The Secret Kook Society

116 I Think, Therefore I Am...?

2012-01-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

/warning: long post following

I just came across the following article from a friend's blog, on the issue of being elitist and how this problem may be resolved. The issue of elitism has long been a hot issue in Singapore, elections on or not, and sometimes it is difficult to see that below all the sometimes green-eyed or irrational rants lies a serious societal ill that our education system may or may not be at fault for. My own thoughts at the bottom.

the original article: 'Diary of a reformed elitist', taken from source

I AM as Rafflesian/Raffles Girls’ School (RGS)/’elite’ as they come. My father was a Raffles Institution boy; I went through Raffles Girls’ Primary School (RGPS), RGS, then Raffles Junior College, then on to the National University of Singapore, boarding at Raffles Hall. My sisters went through much the same route. My little girls are in RGPS.

I recognise the syndrome Ms Sandra Leong talks about (‘Scoring high in grades but not in values’, last Saturday). I live it, breathe it. Most of my friends are like me, graduates. Most of us live in landed property, condominiums or minimally, executive condos or five-room flats. None of us talks about making ends meet, or how we must turn down medical treatment for our aged parents because we cannot find the money.

But I will add to her essay: that those traits, that aura is not unique to RGS girls. It resonates within a social group, and its aspirants, the well educated or well endowed. I hang out with so many, I have stories by the barrel.

- My doctor friend, non-RGS and one would even say anti-RGS, was shocked when she found out how many As I got in my A levels, since I opted to do an arts degree. In her words, ‘I thought all arts people were dumb, that is why they go to arts’. Her own family boasts only doctors and lawyers – she said they would never contemplate any other profession – and by implication, all other professions are below those two.

- A church-mate who lived in a landed property in District 10 – definitely not an RGS girl, and I venture to guess, not even a graduate – once, in all sincerity and innocence, prayed for all those who had to take public transport and live in HDB flats, for God to give them strength to bear these trials.

- Another friend, also non-RGS and a non-graduate, shudders when she recounts the few months she lived in an HDB flat. And that was a five-room flat. Imagine the culture shock if she had lived in a three-room flat.

I continue to meet people who never visit hawker centres, who wonder why the poor people do not work harder to help themselves, who fret if their children do not get into the Gifted Education Programme (reserved for the top 1 per cent of nine-year-olds).

The pattern repeats itself in the next generation. When my 11-year-old had to go on a ‘race’ around Singapore, using only public transport, the teacher asked for a show of hands on how many had never taken public transport (bus and MRT) before. In a class of 30, five raised their hands. I think if the teacher had asked for those who had taken public transport fewer than 10 times in their young lives, the number would have more than doubled or tripled.

Many of us live in ivory towers. I know I did. I used to think Singapore was pretty much ‘it’ all – a fantastic meritocracy that allowed an ‘HDB child’ from a non-graduate family to make it. I boasted about our efficiency – ‘you can emerge from your plane and be out in 10 minutes’ – and so on.

It was not that I thought little of the rest of the world or other people; it was that I was so ensconced in my cocoon, I just thought little of anything outside my own zone. ‘Snow? Yes, nice.’ ‘Starvation in Ethiopia? Donate $50.’ The wonders of the world we lived in, the sufferings and joys of those who shared this earth were just academic knowledge to me, voraciously devoured for my essays or to hold intelligent conversations at dinner parties.

Then I lived in China for seven years. I looked on in amazement as the skinny tree trunk in front of my yard blossomed and bore pomegranates when spring thawed the ground. And marvelled at the lands that spread east, west, north and south of me as we drove and drove and drove, and never ended. I became friends and fans of colleagues and other Chinese nationals, whom so many Singapore friends had warned me to be wary of.

I realised it was not the world and other people who were limited in their intellect, in their determination, in their resourcefulness; it was me and my world views which were limited. I also know full well that if I had stayed in Singapore, in my cushy job, comfortable in my Bukit Timah home, I would have remained the same – self-sufficient. I had always believed that if I put my mind to it, I could achieve anything. For example, I used to look at sick people and root: ‘Fight with all your willpower, and you will recover.’ And when they did not, I’d think they had failed themselves. I, like Ms Leong, believed ‘mental dexterity equated strength of character and virtue’.

But those years in China taught me terrible lessons on loneliness. I learnt that money (an expatriate pay package) and brains (suitcases of books) did not make me happier than my maid who cycled home to her family every night in minus 20 deg C on icy roads to a dinner of rice and vegetables. The past few years, I have known devastating loss and grief so deep I woke up in the morning and wondered how the sun could still shine and people could go on with their lives.

And so perhaps I have learnt the humility I lacked. Humility about how small I am in the whole schema of things. About how helpless I truly stand, with my intellect in my hands, with my million-dollar roof over my head. To remember, in the darkest valleys of my journey, it was not Ayn Rand or other Booker list authors who lifted me, but the phone calls, the kindness of strangers, that made each day a little less bleak.

And perhaps finally, to really see other people, and understand – not deflect, nor reflect their anger and viewpoints, but see their shyness, pain, struggles, joys. Just because I was ‘fortunate enough’ to have trawled the bottom levels. And perhaps that is the antidote to the oft unwitting elitism so many of us carry with us.

Sim Soek Tien (Ms)

a response to the article that I found intriguing, taken from same source
life | January 7, 2012 at 10:45 pm | Reply

Ms Sim seems to define elitist as people coming from ‘elite’ school and living in ‘district 10 properties’. This is true only to some extent.

Rather than focusing solely on the top 10% schools, we should begin to examine other forms of ‘elitism’ in Singapore. Polytechnics (or Polys) often try to differentiate themselves from ITE’s through the constant emphasis that it provides a diploma whilst ITE only provides the NITEC. Whilst interacting with poly student’s it is unsurprising to hear poly student’s comparing their GPA’s amongst each other, a supposed elite pastime.

Moreover, why is it that the express classes in an ordinary secondary school often are ‘dao’ (which means arrogant) towards their normal (academic/technical) peers? To exacerbate matters, there seems to be even strong lines of division between N(A) and N(T) people, with N(A) people of course believing they are superior to their academically weaker peers. Hence, it just seems ludicrous to generalize that elitist are people from top schools! Even a cleaning supervisor thinks his better than a junior cleaner!

Instead of using JC students as the scapegoats and labeling them as ‘elitist’ freaks. Perhaps it is time for Singaporeans to do some soul searching. Why can’t we accept the fact that there are people smarter than us? Why can’t we just look forward to what we can achieve with hard work? Aren’t we all elitist after all?

If we are going to condemn JC kids as elitist, what society is doing is robbing these kids of the praise they deserve for their effort they place in their academics. In fact such overgeneralizations reeks of green-eyed monsters. It is as ridiculous as saying “Usain Bolt is elitist because he runs faster than others”.

What Ms. Sim and many others fail to see is the fact that elitism is not only confined to the top 10% of the society but rather a sad reality that plaques all social strata in Singapore.

my response*
if there's something I can take away from the article itself, I would say that experience is the best cure for misguided souls- or perhaps for everything- because you know a child learns best not from a parent's scolding or warning but from actual experience. 'Unwitting elitism'- very often in our society we are very quick to descend harshly on individuals who have expressed condescending or elitist opinions, without stopping to consider that maybe they didn't know it was wrong at all. Maybe there is something in our society that festers such attitudes- and the user 'life' is correct in pointing out that it is not unique to those in 'premier' JCs or secondary schools.

In a certain sense the competitive need to compare and outdo is human nature. It is innate, and it is certainly not unique to Singaporeans. Having been in a school overseas I can testify that comparing GPAs is certainly not something only those in upper-class schools or even polys do. Every student likes to know how s/he ranks amongst his or her peers. But perhaps in such a small society, with such a rapid change in lifestyle -from kampongs in the 60s to scarily avant-garde apartments now- we have allowed such rabid thinking to overtake our lives. Everything has become a GPA- your kids, your flat, your car.

Certainly I agree with many users on the site that it is not necessary to visit China for a humbling experience. Just recently I was with my family on the highway when we saw a car stopped along the side of the road. Having been in a traffic jam previously of course every car slowed down to look, and no doubt many were complaining about the hold-up. But the reason for this was that an old lady, presumably with Alzeimer's or some other ailment, had somehow ended up walking right in the middle of the road absent-mindedly- and another woman, in her late 50s I would hazard, had gotten out of her car to help the old lady off the road. It is chilling to think what would have happened if the latter had not helped- no doubt long days would go by in which the old woman continued to wander and cars continued to slow down to watch the spectacle. Maybe we have become a 'watching' society. Watch, and comment, and criticize.

I sometimes catch myself in elitist thoughts. It is not natural, believe me, none of us goes out of our way wanting to look down on other people. But there are certain stereotypes and automatic assumptions -'oh, that school, must be not so smart one'- that unwittingly lead us to our woeful conclusions.

Should we apologise for being in our schools? Sometimes I admit when I tell people what school I'm from, I may add an apologetic smile, or try to brush it off. And when some friends of mine tell me what school they're from and it's a neighbourhood school, many will inevitably look embarrassed, or say things like, "I'm not so smart lah." I'm not saying that we should boast but I don't think we should hide either. That said, maybe we should stop putting emotional tags to things. A school is just that. You get in based on your academic score, but that does not make anyone better than anybody else. If you're in a neighbourhood school, that doesn't make you in any way inferior to someone from a 'premier' school. You don't have to apologise for who you are.

Maybe this self-acceptance will help us. Accept who you are. Accept that there are people who are different from you, because that's the way things are and that's the way things should be. That said, don't sit there wallowing in self-content. Help others. Do what you can, to bring what you can do to those who can't. Maybe that is the secret of a truly meritocratic society. People aren't just blindly assigned roles in society; they're given roles based on their abilities. And when we can perform these roles to the best of our capacities and use it to fulfill society, make it more wholesome, then perhaps everyone would be happier. And a lot less elitist.

*these opinions are not meant to be offensive in any way. If I have overlooked any point or offended anybody, please do correct me by leaving a comment. Also don't be afraid to leave comments with your own opinions too, I'd love to hear them!

115 New Year!

2012-01-01T06:15:00.000-08:00

Open my heart, Lord, to the treasures of love.

It's the first day of 2012... spent the day at church, unpacking (messily) and spending an evening with family and friends... and thought I'd share this quote from the parish priest's homily this morning.

Actually when I first heard it I thought it was 'the treasures of a love', which is rather poetic in my opinion... I thought it would be a fantastic resolution to find a love this year -be it a person or a hobby- and to really open up your heart to accept all the amazing, amazing facets of this love, and what it can do for you. Just to be able to love anything is a gift- maybe because some people have no room for love in their hearts, or they don't see enough of the world around them, or because we're just blessed to have so much to love and discover in this world- and I hope I realize that this year.

Also to share a poem I found:
Separation, by W.S. Merwin

Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.

maybe an application of this poem to the new year doesn't have to be so melancholic... I hope that I 'attack' this new year with a fresh love for everything, a fresh joy -the kind that babies have when they enter the world and everything is a new discovery, something new to really savour and relish- and may everything I do be stitched with the pure colour of love and happiness.

sounds sappy, and maybe it is, but I hope that's true. I would like to live a life where you leave your love in the places you go and the people you meet, and people remember you for your smiles and your joy. That would be a pretty brilliant legacy to leave behind.

114 New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T02:35:00.000-08:00

I had the impression that I'd made some resolutions this time last year, but looking through my archives that seems to be for 2010. What I did post for 2011 was the very coherent and very intelligent following:

happy twenty eleven everybody and here's to wishing a whole year ahead of love, happiness, yoga and good movies!
I am not very sure what I just wrote but I already know 2011 is going to have heartbreak because it's the final year of Harry Potter and I am not very sure how I am going to take that. On the other hand... Taylor Swift live in Singapore!!

"I am not very sure what I just wrote"... that's about right. If I recall correctly I was curled up on a mattress leaning against my bed with my laptop burning my lap, while listening to raucous party-goers cheering on a count-down downstairs.

Well, Harry Potter has ended- I watched it twice in cinemas (I wanted to watch it seven times, but twice is already a lot for a sporadic movie goer) and cried buckets both times, then bought the overpriced hologramic DVD with the free poster (which dropped off my wall the minute I tacked it on) and cried while watching that, too.

Taylor Swift live was an EXPERIENCE and I really regret two things: (1) not knowing about the T-Party, so I should've made my own shirt and maybe some light-up headband (kidding, but some people did do that) and, I don't know, tattoo a '13' onto my hand (again, kidding... but same)... and (2) not freeing up memory space on my camera beforehand so I had to delete old pictures and select concert pics to save during the actual concert, which meant I missed a lot of Love Story and the part in Enchanted where she swops her gown for a mini - which was an iconic moment, I'm still burning up about that!!

Things I'm proud of this year is actually passing (and getting an A in Chemistry!!!!!!) my exams, and getting better at ballet, and making some truly good friends this year. And reading Lord of the Rings so I can say I am a fan and not just because I only watched the movies. The books ARE a totally different experience and I can't wait till The Hobbit comes out next year!!

When I was young, whenever I blew out my birthday candles or made a wish, I wished for something I wanted (clothes, -erm, boys-, friends, whatever)... nowadays (as I get older, hurhur) as cheesy as it sounds, I'm starting to understand the serenity prayer.

God, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I could adapt that to say 'the serenity to reject the things I do not want, the courage to go for the things I do want, and the wisdom to know the difference'. Or, more neatly put, 'to know what I want'. And what is important in life. I don't expect to become a full-on religious in the next year and reject all material goods because (as old photos of me from young prove) the shopaholic in me has been there way to long to simply eject. But I will say that I have become better at self-control since my time in Bangkok (and I am slowly but painfully learning quality over quantity!!) ... and I just cleared out 4 full bags of clothes from my wardrobe, which is still fuller than I would like, but then again, I'm not as ruthless as I would like.

I plan to get an asymmetrical skirt online as a little Christmas gift for myself- I'd been eyeing it before Christmas and planned to get it with my ang pau money, but then got a heart attack when the seller took the picture down- then breathed a sigh of relief when the seller messaged me to say it was still available. Now I'm worried the sizing and the material will be off, and I won't look nice in it, or something. But then again... 4 bags for a skirt, right?

Incorrigible.

In 2012 (if the Mayans were wrong) - next time this year- please let me know if I'm still wearing the skirt. That'll be a lesson.

113 This Day Is Arbitrary

2011-11-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

It's been some time since I blogged. I realized I have 3 followers here: a big hello to you all and I'm terribly sorry for not being a very substantial or reliable updater!

On a side note, my home is being bugged by these pesky brown little beetles that have a tendency to find me and subsequently crawl on me... my arms, preferentially. I now have this paranoia where I am constantly finding an itch somewhere and expecting to find a beetle there. (I love butterflies, but kind of have little tolerance for creepy crawlies...)

I'm mourning photoshop more and more these days, particularly because I'm stumbling upon more interesting student photographers and bloggers and finding wonderful actions and inspirations and wanting to emulate them... then... no photoshop. Also, no photography sessions, although I sincerely hope this shortage will be rectified when we move next month because there are a couple of green places (hills and the like) which I would rather like to get lost in for some photography trips with friends.

Then again, fashion bloggers probably never had to deal with Singapore's tough climate and the aforementioned pesky buggers.

As I may have mentioned we are moving house soon. I never thought I had so much stuff in the way, literally, of having my dream 'Ikea showroom' bedroom....!!!! I sketched it out initially, then realized I had all this junk lying around and had to try and forcefit all these shelves, etc into my floor plan. On the upside the previous owner had a huge closet built into every bedroom so I will definitely have enough space for my clothes, bags and, em, soft toys. Probably will have some extra shelves for school supplies too.

But that leaves accessories, makeup, books, magazines (I HAVE SO MANY ... ), old files and the like. 'Old stuff' basically that never really count when you're making a list in your head... But I still hope I can get away to Salvation Army thrift stores sometime soon and find some quirky thing or another to install in my bedroom. I already plan to get a dreamcatcher from far east plaza to hang against what I hope (if I get my way) will be lace curtains.

I suspect once I actually move in and 'settle in' my room will not be a boho meditation haven/heaven like I imagine it to be, but more like a homeless dump. Oh well.

I suppose that will be my motivation to clear up, clear out and keep tidy.

PS. I am selling some of my wardrobe clearance items on Facebook. Only sold one dress so far though. I am worried my advertising techniques are not up to scratch, as always. And not to mention I have not finished taking pictures of everything haha! I really wish we had consignment stores I could sell them to, but this place has a culture of secondhand-phobia so nobody wants to buy them much. Hopefully with the increasing fad of 'vintage' more people will want to buy secondhand clothes... as it is I'm looking at giving the bunch to Salvation Army wholesale and for free if nobody buys it soon.

112 Who Am I?

2011-10-23T02:35:00.000-07:00

Julie Kent

I had this realization (you know, can you 'alize' something? like re-alize?) or rather a remembrance of something someone said to me. It was a very casual conversation starter, "So, what do you do?" because we were freezing our butts off and trying to while away the time despite the fact that we didn't know each other at all. The weirdest thing was that I found it easy to answer for my brother - "he plays the guitar"- and while this may not be an entirely accurate description of him, I didn't give a 100% true description of myself either- "I dance."

It's so strange. Can the whole of someone be encompassed in just one answer? I can't really tell you what I do. "I dance" is not a lie, but it's not the complete truth either. You'd think I was in some company dancing for a living with broken toes and a closet full of tutus. That's why a one-sentence answer is kind of a lie even if it is true: if I said I write you'd imagine a caffeine addict in Paris cafes; if I said I design you'd imagine someone in geek specs surrounded by tons of fabric and the select Vogue editions; if I said I shop you'd think I was a rich tai tai with multiple cash cards at the ready; and if I said I daydream you'd think I never left my bed. Or failed all my subjects but filled my notebooks with doodles.

All the descriptions are true but not the imaginings. (I pass my subjects, y'know!)

