New beginnings

A huge shout out to Samson, @7braidstrong for another fun shoot and for making me hang out in a random carpark/fake basketball court. It's always a dope time with him. Follow him on Insta and check out more of his work at 7braidstrong.com.

Anyway, this series of shots became all the more special because I'm using this post to bookmark a change in my life. Having worked in the same financial institution for over five years, I've decided to try something new and will be moving into a new industry - e-commerce! I'm excited by the tech space and I can't wait to be inspired by that whole start-up life.

Obviously I'm nervous too, it's a big change and I'm taking a big step out of my comfort zone but if not now, then when, am I right?

I actually felt a little melancholic when I made my intention to leave known, as it brought back many wonderful memories, getting to know so many people, and having so many great experiences.

Things I will miss include but are not limited to:

• Proximity to acai bowls
• The ease of simply hopping on a train to get some Tori Q
• Free Nescafe coffee that coffee snobs would turn their nose up to, but that I've gotten very accustomed to
• Free company exercise activities 
• Egg tarts from Hong Lim Park
• Full length mirrors in bathrooms with great natural lighting for when you wanna show your friend your outfit cos it's totally on point that day

Last but not least, my work friends! If you're reading this, keep fighting the good fight and soaring towards greater achievements. Thank you for all the guidance, care and advice over the years/months of knowing me. Working was made easier with you around and you will be deeply missed.

Anyway, onward ho! Thanks for reading! BIG HUGS!

Confidence

Top: Nichii (Similar here) | Culottes: True Decadence (Similar here) | Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here)

Necklace: Lovisa (Similar here) | Ring: Butler & Wilson (Similar here) | Shoes: ASOS (Similar here)

My sister Mousie came back for the holidays and as part of our sisterly bonding, she arranged a facial for both of us at her regular facial therapist when she's in Singapore - A Confidence. Ok it's pretty chingchongcheenapiang sounding but they use Guinot products and speak in good English so let's get past that. 

There are 3 ladies who run the place:

• The elderly proprietor whom I shall refer to as Momma 
• The daughter of Momma
• The lady who may or may not be related but was in charge of slathering my body with oil and massaging it. I'll call her the Masseuse.

My sister had really sold me on the various facial activities that would happen but I really wasn't prepared for such an experience. We went to this small little shop in RELC and were ushered into the back room by the Daughter. The back room is basically one larger room, separated by curtains. Inside the room were Momma and Masseuse, sitting in wait to apply various liquids to my face. 

I was told me to remove my top and lay down. I'm not shy so I just took it off, bra and all, but it was kind of strange to be removing one's clothes in front of 3 strangers who were just sitting there, looking. 

Momma then started the facial and I'd like to describe it in full details but honestly there were SO many applications of so many things that I actually lost count. Also, I had some kind of wet tissue placed over my eyes so I couldn't see anything and had to just experience various sensations.

Some notable moments include: 

• The vibrator for my eyes. Yeeeeaaaah I know how that sounds but I don't know what it was, but they placed it above my closed eyes and it was vibrating. 
• The steamer which would suddenly eject warm steam to my face which was actually quite pleasant but it made me giggle because I wasn't expecting it
• The extraction which the Daughter did for me and was the most pleasant extraction I've ever had because normally it feels like I'm being attacked with a needle.
• The zapzap machine which was like two metal spatulas being rolled around my face while giving very very slight static shocks. It wasn't uncomfortable and it was so light I wasn't sure it was actually happening or whether it was my imagination.
• The squid.

I have to go into detail about the squid because it was hilariously weird. There were 4 strips of what felt like a heavy squid being laid on my face. It was room temperature and I guess it was like a mask of some sort, then the Daughter (I think) started rolling some kind of super cold rolling stick (maybe) thing over the squid which would actually make the cold go through the squid and feel like liquid nitrogen was being applied to my face. 

Anyway, during the entire facial, the masseuse was giving my arms and legs a massage, and after massaging each limb, she'd apply a warm liquid that felt like it had bits of wet tissue paper in it, then wrap the limb in plastic. Strange but also quite relaxing. 

Momma asked me if I fell asleep at any point during the facial but I definitely didn't because there was just so much happening and I'm pretty sure I felt like how a baby first out of the womb feels, like omg what is this what is that is this real life what is going on???? 

After all these experiences, I'd say my skin looks not bad, although I don't think I have bad skin to start with. The treatment, as a first timer, cost about $60 with an additional cost for the leg massage (Mousie treated so I don't know the actual cost). It's generally pricey, but it's a 2 hour non-stop experience session for about $120 I think so not too shabby if you hate facials where they leave you in a cold room with a mask on your face and you're left to only your thoughts. 

Good to consider if you feel like normal facials are just too run of the mill or if you feel like you need to know what expensive cold squid on the face feels like.

Thanks to Mousie for the treat and to A Confidence for giving me the confidence to strip in front of 3 strangers, and for you, for reading all the way to the end!

