tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136322412024-03-07T13:48:54.391+08:00miss b musesan enduring love for (mis)adventureBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.comBlogger644125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-58794780288220577522012-06-25T22:40:00.002+08:002012-06-25T22:40:09.258+08:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Taking a break and practicing the power of pause! Will be back soon!</span>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-57528661635030390472012-06-06T15:34:00.000+08:002012-06-06T15:34:54.311+08:00Notable Quotable<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The only way to ease our pain is to experience it fully. Learn to stay with uneasiness, learn to stay with the tightening, so that the habitual chain reaction doesn't continue to rule your life."</span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">--Pema Chodron</span></div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-54300055435143157392012-06-04T11:39:00.000+08:002012-06-04T11:39:21.295+08:00June Muses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDciiAblezHNvi_Udq89N-tQoI8AK3LgwJIwOiEMwNmvUyIsR7j3HwcjoOYJi79BzhlFRfbuAlHpC8Km3X9omox_M9XM_WUbEEndlRve5mS-BG8fNcUPNqJE2gtvPJj5SNcxkh/s1600/june+muse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDciiAblezHNvi_Udq89N-tQoI8AK3LgwJIwOiEMwNmvUyIsR7j3HwcjoOYJi79BzhlFRfbuAlHpC8Km3X9omox_M9XM_WUbEEndlRve5mS-BG8fNcUPNqJE2gtvPJj5SNcxkh/s640/june+muse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Watching:</b> The Exotic Marigold Hotel. How I love this poignant comedy about a bunch of old folks "out-sourcing" their retirement to India! This British comedy has all my favourite film veterans with Dame Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy. You're bound to have a good time giggling while drying your tears at times and it totally reminds me of my month-long trip to India some years back! I LOVE this movie! Two thumbs up!!<br />
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<b>Listening to:</b> <a href="http://premjoshua.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=55" target="_blank">The Dance of Shakti by Prem Joshua</a>. I'm revisiting this old album from 2002 thanks to The Exotic Marigold Hotel. While reminiscing about India , I gotta listen to my favourite Indian tunes from the very talented Prem Joshua who fuses modern beats with the traditional sound of classical Indian sitar and tabla. The Dance of Shakti is my all time favourite from Prem Joshua and I practice Vinyasa yoga to the uplifting energizing tunes!<br />
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<b>Wearing:</b> ASOS Cupcake Dress with Peplum. Okay, I'm not wearing it yet cos it's on the way. I couldn't resist cos the cupcake print is just too cute and it's cut proper enough to wear to work with a cropped grey cardigan. I hope it fits! Fingers crossed or it'll be a total hassle to return!<br />
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<b>Using:</b> <u><a href="http://www.puretincture.com/promotion/on-sales?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=351&category_id=10" target="_blank">Ila Face Oil for Glowing Radiance</a></u>. I've heard tons of raves about this Argan and Rosehip based face oil that's infused with Sandalwood and precious Rose Damascena. I just got hold of it a couple of days ago and I'm now using it in place of moisturizer. So far so good and I'll write more about it a little later.<br />
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I've also tried out the <a href="http://www.thebodyshop.com.sg/en/ProductDetail.aspx?ProdID=1566&SubCateId=180&CateId=4" target="_blank">Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Mask</a> cos I saw it going on offer and it's partially organic. I said partially cos I must point out that The Body Shop is somewhat unethical and deceptive to put the Eco Cert logo when only 42% of the ingredients is organic. To be qualified as organic products, a product has to contain at least 70% of organic ingredients. The Body Shop also sneakily puts a note that says 98% of the ingredients is natural and with the Eco Cert logo, I got tricked into thinking that 98% of the ingredients is ORGANIC. Well, after I bought it and carefully read the label, I felt a bit cheated cos only 42% of the ingredients is indeed organic. But well, I guess I should have been more careful reading labels. Anyway, the organic issue aside, I must say this mask is quite enjoyable as it's clay base wash off mask and it deep cleanses while refreshes and smooths out skin. I kinda like it! Just that I feel The Body Shop shouldn't have used the Eco Cert when all the products from their range is below 70% organic. Just saying...<br />
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Also using my light purple Balenciaga Giant City with silver hardware. I'm resting my black Balenciaga Work and the light purple is quite "in season" with the spring trend.<br />
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<b>Drinking:</b> Apple Cider Vinegar with honey. My previous attempt to drink half a lemon in warm water in the morning has failed cos it gave me a rather acidic stomach but ACV is really great and I'm back to drinking it daily with chilled honey. It's such a refreshing treat with all the health benefits.<br />
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<b>Eating:</b> Kinpira Gobo. I've been cooking Japanese food quite a lot and I'm really loving this classic Japanese bento stuffer of Japanese gobo and carrots. Japanese gobo is full of fiber and is known for its anti-carcinogenic properties. Super tasty when you cook it kinpira style. It's so simple to cook cos you just need to shred both gobo and carrots, soak the gobo in water for 10 minutes, then sauté them in a bit of sesame oil with some chilli before adding half a cup of water with two tablespoons of Japanese soya sauce, two tablespoons of mirin and two tablespoons of sugar. Simmer till all the liquid is soaked up and viola!<br />
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<b>Loving:</b> Anessa BB Sunscreen. This is possibly the best face sunscreen I've used. It's unfortunately not organic but its amazing texture and performance warrant its staying in my morning skincare routine. Its refreshing, light and non-sticky texture is such a great relief from the usual thick and greasy BB cream and my organic tinted moisturizer with SPF. Not only does it provide a very substantial protection of SPF 50 PA+++, it has a very decent coverage that really does even out the skin tone and yet not leave a heavy chalk-like film. It's really my favourite sunscreen now and I'm glad I bought an extra to stock up while I was in Japan!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-26770089454677238012012-06-01T14:32:00.002+08:002012-06-01T14:32:31.523+08:00The Case of the Not-So-Charitable Charity DriveI'm a bit embarrassed to be writing this post as I'm about to launch into a raging rant, the fist-punching-the-air kind of rage while less than <a href="http://www.b-muses.blogspot.sg/2012/05/darth-vadar-vs-care-bear.html" target="_blank">48 hours ago,</a> I was just talking about how it's more important to focus on the good things, stop bashing stuff, be Team Care Bear instead of Team Darth Vader.<br />
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But every now and then, the Care Bears do get pissed off when we see things that are so ridiculous. And this time it's a case of big organization attempting to be magnanimous with charity.<br />
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I'm talking about the case of <a href="http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/New+Market/Story/A1Story20120529-349123.html" target="_blank">Singapore Press Holdings' "Charity" stunt</a> where they're putting up a Volkswagen car for charity auction. The money raised would go to paying for the subscription of The Straits Times newspaper for a year, worth $300, for 1000 low-income families. Yes, you got it, the money raised BY SPH goes back to SPH's bank account by purchasing SPH's product which is The Straits Times Newspaper.<br />