But so, you know, if you can't answer in a sentence, can you answer in more than that? What is the extent of what makes us? What shapes us? It's like answering "Who are you?" which is the quintessential question I hear all teenagers my age are born to question in this whiny and troublesome adolescent age. You answer with your name, maybe, but your name's just a word that your parents decided to call you when you were born. If your parents always called you "my baby!" or "oi!" does that make it your name? Or maybe you're more suited to a name of your own choosing, something that defines your personality, but is that it? Maybe we all ought to have multi-hyphenated names. Like the name of this seminar I'm supposed to attend (this Saturday..??? that's fast), The Multi-Hyphenated Woman. Because 'The Woman' is just too general and doesn't account for all the brilliant things we get up to.

On the other hand, I bought 2 pairs of ballet flats today. I think my grandmother is starting to think shopping's the only side of me.

(But I have been wanting them for ages, and I was very lucky they had my size because when my mum went to check last week they didn't. And they are very similar to a Topshop pair I saw last year, yet half the price. So....) (I know, I know, it's a lot.)

So you see, it's so weird. I can philosophize at you all you want but really all I wanted to say was, I got two pairs of ballet flats! Squee!

111 Spring Trend Spotting

2011-10-07T00:51:00.000-07:00

Trend spotting time! I'm usually not very good at these things but some of these were so obvious I had to point them out.
1. Aqua blue
I'm not complaining, been a fan since I watched Aquamarine.

Max Mara Spring 2012

Richard Nicoll Spring 2012

2. Drop waist
I'm hoping I can make it work for curvier body shapes.

Chloe Spring 2012

Gucci Spring 2012

Roberto Cavalli Spring 2012

love this one- the gold sequins against the kaleidoscopic print- so much going on, so much love!

Sonia Rykiel Spring 2012

3. Plain face, bright lips

Jason Wu Spring 2012

Jenny Packham Spring 2012

Julien Macdonald Spring 2012

Luca Luca Spring 2012

4. Sheer bow-tie

Elie Saab Spring 2012

Gucci Fall 2011

considerably old inspiration from Gucci but I loved that collection- so much drama- billowy chiffon plus flower wraps instead of fur- who can complain?

Jason Wu Spring 2012

sorry if the formatting is a bit off, I hate trying to decipher the images in HTML on blogger.

110 All Hands On Deck

2011-10-04T00:24:00.000-07:00

I've been at it again! It seems that my drive for product photography and layout editing always accumulates during EOY period, when I give myself shorter breaks than usual- breaks which cannot always be easily fulfilled on the computer (last evening I meant to give myself fifteen minutes and ended up spending 2 hours in a stupor before the screen).

If the Propaganda ring (that's the name of the store I got it from, I'm not kidding) seems familiar, it's because I previously featured it here.

109 Spring!

2011-09-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

Matthew Williamson, Spring 2012 RTW (on Style.com)

What with a bad habit of looking at the pictures instead of the titles on RCFA, and the fact that Singapore does not have any seasons other than rather temperamental bouts of humidity and rain, I can never remember which fashion season we're in. And then I found out, it's spring. 2012. Mind blown.

In any case I've been scrolling down lots of fashion week updates courtesy of RCFA (I'm too intimidated to even attempt Style.com), but an unexpected favourite came thanks to The Clothes Horse- who I've been stalking lately as it's been so long since I read her blog. I forgot how beautiful everything is there.

ANYWAY, I love this outfit from Matthew Williamson. My mother convinced me not to buy bright palazzo pants when I was in Bangkok, but that doesn't mean I'll stop coveting coloured bottoms any time soon. They look so brilliant. Not to mention, a drapey floral blouse? I'm sold.
I will have to find a way to replicate this outfit with a skirt, ~~like I always do~~. Because ~~I never wear trousers.~~

MaxMara

Some other favourites (credits to Style.com):

No.21


Carven

It seems I am in for a very punchy and sporty spring.

108 Roar On, Raoul

2011-09-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw a Raoul product in InStyle, I was really taken aback and had to Google if it was really the Raoul I was thinking of... and it was! Raoul is a fashion house started right here in Singapore and recently it's becoming a hot favourite- its products are being featured more often in InStyle, and Hillary of Who What Wear named it as one of her favourite brands right now. I'm so proud of them! Granted, it's not exactly high street, but it's so lovely to have a homegrown brand right up there. I've always been impressed by their designs. Roar on, Raoul!

107 Tag Reply

2011-08-28T02:11:00.000-07:00

chingying: my meaty posts don't look nice on tumblr, ughhh, but will do (:

4 Aug 11, 10:36 PM

chingying: HEY! Back again; but I've had to go off blogger cause I can't publish posts anymore for some unknown celestial reason ):

Try using another account? :( haha yes tumblr's not very good for life rants but you can use the 'read more' option, it was pretty useful when harry potter and the deathly hallows hadn't been shown all around the world yet and we had to keep from spoilers :)

106 Why Not Orange?

2011-08-28T02:09:00.000-07:00

I realized I haven't been updating this space in a while, so I decided to make a new collage! I realized that fashion is taking a very conscious turn to brights, away from the minimalist nude/black looks that we were always seeing some time ago. My wardrobe hasn't quite made the transition yet but seeing Zoe Saldana in this very nice Diane von Furstenberg blouse has convinced me to turn to the bright side :) I loved how she paired hers with a red sling bag. Red and orange are right next to each other on the colour wheel, and pairing them together is like fire- bright and beautiful.

Of course, you can't mention that without mentioning the mother of all inspirational sidewalk fashion, Rachel Bilson, and her Vanessa Bruno jacket. This look's pretty old but it's timeless and countless people count it among their top outfits of all time. (I find Rachel B's looks have a propensity for finding their way to the top of my list.) Recently my mother bought a white blazer that's kind of similar, and I'm convinced it'll look wonderful with orange. Stark white and brights are a very cheerful, simple pairing :)

Coincidentally, I managed to find a pair of orange shorts yesterday! I wasn't consciously hunting about for orange pieces, but I was looking for a pair of structured shorts that weren't micro-short so I could wear them out without being self-conscious and, more importantly, looking presentable. I found them at a shop called Sixties in Wisma Atria, right at the link to Ngee An City. No doubt their items are from Bangkok (I found a dress I bought in BKK there!) but their pieces are well curated- all bright-coloured and a nice mix of feminine and work-inspired pieces. I loved it there but their dressing room is really stuffy and small, unfortunately!

I also went to The Little Things She Needs in Ion for the first time. Well, second, but the first time I went I didn't really have time to browse. Their stuff is a little expensive but the sales section was nice to look at ;-) (When do I not go to the sales section?) Anyway my mum picked out a clutch for me which I thought was brilliant, it's mustard yellow, with a snakeskin-textured hard case and an absolutely brilliant black plastic clasp which reminded me of Chanel's A/W 09 jewelry some time back (here). I'm glad to have a clutch which isn't nude ;-)

On the life front everything's going OK, this week's a week chock full of holidays, but I need to remind myself to start revising.

105 Jump Then Fall (Please)

2011-07-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

i just would like to point out this little argument i presented to my mum in the taxi ride home today:

i was telling her that she struck me as being more a literature than econs person and i was constantly amazed by how she did accounting in university.

her reply was that "well, i'm logical too."

this of course bears the assumption that lit people are not or cannot be logical, which i pointed out, and which she replied to with an insinuating look at me which was obviously meant to, well, insinuate that i do not have logic.

to which i pointed out that logic is inherently rational thinking by your own thought processes, your own way of thinking. each person has their own logic, don't they? if everyone followed the same logic it would be much easier to prosecute criminals; there would be a more defined right and wrong. anyway, so i was saying, that literature people do have logic- in fact, they have logic on a different level, to empathize, and as such they are able to put themselves into other people's shoes and, using other people's logic or personal brand of reasoning- make decisions or feel the way they would feel. so what we do all the time is lit is use logic! our own logic, and others'!

as my mother quipped- "wow, you're really good at BS."

104

2011-06-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

a DIY on one of my favourite skirts ever!! http://www.hugsandpistols.com/2010/09/burberry-prorsum-skirt-diy.html I've been looking for this burberry prorsum skirt ever since I saw it on the runway, which was years ago, and I still haven't found one to my liking.

third july twenty eleven edit:

just bought this shirt from miley cyrus for max azria. at least, that's what the tag says, because i actually bought it from a makeshift stall outside the market below my house, for eight dollars, so i highly suspect they're factory overruns. the other shirt i bought, which is purportedly from zara basics, was also made in bangladesh so i suppose that's where they come from... I bought 2 shirts for 15 dollars, which is pretty cool because the shirts are nice and really soft.

and then just on friday i made another impulse buy and bought a wine-red polka dotted sundress. I really need to stop all this cheap shopping because they just hoard up my wardrobe. kind of can't wait till i can set up my blog to sell stuff from my wardrobe- i need the cleansing!

103 c'est la vie

2011-06-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

tag reply: hi chingying! i'd given up hope of anyone ever tagging here, actually, so hi! it was great scrolling past all those spammer links and see an actual friend's comment. (note to all followers/people who stop by and genuinely want to comment: don't link your name, even if you say "i really like your blog" it looks like a spammer and i probably won't look twice at it. sorreee!) i don't update this space as much as i'd like to and i do go on tumblr more often, but there are some things you can't put on tumblr. this blog is more like a little rant/diary space, or if i'm really feeling something this's where i write about it. (:

so we're approaching the last week of the june holidays and i'm getting the usual "i've wasted all this time" feeling... because i haven't finished my homework... and done a hell lot of shopping and i am now at the stage where i look at fashion pictures and go "I WANT TO GO SHOPPING!" but when i've actually bought stuff they don't really mean so much to me. hopefully that will be better once i move house in november and get my wardrobe all sorted out. right now it's in two countries and some of it is in boxes somewhere if i'm not wrong. so that's all jumbled up.

also i am thinking sometime around then i might set up another blog to sell some of my items that i don't wear anymore. some of these are genuinely well-made and nice but they're just not my style, and it would be a shame to give it away to charity when i haven't even worn them and i paid good money for it. not to mention one of my friends also mentioned that she would like to buy some of my things if i didn't want them anymore, so a little space to peddle my wares would be great (:

one of the things that buggles me is that i have not managed to find my dream bag- aka celine's classic box bag (http://images.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=699&gbv=2&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=celine+classic+box+bag&oq=celine+classic+box+bag&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=4889l6810l0l18l13l0l7l7l0l368l910l2-1.2l3), which i really really like but obviously have no income to buy. i found a copy of it in darkest brown at bugis for $30, but found it too expensive and also i didn't really like the colour- it was too dark for me- and also a black but i never wear black so it was pointless. i thought bangkok might have some but NO! grah ): i DID think about those colourful hard box satchel kinds that a lot of little shops sold- they're cute, i like them, but (a) a lot of people in singapore are buying and wearing them already and (b) i seem to be more into plain, classical styles these days.

so i DID find two crazy sling bags that are moderately bigger than my usual styles so i can carry more around like an umbrella/book/cardigan (not all at once, though!!) ... one is a grey-purple lavender colour and the other one is this totally wacked-out yellow with a vintage gold and pearl clasp. they're both really out of this world and i still can't believe i bought them when i normally don't buy anything that isn't khaki or cream or white (i'm that boring).

on the other hand i am rather happy that i managed to satisfy some... "needs". out of all my buys on my wishlist i had some that were.. moderately.. necessary, like a lightweight cardigan that (a) i could carry around easily and (b) would be presentable enough for dinners with family friends, etc., because my only slouchy one right now is an orange one that is rather beat-up from all the times i've worn and twisted and whatnot it. so i found a drapey style that was really comfy, and bought two of it, one in a creamish pink and another in a dusty pink that i didn't take to at first but liked how it looked against my skintone. unfortunately the material was so thin it tore little holes in the wash, and i'm absolutely agitated ("MY BABIES!") but my mother promises the holes are patch-able.

i also found a pair of open-toed sandals! i used to wear ballet flats all the time but they make my feet stink after long walking/shopping trips so my mother and i both agreed that open-toed sandals would be more... hygienic. i REALLY wanted one without a back strap that i could slip on and off easily when going shoe-shopping (hur hur) but couldn't find one because my feet are both long (ish- they're a 38-39) and IMMENSELY BROAD (39-40+). not to mention some that i found were made with a slight wedge and a pointy heel so it would be difficult to walk in. the one i eventually found had a back strap so i was rather annoyed about that but both the shopkeepers and my mum were a little ticked off by all the shoes i kept rejecting, and it WAS comfortable and sensible and in a nice khaki-ish colour (SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE), so i settled.

(i hope my legs will slim down over time because ankle straps look best on thin legs. but pffssh.)

yup, and got a few basics as well- a denim skirt, because i outgrew my last one and gave it away; and a black bandage / pencil skirt that is presentable because i liked one at cotton on but it was too short and too tight, plus this one was going on sale for 100 baht! so i'm happy. a few t-shirts and a lot of skirts, because you can never have enough flared skirts to wear with t-shirts on days out. and two lust items, a crochet-lace dress and lace shorts- which turned out not to fit so well but i might wear it anyway because the lace is be-yew-tiful.

when is lace ever but?

102 Coco Rocha x James Conran's Dream Wedding

2011-06-18T03:04:00.000-07:00

I just watched this... it's absolutely beautiful, and since I've liked Coco Rocha as a model for a while now it's so great to see her get married. You often think of models as these inhuman creatures, all pow-wow striding down runways, but this is an awfully human aspect of life to see and it's beautiful. (Not to mention her dress- Zac Posen- wow!) I also loved the scene where she was waiting to enter the wedding and in-doors, playing with the little girl, and dancing around in circles.

Source: the rantings of a shopaholic (http://www.rantingsofashopaholic.com/2011/06/dream-wedding-short.html) via chic.tv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7iN-wmKgv8&feature=player_embedded#at=1139)

101 Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches

2011-06-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the misleading title, I couldn't help myself when I realized this was my 101st post :)

This will be a really short post, because today's my slug day (meaning I'm going to try to do as much homework as possible) but I wanted to post this thought before I forgot. It's been a while since ideas for brand or book names came and left me before I could write them down but this one popped up this morning and I couldn't leave it here. It's so luscious!

So here you go, TSKS's possible successor- Louche Douche!

Pronounced loosh doosh, it doesn't have the loveliest of connotations (louche douche) but the pronunciation's just too good to pass up.

the one hundred

2011-06-04T23:48:00.000-07:00

100th post! Whee! I remember in my past blogs it took me like, 5 days to reach 100 posts, but anyway.

STILL haven't made much (if any) progress on my homework- if anything I found a couple of links to essays on Jane Austen and feminism ;-( Have just made out my homework list, it's actually not much but tedious!! AND there's a lot to do for Art, which I am very quickly getting sick of, which is very great for my coursework. I do NOT need to get sick of it at this juncture!

Anyhow yesterday my mum and I went all the way to Orchard to watch Jane Eyre, only to find out when we reached that all but the midnight showing were sold out! We've learnt our lesson and are going to book online for tomorrow morning- hopefully THAT'S not sold out too. I really want to watch it, it looks good! Then after that we're hopefully going to Kinokuniya cos I have a bunch of vouchers for it that I haven't had the opportunity to use yet.

Yesterday we went to explore Far East Plaza for the first time, it's beyewwwtiful! Very Bangkok-like, though, I can't place my finger on what the difference is between a Bangkok & Singapore shopping experience (cleaner floors and English, perhaps, but that's about it?) so in the meantime my mum tries to persuade me to wait till I go to Bangkok to shop because stuff is generally cheaper there. Now that I know good haunts in Singapore, though... ;-)

I don't know if I blogged this but I found my faux ostrich skin belt in Bugis on Friday!!! It's royal blue and SO BEAUTIFUL and only eight dollars. Then yesterday when we went to FEP I found this off-white skater dress which is a little daring for me but very very beyewiful, too, because it has a high neckline but a low V-shaped back, and a little flouncy skirt. Unfortunately the skirt is a little shorter than I usually wear but I'll just be careful not to wear it with hooker heels then! But it's just so pristine and cute and the shape is so 50s, I can't wait to wear it with jewelry that POPS. (Royal blue, anyone? I feel like I'm in a very nautical mood right now.)

99 may I just say-

2011-06-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

Source: here

I love this look. and I love how it's titled 'unpredictable', because there's this totally lax grey tee with skinny jeans, and then way posh and cool pearls and leopard print stilettoes. oh, and a leopard print clutch! I wish I could replicate this somehow.

been doing ridiculously little amounts of homework this past week, it's the first week of holidays and i promised to get most of my work done but since 3 of 5 days has been spent shuttling to school and back for remedial and art studio time I mostly come back exhausted and lazy and just in the mood for movies and sleep. yesterday I watched maid in manhattan and juno (which is a brilliant movie).

on monday though I went out and spent an exhorbitant amount of money with my friends. most of which was spent on "nothing"- aka ridiculously expensive taxi fare (which didn't seem like much at the time but amounted to a lot at the end of the day) and food- which we seemed to eat a lot, the weirdest thing about being with friends is that you eat whatever, whenever, WHEREVER, and then at the end of the day the bill is like 60% food even though you set out to shop!

anyway I FINALLY found a maxiskirt i liked, it's a really cool and unusual grass green colour. I think of it as puce, or pus green but that's a kind of icky image so I'll just say grass green. the waistband ruching is not very convenient because it makes my waist look the size of texas but the material is really soft and swishy and it's just so fun to wear! i've been waiting for this moment since kate bosworth wore jil sander.

i also bought this pretty cool camel faux-leather belt with a huge shiny gold buckle. i saw another belt made from faux ostrich skin which was in the most BRILLIANT royal blue colour going for 8 dollars but for unfathomable reasons i didn't buy it, so i'm going back again to see if they still have it. fingers crossed! it's been three days and i don't really remember where i saw but i really hope it's still there because the colour was beyond amazing.

sorry to keep this blog alive purely on vapid little shopping updates like these... anyhow on the life front all that i've got to say is that i'm getting lazier and lazier :-/

98 you may say I'm a dreamer

2011-05-21T05:08:00.000-07:00

I was reading the blog of an acquaintance, and her very detailed blog made me realized that I have neglected writing here for rather long. And neglected writing in particular, actually. I still dream up scenarios in my head (I still think filmmaking will be an interesting career for such a dreamer) and certain phrases which I seldom put to paper... My most recent writing effort would have to be Mnemophobia, a Dramione oneshot for Fanfiction.net.

