Presidential

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! I've taken quite the hiatus from posting because I've lost my photographer, but I met up with dear Samson who I forced to take some photos of me and I gotta say, I LOVE HIS WORK. Not just because it's of me. Check out his stuff at www.7braidstrong.com or follow him on insta @7braidstrong.

So okay, so much has happened and I've really missed writing so this may come out kind of long and rambly.

I was watching the U.S. elections like a hawk, I pretty much devoured any liberal leaning news (yes, I like my opinions to be validated by like-minded news - totally biased!) so as you can expect, I was disappointed when HRC wasn't elected.  I had hoped the U.S. would elect its first female president, and also because the civil rights causes that HRC champions are near and dear to my heart - Women's rights, equality for the LGBTQ community, and rocking pantsuits. Like come on, GO HILLARY! I actually teared up quite a during the 3 days post-election but life goes on!

Over here in Singapore, our parliament just passed a bill to amend our constitution with regard to our presidential election to propose racial representation. It seems a little forced to me, considering we're a meritocracy but I do believe in fairness and equality for all. And since I think our President tends to be a symbolic figurehead, k whatever. However, I can't wait to see the bill evolve into ensuring women are also equally represented. How about it eh?? WOOO GO CRAZY ANGRY FEMINIST!! Maybe I could be Singapore's first female president. VOTE FOR ME! My slogan will be "I'm with her (because she has pizza)".

So speaking about potential jobs for me... My dear friend Char suggested I start a vlog to talk about stuff I'm good at - like cleaning, being insane about dogs and being a strange dingbat. How fun would that be? Me droning on endlessly about cleaning products and how difficult it is balancing having a dog and being Singapore's first female president... SMASH HIT BABY. Unfortunately I don't think it's likely to happen since I'm bad with technology and I don't think anyone I know can bear following me around and videotaping me for long stretches of time without going batshit cray. But one can dream I suppose.

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I put that line in between because I'm now totally jumping to a new thought because it's kind of past my bedtime (10pm, yes I am a baby) and I'm feeling like there are a few things I have to just talk about.

1. I had an epiphany today and I think it's super valid and important - We women may all be one half mermaid - the top half! Slap on some shell bras and be your best half mermaid self my sexy lady friends.

2. If your name was Frank, would you use the phrase "I'm gonna be Frank with you" before dropping some truth, and would you smirk each time?

3. I am supposing in this scenario that you, like me, say 'excuse me' to the people around you when you sneeze. When you're alone, let's say in a room by yourself, maybe your dog is there. And you sneeze. Do you say "excuse me?" Asking for a friend.

4. Have you ever trolled a scammer? I had my first experience doing so. And it felt great after the fact. Apparently there are these scams going on where you get some call from "UPS" or "DHL" or some delivery company and they ask you to maybe transfer money or give them your kidney or something. So what happened was I receive a call from what appeared to be a local number, I answered and one of those automated voices come on and say something about a package and press 1 to be transferred to an operator. So I press 1 thinking "hmmm maybe I bought something I don't remember?" and some dude answers in crisp China style mandarin. He says a bunch of words and I say "I can't speak Chinese, can you please put me through to an English speaking operator" to which he responds "No" and hangs up. I was like WHAT KIND OF SERVICE IS THIS??? I wanted to call back and yell! Then it dawned on me. How annoying, what a waste of excitement over the fact that I might have been the recipient of some drunk online shopping I may have forgotten buying (it happens).

5. Did you know that I have magic words? I wrote this post on 2 July and it was dedicated to my sister who was pregnant. She had told me she was due between then and 10 July. And guess what? Less than 24 hours later, she went into labour and gave birth to a super cutie. I'm not saying I'm amazing or anything, but I may have the power to induce labour. I should most definitely be President of something.

Okay, thanks for reading, if you've made it all the way here, congratulations and what's wrong with you? Love yewwwww.

This sh*t is bananas! B.A.N.A.N.A.S.

Top: GG5 (Similar here) | Skirt: Primark (Similar here) | Shoes: Valentino

Bag: Aldo (Similar here) | Brooch: Gift from Char (Similar here) | Ring: Vintage (Similar here) 

So I found this super easy no carbs banana pancake recipe so I felt compelled to share it. If you're like me, very into diet trends, and you're all "Carbs are bad" then you will LOVE this recipe. But if you're like my weirdo friends (you know who you are!) and you don't like eggs, then move along.

Mush up one banana into what resembles baby's vomit

Crack 2 eggs and whisk them

Mix in the banana mush

Heat buttered pan and pour in the egg-banana mix

Cook over low-medium heat on each side for a few minutes, I kind of estimate and check for golden brownness

Eat that delicious banana pancake delight. Serve with whatever you think pairs well.

