Merry Christmas!

Top: Chicwish | Skirt: Chicwish | Clutch: Tangs (Similar here) | Shoes: Prada (Similar here)

Sunglasses: Pieces (Similar here) | Earrings: Vincci (Similar here) | Ring: Gift (Similar-ish here)

Who doesn’t love a little schadenfreude now and then right? I was reading some posts by my second favourite blogger in the world (the first is me, DUH) and it was all a bunch of people who had tweeted her with their own embarrassing stories. Since I’m basically a walking lump of embarrassment, I thought I would add on to the list with my own horror stories as my gift to you this Christmas. Ready to cringe?

The time I fell off the stage

It was my secondary 4 graduation dinner (kind of like prom but only for the graduates of our all-girls school) and I was onstage. I didn’t realize the back of the stage and the wall did not connect, I took a step back… And fell off. I couldn’t get up so two of the girls onstage had to hoist me by my arms back up where I had to remain till the end of that segment.

The time I let my bras go flying… with bonus second time

I was going through security before boarding the plane and the airport security thought he saw something dangerous in my bag so I unzipped it for him to poke around. When he was satisfied with his search, I somehow thought he had zipped up my bag, so I lifted it up and all my clothes tumbled out, with my bras being dumped right on top of the heap. I was frazzled so I stuffed my clothes back in and then like a real freak, lifted my bag again without zipping it and this time I swung around so basically my clothes flew all over the floor. Another security officer had to help me put all my stuff back in, unceremoniously handing me my boring beige bra. 

The time I thought I was cool shit

I was walking to my seat through the aisle of the airplane and all these people were staring at me so I naturally thought, I must be very very very ridiculously good-looking today. One man stood up to talk to me and I thought, omg I’m being hit on on a plane. He leaned over and whispered, excuse me, your blouse is undone. And indeed it was. The button right at my chest was undone exposing my chest to everyone on the plane.

Ok that’s enough laughing at me for today. Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The return of the Jedi

 Dress: Romwe | Shoes | Zalora (Similar here) | Bag: Charles & Keith 

Earrings: Chinatown (Similar here) | Ring: Vintage (Similar here)

Hello!

I've had a bit of a hiatus from posting because I've been really busy... But mostly because I'm extremely lazy. But I'm back! I think instead of an OOTD (Outfit of the Day) kinda situation, I'm going to be doing some OOTM (month) because omg so lazy I just want to look like a slob and eat KFC and never exercise and just be a butt.

In the time I was away, a couple of things happened...
1. Blogger did some upgrade and now I can drag and drop directly into my draft post. Err. Thanks I guess?
2. Nacho celebrated his 2nd year anniversary being a resident of Jervois and a resident of my heart (awwww)
3. A close friend got knocked up... Lol that makes it sound bad but ok she's preggers and she's happy about it.
4. Another close friend spawned... Also happy about it. The baby is very cute and I got a first month celebration cake (I love cake).
5. There were a bazillion tragedies in the world that really makes our collective hearts break (Syria, Paris, USA... The list goes on)
6. I bought a motherfrickin apartment!

I wanted to end the list with the happy thing because it would be a real Debbie downer move to be all death and destruction in a blog post that's generally pointless.

Anyhoodle, I hope you've enjoyed the break from me (I'm lying. I hope you were miserable and pining for my return). We're closing in on Christmas which means presents, food, and hopefully all the love and joy in the world to make you feel like your heart could explode with happiness and to make your cheeks cramp from all the smiling.

Thanks for reading friends. I've missed you.

Another mother

Top: ASOS (Similar here) | Skirt: Primark (Similar here) | Shoes: Topshop (Similar here) 

Sunglasses: ASOS | Bag: Aldo | Earrings: Aldo (Similar-ish here) | Ring: Gift (Similar here)

I've just realised that 4 of the 7 items listed here were bought for me by my aunt. Is it strange that my aunt is basically dressing me? I'm not complaining. I've been very lucky because since I was a kid, I had a fashionable aunt who would buy me awesome things and who doesn't like to receive pretty gifts ammirite? 

I remember in Secondary School, on the first day back to school after the CNY break, we'd be allowed to wear our CNY clothes to school. My aunt bought me a light blue metallic threaded dress that was a big hit. I remember a girl called Rosie who came up to me and said, "I like your dress, although it's a bit short." I don't know why she needed to stick that second part in there, maybe it really was too short hahaha but nonetheless, I felt good.

