and Jeremy posed as cheerleaders using pillows as pom-poms, and Steffy, myself and my other girl cousins formed a rock band called The Satay Sisters (I bet everyone else in the room really regretted that).
Party #1 was the Dolus celebration. You guys, I love you!
Party #2 was high tea at Royal Plaza on Scotts with the TJ girls. I had a bad case of diarrhoea and stomach cramps which resulted in a massive los of appetite. Thankfully, my overpriced Panadol worked and my appetite came back just as the buffet was about to close, so I chiong-ed the desserts so as not to waste my money!
We had our very first gift exchange and my present was a Dior Pure Poison moisturiser and perfumed shower gel. I got a lovely notebook and matching keychain from Kia Dai with black-and-white prints on the cover that I love so much. I will save it for school use.
Party #3 involved family friends from my previous church. I wanted to turn up this year because Uncle Ling was, I heard, not doing too well in his battle against cancer, and I wanted to see him. I was shocked when I finally did, because he was so gaunt that I nearly could not recognise him, but when he said grace over our dinner, his voice was exactly the same commanding one that I remembered so well. He was grunting and in terrible pain. I experienced a touching moment when the Lings' dog, Mickey darted out of the house, and everyone scrambled to catch him, leaving Uncle Ling alone in an empty house. I saw my father linger, put his hand on Uncle Ling's back and pray for him.
I know Uncle Ling is one of my father's oldest, closest friends. Although he rarely says anything about it, I wonder how he mus feel, seeing his good friend like this.
Otherwise, there were many people with whom it was great to catch up. I saw Auntie "Amazing" Grace, Auntie Winnie, Auntie Siew Kheng and Auntie Sharon, who used to give me free drinks and desserts while I was a teacher at Meridian Junior and she was working in the canteen. I feel blessed to be in the company of these women who had seen me grow up, my mother's friends. It is my wish that one day, I will have friends who will support me through thick and thin, women anointed in the ministries of the Lord, with whom I can grow old with.
I bonded with the children of these families and more. We are unique because we are all second-generation Christians. Most girls in my cell group were saved of their own accord, but for me, I have been a Christian since I was eight years old. I gave my life to God when I was ten or twelve. I was water baptised at eleven. You can say my childhood has been spent in the church.
Hearing Sarah and Bo Chun talk about their respective youth groups, I can sense a passion in them. They are only a few years younger than I, but in some ways, more mature.
We were forced by the adults to lead them in Christmas carolling. Dissatisfied wih our debut, Sue Ann, Charlene, Bo Chun, Sarah and I holed ourselves up in Sarah's bedroom for half an hour rehearsing the Sister Act version of "Joyful, Joyful". What can I say? Next year, we'll be back!
Party #4 was the family celebration today. In particular, I'd like to thank my elder cousin Kaylyn for giving me her beloved pair of Levi's jeans, which fits like a glove! (I was afraid I would not be able to squeeze in.) It was so comfortable that I quite forgot about my m)phosis denim skirt and nearly left it sitting in the toilet as we were about to leave for home.
What else transpired? I met Chu Xian, Zhu Mei and Fangfang for the briefest of moments to pass them Christmas postcards from M.A.C. (which reminds me, I need to stock up again) before their Narnia screening. I met Eng Tat for dinner and a movie (as you can see, we have graduated from suppers at ABC Prata), and he made me cry.
More accurately, the movie he picked --a romantic comedy called The Family Stone-- moved me to tears and made my mascara run. I'm such a sucker! After the movie, I refused to make eye contact with Eng Tat until I had found myself a toilet and done some damage control.
Please go watch, it's worth the $9.50. And bring some tissue along.
I bumped into Erin at Suntec, Thomas outside the Max Pavilion, and Debbie after Christmas service (and I consider myself lucky because she was armed then with a stocking stuffed with Kit Kats, wahaha).
I'll leave you with words from an unexpected Christmas card from Bo Chun that is at once disarming and surprising in its honesty.
"Dear Jasmine,
Greetings to you, my fellow sister and caroler. Haha, I had never been this formal when writing letters. Well, when I am writing to a teacher+ NUS student, I must be extra careful with my words. Haha, just joking.=P Anyway, you sang great during the carol. Haha, when can I attain to half of your singing abilities. Sob sob,.... Hope that you will do well in NUS and shine for Jesus, ya? ...(He extols me to lend my support to the youth group in his church for a while, then...) Hey! Stay in contact, OK? See Ya Soon!
From,
Bo Chun"
I think that Bo Chun will rise up to be a man of God and will be a son that Auntie Sharon can really be proud of.
Speaking of God, Pastor Nina, wife of our Senior Pastor and former neurosurgeon, preached for the first time today. I thought it was a fabulous move because we need more women pastors in active ministry to serve the ever-increasing numbers of women in the church. She is a good preacher now. She will be a great preacher someday.
Don't tell me Christmas is not about God. It has to be in order to be meaningful. I do not buy into the hype of commercialisation. Christmas without Christ... just does not work.
Emotionally, this Christmas has been a rough one for me beause there have been some issues that have cropped up/ resurfaced that have needed working through (I also apologise if I was a distracted conversationalist that day, Eng Tat). But it's Christmas, and nothing steals the spirit of Christmas away from me.
What is it that makes this day so special?
To me, what makes Christmas special is the celebration of love and of people you love. Christmas is never complete without family.
This year, I was really glad that the Lims flew back from Perth for the holidays. We had a heckuva lot of great food (including culinary gems like turkey with apple sauce by my first aunt, nachos and avocado dip, my mother's banana chocolate log cake, and a chocolate fudge brownie baked by my younger cousins Desiree and Wei Lin). Presents were exchanged in a flurry of giftwrap.
Most people find soap sets boring, but I heart them, especially when they're scented. Thanks to the Lims for the wonderful (and apt) gifts of the book, "How To Dress Like A Million Bucks Without Spending It", title self-explanatory, and the wonderfully Parisian French milled dress soaps shaped like the female body. Thanks to Malcolm and Cindy for the lingerie-themed bookmark from Christopher Vines- bra-vo! And so many others whom I will be thanking at a later date for their presents, presence and greetings. (Yes, I believe in thank-you letters. Or text messages, at any rate.) Thanks to my brother and sister, for buying me the Body Shop blush brush, only to find out that I already owned one from M.A.C.. Never mind, I will use one brush for each cheek. And Gabriel, please pay Charlene back before she kills you.
I feel extremely fortunate and blessed this Christmas. You should know that Christmas is the only time of the year when I do ot expect any return on gifts.
Mum, I hope you like the Origins liquid blush. You may stop lusting after the Shu Uemura Glow Ons now.
Gabriel, the Origins cleanser is perfect for your skin. I hereby command you to use it.
Charlene, I agonised over your darn Clinique Dramatically Different moisturiser and High Impact mascara for very long. Hopefully, they will come in handy for you when you start work at Gio Junior.
And Daddy, I know you're a man's man, but Mum instructed me to get hand cream for you, so I went out and bought Clinique.
We didn't want to go home in the end, becase us cousins were having too much fun forfeiting each other in Jeremy's room. Ken Wei did a Full Monty (obviously, his dancing is NOT what gets the girls for him), Gabriel and Jeremy posed as cheerleaders using pillows as pom-poms, and Steffy, myself and my other girl cousins formed a rock band called The Satay Sisters (I bet everyone else in the room really regretted that).
Party #1 was the Dolus celebration. You guys, I love you!
Party #2 was high tea at Royal Plaza on Scotts with the TJ girls. I had a bad case of diarrhoea and stomach cramps which resulted in a massive los of appetite. Thankfully, my overpriced Panadol worked and my appetite came back just as the buffet was about to close, so I chiong-ed the desserts so as not to waste my money!
We had our very first gift exchange and my present was a Dior Pure Poison moisturiser and perfumed shower gel. I got a lovely notebook and matching keychain from Kia Dai with black-and-white prints on the cover that I love so much. I will save it for school use.
Party #3 involved family friends from my previous church. I wanted to turn up this year because Uncle Ling was, I heard, not doing too well in his battle against cancer, and I wanted to see him. I was shocked when I finally did, because he was so gaunt that I nearly could not recognise him, but when he said grace over our dinner, his voice was exactly the same commanding one that I remembered so well. He was grunting and in terrible pain. I experienced a touching moment when the Lings' dog, Mickey darted out of the house, and everyone scrambled to catch him, leaving Uncle Ling alone in an empty house. I saw my father linger, put his hand on Uncle Ling's back and pray for him.
I know Uncle Ling is one of my father's oldest, closest friends. Although he rarely says anything about it, I wonder how he mus feel, seeing his good friend like this.
Otherwise, there were many people with whom it was great to catch up. I saw Auntie "Amazing" Grace, Auntie Winnie, Auntie Siew Kheng and Auntie Sharon, who used to give me free drinks and desserts while I was a teacher at Meridian Junior and she was working in the canteen. I feel blessed to be in the company of these women who had seen me grow up, my mother's friends. It is my wish that one day, I will have friends who will support me through thick and thin, women anointed in the ministries of the Lord, with whom I can grow old with.
I bonded with the children of these families and more. We are unique because we are all second-generation Christians. Most girls in my cell group were saved of their own accord, but for me, I have been a Christian since I was eight years old. I gave my life to God when I was ten or twelve. I was water baptised at eleven. You can say my childhood has been spent in the church.
Hearing Sarah and Bo Chun talk about their respective youth groups, I can sense a passion in them. They are only a few years younger than I, but in some ways, more mature.
We were forced by the adults to lead them in Christmas carolling. Dissatisfied wih our debut, Sue Ann, Charlene, Bo Chun, Sarah and I holed ourselves up in Sarah's bedroom for half an hour rehearsing the Sister Act version of "Joyful, Joyful". What can I say? Next year, we'll be back!
Party #4 was the family celebration today. In particular, I'd like to thank my elder cousin Kaylyn for giving me her beloved pair of Levi's jeans, which fits like a glove! (I was afraid I would not be able to squeeze in.) It was so comfortable that I quite forgot about my m)phosis denim skirt and nearly left it sitting in the toilet as we were about to leave for home.
What else transpired? I met Chu Xian, Zhu Mei and Fangfang for the briefest of moments to pass them Christmas postcards from M.A.C. (which reminds me, I need to stock up again) before their Narnia screening. I met Eng Tat for dinner and a movie (as you can see, we have graduated from suppers at ABC Prata), and he made me cry.
More accurately, the movie he picked --a romantic comedy called The Family Stone-- moved me to tears and made my mascara run. I'm such a sucker! After the movie, I refused to make eye contact with Eng Tat until I had found myself a toilet and done some damage control.
Please go watch, it's worth the $9.50. And bring some tissue along.
I bumped into Erin at Suntec, Thomas outside the Max Pavilion, and Debbie after Christmas service (and I consider myself lucky because she was armed then with a stocking stuffed with Kit Kats, wahaha).
I'll leave you with words from an unexpected Christmas card from Bo Chun that is at once disarming and surprising in its honesty.
"Dear Jasmine,
Greetings to you, my fellow sister and caroler. Haha, I had never been this formal when writing letters. Well, when I am writing to a teacher+ NUS student, I must be extra careful with my words. Haha, just joking.=P Anyway, you sang great during the carol. Haha, when can I attain to half of your singing abilities. Sob sob,.... Hope that you will do well in NUS and shine for Jesus, ya? ...(He extols me to lend my support to the youth group in his church for a while, then...) Hey! Stay in contact, OK? See Ya Soon!
From,
Bo Chun"
I think that Bo Chun will rise up to be a man of God and will be a son that Auntie Sharon can really be proud of.
Speaking of God, Pastor Nina, wife of our Senior Pastor and former neurosurgeon, preached for the first time today. I thought it was a fabulous move because we need more women pastors in active ministry to serve the ever-increasing numbers of women in the church. She is a good preacher now. She will be a great preacher someday.
Don't tell me Christmas is not about God. It has to be in order to be meaningful. I do not buy into the hype of commercialisation. Christmas without Christ... just does not work.
Emotionally, this Christmas has been a rough one for me beause there have been some issues that have cropped up/ resurfaced that have needed working through (I also apologise if I was a distracted conversationalist that day, Eng Tat). But it's Christmas, and nothing steals the spirit of Christmas away from me.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
2005_1222new0017
A Dolus Christmas
Contrary to what we told Ivan, Melissa did not come over to my place on Tuesday to "hang out and bake pineapple tarts". We were there on a mission. We had a purpose. Melissa wanted me to have a sneak preview of the video she had made for Dolus, and we had to discuss how we wanted the Christmas cards/ cases to look like.
Sheena was tied up fighting off perverted scammers (sweetie if he calls one more time we will all go down and kick his ass for you), so I spent the whole damn night cutting, wrapping, pinning, glueing and writing. The card itself was a metallic teal that was tied together with a voile ribbon. The CD with Melissa's Dolus tribute was held in place with a paper fastener. Mel also came up with this brilliant (but evil-to-execute) idea to have the inside of the card look like a turntable, so I cut out circles of patterned paper. On one side, I tried to write the receiver's name in cursive, and on the back, the three of us signed our greetings. And to add a final touch, I wrapped toothpicks in aluminium foil to resemble the needle on a gramaphone.
I had actually resolved to just give everyone postcards from M.A.C. this year, but the sleepless night is worth it as long as people like it. =)
I went over to Erin's place early to do my make up while Melissa helped Erin pick out a party outfit. I hitched a lift from my aunt to Parkway (where I could catch two buses and a train to Thompson) on the condition that I get dressed in five minutes, no makeup, and this was the result. The outfit you see in the following picture costs exactly SGD$50.
Contrary to what we told Ivan, Melissa did not come over to my place on Tuesday to "hang out and bake pineapple tarts". We were there on a mission. We had a purpose. Melissa wanted me to have a sneak preview of the video she had made for Dolus, and we had to discuss how we wanted the Christmas cards/ cases to look like.
Sheena was tied up fighting off perverted scammers (sweetie if he calls one more time we will all go down and kick his ass for you), so I spent the whole damn night cutting, wrapping, pinning, glueing and writing. The card itself was a metallic teal that was tied together with a voile ribbon. The CD with Melissa's Dolus tribute was held in place with a paper fastener. Mel also came up with this brilliant (but evil-to-execute) idea to have the inside of the card look like a turntable, so I cut out circles of patterned paper. On one side, I tried to write the receiver's name in cursive, and on the back, the three of us signed our greetings. And to add a final touch, I wrapped toothpicks in aluminium foil to resemble the needle on a gramaphone.