Mostly I get inspired by random phrases or images that I see on Tumblr- Mnemophobia was inspired by an image which informed me that mnemophobia is the fear of memories, which I thought was a rather interesting thing to fear! Memories are often our link to our most favourite and treasured moments- photographs of the past which we can pull up, or videos- and slow-down and rewind and pause as much as we like. At the same time I understand that memories can be painful- can bring back hurts you thought you'd gotten over or feelings you thought you'd never feel again.

(Which reminds me, my juniors read my Montage piece, The Wedding, some time back at Morning Assembly without informing me. I think my face burned up in embarrassment and I kept whispering, 'Shit, shit, shit.' I'm not embarrassed of my words but I wish I had written something else, other than romance, which is a very touchy topic in an all-girls secondary school. I DID write a poem about a mother-daughter relationship which didn't get in, though. Maybe I should post it here next.)

I am determined to start writing about other things!

Then after I was done editing my template here and stuff I trolled through my archives, musing that my past blogs were much more interesting, if not embarrassing. I used to write SO MUCH and post so many pictures and wishlists with little brackets for me to cross out, and memes! And I found the picture of Emma Watson above, which made me stop and think for a minute.

I love the juxtaposition of a lot and some ways, and I think I didn't really get it when I first posted it- I thought it was just a beautiful reflection from a beautiful woman that I really admire. But now I realize I'm starting to view this statement personally, and at other times too I see phrases that I did before and they now call to me in a different way.

Taylor Swift has often recounted a quote of Dolly Parton's, which is that regret is useless because you couldn't possibly have known then what you know now. Hence the line, if only you would sing what you know now, then, in Innocent. I didn't get it then. I thought it was just bad, convoluted English that didn't make sense. Now I realize that all the times you cut yourself up for things you did- it comes back to you, when you have new perspectives, and you realize all these things you didn't before.

What the impact of this is on our actions, I don't know. I must say it causes me to think a lot more before I act. Which brings me back again to Emma's quote- I've changed a lot, in some ways. I used to be a rather heady creature (and annoying, I realize, looking back). Very controlling (still am, in some ways). Last year I went through a very difficult period of time in which I wasn't sure where I was going, who I was and what I was doing. I think a huge reason for that was because I was perfectionist, I was judging myself too harshly, watching my steps too carefully.

Something I've realized in dance is that you don't enjoy it if you're too careful. That said, hard work has to be put in and you have to be aware of what you're doing, but it's a subconscious awareness. You cannot dance if you are too worried about your feet and your arms and your legs and your neck all the time; it shows. And the same thing goes for my studies.

I feel like my grades are really slipping down this year and looking back I think my self-control has gotten less. But in a sense I am taking things slower now, better. I've realized that there's nothing to gain from being overwhelmed and crying and trying to eat it all in. Sometimes you do need to pause and think about the bigger picture, about being a human first and student second.

I've often heard that when you're around fifteen or sixteen you start to think all these questions about existence, like Who am I? It's a question I've thought about many times.

I always thought I was a writer.

Fashion designer, too; fashion was always an integral part of my life even if I didn't quite realize then that a T-shirt and home shorts didn't cut it.

Now, however, I'm toying with the idea of letting journalism go. I've realized that I always liked creative writing much more than functional writing. But at the same time it feels weird, letting such a fundamental part of me go. Being a journalist was always my mainstay. Everyone who knew me would say, yes, she's going to be a writer, a journalist.

Now I'm not so sure. I realized I have a lot more interests, and so little time, and how best to take them all in? A current path I'm thinking of is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My life has been surreal so far and I really cannot believe that everything has happened to me the way it has- some memories are so close, and yet so far. I've been to different places and back and what this has done to my identity, I don't know. (A very confused one, I think!)

I thought that perhaps the time I spent overseas could help me if I wanted to pursue a career at MFA. At the same time I want to work with Amnesty International or the United Nations. If I'm not wrong JK Rowling once worked at AI and it greatly influenced her life and consequently, the themes in her writing. I still don't have the guts to watch Elephant Man, so perhaps it's for slightly selfish reasons that I want to work where you see people from all walks of life, people who have had it worse than you and are still fighting. I would like to learn from these people, to see their perspectives on life and realize some life lessons that you can't get anywhere else. (At the same time, I'm worried that this life path is not one for a softie like me.)

I very briefly toyed with the idea of being a lawyer. It's obviously a very promising and very tempting path to take- but somehow I don't think it's the one for me.

I hope to take my love for fashion somewhere. I can't see 'dressing nicely for work everyday', as my mum put it, being enough, somehow. I was thinking of taking up some skills, like sewing, and trying to work that into my daily life, some day when I have more time and space. And hopefully one day when I'm much older I can draw on the places I've been and really bring this love for fashion further. The only thing hindering me is that I have absolutely no head for business- which is horrible!

It's been a very long and lengthy post and I thank you for getting all the way here. It doesn't quite cover everything I've been thinking but it's enough to at least get it out there. It's so weird, on a Saturday night with many things to do, and I'm sitting here composing an essay-length blog post about my life.

Oh well.

97 in blackwater woods- mary oliver

2011-04-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

I had to pick a poem for Lit which was by a woman or about women. (I hope I got the instructions right.) So I did some digging and found this absolutely beautiful poem by Mary Oliver.

Look, the trees
are turning
their own bodies
into pillars

of light,
are giving off the rich
fragrance of cinnamon
and fulfillment,

the long tapers
of cattails
are bursting and floating away over
the blue shoulders

of the ponds,
and every pond,
no matter what its
name is, is

nameless now.
Every year
everything
I have ever learned

in my lifetime
leads back to this: the fires
and the black river of loss
whose other side

is salvation,
whose meaning
none of us will ever know.
To live in this world

you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.

96 charlie paille

2011-04-13T03:27:00.001-07:00

cover girl of ALEXIS's debut issue featured in altamira nyc... didn't know she was that famous but I love that she makes her own clothes!

95 you're all I wanted

2011-04-13T02:21:00.000-07:00

so... I was thinking, I should restart Muze. for newer readers, I used to have a fashion commentary blog, Muze, with my friend Sherilyn but it largely failed and we shut it down. I was wondering where we went wrong- I really love fashion and blogging, and since I'm neither a trend-spotter nor a street-style photographer, something with my likes and obsessions and observations about the industry in general would be more like it. Something like the little snippets I've been posting here, actually!

So I thought I would start a new blog just to post my fashion-related scribbles, and keep this blog as my personal ramble spot. Thing is: what to name it?

I love the name rois et reines, which is 'kings and queens' in French and the name of Dior's jewelry line... I also love the idea of something to do with mermaids, or albatrosses- all one-word things which have so much depth and meaning for me.

94 wishes are all we have

2011-04-10T02:40:00.000-07:00

i used to have a wishlist on some of my previous blogs and i just remembered i haven't done any on here yet. so here's one!

elements

lucite

chiffon

gold

antique gold

+ birds and hearts

colours

turquoise

mustard yellow

and fashion

blazers

dress shorts

blouses

plain, flared skirts

oversized sweaters

necklaces, too.

keep the headbands coming because even though I don't wear them often I love them and anything balletic is highly welcomed

i was thinking... navy blue crewneck tee in XL with a mustard yellow button-up skirt? none of these exist, of course, but a girl can dream.

oh and bright blue eyeliner is going to be my mainstay as soon as i get to put on make-up as is bright pink lipstick a la jil sander... just not altogether ;-)

93 blur like sotong

2011-04-10T01:44:00.000-07:00

they don't have a website you can buy from, but you can like them on facebook or follow them on tumblr.

92 there's you and me

2011-04-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

I've been the meanest blogger around and not updating my blog recently but here are a few manips! I really love Photoshop now and wish I could post these on my art blog but I think my art teacher (and classmates) would find Dramione rather intimidating and strange.

most recent style collage with a very lame pun on the label 'latest obsession'. but it's true, I love lace, I'm constantly looking for reinventions of it. very nearly bought a lace bag in bangkok and now regretting not buying it.

right here right now, from hsm3. not the biggest fan of the franchise but kind of like their songs begrudgingly.

day 6 of the dramione challenge- dreamcast dramione! i love toby hemingway, of course, and then there's emily blunt's withering best-witch-of-her-age look. failed trying to photoshop her blue eyes brown, though.

haunted, by taylor swift. basically draco dies after sectumsempra and hermione's all cut up. i'm just kidding, i wasn't really thinking of a storyline when I did this, i just loved the line you're all I wanted.

cold as you, by taylor swift. a very failed manip with video screenshots as images so poor quality. but it was immensely difficult, i love EVERY LINE of this song and it SO APPLIES to dramione so much it was too hard to pick one!

MY FAVOURITE OF ALL TIME, already gone by kelly clarkson. i love the colours and the images and the lines. I can't believe I made this, tbh.

my old manips, can't remember if i've posted them previously. glad to see i've kind of improved! (credits to lovely textures from velvetfactory)

obviously you can tell i'm tired cos i'm too lazy to use capital letters and proper english now, but i really wanted to update about my fun jaunt yesterday! a couple of friends and i went out to the orchard area to celebrate our class birthday and the end of block tests (if you're wondering, class birthdays are when the day and month numbers coincide with your class number when written together... amazing right ;-))... so we went to this AMAZING FLEA MARKET at *scape and also cineleisure orchard to shop and it was absolutely amazing, i take back what i said about singapore shopping being bland, i just didn't know where to look! and ironically i didn't know where to look at the flea market, 360 degrees of awesomeness all around me! it was my first flea experience (if you discount "major fleas" like chatuchak in bangkok and night markets in taiwan) and it was absolutely amazing. didn't buy much though, spent most of my money getting myself fat with the food at orchard (: (no regrets, by the way!)

got this turquoise fringe necklace with a gold star, which was pretty cool because just a few days prior to the flea i was wondering how to make a fringe necklace myself because they look pretty darn cool; a GORGEOUS RECYCLED NOTEBOOK from blur like sotong which i will post about in the next post maybe and a handful of bangles for 4.90 from this shop called bead... beadfast? i think? in cineleisure that has an awesome selection of bangles, we were all torn and stood there for about 20 minutes wondering which set to buy.

also- THERE IS AN AMAZING POSTER SHOP AT CINELEISURE that sells taylor swift and emma watson and harry potter and all this amazing stuff, at superhuge sizes for ten dollars! i'm going to preorder an emma watson one as soon as my mother'll let me. (and as soon as i have space on my wall to put it up, hurhur.) it's a stall, really, not really a shop, but it's amazing all the same and i hope they never close down because they're gonna be my fangirl mainstay.

91 Daydreamer

2011-03-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Lauren wedge, Rubi, Cotton On

Bought these shoes the weekend before camp... at 3 inches (inc platform) they're the highest heels I've ever worn (I know, amateur), and really fun! You can see them in Cotton On's Rubi Shoes lookbook.

my beautiful owl ring :) I think this is Pigwidgeon.

my pitiful inspiration board... partly because I can only cut out from Urban- I can't bear to cut anything out from my magazines.

the aforementioned tote bag!

going for dinner now :) have a great weekend!

90 Blackbird, Fly

2011-03-12T04:49:00.000-08:00

The holidays have begun!

Last week I attended a 2-day Career Conference in school and a 3-day camp on etiquette and deportment at Downtown East. I would say I bonded more with my class than I learnt from the workshops... but the effort put in by everyone was very, very much appreciated and I had a ball of a time at camp (:

(Except when my card-playing roommates in the next room highed way past bedtime.)

We had a make-up workshop sponsored by Za. The different coloured and shaped mirrors on each table were very cute, as were the big cache of make-up products laid out.

The main venue for all our meals and debriefs, D'Marquee! We sat at table 20, behind table 13 :)

Today I flew to Bangkok for my holidays... it was a noon flight so we got to see the blue, blue sky at different times in the afternoon. Really beautiful, even though it made the window seat a frying pan!

the clouds were like corn rows or a farm field... mesmerizing

Also, my first night at a new place! I was really pleasantly surprised to find that my parents had taken the liberty of arranging some of my books, magazines and clothes in my bedroom prior to my arrival. Imagine the high it induced :)

the loves of my life: Harry Potter and fashion

lots of pinks, whites, and navy blues- with the occasional lace, ruffle and sparkle

the new house is very showroom-y, and we've even begun playing some house music bought from a BTS station. very soothing, very hotel-like... very unlike my family too. Our houses tend to be cluttered with stuff, thanks to our schoolwork and books and newspapers and random memorabilia, so this is a welcome change :)

89 Enchanted

2011-03-05T02:11:00.000-08:00

I was totally wonderstruck going to Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour 2011 live in Singapore on Feb 9. I can't believe it's been almost a month. The whole concert was really wonderful, she was excellent live, contrary to what critics say. Sounded almost like the CD version, but with more emotion.

And I found the last part of 'Enchanted' (please don't be in love with someone else) is not Auto-Tuned. well, maybe on the CD it is but she can reach the high notes live.

LONG LIVE.

88 After Sunrise

2011-03-05T01:10:00.000-08:00

(PS. The shadow is supposed to be an angry dinosaur.)

I've rather gotten into still life photography... seen here, my owl ring. More pictures to come, hopefully!

Hogwarts crest DIY tote bag.

My latest DIY project, which I'm VERY proud of!Wait till you see the handles...

a doodle for my coursework, which is still very sketchy.

Visit my art blog, www.wildfirewhizbangs.blogspot.com, for more updates on my coursework and other artwork.

See the feather cape?

I've done some sketches in the last week which I'm very proud of. If you can't read my handwriting it says, 'Nicholas Kirkwood/Julianne Moore InStyle Feb '11', referring to these babies.

The lace masks were inspired by Jason Wu, whose shows just get more and more beautiful by the season. I especially love the two butterfly-motif dresses. The one in the middle is a sort of mullet gown with butterfly wings half-protruding, half-draping down the back. The last one (at the bottom) has cut-outs at the waist, a common feature in some of my latest designs.

87 What's New

2011-02-26T01:36:00.000-08:00

Heartfelt, on-my-knees gratitude to Michelle for her tag and follow-- I'm so amazed that anyone is still reading this blog, to be honest! I'm really sorry for not updating, this is totally not turning out the way I wanted it to- this was going to be a mecca of inspiration, sketches and graphics- slash personal blog- but then schoolwork and Tumblr got in the way. So here're whatever manips I got round to doing whenever I actually bothered to open up Photoshop... still been following fashion but less than I used to, which frustrates me- partially because I have less time now to window shop, and the shops are getting samer and samer. Same products, same (high) prices.

Fearne Cotton

The street sign actually says 'Hey Stephen' but even I can't see it ):

Screenshot from my Tumblr... oh Daniel

my coursework for art! www.wildfirewhizbangs.blogspot.com for more information

Valentine's Day movie still

The last photograph wasn't by me... and I wish I knew which protest it was from. Lately it seems -within the last month, even- a whole mudslide of horrible political unrest has been unfolding -tsunami-ing- over the world and it's really just so sad, I can't believe it. It makes me a little ashamed of myself sometimes the way my consumerism sometimes gets in the way of my religion and work ethics. I must remind myself daily of the peace I live in and must be grateful for that, because much worse than overrated shops is happening to people all over this world we live in. It is our world and we must protect it. These recent riots have been making me look over my ambition of working in a fashion magazine and hopefully being a designer. Now I'm thinking I might work for a while with a humanitarian organization after I graduate, to get a sense, a feel of what it's like and to get me back to my senses and roots. Maybe even study law, but I'm not too sure about that.

Not to mention I'm finally realizing the extent of consumerism's effect on environmental damage, some. It's appalling... must learn to balance needs and wants.

86 Updates, At Last!

2011-01-07T03:26:00.000-08:00

A look at what I've been posting on Tumblr lately.

I am not very sure if anyone still reads my blog... Lately the tagboard has become really strange and I've become slightly self-conscious of people reading my thoughts!! I'm really sorry if any of you tagging are genuinely interested in my posts and want me to visit you back, because I've become cynical of late of advertisers and blog-hoppers who don't really mean anything. Also because I haven't really been giving any posts worth tagging for, and I'm sorry for that!

I previously argued that Tumblr wouldn't let me post my thoughts (in-depth) and reflections (rambling, more like) but my argument has crumbled to the ground in the wake of the millions of pictures that Tumblr exposes me to. It's brilliant when you think of this web of people from all corners of the world, at all times (literally), reaching out to each other with all sorts of pictures, inspiring or not. We don't know each other but we like the same things, we encourage each other through reblogging and asks and comments, and we are all incredibly connected through the tech whiz that is Tumblr.

This Blogger has become a Tumblr advocate, no doubt, but I've missed writing. I tried my hand at a new Dramione fic the other day, but the words felt a little forced. Sometimes I wonder if I should try studying filmmaking. Several times when I read a book or think of a scene or even a dream, I think, "This has to be made into a film!" I think of actors, and storyboards, and angles and all sorts of things whose names I don't even know. I have always wanted to do work in the arts industry -writing, fashion, drawing, photography- so filmmaking interests me, but I don't know if I have the capacity to take it up. In Singapore's film industry, it seems the movies with the most show time are those with slapstick Singaporean humour- hello, Jack Neo! If I were a filmmaker I would aim for something more artsy- I have never seen Sofia Coppola's films, but I imagine it would be something like hers.

Speaking of movies, I really want to check out Clueless! It's a classic, and has inspired countless fashionistas everywhere, but I recently found out it's based on Jane Austen's Emma (which we are studying for Lit this year) and that has made me all the more eager to watch it. So much so that I am even considering going out tomorrow to see if the CD shop in Tampines has it. Also- Never Been Kissed. I've watched it before, once, and it's so great and refreshing to watch an old film like that. I suppose YouTube will do if the shop doesn't yield ;-)

(I heard Twilight garnered the most awards at the recent People's Choice. Like a Tumblr user said... "Emma Watson's too good for People's Choice Awards.")

More personally, I just finished my first week back at school. It's been really hectic but I think we always hit the ground running and there's bound to be a bit of whiplash at the beginning. On one hand I think I am easing in quite easily and can't imagine being off school, and on the other I'm daydreaming of home clothes and waking up late and having the liberty to go out wherever and whenever I want to. Now I doubt I'll have any time to sleep in as it's ballet on Saturday then church on Sunday then 5.30AM on weekdays for the school bus.

