GO SINGAPORE!

Top & shorts: from France (Similar here) | Shoes: ASOS | Bag: Kate Spade | Necklace: Topshop (Similar here)

So I think it's safe to say that most of us here in Singapore are experiencing fervent national pride because not only did our nation just turn 51 (happy birthday, you saucy broad), we've also just witnessed the first Singaporean to ever win an Olympic* gold medal - Yup, if you've been living under a rock, welcome back - Joseph Schooling, a 21 year boy man just snagged the gold in the 100m butterfly event. Besides setting a new Olympic, Asian and national record, he beat human-torpedo-fish Michael Phelps who has so many Olympic medals he could probably make at least twenty Poseidon spears out of them. And he totally should because that would be dope. He could use the remainder to make a throne.

My Facebook timeline seems as if I've joined a Joseph Schooling fan club so I've seen a couple of great interviews and stories. One that caught my eye was about a bunch of people leaving negative comments about how he's not really Singaporean since he spent most of his formative years in the states training and going to school and all that.

In the same vein, Rihanna's from Barbados but her work was produced in the states. Do you think Barbadians are all "Nahhh she ain't one of us. B*tch better have my money" NO. Because that would be weird. Ok that might not be the best comparison because I'm really exhausted right now so maybe not the same vein after all.

I just think that the idea of nationality goes much deeper than what race a person is, or what accent they speak with, or where they study. It's a confluence of all those things and more, but most importantly, it's also about personal belief. If he is proud to call himself a Singaporean (I am assuming he hasn't said he's not), who are you (nameless faceless anonymous internet person) to deny him that, and who are you to deny your countrymen who are happy to embrace him with open arms this small joy?

Anyway, I'm not angry or ranting. I see the other side of the coin, I recognise that we may not have really been part of the secret sauce that produced this Schooling magic, but nonetheless, in the spirit of the Olympics, let's not squabble over this, let's gather to rejoice in the great sporting achievements, ogle the hotties with the bodies, and marvel at the fact that teenagers are reaching the maximum of the body's potential while most of us struggle to put on our pants in the morning.

MAJULAH SINGAPURA!

* Let's also take the time to recognise that Singaporean Yip Pin Xiu won gold in backstroke for the Paralympics though. Champs all around!

These are a few of my favourite things part deux

Top: FCUK (Similar here) | Skirt: ASOS (Similar here) | Bag: Nine West (Similar here) | Shoes: Vincci (Similar here)

And now.... A post about all the things I'm ranting and raving about these days. 

Have you ever tried Absolute Acai? It is just divine. It's a super chilled acai berry concoction (comes with an assortment of fruit and nuts depending on what you choose) and it is DELICIOUS. It is so sweet and refreshing, so I treat myself to it once a week or so (it's a bit pricey, if not I'd be eating that shizz daily). Acai berries which are from Brazil are apparently good for a whole bunch of things including reducing irritation and weight loss. This means that I ought to eat it every single day. YAAASSSS. 

Am I glowing yet? My friend Leo came back from her vacay and bought me this little pot of goodness. This Glam Glow face mask is a super hydrating cream that you can apply and wash off, or even apply and leave on overnight. It's ultra hydrating and while I apply it, I can feel it slightly tingle. This might be my imagination. But the day after, my skin feels deeply hydrated and more bouncy (I'm not very sure how to really describe it). It smells like coconut butter which is a really pleasant smell for the face. It's available at Sephora so BUY BUY BUY! The most popular one is Youth Mud which I'm considering getting because I'm hearing such rave reviews (even though apparently it kind of hurts when you put it on... Hmmm... No pain, no gain?).  

Liiiiive. I want you to live!!

I'm basically Mother Earth these days - The boo made this super easy one pot pasta which called for a lot of basil and he ended up buying a potted basil plant which I am trying to nurture back to life. I accidentally forgot about it for 2 days and it kinda tipped over and dried out but nothing short of singing to it, I'm reviving this little baby so that I can continue to enjoy my basil infused one pot pasta. I'm really not sure if I'm doing it right but I referenced this article and it's also making me want to start diversifying and growing all kinds of plants. It's actually really fun to say I have a basil plant like I'm some domestic goddess.Turns out NTUC Fairprice Finest sells potted basil plants, who would've thunk! 

Thanks for reading!

*Grumble grumble grumble*

Top: Borrowed from Mousie (Similar here) | Skirt: Forever 21 (Similar here)

Flats: Vincci (Similar here) | Bag: OG (Similar here)

So I've been an epic crankypants lately, maybe more so than my normal self. I think it's because of consistent and repeated experiences with other people that makes me feel... UGH. I'm turning into such a grumpy old woman. I think I might end up being one of those super intense people who take videos nonstop so they can shame others on Stomp or something. 