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Can I just ask what kind of charity is this when the proceeds raised by the organizer go back to the organizer's bank account? Okay, fine, so they're buying newspaper from themselves and it is still something for the poor, but how about doing REAL charity by giving out the newspaper FOR FREE and use the money raised to do more like subsidizing other things?<br />
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When I read a statement made by SPH, I literally did a 360-eye roll and laughed out loud: <br />
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<i>Said ST editor Warren Fernandez: "We at ST are delighted to partner
with Volkswagen once again for this worthwhile project. Those who bid
for this car will help drive our efforts to reach out and support the
less well-off in our community.</i><br />
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<i>"We want to give the young in these families a precious gift: access
to information and a window to the world and all its possibilities. That
will help them get ahead in life. We sincerely believe a daily copy of
the ST delivered to their homes will do that."</i><br />
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Having dealt with low-income families before in my previous voluntary stints, I honestly question if newspaper, instead of other form of subsidy, is what the low-income families need and want. Especially in this day and age where information is, in fact, quite readily available on the radio, television and internet. Not to mention there is already a supply of free newspapers like Today and My Paper (another SPH product mind you). Is a subscription to The Straits Times more important than to say practical things like $300 dollars worth of medical subsidy or grocery vouchers?<br />
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Warren Fernandez made it sound like these 1000 low-income families live in some remote island far away from civilization. Sooo remote that they have absolutely no access to information of sort and that The Straits Times subscription for a year will save their future.<br />
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What happens after one year when the charity tenure is over? Do they still get subscriptions? Or is their "window to the world and all its possibilities" suddenly get shut until further notice? What if they raise more than the $300,000 for a one-year subscription for 1000 families? Where does the money go to? What if some families prefer Chinese papers or other kind of subsidy for that matter?<br />
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I'm sorry, but I find this whole charity thing somewhat insulting to the many unsung heros out there who do real charity work either by donation or time and effort volunteering.<br />
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Having done all the ranting and bashing, it's "Care Bear Duty" time to make something positive out of it. I guess the one positive thing I take home with SPH's lack-luster charity gimmick is to do better when charity is concerned. That the real needs of the less fortunate people should come before personal glory.<br />
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Oh, one more thing! Don't underestimate the gift of newspaper because the newspaper can be a very useful resource too even if you're not proficient in reading. You can always use it to wrap fish before putting them into the freezer, clean the windows, or my personal favorite, wrap pet's dookies with them for disposal!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-16357306728155108032012-05-31T16:10:00.001+08:002012-05-31T23:40:25.643+08:00Darth Vader vs Care Bear<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"The painful thing is that when we buy into disapproval, we're practicing disapproval. When we buy into harshness, we're practicing harshness. The more we do it, the stronger these qualities become. How sad it is that we become so expert at causing harm to ourselves and others. The trick is to practise gentleness and letting go. We can learn to meet whatever arises with curiosity and not make it such a big deal" <span style="font-family: inherit;">--
<i style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">Pema Chödrön</i></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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Most people went through some sort of a moody grouchy teenage years of rebellion in one way or another. You question authority, you talk back to your folks, and you resist everything bright and chirpy while crawling into that little dark miserable cave called Puberty, with emo songs like Creep by Radiohead plugged into your ears no less. Moodiness seems cool and being dark means sexy. </div>
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While some teenage Darth Vaders and Voldemorts eventually grew out of their moody broody phase to be more-adjusted adults with just the healthy amount of scepticism, some got stuck in their own black clouds in their adulthood, spreading their bad vibes everywhere they go through osmosis or otherwise. </div>
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And spreading the bad vibes they did. Right to the social media platform of Facebook lately in fact, making me extremely repulsed and disgusted. I post cute animal pictures, they comment about animal abuse (completed with a whatsapp photo of maggots oozing out of a gaping open wound sent to me!! WTF!). I post a warm fuzzy photo of tiger and piglets getting along, they slam the photo being a zoo sham. I share happy positive post and pictures, they spread negative news about mankind, cancer or other shitty tragic news. I update my status on happy things, they rant about being angry and woe is them. Yes, you get the drift. "I'm merely injecting a sense of harsh reality and practicality" they said. </div>
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As a former broody teenage Darth Vader who hated almost everyone and everything, my ascension to the bright side of Care Bear and Rainbow Brite doesn't tantamount to being ignorant of the harsh reality or sweeping the sharp shards of worldly problems under the carpet and pretending they don't exist. </div>
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Being positive has nothing to do with thinking that everything is fine, nothing is wrong and all is well. It's about knowing that there're many things wrong and things are way far from perfect but let's make the best out of it and not be miserable about it. It's about finding a sense of equanimity in times of adversity while not losing your sense of joy and humour. It's about realizing that gripping on all the bad things in life gets you nowhere and only attracts more bad things as it's the simple law of attraction. </div>
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More importantly, it's also about doing something about the things you're not satisfied with. My new pact as being a Care Bear means that instead of whining and getting bitter about all these poor kittens and puppies getting abused, I DO SOMETHING about it by donating monthly to the Cat Welfare Society and volunteering at the SPCA. Instead of feeling sorry for the underprivileged children, I contribute monthly to Club Rainbow and participate in the annual toy collection drive for the kids. Do I see those Darth Vaders and Voldemorts do something? So far, I haven't, unfortunately. </div>
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My message to all the Darth Vaders and Voldemorts out there is simple: If you haven't got anything positive to say, then don't say it to me. It's okay to wallow in your own black vomit of negativity, but just don't go wet-blanketing us with your bad vibes and bash positive people/things/message. Happiness really is a choice, and we Care Bears and Rainbow Brites make a conscious effort to guard our happiness with all our might, stay on the bright side, and see the good in things as we solider on. Simple as that. </div>