I had actually resolved to just give everyone postcards from M.A.C. this year, but the sleepless night is worth it as long as people like it. =)
I went over to Erin's place early to do my make up while Melissa helped Erin pick out a party outfit. I hitched a lift from my aunt to Parkway (where I could catch two buses and a train to Thompson) on the condition that I get dressed in five minutes, no makeup, and this was the result. The outfit you see in the following picture costs exactly SGD$50.
katong girls + erin
The Christmas party was cool and almost everyone made the effort to come down and chill out. Debbie, Rochelle, Ernest, Sheena, Erin, Melissa, Ivan, Melvin, David and Xuan were all there!
We had plenty of leftovers, of course. I made sushi (but forgot the wasabe), Erin did an incredible pasta salad, Ernest fried a great bee hoon dish, Ivan surprised everyone with his braised mushrooms and Melvin outdid himself with his Version 2.0 peach cheesecake this year. Oh, and Melissa, your snapping up the drinks option every Christmas is not going to become a Dolus tradition. I wanna try your blueberry muffins soooon!
Debs, Ivan, Ernest and Erin's dad had a mini-concert going on before dinner started. With reference to Ernest's blog entry, I think it takes alot of courage to write what you really feel even if it may seem potentially inflammatory at a cursory glance.
I understood where he came from. I think both of us love Dolus to bits and it was a disappointment that we did not fellowship as much as the short evening allowed. And I still feel rather guilty about going off to watch ANTM's TV premiere (even if we managed to crown the reigning Queen Bitch, Ivan, himself) with some of the others when some of us hadn't seen each other in a month or more. Sorry guys.
There's a KTV outing coming up, organised by Ernest, and after the K-Box session, we will stay far away from television sets and have a great time soaking up each other's company.
In the meantime, have yourselves a merry little Christmas.
We had plenty of leftovers, of course. I made sushi (but forgot the wasabe), Erin did an incredible pasta salad, Ernest fried a great bee hoon dish, Ivan surprised everyone with his braised mushrooms and Melvin outdid himself with his Version 2.0 peach cheesecake this year. Oh, and Melissa, your snapping up the drinks option every Christmas is not going to become a Dolus tradition. I wanna try your blueberry muffins soooon!
Debs, Ivan, Ernest and Erin's dad had a mini-concert going on before dinner started. With reference to Ernest's blog entry, I think it takes alot of courage to write what you really feel even if it may seem potentially inflammatory at a cursory glance.
I understood where he came from. I think both of us love Dolus to bits and it was a disappointment that we did not fellowship as much as the short evening allowed. And I still feel rather guilty about going off to watch ANTM's TV premiere (even if we managed to crown the reigning Queen Bitch, Ivan, himself) with some of the others when some of us hadn't seen each other in a month or more. Sorry guys.
There's a KTV outing coming up, organised by Ernest, and after the K-Box session, we will stay far away from television sets and have a great time soaking up each other's company.
In the meantime, have yourselves a merry little Christmas.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Melissa came over today to uh, hang out. More on that tomorrow. We ended up laughing alot and I returned her the precious Sex & The City DVD that I had accidentally left in my player instead of in the box I gave back to her.
I'm kinda bummed that I've missed the deadline to apply for student exchange while waiting for my transfer to be approved by MOE. Hearing everyone else talk about the countries they're gonna go to really gets my goat because heck, I wanted to be there too. I had so many plans.
But everything happens for a purpose, I suppose, and there will always be next time. One more "next time", to be precise, in June of next year. This, I cannot miss. Don't screw me MOE.
In the meantime, you guys are stuck with me.=) And I can get my 12-month subscription to Elle magazine. Muahaha.
Oh yes. I told my brother that "my greatest wish this Christmas... is a good waterproof mascara". Fasio will do! Must start small, okay?
I just realised that it would be horrid not to have any birthday or Christmas presents. Gift-giving has become a ceremony of social affirmation that to be left out of the loop seems to be a sign of one's lack of importance among one's peers. Norms of reciprocity still endure as the gifts exchanged should ideally e of equivalent value; if not, the giver of the lesser present will risk wrath and perceptions of him/herself as stingy or ungrateful (and sadly, there are people like that, which is why I am reducing my total gift tally this year, but that's another story). That's the sociological explanation, I guess. But on a purely emotive level? It would be terrible to be forgotten.
Lastly, I don't think anyone who owes me money reads my blog; if not, they would have paid up by now. All I can say is that I am literally counting my pennies and would deeply appreciate cash infusions. And since I'm on the subject of Irritating People, there is this guy who won't quit bugging me. Eons ago when he was my then-boyfriend's friend, I most misguidedly gave him my phone number. Now he thinks he is free to call and ask me where I am. So I am free to miss the call. And then he has the cheek to MSN me and ask how come I didn't pick up.
Because I'm not interested!! Now please go away. I do not know how I can make it any more blatant than "I'm not interested", and Mr Oblivious just does not get the hint.
He is, of course, one of the many reasons why I'm staying single.
Others include being able to buy whatever the heck you want without having to be accountable for it or having to halve your wealth (some double their liquid assets when they get a boyfriend, in my case, money was flowing out to stock up his wardrobe). The most recent haul from Marina Square:
-Skinfoods eyebrow pencil
-Skinfoods eyeliner pencil
-SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (trial size)
Skinfoods is getting me addicted. This is very bad.
I'm kinda bummed that I've missed the deadline to apply for student exchange while waiting for my transfer to be approved by MOE. Hearing everyone else talk about the countries they're gonna go to really gets my goat because heck, I wanted to be there too. I had so many plans.
But everything happens for a purpose, I suppose, and there will always be next time. One more "next time", to be precise, in June of next year. This, I cannot miss. Don't screw me MOE.
In the meantime, you guys are stuck with me.=) And I can get my 12-month subscription to Elle magazine. Muahaha.
Oh yes. I told my brother that "my greatest wish this Christmas... is a good waterproof mascara". Fasio will do! Must start small, okay?
I just realised that it would be horrid not to have any birthday or Christmas presents. Gift-giving has become a ceremony of social affirmation that to be left out of the loop seems to be a sign of one's lack of importance among one's peers. Norms of reciprocity still endure as the gifts exchanged should ideally e of equivalent value; if not, the giver of the lesser present will risk wrath and perceptions of him/herself as stingy or ungrateful (and sadly, there are people like that, which is why I am reducing my total gift tally this year, but that's another story). That's the sociological explanation, I guess. But on a purely emotive level? It would be terrible to be forgotten.
Lastly, I don't think anyone who owes me money reads my blog; if not, they would have paid up by now. All I can say is that I am literally counting my pennies and would deeply appreciate cash infusions. And since I'm on the subject of Irritating People, there is this guy who won't quit bugging me. Eons ago when he was my then-boyfriend's friend, I most misguidedly gave him my phone number. Now he thinks he is free to call and ask me where I am. So I am free to miss the call. And then he has the cheek to MSN me and ask how come I didn't pick up.
Because I'm not interested!! Now please go away. I do not know how I can make it any more blatant than "I'm not interested", and Mr Oblivious just does not get the hint.
He is, of course, one of the many reasons why I'm staying single.
Others include being able to buy whatever the heck you want without having to be accountable for it or having to halve your wealth (some double their liquid assets when they get a boyfriend, in my case, money was flowing out to stock up his wardrobe). The most recent haul from Marina Square:
-Skinfoods eyebrow pencil
-Skinfoods eyeliner pencil
-SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (trial size)
Skinfoods is getting me addicted. This is very bad.
Monday, December 19, 2005
girls at the jetty
The weather was picture-perfect that day at East Coast, as were we all. Hahaha.
In case the blue tee I am wearing looks familiar to TJcians, it is our House P.E. shirt. Yes, I was that desperate. I ran out of sporty things to wear since I am not a sportswoman. I don't even own a pair of sneakers; I have to borrow my mother's.
My thanks to Joan for letting me use this picture she uploaded. Babe, I can't wait to dress up and go for high tea together too!
In case the blue tee I am wearing looks familiar to TJcians, it is our House P.E. shirt. Yes, I was that desperate. I ran out of sporty things to wear since I am not a sportswoman. I don't even own a pair of sneakers; I have to borrow my mother's.
My thanks to Joan for letting me use this picture she uploaded. Babe, I can't wait to dress up and go for high tea together too!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
What happens when you don't have a boyfriend on weekends?
You travel to JB with your family and your family's friends for the day, but you already bought the good DVDs the last time round so you settle for a
-shrunken cardigan from Voir, SGD$10
and great meals at dirt-cheap prices.
The next day, you go out shopping with a girlfriend on impulse (thanks Fangfang, for literally making my day). You drop by the Kiehl's store for some very generous skincare samples, both of you, en route to other malls, where your friend ends up with a snazzy silver ring while you cannot resist a
-black lace brooch with dangling pearl-and-gold chains from GreenPetals, $18.90, and a
-2-in-1 rice scrub mask from Skinfoods, $19.50
The rice mask is apparently one of their bestsellers. I bought it thinking I could get double duty out of it since it is officially a mask, but those little rice granules are perfect for gentle exfoliating. (I'm thinking I could get away with a rice-based special care special skincare regimen. Within 6 months, the plan will be to own a rice scrub from Origins, a rice mask from Skinfoods and the Facial Treatment Essence from SK-II. I'm crossing off the former two now that they're finally within reach. As you have guessed, my 123 Cleanser-Toner-Moisturiser routine should bear the Kiehl's name as well.)
Got back home, and I persuaded my brother to do a facial mask with me while we watched Alot Like Love! How metro is that?! By the way, Ashton Kutcher is seriously kissable, but you didn't hear it from me. But for the record, my charcoal mask worked its usual wonders but my brother didn't have any idea how to rate his black sugar one, so no reviews. Yowr.
I leave you with a great quote from Markie, who is off enjoying his European vacation. -grouses- We were all at Ben & Jerry's, and Ernest was talking about his "room-warming", as his house was undergoing a revamp of sorts. I immediately offered my services for painting the walls.
Me: Can I help you paint? I LOVE painting!
-silence-
Markie: You mean, painting your nails?
Huff! Well, one has always got to start small. But now, it's time for a bigger canvas. -brandishes foundation brush-
Oh wait. I don't have a foundation brush. Maybe I should get one.
You travel to JB with your family and your family's friends for the day, but you already bought the good DVDs the last time round so you settle for a
-shrunken cardigan from Voir, SGD$10
and great meals at dirt-cheap prices.
The next day, you go out shopping with a girlfriend on impulse (thanks Fangfang, for literally making my day). You drop by the Kiehl's store for some very generous skincare samples, both of you, en route to other malls, where your friend ends up with a snazzy silver ring while you cannot resist a
-black lace brooch with dangling pearl-and-gold chains from GreenPetals, $18.90, and a
-2-in-1 rice scrub mask from Skinfoods, $19.50
The rice mask is apparently one of their bestsellers. I bought it thinking I could get double duty out of it since it is officially a mask, but those little rice granules are perfect for gentle exfoliating. (I'm thinking I could get away with a rice-based special care special skincare regimen. Within 6 months, the plan will be to own a rice scrub from Origins, a rice mask from Skinfoods and the Facial Treatment Essence from SK-II. I'm crossing off the former two now that they're finally within reach. As you have guessed, my 123 Cleanser-Toner-Moisturiser routine should bear the Kiehl's name as well.)
Got back home, and I persuaded my brother to do a facial mask with me while we watched Alot Like Love! How metro is that?! By the way, Ashton Kutcher is seriously kissable, but you didn't hear it from me. But for the record, my charcoal mask worked its usual wonders but my brother didn't have any idea how to rate his black sugar one, so no reviews. Yowr.
I leave you with a great quote from Markie, who is off enjoying his European vacation. -grouses- We were all at Ben & Jerry's, and Ernest was talking about his "room-warming", as his house was undergoing a revamp of sorts. I immediately offered my services for painting the walls.
Me: Can I help you paint? I LOVE painting!
-silence-
Markie: You mean, painting your nails?
Huff! Well, one has always got to start small. But now, it's time for a bigger canvas. -brandishes foundation brush-
Oh wait. I don't have a foundation brush. Maybe I should get one.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Cycling from East Coast to Bedok Jetty was great fun with all nine TJ girls save for Kia Dai. I haven't been out and about and in touch with nature for so long, so it was a liberating experience to bike against the flow of the wind and enjoy the sound of the surf.
It didn't last long. I helped my mum do her Christmas shopping today! She spent close to eighty bucks at Skinfood buying face masks for her men friends! (We thought it would be funny to see their faces when they opened their presents.) Now she blames me for making her buying four lipsticks from Madina (an Italian brand that isn't so readily available locally) and two eyeshadow palettes for me which she is half-tempted to keep for herself (I know it's such a downer to know what you're getting but I'd rather play it safe).
And I bought
-Bloom aromatherapy lip balm (lime flavour), $10 (I had such a good deal on this and for the record, it's wonderfully emollient)
-Brown tank and cropped green cardigan, $29.90
My mum's also bought over half of my Clinique cachet for herself and her sisters, so I need to start shopping again.
p.s. if you know you're on my list, please do not be shy in letting me know your skin type. It's so much easier to get appropriate gifts that way!
Oh! And my 36-Hour Detox Diet didn't materialise after all. Thanks to the aromatic duck rice at Lagoon/ Laguna/ whatever you call that hawker centre by the beach, slurping leftover soup from Yingling's laksa bowl, sugar cane juice, MacDonald's hot fudge sundae and fries, Han's chicken pie and just only an hour ago... papadum and iced Milo! (If you are reading this, Eng Tat: we need to stop meeting like this. Hahaha...)
It didn't last long. I helped my mum do her Christmas shopping today! She spent close to eighty bucks at Skinfood buying face masks for her men friends! (We thought it would be funny to see their faces when they opened their presents.) Now she blames me for making her buying four lipsticks from Madina (an Italian brand that isn't so readily available locally) and two eyeshadow palettes for me which she is half-tempted to keep for herself (I know it's such a downer to know what you're getting but I'd rather play it safe).
And I bought
-Bloom aromatherapy lip balm (lime flavour), $10 (I had such a good deal on this and for the record, it's wonderfully emollient)
-Brown tank and cropped green cardigan, $29.90
My mum's also bought over half of my Clinique cachet for herself and her sisters, so I need to start shopping again.
p.s. if you know you're on my list, please do not be shy in letting me know your skin type. It's so much easier to get appropriate gifts that way!