Anyway, in case you're ever concerned that you're gonna bump into me and I might spit flames at you, or if you're just curious as to what constitutes acting like a giant douche turd on crack, no worries, here's a helpful chart for you:

Anyway, I'm pretty sure you guys and all your mates are totally awesome because only awesome people are associated with this blog - yup, all three of us. 

Hope you don't come across any butt monkeys any time soon, but I guess if you do, just be cool (unlike me). Who knows, maybe I'm the butt monkey for judging people...

Thanks for reading! 

Strong

Grandfather's road

Dress: Can't recall (Similar here) | Stockings: Propeds | Necklace: Twentyeight Lane (Similar here) | Shoes Asos (Similar here) 

So I had a spontaneous photoshoot with my friend Samson, a freelance photographer and designer, and I gotta say, the photos are awesome! The photos above (and more that I didn't show) were taken by Samson in the span of 30 minutes and I'm impressed with how chill and fun it was to shoot these even though I was bloody sweating buckets. Mad props to him as I don't look sweaty, plus he's made me look so much cooler than I actually am and I look like a freaking angel because of the way the sun hits me. I love it big time.

Samson does a whole range of photography and you can check out his work at his website 7braidstrong.com or follow his 7braidstrong insta account. Follow him and hire him to photograph your events. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for reading!

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!

Girl, you'll be a woman soon (part 2)

  Top: Choies | Pants: FOS (Similar here) | Shoes: Koumi Koumi (Similar here)

Bag: Nine West (Similar here) | Lunch bag: Sugar Booger (Similar here) | Earrings: Old (Similar here)  

 

And now, the continuation to my previous post. To recap, Glamour Magazine had this article about what women should know and have by the age of 30 which we obviously know to take for absolute law. If you haven't gone around getting this list checked off, you must not be ready for REAL LIFE.

30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Know by the Time She's 30

 

By 30, you should know:

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
Also important, how to not fall down or get lost.
2. How you feel about having kids.
No snarky response here. I respect all women and their decisions.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
a) Scream "I QUIT!" then pee on your boss' desk and run away. b) Scream "I QUIT!" then pee on your boyfriend's desk and run away. c) Scream "HOW DARE YOU PEE ON MY DESK?" then pee on her desk and run away.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
a) When you're trying to open a jar of pasta sauce and you've already boiled the pasta. b) After you've farted in a public space.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
I haven't managed to nail this one. Kissing to say 'I'm going to take a shower and then fall asleep' is really difficult.
6. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
I could totally live alone as long as I had a dog or a few and then I could fulfill my dream of being a crazy dog lady.
8. How to take control of your own birthday.
I don't find pretending that it's not happening very difficult. 
9. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.
It's like they've never heard of plastic surgery or being really bossy and forcing people to do things against their wills.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
HALLELUJAH!
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
I have a friend who would eat a fish chip squashed in someone's armpit for money. I think she would probably do the same for love. I wouldn't do either. 
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
I think this is something you should know like at least by the age of 20. Honestly, it should just be known. 
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
a) My mom b) my mom when she says she bought me a donut c) it's in her nature to offer said donut to the three other people she's met prior to meeting me.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
SORRY NOT SORRY
15. Why they say life begins at 30.
Because they are bad at numbers. 

While these lists have some nuggets of wisdom, I would like to think that at the next milestone, whenever that is, the main thing you should have is moments of unadulterated happiness and to know that every person is different so checking off general lists of 'what we should know' is kind of silly. 

Thanks for reading! 

Wackadoo

Top: Old (Similar here) | Skirt: Smooch the Label (Similar here) | Bag: Sheinside

Shoes: Le Bunny Bleu | Sunglasses: Far East Plaza (Similar here) | Ring: Vintage (Similar here) 

Sometimes when I'm looking at fashion online, I like to make myself really sad by visiting sites like The Outnet or Net-A-Porter and then looking at all the beautiful things that I cannot afford. Then I usually curl up into a ball, eat a lot of chocolate, and cry into the pillow of poverty and despair. Now, I realise that that's not exactly a healthy way of behaving, so rather than dealing with my anguish alone, I will share it with you.

Here are a bunch of totally wacky things that I've seen recently that I really really really want for various reasons (Insanity - that's my jam):

I'd like to sail on those rough seas *wink wink*

This Lee + Lani Sailboat Net bikini is the raddest and most creative bikini I've ever seen. And basically your privates are only covered by the patterns and the rest is basically nudity.

This little piggie went to market and bought a bedazzler

Oh Judith Lieber, you crazy minx. I'm going to call him Lord Pigglesworth Shinybottom. In case you were wondering, it's a minaudiere which I think is a fancy way of saying 'little jewellery clutch thingy'

Stomping around on those hearts

These heels are perfect as a Valentine's Day gift and much more worthwhile than roses that wilt. You're basically SAVING money.

Punk duck doesn't f*ck around

Who doesn't need a punk duck crystal pave minaudiere?! This is what I call commitment to a theme. He has a freaking nose ring!!!