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Why be a bitter miserable sod when you can be light and happy? Don't be Darth Vader! Choose Care Bear! Breathing through that ugly mask can't be that fun! Besides, we've got cookies and chocolate on the bright side! </div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-79974828231505012012012-05-29T09:43:00.001+08:002012-05-29T09:43:17.145+08:00ACV Your FaceAges ago, I've blogged about the amazing wonders of <u><a href="http://b-muses.blogspot.com/2010/04/apple-or-couple-day-keeps-fat-bitch.html" target="_blank">Apple Cider Vinegar for health</a></u>. It's always been on on-going health remedy I take on a "regularly on-and-off" basis. Meaning, I'll go through phases where I'll down it and then stop for a bit before going back on it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKPDAa3L2yiKBhVANAVRzvVLR38jQXlQshzoDwSnpy2AKRv1mlu9vSNNZQ1gfMtUbzhktfhANpAXDgCzd2PhP-KdTed3sMGdNRLP_RKNPULHE5X9QfvUhcsvch1ScpdvYvc7u/s1600/ACV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKPDAa3L2yiKBhVANAVRzvVLR38jQXlQshzoDwSnpy2AKRv1mlu9vSNNZQ1gfMtUbzhktfhANpAXDgCzd2PhP-KdTed3sMGdNRLP_RKNPULHE5X9QfvUhcsvch1ScpdvYvc7u/s640/ACV.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Lately, due to a horrendous bouts of <u><a href="http://b-muses.blogspot.com/2012/05/acne-attack-how-to-get-rid-of-cystic.html" target="_blank">cystic acne</a></u> that's thankfully clearing up, I've been super obsessed with cleaning out pores or any pore-unblocking remedies. Then, while I was de-cluttering my fridge, I was reminded of the amazing health benefits of ACV when I saw a bottle lying in the fridge. So I whipped out my ACV health book, got back on drinking it with honey and started using it on my face as it's supposed to be anti-acne with pore/oil unclogging properties on top of many goodness for some skin loving. <br />
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After using it for a week, I can totally attest to its skin loving properties and I have no problem running this somewhat smelly liquid on my face on a daily basis in the pursuit of better, healthier skin. And it's crazily simply. I mix one part of ACV to one part of filtered water, then apply and massage it onto the face in circular motion (not too rough please!) after cleansing every alternate night. You can rinse it off lightly with some water if you don't like the smell but I'll just leave it on for a bit before lightly patting some water over it to lighten the smell. It acts as a mild exfoliating agent while delivering the goodness of ACV directly to your skin. It also unclogs pores over time and helps surface impurities while maintaining a healthy skin pH (our skin thrives on a slighly acidic environment).<br />
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For a more nourishing treat, you can mix it with honey and some pounded oats for a DIY exfoliating mask that packs in the moisture too!<br />
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Yes, it's that simple and doesn't cost a bomb! Awesome natural skin and health remedies from mother nature!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-46480830076182230322012-05-25T09:36:00.000+08:002012-05-25T09:36:05.908+08:00Chanel-ized Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToOaBpEFaaotvXwBvvkFZroDtd9gvO_9HaKKFsknyOpFru9DmbCbnEFrZveg1biaqiqHyplr36ao4gUrwN0cMragLXvC0IOUNvK1eTn-uOgjMyU1RJmr2kf59mU1qTeVwynPD/s1600/Presentation2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToOaBpEFaaotvXwBvvkFZroDtd9gvO_9HaKKFsknyOpFru9DmbCbnEFrZveg1biaqiqHyplr36ao4gUrwN0cMragLXvC0IOUNvK1eTn-uOgjMyU1RJmr2kf59mU1qTeVwynPD/s640/Presentation2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You've seen Chanel nails, Chanel basketballs, Chanel snowboard and now there's Chanel font! Notice my header? Yes, it's the Chanel font where the letters are constructed with Chanel cosmetics! Get it <strong><u><a href="http://chanel-makeup-confidential.chanel.com/en_US/cmc.html" target="_blank">here</a></u></strong> and send a Chanel-ized message to your Chanel-crazy friends! Now I'm gonna whip out my 2.55 to complete the look and feel! TGIF Chanel style! Now here's one cheap thrill that looks and feels expensive for sure!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-9500470649786867362012-05-24T15:12:00.000+08:002012-05-24T15:12:03.298+08:00Reason to save the Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXIBSFva1CiC1KPwyydGrkE64NEANKJDPtkgzMGdiw_iG8tx_hRQm03FjqloCw2vH1Er0LPNQM01SD8huN8Z6hWYAXkDDQoeC0yyRH8Z32ZW_6rgRcKjFAbl8D_RtPbqL69aG/s1600/chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXIBSFva1CiC1KPwyydGrkE64NEANKJDPtkgzMGdiw_iG8tx_hRQm03FjqloCw2vH1Er0LPNQM01SD8huN8Z6hWYAXkDDQoeC0yyRH8Z32ZW_6rgRcKjFAbl8D_RtPbqL69aG/s640/chocolate.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Such wisdom from my yoga teacher.....oh yes, it's the only planet with Japanese food too! Omnomnom...now go Reuse, Reduce and Recycle!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-6798693265182002462012-05-23T11:55:00.003+08:002012-05-23T12:04:44.816+08:00Japanese LootWhen I said I didn't shop much in Japan, I meant it. Mostly because I didn't have the patience to go into every store and browse through racks after racks of clothes, and also because I'm more interested in sight-seeing than shopping really.<br />
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After failing to find a Issey Miyaki BaoBao Bag in a colour of my choice, I ended up hitting the drug stores and falling off the organic/non-toxic bandwagon cos the allure of the Japanese drug stores is simply too irresistible. Given that I was plagued by really bad cystic acnes (ok, there were only two but they were HUGE) while I was there, I thought I would give the organic/non-toxic options a rest until my skin recovers and stabilizes with products that have been tried and tested before.<br />
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So here's my drug-store loot. Not that crazy really....I was mostly stocking up on the Maquillage foundation and Anessa BB Sunscreen which are a hell lot more expensive in Singapore. These two are freaking amazeballs with great texture and performance. I'm really hoping the organic brands can quickly come up with products that can rival the Anessa BB Sunscreen as it has such great texture that's non sticky, wears so comfortably and acts perfectly well as make up base!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaO-9eaNdh3zM0zBtrpT1v94SIbTcmRtcUGRURe7QvMzoMmzNLuUbkWM2L6MuQct7aKRW-15AqwU0wURCzUpdj4Y0gjHGFSn8cj5xJRw3k5SQEf2aD2K7Ku-mdqJrfy-j3H8b6/s1600/IMG_0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaO-9eaNdh3zM0zBtrpT1v94SIbTcmRtcUGRURe7QvMzoMmzNLuUbkWM2L6MuQct7aKRW-15AqwU0wURCzUpdj4Y0gjHGFSn8cj5xJRw3k5SQEf2aD2K7Ku-mdqJrfy-j3H8b6/s640/IMG_0949.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then in Kyoto, I bought a trial skincare set from <a href="http://www.yojiya.co.jp/english/index.html" target="_blank">Yojiya</a> which is a Japanese cult favorite from Japan's old capital. Rumour has it that they're also a favorite among many Geisha so that can't be bad! They're on the pricey side but I've been using it for close to a month now and so far so good. Will write more in another post.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLuaWn5GDmp0PCCm9PWvIQRiJdkqIWdB6j8qCY3ARJDh804YolPMJzGr9zr4SVpP0o9Or9Rw1KnRc6vrTvWGcSVrqxqd6tl0Cj_2rA90qClLjAxZMhYvNhnFzg03b4EJ2-jkm/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLuaWn5GDmp0PCCm9PWvIQRiJdkqIWdB6j8qCY3ARJDh804YolPMJzGr9zr4SVpP0o9Or9Rw1KnRc6vrTvWGcSVrqxqd6tl0Cj_2rA90qClLjAxZMhYvNhnFzg03b4EJ2-jkm/s640/IMG_0947.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then below is my favorite loot from Kyoto. A famous stationery shop at the Teramachi Mall named <a href="http://www.kyukyodo.co.jp/" target="_blank">Kyu Kyo Do</a> that sells things like paper, incense, calligraphy supplies and many artsy stuff I so love! These are actually courtesy of my amazing bf cos the shop was closed by the time we get there (they close at 6pm) the day before we left Kyoto. So, the next day, while I was still sleeping, he ran to the shop early in the morning to get the stuff I wanted before we left Kyoto!<br />