Oh! And my 36-Hour Detox Diet didn't materialise after all. Thanks to the aromatic duck rice at Lagoon/ Laguna/ whatever you call that hawker centre by the beach, slurping leftover soup from Yingling's laksa bowl, sugar cane juice, MacDonald's hot fudge sundae and fries, Han's chicken pie and just only an hour ago... papadum and iced Milo! (If you are reading this, Eng Tat: we need to stop meeting like this. Hahaha...)
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
I went shopping with Fangfang, Chu Xian and Zhumei this evening! Funnily enough, all of us arrived early (for once in the, like, seven years we've known each other). Early, as in five o' clock, on the dot (I remember because I had just sniffed Elizabeth Arden's new After Five fragrance --"a girl's day begins after five"-- before they other girls walked in).
We decided to revisit Long John's at Marina Square for dinner. We had a bad service experience the last time we went there after catching a movie. So bad that I had to complain about how we came here for fast food, not slow food. Gosh! This time, the food and counter service were relatively more palatable, but when I asked one of the staff if she could wipe our table, she actually dared to "diao" me! The nerve of that chick! Who does she think she is talking to? Does she not know that I am the Complaint Queen?!
Anyway, more damage done to my wallet.
-Eye shimmer stick from Skinfoods, $10.90 (less 10%)
-French manicure stickers, $1.90 (less 10%)
-Purple floral embroidered bag with wooden handle, $8 (what a steal!))
-Elle magazine, $5
It may not seem like a lot, but the pennies really do add up.
We decided to revisit Long John's at Marina Square for dinner. We had a bad service experience the last time we went there after catching a movie. So bad that I had to complain about how we came here for fast food, not slow food. Gosh! This time, the food and counter service were relatively more palatable, but when I asked one of the staff if she could wipe our table, she actually dared to "diao" me! The nerve of that chick! Who does she think she is talking to? Does she not know that I am the Complaint Queen?!
Anyway, more damage done to my wallet.
-Eye shimmer stick from Skinfoods, $10.90 (less 10%)
-French manicure stickers, $1.90 (less 10%)
-Purple floral embroidered bag with wooden handle, $8 (what a steal!))
-Elle magazine, $5
It may not seem like a lot, but the pennies really do add up.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Steffy, Porpor and I shopped from 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday! We introduced our grandmother to MacDonald's breakfast and Mos Burger, and bored her with our frequent detours into cosmetic stores. They stayed over at my place on Saturday night, and I only fell asleep at 4 am chatting away with Steffy. The next day, I had to be at the Expo at 8.30 am to help out with the children's service, and left only six hours later after lunch and youth service with Val, Melissa, Lin, Joelle, Yu Shan etc.
Then I took a train down to Jurong East where I bumped into Xiaoyan for abit, and met Steffy and Porpor to shop at IMM, mainly for the famed Daiso store which sells everything at $2 apiece. Then we went back to their home in Choa Chu Kang where I stayed the night and watched/ bitched about the Miss World pageant.
Here's how much I've spent and on what:
-M.A.C. eyeshadow shading brush, $32 (but I had a $10 Tangs voucher)
-Gold chandelier earrings from Forever 21, $11
-Nivea Oil Regulating Fluid, $6.80 (I am never getting this again, it overpromises and underdelivers)
-Facial scrubbing pore pad from Bugis Village, $5.50 (a star product from Japan, I grabbed the last one on the shelf)
-Eyebrow razors from Beauty Language, 3 for $2
-Lipstick stand from Daiso, $2 (it's so cute and nobody can guess what it's for!)
-Bossanova CD from Daiso, $2
-Body Shop Elderflower Eye Gel, $15.90 (but half-price thanks to Valencia's lobang!)
-Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell, $13.40
It doesn't sound like much, but considering that I have blown close to $150 at Clinique and Origins (and only one No Puffery eye mask is for myself while the rest are destined to be land in the hands of other owners come Dec 25th), well...
I got home late this afternoon, and barely had time to put down my bags before leaving the house to go shopping with my mum and sister before meeting the rest of the fam for dinner at my favourite bak chor mee stall. I highly recommend the crispy deep-fried wanton dish, by the way.
My thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement! Even Ivan, whom I have cut off from my Christmas card list for going around leaving messages on tagboards about what a poor drinker I am (whether it is the truth is irrelevant, haha). I still await their reply.
And now, a few overdue reviews on some of my favourite products in my skincare stash. I put my faith in reviews and am more predisposed to making a purchase decision if I've heard good things about it first, so I shall consider the series of reviews as my uh, contribution to the beauty-conscious segment of society. Uh...
1) Origins Modern Friction facial scrub, $75
The claim: This is an award-winning scrub that uses rice as the main exfoliant. It is touted as being as good as a clinical dermabrasion while staying gentle.
The result: This is the first scrub I ever fell in love with! It left my skin glowing and feeling smooth for hours while effectively minimising pores!
The verdict: 9.5 out of 10 lipglosses!
2) Origins Incredible Spreadable body scrub, $55
The claim: Another award-winning product from Origins that is part of its renowned Ginger line, which promises to leave your skin silky smooth while energising you with the invigorating smell of ginger.
The result: Normally, scrubs are recommended for twice weekly use, but I became so addicted to the wonderful lingering aroma of ginger, bergamot and orange that I have been using it almost daily! It makes for a wonderful back scrub, by the way.
The verdict: 9 out of 10 lipglosses!
3) Origins No Puffery cooling eye mask, $42
The claim: This has also won awards. It is an eye mask but can be applied lightly for all-day usage. It promises to reduce puffiness around the eye area- massively.
The result: Origins has another winner here. Because I'll only be getting my elderflower eye gel next Sunday, I've been sneakily sustituting this for a moisturiser. I applied it at 6am after getting back from Zouk, and I awoke in the morning to a visibly lighter undereye area! My only complaints are that it doesn't do anything about fine lines and it doesn't have SPF. I think it's a big tragedy that the eyes and lips are the most delicate skin on the face but practically nobody ever designs creams with UVA/ UVB protection for these areas.
The verdict: 8.5 out of 10 lipglosses!
4) Origins Charcoal Mask, $42
The claim: It minimises pores and draws out blackheads. Another bestseller locally, especially given our oily, blemish-prone skin.
The result: The smell of charcoal was very subtle and faded within seconds, and I enjoyed freaking my siblings out with my darkened, greyish face while I was applying the mask. It was touted as a ten minute mask for busy women going places but I found that waiting thirty minutes delivered the best results as the charcoal purifying ingredients really had time to burrow deep and eliminate impurities. It did an adequate job closing up my pores but what I liked most about it was how it really refined the texture of my skin.
The verdict: 8 out of 10 lipglosses!
5) Origins Checks and Balances facial cleanser, $33 (I got it for four dollars less at duty-free)
The claim: Heralded as the Best Cleanser at the Beauty Awards, it was supposed to be a dream come true for combination skin.
The result: The cleanser performed satisfactorily and even whiteheads or pimples would appear smaller after a shower, but I have found that milk cleansers tend to be gentler on my skin. I also tend to favour multi-purpose, time-saving products i.e. tinted moisturiser with sunscreen or milk cleansers that double as makeup removers), but this, sadly, didn't really make the cut. I was expecting more.
The verdict: 6 out of 10 lipglosses
6) Origins Get Down deep pore clay cleanser, part of a skincare kit that cost $59 in total
The claim: Its tiny exfoliating beads would rub away grime and accumulated particles. It could be used as a cleanser or left on as a two-minute mask.
The result: As an exfoliating cleanser, it was alright but a little too gentle on my skin as there were too few microbeads. As a mask, it was pretty awesome as it dried quickly but left my skin rejuvenated after I washed it off.
The verdict: 7 out of 10 lipglosses
7) Origins Make A Difference tonic, $42
The claim: From the same family as the Make A Difference moisturiser, this was labelled as a tonic and not just a toner because it would replenish and rehydrate tired skin with star ingredients like rose of Jericho.
The result: It certainly woke up my skin with its heady but not overpowering scent! One sales consultant who made me over claimed that it enlivened my skin and made it glow, but I'm not sure about that sometimes... different lighting, perhaps?
The verdict: 7 out of 10 lipglosses
I still have a couple more products from Origins that I haven't started using, but to check out the complete Origins range, visit their website, which I have to commend for being extremely well-organised and navigationally-friendly. I think I'll be sticking to my Origins masks and scrubs but am thinking of switching to Shiseido, Bioessence or Biotherm for my Skincare 123 (Cleanser-Toner-Moisturiser) routine. Reviews, anyone?
(I'm looking to amass products from a single line and brand. Given my multitasker product philosophy, I will only consider cleansers that can remove makeup, toners that are alcohol-free, and moisturisers that have a minimum of SPF 15 and are preferably oil-free. To date, only the Shiseido Pureness range satisfies all these requirements. However, if there is a cheaper alternative, I'm always open to suggestions.)
Then I took a train down to Jurong East where I bumped into Xiaoyan for abit, and met Steffy and Porpor to shop at IMM, mainly for the famed Daiso store which sells everything at $2 apiece. Then we went back to their home in Choa Chu Kang where I stayed the night and watched/ bitched about the Miss World pageant.
Here's how much I've spent and on what:
-M.A.C. eyeshadow shading brush, $32 (but I had a $10 Tangs voucher)
-Gold chandelier earrings from Forever 21, $11
-Nivea Oil Regulating Fluid, $6.80 (I am never getting this again, it overpromises and underdelivers)
-Facial scrubbing pore pad from Bugis Village, $5.50 (a star product from Japan, I grabbed the last one on the shelf)
-Eyebrow razors from Beauty Language, 3 for $2
-Lipstick stand from Daiso, $2 (it's so cute and nobody can guess what it's for!)
-Bossanova CD from Daiso, $2
-Body Shop Elderflower Eye Gel, $15.90 (but half-price thanks to Valencia's lobang!)
-Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell, $13.40
It doesn't sound like much, but considering that I have blown close to $150 at Clinique and Origins (and only one No Puffery eye mask is for myself while the rest are destined to be land in the hands of other owners come Dec 25th), well...
I got home late this afternoon, and barely had time to put down my bags before leaving the house to go shopping with my mum and sister before meeting the rest of the fam for dinner at my favourite bak chor mee stall. I highly recommend the crispy deep-fried wanton dish, by the way.
My thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement! Even Ivan, whom I have cut off from my Christmas card list for going around leaving messages on tagboards about what a poor drinker I am (whether it is the truth is irrelevant, haha). I still await their reply.
And now, a few overdue reviews on some of my favourite products in my skincare stash. I put my faith in reviews and am more predisposed to making a purchase decision if I've heard good things about it first, so I shall consider the series of reviews as my uh, contribution to the beauty-conscious segment of society. Uh...
1) Origins Modern Friction facial scrub, $75
The claim: This is an award-winning scrub that uses rice as the main exfoliant. It is touted as being as good as a clinical dermabrasion while staying gentle.
The result: This is the first scrub I ever fell in love with! It left my skin glowing and feeling smooth for hours while effectively minimising pores!
The verdict: 9.5 out of 10 lipglosses!
2) Origins Incredible Spreadable body scrub, $55
The claim: Another award-winning product from Origins that is part of its renowned Ginger line, which promises to leave your skin silky smooth while energising you with the invigorating smell of ginger.
The result: Normally, scrubs are recommended for twice weekly use, but I became so addicted to the wonderful lingering aroma of ginger, bergamot and orange that I have been using it almost daily! It makes for a wonderful back scrub, by the way.
The verdict: 9 out of 10 lipglosses!
3) Origins No Puffery cooling eye mask, $42
The claim: This has also won awards. It is an eye mask but can be applied lightly for all-day usage. It promises to reduce puffiness around the eye area- massively.
The result: Origins has another winner here. Because I'll only be getting my elderflower eye gel next Sunday, I've been sneakily sustituting this for a moisturiser. I applied it at 6am after getting back from Zouk, and I awoke in the morning to a visibly lighter undereye area! My only complaints are that it doesn't do anything about fine lines and it doesn't have SPF. I think it's a big tragedy that the eyes and lips are the most delicate skin on the face but practically nobody ever designs creams with UVA/ UVB protection for these areas.
The verdict: 8.5 out of 10 lipglosses!
4) Origins Charcoal Mask, $42
The claim: It minimises pores and draws out blackheads. Another bestseller locally, especially given our oily, blemish-prone skin.
The result: The smell of charcoal was very subtle and faded within seconds, and I enjoyed freaking my siblings out with my darkened, greyish face while I was applying the mask. It was touted as a ten minute mask for busy women going places but I found that waiting thirty minutes delivered the best results as the charcoal purifying ingredients really had time to burrow deep and eliminate impurities. It did an adequate job closing up my pores but what I liked most about it was how it really refined the texture of my skin.
The verdict: 8 out of 10 lipglosses!
5) Origins Checks and Balances facial cleanser, $33 (I got it for four dollars less at duty-free)
The claim: Heralded as the Best Cleanser at the Beauty Awards, it was supposed to be a dream come true for combination skin.
The result: The cleanser performed satisfactorily and even whiteheads or pimples would appear smaller after a shower, but I have found that milk cleansers tend to be gentler on my skin. I also tend to favour multi-purpose, time-saving products i.e. tinted moisturiser with sunscreen or milk cleansers that double as makeup removers), but this, sadly, didn't really make the cut. I was expecting more.
The verdict: 6 out of 10 lipglosses
6) Origins Get Down deep pore clay cleanser, part of a skincare kit that cost $59 in total
The claim: Its tiny exfoliating beads would rub away grime and accumulated particles. It could be used as a cleanser or left on as a two-minute mask.
The result: As an exfoliating cleanser, it was alright but a little too gentle on my skin as there were too few microbeads. As a mask, it was pretty awesome as it dried quickly but left my skin rejuvenated after I washed it off.
The verdict: 7 out of 10 lipglosses
7) Origins Make A Difference tonic, $42
The claim: From the same family as the Make A Difference moisturiser, this was labelled as a tonic and not just a toner because it would replenish and rehydrate tired skin with star ingredients like rose of Jericho.
The result: It certainly woke up my skin with its heady but not overpowering scent! One sales consultant who made me over claimed that it enlivened my skin and made it glow, but I'm not sure about that sometimes... different lighting, perhaps?
The verdict: 7 out of 10 lipglosses
I still have a couple more products from Origins that I haven't started using, but to check out the complete Origins range, visit their website, which I have to commend for being extremely well-organised and navigationally-friendly. I think I'll be sticking to my Origins masks and scrubs but am thinking of switching to Shiseido, Bioessence or Biotherm for my Skincare 123 (Cleanser-Toner-Moisturiser) routine. Reviews, anyone?