I know I posted previously about ballet, and I wasn't very positive about it. When I first joined I thought it would fulfill my NYAA Physical Recreation hours; one of my childhood ambitions (one of the more... thoughtless ones) was to become a ballerina (which girl's isn't? ;-)) and since I had never taken much of a step in that direction I thought I'd give it a try. Now I've fulfilled all my hours so I know I can stop whenever I want to. I have fulfilled my original goal. But like Flynn in Tangled said, you have to have new dreams and now mine is to get to Advanced level from where I am now (Grade 4).

But that takes years, and I don't know if I have the passion to take it through. Right now it's pride- I'm a dancer, and I try to put that pride into my dance, to show in all my limbs that I want to be here. But it's hard and sometimes I forget, and it hurts trying to get every step right, and sometimes I want to give up and have my Saturday mornings back. But then I feel I would be letting myself -and my teachers and classmates- down. And everyone who has given up something to let me try my hand at this childhood dream. So I continue.

I still doubt my dancing ability, and I still get nervous jitters when I realize it's Friday and I have ballet tomorrow. Sometimes I hate it and sometimes I love it. I don't know if it's worth going after only for pride's sake. I know some people give it up because of their busy schedules and I am not sure if it'll not be long before it's my turn to do so. I am also not sure if I will give it up when my time comes. It's a kind of dilemma for me right now... ask me some time back if I'd thought I would have so much time set aside to chase after something because I want it and not because the school orders me to, and I'd have said no. It's very strange, like having two lives. I guess I should be sad I'm so used to school and having everything ordered and doing everything that I'm told to. Once I graduate from junior college I'll be calling the shots where I want to go in life and that's a rather scary thought.

This year our age's a milestone and I'm not sure if I'm ready to grow up yet... Taylor Swift's lyrics in Never Grow Up echo my feelings. It's nice how she softly sings to her brother, then builds up a bridge of sorts in which she, in turn, reveals her own feelings about wishing she'd never grown up. It's a big world out there and you wish you had someone's arms to run into. I'm scared for the day when I'll be in that world. But right now I'm sort of protected, still, and guided, and I hope I'll make the best of these days.

It's been a rather heavy post for a comeback "quickie" update, so I'm sorryyy again if this wasn't what you bargained for. (It wasn't what I had, either- I was supposed to come home from school and get all my work done for the weekend but hello, 7.30PM and I've finished Tumblr, Blogger, The Sartorialist, RCFA, Garance Dore, Just Jared...)

Till next time.

85 Happy New Yeaaaar

2010-12-31T07:46:00.000-08:00

happy twenty eleven everybody and here's to wishing a whole year ahead of love, happiness, yoga and good movies!
I am not very sure what I just wrote but I already know 2011 is going to have heartbreak because it's the final year of Harry Potter and I am not very sure how I am going to take that. On the other hand... Taylor Swift live in Singapore!!

84 Kate Bosworth

2010-12-29T23:03:00.000-08:00

Kate Bosworth- our favourite looks, and why

The insouiance, the way an accessory or lip colour always seems off and yet just right, the amazing jewelry line... When the picture of her in Jil Sander came out I knew I was going to have to make a collage for Kate Bosworth.
Main picture, Lucky Magazine Jan 2011, thanks to Just Jared.

83 My Incorrigible Christmas Message

2010-12-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, y'all.

PS. Blogger changed the Picture Uploader. Again.

82 New Tumblr

2010-12-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

So I gave up the fight, and started a Tumblr.

81 "Call Me Snuffles, Alright?"

2010-11-09T02:11:00.000-08:00

Rihanna at the EMAs

A long time ago, I made a pact to post a picture with every post on this blog, to make it more interesting and so readers would have more to come here for than my rambling. This has become a habit, so much so that (a) I maniacally save every nice picture I see to post here, and, (b) I feel strange when I don't have any picture to post.

This post comes under (b). While searching for a picture to post I remembered that today's copy of L!fe had EMAs coverage on the back page, with a picture of Rihanna in a wonderful dress that had corsages at the hips. I couldn't find a full-length picture on Google Images, and my trusty RCFA didn't cover her performance outfit, so all I could scrounge up was the picture above from MTV's website. I wish I could find a proper picture of it, though, because I am a sucker for dresses with flower embellishments.

I apologise if my writing seems fragmented, or if I can't seem to remember the proper words to use, because I have a horrible cold right now. I hate having colds because I can't do all that I usually do, such as go out shopping for hours at a go or gobble down fast food, which I don't normally do but occasionally crave ;-) I also can't sum up the bounds of energy which I normally have, which annoys me because then I get an overwhelming sense of boredom. (This three days before I fly overseas! Typical.)

I am supposed to be packing. I am terribly worried about my luggage. I am THIS SURE that it's going to be over the weight limit, if not now, then when I come back. I've only packed my clothes and a few items here and there, but already the bag feels like it weighs a ton, which it shouldn't. I am worried because the teacher warned that our hostel may not have lifts, and my arm muscles are like Mr Potato Head's (in Toy Story 3). Also because I rather fancied that I had the packing skills of George Clooney in Up in the Air.

Anyway, I'm also determined to start illustrating my designs on the computer again. I've half given up the dream of being a fashion designer as it's so hard to get inspiration these days and come up with a totally original design, let alone a unique 'look'. I'd like to work in a magazine someday as it straddles my two interests: journalism and design (be it graphic or fashion). A little part of me would also like a stab at the film industry, but that's rather far-fetched since I haven't any experience film-related since my days at Drama Media Productions... which was three years ago.

As I grow older realism sets in- the result of having several practical people amongst my friends and family, who always -my parents especially- warn me about the difficulties of seeking a job in the arts industry, as I do- particularly a high-end one, like Creative Director, or at least the Editor of a magazine or newspaper. When I was younger I always assumed I would get it- it wasn't assume as much as know that I would get any job I wanted. Now I'm losing my sense of entitlement as I start to realize how very capable my peers are, and how hard I have to work to keep up, let alone move ahead. I can only hope that my current efforts pay off, and that I can get a few good internships in between my JC and university years.

Chingying: I don't use Tumblr because I would also like to incorporate my writing and personal creations in any website I keep. I've also become wary of having several accounts to keep tab on- added to which I am a very pedantic person who is far too used to the creature comforts of Blogger to venture any further than a new template. ;-)
Of ribbons, I have also heard that using a lighter to lightly burn the ends can prevent fraying but I am not sure if that has to be combined with glue. In any case that friendship bracelet was (maybe) a one-off, done randomly and so I didn't really think of anything long-term. (Also, I was far too lazy to scrunge up proper materials.)

80 Lookbook

2010-11-06T03:12:00.000-07:00

Lace, by leatherlaceandvelvet on Lookbook.

So I decided that, instead of working myself up over Harry Potter tumblrs/products/fanfictions, I should start reading my Lookbook subscriptions since my folder is very much overflowing from all the school days when I didn't have time to spare. And apart from the very cool, very inspirational look above, I've found a new favourite Lookbook user: Louise Ebel.

Lookbook won't let me save any of her looks properly (I usually get my images from the subscription emails) but Ms Ebel, as you might see from her looks, is one of those girls whose styles are as elusive as they are inspirational. From a few looks I gathered that she has a penchant for billowy or attention-grabbing tops, coupled with sleek bottoms and sky-high heels. I thought she wouldn't be too displeased with a cape-and-leggings combo, and lo behold, she dons one for Paris Fashion Week.

I haven't worn leggings since I first watched Step Up as they don't do much for girls who don't resemble toothpicks, and I don't think a cape would be very sensible in our hot climate. But if I were a Parisian for a day...

79 girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

2010-11-06T02:59:00.000-07:00

Source: Google Images

I struggled for ages to decide which label this should be put under!

This collage came about quite randomly- I don't remember why, but I suddenly thought of the Alexander Wang backpack ('Sydney', first from left) I saw in InStyle: Ask Rachel some time back, and decided to Google it. Then I decided that it must be put into a collage, so I hunted up this corkboard texture, and dreamed up the rest.

You will forgive me for the times I say 'I don't remember', because inspiration comes from everywhere and you can't possibly always remember where a certain spark came from. ;-)

So... I don't remember where I first saw this Chanel nail polish but I am a sucker for light blue nail polish! I am still trying to find a perfect shade, something that is slightly lighter and more baby blue than the Canmake one I have currently. The Clothes Horse, I think, has a really pretty grey-blue mix, but I haven't found one like that either.

Ahhh... leopard print. I wonder if this is one of the subtle influences fashion trends have on me. I don't recall thinking much of leopard print before it became one of the hottest trends so far -a vital element in the 'mixing prints' idea- except that it shouldn't be for coffee-shop aunties, but then a leopard-print scarf came into my wardrobe, followed eventually by my flats. So maybe, yes, Mum, maybe I do subconciously succumb to trends. ;-) I think Rihanna was seen wearing these wedges -or a similar pair- some time back in this awesome sunny outfit and though I don't always like what Rihanna wears, these wedges are quite beyewwwtiful! (And high. Horrendously high.)

Speaking of wedges, I also loved the Givenchy Criss-Cross Wedges from some time back but I wasn't able to find a good picture of the cream pair on Google Images (at least, not within the first few pages, and my patience doesn't extend far beyond that).

Last but not least, friendship bracelets! I love it when girls stack up beaded and friendship bracelets. It's something I endeavour to do sometimes. I also loved the charm friendship bracelets Diva brought in some time back but never bought one- now I regret it, because I don't think they sell them anymore. I found this image of charm friendship bracelets on Google- aren't they exquisite? On a whim, I made a very crude one for myself earlier this afternoon from ribbons. Trust me, ribbons are not the best materials to weave a friendship bracelet from. They fray like nobody's business.

That's the collage done and talked about, so... My brother bought a Gryffindor tie! And introduced me to Whimsic Alley, this WONDERFUL online shop that introduced me to the wonders of Harry Potter memorabilia. I am going to a Harry Potter exhibition-of-sorts on Thursday with some friends, so let's just say this is getting into the spirit :) I wish I could get a Gryffindor hat-and-scarf set, but Whimsic Alley doesn't stock it in that house, and Alivan's costs about 30+ SGD. Which I doubt my mother would let me fork out even if I used my own money. (And besides, it's too precious to leave around anywhere other than my house... and where else but a foreign country would I get to wear winter clothes?)

So how's life? I am considering removing my tagboard. Anyone who is violently against this idea please say so soon.

78 Weak Hearts

2010-11-06T02:37:00.000-07:00

if I'm not wrong, this sent me running to FF.Net to search for good Dramione fics.

Evil Twiggy.

All the above, from We Heart It.

77 Lockheart

2010-11-06T02:34:00.000-07:00

my favourite. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.

beyewwwtiful!

swan lake, in real life

I'm sorry if there are any repeats, but I wanted to clear my folders. All the above, from lovetrains (blogspot).

76 Things on my Mind

2010-11-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

I must admit that one of my -what do you call them?- sinful pleasures?- is Dramione shipping. Since my exams ended I've spent a sinful amount of time trawling through, first, F*ck Yeah Tom Felton, and then We Ship Dramione (both tumblrs). I can't remember when I started shipping this unusual duo but I do know some time back I found myself searching for good D/H Fanfics! (And, subsequently, writing one. Search 'Don't Stop Believing' on FF.Net, or else look up my pen name, Cloudwalk. But I can't promise good writing, nor reliable updates.) I also found out that Tom and Emma used to date, back in 2003/4 (Prisoner of Azkaban)! That said, I don't want to become one of those obsessive fans who abuse the stars' real-life partners, so I shan't say anything.

As earlier posted, I bought Speak Now over the weekend. While at first I sort of disliked it, I can't stop listening to the whole album on repeat now. I wonder how long it'll take to get every song memorised- like I almost did with Fearless. I currently remember Mine, Speak Now and a bit of Back to December. My hot favourite, though, is Haunted. And imagine my delight when I saw this album cover of Taylor Swift in Marchesa in Teen Vogue! Est belle.

I came across an Emma Watson quote, about how once she cut her hair off her father told her, "You're not Audrey Hepburn yet." (I disagree, Mr. Watson!) But Audrey Hepburn is incomparable and she is one of my role models too. She is so beautiful, yet humble. Just like a princess ;-)

Nov 18th here! The movie ad is already out, I'm going to cut them out :D I NEED MAGIC IN MY LIFE. Oh, I think I'll be inconsolable when the last part comes out. But I won't rest till I get to go to Universal Orlando ;-) (and get a Draco wand! Just kidding.)

This is kind of cool. I've also seen cartoons of fan's progressions over the films/books, how we have grown alongside and with Harry Potter. I've posted some on Facebook, but you can always view HP tumblrs like Open Wide Arms to catch some! They're good, and oh so true.

Here. I think her head got cut off in the Poladroid.

Here is the Stella Mccartney look posted yesterday.

Sources: Google Images, Style.com, We Ship Dramione (I think)

75 Inspiration Board #1

2010-11-04T04:19:00.000-07:00

Finally, something close to what I've been trying to achieve for so long!
However, I'm not very happy with Poladroid, since it cut off my Stella Mccartney and Louis Vuitton pictures. Part of the reason why I loved those looks, were, for Louis Vuitton: round big sunglasses and pointy-toed chunky-heeled bow-bedecked shoes; for Stella Mccartney, a cool black fedora and little black pointy-toed heels, just small enough to make a statement.

I seem to have a thing for pointy-toed heels, but I don't like wearing them myself. For one, my feet are usually too broad to fit into a pair.

This inspiration board is somewhat representative of what I like (or would like) to wear: high-waisted skirts, button-up tops, little bows, bits of feminity and sensibility, and somewhat random pieces of complete nonsense/impracticality, like flowers (Marchesa) or fedoras (Stella Mccartney)- though I don't wear hats, myself. (I don't have the courage to wear them indoors. ;-))

I rejoiced when the feminine, 50s movement came in- bring in the long skirts! Kitten heels! Celebrating curves, not anorexia! That said, I must also make another inspiration board for the days I wish it was cold enough to pull on an oversize forest-green (or cream) knit and boots- something Singapore weather rarely warrants for. There are days when I feel like grunging it up a little bit, in maybe a black bandage dress (I like Love Bonito's VB one, even though I haven't bought it) and Doc Marten boots (even though I hear they're tough to break in) and a ton of golden jewelry. Although those days, thank goodness, don't last long. I just don't suit the grunge movement.

I do, however, appreciate Taylor Swift-esque florals... and sundresses... and wedges, when I pluck up the courage/endurance to wear them... and delicious headbands. I got an embellished one at Tampines the other day and it cost a lot, but looked very beautiful with a bun. (That said, I think it was the cause of my subsequent headache. I have a thing about headbands- they're either too loose and slip off, or too tight and give me headaches.)

That was the day I spent a lot of money- I also bought a pair of leopard print ballet flats with a little bow on the front. They're absolutely adorable -and just the slightest bit pointy, as I noticed the other day- but I'm still breaking them in. The plastic sole does make for uncomfortable sweaty feet!
Sources: Style.com, Jak & Jil, Google Images. Dafont.
Tools: Poladroid, Photoshop.

74 Obliviating my Pictures Folder

2010-11-04T03:21:00.000-07:00

I need to get a lot of photos out of my system so I have more space for... more pictures. Om nom nom. Okay, here goes.
(P.S. I think Blogger's new template is kind of cool! For one, IT LETS ME UPLOAD MORE THAN 5 PICTURES AT ONE TIME.)

I've had this on my computer for the longest time, from a chain mail my cousin sent me ages ago. Isn't it cute? Right? Okay, now I can delete it.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, dancing ballet. Ooh, I can't wait till I learn pointe :)

Singapore Google. Isn't it pretty? I can't remember the occasion... National Day?

One of the best Dramione manipulations I have ever seen. It's my current DP on FF.Net, as I'm presently a Dramione shipper. :)

AND I'm a huge fan of Emma Watson, I think she's amazing, she's funny, down-to-earth, beautiful, smart, and talented.

Sorry this's framed so strangely but I edited the picture for my desktop. A still of Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn (The Great) from Funny Face.

HAHAHAHA ROFLMAO. I blacked out the vulgarity.

ISN'T HE THE CUTEST.

And isn't this so freakishly cool.

The boy cast as Hugo Weasley in the last movie. It's so cool how he looks like both of them!

My current desktop picture. Did you??!!

One of my favourite icons ever, hahaha.

This was saved when I suddenly felt the inspiration to listen to Lennon's 'Imagine', then found out it was his birthday anniversary from Google- and I thought I was so amazingly psychic.

I found out later it wasn't actually his birthday- because his birthday is the same as mine. HAHAHA

The title of this look on Lookbook was 'May angels lead you in'. I think it's absolutely beautiful.

This is supposed to be animated in the coolest way, not sure if it'll turn up.

SUICIDE BUNNIES + LOTR = AWESOMENESS. Thanks Ian for pointing it out.

One of the best pieces of advice, to which I do not always adhere.

What a shame, honehhh.

so we burst into colours and carousels
Another Lookbook image. So beautiful.

I used this image from Deviantart as the background for my Art SIA PPT. I am a sucker for colourings like this.

Isn't this the coolest. The color combo and arrangement and everything.

Tom Felton. I'm very obsessed about him too.

VIVA LAS ROJAS

I find this incredibly beautiful and strange, how it says a story in so few words.

My current MSN DP. So true.

An awful lot of pictures. I promise to have more words next post, perhaps. I finally got a little corkboard today from class spring cleaning (don't ask) and have decided to, if possible, get started on an inspiration board during the holidays. But for my next bedroom I'd like an inspiration board of glass so I can turn it over whenever I like.
Sources: Lookbook, Open Wide Arms (tumblr), F*ck Yeah Tom Felton (tumblr), We Ship Dramione (tumblr), Deviantart, Fashion Gone Rogue (I think- I can't remember where Rosie H-W's picture is from), Garance Dore (I think- I can't remember where the 'I was waiting' one is from). Sorry if I got any sources wrong, or left any out.

73 Speak Now

2010-10-31T03:02:00.000-07:00

I bought Speak Now (the album) today!! Listening to it now.
I have mixed feelings about the album. On one hand, I have a feeling that Taylor is past her prime-time, and that the hurt-girl act is getting a little old; on the other hand, I'm totally sold. To give credit where it's due, the songs so far seem rather catchy, and Taylor has never stopped being true to herself and writing her own songs.
I really want to go to the Speak Now concert when she comes to Singapore in 2011!