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Anyway, I was thrilled when he came back with gorgeously wrapped up packages that I couldn't bear to open!<br />
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This Japanese prayer beads, or Juzu in Japanese, is my favorite item from the trip. It's so pretty and they have an array of pastel colour prayer beads especially for women.<br />
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Kyu Kyo Do also produces their own incense too and these ones are great when I want to bring back my Kyoto memory in my room. Always perfect for a tranquil night in reading a book curled up in bed.<br />
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<br />Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-13205491600214071892012-05-22T18:15:00.002+08:002012-05-23T12:04:12.979+08:00Leave Aishwarya Rai Alone!<span style="font-family: inherit;">So apparently, it seems like the Asian entertainment media's activity-du-jour is to bash Bollywood actress and one time Miss World Aishwarya Rai for not losing her baby weight after she gave birth. Read more<a href="http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20120521-347269.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The Indian media, though, latched onto the fact that she looked like a 38-year-old woman who had recently given birth."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Last check, Aishwarya Rai <b>IS</b> indeed a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">38-year-old woman who had recently given birth! So I have no idea why her fans and the media alike can't just let her be the 38-year-old who had just given birth recently, and is now nursing her baby! Any medical doctor would attest to the fact that a nursing mom needs proper nutrition to breast feed her baby, so there is nothing wrong if there's some weight on the body to properly raise the child! It's basic human rights to care for and nurture the smallest member of our society. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What outrage me most is that when it comes to post-baby body, a woman in the public eye can do no right, thanks to both the media and public. If you lose too much weight too soon ala the Hollywood celebrity way like Heidi Klum (she was back on the runway modeling for Victoria Secret a mere six weeks after she gave birth), Miranda Kerr and the supermodel gang, you're blamed for creating unrealistic expectation for new mothers who are pressurized conform to that standard. Some slagged them off for not caring for their baby by breast feeding with proper nutrition. Evil mother they said. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, we have a Bollywood actress who chooses the health and welfare of her newborn over conforming to that skinny post-baby standard, and still she got shamed for not up-keeping her role as the most beautiful Bollywood actress. Not just by the horrendous and despicable media, but by her so-called fans and supporters. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the world coming to when the most basic human right of motherhood is being scrutinized and criticized? This is pure insanity. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, leave Aishwarya Rai alone already!!!</span></span>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-46758797037004092222012-05-20T19:18:00.000+08:002012-05-20T19:22:51.064+08:00The Sushi Land Diary Part 3: KyotoIf the hipsters want to be Harajuku Girls, then I'm a 100% Kyoto Girl or Teramachi Girl if you must use the city's precinct as name. I love Kyoto. So much that I'm still suffering from Kyoto withdrawal two weeks after I'm back in Durian Land.<br />
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A far cry from Tokyo's insane pace and mind-boggling train network system, Kyoto's poised and idyllic energy is much appreciated as a respite from the boring concrete jungle I'm too used to. Throw in the allure and grandeur of its amazing cultural heritage as Japan's old capital, its beautiful nature and temples, and the chance to catch a sight of mysterious Maiko and Geisha shuffling down Gion, I'm sold. I left my heart in Kyoto!<br />
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<b>Staying at:</b> <a href="http://www.hiiragiya.co.jp/en/" target="_blank">Hiiragiya Ryokan</a>. Japanese Omotenashi (the art of hospitality) at its best, Hiiragiya Ryokan is one of Kyoto's most famous and well-loved ryokan, touting Japanese Noble Prize Literature winner Yasunari Kawabata and many international film stars as their regular patrons. Situated conveniently near the famous shopping street of Teramachi, Hiiragiya Ryokan is still owned and run by the family that started it more than a century ago in 1818. Staff are super attentive and helpful, offering first class service that, in my opinion, surpasses that of today's six stars Western hotels. With 28 exclusive rooms, service is highly customized and guests have at least one staff assigned to take care of them during their stay. The traditional interiors and rooms are all decorated with hand painted folding screens in zen style and furnished with wooden beams, reed ceilings, tatami mats, shoji windows and fusuma sliding doors. It's as authentic as it can get and of course, there's a beautiful bathroom with cedar wood bath tub where water of the perfect temperature is drawn ready for you to hop in. How I wish I could live there! I love ryokan!<br />
<b>Eating:</b> Kaiseki at Hiiragiya Ryokan in their newly extended banquet room. The food is amazing and banquet room very pretty.<br />
Lovely omakase menu at <a href="http://www.manzara.co.jp/pont/index.html" target="_blank">Manzara Honten</a>. It's a recommendation by a concierge that turned out to be an amazing last supper in Kyoto. They serve their sashimi on Andy Warhol plates and make amazing Mackerel sushi that happens to be their famous signature dish.<br />
Tucked somewhere in an idyllic street is <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/%E7%B4%85%E8%9D%99%E8%9D%A0/336945379674966" target="_blank">红蝙蝠</a> or "Red bat" cafe. It's such a lovely and kitschy little tea house with beautiful tatami and amazingly tasty macha creme brulee. I regret not ordering another one cos I don't see if anywhere else. Damn!<br />
<b>Drinking:</b> <a href="http://www.sokenbicha.com/#/?page=home" target="_blank">Sokenbicha</a>. This tea, sold everywhere in Japan's vending machine, is so aromatic and divine that I now buy them at a hiked up price at Medeiya at Liang Court.<br />
<b>Visiting:</b> The amazing bamboo forest at Arashiyama. Amazing is really the right word to describe the bamboo forest. It's a reminder of how beautiful nature is and I'm sure to go back again.<br />
<b>Buying: </b>Skincare from <a href="http://www.yojiya.co.jp/english/index.html" target="_blank">Yojiya</a>, the cult Japanese skincare from Kyoto that every Japanese woman is crazy about. I wasn't that keen until I saw every single Japanese woman carrying a Yojiya paper bag and they all have good skin. That many Japanese women with good skin can't go wrong and I made a beeline to their super crowded shop (every one of their outlet is crowded), wrestled my way in and came out with a starter kit and a bottle of essence. <br />
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Now watch out...major photo bomb ahead and it's really just a fraction of it. <br />
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<i>The awesome Hiiragiya Ryokan</i></div>