(I'm looking to amass products from a single line and brand. Given my multitasker product philosophy, I will only consider cleansers that can remove makeup, toners that are alcohol-free, and moisturisers that have a minimum of SPF 15 and are preferably oil-free. To date, only the Shiseido Pureness range satisfies all these requirements. However, if there is a cheaper alternative, I'm always open to suggestions.)
Friday, December 09, 2005
I was supposed to sleep over at my grandma's place, but I was too lazy to pack my bags. So I thought I'd get my transfer application out of the way. The outcome is still pending, and I'm hoping it will turn out in my favour.
To whomever it may concern:
Request for Change of Major
I am a second-year student at NUS under the MOE Teaching Award (TA).
My CS1 is English Language (EL) while my CS2 is English Literature
(EN). I would like to petition to change my CS1 to English Literature,
and my CS2 to English Language, for several reasons outlined below:
1) My interest lies in Literature, and not Language.
"Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is the
triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have always believed that passion for a subject should be the main
driving force motivating a student's choice of study. Prior to my
selection of my major, I researched the English Department's website
carefully, and also spoke with seniors who were majoring in English
before coming to a decision to offer English Language as my CS1.
However, there is no substitute for experience, and over the last
three semesters, I have taken four EL modules and two EN modules, and
discovered my passion to lie in English Literature instead.
2) I am scoring better in Literature than in Language.
It may be a direct result of my deeper interest and love for
Literature, but I have been performing consistently better in my
Literature modules, with an average of A- (which I intend to pull up
to an A, come next semester).
However, my English modules have had the lowest grades among all my
modules, with an average of B. The worst grade I scored was also in
English, for a compulsory module, Structure of Sentences and Meanings
(C+). My placement on the Dean's List for meritorious academic
achievement in my first semester was in spite of my Language scores,
not because of them.
Strategically speaking, I would like to pursue a course of study in
Literature because I am currently performing much better in it. Based
on the trend of the last academic year-and-a-half, continuing with
English as my CS1 might pull down my grades, but with a switch to
Literature, I could continue to maintain my CAP of 4.3, go on to
graduate with Second-Upper Honours and better, and do the Ministry
proud.
3) The change would benefit MOE.
I monitored my grades carefully and put in equal amounts of effort for
all my subjects, but I have still performed better in Literature than
in Language. I would not presume to be intimately acquainted with the
needs of the Ministry, but I have sought the counsel of NUS lecturers,
and friends who are currently teachers or MOE scholars, and they have
advised that good teachers with an extensive knowledge of English
Literature are in great demand.
Furthermore, even if I am not earmarked to become a Lit teacher while
serving out my bond, I strongly believe that I could draw upon my
background in English Literature to provide my students with a
holistic appreciation of life and intertextual discourse.
Although I scored a B for A-Level Literature, I had been consistently
topping my class and even the entire cohort in Temasek Junior College.
I have won Creative Writing awards at the National and Intra-School
levels, and just this November, wemerged champion of a NUS Business
School Marketing Competition sponsored by 3M where I was responsible
for the copywriting of an entire promotional campaign for 3M
Scotch-Brite. I attribute this success to my Literature studies, which
grounded me in an appreciation of text and the art of written
communication.
Based on my grades, my enthusiasm for Literature, and the potential
benefits it could bring to MOE, I would like to sincerely request that
the Ministry consider my petition for a change of my CS1. At time of
writing this, I have successfully completed four modules in English
(which can be converted into the minimum amount of modules necessary
for a CS2) and am planning to go on the Student Exchange Programme to
the University of Nottingham, which has a world-renowned Literature
programme.
I would like to assure the Ministry that this is not a frivolous
request, but one in which considerable thought has been put into since
early this January when I realised that I was faring far better in
Literature whilst struggling with the technicalities of English. I
strongly believe that it is to MOE's advantage to have Award-holders
who are pursuing subjects they are passionate about, because they tend
to score better, represent MOE well in terms of academics, and because
this enthusiasm will inevitably be passed on to the students they will
teach. My passion lies with English Literature.
Should there arise a need for a face-to-face interview, I would be
willing to come down with my transcripts at a time of your
convenience. I am truly looking forward to the Ministry's response and
will respect the decision made.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Ong
(Tel: 6 *** **** or 9 *** ****)
To whomever it may concern:
Request for Change of Major
I am a second-year student at NUS under the MOE Teaching Award (TA).
My CS1 is English Language (EL) while my CS2 is English Literature
(EN). I would like to petition to change my CS1 to English Literature,
and my CS2 to English Language, for several reasons outlined below:
1) My interest lies in Literature, and not Language.
"Every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is the
triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have always believed that passion for a subject should be the main
driving force motivating a student's choice of study. Prior to my
selection of my major, I researched the English Department's website
carefully, and also spoke with seniors who were majoring in English
before coming to a decision to offer English Language as my CS1.
However, there is no substitute for experience, and over the last
three semesters, I have taken four EL modules and two EN modules, and
discovered my passion to lie in English Literature instead.
2) I am scoring better in Literature than in Language.
It may be a direct result of my deeper interest and love for
Literature, but I have been performing consistently better in my
Literature modules, with an average of A- (which I intend to pull up
to an A, come next semester).
However, my English modules have had the lowest grades among all my
modules, with an average of B. The worst grade I scored was also in
English, for a compulsory module, Structure of Sentences and Meanings
(C+). My placement on the Dean's List for meritorious academic
achievement in my first semester was in spite of my Language scores,
not because of them.
Strategically speaking, I would like to pursue a course of study in
Literature because I am currently performing much better in it. Based
on the trend of the last academic year-and-a-half, continuing with
English as my CS1 might pull down my grades, but with a switch to
Literature, I could continue to maintain my CAP of 4.3, go on to
graduate with Second-Upper Honours and better, and do the Ministry
proud.
3) The change would benefit MOE.
I monitored my grades carefully and put in equal amounts of effort for
all my subjects, but I have still performed better in Literature than
in Language. I would not presume to be intimately acquainted with the
needs of the Ministry, but I have sought the counsel of NUS lecturers,
and friends who are currently teachers or MOE scholars, and they have
advised that good teachers with an extensive knowledge of English
Literature are in great demand.
Furthermore, even if I am not earmarked to become a Lit teacher while
serving out my bond, I strongly believe that I could draw upon my
background in English Literature to provide my students with a
holistic appreciation of life and intertextual discourse.
Although I scored a B for A-Level Literature, I had been consistently
topping my class and even the entire cohort in Temasek Junior College.
I have won Creative Writing awards at the National and Intra-School
levels, and just this November, wemerged champion of a NUS Business
School Marketing Competition sponsored by 3M where I was responsible
for the copywriting of an entire promotional campaign for 3M
Scotch-Brite. I attribute this success to my Literature studies, which
grounded me in an appreciation of text and the art of written
communication.
Based on my grades, my enthusiasm for Literature, and the potential
benefits it could bring to MOE, I would like to sincerely request that
the Ministry consider my petition for a change of my CS1. At time of
writing this, I have successfully completed four modules in English
(which can be converted into the minimum amount of modules necessary
for a CS2) and am planning to go on the Student Exchange Programme to
the University of Nottingham, which has a world-renowned Literature
programme.
I would like to assure the Ministry that this is not a frivolous
request, but one in which considerable thought has been put into since
early this January when I realised that I was faring far better in
Literature whilst struggling with the technicalities of English. I
strongly believe that it is to MOE's advantage to have Award-holders
who are pursuing subjects they are passionate about, because they tend
to score better, represent MOE well in terms of academics, and because
this enthusiasm will inevitably be passed on to the students they will
teach. My passion lies with English Literature.
Should there arise a need for a face-to-face interview, I would be
willing to come down with my transcripts at a time of your
convenience. I am truly looking forward to the Ministry's response and
will respect the decision made.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Ong
(Tel: 6 *** **** or 9 *** ****)
Thursday, December 08, 2005
mambo
Updates on...
1) Clubbing: How I Survived Mambo Night On Fruit Punch
Erin, Ivan, Melissa and I got seats at the Velvet winebar before heading to Phuture, then Zouk.
I had promised my parents that I wouldn't drink, so one glass of fruit punch was to be my sustenance for the next six hours or so while the others were downing flaming Lamborghinis and assorted scary shots. I also threw on this pink shrug when I left the house to placate my parents- it got stuffed into the locker later. It has a bit too much of a ballet vibe going on for me, though.
We were the first people to wish Erin dear happy birthday at the stroke of midnight! Aside: I hope you like the Origins gift set containing a hand treatment, a foot cream and a leg massager. We would have bought you the Anna Sui holiday eyeshadow set but you insisted you had enough makeup, so I thought this gift would be perfect for a girl on the go! Love you sweetie!
This picture was taken at the insane hour of five in the morning after I got back. I love my DiorKiss lipgloss in Lychee Rose and Diorshow mascara, which earns the notable distinction of being the first mascara I own that actually makes me look like I have lashes.
My parents were pretty riled that I got back an hour past my darn curfew. I tried to explain that something rather serious cropped up so I had to stay back and make sure things were ok, but they just outright banned me from clubbing anymore.
But that won't happen as long as I'm me. There are two reasons why I don't club often: choice and social circumstance.
Firstly, I think living the life of a party animal is exhilarating once in a blue moon, but partying it up every weekend at the expense of your studies might be taking things a tad too far. So I choose not to. In the same way, I can just as easily choose to go. If my parents were to enforce any zero-tolerance policy in this house...
Secondly, clubbing has been one of the lowest priorities on my to-do list this semester. The only times I got back at 5 a.m. were because I as rushing my marketing project in school, of all places. Also, it's hard to get together unless it's the holidays since some of my friends are working and the rest of us are studying in four different universities and two polytechnics. So if a chance should arise where everyone miraculously is able to make it and in the mood for retro house music, you bet I'll be there to say hi.
Furthermore, I went out of my way to appease my parents' worry. I don't club unless I have transport home, I bring enough money for a cab, and darn it, I drank fruit punch instead of alcohol because I promised Mum I wouldn't! I don't dance like a slut, I don't rub up on strange guys, and I've learnt my lesson the hard way and make sure I know my limits as far as drinking is concerned.
I think it is very disappointing that they consider it shameful to go clubbing even given all the qualifiers I have mentioned above. I find it very insulting when they say I am not setting a good example to my siblings by going clubbing. I think that by staying within limits, keeping my promises and having fun while still maintaining a modicum of decorum, I have done fine. I have tried harder this year to be a better sister and daughter, and to claim that one night out on the town has invalidated all that makes me feel like all my effort is not worthwhile.
There are some people who do not drink by choice, and their resolve is admirable. There are others who do not go clubbing by choice, and I respect their decision. Respect mine.
(It was only one evening, anyway.)
2) Memoirs of a Geisha
I cannot wait for the movie to come to town.
In America, geisha-fever is sweeping the nation with the movie's tie-ins with brands like Banana Republic (which is producing kimono clutches and Oriental-inspired wrap tops) and cosmetics company Fresh (which has rolled out sakura-themed face palettes and an entire bath and body line based on sake and rice). The beauty looks that can be copped? Black liquid eyeliner and wine-coloured lips. Not for the timid.
But as for me, I'll be enjoying a rare quiet day on the sofa re-reading the Arthur Golden novel that started it all.
1) Clubbing: How I Survived Mambo Night On Fruit Punch
Erin, Ivan, Melissa and I got seats at the Velvet winebar before heading to Phuture, then Zouk.
I had promised my parents that I wouldn't drink, so one glass of fruit punch was to be my sustenance for the next six hours or so while the others were downing flaming Lamborghinis and assorted scary shots. I also threw on this pink shrug when I left the house to placate my parents- it got stuffed into the locker later. It has a bit too much of a ballet vibe going on for me, though.
We were the first people to wish Erin dear happy birthday at the stroke of midnight! Aside: I hope you like the Origins gift set containing a hand treatment, a foot cream and a leg massager. We would have bought you the Anna Sui holiday eyeshadow set but you insisted you had enough makeup, so I thought this gift would be perfect for a girl on the go! Love you sweetie!
This picture was taken at the insane hour of five in the morning after I got back. I love my DiorKiss lipgloss in Lychee Rose and Diorshow mascara, which earns the notable distinction of being the first mascara I own that actually makes me look like I have lashes.
My parents were pretty riled that I got back an hour past my darn curfew. I tried to explain that something rather serious cropped up so I had to stay back and make sure things were ok, but they just outright banned me from clubbing anymore.
But that won't happen as long as I'm me. There are two reasons why I don't club often: choice and social circumstance.
Firstly, I think living the life of a party animal is exhilarating once in a blue moon, but partying it up every weekend at the expense of your studies might be taking things a tad too far. So I choose not to. In the same way, I can just as easily choose to go. If my parents were to enforce any zero-tolerance policy in this house...
Secondly, clubbing has been one of the lowest priorities on my to-do list this semester. The only times I got back at 5 a.m. were because I as rushing my marketing project in school, of all places. Also, it's hard to get together unless it's the holidays since some of my friends are working and the rest of us are studying in four different universities and two polytechnics. So if a chance should arise where everyone miraculously is able to make it and in the mood for retro house music, you bet I'll be there to say hi.
Furthermore, I went out of my way to appease my parents' worry. I don't club unless I have transport home, I bring enough money for a cab, and darn it, I drank fruit punch instead of alcohol because I promised Mum I wouldn't! I don't dance like a slut, I don't rub up on strange guys, and I've learnt my lesson the hard way and make sure I know my limits as far as drinking is concerned.
I think it is very disappointing that they consider it shameful to go clubbing even given all the qualifiers I have mentioned above. I find it very insulting when they say I am not setting a good example to my siblings by going clubbing. I think that by staying within limits, keeping my promises and having fun while still maintaining a modicum of decorum, I have done fine. I have tried harder this year to be a better sister and daughter, and to claim that one night out on the town has invalidated all that makes me feel like all my effort is not worthwhile.
There are some people who do not drink by choice, and their resolve is admirable. There are others who do not go clubbing by choice, and I respect their decision. Respect mine.
(It was only one evening, anyway.)
2) Memoirs of a Geisha
I cannot wait for the movie to come to town.
In America, geisha-fever is sweeping the nation with the movie's tie-ins with brands like Banana Republic (which is producing kimono clutches and Oriental-inspired wrap tops) and cosmetics company Fresh (which has rolled out sakura-themed face palettes and an entire bath and body line based on sake and rice). The beauty looks that can be copped? Black liquid eyeliner and wine-coloured lips. Not for the timid.
But as for me, I'll be enjoying a rare quiet day on the sofa re-reading the Arthur Golden novel that started it all.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
ooh la la
So many years ago, a group of eighteen-year-old girls went to a prom at the Ritz.