As I get older, I wonder when the time will come when I'll be able to buy her nice gifts back. I think I unsuccessfully bought my aunt a gift once - a very colourful candle. I can only imagine how she probably threw it into a junk pile immediately because now that I think about it, my god that candle was U-G-L-Y.

Having been born into a family of really strong cool women, I think I've been fortunate. My aunts have all stepped in to be second/third/fourth moms to me which is awesome since my mom was a single parent and I wasn't exactly easy to deal with. Lol.

Thanks to my family for being my family, and thanks for reading!

Alex can't afford to wear stuff

Top: ASOS (Similar here) | Skirt: ASOS (Similar here) | Shoes: Keds (Similar here)

Clutch: ASOS | Sunglasses: Nichii (Similar here) 

You might have gathered from my previous post that I've been on the hunt for an apartment. It's been kind of fun visiting showflats and actual flats but it's also been a really sobering experience. My main problem is that I have yuppie inclinations - You know, the live-in-a-condo-sip-on-Nespresso kind of fantasy? That would be all well and good if I had maybe erm, a lot of money in the bank.

What all this really means is that I'm going to have to buckle down and really put an effort into saving, and cutting unnecessary costs. Which really means I'm going to have to stop all my frivolous shopping. This blog should be renamed 'Alex can't afford to wear stuff' and then have me basically whining about how things are expensive and I'm suffering. Basically, mad first world problems.

At the end of the day though, the idea of going out there and owning my own place and not having to share a fridge with the world's greatest food hoarder is quite appealing. Not to say I don't enjoy living with the momster. I guess I just want to have my own space. But also, ensure that I live no more than 10 minutes walk away from her. Oh yeah. Real grown up here.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you'll put up with the whining.   

Did someone say biru?

Continued from here, here and here...

The last post on my recent trip... I promise!

Before flying back to Singapore after our Italian hiking expedition (this makes it sound way more rugged than it really was), we stayed a night in Munich and we went to Oktoberfest! For the unitiated, Oktoberfest is basically a boozy carnival, with food, drinks (beer), rides and games. Kind of like a Disneyland for adults.

Debauchery starts here

We stayed at a hotel called Hotel NH and we took a short bus ride to the train station, hopped on a train, then walked a short way to the venue. Driving wasn't encouraged as there's nowhere to park and it's super crowded. Munich's train and bus system seems really well organised although a bit strange because it seems to work on some honour system, like they don't have gantries so technically you can get away with not paying. This was so strange to me because Singapore is all rules, taxes, fines whereas Munich is like 'yo it's cool man, I got ya'.

The hotel.. Meh

Anyway. OKTOBERFEST! There are tons of tents, each with their own unique style and audience demographic. But when I say 'tents', I don't mean like small plastic flappy marquees, I mean like serious makeshift buildings. They cater to a few hundred to thousands of people so they're serious business with huge kitchens, washrooms, a stage for some kind of polka band, and massive pillars supporting the whole construct.

Pretty intentse wouldn't you say? Hurhurhur

Inside the tent

As advised by everyone and every single site ever dedicated to Oktoberfest, if you don't make a reservation, and don't find a table, you are screwed. You can do what we did - go in at about 2.30pm on a Thursday, and try your luck. We found a place and were seated immediately but after eating, we made the mistake of leaving to walk around and by evening, all tables at every single tent was taken and we couldn't do dinner. OOPS. Good thing I had stuffed myself pretty much the whole day so I didn't need to eat anymore.

Unfortunately, I'm not a great drinker, so I couldn't even finish my own and I was pretty tipsy after 15 minutes. Lame. But the food... OMG. Amazing. We had roasted chicken and pork knuckle and it was divine! 

This is the face of a drunk person

The rest of the day, we wandered around looking at things for sale (knick-knacks, Oktoberfest souvenirs etc), snacking (sausages, pancakes with jam, more chicken and fries), watching people go on scary rides and totally lose their shizz, and checking out all the tents. The tents are really well organised considering it's a boozefest, and the staff are super efficient. Attendees are from all over, I heard several accents from around the world, and everyone seemed to be having a super time. As the day wore on, people obviously got more sloshed and then we did some drunk spotting. 

Queen drunkzalot spotted

Byebye Munich!