I went out with my mother yesterday to Tampines and spent a lot of money, so I'm going to try not to spend anything else for a week or more. (Buying Speak Now today was an... exception. Gulp.)

I am a little concerned about the state of my tagboard, anybody have any suggestions? I really don't want to remove it as I rarely read comments and a tagboard is always an easy way to see comments, but on the other hand the advertisements are really annoying me.

PS. Played around with the template. How?

72 You and I, You and I

2010-10-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

don't you worry, there my honey
we might not have any money
but we've got our love to pay the bills

Recently, I've been testing out more Ingrid Michaelson songs and find that I really like her creativity. Her voice reminds me of Lily Allen, and her tunes are all cheery and quirky. Not to mention, so far they lack the vulgarities that Allen's songs tend to have. Score one for Michaelson!

Anyway, I've been at home since Wednesday for marking days, since my exams are FINALLY OVER! It feels surreal, since I keep telling myself, "Let's wake up early, and get a bit of work in before lunch," and then I realize- I have no work!! It's amazing!! And yet sad. It took me all year to get hyped up to work hard and now I realize I don't have to work, and by the time January rolls around I'll be a procrastinator again. -sheepish grin-

I've taken a leaf out of my mother's book and taken to the bedroom. I close the curtains and doors, turn on the fan and the light, and snuggle on a mattress with a whole stack of magazines. It gives my eyes a break from my usual habit of running through archives/updates of my common online haunts, like RCFA, Jak and Jil, and The Sartorialist.

Speaking of eyes- the Dementors are breeding in Singapore. The haze has been incredible, and what's more, it happened overnight. I remember earlier this week, I suddenly looked out at the window and commented to my mum that it was incredibly hazy. True enough, that night the news reported that the PSI levels had gone up, thanks to fires in Indonesia. I hope it subsides soon!! While the view from my window might look like a very cool vintage photograph, excessive haze is unhealthy, not to mention gloomy, after a while.

I actually decided to blog to say that I finally arranged my wardrobe. Granted, my tee-shirts and shorts are still in as much of a jumble as usual, but I did take the dressier part of my closet -dresses, jeans, scarves, etc.- for a spin and arranged them according to colour, and, in the case of the white majority, style, since I appear to have quite a lot of white pieces. I'm determined to cut down on my shopping, because every time I shop I tend to spend quite a lot, but of course, being so free isn't really helping my resolve. (:D) You'll be amazed at the amount of blogshops I've trawled through recently.

Here are some good ones:

I realize it takes quite a lot for a blogshop to really launch itself above others. Given that the Internet is such a huge space with so many retailers fighting for attention, websites with contrived names, lurid designs and bad English definitely don't stand a chance. While interesting names definitely do give you a perk, it takes a lot for me to be convinced of a shop whose name was obviously from Google Translate.

Since I have, of late, decided to go to sites like Blogshopping to start my search, I have also realized that descriptions matter a lot. Bad English comes in here. While I cannot fault those who are gramatically perfect but lack a knack for writing, I also must admit that a sense of desperation and trying to sell yourself/your shop can come across very strongly to potential customers, and, if they are anything like me, puts them off. Just like how I don't like salespeople following me around and making comments on products I eye.

Last but not least, I favour a plain, yet eyecatching layout. The Famoo (listed above) is a good example. It has a brand logo at the top that features some of their works spelling out the shop name, which is very interesting and gives an insight into the products that you're about to view. At the same time products must be photographed clearly. Some good shops have macro views as well for customers to get a sense of the quality of the product- I like how Love Bonito's website allows viewers to zoom in on all their product photographs. Prices and descriptions should be clear and helpful- although I can't help but be irked by the many times I see blogshop owners write things like, "We couldn't resist this sexy piece! Wear it out to work, school or dates! We kept all the colours for ourselves, too!" (Although that's personal.)

My little post has turned into a rant-turned-review-- sorry! Hopefully more photos, et cetera, to be up later.

71 Minted

2010-10-17T02:41:00.000-07:00

Maybe I've never blogged about this, seeing as it was so long ago (well, last year), but back in 2009 Chanel launched a Jade nail polish to match their runway looks. According to the review which that link leads to, the colour is actually not as light as I thought (and so maybe my hype all this while has been ... for naught), but it sparked off my slight obsession with the colour. Not jade as much, but mint!

Then some time back InStyle featured Dakota Fanning in the outfit posted above, and if I'm not wrong she wore the Chanel limited-edition colour! So I got all crazy about it again, and imagine my happiness when Revlon came up with their colour, Minted (also above).

Previously, I'd tried mixing my own colour with nudish pink, white and pastel blue but it came out more blue than green. I had my own qualms about Revlon's too, firstly because the last time I bought a Revlon colour it came out too dark, and secondly because it cost about 11 dollars. So I waited to think it over (and wait for the prices to drop).

Today I actually went shopping again! I haven't been shopping in some time since I've got exams on and the last time I went, I only ended up window shopping and my mother said it was a waste of time. Anyhoo I was secretly glad I'm not spending as much any more, but this weekend blew that. That said, I've made up my mind not to spend so much again, that horrible feeling of totalling up your spending kind of adds a 'bleh' feeling to the 'Squee!' of purchases.

ANYWAY... I bought Minted. We went into BHG and I was just glancing over at the makeup section and there it was, one bottle preening itself on the shelf, so I asked my mum if I could get it. After some conferencing with the saleslady, who let me compare the nail palette to see if the colour would be alright, we decided to get it, and then found out there was a 20% discount! Which still makes it expensive, but anyway, at least I didn't spend 11 dollars on it.

I really must stop buying nail polish. I actually don't buy it that often, but I realized that I've actually come into quite a number, even in this year alone. At the start of the year I bought a bronze colour, hoping it would turn out gold; when it didn't, I hunted, and finally found one I liked (I posted about it some time back too), that makes 2. Mum bought me a pink OPI nail polish from the airport as well as a top coat that's supposed to be a 'nail strengthener'; and then there's Minted. 5.

In previous years I've usually bought nudes or pinks -once, I bought this lavender colour because my aunt said it was her favourite and I thought I'd try it, but it didn't turn out that nice- and clear/sparkle colours. Deviating from the pattern only a few times- when I bought some cheap chrome, royal blue and teal colours from MBK (they were cheap and therefore left stains so I didn't use them anymore, I'm not too sure what they use)- and my favourite deviation, a pastel blue colour from Canmake that I bought after seeing it in Girlfriend. Minted is, I suppose, my second greatest deviation since then (gold doesn't count).

I also bought a pink 3/4 dress on impulse that we saw on the mannequin- it has shiny gold buttons on the bodice and comes with a brown woven belt that's quite ingenious- it doesn't have any holes but you poke through the weaving, so that way it's adjustable, and you can fold it over ... the foldable belt trend thing has been around for some time -I can't remember where it started... Burberry? Chloe? the time of high-waist wide-leg pants, I believe- but I've never bought into it simply because I've never found a suitable belt.

The dress was 12 dollars, and then I found a really soft forest green belted cardigan in C.O.A.X that came at 18.90. I'm thinking of bringing it with me when I go for my overseas school trip in November- the temperature will be between 10 to 20 degrees and I'm practically a desert nomad, I can't stand the cold. I will have to start compiling my arsenal of jackets!!!

Anyway, that's $40.40 spent today, which is a lot. I'm ditching my plans to go shopping during marking days. Maybe a day cycling at the park...? Trouble in modern cities is, it's so hard to find something to do outdoors that isn't in a shopping mall.

70 Cinco y Tres: We Heart It and Love Trains

2010-10-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

Blogger is strange. It posts the pictures you put last, right on top. But that's alright, I've (semi-) gotten used to it.

"Well then, we should kiss more!" - Love Trains ♥

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I tried to arrange the fifteen pictures above in little stories of five, and they sort of make sense! Squee! Anyway. This is not just supposed to be a collection of photos, it's supposed to be about my latest obsession.
weheartit.com and lovetrains.blogspot.com are about the same, really, they're both collections of photos that people like, just that lovetrains is specifically about, well, love.
I can't find any more words to say, just that I have too- many- photos- saved- now! Can't help it. :P

69 Favourite Things: Part 4-2

2010-10-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, The Secret Kook Society has moved from a place to post my artwork, to a journal, to a photo blog! To keep with the times-- it's EOYs now and my breaks mainly compose of looking at pretty images and saving far too many on in my Pictures folder. No wonder my computer's slowing down, poor thing.

WEHEARTIT.COM is one of my latest obsessions, and you'll read more about it (as well as something equally delicious, called LOVETRAINS.blogspot.com) in the next post.

In the meantime, I've tried to arrange the images by tone, so all those below are soft and pastelly.

68 Favourite Things, Part 4-1

2010-10-11T02:11:00.001-07:00

Source: WEHEARTIT.com (more on it later)

67 Icons

2010-10-07T03:53:00.000-07:00

All icons 200 x 200 pixels this time. Decided I liked them bigger.

Sources: The Clothes Horse, Lookbook, Google Images, Jak & Jil.

66 Part 3, and Some Freebies

2010-10-07T03:38:00.000-07:00

So today, in addition to my usual paragraphs of rambling in between someone else's work, I decided to do a bit of my own photo manipulation!
Inspired by Peter B's Lookbook submission, And in that moment I swear we were infinite (no link, sorry! I think Lookbook must have deleted him/it or something because I absolutely cannot trace it back and the link doesn't work), a few images from The Clothes Horse and some from my own motley archives...

Above is the original image.

Using the photo above... and the one below... from The Clothes Horse (more on the post later, it was absolutely brilliant.)

I created the following.. Taadaa!

See the girl's mournful face reflected in her reflection? :D

The above was created from a Lookbook picture (which I MUST post later) and a portrait of Romola Garai, both from my archives. I think Garai's pic is from sweetandtalented.com.

Some of my favourite things:

x x
The two pics above are from Lookbook. I have always loved lace (see picture right at the bottom) and despite me not really wearing my leopard-print shawl since I bought it, a leopard-print belt is looking particularly ravishing now!
What did I tell you. The Alexa bag is awesomepossum. From Jak & Jil.
From The Clothes Horse, same post as before. I LOVE this picture. It reminds me of Vanessa Paradis's Rouge campaign for Chanel.

65 More of My Favourite Things: Part 2

2010-10-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

On a random note, I spotted that it was 34 posts from the time I posted my obsession with the Mulberry 'Alexa' bag, till the time I posted its arrival! On previous blogs that might span a week or less but this must've been months... I rarely update these days, it seems.

Aqui es... (Parto?) dos!

Source: Jakandjil
I actually saved this a while back, but the file name is dionlee, so I'm guessing from what I remember that this wasn't a very high-profile show, but it nonetheless caught my attention. It reminds me of that light blue Burberry Prorsum (I never know how to spell that last bit; had to Google it) pleated skirt Gwyneth Paltrow wore some time back.
I love that skirt; waited ages for it to come in stores, and when LoveBonito actually made one in black/white, I was so excited I was on tenterhooks till the collection was published. However, at 27 dollars (exc. delivery costs) it was too expensive, and also too short. I did toy with the idea of buying a bandage skirt and cutting up some stockings...

I know this looks like a... bra, but this was from Proenza Schouler backstage (credit: Jakandjil too!) and I just kept scrolling back to this picture to look at it, due to its delicacy and wonderful composition, so I had to post it.

Source: Garance Dore
Karlie Kloss. FORCE OF ... power. I once told my mum -when I saw Karlie's ads for Uniqlo in Tampines- that Karlie is one of my role models, and she tsk-ed at me because she generally doesn't approve of models, especially stick-thin ones. However, I refected that she is not so much my role model (that goes to EMMA WATSON) as someone I feel, somehow bizzarely, that I can connect with.
This bizzare connection came after her TeenVogue cover interview was published. It talked about her being a junior in high school and it amazed me, because she looks so polished and mature, and after my days in ISB, I know what a junior is- they don't all come like Karlie Kloss! Also, the fact that she did algebra backstage kind of... stuck with me.

Source: theclotheshorse
I have to admit, I was actually sourcing for pics to reach my 5-picture quota when I saw this one. Wasn't a totally WOW moment but it did make me turn back and give it a second glance... or two.

Source: jakandjil
She kind of looks like Clemence Poesy here. And I just HAD to start thinking of how to wear my hair like that... how to look like that... heh. This picture was saved as 'classic' and I think that sums everything up!

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On a more serious note...

Am attending Mrs Lee Kuan Yew's wake tomorrow. BEL last-minute called for students to attend and after brief consideration regarding my revision plans, I jumped at the opportunity. I would have liked to attend her wake regardless if the school had called for it or not, so I am very lucky to have this opportunity to attend it with such convenient transport.

I had never really considered her role in our nation and in my life but after reading the newspaper articles about her, I have reflected that she has indeed played a great role in both. Added to which, above all, she was a very sweet and loving wife, still in love with her husband so many years on, and a very caring mother... to our PM and to one of my school's alumni, Ms Lee Wei Ling!

Rest in peace, Mdm Kwa Geok Choo.

64 More of My Favourite Things: Part 1

2010-10-03T05:37:00.000-07:00

I decided two things.
1) that I often see inspiring pictures, and save them, and tell myself, "I've GOT to post this on my blog!" but I never do; added to which, I love photo blogs and have considered starting one, but never did due to time constraints, so here's a continuation of My Favourite Things for starters;
2) that I should post these in batches of 5, to better facilitate troublesome formatting and so I can individually source and comment on each picture.

Source: Red Carpet Fashion Awards
I was terribly disappointed that Style.com didn't have this collection! I LOVED IT. All the hair pulled back, and the clean, scrubbed faces, and all the draped sheaths of muted, yet beautiful colours... I especially love the off-the-shoulder ruffled gown, second from right, and the model's expression and poise in this picture.

Source: The Sartorialist
Dolce and Gabbana, Spring 2011
Again, not only the outfit, but the model's expression. It's so "I'm going to take over the world, and not stress over it!" So calm, so powerful.

Source: Lookbook.nu
This look is called Rose and it was the last entry on one of my subscription e-mails (really, subscribing to Lookbook was one of the best things I ever did), plus one that made me sit bolt upright. Literally. If I could -i.e. if this was less poofy and less look-at-me!- I would wear this. Out. Everyday.

Source: Lookbook.nu
I love everything about this. From its title, I am who I've always wanted to be., to the fact that this girl is an "imagineer", to the fact that I am a sucker for lace, old-school romance, flowers and Zooey Deeschanel, and this picture has all of them (well, not Deschanel, but she kind of looks like her here, don't you think?).

Last but not least... Roland Mouret Spring 2011, courtesy of Style.com. Have I ever mentioned how much I love aquamarine??!!

Got to go, it's almost 9, I haven't had my dinner and if I delay any longer my mother's going to shoot me.
Reminder to self: Part 2 MUST HAVE jakandjil. AMAZING. AMAZING. AMAZING.

63 Life Ahead, Please Slow Down

2010-10-02T01:43:00.001-07:00

Right after the Love Bonito label designing competition, there's a new competition! Sea of Shoes is holding a Sea of Shoes Spring Fashion Art Contest for drawings of contestants' favourite Spring 2011 look. Deadline is Nov 1, so I'll probably do it after EOYs... or during my breaks if I have the time, but not likely as these things take time :(

My mother has announced a grand plan to wake me up at 7 on home learning days even though I don't go to school. I grumped, but there's no letting off, so I've drawn up a massive EOYs Battle Plan to organize all my days up till 19 Oct, which is my last exam.

Till the next update.

62 These Are a Few of My Favourite Things

2010-09-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

I realized the title 'New York Fashion Week Favourites' would be a misnomer because these are from London, New York, Milan and a few other random favourites. Just a few things that have caught my eye and mind recently.

Sources: Sea of Shoes, Garance Dore, The Sartorialist, Red Carpet Fashion Awards

P.S. I went to get my eyes checked today. Turns out my eyes' degrees have dropped by about 25-50 per eye. My left eye's degree is 75 and my right, 125. Over-powered spectacles are bad for your eyes so I had to get a new pair... after about 20 pairs -and the exasperation of both the nice lady at the shop and my mother- I found a suitable pair! Still qualmy about it because I don't like big changes but my mother insists that it's alright. Despite the hefty price tag.

61 Colour Alert: Mustard Yellow

2010-09-25T02:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not enough in love with mustard yellow yet to declare it an obsession, but it is a colour that I am surprisingly warming up to. In our primary school days, Ching Ying and I thought it was the height of disgusting uncool, but since Diane Kruger turned up in her Jason Wu gown the tables have turned!

Seeing Odette Yustman (top picture) in J. Mendel recently reminded me of Diane, and consequently led me to a link of Michelle Williams at the '06 Oscars in Vera Wang. All these ladies look very good and I must apologise to Odette for not voting her for Best Dressed since I thought her gown looked too much like Diane's at first. Upon closer inspection they are similar, but beautiful enough to be applauded on their own.

Sadly, I'm not too sure how mustard yellow would work out on Asian skin tones. I predict it might look a little too sallow.

@Ching Ying: Hey! I DO check my cbox, I'm just annoyed by all the advertisements that have begun to pop up. I am not very sure why, I hope it's not a virus. Perhaps I should change it? I think you told me about an F21 necklace but I don't remember it being 4 dollars, that's great! Yup, after EOYs... the world better watch out for me, I'm a comer! :)

60 Bag of the Year: Mulberry 'Alexa' Satchel

2010-09-24T04:07:00.001-07:00

Back in July, I ordered my biggest (and third) online purchase-- the Mulberry 'Alexa' satchel from BonitoChico! I have LOVED LOVED LOVED this bag since it came out (and not, as my Mum suggests, 'because it is so popular and all the celebrities are carrying it'). I waited MONTHS for it to come out in stores, and BonitoChico was the first place I saw it. They offered jade, pink, white and camel if I remember correctly. Camel is and has always been my first choice- recently I have been gravitating towards more neutral colours, a far cry from my old picks of fuschia and whoknowswhat! It was quite expensive -almost 40 dollars once you factored in the registered mail- but oh, gosh, it is so worth it :D My mum is sceptical and my dad has banned me from future online buys because you don't know who to trust, but I have my bag now!
The bag was due to arrive in mid-August, but then manufacturing encountered some problems or something and it took longer than expected. Also, after the 'all mailed' sign had been given, I hadn't received mine for days and so I emailed the owners, and it turned out their backorder helper had forgotten to write my unit address on the package! It was sent again the next working day (a Monday) and I received it on a Wednesday. I came back after a long weary day at school (I finished at 5.30+) and saw it on the mattress... Oh, gosh, BIGGEST PICK-ME-UP ever.