I'm posting this old photo from 2003 because I just got back from supper with another friend from junior college (thanks for the treat, next time it's my turn!) and I was reminded of all those happy slacker days in Temasek.
(My parents were overseas then, so I did the makeup all by myself and walked out under an umbrella to my hair salon for the styling appointment. After that, Joan and her father were kind enough to pick me up in their gorgeous white Mercedes.)
Unless a job is offered to me on a platter, I guess I won't be actively searching for one. I was supposed to interview with M.A.C today but I eschewed that in favour of shopping at M.A.C, and fittingly bought another M.A.C. brush for my little collection. As well as a stash of Origins stuff for Christmas.
This new strategy of buying gifts only for People You Really, Really Love is paying off. Pun intended. Broke, I am!
I'm posting this old photo from 2003 because I just got back from supper with another friend from junior college (thanks for the treat, next time it's my turn!) and I was reminded of all those happy slacker days in Temasek.
(My parents were overseas then, so I did the makeup all by myself and walked out under an umbrella to my hair salon for the styling appointment. After that, Joan and her father were kind enough to pick me up in their gorgeous white Mercedes.)
Unless a job is offered to me on a platter, I guess I won't be actively searching for one. I was supposed to interview with M.A.C today but I eschewed that in favour of shopping at M.A.C, and fittingly bought another M.A.C. brush for my little collection. As well as a stash of Origins stuff for Christmas.
This new strategy of buying gifts only for People You Really, Really Love is paying off. Pun intended. Broke, I am!
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Feeling: crappy
It's a little late to be experiencing a sudden belated onset of teenage angst.
I was arguing with someone just now and ended up getting called "selfish".
F*ck this lah.
I'm not selfish. I am just highly insecure, more so in the past few days than ever before. And the last thing I need now is more status symbolism shoved in my face, or insensitive people being mean.
On another note, rich girls don't know the value of money.
(Pay me back, person!!! I'm penny broke and you're not!)
I know. I spend my own hard-earned money, not Mummy's. I take great pride in the fact that it's mine.
I need some retail therapy in the truest sense of "therapy". I discovered the formal existence of a medical diagnosis known as "spending addiction", or shopoholism. I am wondering if I qualify.
-neighbourhood malls and shopping websites possess an unspeakable allure for you
-you use shopping to try and "buy" happiness- to make you feel empowered, popular or prettier
-you hide your purchases from your family so they won't know how much you've really spent
-you feel a rush of adrenaline every time a salesgirl rings up your purchases
-your purchases reflect your considerable knowledge of the latest trends and fashion
These are the more salient descriptors of the syndrome. I ticked all of them, hahaha. Good thing my card is with my mum so my life savings are safe (for now). I just bought a cachet of Clinique stuff for Christmas (for friends and family, none for me) so my cash flow is trickling dry.
It's a little late to be experiencing a sudden belated onset of teenage angst.
I was arguing with someone just now and ended up getting called "selfish".
F*ck this lah.
I'm not selfish. I am just highly insecure, more so in the past few days than ever before. And the last thing I need now is more status symbolism shoved in my face, or insensitive people being mean.
On another note, rich girls don't know the value of money.
(Pay me back, person!!! I'm penny broke and you're not!)
I know. I spend my own hard-earned money, not Mummy's. I take great pride in the fact that it's mine.
I need some retail therapy in the truest sense of "therapy". I discovered the formal existence of a medical diagnosis known as "spending addiction", or shopoholism. I am wondering if I qualify.
-neighbourhood malls and shopping websites possess an unspeakable allure for you
-you use shopping to try and "buy" happiness- to make you feel empowered, popular or prettier
-you hide your purchases from your family so they won't know how much you've really spent
-you feel a rush of adrenaline every time a salesgirl rings up your purchases
-your purchases reflect your considerable knowledge of the latest trends and fashion
These are the more salient descriptors of the syndrome. I ticked all of them, hahaha. Good thing my card is with my mum so my life savings are safe (for now). I just bought a cachet of Clinique stuff for Christmas (for friends and family, none for me) so my cash flow is trickling dry.
haagen dazs
BY DAY
I've been suffering from a chronic bout of low self esteem. Half the photos I take make me look constipated, and the other half make me look fat.
And I don't hate imperfection, I just despise being imperfect. And I loathe having the world point it out to me.
I've been feeling that way for a while. Dispensable. Like I could disappear and nobody would care. Like nobody really loves me.
So try not to comment negatively on your friends, people. It's rude and uncalled for. I hate having some girl single me out in a large group and recite her views on my eyebrows. Or something. You get the idea. Get lost. I am not in the mood to entertain you or your views.
Next time I will not smile and make light of it. I will tell you, "I'm not comfortable having my imperfections discussed in public. Now, who's hungry?"
Speaking of food-
I had too much today!
Mom baked pizza for lunch!
Then four of us cousins (namely, Steffy, Gabriel, Kennyken and myself) went out to the Haagen-Dazs parlour around the corner where we each ordered an ultimate sundae! Kenwei's treat for losing a bet on my Anthropology test grades.
I met up with Valey and we did a little shopping before heading to our very last service at TC! Boohoo! No more walking to church! I'll have to take a bus instead!
Hope you like the Bourjois eyeliner, M.A.C. sharpener and lilac eyeshadow, darling!
I've been suffering from a chronic bout of low self esteem. Half the photos I take make me look constipated, and the other half make me look fat.
And I don't hate imperfection, I just despise being imperfect. And I loathe having the world point it out to me.
I've been feeling that way for a while. Dispensable. Like I could disappear and nobody would care. Like nobody really loves me.
So try not to comment negatively on your friends, people. It's rude and uncalled for. I hate having some girl single me out in a large group and recite her views on my eyebrows. Or something. You get the idea. Get lost. I am not in the mood to entertain you or your views.
Next time I will not smile and make light of it. I will tell you, "I'm not comfortable having my imperfections discussed in public. Now, who's hungry?"
Speaking of food-
I had too much today!
Mom baked pizza for lunch!
Then four of us cousins (namely, Steffy, Gabriel, Kennyken and myself) went out to the Haagen-Dazs parlour around the corner where we each ordered an ultimate sundae! Kenwei's treat for losing a bet on my Anthropology test grades.
I met up with Valey and we did a little shopping before heading to our very last service at TC! Boohoo! No more walking to church! I'll have to take a bus instead!
Hope you like the Bourjois eyeliner, M.A.C. sharpener and lilac eyeshadow, darling!
menotti's
BY NIGHT
Then I joined Melly and Erin for dessert at this chic little Italian cafebar called Menotti's where I caved in and ordered a Cassata, which is a triple-layered gelato ice-cream cake smothered in raspberry sauce.
I don't get it! In this picture, I look constipated, and fat, and my hair doesn't help either! I'm going back to straight hair the minute I can afford it. Sheesh. I hate looking ugly!!!
Never mind, I'm blabbering.
We took advantage of the extended opening hours and did more late night shopping at Dior, Anna Sui, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Shu Uemura...
I'm exhausted!
Then I joined Melly and Erin for dessert at this chic little Italian cafebar called Menotti's where I caved in and ordered a Cassata, which is a triple-layered gelato ice-cream cake smothered in raspberry sauce.
I don't get it! In this picture, I look constipated, and fat, and my hair doesn't help either! I'm going back to straight hair the minute I can afford it. Sheesh. I hate looking ugly!!!
Never mind, I'm blabbering.
We took advantage of the extended opening hours and did more late night shopping at Dior, Anna Sui, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Shu Uemura...
I'm exhausted!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
melissa's montage
Right after the exams, we thought we ought to celebrate the monthlong reprieve! So Sheena, Melissa and I embarked on the first day of a three-day-long shopping spree!
We had such a filling dinner at Carl's Jr. that we were too satiated to adjourn for desserts at the Ben & Jerry's cafe, so we drove down to Nana's place and laughed ourselves silly taking all manner of ridiculous pictures at her clubhouse! We still have folders full of even more incriminating ones...
Check out the car showroom girl wannabe shot at the top right corner. I was bullied into taking it! Haha! But my thanks to Melly for the gorgeous montage of some of my favouritest girls in the world (and no, I wasn't referring to myself).
We had such a filling dinner at Carl's Jr. that we were too satiated to adjourn for desserts at the Ben & Jerry's cafe, so we drove down to Nana's place and laughed ourselves silly taking all manner of ridiculous pictures at her clubhouse! We still have folders full of even more incriminating ones...
Check out the car showroom girl wannabe shot at the top right corner. I was bullied into taking it! Haha! But my thanks to Melly for the gorgeous montage of some of my favouritest girls in the world (and no, I wasn't referring to myself).
bloggers unite
On Thursday, Marie, Miao, Hui and I met up for-- what else?-- retail therapy. Hui brought her endearingly shy sister along!
Miao recommended this great place called Skinfood, which I absolutely have to go back to someday! And she made us over too! She gave Marie a simmering sultry copper eye with just three eye pencils from The Makeup Store! A million thanks for all the invaluable tips babe!
But for real food, Marie brought us to a fusion Japanese/ Western restaurant where I had breaded salmon in white wine sauce and we shared a brownie and vanilla ice cream- sweet!
Miao recommended this great place called Skinfood, which I absolutely have to go back to someday! And she made us over too! She gave Marie a simmering sultry copper eye with just three eye pencils from The Makeup Store! A million thanks for all the invaluable tips babe!
But for real food, Marie brought us to a fusion Japanese/ Western restaurant where I had breaded salmon in white wine sauce and we shared a brownie and vanilla ice cream- sweet!
pre makeover
Today, I felt like I had turned back into a gangly, uncoordinated teen when I missed the bus, arrived almost an hour late and knocked over my own drink during lunch (good thing the manager was nice enough to give me a free refill).
Here, Zihui, Yingling and I snap a furtive shot before my makeover and eyebrow trimming at Paul & Joe (it was complimentary because I'm a member of the P&J Happy Beaute Club).
Here, Zihui, Yingling and I snap a furtive shot before my makeover and eyebrow trimming at Paul & Joe (it was complimentary because I'm a member of the P&J Happy Beaute Club).
post makeover
Not the best "after" photo, and you can't see the smoky eye she did in aqua for me. But oh how I love my brows!
I rushed home to do my sister's makeup for her prom at the Regent, bearing in mind all that I had learnt from Miao and assorted makeup pros in the past 24 hours.
What a mad rush! My cousin Steffy was twisting my sister's hair into funky tendrils, I was using my personal-- and when say personal, I mean like, intimately personal-- stash of Dior, M.A.C. and Paul & Joe (almost new, barely used) to Make Her Pretty, and my mum was alternately blow-drying her hair and keeping the flyaway fringe off Charlene's half-madeup face.
We breathed just a wee bit easier after she left, and then we headed to the Expo for dinner at Orange Julius and the John Little Warehouse sale, following which, my dad and bro picked us up and we all drove down to Simpang Bedok for tissue prata and roti john!
It was raining and everyone was so clustered under the canopy that the five of us had to be seated in one straight row. Steffy said it looked like a prata bar. I said I wanted to order a pratini and Milo, on the rocks.
And that was the beginning of an end of a crazy Friday night out.
I rushed home to do my sister's makeup for her prom at the Regent, bearing in mind all that I had learnt from Miao and assorted makeup pros in the past 24 hours.
What a mad rush! My cousin Steffy was twisting my sister's hair into funky tendrils, I was using my personal-- and when say personal, I mean like, intimately personal-- stash of Dior, M.A.C. and Paul & Joe (almost new, barely used) to Make Her Pretty, and my mum was alternately blow-drying her hair and keeping the flyaway fringe off Charlene's half-madeup face.
We breathed just a wee bit easier after she left, and then we headed to the Expo for dinner at Orange Julius and the John Little Warehouse sale, following which, my dad and bro picked us up and we all drove down to Simpang Bedok for tissue prata and roti john!
It was raining and everyone was so clustered under the canopy that the five of us had to be seated in one straight row. Steffy said it looked like a prata bar. I said I wanted to order a pratini and Milo, on the rocks.
And that was the beginning of an end of a crazy Friday night out.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
School
O-V-E-R.
I can finally burn my notes on modal auxiliaries and Gricean implicatures!
May my social life take flight.
* * * * *
Friends
I came home to get changed before meeting Melissa and Sheena for our girls' night out! (I have a feeling tonight will be the first of many this holidays. Good!)
Does anyone know where to get scrapbooking and cardmaking supplies locally?
* * * * *
Money
After much careful consideration and a couple of uh, precipitating events, I have decided to narrow my gift-giving scope this year. Christmas is an intimate celebration and should accordingly be celebrated in the company of family and the closest of friends. I don't like foam parties and mass greeting card orgies. No more superficial shuffling of presents for acquaintances I don't really care for- that insincerity completely detracts from the spirit of a genuine Christmas. Now I can really splurge out on those whom I care for. (And we all know what my definition of "splurge" is.)
Also, I think it's basic courtesy to return one's share of the money spent on group presents in a timely manner. I love volunteering to shop for birthday presents and such, but collecting funds is such a chore due to the presence of one or two individuals in the clique. It's extremely embarrassing for me to have to remind the gift-giving delinquent. I think such individuals should either have more initiative in paying up or opt out of the gift completely. The situation is very different with close friends (where I wouldn't care if you didn't even pay me back since the friendship is worth alot more than say, a makeup kit) but with casual friends, I see no reason why I should contribute twice as much just because you "have no small change" and can't be bothered to get some.
Lazy arse.
I'm coming after you, I don't care. I have thick skin and no money. Don't push it. No presents for you this year!
* * * * *
O-V-E-R.
I can finally burn my notes on modal auxiliaries and Gricean implicatures!
May my social life take flight.
* * * * *
Friends
I came home to get changed before meeting Melissa and Sheena for our girls' night out! (I have a feeling tonight will be the first of many this holidays. Good!)
Does anyone know where to get scrapbooking and cardmaking supplies locally?
* * * * *
Money
After much careful consideration and a couple of uh, precipitating events, I have decided to narrow my gift-giving scope this year. Christmas is an intimate celebration and should accordingly be celebrated in the company of family and the closest of friends. I don't like foam parties and mass greeting card orgies. No more superficial shuffling of presents for acquaintances I don't really care for- that insincerity completely detracts from the spirit of a genuine Christmas. Now I can really splurge out on those whom I care for. (And we all know what my definition of "splurge" is.)