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<i>The tokonoma, or alcove, is a key feature in any traditional Japanese house where they display beautiful scroll or heirloom. Putting anything at the tokonoma is a big no-no. It's sacred. </i><br />
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<i> Just cos you asked nicely, here's an up close and personal photo of yours truly and the other half, both decked in Hiiragiya yukata. I had the ryokan staff tied the obi for me. In fact, she lovingly insisted we took a snap shot next to this lovely plant</i></div>
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<i>A traditional wooden dresser! How beautiful...though HL pointed it reminds her of erm, Sadako from The Ring...lol</i></div>
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<i>I can't begin to tell you how much I love Japanese bathroom. I'm not a bath fan but the Japanese cedar wood tub is just too good to miss.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZH9UgiTymknG0hOqc6WFQvnvXs-gJ2Kbq_ggYT6Ps_KqsajvaNra2aahih-n-zNG-jEFSPoONjf5Ny8RAfILfc9043hM7IPAjes1hl37uukl7cvShTX6bVaYNyxKs_TTbuiE4/s1600/IMG_0872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZH9UgiTymknG0hOqc6WFQvnvXs-gJ2Kbq_ggYT6Ps_KqsajvaNra2aahih-n-zNG-jEFSPoONjf5Ny8RAfILfc9043hM7IPAjes1hl37uukl7cvShTX6bVaYNyxKs_TTbuiE4/s640/IMG_0872.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>A little decorative feature at the new wing in Hiiragiya</i></div>
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<i>Dinner and breakfast were served at this beautiful banquet room </i></div>
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<i>It's takenoko, or bamboo shoot, season!!! I LOVE takenoko! Can't have enough of it and I've been cooking takenoko nimono at home these days.</i></div>
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<i>Where else but in Kyoto can you find a temple in a shopping lane among modern shops!?</i></div>
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<i>Colorful pickles! So pretty!</i></div>
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<i>This neko-chan dolly seems to be quite a favorite among Japanese food seller. It dances too...</i></div>
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<i>The beautiful trail at Arashiyama! It's so beautiful!</i></div>
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<i>The Imperial Palace garden. Such a shame that it's closed for maintenance while I was there. Now there's more excuse to go back. </i></div>
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<i>The famous Kamo River in Kyoto near the Gion.</i> </div>
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<i>A lovely corner at 红蝙蝠 cafe </i></div>
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<i>The macha creme brulee was simply divine!</i></div>
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<i>A giant statue of Kwan-yin</i></div>
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<i>Maiko-wannabe. I thought I was lucky to caught a sight of maiko but nope, these are white tourists dressed up as maiko.</i></div>
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<i>An exhibition with painting of cats draw on plates. I just need to take a picture of it for Mr Bond. </i></div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-29444482280384625352012-05-18T10:46:00.000+08:002012-05-18T10:46:55.896+08:00The Sushi Land Diary Part 2: KaruizawaIn a little spot an hour and a half by bullet train from Tokyo lies Karuizawa - a hell of a Japanese gem. Near Nagano and away from Tokyo's urban craziness, Karuizawa is pure bliss where I found a little piece of heaven with nature and wide open spaces. <br />
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<b>Staying at:</b><a href="http://www.hoshinoyakaruizawa.com/en/index.html" target="_blank"> Hoshinoya Ryokan, Karuizawa</a>. Top-notch modern ryokan with the most spectacular setting, it's officially the best hotel/resort I've been to (replacing my previous best of <a href="http://commune.sohochina.com/commune.php?id=m_2&sid=&lid=sub_3&ltype=arch&lang=en" target="_blank">Commune by The Great Wall</a>). I was literally gasping in wonder with a nonstop muttering of "Sugoii!!" while we were being driven to our room nestled in the woods, with the Yukawa River rolling and streaming through the premise. To say that the view of nature from our room is spectacular is simply an understatement. The entire resort is surrounded by peaceful river and beautiful landscape and it's the kind of place you need to be there to experience its full wonder. I was left quite speechless by its magnificence. Facilities include private onsen for Hoshinoya guests only, origami sessions, mochi making sessions and many more, while the nearby <a href="http://www.hoshinoyakaruizawa.com/en/facilities/harunire.html" target="_blank">Harunire Terrace</a> is just a five-minute walk away, offering scenic shops and restaurants alongside the beautiful Yukawa river in a board-walk setting. It's no wonder it's touted as one of the best by The Wallpaper.<br />
<b>Eating:</b> <a href="http://www.hoshinoyakaruizawa.com/en/dining/kasuke_dinner.html" target="_blank">Kasuke</a> at Hoshinoya Ryokan. My love for Kaiseki is well-recorded in my blog and it's here I had the most amazing Japanese marbled beef that simply melts in my mouth. Also loving the ice cream at Nagai Farm at the Harunire Terrace and it's officially the best ice cream I've ever eating. My love for soba was also greatly satisfied at <a href="http://www.kawakamian.com/ka/index.html" target="_blank">Kawakami-an</a> where they have the biggest tempura prawn I've had and delicious duck dipping sauce that makes me salivate every time I think about it.<br />
<b>Drinking:</b> More macha but I'm totally not complaining! I love Genmaicha too!<br />
<b>Visiting:</b> The Musasabi, or the Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel, at<a href="http://picchio.co.jp/sp/" target="_blank"> Picchio Wild Life Reserve Station</a>!!! Picchio offers evening tour to see the Musasabi (and a whole lot of other activities) and it was definitely the highlight of the trip!<br />
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<i>How gorgeous is my bento I got for my bullet train ride? So pretty I didn't I could keep looking at it. Taste as divine as it looks too</i></div>
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<i>Reception area at Hoshinoya. Didn't get the chance to see someone perform with the percussion set though</i></div>
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<i>Welcome mochi with a beautiful Hana Sakura. Delicious!</i></div>
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<i>Poobah and Uncle Twinkle travel with me a lot. They're best buddies. </i></div>
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<i>The Japanese Cedar wood bathtub I so want to bring home</i></div>
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<i>Awesome Hoshinoya amenities</i></div>
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<i>Such peaceful setting with the lake literally at your balcony</i></div>
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<i>Lovely terrace landscape with a little stream flowing through for the ultimate idyllic setting</i></div>
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<i>You can't get better than this, with a river flowing directly outside your door steps</i></div>
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<i>The cutest hydro power plant</i></div>
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<i>Kasuke Restaurant at the main building of Hoshinoya. Serving up authentic Japanese fine dining with an amazing "landscape" design to mimic the beautiful Satoyama setting. </i></div>
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<i>And the have the iconic Artichoke Lamp my boyfriend is lusting after</i></div>
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<i>No ordinary staircase handle bar. This one curves seductively with beautiful lights underneath</i></div>