TAA-DAA!

I haven't removed the tags. Every time I take it out to look at it I put it back into the wrappings, and the envelope's got a huge tear now. I feel a little bad about this so I shan't wrap it up again next time. IT - MUST- BE- PRESERVED! I am a little obsessive about this. Oh no.

A close-up of the woven handle. If there's anything I'm slightly dissatisfied about, it's that the weaving wasn't really well done because the edges peeked out a bit as you can see from the picture. However, I love the design so much and since it's finally arrived, I'm overlooking all flaws!
:D :D :D :D :D :D

59 Photo Flashbacks

2010-09-24T03:22:00.000-07:00

This post will be something of a mess (it took me sooo long to upload and arrange everything!) but I've been taking a lot of photos lately, and I thought it would be nice to share some here, seeing as I haven't done so in a while.

Long ago -it must've been the first week of the June holidays- I went to Paragon (I think) and saw this gold nail polish at Guardian. I loved it, but was in too much of a rush to actually stop and purchase it, so I didn't. About 3 months later during the September holidays, I chanced there again and saw it! Needless to say I bought it. I've been looking for a good gold colour since Helen lent me hers last year, and I think I've found it. It doesn't have as creamy a texture, but a top coat will do the trick.

Say hello to Waddles! He cost 11 dollars from Lovely Land in Tampines Mall, but he was totally worth it... a) because I last saw him ... three years ago? two? when I was shopping there with Ching Ying. I remember thinking then that soft toys weren't something you bought on shopping trips, but I made an exception this time because I haven't seen him in so long and he's as cute and cuddly as ever. b) I haven't regretted him since. He's sitting beside me now. Only difference: I accidentally swiped his stomach with my blue pen while doing Maths one day. It's rubbed out a lot, but he still has a slight mark above his belly button.
My first purchases from Forever 21! I asked my mum if I could go 313@Somerset, because I've passed it before but never went inside, and my brother said it was cool. Forever 21, Topshop, Zara, Cotton On, and Uniqlo... What's not to love? I normally don't shop at these brands because for F21, Z and TS I find them too expensive and not worth it, and C0 not worth the money you pay, and Uniqlo... well I do shop there, but not very often. When I do, I look for basics, like jeans- I just bought a pair the other day (high-rise regular straight fit) and they fit PERFECTLY, it's amazing. My old Giordano pair, which I bought in sec 1, is too loose around the waist now and kind of droops the more I wear it. I hope my Uniqlo one lasts just as long, if not longer. (That's not to say I can't wear my Giors anymore, just that I have to pair a strong belt with it.)
The two purchases shown above cost 11 dollars each, which is quite expensive, but they are really pretty and the quality of the accessories at F21 seems quite good. Unfortunately, I wore the necklace the other day and it didn't sit very nicely, but my mother and I thought it was perfectly fine when I bought it, so I could've worn it incorrectly. I haven't worn the earrings yet as they were a little heavy when I tried them on, so I'm saving them for a short, special occasion. We went to Marina Bay for my grandmother's birthday, and treated her to dinner at Jin Shan Lou at the hotel. The dinner was very huge, and we were all stuffed after it... so we walked around the Shoppes after that and even got a look at the casino! ;-) It's very big, and also sort of intimidating. All those rows and rows of same-looking machines and gamblers. The circle thing above is this bowl thing outside, where you can throw money and try to get it in a hole in the centre. My brother swears it's rigged so no one wins. My favourite blue flower studs, before one of the flowers dropped out!!!! I must go back to the shop to see if they still sell it. If I'm not wrong it's from that Fusion store on the top level of Tampines Mall.
On a whim, Ching Ying and I bought those cheesy "best friends" products from Diva that we always promised we'd never buy because they were just there to rip you off and wouldn't it look weird if you walked around with half a pendant? But we melted at these because both of us have a... penchant for heart-shaped lockets, and me especially for engraved ones. Plus, the wordings on these were really nice. $12 for two, and I got the "best" locket from a lucky dip. ;-)
One of my more distant uncles just had a baby daughter, and they sent round a box of kuehs and cakes as a sort of celebration thing. My mum and I had great fun looking at the brochure which accompanied it- gosh, the cupcakes look brilliant! And isn't the flower above so cute? (Just to clarify: I like looking at cupcakes, but not so much eating them sometimes because I find they tend to be too sweet. But they are edible works of art!)

Up next: my Mulberry Alexa bag FINALLY FINALLY arrived from Bonito Chico last week and I tell you I LOVE IT SO MUCH I was jumping UP AND DOWN when I saw it.

58 Design Competition

2010-09-24T03:16:00.000-07:00

Above are my first tentative designs for the Covet by Love, Bonito design competition. Graphic design, while a favourite of mine, is not exactly my forte and these didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. Am going to try again if I have the time/energy, but in the meantime, any suggestions?
Sources: top, Google Images; bottom, Sweet and Talented

This may look slightly ghastly, but it was one of my original ideas, to have the slightest hint of a silhouette, and florals kind of painted in. The florals were supposed to be less obvious -just a little smear- but then this was my draft and I was getting tired and hating Photoshop and my less-than-best ability at it.
Sources: Google Images

57 Latest Obsession: Olive Green

2010-09-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Sources: Google Images, The Clothes Horse
I was thinking of starting a side project blog, for things that I get randomly addicted to for about a week before the next craze sets in, but then I thought that kind of thing would only be good if I had more time to commit to it. Till next time!

But until then, here's one craze for the moment: olive green. I realize I might be behind on the utilitarian trend, but really this only settled in when I saw my brother's army tee-shirt. Earlier I'd seen a post where The Clothes Horse wore a plain Gap tee of this colour - very cool, but I couldn't find the link... the picture posted above is from You're in the Army Now, which is not what I was looking for but still very cool.

Olive green almost = cargos, too, other than khaki (although olive + khaki is also a very good pairing... see Gisele), and no one else but Jennifer Aniston persuaded me so. I must've seen the picture in, what, 2008 but I still remember her outfit, and I still remember dashing out to buy a similar pair before I realized they made my legs look stumpy and bigger than they really are. Lesson learnt, folks, only Jennifer Aniston can make this outfit look so good!

Still. Colours are something I usually get hyper then dead about (though some are enduring... aquamarine.... dusty pink.... nude....) so maybe I shouldn't bank on my urge to go hunt for an olive-green muscle tee just yet.

56 Old Flames

2010-09-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

I haven't listened to this song in ages! She sang it for Asian Idol back in 2007.

I always have great fun -tingled with horror- reading my old blogs. For one, I always wrote in tacky big font, with tacky sound effects and horrible English... and tended to inject sentences with "LOL!" or "*laughs*". Not to mention, an overwhelming sense of trying to mature and show off seems to come off from my writing. (I mean, writing a random poem thing about John falling in a canal after my first encounter with NY NPCC? Wow, Old Self, Wow.) Also- Eugene was "the other p6". I do hope I've grown since then, but in the meantime old blogs are a surefire way of making me crack up.

I've always been conscious of how I write on my blog. I may not have much of an audience but there's still an image to project while maintaining my true personality. I do sometimes sway towards the role of a television host, being too egocentric or grand, but I try, folks, I try. :)

The September holidays are passing really quickly. I went to 313@Somerset the other day with my mother and came away with some goodies, amongst other stuff I did. But I also wasted time, and I've still a ton of work to do. I promised myself I'd finish my work by Wed, and it's Thurs already... so don't expect more updates in a while. Although I do hope to post some pictures I took.

TTYL

55 What's On My Mind

2010-09-03T05:41:00.001-07:00

Sources: Google Images, YouTube

From extreme left at top, clockwise: Jenna Dewan in Step Up, dancing to Imma Shine- Young Bloodz; Anne Hathaway at the Venice Film Festival; an arrangement of blue flowers in a windowsill; ballet shoes; Chloe Sevigny for Uniqlo; and the movie poster for Roman Holiday.

This, all against a resplendent background of blue velvet, is a random compilation of things that've been running through my mind lately.

Dancing. I'll never be sure if I'm good at it because for sure I'm uncoordinated in a million different ways, but I'll always want to be as good as Mrs Tatum. Also, having watched Step Up 3 recently (in 3D- it was fantastic) I have regained my love for dance films- and their soundtracks . Maybe one day I'll pick up contemporary...?
Venice Film Festival. The gowns! The faces! The Kruger! But no one can possibly beat Anne Hathaway in this gown, one or two years back. It was a-amazing. Poetry in motion, as I believe InStyle put it.
Blue flowers... actually, this has to do with weddings. I am, on normal days, a hopeless romantic but practically speaking I am attending a wedding next week. I'm not very sure if it's the actual ceremony or a celebratory dinner kind of thing, but in any case, what does one wear to a wedding in a chapel? Does white upstage the bride?
Also, I am very obsessed with P.S. I Made This , a website that's got me hankering for BeadSpin, Spotlight and other strange things. I am particularly intruiged by their rope earrings , a DIY project I certainly must embark on when I have the time! I'm thinking of scavenging for materials on Sunday so I can settle me down for the week and do some shredding.
Ballet. I think I've reached the NYAA criteria for 20 hours of physical recreation already, which means that every time I drag my unwilling tired body to the CC for an hour of intensive torture I am doing it... willingly. I sometimes wonder if I should continue, and if so, if I am only doing so for the pride of a) saying I didn't give up, and b) saying "I take ballaaayy, darling." It's a love-hate relationship. I love the way it's giving me exercise and poise and how maybe someday I can look like Pavlova in The Dying Swan, but it is very tiring to have to concentrate- so- really- hard for an hour every week. It's concentration past a level you've ever known it; it's putting your every muscle into every step and putting your feeling, your pathos, and I don't think I've really registered that yet. As it is, I can't really remember all my steps, to the chagrin of my teachers and classmates.
Chloe Sevigny. Somehow, I must be like her. She is the height of cool, somehow surpassing Alexa Chung. Also, Uniqlo. I found my long-awaited perfect pair of denim shorts there last weekend! They are not too short, yet above the knee; and more importantly, they are looser than normal, which means the whole world doesn't get to revel at how big my butt is on bad days. And they are really soft. Expensive (about 40 dollars), yes, but I am hoping I will wear it a lot. More than my fake DvB pair, anyway, because those got a bit snug and I was a bit sceptical about the diamonds speckling my derriere.
Roman Holiday! Ooch, by the time I get here my hands are too tired and it's almost 9 and I should be sleeping yet I haven't bathed or eaten, let alone edited my Montage articles. So no-go for the review... Sorry!!! But suffice to say I love, love, love it and if I could I would go around dressed like Princess Ann (the outside-frolicking part, not the princess part, though I would gladly oblige if given the gowns to do so) all- day- long.

Sept hols looks to be busy but I make a pinky promise here to try my darndest to finish- my- work- in the first half of the week! Unlike the March hols.

Sigh. TTYL ♥

54 Cupids That Fly

2010-09-03T05:08:00.001-07:00

So I realized that my brain had suddenly, over the course of the past few weeks, forgotten the existence of The Clothes Horse and Sea of Shoes, which is very odd because they happen to be my favourite fashion bloggers, but also very convenient because it means I got to read a whole load of archives at one go!

While doing so I stumbled across An American in Paris: Day One, a post by Rebecca of The Clothes Horse on the first day of her travels in the City of Light. The post had a very intruiging story...

The Seine was a lovely stroll at midday and early evening; lined with little booksellers and the water teeming with boats. I was particularly charmed by the love locks on the Pont des Arts bridge: by attaching an engraved/marked padlock to the side of the bridge the promise of everlasting love can be made. And if your lock came with a key, cast it into the Seine and your love is doubly secured.
-Rebecca, The Clothes Horse

Can't you see this tradition forming in a cliched romantic film or a book? I'd love to write it, but first I promise to visit Paris to see this phenomenon for myself, and to find out more about it so I'm not just writing on a whim. A short story might be alright, though... I can imagine a tourist, dressed in a crisp white button-down and navy blue long skirt with a red scarf tied around her neck, slipping a little lock into her suitcase for the sake of her inner romantic... and going to Paris only to have her heart broken by her long-time boyfriend, yet conveniently finding the romance of a lifetime as she recovers.

Ahhh, love.

I'm very sorry for the lack of posts! I've not been that busy, but I have been very slacky recently and whatever homework I do have takes up most of my nights when I finally get off Facebook/Love Gives Me Hope/Red Carpet Fashion Awards. I would like to do another post like my previous one on mixing florals- fashion commentary is something I would like to take up again, maybe after JC, when I have some time in between to go gallavanting! I predict (and hope for) a killer wardrobe and a trip to Europe. Hopefully. Then I will persuade my parents to let me take up fashion blogging, and get a tripod to zipai successfully.

For the meantime I can comment sans pictures. Nothing jumps to mind just yet, except that I'd really like to work at Urban and show them what they're doing wrong. Long-sleeve jumpers in an article that's supposed to show us how to work trends into our hot climate? No-go. Also, not all of us are willing to fork out so much money just for a necklace. Part of working trends into our daily lives should also mean we source our interpretations from outside the runway, people. Outside.

I was thinking of doing a few reviews for the next post, including -but not limited to- Roman Holiday, which never got the review it deserved. Till next.

53 Roman Holiday

2010-08-22T05:32:00.000-07:00

So I tried logging on here after tuition, to do a blog update, amongst several other things, and somehow I end here 34 minutes later with nothing done and my head in a frazzle.

I have , though, edited my CLC report, and now have to print it once Ser Yeen's back with the green light; I managed to check Facebook and no doubt spent ages scrolling through notifications; and, when editing a photo of me on Photoshop, intending to blur it right through so I was unidentifiable, I ended up freezing Photoshop with a still of me in a fishbowl.

I also intended to look up a funny, original picture of Roman Holiday to post here, but ended up spending ages trawling through Google Images, which, as it has tended to do lately, threw its hands up in despair and hung on me, eventually killing itself and reopening, by which time I gave up and exited the tab.

This week has been largely uneventful, if not frustrating because of the self-induced tizzy I managed to get myself into. Monday saw me going home with a fever and feeling all dazed and into myself, as those who are sick understand, and Tuesday through Thursday was spent at home- sleeping, eating, medicine, sleeping, eating and then medicine again until Thursday night when we decided mutually to pack me off to school again.

Friday was - oh my, I've used "largely uneventful" already, but bearable, though too long for my liking, and ended with me at HCI's library, having a Reading Circle. Nothing too much came out of it, except laughs, a couple of nicknames at the guys' unknowing expense, and a determination to hunt out Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

I then lazed away the whole Friday evening watching Roman Holiday DVD, with all the extras, with my mother, over dinner. It was WONDERFUL. Breakfast at Tiffany's didn't go that well, considering we gave up halfway without subtitles. But Roman Holiday reminded me of all the things old movies are and new ones aren't. I will probably take this back after watching some newfangled and hopelessly cliched Hollywood movie soon, but oh, my, here is my testament: no one, no one, beats old movies. Especially those with Audrey Hepburn in them.

Oh, and Gregory Peck! Pecks to my newest role model. Apparently he was married to his wife for 40 years. A true actor and gentleman for people all over to look up to. (And sorry for the lame pun there.)

Saturday... I spun round in a very deep sleep and only woke up at around 2. So I spent a few hours working on various reports on-off, went to church at four, and then whiled away the night at Parkway Parade with my brother and mother. Nothing of the shopping -oh Lordy am I getting tired of Cotton On, but why do I keep stepping inside?- but we did spend aeons at Border's.

...

Blogger has deleted my paragraphs and I am too lazy to type them all out again. Here are the main points:

Classy by David Blasberg. Oh, and Borders' YA Nonfiction section is only 3 shelves long. Less than 3 shelves.
Forest Born by Shannon Hale. ABSOLUTELY SPIFFING.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Haven't read it yet but it's sitting there on my desk, preening.
2 more weeks to a very packed, very busy, not-very-welcome-but-still-promising September holidays.
Random dentists are writing on my tagboard, and I find that very intruiging. And disturbing. Stop it, y'all.
People who do count, please continue tagging about Barbies whose heads will snap off.

TQ, TTYL.

52 What More Can I Say

2010-08-07T02:59:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've been into Avril Lavigne songs -including old favourites 'Sk8r Boi' and 'My Happy Ending'- A Lot Like Love trailer!- but I've also been noticing, with increased interest, the growing trend in mixing (floral) prints.

While commonly seen on Gossip Girl this new season, with really good results, I must add (hello, Clemence Poesy!)...Shu Qi's latest choice really made me sit up and take notice. I love the fact that she chose to put prints on her shoes, instead of mixing prints only on the outfit and settle for a solid-coloured (hell no, black! or nude!) heel.

I have nothing against black or nude heels, and feel that personally I would opt for them most of the time (hello, my heels are all white, or nude... excepting one in blue that is becoming very uncomfortable...), I think Shu Qi's total head-in plunge is most admirable and certainly deserving to be scrutinised, noted, and copied by the general public, where possible and where they do not ruin it by doing something like wearing a floral tank top with floral leggings.

P.S. Emma Watson, Twiggy/Mia Farrow haircut. Your responses?? (Personally I feel like part of me has been shorn off as well... Half of me is rooting for her, the other half is like, So now Harry Potter's officially ended, huh?)

51 You'll Be Mine, Forever And (Almost) Always

2010-08-07T02:18:00.000-07:00

The four-day weekend is here, and on the two days (Thurs and Fri) on which I could've done my homework, I slacked... and here I am with a (hopefully) brief update. Someone scold me!
I've been looking at blogshops lately, since my quest for a new go-to place in place of Tampines (that place can drive me crazy sometimes) is, so far, failing. I need somewhere safe (in other words, suitably crowded but not SO people-crowded), near and cheap, with good variety and good quality things to look at. Blogshops seem the lazy man's answer to that- it's *very* near but you need to be willing to put up with all the trawling!
Things a good blogshop needs:

A good template. A boring one puts people off.
Good quality pictures, with clothes/items on real people instead of on hangers.
Clear descriptions, prices.
Well-explained payment format... explanation.
Good prices!
(The occasional sale.)