Also, I think it's basic courtesy to return one's share of the money spent on group presents in a timely manner. I love volunteering to shop for birthday presents and such, but collecting funds is such a chore due to the presence of one or two individuals in the clique. It's extremely embarrassing for me to have to remind the gift-giving delinquent. I think such individuals should either have more initiative in paying up or opt out of the gift completely. The situation is very different with close friends (where I wouldn't care if you didn't even pay me back since the friendship is worth alot more than say, a makeup kit) but with casual friends, I see no reason why I should contribute twice as much just because you "have no small change" and can't be bothered to get some.
Lazy arse.
I'm coming after you, I don't care. I have thick skin and no money. Don't push it. No presents for you this year!
* * * * *
Monday, November 28, 2005
Mum, I told ya so!
It is that time of the month again when I feel compelled to produce yet another wishlist. I've been seriously considering taking up a part-time job to finance my little uh, Dior Addict-ion, pun intended. I'd like to do sales because it seems rather fitting that I be paid to be in the shops. I have this silly theory that shopaholics make the best salesgirls because their natural enthusiasm for the products will spill over to the poor hapless buyer and they know the price lists by heart (it looks so unprofessional when a glammed-up Dior girl has to rummage around, on her knees, in a dank cupboard to check a price tag). Today, the saleslady couldn't differentiate the eye base from her concealer. But we'll see- my exams aren't even over!
But yes, I'd love to be a salesgirl!
High expectations indeed. =) Well, we all have to start somewhere.
I present to you the ever-changing aspirations of a middle-class girl.
10. Nivea Multiple Results Whitening Fluid, $17.80
9. Anna Sui replica hand mirror, $5.90
8. Anna Sui replica brush, $5.90
7. Baby Pink lipgloss in raspberry, $4.35 (what am I thinking? I don't need a sixth lipgloss!)
6. Sally Hansen French Manicure Set, $27.90
5. Body Shop Elderflower Eye Gel, $15.90
4. Canmake eyeliner pen, $9.90
3. Canmake bronzer and highlighting powder, $13.90
2. Canmake medicated concealer, $10.90 (this is a rough estimate- I converted the currency based on the price in yen listed on the website)
1. Dior J'adore EDP, $72
There. Isn't this a far more reasonable list than several of its predecessors? The only problem is, no free gifts. And to think Dior is featuring a pressed powder compact in this month's coffret! Just what I need!
| You Are a Good Girl |
 You are 70% Good and 30% Bad Generally speaking, you're a very good girl. (But you don't have us totally fooled!) |
It is that time of the month again when I feel compelled to produce yet another wishlist. I've been seriously considering taking up a part-time job to finance my little uh, Dior Addict-ion, pun intended. I'd like to do sales because it seems rather fitting that I be paid to be in the shops. I have this silly theory that shopaholics make the best salesgirls because their natural enthusiasm for the products will spill over to the poor hapless buyer and they know the price lists by heart (it looks so unprofessional when a glammed-up Dior girl has to rummage around, on her knees, in a dank cupboard to check a price tag). Today, the saleslady couldn't differentiate the eye base from her concealer. But we'll see- my exams aren't even over!
But yes, I'd love to be a salesgirl!
High expectations indeed. =) Well, we all have to start somewhere.
I present to you the ever-changing aspirations of a middle-class girl.
10. Nivea Multiple Results Whitening Fluid, $17.80
9. Anna Sui replica hand mirror, $5.90
8. Anna Sui replica brush, $5.90
7. Baby Pink lipgloss in raspberry, $4.35 (what am I thinking? I don't need a sixth lipgloss!)
6. Sally Hansen French Manicure Set, $27.90
5. Body Shop Elderflower Eye Gel, $15.90
4. Canmake eyeliner pen, $9.90
3. Canmake bronzer and highlighting powder, $13.90
2. Canmake medicated concealer, $10.90 (this is a rough estimate- I converted the currency based on the price in yen listed on the website)
1. Dior J'adore EDP, $72
There. Isn't this a far more reasonable list than several of its predecessors? The only problem is, no free gifts. And to think Dior is featuring a pressed powder compact in this month's coffret! Just what I need!
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Well, here I am, pecking away on my keyboard, feeling obscenely guilty. For someone in the middle of exams, I am grossly relaxed. Which. Is. Not. Good.
I watch ESPN in the mornings, and Sex & The City at night. I roll sushi and try not to make a mess. I read Elle- over and over again. I do everything except study.
Yesterday morning we rose early for the Estee Lauder warehouse sale. I persuaded my mum to get a shimmery blush, a lip and eyeshadow palette, a lipstain and a brightening eye cream- for the low, low price of $77 in total. Unlike Stephanie and Mum, however, I walked away empty-handed, and still remain extremely proud of my self-control.
And then today was spent in church (and yakking away about cosmetics). It was great to see Eleta and Meow get baptised! We bought them daisies but one got a little mutilated when I tried to hide it in my tote!
I met my mum for dinner, picked out prom dresses and lipglosses for my sister (just listen to me and get that dress lah)... and parked myself at Water Rise with my family for supper. (Oh and I found myself the cutest clutch for my New Year's Eve formal. I got 20% off by asking a stranger in the shop if she'd like to combine our purchases to get the discount!)
Tomorrow, my fourth aunt is throwing a welcome-home party for Steffy, so in essence? The whole weekend has been burnt, and I have a darn paper on Monday at 9 am!
Thomas: thanks and see you soon! Melly: I hope your mugging's coming along better than mine! I've decided that Neutrogena is too expensive (let alone Origins), so I shall switch to Nivea! Haha! The lifestyle of a middle-class girl! Miao, Marie, Hui: ladies! Retail therapy? Makeup lessons? Count me in! Has anyone read "Lipstick Jungle" by the way...
I watch ESPN in the mornings, and Sex & The City at night. I roll sushi and try not to make a mess. I read Elle- over and over again. I do everything except study.
Yesterday morning we rose early for the Estee Lauder warehouse sale. I persuaded my mum to get a shimmery blush, a lip and eyeshadow palette, a lipstain and a brightening eye cream- for the low, low price of $77 in total. Unlike Stephanie and Mum, however, I walked away empty-handed, and still remain extremely proud of my self-control.
And then today was spent in church (and yakking away about cosmetics). It was great to see Eleta and Meow get baptised! We bought them daisies but one got a little mutilated when I tried to hide it in my tote!
I met my mum for dinner, picked out prom dresses and lipglosses for my sister (just listen to me and get that dress lah)... and parked myself at Water Rise with my family for supper. (Oh and I found myself the cutest clutch for my New Year's Eve formal. I got 20% off by asking a stranger in the shop if she'd like to combine our purchases to get the discount!)
Tomorrow, my fourth aunt is throwing a welcome-home party for Steffy, so in essence? The whole weekend has been burnt, and I have a darn paper on Monday at 9 am!
Thomas: thanks and see you soon! Melly: I hope your mugging's coming along better than mine! I've decided that Neutrogena is too expensive (let alone Origins), so I shall switch to Nivea! Haha! The lifestyle of a middle-class girl! Miao, Marie, Hui: ladies! Retail therapy? Makeup lessons? Count me in! Has anyone read "Lipstick Jungle" by the way...
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Four days mall-free
Seems like an eternity
My cousin Steffy is back from Perth and will be staying over at my place tonight! We're going to cook Japanese...
Or perhaps I should be trying to catch up on my webcasts.
Anyway: Marie thanks for the concern! I'm a-ok now minus the occasional you-know-what cramp. There's a Gift of Glam party happening this evening at Isetan Scotts where Stila will be doing makeup demos, just in case you're interested. I can't go 'coz of the four-letter word: exam. Valey: Yeps, I'll keep my eyes peeled for your makeup stuffies tomorrow! And congratulations to my cousin Jeraldiney for scoring a remarkable 262 for her PSLE- woot!
Seems like an eternity
My cousin Steffy is back from Perth and will be staying over at my place tonight! We're going to cook Japanese...
Or perhaps I should be trying to catch up on my webcasts.
Anyway: Marie thanks for the concern! I'm a-ok now minus the occasional you-know-what cramp. There's a Gift of Glam party happening this evening at Isetan Scotts where Stila will be doing makeup demos, just in case you're interested. I can't go 'coz of the four-letter word: exam. Valey: Yeps, I'll keep my eyes peeled for your makeup stuffies tomorrow! And congratulations to my cousin Jeraldiney for scoring a remarkable 262 for her PSLE- woot!
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Hours before I was due to sit for my exam, I broke out in cold sweat and collapsed on the floor of my living room. I sprayed alot of Dior to mask the medicated oil and got my ass to school. So as for my paper... I leave it in the hands of God.
Anyway, the holidays have more or less arrived. My mail has seen alot of good things coming my way. I have
1) a free Stila makeover where the artist will match your makeup to your cocktail dress if you bring it
2) a complimentary makeover and eyebrow trimming voucher from Paul & Joe and
3) an Origins holiday party offering scrumptious canapes, a capella performances and Balinese hand massages! Registration is $30, fully redeemable for Origins products. Is anyone game?
My thanks to Valey and Meow for all your concern and advice! My thanks to Miao for the tip on Ettusais, and no, you don't ask too many questions! My thanks to Marie, and yes, we should definitely do lunch someday with Hui! There's this place I've been dying to go to...
I am so pumped up about the Estee Lauder sale that I have been doing online revision on Stila. Not Origins, 'coz I know their product line by heart. I have two more papers to go and I have to pull my socks up!
Anyway, the holidays have more or less arrived. My mail has seen alot of good things coming my way. I have
1) a free Stila makeover where the artist will match your makeup to your cocktail dress if you bring it
2) a complimentary makeover and eyebrow trimming voucher from Paul & Joe and
3) an Origins holiday party offering scrumptious canapes, a capella performances and Balinese hand massages! Registration is $30, fully redeemable for Origins products. Is anyone game?
My thanks to Valey and Meow for all your concern and advice! My thanks to Miao for the tip on Ettusais, and no, you don't ask too many questions! My thanks to Marie, and yes, we should definitely do lunch someday with Hui! There's this place I've been dying to go to...
I am so pumped up about the Estee Lauder sale that I have been doing online revision on Stila. Not Origins, 'coz I know their product line by heart. I have two more papers to go and I have to pull my socks up!
I know it's a very bad time to be blogging, but I really feel that... well, I had a friend. I think he should take responsibility like a man. And everytime I hear from him I am disappointed all the more. I hate leaving it unfinished.
In other news, I've secured tickets to the Estee Lauder warehouse sale! (It's smack dab in the middle of my exams, but really, does it matter?)
In other other news, does anyone know of a great medicated concealer? Val (do you want a Stila smudge pot, I can get it for you from the sale)? Miao (authority on all things cosmetic)?
Still sucks though. Get over it girl.
In other news, I've secured tickets to the Estee Lauder warehouse sale! (It's smack dab in the middle of my exams, but really, does it matter?)
In other other news, does anyone know of a great medicated concealer? Val (do you want a Stila smudge pot, I can get it for you from the sale)? Miao (authority on all things cosmetic)?
Still sucks though. Get over it girl.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Yes, I admit, I'm obsessed. I can't stay away from a mall for more than three days, even if it's just Parkway. I'll walk out and spend an hour browsing: the magazine racks at MPH, the fragrance consignment shop in the basement, harrass the Dior salesgirl in the large Isetan store for free sample, and then, without buying anything, I will stroll contentedly back home, happy, like an addict who's just gotten her shopping fix.
What other news? Oh yes, over the weekend, I got my temporary DiorClub membership! My life's aim since June! My next purchase of Dior will qualify me for the permanent one. Am most excited about that. -dreams of makeovers and exclusive sales and redemption points- I already have Stila, Origins and Paul & Joe cards, but nothing beats the DiorClub.
Anyway, this will be my last wishlist before the exams. (As seeing that my first paper is at the crack of dawn --ok, fine, I meant 9 am-- tomorrow and my studying status hovers somewhere around 0% accomplished. I have ten books to cover, only one of which --the thinnest one-- I have read previously.) Wishlists are so instantly gratifying. They cause immense psychological damage, but my wallet remains largely unscathed. Until the next trip to Parkway...
Technically it's not even a wishlist but a compilation of uh, Errands To Be Run. In no particular order...
1. Neutrogena Radiance Boost eye cream, $22.90
2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15, $17.80
3. Origins No Puffery Cooling Eye Mask, $42
4. Origins All and Nothing Sheer Finishing Pressed Powder, $46
5. Origins A Perfect World White Tea Nighttime Antioxidant Mask, $60
6. DiorSnow Pure Whitening Repair Essence, $150
7. Dior Skinflash Illuminating Concealer, $42
8. Dior Pearl Shine sheer shimmer lipstick, $33
9. M.A.C faux crocodile clutch in teal, approx $35
10. Replica Balenciaga Weekend Bag in mahogany or green, $39.90
As you can see, I don't ask for much. =)
Also, my take on uh, current affairs.
The big buzz in the blogosphere recently revolved around a 21-year-old blogger who had been talent-spotted. Photos surfaced claiming that her winsome good looks were no more than the result of a good plastic surgeon's handiwork. Her reaction to the entire fiasco was to go on blogging hiatus.
I think this whole thing is overrated and overhyped. First of all, plastic surgery is an extremely sensitive topic and no-one sould be subjected to such intense public scrutiny. Critics calling for her to "own up" are being presumptuous because she is certainly not obliged to. If one wants to argue that she is a semi-celebrity and her artiste management contract justifies these unwarranted intrusions of her privacy, I would beg to differ because she is not a public persona, and even public figures are entitled to a modicum of private space. She is barely an adult, and the only crime she ever did commit was to publish a blog.
Last of all, the issue here is not whether she had plastic surgery or not. Do not claim to be concerned for her self-essteem, self-image and the poor example she is setting to young girls out there. It is none of your business, and bloggers certainly do not have a duty to play role models. That is hypocritical when one does not care about how a girl barely out of adolescence would feel, having her alleged rhinoplasty and breast augmentation dissected in the public eye. Who is causing more harm?
Note: I am not in any way advocating plastic surgery. On the contrary, I am strongly opposed to it because it is unrealistic, escapist and unneccessary. I am of the opinion that these kinds of cosmetic surgery should only be applicable in cases where massive facial reconstruction is needed, for example, after disfigurement or a tragic accident, and then only to restore the victim's facial features to what they were like prior to the traumatic event.
The question here is one of human decency. I think this entire hooha boils down to jealousy. Jealousy of a girl with good looks (never mind if they are Nature's gift or not) and a fabulous lifestyle.
I like to call it plastic envy (no pun intended), and I hope people wake up soon enough.
Also, on last week's episode of Project Runway.