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<i>Another view of the Kasuke Restaurant. Such beautiful design</i></div>
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<i>Harunire Terrace where the little shops and restaurants are. Literally a stone's throw away from Hoshinoya. </i></div>
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<i>The biggest tempura prawn I've had at Kawakami-an. I went back again for more. </i></div>
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<i>If you ever visit Karuizawa and Harunire Terrace, PLEASE try the ice cream at Nagai Farm. The best ice cream I've had in my life. The smoothest and creamiest cold delights that will make you want more!</i></div>
<br />Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-3412505665878381382012-05-16T23:44:00.002+08:002012-05-17T12:10:01.865+08:00The Sushi Land Diary Part 1: TokyoTwo weeks ago, I came back from a totally amazing trip from Japan and it took me this long to download and select the photos. I wanted to slowly relish the process when I was in a good mood to relive my Japanese journey. Also because I have taken a ridiculous amount of photos and going through them took me awhile.<br />
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So here you go, first part of my Sushi Land Diary in Tokyo. Downloaded finally a couple of nights ago in the nice ambiance of my own cocoon of a room scented by incense from Kyoto. Not much words (as otherwise it'd be too lengthy), just photos (a fraction of what I took), a summary in my "Monthly Muses" style and a promise that Part 2 and 3 in Karuizawa and Kyoto are heaps better.<br />
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<b>Staying at:</b> Tokyo Park Hotel at Shiodome. (Won't go back cos the service staff wasn't helpful)<br />
<b>Eating:</b> World famous (and way too pricey!) Tempura at <u><a href="http://www.tenichi.co.jp/" target="_blank">Ten-ichi</a></u>. Super delicious Ochazuke at a random shop at Tokyo Station. Amazing kaiseki-like omakaze menu at <u><a href="http://www.maru-mayfont.jp/" target="_blank">Maru at Aoyama</a></u> (as recommended by The Wallpaper). Cheap but extremely good Japanese Hamburger Steak at <u><a href="http://www.manhattandeli.net/" target="_blank">Manhattan Deli</a></u> at Roppongi (their Mentaiko mash potato is a must try!). Curry rice with Kani cream croquette from a random shop near our hotel.<br />
<b>Drinking:</b> Fuji Apple Juice. Like tons of it cos I love my Japanese apple juice. Also drinking tons of macha of course!<br />
<b>Visiting:</b> Yoyo-gi Park. Possibly my favourite spot in Tokyo as it offers wide open spaces with tons of youths, couples and family alike relaxing in the sun, doing different activities from running, dancing to playing musical instruments. Asakusa is another hotspot I enjoyed with its rich heritage feel that offers a different fair from the shopping belt in Ginza.<br />
<b>Shopping at:</b> Every Japanese drug store that came my way. My obsession with toiletries meant going crazy in drug stores.<br />
<b>Loving:</b> Clean Japanese toilets with 39439483 different functions and bidet options! Super clean and why hasn't the rest of the world caught up with that yet??? Even the toilets at random subway station is very clean! Now that's something!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7x0r3DcrUkX0k9DXI1-K2BJfuqF85UQo8mSdZfSIz_62A4zf5ijU55jNdp-k3IKPvEgrNtUJaI3F-n09TivL1P68QSgaNCL5ZgNXUgxYh8xSvp5iOufAHJd42wIP_uMo3jCki/s1600/P4291246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7x0r3DcrUkX0k9DXI1-K2BJfuqF85UQo8mSdZfSIz_62A4zf5ijU55jNdp-k3IKPvEgrNtUJaI3F-n09TivL1P68QSgaNCL5ZgNXUgxYh8xSvp5iOufAHJd42wIP_uMo3jCki/s640/P4291246.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-65593071841208077382012-05-16T15:26:00.000+08:002012-05-16T15:27:14.788+08:00Lost in TranslationNo, not my post on my Japanese trip yet but this is just a freaking hilarious youtube HL sent me and I almost died laughing....<br />
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Meanwhile, I'll be posting up my Japan pictures soon. Tons of photos to sort through! Now go loud your pants off! Go spread the laughter!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="505" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oDFogjXdIVc" width="700"></iframe>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-51260328938011375602012-05-11T16:29:00.002+08:002012-05-11T16:29:50.551+08:00Acne Attack: How to get rid of cystic acne fastI hate cystic acne! You know those type that are are embedded way deep in the skin, swell up in three dimensions, throb painfully as if some alien is growing inside and take forever to go away? Yes, I hate those with a passion and I think pretty much everyone hates them too.<br />
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I'm generally blessed with decent skin with minimal problems *touch wood* but when I get zits every now and then, they're almost always in the form of monstrous cystic acne the size of a 10 cent coin in the most prominent three dimensions. The worst thing is, whenever it happens, they come one after another and popcorned their way on my T zone.<br />
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Recently, I had the misfortune of having two enormous cystic acnes that had proven to be the most stubborn to date. Both in prominent spots no less, one between my eyebrows (I call those the "bindi zits" for obvious reason) and the other on my chin. As if the throbbing pain and the facial marring weren't bad enough, they had to happen while I was in Japan. Yes, Japan. That country where most women have flawless smooth skin and acne suffering women probably get shipped off to some remote island. So it was intensive "Operation rid the acne" daily while I was there and it seems like after more than a decade of dealing with these "zits of a bitch", I seem to have figured out a way to make them go away faster.</div>
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Many friends told me their cystic acnes normally stay with them for about two to three weeks minimum and some lasting for months! Many had to go to a dermatologist to get cortisone shots for relief and one girl friend even had to have hers removed progressively over two months by drawing out all the gunk with micro-needle. I was close to going for the cortisone shot when they finally went down thank god. Thus far, with my anti-cystic acne "programme" I've devised through years of trial and error, I seem to have managed to reduce the healing time to about 10 days without a visit to a dermatologist. </div>
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But before I give you a low-down on how to attack those cystic acnes, I must make a disclaimer that it probably works well only on people who don't scar with pock marks when they squeeze their zits. People who tend to scar badly with depressions or holes on the skin are better off going to the dermatologist for a jab of cortisone to bring it down. So try this at your own risk.</div>
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Here's a list of ammunition and tools you'll need:<br />
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<ul>
<li>pimple/blackhead needle and squeezer</li>
<li>a pair of tweezers </li>
<li>good strong pimple cream with salicylic acid (I really like the Shiseido Pimplit acne cream but it's only available in Japan unfortunately)</li>
<li>tea tree oil</li>
<li>3M pimple patch
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<li>Nixoderm cream</li>
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Now here's my step-by-step guide, in two phases no less:</div>
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Phase One</div>
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<ol>
<li>When a brand new one pops out, apply a drop or two of tea tree oil
after cleansing your face at night and massage the zit with firm pressure. Yes it hurts, but it'll pay off, for me at least. Then, apply a thick layer of Nixoderm cream, massaging further with firm pressure. It will tingle quite a bit and that's normal. Leave it on overnight. Repeat this for another two days. </li>