Those are the reasons I really love BonitoChico. In fact, I recently splurged on a Mulberry Alexa bag lookalike from there. It's more than 30 dollars with the mail pricing added in, but worth it because I trust enough in their site and I've been WAITING for stores to roll out lookalikes since the original came out. So many months' worth, and when I finally saw it on their site I was literally jumping up and down in joy.

(And guess what? Last week I saw DMK's own version. I was so annoyed, but to console myself I didn't really like the logo, material and the fact that it was 50 dollars.)

My bag should be arriving soon, but for the meantime here are my top 2 picks from another site, iFashion. I quite like this despite the frequent cutesy designs and posing and (slightly) higher prices (I think it's about 25-50), because you do get the occasional nice design.

http://ifashion.com.sg/bag-and-shoe/bag-1/bags-715.html

28 dollars; I really love the red colour! It's my favourite from the whole shop.

http://ifashion.com.sg/all-items/bag-594.html

29.90; really, for the thousands of dollars and even more months of waiting for the real thing, this Birkin lookalike is as good as anything. I am not a particular fan of the bag -not enough to sign up for the waiting list, if I had the money, that is!- but I do like its design well enough and when I saw it, I thought I'd just post it here to let you guys see.

Quite obviously, I haven't quite gained my hardworking streak from term 1... hhmm.

50 We All Live In A Yellow Submarine

2010-08-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

I know it ain't tilted, but I just downloaded it. Well, you can just pretend to be a Barbie doll and twist your head sideways! (Can they do that?)

(Probably can't.)

I decided today one of the things I want to do before I die, is learn to fold a paper aeroplane. It seems so basic but I really have no idea where to begin! And once I do, I'll be unstoppable. I'll be hobbling into schools and throwing them into classrooms, with messages like, "Die, homework, die."

Chemistry exam today was horrible. I completely didn't know anything, and literally guessed the whole paper, contemplating if I should rip it up and stomp out of there the whole time. Maths was bad, too- I forgot the entire Remainder and Factor Theorem even though it's a topic I excel in normally. Chinese and Physics were bleaguh, and thus the only hopes I have for scraping past a 2.0 MSG are LA and Adv Lit. Already I have a little bubbling feeling at the bottom of my tummy that I'm not going to make it past the wondrous barrier of expectations set during sem 1.

But on the upside...

THEY'RE OVER!

WHOOPEEDOO!

I can now illustrate to my heart's content. But first-a short story for Chinese. Guess what. I'm going to write it in English, then translate.

What a stroke of genius!

49 Ravenclaw

2010-08-02T02:14:00.001-07:00

I'm
a Ravenclaw!

More updates later, it's exam week.

48 Expelliarmus!

2010-07-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

Which Harry Potter Character Are You?

Hermione

Youâ€™re book smart, moral and cool under pressure. You love learning and showing others what you know. Youâ€™re way more mature than those around you, and you always seem to know whatâ€™s best.

Fun quizzes, surveys & blog quizzes by

47 Don't Let That Speed Limit Slow You Down

2010-07-16T07:48:00.001-07:00

The very awesome necklace above, made from "handpainted salvaged leather", is from the very beautiful Scout Holiday shop on Etsy (thanks Clothes Horse for pointing it out!).

The price, however, is exhorbitant (wow, big words!)- 65 USD! It makes me wonder if I can make it myself. The leather definitely looks like some I've seen in Chatuchak market, though of course I see them on merchandise and not as raw material (wouldn't that be awesome?). All I would need is to buy a clutch, cut it up, and have a palette of aqua, rose, gold, black, white, whatever, a leather hole puncher and some chain.

Alright, now that sounds... difficult.

Sorry for the slow updates! Weeks are passing... although I don't know what adjective I should use. During the days themselves it seems so long but then in retrospect, it's so far, so soon. We'll almost be done with Term 3, and it seems I've been in Singapore so long... Bangkok is so far away, a parallel universe.

I was reflecting on how all of my writing seems to consist soppy, emo pieces, and that I should move on, try something new and edgy (like sci-fi- just kidding; you'd tear your eyeballs out). Maybe this isn't edgy but I was thinking, how about a 26 Letters collection on DeviantArt, where I write 26 letters to the different members (I don't want to say 'letters' again) of the alphabet, representing anonymous friends? I'll say all that I want to say. I hope. Good stuff, of course, but it might be a tad too obvious.

Nevertheless, a nice sentiment...?

46 If That's Alright With You

2010-07-09T05:52:00.003-07:00

Oh my gosh, Tom Felton raps.

45 Know Everything There Is To Know

2010-07-09T05:41:00.001-07:00

Do go to YouTube and click on related videos to see other clips of Tom Felton singing! He's really good! His singing reminds me of Zooey Deschanel- comes from someone you thought was only an actor; completely original; and you can just hear their voice in their singing. Pure, raw, beautiful.

Went half an hour over break time to complete 10 icons :D

Sources; SweetandTalented, Google Images, Taylor Swift fan site. Vid from YouTube. Two of my fave pics from this batch (Romola; Tom) in next post! (Because I'm tired of formatting.)

44 Before We Knew It Was Too Late

2010-07-09T04:54:00.000-07:00

Maybe if you'd slow down for me, I could see you're only telling lies, lies, lies.

Getting addicted to the Once soundtrack (once) again! :D Pardon the lame joke.

Was reading my past blogs and realized that on the up side I (hopefully) am less prone to rants and whiny complaints, but on the down side not only is blogskinning (and art) less a part of my life now that I've got so much homework, I've also lost most of my touch. I don't remember a lot of HTML!

Not to mention, a lot of the friends I namedrop in my posts are distant now... it makes me sort of sad. Sometimes you've got to move on but there's always going to be a part of you that wants to stay.

On a cheery note, I am inspired by my erstwhile artyness to do some more icons. I am thinking of doing one of the following (or both): Eyes, where the icons feature only eyes (like that Diane Kruger one on tac some time back- that was great); or Icons, where I pick my favourite actors and actresses of all time, like JONNY LEE MILLER :D

Which reminds me, I watched a few vids of the 2009 Emma version. Sadly I think JLM is too young-looking for the role (is it true he was previously married to Angelina Jolie?); a YouTube viewer said Jeremy Northam was too handsome for the 1996 version to be a proper Mr Knightley but I think the same could be said for JLM. He's too cute, too trusting, too young-looking; Jeremy Northam is like Matthew McFadyen in Pride and Prejudice (2004). You don't think they're much lookers in the beginning but at the end you're swooning. In JLM's case, you fall in love with him right from the start. Which does nothing for empathy with the heroine's slow path to realization!

Romola Garai... I prefer the 1996 version actually. No offense to the cast and crew of the 2009 version since I haven't actually watched the whole thing, but it feels righter in 1996. Romola is great, don't get me wrong. I love her earnestness, her "don't!" when Mr Knightley tries to propose... but somehow you don't get that self-righteousness that Gwyneth Paltrow owns. I'm not even done with the book, but I get a sense Emma would have been so stubborn and self-righteous as to defend her matchmaking choices.

43 Join The Club

2010-06-25T04:03:00.001-07:00

Credits to Disney Teen Central and Google Images for the Glee collage. (Don't you love how Dianna's sitting?)

42 I'll Shine For You

2010-06-25T02:49:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share with you a cool convo I had with my Mum, not two seconds ago (or as long as it takes to walk over and log into Blogger):

Me: When are you going to Tampines?
Mum: Going, going!
Me: Cos you might as well collect the photos, it's 5.50 and by the time you're ready the photos will be done so you can collect them.
Mum: Yes m'am!
Me: That'll be 'sir'. Because I have a sore throat.

It's true. I sound like a man. (!!)

And I'm listening to soppy feel-good songs like Jump Then Fall and Today Was A Fairytale.

41 Whisper

2010-06-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

You see. Even in lineart I cannot hope to capture the wonder that is Audrey Hepburn. It is a beautiful woman you see in the picture above, yes; but not Audrey Hepburn; beautiful is beyond her.

Clearly I am in a very emotional, linguistic mood but really all I wanted to post here, now, for was to update you all (slash, whoever is reading my blog, because really, looking at the tagboard my readership has plunged magnificently!) on my doings, and warn that updates will be slow on the horizon from now on.

Today I'm going to see Toy Story 3 (armed with tissues- I can't even watch a 2-minute video of Bambi without slightly tearing up, how horrible is that) and then tomorrow, discussing IH TP; this week is for slugging. It. Out. Although I remain, as ever, affectionately allergic to my Chinese homework, which sits there dolefully because I refuse to look at it.

Monday saw me doing my Philo arguments from day to night, literally, because who knew torturing a terrorist suspect was such an ethical affair? (Or at least, one to mull over for so long?) I'm just thanking the heavens that it's not my business in real life or nobody'd ever get things done. Escaped for a brief time to Tampines for some respite (it was my incentive for slugging) and -gasp!- actually gave in to the temptation that is ubiquity- Converse sneakers. Really.

Tuesday saw me being good and not going out at all- finished the Philo essay in the morning/afternoon, then did IH TP research, scratching my head over the mess that is the given topic- A significant impact of the NHS is inefficiency in the provision of medical services. Discuss., and constantly typing "ineffiency" into Google and wondering why nothing'd come up.

Today is Wednesday! Decided to start on my A Lit essay but going nowhere because of Facebook. However, I did find a range of themes to think about- I DESPERATELY want to link Les Mis and Macbeth because they're both so deep and wonderful (Les Mis, really) but as my mum so forthrightly put it, "Macbeth is about retribution! Les Mis is redemption!" ... one vague idea from NovelGuide is the tragic hero, which definitely links Macbeth and Jean Valjean/Javert, plus, for the newspaper article I'm hinged onto Bangkok Post because I'm sure there's lots to find on tragic heroes and social chaos.

Another idea, I thought, was the grey area between good and evil... SparkNotes takes it as the difference between cruelty and masculinity, and it's kind of the same thing. To us, what Macbeth does is cruel but he does it because his wife challenges his manhood otherwise; so it becomes something to be proud of. In Les Mis, sometimes it's hard to tell who's right, who's wrong, because justice isn't really always "with a capital J" (to quote an insightful YouTuber).

I am actually quite late- I have to leave in half an hour and I haven't eaten yet, much less gotten ready- blame a late breakfast, I'm still not hungry. But anyway, TTYL! ♥

40 A-I-R

2010-06-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Oh my, I just realized I don't have a picture for this post. Heck care.

I have decided on the name for my art blog (if I ever get around to making it)! It shall be called Artist in Residence (and, if necessary, "by The Secret Kook Society" because that sounds so professional, like it's a real brand). Admittedly the idea is stolen from LeSportSac because they had an Artist in Residence collection, but I like the name, how it's suitable for an art blog and also how its initials are A-I-R!

I have also come up with one more point for an art blog: I now have Photoshop so I can go back to doing graphic design, banners and icons! AND lineart, since I have a tablet! Lalala, the options are endless- and I'd be over the moon if it weren't for the hurricane of homework that hasn't lessened.

Besides that, I am also working on a Fathers' Day-cum-birthday present for my dad. Hush-hush, but hint: I'll be using the tools mentioned in the previous paragraph!

TTYL ♥

PS. Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert (TFAC?) IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR. I must go. NAO. Even if the only tickets seem to be in... Europe. Graw.

PS. No Dream Cast members this time??!! I feel like imitating the Quidditch World Cup player models and squeaking, SALONGA! BALL! QUAST! WILKINSON! HENSHALL! KUHN!

39 You Heartbreaker

2010-06-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

I love this look. Omhomhomh.

'Cept I would wear them with flats because although I need the height, I also need comfort and slight obscurity.

Oh, and sans hat because I have been trying to no avail to find one that fits me.

'Triplets' by Zanita W. of Sydney, thanks Lookbook!

37 "Try Not To Kill My Dogs"

2010-06-07T06:30:00.001-07:00

Am at Auntie Jess's house now while Mum and Dad are out. I thought I'd just do a post on one of my new favourite movies, Emma (1996), starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam.

Credit: Fanpop

I borrowed it from the school library on impulse and I think it's a great decision! I have watched it twice already, two nights in a row, but unfortunately I left it back home in Singapore.

If you haven't already read it (it's based on Jane Austen's novel), it's about Emma, a young woman who decides to take to matchmaking her friend Harriet, after her decision to pair up her tutor and a local widower results in a happy marriage. Her disastrous attempts as she steers the naive Harriet in the direction of one eligible man after another come to a close as her matchmaking efforts come head to head with Emma herself falling in love.

Played brilliantly by Gwyneth Paltrow, I think Emma is a believable and lovable character, even though she may appear annoying to some at first (like my mother)- people who believe she's nosey. Of course, Toni Collette's Harriet must be mentioned as well, for she is portrayed to humorous effect- the character truly is naive and fickle-minded, trusting Emma to know best in the ways of marriage. The ending is heart-ticklingly satisfying... Like Pride and Prejudice (2004), the leading man (Northam here, Matthew McFadyen in the latter) may not be instantly appealing but a good script and wonderful acting warms one up to him and, of course, has you rooting for the movie's ending soon enough.

Do catch it if you can, especially if you are a fan of Jane Austen and the movies/shows based on her novels. There are a few versions, with a Romola Garai (Atonement) one in the making, but I've heard say that this 1996 one is the best.

36 Mood Icon

2010-06-06T22:23:00.000-07:00

This icon of Katharine McPhee from House Bunny was made by me way back in the middle of 2009. It's the perfect icon for portraying a "What did you say?" mood, don't you think?

Credit: TAC.

35 Self-Reliant

2010-06-06T21:52:00.001-07:00

I am now in Bangkok!

Unfortunately, I have been tailed by a scary butt-kicking hurricane of homework, including the very intimidating yet intruiging Chinese version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (yes, you read that right). I figured that tackling my non-reading-Chinese state head-on was best, but then I hadn't realized that reading the first chapter would take two days, and there are... 38 or 39 chapters. And it's a library book so it's due on the first day of Term 3, I think.

Oh, cupcakes!

Anyhoo, I stumbled across Enci's very cool art blog and it has inspired me to, maybe, start one of my own... For one of those days when I'm too lazy to go to DA, or to come up with some accompanying realist prose for TSKS. I realize a lot of people are going to Wordpress now but I like my comfort zones, so Blogger is likely to be the proud host. If I could only find a way for everything to be framed nicely~!! I liked the way one of my old blogskins framed every single one of my images with a lightish blue rectangle/square/thing, but I don't want the hindrance of a complicated blogskin. And I'm too lazy to frame everything as an image before I post it up.

Am I being too lazy, expecting too much from websites?

Hmm.

We're going out soon to Emporium to do some grocery/necessity shopping and hopefully watch a movie if something catches our eye. I hope I will retain my hardworking streak from Term 2 (cough, cough) and slave away instead of pining to go out but hey, IT'S A NEW DAY AND A NEW COUNTRY! :D

TTYL ♥

34 Rampages

2010-05-23T02:30:00.001-07:00

33 I Heard There Was A Secret Chord

2010-05-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

I have been searching for ages for this animated icon I saw ages ago on Pingghee's LJ, about Cedric Diggory. I think the icon can't be seen anymore on her LJ, but if anyone has a link, please tell me!! I think it was a parody of Bella's "About three things I was absolutely positive" quote. Even Google doesn't yield it.

Logged on just before 4 to do some sketches and collages of favourite runway looks but looks like I've spent 53 minutes looking for the icon. Pffftsh!

32 Oh Blaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir!

2010-05-22T01:44:00.001-07:00

Currently eating grapes as big as THIS and trying hard to avoid the seeds, which I hate.

Hotmail seems to be going through another one of its revamps, causing the entire inbox page to be very screwed up, so I can't send or forward any of my emails for ESWC. Oh, joy.

I need to keep track of my homework. Just because it's sabbaticals week does not mean I'm entitled to slack... although I'm thinking that if I work a little today I can go out tomorrow after Mass :D teehee.

Work due in W10:

Email Mrs Westvik ESWC publicity details.
Corrections for Maths SIA Q5 and 6- Thursday!
~~Get notebook for Philo.~~
~~CLASS TEE DESIGN!~~
JYOF logo submission- Wednesday!
BOM hip hop training??!!
Report book ushering duty??!!
~~Letter for Mrs Wong- MONDAY!~~

Work due in T3:

GRAPH. 1 & 2
Chinese compo on what we did during the holidays!
LA powerpoint presentation
CLC Lect presentation
Maths SIA presentation
IH TP presentation

Wow, that's at least 4 presentations coming up in T3, and I have a nagging feeling there's more...

31 Snoodles

2010-05-20T07:23:00.001-07:00

In response to your question, no, I actually don't know what 'snoodle' is. I was thinking of sleeping when I typed that.

The dress above immediately caught my eye when I decided to look up Marchesa runway shows on YouTube on a whim, so I went to dig it up on Style: see it here. It mightn't look like much, but look up Marchesa Spring 2007 Ready-to-Wear Runway on YouTube and see it in motion! It's beautiful! The sleeves! I am so high on fashion right now that I feel like putting on heels and a dress, and cutting me some dangerous bangs- which reminds me, I dreamt last night that I had a edgily dangerously new haircut with long bangs right across, which looked good one second till I remembered that I always regret cutting a fringe, 'specially since I've been growing mine out (since I first cut it). Then I felt horrible, and when I woke up, I was like, Phew, I've still got my fringe, and boy was that a weird dream.

Alright, it's weird, I'm sleepy. G'night, y'all.

30 Crushhhhhhhhh

2010-05-20T04:58:00.001-07:00

http://moxiefashionista.blogspot.com/2009/11/great-outfits-taylor-swift.html

I've always thought it and I say it now: I love Taylor Swift's personal style, especially the floral minidresses and strappy heels. (Pretty much only the floral minidresses and strappy heels, actually! I'm not too fond of the purple patterned tights.)

The Rebecca Taylor dress in the previous post, and this pink Lipsy London one from some time ago, are my favourites.

29 Who Wore It Better?

2010-05-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

All together now: Taylor Swift.
Source: here.

28 AVPM

2010-05-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Exams are over!