The designers were tasked with creating a cocktail dress for Banana Republic, and the winning piece would be produced and sold commercially in Banana Republic boutiques across the States.
My personal favourites (no pix, because I've exceeded my Flickr bandwidth).
4. Austin's dress: a floral dress with a swingy skirt.
Austin's costumery background really showed through in his design. This dress, while lovely and feminine, would not look out of place on the set of Pride and Prejudice. I imagine that his piece would only appeal to a niche segment of youthful female consumers, and would be more suited on the Spring/ Summer runway than as a holiday piece with which to attack all those office Christmas parties. In that sense, it was not as wearable as the other three designers mentioned below.
Remember, it could be a great dress, but it also has to work given the circumstances (formality of occasion, time of year) and the company one is representing (what is their fashion philosophy and how do you fit in without compromising your own sense of fashion and taste?).
3. Wendy's dress: a black empire-waisted tube with a matching capelet, which also happened to be the piece that received the highest bid.
Although some may contend that it was another boring basic black LBD, I thought it was extremely classy and would certainly stand the test of time and seasonal fashion cycles. Moreover, the contestants were designing for Banana Republic, and this certainly played a big part in the final outcome of their designs, as Banana Republic's fashion philosophy has always been to produce simple but sophisticated clothing for consumers. It wasn't Guess or D&G. In this case, Wendy was right on the money, absorbing the advice dispensed by the judges in Week 1 (too little material) and 2 (looked unfinished) to create a streamlined and sleek ensemble-- definitely the most marketable, wearable dress in Week 3, I felt.
2. Kara's dress: a delightful dress in canary yellow with vertical frills down the pencil skirt.
This was the dress I thought was going to win, because it was whimsical and romantic without losing compromising its sex appeal and fitting curves. It is a dress only meant for the bravest of us women. I felt that Martinique, the model, looked amazing in that butter yellow hue because of her rich cocoa skin, but it might not be so flattering a shade for fairer women out there. Nevertheless, I can imagine that if Kara's design were to be produced in a selection of shades, it would be a sell-out!
1. Jay's dress: a charmeuse concoction of a dress that was pale white on top and slate gray on the bottom.
I admire Jay's ability to infuse his personal sense of style into this dress. Charmeuse is a heavy material that is notoriously hard to work with on the sewing machine, but Jay's dress looked ethereal and floaty on the runway. Charmeuse is a mainstay of prom gowns, but Jay turned his fabric into something that was ready for any party, anywhere- it was extremely modern and versatile. The final result: it was striking, but in an understated and chic way. The colours played off each other well, and the oversized corsage was so Jay!
Tonight: the Rock Star ensemble!
What other news? Oh yes, over the weekend, I got my temporary DiorClub membership! My life's aim since June! My next purchase of Dior will qualify me for the permanent one. Am most excited about that. -dreams of makeovers and exclusive sales and redemption points- I already have Stila, Origins and Paul & Joe cards, but nothing beats the DiorClub.
Anyway, this will be my last wishlist before the exams. (As seeing that my first paper is at the crack of dawn --ok, fine, I meant 9 am-- tomorrow and my studying status hovers somewhere around 0% accomplished. I have ten books to cover, only one of which --the thinnest one-- I have read previously.) Wishlists are so instantly gratifying. They cause immense psychological damage, but my wallet remains largely unscathed. Until the next trip to Parkway...
Technically it's not even a wishlist but a compilation of uh, Errands To Be Run. In no particular order...
1. Neutrogena Radiance Boost eye cream, $22.90
2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15, $17.80
3. Origins No Puffery Cooling Eye Mask, $42
4. Origins All and Nothing Sheer Finishing Pressed Powder, $46
5. Origins A Perfect World White Tea Nighttime Antioxidant Mask, $60
6. DiorSnow Pure Whitening Repair Essence, $150
7. Dior Skinflash Illuminating Concealer, $42
8. Dior Pearl Shine sheer shimmer lipstick, $33
9. M.A.C faux crocodile clutch in teal, approx $35
10. Replica Balenciaga Weekend Bag in mahogany or green, $39.90
As you can see, I don't ask for much. =)
Also, my take on uh, current affairs.
The big buzz in the blogosphere recently revolved around a 21-year-old blogger who had been talent-spotted. Photos surfaced claiming that her winsome good looks were no more than the result of a good plastic surgeon's handiwork. Her reaction to the entire fiasco was to go on blogging hiatus.
I think this whole thing is overrated and overhyped. First of all, plastic surgery is an extremely sensitive topic and no-one sould be subjected to such intense public scrutiny. Critics calling for her to "own up" are being presumptuous because she is certainly not obliged to. If one wants to argue that she is a semi-celebrity and her artiste management contract justifies these unwarranted intrusions of her privacy, I would beg to differ because she is not a public persona, and even public figures are entitled to a modicum of private space. She is barely an adult, and the only crime she ever did commit was to publish a blog.
Last of all, the issue here is not whether she had plastic surgery or not. Do not claim to be concerned for her self-essteem, self-image and the poor example she is setting to young girls out there. It is none of your business, and bloggers certainly do not have a duty to play role models. That is hypocritical when one does not care about how a girl barely out of adolescence would feel, having her alleged rhinoplasty and breast augmentation dissected in the public eye. Who is causing more harm?
Note: I am not in any way advocating plastic surgery. On the contrary, I am strongly opposed to it because it is unrealistic, escapist and unneccessary. I am of the opinion that these kinds of cosmetic surgery should only be applicable in cases where massive facial reconstruction is needed, for example, after disfigurement or a tragic accident, and then only to restore the victim's facial features to what they were like prior to the traumatic event.
The question here is one of human decency. I think this entire hooha boils down to jealousy. Jealousy of a girl with good looks (never mind if they are Nature's gift or not) and a fabulous lifestyle.
I like to call it plastic envy (no pun intended), and I hope people wake up soon enough.
Also, on last week's episode of Project Runway.
The designers were tasked with creating a cocktail dress for Banana Republic, and the winning piece would be produced and sold commercially in Banana Republic boutiques across the States.
My personal favourites (no pix, because I've exceeded my Flickr bandwidth).
4. Austin's dress: a floral dress with a swingy skirt.
Austin's costumery background really showed through in his design. This dress, while lovely and feminine, would not look out of place on the set of Pride and Prejudice. I imagine that his piece would only appeal to a niche segment of youthful female consumers, and would be more suited on the Spring/ Summer runway than as a holiday piece with which to attack all those office Christmas parties. In that sense, it was not as wearable as the other three designers mentioned below.
Remember, it could be a great dress, but it also has to work given the circumstances (formality of occasion, time of year) and the company one is representing (what is their fashion philosophy and how do you fit in without compromising your own sense of fashion and taste?).
3. Wendy's dress: a black empire-waisted tube with a matching capelet, which also happened to be the piece that received the highest bid.
Although some may contend that it was another boring basic black LBD, I thought it was extremely classy and would certainly stand the test of time and seasonal fashion cycles. Moreover, the contestants were designing for Banana Republic, and this certainly played a big part in the final outcome of their designs, as Banana Republic's fashion philosophy has always been to produce simple but sophisticated clothing for consumers. It wasn't Guess or D&G. In this case, Wendy was right on the money, absorbing the advice dispensed by the judges in Week 1 (too little material) and 2 (looked unfinished) to create a streamlined and sleek ensemble-- definitely the most marketable, wearable dress in Week 3, I felt.
2. Kara's dress: a delightful dress in canary yellow with vertical frills down the pencil skirt.
This was the dress I thought was going to win, because it was whimsical and romantic without losing compromising its sex appeal and fitting curves. It is a dress only meant for the bravest of us women. I felt that Martinique, the model, looked amazing in that butter yellow hue because of her rich cocoa skin, but it might not be so flattering a shade for fairer women out there. Nevertheless, I can imagine that if Kara's design were to be produced in a selection of shades, it would be a sell-out!
1. Jay's dress: a charmeuse concoction of a dress that was pale white on top and slate gray on the bottom.
I admire Jay's ability to infuse his personal sense of style into this dress. Charmeuse is a heavy material that is notoriously hard to work with on the sewing machine, but Jay's dress looked ethereal and floaty on the runway. Charmeuse is a mainstay of prom gowns, but Jay turned his fabric into something that was ready for any party, anywhere- it was extremely modern and versatile. The final result: it was striking, but in an understated and chic way. The colours played off each other well, and the oversized corsage was so Jay!
Tonight: the Rock Star ensemble!
Friday, November 18, 2005
All I Want For Christmas
-Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell, author of Sex & The City, $16.80
-Heated hairstyling tongs from Vidal Sassoon in pink metal, $11.90 at Guardian
Other Things That Would Be Really Welcomed
Under $5
-Handwritten cards (nothing means more to me than this)
-Teensy tubs of nail polish in pearls, pinks, plums, reds or nudes
Under $10
-Letter writing paper (I'd love it monogrammed)
-Faux pearl earrings (any colour)
-Hair accessories: elastic rubber bands, big fat plastic hairbands and diamante bobby pins (Six has a good range)
Under $20
-Mascara (I can always find a use for mascara)
-Handbags, big enough to fit a bottle and a book but small enough to be elegant (always a safe bet- speaking of which, Mei and Fang: still on for the bag warehouse sale tomorrow morning?)
-Chocolate (Godiva does a box of four for $15; if not, I also happen to have a penchant for white chocolate)
-Lip balm (Kiehl's and Origins have been rated highly; if not, I also happen to love peppermint flavour)
-Scrapbooking/ card-making tools and supplies- so I can make greeting cards for you!
This is not a directive issued to compel all my social relations into Getting Gifts Or Else. This is a list to show that thoughtful gifts can be found at reasonable price points (I don't expect my friends to buy me Dior; if I want it bad enough, it's only fair that I get it for myself), and the best Christmas present I could have this year is YOU!
-Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell, author of Sex & The City, $16.80
-Heated hairstyling tongs from Vidal Sassoon in pink metal, $11.90 at Guardian
Other Things That Would Be Really Welcomed
Under $5
-Handwritten cards (nothing means more to me than this)
-Teensy tubs of nail polish in pearls, pinks, plums, reds or nudes
Under $10
-Letter writing paper (I'd love it monogrammed)
-Faux pearl earrings (any colour)
-Hair accessories: elastic rubber bands, big fat plastic hairbands and diamante bobby pins (Six has a good range)
Under $20
-Mascara (I can always find a use for mascara)
-Handbags, big enough to fit a bottle and a book but small enough to be elegant (always a safe bet- speaking of which, Mei and Fang: still on for the bag warehouse sale tomorrow morning?)
-Chocolate (Godiva does a box of four for $15; if not, I also happen to have a penchant for white chocolate)
-Lip balm (Kiehl's and Origins have been rated highly; if not, I also happen to love peppermint flavour)
-Scrapbooking/ card-making tools and supplies- so I can make greeting cards for you!
This is not a directive issued to compel all my social relations into Getting Gifts Or Else. This is a list to show that thoughtful gifts can be found at reasonable price points (I don't expect my friends to buy me Dior; if I want it bad enough, it's only fair that I get it for myself), and the best Christmas present I could have this year is YOU!
Thursday, November 17, 2005
What I ate today
Lunch:
-Kenny Rogers black pepper chicken fillet
-Kenny Rogers macaroni and cheese
-Kenny Rogers baked rice
-Kenny Rogers creamy chicken pasta soup
-Heaven & Earth green tea
Tea with Melissa and Ivan:
-KFC fries
Dinner:
-Pizza Hut pepperoni pizza
-Pizza Hut lasagna
-Pizza Hut baked rice
-Pizza Hut meatballs in cheese sauce
-Pizza Hut garlic bread
Supper?
What I got today:
-Dior Pure Poison EDP
-Dior Pure Poison EDP collectible miniature
-Dior Pure Poison body moisturiser
-Dior Pure Poison shower gel
-Dior Parfums black satin pouch with star chain (ladies, check out www.sephora.com- The UN Heritage people should declare it a historical monument)
-Dior black eyeliner pencil with smudger tip
-Dior sharpener
-Dior Addict 2 EDT (my current bottle is running running out fast)
-Dior DiorKiss lipgloss in plummy pink
-Dior DiorShow trial-size mascara
Don't ask about the damage it did to my wallet. Right after that I decided I needed to keep my bank account safe from me- and handed my ATM card to my mother to safekeep for the holidays. So nobody can make me spend.
But the spa party's still on.
Lunch:
-Kenny Rogers black pepper chicken fillet
-Kenny Rogers macaroni and cheese
-Kenny Rogers baked rice
-Kenny Rogers creamy chicken pasta soup
-Heaven & Earth green tea
Tea with Melissa and Ivan:
-KFC fries
Dinner:
-Pizza Hut pepperoni pizza
-Pizza Hut lasagna
-Pizza Hut baked rice
-Pizza Hut meatballs in cheese sauce
-Pizza Hut garlic bread
Supper?
What I got today:
-Dior Pure Poison EDP
-Dior Pure Poison EDP collectible miniature
-Dior Pure Poison body moisturiser
-Dior Pure Poison shower gel
-Dior Parfums black satin pouch with star chain (ladies, check out www.sephora.com- The UN Heritage people should declare it a historical monument)
-Dior black eyeliner pencil with smudger tip
-Dior sharpener
-Dior Addict 2 EDT (my current bottle is running running out fast)
-Dior DiorKiss lipgloss in plummy pink
-Dior DiorShow trial-size mascara
Don't ask about the damage it did to my wallet. Right after that I decided I needed to keep my bank account safe from me- and handed my ATM card to my mother to safekeep for the holidays. So nobody can make me spend.
But the spa party's still on.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
me looking nerdy
This was me the day before our presentation for the brand managers of 3M AsiaPac. With less than 24 hours to the final presentation, I borrowed Jain's laptop as a prop in a misguided attempt to look uber-geek... I mean, uber-chic.
We were all fooling around with Hoa's digi for stress relief- I've got incriminating photos of everyone to prove it. Our PowerPoint hadn't even been completed then.
I'm trying to look nerdy and copywriter-ish, because that's what I was. I contributed to my team in many, many areas, not just copywriting. But for some reason, the term stuck.
But that's fine by me. I did my darnedest and I know it.=)
This is the "before" photo. Now check out the "after".
We were all fooling around with Hoa's digi for stress relief- I've got incriminating photos of everyone to prove it. Our PowerPoint hadn't even been completed then.
I'm trying to look nerdy and copywriter-ish, because that's what I was. I contributed to my team in many, many areas, not just copywriting. But for some reason, the term stuck.
But that's fine by me. I did my darnedest and I know it.=)
This is the "before" photo. Now check out the "after".