Oktoberfest was quite the experience, and even as a non-drinker, I still enjoyed the atmosphere and vibe. I have to commend the Germans for such a well-run event (complete with amazingly clean toilets!) It was a lovely way to end a busy vacation. 

Thanks for reading!

Clown

Dress: Romwe | Shoes: Romwe | Bag: Charles & Keith | Earrings: Vincci (Similar here) | Ring: Vintage (Similar here)

Where has time gone? It's nearly the end of the year! Also, wasn't I just sixteen yesterday? WHAT HAPPENED??? 

So recently I've been daydreaming about my dream home of the future. Being the ultimate planner, I've got it almost all planned out except for the part where I pay for it. DAMMIT. 

I've visited a whole bunch of showflats and actual flats (is there a different way of referring to them?) recently and here's what I've learned about house-hunting:

1. Interior decor really makes a difference and I'm really easily fooled by nice furniture.

2. Apartments are tiny these days but also really really really really really really really expensive. 

3. The windows in showflats are 'for show only'. 

4. Real estate agents like having long pinkie fingernails.

5. Asking questions like 'hey is that other flat across the road cheaper?' will not get a desirable response.

I'm so grown up. 

Anyone have any apartment hunting tips? Or actually, more importantly, does anyone have any tips on how to make a ridiculous amount of money in a very short time without having to sell one's soul or body?

Thanks for reading... Now give me your money.

Italia - backpacker edition

Continued from the first and second post about my trip to Italy...
 
And now on to the post about my rugged manliness. Or lack thereof.

Where we stayed

After the wedding festivities were concluded, we drove a little further to an awesome little B&B called Chalet Pra Ronch which is located in Selva Val Gardena. This is where we set up base for the remainder of the trip so that we could do a little bit of hiking, and by 'little bit', I mean a hell lot.

Chalet Pra Ronch

I really loved this quaint little place because while not as spacious and luxurious as Rosa Alpina, it had everything we needed - a cozy room, a comfortable bed, a bathroom that was more than good (it's honestly better than my own bathroom at home) and most importantly, a YUMMY BREAKFAST!!

zzzzz

Seems like having a bidet is pretty common

They had these bears for sale!

Breakfast noms

I also really appreciated the warmth and hospitable nature of the people running the chalet - they were friendly and helpful about our hiking queries, and even offered to lend hiking boots and hiking sticks. 

Stuff we did

So I'm not terribly good at most sporty recreational activities - But it turns out I'm hella good at walking for a really long time. On our first hike starting at Passo Sella, we ended up walking for a good 8 hours. As I've said before, those Italian mountain people are crazy bad at estimated normal people walking speed so what was stated to be a 5 hour hike turned into 8 hours and I basically couldn't feel my legs after that but I felt super accomplished. 

Plus... The scenery was just breathtaking. 

 

For the most part, the trails in the mountains are all really well defined but it was sometime around that last photo where we kind of didn't know if we were still on the trail and it was a side of the mountain that didn't get much sunlight so there wasn't any vegetation and it was just rocks and gravel and it looked like some other planet. The photos can't do the place justice to be honest - the Dolomites needs to be experienced live. 

Bridge troll experiencing the wonders of nature

Where else in the world would you be able to find a giant penis throne in the middle of the mountains? Pretty sure no where else but then again, I have done zero research on such a topic so don't quote me on it.

Game of thrones x-rated edition

Stuff I stalked

Talking about walking really doesn't make for a very good blog post so here are some super cute animals that I saw on the trip. Some favourites include the llamas because apparently llamas aren't native to this area so someone actually brought 2 llamas to come live in the Dolomites. 

I also liked the badass goats that live near a restaurant hut, they jumped on the tables and ate flowers from the flower pot. 

Then there was this guy....

Seemingly dead

I was so concerned that we had come across a dead horse... But then thankfully after about a minute, he suddenly woke up. PHEW.

Seemingly alive. Or possibly a zombie-horse

Also, if you've never fed goats before, you have to do it. OMG they are so gentle and greedy and they make eating grass look really delicious. 

 

These technically don't count as animals but I found them too funny not to share...

I feel like I caught this guy doing something shady. 

Care for a ride?

Perhaps what I'll miss most about the Dolomites is the friend I had to leave behind...

Byebye buddy

I'd definitely recommend the Dolomites as a vacay destination for those interested in a more active vacation. While the trails aren't difficult to manage (lots of older folk are walking these trails), they do require some energy and a certain level of commitment. 

Thanks for reading!