I had some with Nutella too and that was delicious because I love Nutella as much as I love my family. Nutella is my family. The banana pancakes are really delicious and sweet so it doesn't even need any syrup or icing sugar but feel free to add on whatever makes you happy!

Helpful tip: these pancakes don't bubble like normal pancakes so you might not know when to flip 'em. Good to cook it low and slow so it doesn't burn but solidifies nicely.

Also, don't make them too large because then they're hell to flip. Unless you're Jamie Oliver and you can flip things sans cutlery. The first time I made it too large and I tried to flip it and it was a disgusting mess and looks like scrambled egg (but still tasted good).

*Post initial photo taking edit: I made the pancakes again but this time using a blender - I blended the bananas and the eggs, which made the texture way smoother and more watery, which, when poured into the pan, made much neater, flatter and rounder pancakes which cooked a little more evenly! And I decided to use a Happy Call double sided pan for the flipping, which made it waaaay easier and less messy. Suck on that Jamie Oliver!

So round. Much smooth. Many yum.

Happy cooking, thanks for reading!

Simply the best

Top: Chicwish | Pants: FCUK (Similar here) | Shoes: Charles & Keith (Similar here)

Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here) | Brooch: Etsy (Similar here) | Ring: Vintage (Similar here)

I’m prone to being quite extreme when it comes to things that I love – and my treatment of my dog, Nacho, is no exception.

I love yeeeeeeeewwwwwwww

Nacho means the world to me, I never knew I could love something this much. I’m definitely a crazy dog lady through and through.

For fellow dog owners, I’d like to share some of the things I’ve bought for Nacho which maybe you can consider for your furry friend as well! Although, I’m actually well aware that most dog owners are pretty crazy about their dogs and probably have just as many awesome things for their dogs as I do.

Nacho can be pretty intense and anxious sometimes, especially when he’s at the vet or at the groomers. I read that Rescue Remedy was a good homeopathic option to help my dog chill the eff out (they also make it for humans!) so I immediately bought some. It’s advised to let your dog ingest a few drops of it by putting it in their drinking water, or in a snack. I don’t know if it really works because he’s still pretty crap when he goes to the vet. And Nacho’s groomer, sweet Ashley from De’ Pets Salon, describes him as ‘a bit naughty’ after each grooming session but I’m pretty sure in her head she’s screaming “LITTLE FURRY SPAWN OF SATAN”. 

I’m not sure what it is, but Nacho’s breath is horrible. After incurring a $300+ dental bill for him early this year, I’ve decided to take more effort and care in cleaning his teeth. So I bought this Oratene toothpaste from the vet. It’s a $45 tube of clear gel paste that I rub onto his gums and teeth daily using a little finger cloth. The vet told me that it uses enzymes to clean the plaque off his teeth, and so far, his teeth are still looking pretty clean. My friend Mims says her dog Russell gnaws on bones and that helps but Nacho’s never been much of a chewer and he ignores his chew toys.*Sigh* Expensive toothpaste it is then.

I’m a total sucker for packaging and my snobby hippie wannabe nature means that when I see the word ‘organic’, I’m pretty much 60% convinced. Nacho sometimes gets ticks when he goes running through the grass so I get him Richard's Organics flea and tick shampoo and this one purports to be all natural and safe and gentle. Plus, look how chio that packaging is. It looks fancier than the shampoo I use for myself. Apparently it repels mosquitoes too so maybe I should use it as a body wash. 

Ok so this one is more for me than for Nacho but it’s Nacho adjacent. My sis bought this dog food container for me as a Christmas gift. It’s from Hip Van and I love it because I love dogs and it’s got cute little puppies on it! OMG SO CUTE. The only way it could be made better is if it had Nacho pictures printed on it. This year's Christmas gift perhaps??     

It's like he's all "I'm faaaabulous! What a cool drink of water I am!"

Thanks for reading!

My friends are better than yours

Dress: Y.A.S | Shoes: Jessica Buurman | Bag: Tocco Tenero | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 

Earrings: From Wens (Similar here) | Bracelet: Pedder Red (Similar here) | Ring: Lovisa (Similar here) 

This post is a shout out to some of the best people in the world... My FRIENDS!! (Yes they are real!)

Mouse squad CC and Nic gave me the bag you see in this post and it is the perfect size and shape, I love how I can even stuff my workout clothes in there but it doesn't look overly large and clunky.  While I technically told them what I wanted, they totally hit the nail on the head by getting the right size and presenting it to me when my life was exceptionally craptastic.

Mellie gifted me a really amazing gift for my birthday this year - An ASOS gift card! which I used to buy this dress you see in this post (among other things!!). All my whining about not having enough new stuff really paid off. Actually, I bought FIVE things, like immediately. Which is kind of dumb because it's stored value and can be used over two years. But I got excited.