<li>Normally, by day three, there'll be some tiny bit of pus forming. Now it sounds gross but accumulate the pus and resist draining them until there's more cos extracting it when it's more "mature" makes extracting the oil plug off the blocked pore easier. Once there's some or substantial pus, drain them by carefully and lightly puncturing the affected pore with the pimple needle disinfected with rubbing alcohol. Lightly squeeze to see if the blocked oil plug comes out but with cystic acne, they mostly don't really "pus up" too much cos it's way too deep. </li>
<li>If your acne has matured and risen up, then make sure you clean out the pore by draining out all the blood and pus and try to remove the oil plug. <b>The key to cleaning out the pore is to make sure the oil plug is removed cos if it's not, it'll just be there</b>. If you can only manage to drain a wee bit or not at all, don't force it by brute force or you'll risk pushing it further down (according to a dermatologist). </li>
<li>After you're done squeezing, apply pimple cream with salicylic acid. If you manage to remove everything and extract the oil plug, congratulations, you zit is now healing and it probably isn't that bad a cystic acne to begin with. However, 90% of the time, these bloody cystic acne doesn't "mature" and I can normally get out just a tiny amount of pus without the chance of extracting the oil plug. So here's phase two. </li>
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Phase Two
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<li>So you've squeezed out a wee bit of pus and blood and there's still more brewing underneath with the oil plug still blocking the pore. Now, once you're done with your first attempt to drain the acne, apply a thin layer of acne cream with salicylic acid. Then, wait for the wound to dry up a bit. Once it's dried up, stick on a 3M acne sticker and leave it over night. I've tried sticking on the 3M acne sticker on newly formed cystic acne before any attempt to drain out the pus but it doesn't do anything since all the secretion and oil are embedded way too deep for the sticker to be effective. Thus, I only use it after I'm done some bit of draining.</li>
<li>The next day, the 3M sticker should have drawn out quite a bit of oil and secretion (the sticker turns white) and normally, my acne would have gone down by a bit. For the day, just apply the pimple cream. At night, after cleansing, check if there's any newly formed pus and drain out if necessary and again, apply a thin layer of salicylic acid, let it dry up before sticking on the 3M acne sticker.</li>
<li>Repeat this every night and your acne should deflate over a couple of days. Now one very important point to note; <b>you need to exfoliate and remove any dead skin on the zit and around it once the pus stops forming.</b> The key is to get rid of any dry flakes of skin covering the zit and you'll need to make sure the surrounding area is rid of dry skin to make sure the pores don't get blocked.</li>
<li>When there's no pus, never attempt to squeeze the zit cos it would do nothing but cause trauma. Instead, when the acne deflating progress is stagnant, exfoliate the zit area a little with a gentle scrub. Next, remove all the dry flaking skin using a pair of tweezers and lightly lifting off those skin layers. Please don't rip your skin off by force cos it'll bleed. Never overdo this and remove only those that can be easily lifted off without any pain. Once you're done, stick on the 3M acne sticker overnight. The objective here is to make sure that the sticker is in contact with the fresh layer of skin that has just surfaced and not dead skin because it won't draw out secretion when you put it on dried up skin. </li>
<li>Do this for a few nights and by the time it's close to being completely deflated, switch to using just the pimple cream only, making sure you remove any dried up dead skin every night.</li>
<li>Usually by now, some of the deeply embedded oil plug would have surfaced and you can easily prick the skin open lightly and remove them. If not, you just have to be patient and keep applying salicylic acid and it would go away but at least you can now cover it effectively with some concealer in the day and that it is no longer three dimensional. </li>
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Again, I need to stress that this works for me and a few of my friends whose skin doesn't scar too badly or leave a depression when they extract zits. So don't try this if your skin has a tendency to scar badly since this trial-and-error "programme" of mine involves squeeze the zit. Hope this helps and I'm gonna say this one more time, I fucking hate cystic acne. Die you cystic acnes, die!</div>
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</div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-75370075445935276302012-05-09T14:02:00.002+08:002012-05-09T14:03:23.579+08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">RIP Maurice Sendak :( </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where The Wild Things Are has been and always been a favorite! Thank you for the amazing stories and for keeping my inner child alive and nurtured!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters — sometimes very hastily — but this one I lingered over. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, “Dear Jim: I loved your card.” Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, “Jim loved your card so much he ate it.” That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.” </span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-29885189870830639642012-05-07T12:33:00.000+08:002012-05-09T14:16:29.653+08:00May Muses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Konichiwa! I'm back from an amazing long holiday in Japan and thus the delayed Monthly Muses! Currently having some serious Japan withdrawal and you can totally see the Japanese inspiration from this month's muses!<br />
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<b> Reading:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Geisha-A-Life-Mineko-Iwasaki/dp/0743444299" target="_blank"><b>Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki</b>.</a> I'm going through a phase where I'm obsessed with geisha. I read Memoir of a Geisha by Arthur Golden before the movie came out and remember being so fascinated by the whole concept of geisha and its mystique. My visit to Kyoto has reignited my obsession and I'm reading the biography of Mineko Iwasaki, one of the most famous geisha around.<br />
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<b>Watching: Delicacy</b>. I'm in when it comes to any French movie with Audrey Tautou and I recently caught this rom-com in the cinema about two weeks ago. Audrey played a widow who found love again with an unlikely candidate. I love it!<br />
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<b>Using:</b> <a href="http://www.maquillage.shiseido.com/sg/allitems/base/powder/item091.html" target="_blank"><b>Perfect Multi Compact by Maquillage</b></a>. You gotta be wondering why I'm back to non-organic products with toxins. I gave in! Japan's selection of skincare and makeup was way too big a temptation and my really bad cystic acne breakout (okay, actually it was only 2 but they were very prominent) while I was in Japan got me buying the non-organics again because I want the flawless skin of a Japanese woman without any breakouts! So yes, I'm gonna temporarily go back to non-organics for a bit until further notice while staying organic on non-face products. This foundation by Maquillage is so awesome I stocked up while I was in Japan. It gives a flawless finish with 3 different shades of powder to let you sculpt your face for a 3-D effect. Smooth finishing that lasts pretty well!<br />