Too tron to take

Not usually a Versace fan but OMG I LOVE THIS PLEASE SOMEONE BUY IT FOR ME I AM DYINGGGG!

Thanks for reading!

Sharing is caring

Dress: ASOS (Similar here) | Bag: Vincci (Similar here) | Shoes: H&M (Similar here) | Sunglasses: ASOS (Similar here)

 Necklace: Jessica Buurman | Bracelet:Gift (Similar here) | Ring: Jessica Buurman

I struggled with a bout of stomach flu last week which made me too exhausted to think about what I was going to wear to work so I threw on my trusty ol' black sack dress and super comfy H&M flats and called it a day. I actually really like this sack dress because it's very forgiving when I have a huge lunch and it matches easily with other things and it allows me to take naps in dark places with less chance of being seen.

I hear that the stomach flu bug is actually going around so protect yourself, don't go sharing your food and beverages with just anyone. In fact, be like me, don't share it AT ALL. Because 'selfish' is my middle name. I don't actually know how I got it, but I did meet the mouse squad and CC had had it the previous week, and although we didn't share food, I imagine her germs, being the nasty little creatures that they are, jumped from her Nam Nam noodles into my bowl, and then I ingested them and then they became runny poo. THANKS A LOT CC. Friendship over.

Anyway, as the ever-doting girlfriend, I've shared my best friend's gift to me, with my boo. THANKS A LOT CC.

Protect yourself. Thanks for reading!

Gone byebye

Top: Mango (Similar here)

Skirt: Mango (Similar here)

Shoes: Ras (Similar here) | Necklace: Old (Similar here)

Bag: TK Maxx (Similar here)

And then I cut my hair off and took a selfie

The temperature in Singapore has been holy heck humid hot and aside from making me use lots of alliteration, it's also made me super sweaty. One day during lunch, I didn't have much to do so I decided I'd just chop some hair off. I dropped by some hair salon near my office building without an appointment and just told them to chop off about 5 inches. Thankfully, I like the cut! 

I expressed hesitation before cutting my hair at this random salon because since I was about 7 years old, I've always only gone to one hairstylist - Ritz Lim. He runs his own salon, Ritz Salon, and is the bomb. He works really fast and is a super sweet and soft-spoken guy who just knows me and what I like. I've never had a bad haircut with him. I actually feel bad for cutting elsewhere, like I've cheated on him, but I felt REALLY bored and really uncomfortable with such long unruly hair it just had to go (Sorry Ritz). 

But you know how your hair looks great on the day of the cut because it's been styled as well? Well I can't seem to get those random flyaways to just calm the hell down on my own so I'm probably going to be heading to Ritz's soon to rebond my hair into obedience. If you're looking for a hair stylist in Singapore and you like quiet, muscular, handsome and professional hair stylists. RITZ IS DA MAN.

Ritz Salon shares a unit with the Super Space, which is a trippy clothing store selling cool men's and women's clothing and accessories so you can get your hair done and pick up a new outfit too (I got my necklace featured here from Super Space). Still unconvinced? There's a Tori Q in the basement of the building where Ritz is located (Orchard Gateway). SOLD!

Thanks for reading!

Beat the heat

Dress: Modcloth

Clutch: New Look

Shoes: Vincci (Similar here)

Belt: Far East Plaza (Similar here)

Carriage ring: Sydney (Same here)

Earrings: Twentyeight Lane

This is a picnic-in-the-park kinda look except that Singapore is so freaking hot right now it would be impossible for me to be outdoors for more than 5 minutes without melting into a disgusting globby puddle of goo. 

And I'm the lake in the background. Pic stolen from here

The weatherman says that Singapore is going to be predictably hot and wet for the next month, and the NEA has warned that Aedes mosquito breeding grounds have increased. I don't know about you but that sounds like we should either run for our lives or wear air-conditioned hazmat suits. Why are you trying to kill us Singapore??? 

I have some suggestions to keep cool but they really aren't without their flaws:

Do not leave the air-conditioned comfort of your house. At all. But you'll need a supportive boss who doesn't mind you taking a sabbatical due to heat exhaustion. It will also be costly as your electrical bill will shoot up.

If you want to save on that electrical bill, you could also choose to live in the office. Again, you'll need a supportive boss who doesn't mind you showering in the sink. You'll probably get tons of work done too.

Take a lot of cold showers. Like seriously go get pruney. In fact, the ratio of bath to non-bath time should be like 8:2.

Drink iced water non-stop. You'll be bloated and need to pee a lot but it's super good for the skin so do it anyway.

But my best suggestion that I seriously think needs to happen is... THE DOME. (Domedomedome!)

Come on Singapore government, let's get a giant dome and place it over Singapore and have it air-conditioned so it's like maybe 15 degrees Celsius day and night. This way we can wear cute coats and have fun layering. Also, no smokers allowed in the dome. Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it.

If it's good enough for Springfield, it's good enough for Singapore. Pic stolen from here

Thanks for reading!