I passed all 5 stations of my NAPFA so that's only 2.4 to worry about (and I haven't trained) but it's hard to worry when there's this feeling of careless euphoria post-exams.

I did alright... a bit disappointed with some, exuberantly pleased with Maths, but it's alright! First block tests done!

Am about to watch A Very Potter Musical on YouTube. Judging by numerous comments on Average Wizard, my life is about to be changed.

Vamos!

27 Strummer

2010-05-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

I went onto Google today, to search the URL for The Clothes Horse, because I realized theclotheshorse, the-clothes and theclothes are all very different blogs, and only the last one is the one I wanted to go to.

Then I realized that today is Tchaikovsky's 170th birthday! The man who composed Swan Lake's haunting, beautiful, classic theme! And the doodle, I believe, is based on Swan Lake as well. How wonderful.

Once again I've come to offer apologies. To readers, if any, sorry for disappointing you with a very slow rate of updating- updates will probably only stroll in when the holidays do, and that's not for another three weeks, I believe.

To my classmates, friends, family and teachers (gulp), for being unbelievably grumpy and anti-social today. I've had a splitting headache for the past few days, which I think is from the insufferable weather and dehydration, so the tiniest things irritate me these days and I have absolutely no wish to "go out and mingle". I sincerely hope this will be over by tomorrow, as I have ballet (gulp), LA oral presentation discussion, dinner at Pizza Hut and the Modern Dance concert... and headaches will definitely make everybody suffer.

I realized I'm going to have pizza for dinner, twice in a row. I don't exactly feel like eating it, actually. Which is remarkable.

All my block tests are over, at long last, and now all I have to do is sit and worry about my results- actually, there's also Maths quiz (equation of circle and ratio theorem), Chemistry SPA, Chemistry SIA, LA SIA Documentation (shit) to worry about... and probably loads others. I am not very up to date on my SIA deadlines, so I am forever rushing it at midnight before the due date.

I have NAPFA in 1 hour and 2 minutes and I literally have not practised at all, because when the class was given time to practise, I was on MC, and since then I've either been too busy, too sick or too lazy to go practise wherever they set up the stuff for 5 stations. I sincerely hope I don't fail. The only one I'm not particularly worried about is sit-and-reach, because with all the stretching in ballet I've at least managed to kick in some practice.

Very exhausted. Can't wait for the day to be over, but then I have to go home and finish editing the IH essay for tomorrow. The edits just keep going back and forth. It's like we can't settle on a 4-page, concise essay with exactly the points both of us want to cover.

I just remembered I have a Chinese essay to do, too. I don't really understand the topic, so I am going to go home and ask around/do some research that will make my writing, make sense.

26 Mulberry 'Alexa' Bag

2010-04-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

If I had enough money I'd get the Mulberry 'Alexa' bag. I nearly got a heart attack when I saw a woman carry something that looked like it at a bus stop today; isn't it such a lovely bag? A perfect mix of slouchy and structured.

That said, the rest of the woman's outfit was inspiring as well. She wore a ruffled floral print top with a navy blue cardigan and black pants. The interesting thing was that the top and cardigan were shorter than usual, so they just skimmed the top of her pants. I loved her top!

TGIF. Let's hope I get some work done this weekend. Not to mention the Chinese exam next week... *gulp*

25 Swift

2010-04-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I got a leetle carried away... Credits Taylor Swift Gallery and
Google Image Search. ♥

24 Rapport

2010-04-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

Sources: The Clothes Horse (edited on Powerpoint), Paint (self-drawn)

Recently I seem to be into whimsical drawings. Don't get me wrong, I still doodle sky-high court heels on foolscap paper, and I haven't quite gotten over the habit of sketching ballet feet onto my notes either, but something must be said for the waylaid block letters (complete with shadows) and cartoonish characters that seem to be making an increasing amount of cameos in my drawings.

My love for almost Victorian ensembles -think hats, lace collars and huge ribbons- shouldn't be called recent or you'd think it started weeks ago or something; it actually started yesterday. My mum brought back this awesome hard-cover book from Kinokuniya in Thailand, called Dreaming of Dior; it's about the author, Charlotte, who inherits a collection of vintage dresses from her 'fairy godmother' Doris. Each page has a sketch of a different dress with its accompanying story, each as captivating as the other; think amazing stuff like dancing with Mel Ferrer (Audrey Hepburn's husband) and going out of conservative Quaker norm.

The sketches are amazing and since the dresses are all vintage I'm starting to have a penchant for aforementioned Victorian things... thank goodness I haven't gone shopping since reading it or I'm sure I'd be stocking my wardrobe with things I'd be sure to get over in a few months.

I'm so sorry for not updating but my hiatus will likely continue in this vein for ... maybe until JC ends. I don't know. Anyway I'm very busy right now, what with exams, homework, and trying not to fall sick again (I have developed the bad habit of falling sick consecutively every month since January with flu... I think it's because of lack of sleep and stress). I'm being a bad girl now as it is, haha! I promised myself I would be done with slacking by 12, eat lunch and get started, and it's already 1.30. Tuition's at 6- my idyllic slacker life can't continue any longer! I practically haven't done any homework since I've gotten home, other than staring at my Maths worksheet, finishing my Chinese book (whoo!) and doing a few paragraphs for Chinese. I forgot to bring my Chem worksheets home, too- they're due... Tuesday? Wednesday? Dang it. Clearly, mental Post-Its don't work.

On a random note, posting this URL on Facebook has seemed to get me a certain "fan base"- a misnomer if any. It's just that some of my friends occasionally come up to me and say, "Hey, I read your blog..." and add a comment about something I've posted, be it an anecdote or drawing. I've learnt to stop asking, "Where did you get the URL??!!" Still, a note: I'd appreciate it if you left a tag when visiting! Don't feel like you need to have a chim comment in order to do so.

23 "I'm Done Trying. If You Want Me In Your Life, Let Me Know. Bye."

2010-03-28T05:13:00.001-07:00

Three of my favourite shots from my attempt at set design, the last one being the photo used for Nail It (as requested by Sandra, tyvm :D).

This won't be long, just wanted to convince any readers out there I'm still alive. And blogging, though barely. And I'm sorry for the absymally (spelling?) long title, it's a Facebook page. The title is very interesting.

Been stressed as hell lately, and I've decided I must take my mother's words to heart. They are: "Don't be so hard on yourself." Baby steps!

22 We're Going Nowhere Fast

2010-03-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Half magazine spread, half ad campaign- Nail It. Yes, I took that photo; no, it wasn't like that on the camera. Sans Photoshop, I'm shufted to PowerPoint, which is surprisingly adequate for results like this. Change the contrast, change the colour setting, add a few text boxes- and taa-daa!

It's one day to the start of Term 2 and I'm feeling very irritated. One week's holiday is not a holiday, it's "like going to school in home clothes". Granted maybe my holidays could've ended better if I had worked harder before- weekend before OBS I was slacking because "I deserved it", weekend after OBS I was slacking because "I deserved it", and now on the 3rd weekend I am suffering most terribly. I do need to start working on my time management!!

Back from Bangkok, obviously, and spent the last 2 and a half days at home... Got the shock of my life curled up on the bedroom floor on Thursday evening, planning out my homework schedule, when I found it was Thursday and not Wednesday. Imagine. One whole day gone!!

Biggest achievement: I finished my first Chinese book in one and a half years. Yes, you read that right. Pathetic, right. But it was oddly fun, even if the short stories about some whiny little kid were annoying at times. (Okay, so he wasn't a "whiny little kid", but sometimes he really did make me want to slap him.)

(Does that qualify him to be part of the Whiny Little Kid Club?)

Took some more photos experimenting with set design and stuff so I might post them up later. Am going to bed soon because having finally finished all my homework, Mum's granted me a day out tomorrow... not a full day as I wanted (today was supposed to be FULL DAY AT BUGIS, for the very first time, but then homework kept me at home slugging away... that, and temptation in the form of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) since there's church in the morning and tuition in the early evening. But we're going to the earlier Mass and I've done my tuition homework, so fingers crossed.

21 Someone Else's Dream

2010-03-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

Aah, I haven't been updating in so long, it feels. A proper one, at least, not those 5-minute dash-offs I've been making a habit of late. Many apologies!

On a random note I feel like I owe the SKS a blogskin. But I don't feel like dragging out my messy links and such, it's such a tiresome bore. Oh well...

Am also thinking of restarting Muze. There's got to be some place to dump all my sartorial thoughts, and maybe, possibly, the occasional picture... I like how Muse means both to think and inspiration. It's the focal point of my blogs. Also, an example post that I like from FabSugar: Going Nude For Spring. No, the article is not risque, it's about adopting a nude palette for the upcoming 'season'. I rather think that the idea of nudes and pastels has been a bandwagon I've jumped all too willingly onto. That, and naval colours- wine reds, navy blues, and stark whites.

I've also been slowly grasping the art of simple dressing. Gone are the days of hours spent mulling over the wardrobe and piling on accessories! One good thing about moving is you know the good stuff from the bad; to loosely quote Zoe Elliott from my article on global nomads, after moving, the stuff you bother to 'keep in touch with' frequently are the keepers.

Granted, she was talking about friends, but let's shift the metaphor here. The pieces you frequent are the ones you feel comfortable in and suit you in any mood you're in, be it feminine, or preppy, or simply Francophile, all of which I've been in.

For a dramatic change in topic, I'm back from OBS! With a slight tan, rawness on my face and neck from a near sunburn, muscle aches and good memories that've sweetened with time. A good deal? I think so :) Granted, at the time we couldn't see what everyone meant by 'OBS was fun' and 'You won't want to leave' but now I think we all agree we want to go back. I actually miss my tent. No kidding. I miss sleeping on a sandy, plasticy floor that feels of stones, and resting my head on a salty lifejacket. With my feet curled up lest I knock down the group's shared 1.5L. Wow!

5D4N and I'm kind of a changed person... possibly this has aided my just-throw-it-on attitude towards my wardrobe here in BKK. It's working, at least. I'm ready at least ten minutes earlier than normal.

Went to Chatuchak today but sadly many shops were closed and today's trip was a little sad... but anyway it was my first in like 3 months because before we left I was sick and couldn't go! I bought four tops and already felt extravagantly sinful, even though each one was between 100-200 Baht (SGD5-10). I am supposed to be not shopping for Lent!!!

Anyhoo. The deed's done. *gulps* And I am looking forward to going to Platinum sometime this week because I desperately miss not knowing where to look. Also, Chatuchak was noticeably devoid of shoes. Shoes. Shoes. :D My new obsession, along with statement rings. I just wish they'd make a cheap knockoff of that House of Harlow black and gold ring, it's so awesome.

Am inspired by Nicole to buy cheap sneakers and doodle on them, but I'm not too sure. Aren't I a more.... ballet shoe-grosgrain bow kind of girl? Am also supposed to be picking up sewing this week. Have laid aside some old clothes that don't fit well to cut up and sew. Am also planning to sew a rip-off Chanel suit from white felt and thick black thread. So sue me :)

Just nicely in time I have been informed that we will NOT be going to Platinum because the red shirts are all around that area. BACK OFF. I feel so mad right now. I have been looking forward to this for THREE MONTHS. THREE MONTHS, ALRIGHT. THIS IS MY DESTRESS WEEK. BACK OFF. PLEASE. I BEG YOU. I GROVEL. THIS IS UTTER MADNESS! How can they??!! I foresee 4 days of staying at home, desperately groping at RCFA while being forced to mug at homework. How fun is this? This is crazy!!

Grah, I don't even feel like cozying up to fanfic right now. I feel like ripping pages, tissues, anything, screaming. Hello, I got SCOLDED for looking for a shred of hope, asking if we could monitor the situation and maybe go there if the situation got better. MAYBE. MONITOR THE SITUATION. ALL TENTATIVE ADJECTIVES, AND WHAT DO I GET? A SCOLDING THAT, REPHRASED, ROUGHLY MEANS, "YOU WANT TO DIE IS IT?"! I JUST WANT A FREAKING HOLIDAY. A HOLIDAY. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK. I HAVE BEEN MUGGING SO MUCH EVERYONE SAYS I LOST WEIGHT, AND I'M STRESSED AND I CAN'T GO TO BED WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IMPENDING WORKLOADS. AND I CAN'T EVEN RELAX.

AND DON'T TELL ME TO GO TO PARAGON OR WHATEVER. YOU CAN'T EVEN BUY ANYTHING THERE. IT'S OK BUT IT'S HARD TO FIND STUFF, AND THEY'RE EX. AAHHHHHHHHHH. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, SOMEONE MAKE THE SITUATION BETTER. PLEASE.

Okay. Prayed. Sniffed. Wiped face. Tied hair. Breathed in.

If I'm unlucky today's "spree" (which was already pretty depressing by the end of it) will be the only one I get. In case you're interested (prices are estimates):

Light blue and white striped button-up, 170B
White lace crop top with black lace bow, 150B
Pink T-shirt with yellow French words, 140B
Grey-green pocket tank with silver star studs, 120B

My mum also passed on to me a grey-green ruffled tank from the same store as my pocket tank because apparently it looked wrong on her. Methinks it needs some dressing up at the collar but a necklace should do. It's really cooling- impulse buy, as a result of intense sauna sweating at Chatuchak.

Apparently tomorrow is allotted Homework Day while we wait out the red shirts. Yoohoo.

20 Hit The Ground Running

2010-03-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

Am very annoyed. Blogskins.com won't let me upload vg/Bonnie Wright, and it's such an awesome skin, I worked so long on it!!

Am uploading it onto a post on FB instead as I'm using my Mum's computer.

Should be packing for OBS/BKK now but honestly can't seem to drag my butt off the computer D: maybe lunch will stimulate my hardworking cells, and kill the lazy ones.

Was rereading Harry Potter just now and it suddenly hit me how much Voldemort parallels Adolf Hitler... the whole "we shall eliminate the half-bloods until our race is pure" thing when Voldemort himself was half-blood... and his anger against Muggles, driven by his hate of his father who abandoned him... wasn't there some story about how Hitler's biological father was a Jew? if this is totally wrong, please correct me, I heard it ages ago and have never checked it for its reliability.

P.S. Just a little anecdote on my life: came home yesterday after working on our stopmotion coursework video (IT'S FINISHED!!!! HALLELUJAH!) and slept for 4 hours straight, then was up like a nocturnal owl until 1.30AM in the morning. Wow. I need to stop getting used to this, I'm supposed to be sleeping early in the days leading up to OBS so I'm well-rested.

19 Icons

2010-03-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

First 9 icons I've done in months. Yet somehow I don't feel a sense of accomplishment... maybe I should try making a blogskin. I've had a few ideas every now and then but put them off because all my resources are on my Mum's laptop (mine erstwhile, pre-tablet). Now that I've borrowed it (the laptop) it's time to get going!
Sources: bonnie, sienna, kate.

18 Fight For Wright!

2010-03-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

A compilation of some of my favourite Bonnie Wright looks that I did on PowerPoint. I still haven't gotten round to installing Photoshop on my tablet, which, of course, is hindering my artistic* goals, but I'm thinking of going over and using Mum's laptop to make some icons. I haven't been making them (or blending) in a while and I do miss it. (Plus, of course, it'd be a travesty if I forgot all my Photoshop and had to start at square one.)

I'm lost at the purple dress she wore to a press conference. Half of me loves how absolutely original it is, and half of me is wondering why she wants to look like a purple Arial (de The Little Mermaid). But mostly I'm loving it. You?

The kiss picture is absolutely awkward, and she makes Radcliffe look very... weird (then again, weren't we all wondering what was up when he turned up looking like... that?) but I put it in because I love how, for me, she stands out in that press conference despite how amazing Emma looks, and the-girl-who-plays-Lavender (I think... so sorry)'s shiny outfit.

Of course, seeing as how she doesn't step out into the limelight so often and every time she looks fabulous- I was shocked to see there was a time not so long ago when Ms Wright did have some faux pases- especially her messy fringe, which I feel she looks better without. But oh well. Everyone's susceptible to bad days, I guess. Even Diane Kruger/Emma Watson... but that's a different story.

*appendix.

Isn't thematic vocabulary so cool? I know artistic isn't a very good example, but I'm still trying to learn more. For example, sartorial refers to fashion, while -I learnt this yesterday- lexical refers to words. Tell me more!

17 To Make A Funny

2010-02-23T00:37:00.000-08:00

You're in luck, getting an extra-early update!

I'm in English Society and during our rather unfacilitated session today, we're experimenting with limericks. Since they're nonsensical by nature thought I'd might as well post mine here...

(CCA blog @ http://es09.blogspot.com)

There was a conductor from Singapore
Who was honestly a terrible old bore
He tripp’d during his lecture,
And interrupted the overture,
And fell right smack on the floor.

I was startled one day by a hen
Who seemed to be holding a pen.
“A pen! What for?”
“To write, for sure!”
Its indignation was no pretense.

This morning I woke up late-
And rushed to scale the gate-
“Are you o’er-gay?
Today’s Saturday!”
‘Tis shame I cannot relate.

The garbage of magic
That’s swept off to drift,
A noun,
A noun,
The def’n of ‘stardust’.

The last one is neither funny nor rhyming, but I felt like my funny factor had totally evaporated in the noisy library (an oxymoron, I know, but 'tis no lie!) and also I always feel sort of- inspired by the word 'stardust'. It reminds me of lavender and gold, of the way dust looks when it's reflected against light (let not my Chemistry lessons distract me from my literary purpose!) and, inevitably, of the movie. Cue snort and tiny mumble- "Hugh-Dancy-stealer!"

I doubt my literary juices can be squeezed any more- and besides, CCA ends in practically 7 mins. TTYL.

16 Les Yeux Ouverts

2010-02-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

view it here on DeviantArt.

Aah, life! it seems lately that I'm kind of zoned out. Everything that happens appears so surreal, so unexpected, and it's all I can do to just go with the flow.

Lent has started, and this year my sacrifice is going sans shopping for 6 weeks! Of course, my devilish exception is the week in March when I go to BKK- because, as I told my mother, "going to Bangkok and not shopping is like going to the bathroom and not peeing". Pardon the imprudence.

I have to study for 听写, but dinner's first. I got distracted far too long by my personal life and the drawing.... perfecting the lines took longer than I predicted.