IMG_8925
After so many nights of staying back in school till 3 am, cabbing home from friend's houses at 4 am, and sleeping only at 5 am, our project for SM Scotch-Brite is over, and...
we...
WON!
I am so, so proud of the team we have. We may want to strangle each other during discussions (right, Mr. P?), but in the end, we're all still friends. And great partners, as it turns out.
I feel so blessed for everything that has happened. The toil and turmoil has finally paid off. And WE WON!
The judges thought the print and promotional campaign we presented was "brilliant" and "loved it". They're seriously considering incorporating aspects of our proposal into their next campaign.
Yep, I bet they really loved our, ahem, Brite ideas.
We only had time the night before to begin scriptwriting! I stayed up all night just to memorise my speech.
We were the underdogs. We were the Arts team in a cohort of marketing majors. And we pulled it off! A darn business competition! That's not something that happens everyday.
We each received a cash prize, a 3M hamper, a 3M Polarising Lamp worth $200 and a Certificate of Excellence. We plan to use our cash prize to cover the costs of our late-night taxi fares and treat ourselves to a sumptuous spread after the finals!
If there's enough left over, I might even reward myself with that Pure Poison holiday set from Dior. The original plan was: if we win, I'll buy it. If we don't win, I'll buy it anyway.
But now, it seems like there isn't any question about it.=)
we...
WON!
I am so, so proud of the team we have. We may want to strangle each other during discussions (right, Mr. P?), but in the end, we're all still friends. And great partners, as it turns out.
I feel so blessed for everything that has happened. The toil and turmoil has finally paid off. And WE WON!
The judges thought the print and promotional campaign we presented was "brilliant" and "loved it". They're seriously considering incorporating aspects of our proposal into their next campaign.
Yep, I bet they really loved our, ahem, Brite ideas.
We only had time the night before to begin scriptwriting! I stayed up all night just to memorise my speech.
We were the underdogs. We were the Arts team in a cohort of marketing majors. And we pulled it off! A darn business competition! That's not something that happens everyday.
We each received a cash prize, a 3M hamper, a 3M Polarising Lamp worth $200 and a Certificate of Excellence. We plan to use our cash prize to cover the costs of our late-night taxi fares and treat ourselves to a sumptuous spread after the finals!
If there's enough left over, I might even reward myself with that Pure Poison holiday set from Dior. The original plan was: if we win, I'll buy it. If we don't win, I'll buy it anyway.
But now, it seems like there isn't any question about it.=)
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Must you, Blogger?! Must you go and erase thirty minutes of painstaking typing, just like that? Never mind, I will write it again.
We celebrated Miaoting and Melissa's birthdays today at Fish & Co! After a sumptuous dinner of New York fish & chips (how strange that it is not officially on the menu), garlic baguettes and seafood platters, we adjourned to the waterfall outside. Us girls grabbed hold of Meow and stripped her... of her shoes! This was because we had gotten her a pair of spanking-white Birkenstocks for her twenty-first! We were tamer with Melissa because she was only fifteen, and we didn't want to scare her away. Not so soon, anyways.
Speaking of girls' nights out, I invited the cell girls to my place for a spa party before our formal bash on New Year's Eve! I'm super hyped up about it. I'm always bugging them about what they're gonna wear and when we should go shopping for dresses.
Not that I need another one. I just got a darling Little Black Dress (LBD) from Allure, and was very happy to discover that it had been worn on the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and the models on the Lanvin Winter '05 runway. Not to forget the faux pearl strands and the rosebud earrings which have yet to be given a proper outing...
So we're gonna be doing the works. I've been saving an Origins cleanser and scrub, as well as Anna Sui and Dior moisturisers for our girly day out. I'm open to manicures too, but if anyone wants a colour other than ballerina pink they will have to bring their own 'coz that's all I have. Heck, I might even go out and buy another brush set for the eight of us!
10. To watch The Sex & The City DVDs which Erin passed me to return to Mel, so it's as good as uh, me borrowing it?
9. Dinner at Esmirada's (a Greek cafebar which received rave reviews in December Elle)
8. To sample the following flavours of martini in the following month: apple, sake and chocolate
7. Peep-toed slingbacks (I'm longing to head back to my fave shoe store, Gripz)
6. To convince my friends that my sushi and pasta are edible- not to mention delectable
5. Dashing Diva nail colour in Ruby Slipper, approx $16
4. Warehouse sequinned bolero, $73
3. Subscription to US InStyle magazine (strangely enough, I dig their home and entertaining spreads)
2. Revlon Fabulash Mascara, $16.90 (this price is unacceptable! I must see if Sasa has a better introductory offer)
1. Kate Spade L'Orient-Ariane handbag in fuchsia with gold chain-straps, approx $400
Oh, don't forget. I want, no need, navy blue eyeshadow. I just can't stand it when beauty columns tell us what we should and should not to. It's so... prescriptive! I feel that makeup can both accentuate and transform. It is inventive and imaginative.
Navy blue eyeshadow, in particular, is often regarded as a "dirty" colour. However, it is actually universally flattering in the right amounts and locations, helping to enhance one's eye colour and add depth to the eyelid area. I've done navy blue eyeshadow makeover at both the Stila and Paul & Joe counters and they turned out fine- now the search is on for a drugstore double!
-gets off soapbox-
I think I'm beginning to have a crush on Watson's. Like, the drugstore? Today there was 20% off on most of its makeup lines so I bought a 10 Carat eyeshadow duo in aubergine and pink shimmer!
Tsk. I don't sound like a girl who has a major presentation on Wednesday for 3M Asia-Pacific, and exams five days later. I don't even know how I'm supposed to study with this advertising campaign hanging over my head, and I have to catch up on more than a month's worth of webcasts first.
But I am an unflagging optimist, and I have never stopped believing in myself. It'll work out.
We celebrated Miaoting and Melissa's birthdays today at Fish & Co! After a sumptuous dinner of New York fish & chips (how strange that it is not officially on the menu), garlic baguettes and seafood platters, we adjourned to the waterfall outside. Us girls grabbed hold of Meow and stripped her... of her shoes! This was because we had gotten her a pair of spanking-white Birkenstocks for her twenty-first! We were tamer with Melissa because she was only fifteen, and we didn't want to scare her away. Not so soon, anyways.
Speaking of girls' nights out, I invited the cell girls to my place for a spa party before our formal bash on New Year's Eve! I'm super hyped up about it. I'm always bugging them about what they're gonna wear and when we should go shopping for dresses.
Not that I need another one. I just got a darling Little Black Dress (LBD) from Allure, and was very happy to discover that it had been worn on the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and the models on the Lanvin Winter '05 runway. Not to forget the faux pearl strands and the rosebud earrings which have yet to be given a proper outing...
So we're gonna be doing the works. I've been saving an Origins cleanser and scrub, as well as Anna Sui and Dior moisturisers for our girly day out. I'm open to manicures too, but if anyone wants a colour other than ballerina pink they will have to bring their own 'coz that's all I have. Heck, I might even go out and buy another brush set for the eight of us!
10. To watch The Sex & The City DVDs which Erin passed me to return to Mel, so it's as good as uh, me borrowing it?
9. Dinner at Esmirada's (a Greek cafebar which received rave reviews in December Elle)
8. To sample the following flavours of martini in the following month: apple, sake and chocolate
7. Peep-toed slingbacks (I'm longing to head back to my fave shoe store, Gripz)
6. To convince my friends that my sushi and pasta are edible- not to mention delectable
5. Dashing Diva nail colour in Ruby Slipper, approx $16
4. Warehouse sequinned bolero, $73
3. Subscription to US InStyle magazine (strangely enough, I dig their home and entertaining spreads)
2. Revlon Fabulash Mascara, $16.90 (this price is unacceptable! I must see if Sasa has a better introductory offer)
1. Kate Spade L'Orient-Ariane handbag in fuchsia with gold chain-straps, approx $400
Oh, don't forget. I want, no need, navy blue eyeshadow. I just can't stand it when beauty columns tell us what we should and should not to. It's so... prescriptive! I feel that makeup can both accentuate and transform. It is inventive and imaginative.
Navy blue eyeshadow, in particular, is often regarded as a "dirty" colour. However, it is actually universally flattering in the right amounts and locations, helping to enhance one's eye colour and add depth to the eyelid area. I've done navy blue eyeshadow makeover at both the Stila and Paul & Joe counters and they turned out fine- now the search is on for a drugstore double!
-gets off soapbox-
I think I'm beginning to have a crush on Watson's. Like, the drugstore? Today there was 20% off on most of its makeup lines so I bought a 10 Carat eyeshadow duo in aubergine and pink shimmer!
Tsk. I don't sound like a girl who has a major presentation on Wednesday for 3M Asia-Pacific, and exams five days later. I don't even know how I'm supposed to study with this advertising campaign hanging over my head, and I have to catch up on more than a month's worth of webcasts first.
But I am an unflagging optimist, and I have never stopped believing in myself. It'll work out.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
IMG_8899
It's late at night! Eeks! What am I doing in school at such a ghastly hour?!
It was a loooong day today. I attended a morning lecture, a double Dolus birthday celebration, commuted to my grandmum's place in Chua Chu Kang (where we spent two delicious hours gossipping about kith and kin) and travelled back to school for a make-up seminar!
No, not that kind of make-up. The kind that happens when your class falls on a public holiday and you have to reschedule it at some obscene after-dusk hour.
After three semesters here, I thought I'd start a tradition and photograph the friends I'd made throughout the term and might never see again, thanks to our rotating bi-annual modular system. I'm only putting three of said pics up though, because there is such a thing as limited bandwidth and I'm theees close to exceeding it.
This is Caryn from American Literature, whose personality is every bit as sweet as she looks. And how did I first recognise her? Through the pictures on Shuhui and Marie's blogs!
And I know this has nothing to do with anything, but here's my wishlist of the moment.
10. Strappy metallic heels to match the dress I bought for the year-end bash
9. Brown miniskirt
8. Lace belt from Joop
7. Heated tongs (Vidal Sassoon does one in pink and it's on offer too!)
6. Dye job and hair spa (instant recall: Kerastase)
5. Kimono fabric clutch
4. Swedish/ Honey Balm massage at Body Contours
3. Lip balm, preferably with SPF (am thinking Kiehl's?)
2. Pedicure and foot therapy at Dashing Diva
1. Maybelline Great Lash mascara (not available locally)
It was a loooong day today. I attended a morning lecture, a double Dolus birthday celebration, commuted to my grandmum's place in Chua Chu Kang (where we spent two delicious hours gossipping about kith and kin) and travelled back to school for a make-up seminar!
No, not that kind of make-up. The kind that happens when your class falls on a public holiday and you have to reschedule it at some obscene after-dusk hour.
After three semesters here, I thought I'd start a tradition and photograph the friends I'd made throughout the term and might never see again, thanks to our rotating bi-annual modular system. I'm only putting three of said pics up though, because there is such a thing as limited bandwidth and I'm theees close to exceeding it.
This is Caryn from American Literature, whose personality is every bit as sweet as she looks. And how did I first recognise her? Through the pictures on Shuhui and Marie's blogs!
And I know this has nothing to do with anything, but here's my wishlist of the moment.
10. Strappy metallic heels to match the dress I bought for the year-end bash
9. Brown miniskirt
8. Lace belt from Joop
7. Heated tongs (Vidal Sassoon does one in pink and it's on offer too!)
6. Dye job and hair spa (instant recall: Kerastase)
5. Kimono fabric clutch
4. Swedish/ Honey Balm massage at Body Contours
3. Lip balm, preferably with SPF (am thinking Kiehl's?)
2. Pedicure and foot therapy at Dashing Diva
1. Maybelline Great Lash mascara (not available locally)
tina and i
Tina is a music major on exchange from Denmark, and we became fast friends thanks to a Stylistics project on Latin jazz and ballads. This photo was practically begging to be taken because we may never see each other again after our exams.
Boohoo! I'm so going to miss all our weekly Tuesday lunches spent recommending her the best shopping places in Southeast Asia!
Boohoo! I'm so going to miss all our weekly Tuesday lunches spent recommending her the best shopping places in Southeast Asia!
dolus celebrates
And how would a school photolog be complete without a picture of the first group of friends I got to know in NUS?
Despite the looming e-x-a-m-s, we met up to celebrate David and Ivan's birthdays today, and the turnout was pretty good!
After a group lunch, we surprised David outside his lecture theatre. Then as we were all hanging around the doors trying to look like we weren't waiting for Clement to come with the cake, we spotted a familiar face down at the speaker's podium- Ernest had taken the mike and roused all the stragglers in the LT into singing our boys a birthday song!
We got Ivan, group metrosexual cum enlightened male, a charcoal mask from Origins and David, the unyielding sportsman, a yellow Dri-Fit tee from Adidas!
Despite the looming e-x-a-m-s, we met up to celebrate David and Ivan's birthdays today, and the turnout was pretty good!
After a group lunch, we surprised David outside his lecture theatre. Then as we were all hanging around the doors trying to look like we weren't waiting for Clement to come with the cake, we spotted a familiar face down at the speaker's podium- Ernest had taken the mike and roused all the stragglers in the LT into singing our boys a birthday song!
We got Ivan, group metrosexual cum enlightened male, a charcoal mask from Origins and David, the unyielding sportsman, a yellow Dri-Fit tee from Adidas!
Sunday, November 06, 2005
grooming I
Someone got married yesterday! To be more precise, my mother's father's sister's son, Wai Leong, tied the knot.
So I volunteered to do point makeup for my mum and sis for the evening banquet.
To my surprise, they let me.
Maybe they wanted to try my Paul & Joe primer (used that on Charlene). Or my last sample of Anna Sui whitening mask (my mum got that). Or the Dior highlighting poudre. Or all twenty-two yummylicious colours in my Japanese eyeshadow palette.
Or maybe they just trusted me.
We set up camp in the master bedroom, because my mum had these big-ass sliding mirrors installed over our casement windows when we first moved in. The array of cosmetics you see scattered on the vanity make up less than half of what we used that day.
So I volunteered to do point makeup for my mum and sis for the evening banquet.
To my surprise, they let me.
Maybe they wanted to try my Paul & Joe primer (used that on Charlene). Or my last sample of Anna Sui whitening mask (my mum got that). Or the Dior highlighting poudre. Or all twenty-two yummylicious colours in my Japanese eyeshadow palette.
Or maybe they just trusted me.
We set up camp in the master bedroom, because my mum had these big-ass sliding mirrors installed over our casement windows when we first moved in. The array of cosmetics you see scattered on the vanity make up less than half of what we used that day.
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