Wens who is my godsister, but I like to think of her as kind of like a forced friend, gave me the earrings I'm wearing, after having already given me a necklace which I cannot wait to debut... I think she might have a shopping problem.

Thank you my beautiful, generous, lovely friendzies. I can't wait for my birthday next year! *wink wink*

Thanks for reading (other friends who are also welcome to buy me things!! Lol!)

Larger than life

 

 Top: Neon Rose (Similar here) | Skirt: Asos (Similar here) | Shoes: Repetto (Similar here)

Ring: Gift from Wens (Similar here) | Bag: Chicnova

  
One night, my friend was telling me about some young ladies she works with, and how they eat extremely health consciously - strawberries and cucumbers only for lunch, etc. Being young ladies in their early twenties, I'm sure their metabolism can well afford a beating but yet they stick to this bird-like eating habit. No shame on that of course, eating healthy is great, and I don't know, perhaps they really enjoy that kind of diet but I'd choose burgers, kway teow, laksa, fried rice, french fries... Basically anything carb loaded any day. 

And clearly it shows. 

I've actually been feeling a little rounder lately, and hey, no shame in that right? I enjoy my food. But today I stepped on the weighing scale and got a rude shock. I'd gained 3 kilos since the last time I weighed myself - probably a year? And yes, I know, it's not drastic, but I'm creeping back to the weight I was when I first came back to Singapore from Canada - when a friend said to me 'Al! You've gone from a size 2 to a size 6! What happened? Did you eat yourself??' (This friend works in fashion so I guess size is a big deal). 

While I haven't been obsessed with my weight in ages, I think I actually felt a bit grossed out. I don't mean to say gaining weight is unhealthy but in my situation it's really a reflection of my lifestyle. I've been kind of stressed, and when I'm stressed, I like to eat fried chicken. And I haven't really been exercising either because I've been lazy. Overall, I feel terribly unhealthy inside and out. 

So anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm on a diet, but the good healthy kind, not the crazy person kind. 

Thanks for reading! 

Putting the vet to the test

Rarrrgh so windy I was eating my own hair

Dress: Kate Spade (Similar here) | Shoes: Marks & Spencers (Similar here) | Bag: FCUK (Similar here)

Earrings: Vincci (Similar here) | Belt: FCUK (Similar here) | Ring: Lovisa (Similar here) 

Hello and Happy New Year!

I hope you had a great time over the Christmas and New Year break.

So I was in search of a vet to do Nacho's dental cleaning, not that my previous vet Dr. Boon from Town Vets isn't any good, but I felt that the clinic was pretty pricey so I thought I would try another clinic.

Being a bit of an overprotective pet owner, I decided that I'd do some research on Dr Tan Eng Khim from Vets@RV. There really wasn't much written up about him except for 2 posts in Pets Channel that said he's a good doctor for rabbits. I also did some research on where he went to get his Vet degrees and was sufficiently satisfied so I made an appointment for a pre-dental treatment consultation.

Any pet owner will know - Pets are hella expensive. Consultation lasted about 30 minutes and it cost me 45 bucks! Dr Tan was quite thorough in explaining the whole process but you know, sometimes it's like kind of overwhelming so all I can recall now is that he said Nacho would be put on Methodone so I think my dog may be a meth addict now. He also mentioned Isopropyl and about Michael Jackson's demise from an overdose of it. Okayyy man. Way to put me at ease.

Unlike Town Vets, the clinic smells quite strongly of animals which was kind of a bummer for me since I'm really fussy about cleanliness and smell, but the thing that convinced me to continue on was that I felt like Dr Tan did try to go through the whole process with me step by step, and give me a science lesson so two thumbs up for that. Also, he seems really earnest and well-meaning so I guess I was put at ease, despite the smell and also despite the fact that their webpage is a little... amateur. (Sorry man, just being brutally honest).

We scheduled the dental appointment for two days later and I can't say Nacho happily trotted in at all, (not because of the specific vet but because he just knows the vet is where he gets poked and prodded) and he was pretty out of it the rest of the day after the treatment, but a day after, with the anesthesia and meth out of his system, he's back to his old energetic self, but this time, with nice fresh breath.  I however, am down $379 so clearly less energetic. I think after all my fussing over it, the truth is, the cost of the medical equipment and mad drugs are probably the costliest components. I guess I'd go back to Vets@RV since I think they do seem quite thorough, but maybe if they could just... Febreeze a little bit?

Anyway, long story short: My New Year's resolution is to care for my dog's teeth better so I don't have to put him through this scary procedure annually.

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.