Busy

Shirt: Padini (Similar here) | Pants: Chicnova | Shoes: Topshop (Similar here) | Clutch: Sportsgirl (Similar here)

 Spiked bracelet: Pop up shop (Similar here) | Skull bracelet: Butler & Wilson | Ring: Jessica Buurman 

So after working for over three years in my current position, the time has come for me to broaden my horizons. I’ll be moving to another department within the company to take on a different marketing portfolio to learn a different side of the business and get more on-the-ground experience.  Doesn't that just sound so grown-up???

The only reason why I’m bringing this up is because it’s likely going to impact my blog a little. Judging by the various emails I’ve seen flying around, as well as my new boss’ description that the team is only ‘busy’ or ‘busier’, I think I will a) be really busy and not have much time to blog b) be really busy and not have time to dress up c) be really busy so I turn into an old hag and feel embarrassed to capture that on camera. 

Nonetheless, I’m excited about my new role, I feel like I’m the kind of person who needs to be really busy and constantly juggling things, so I’m kind of pleased about all this. I will absolutely try my best to keep up with the blogging but it might take a little hit. Which is probably going to be good for the regular readers since I can be super annoying so maybe less is more eh? 

Thanks for reading!

Bananas

Dress: Chicnova | Shoes: Aldo (Similar here) | Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Bag: Sportsgirl (Similar here) | Ring: Twentyeight Lane (Similar here) | Phone cover: Aliexpress

So I had already written this post and then when I went to edit it, the whole draft went totally bonkers and I had to delete it all. Some could say that the post went totally bananas. HURHURHUR. 

I used to be quite concerned about how people saw me but nowadays I'm really pleased to let my freak flag fly and just be all out bananas so I thought it'd be cool to have a banana dress and a banana phone cover. Do you think the Sophia Webster banana shoes would be too much? 

Pic from here

What's not to love about bananas? They are high in potassium which is good for something... I think... And they are super delicious as an afternoon snack and can be made into a kickass chocolate banana cake that is making me drool just thinking about it. 

Also, the word 'bananas' has a lot of the letter A in it and we all know that A is the best letter because A is for Alex. YAY! 

So eat some bananas, wear some bananas and then go bananas! Thanks for reading! 

Because CHRISTMAS!

Shirt: J. Crew (Similar here)

Skirt: Bysi (Similar here)

SHING SHING!

Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Ring: North Bridge (Similar here) | Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here)

Earrings: V&A Museum (Similar here)

Shoes: Pedro (Similar here)

I love the holiday season because it gives me the perfect excuse to indulge my inner magpie and adorn myself in all things shiny. Today, my colleague looked at my skirt and said, 'wow, shiny.' to which I responded, 'CHRISTMAS!!!' and he nodded sagely.

There are a few places where "because CHRISTMAS" would work I think.

1. When you've just consumed your third piece of pie in a row and you want to help yourself to a fourth.
2. When you spend a whole day lying in bed watching movies and snacking on chips.
3. When you burst into tears in a store after trying on a pile of clothes only to find that they all don't fit.
4. When you forget to send in assignments or pay your bills.
5. When you have a wrapping induced mania and you're covered in duct tape and ribbons.

You guys, I am SO going to go full because CHRISTMAS. I can't wait!!! Thanks for reading!

A special shout out to my brother from another mother Michael the mickey poo who came to Singapore to be the official photographer of sir nacho xiaocho hui-pan and who took those pictures. Your model is GORGEOUS! 

Death of me

Dress: SD Collection (Similar here)

Scarf: Gift (Similar here)

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs (Similar-ish here)

Bag: OG (Similar here) | Ring: Butler & Wilson (Similar here)

Earrings: Diva (Similar here)

All of yesterday's happy was kicked in the wazoo and my skulls-aplenty attire really suited the office mood. My poor colleagues are swamped. DEATH MURDER STABBY KILL. Big projects and deadlines are so last season ammirite?

Along with the death of my lunch plans, was the death of the shoes I wore today. As I walked to get my takeaway lunch, Marky-Mark (I christened them that, don't judge me) started ripping apart and I had to walk back barefoot. Ok, this post is turning waaaay too morbid. Here's a picture of a fat unicorn to make things better.

Pic courtesy of Glee

 Thanks for reading, hope you weren't all STABBYMURDERDEATHKILL today.

Grin and bare it

Top: Ezra | Skirt: ASOS

Gripping on for dear life because I kept slipping through the holes in the steps

Bag: Y-3 | Shoes: China online store

The necklace is a gift

The ring is a gift from Aunty Cyn and is both creepy and awesome

 Around the time when I was in secondary one or two, pop stars such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Mandy Moore became all the rage, singing catchy tunes while dancing about in midriff-baring outfits comprised of crop tops and super low rise boot cut jeans. At such an impressionable age, I became obsessed with the midriff-baring look which meant I had to become less obsessed with fried chicken nuggets and Mountain Dew, and much more obsessed with sit-ups.The late nineties was a stressful time for me.

As with all good trends, they come around and so the crop top is back with a vengeance. Thankfully for me, it is now way less revealing as they're usually paired with high-waisted pants, skirts or shorts so this really limits the amount of (fl)abs exposure. I like this version of the trend much more and so does my mother who might have been appalled to see me sweating all over her parquet floor in the hopes of shrinking my food baby.

Thanks for reading, hit me (food) baby one more time.