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<a href="http://usa.weleda.com/our-products/shop/wild-rose-body-lotion.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Weleda Wild Rose Body Lotion.</b></a> I've finished my bottle of <a href="http://b-muses.blogspot.com/2012/03/suki-body-velvet-moisturizing-cream.html" target="_blank">SukiVelvet Moisturizing Cream</a> and I'm off to trying a new body lotion. I love Weleda Wild Rose Body Lotion! It's organic and has a lovely rose scent with light texture that's easily absorbed for soft hydrated skin. <br />
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<b>Drinking: Sokenbi Cha.</b> I randomly bought a bottle of Sokenbi Cha from one of the 3984739874938 vending machines in Japan only to realize it tastes so aromatic and amazing! Thank god they sell it at Japanese supermarket in Singapore! I'm stocking up despite the slightly higher price! <br />
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<b>Shopping at:</b> <a href="http://iherb.com/"><b>iHerb.com</b></a> So here's an awesome online site that sells all sorts of health supplements at an amazingly good rate. It's cheap and good with a huge selection of products and brands. My friend introduced me to it saying that I would probably kiss my GNC Gold Membership goodbye after I discover how amazing iHerb is. He is right. The prices are so much cheaper and they ship so freaking fast that my loot always arrives within 5 days.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.yojiya.co.jp/english/index.html" target="_blank">Yojiya from Kyoto.</a> </b>This skincare house from Kyoto was founded in 1904 is famous for its oil blotting paper that's responsible for the flawless smooth geisha skin as well as a host of other skincare products. It's such a cult brand in Japan that their shops are forever crowded with throngs of "pilgrims". That many Japanese women can't be wrong and I bought myself some stuff which I would blog about soon.<br />
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<b>Lusting after: An Issey Miyaki Bao Bao</b> bag in bring bold color! While in Tokyo, I hunted down a few Issey Miyaki stores hoping to find a huge selection of Bao Bao bags. Turned out that they only have 4 colours available. Black, white, blue/green and orange/red. None of them appealed to me and I left feeling disappointed as I was expecting them to carry a huge rainbow selection with every colors imaginable. So now, I'm lusting after one...might have to go back to Club21 for one after all.<br />
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<b>Loving: Kyoto</b>! I left my heart in Kyoto! I'm definitely a 100% Kyoto girl cos I love the rich cultural heritage of Japan's old capital where Geisha and Maikos roam the city. The hipsters can be Harajuku girls but I'm a Kyoto Girl without a doubt!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-65310609857567096872012-04-25T09:11:00.002+08:002012-04-25T09:11:25.050+08:00<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; line-height: 20px;">Happiness </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #111111; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">is</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; line-height: 20px;"> power. </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #111111; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Happiness is carbonated consciousness. </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; line-height: 20px;">It wants to spill out and radiate and be articulated. And every time we downplay our joy we confuse our synapses. Our brain is firing smiley neurons and our mouth is short circuiting them. Repeated happiness muffling numbs our senses. If you keep it under the surface too long, it just might stay there … a light under a bushel.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; line-height: 20px;">--Danielle Laporte, The Daily Love, April</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; line-height: 20px;">On a side note, I'm super happy cos I'm going Japan for a holiday tomorrow! Counting down!!</span></span></div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-5677126609049373762012-04-23T09:43:00.004+08:002012-04-23T09:43:43.731+08:00Sophyto Anti-aging Antioxidant SerumI've been getting some success with finishing up my skincare and toiletries before buying new ones. When my <a href="http://b-muses.blogspot.com/2011/12/active-serum.html" target="_blank">iS Clinical Active Serum</a> ran out awhile ago, I decided to be a little bit adventurous and tried out new face serum. Organic of course, and it's always good to switch skincare around a little so your skin doesn't get too used to the same products anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Th9HLcoMVaGL3u04_AR2InBmEbHyjiH4ea6GJXgabmyR2lHXfrTs8G1oEA32O1IJtuXD7pffZTMriYsE11s9VCOjFYKp04ofxgrXBYgzIeolrZvJ2GKWKFH2qkQvdrh_NuT/s1600/photo(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Th9HLcoMVaGL3u04_AR2InBmEbHyjiH4ea6GJXgabmyR2lHXfrTs8G1oEA32O1IJtuXD7pffZTMriYsE11s9VCOjFYKp04ofxgrXBYgzIeolrZvJ2GKWKFH2qkQvdrh_NuT/s640/photo(4).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This time, I try out <a href="http://www.sophyto.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=59" target="_blank">Sophyto Anti-Aging Antioxidant Serum</a> and I'm glad to say that it is quite a lovely product! This award-winning (The Elle Green Stars Award 2009 and many more) is brimming with high percentage of polyphenols derived from fermented apple and tea for its great anti-aging and skin repairing properties. The amber colored serum has a very light fluid texture that's very much watery as it's free from any artificial fillers (unlike yucky stuff like Lancome Vissionaire that has mineral oils and silicone as fillers!). With a herbal aroma, it's instantly absorbed into your skin to leave a clean non sticky feel which I love. It's definitely great for people with oily skin because of its light texture. <br />
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I've been using this close to a month now (once a day only at night, before doubling up with Burt's Bees Radiance Serum) and I can feel that my skin is more radiant and healthier looking so I can say this is quite a great product especially if you're looking for a light weight serum. It's not some miracle product as the improvement isn't as dramatic as say iS Clinical serum but this would be a good maintenance item for sure, or when you need something to alternate your regular stuff with. I'm pretty happy with this and I'm likely to buy this again.<br />
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The downside is that it's retailing at $89 at Bud Cosmetics which is a bit steep considering when it's supposed to be only $49 USD, which is about $61SGD. So if you have friends in the US, you'll save about 30 bucks if you get them to send it over!<br />
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Next up, I'm gonna try the Suki Skincare Bio C 10% Formula Face Serum cos my Burt's Bees Radiance Serum is running out. I can't wait! Watch this space for review soon!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-4808997806072640282012-04-19T17:04:00.000+08:002012-04-19T17:04:53.954+08:00Early Mid Life CrisisI'm having an early mid-life crisis of sort. I can't call it quarter-life crisis any more now that I'm way past the 25-year-old mark but lately, I got thinking about my good old "days of youth" and realized perhaps, just perhaps, that I had not lived it up enough. That I wasn't reckless enough, that I was a bit too safe with my choices, that I was too responsible and wasn't impulsive enough, that I hadn't lived it large enough. Yes, that kind of underachieving.<br />
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It all started with a dinner with an old friend where we spoke of our crazy road trip once upon a time where I had a meltdown covered in mud chopping woods to plank our four-wheel-drive out of the ditch somewhere in Malaysia. The memory still fresh. I could remember the very morning where I was dropped off at Newton Hawker Centre car park by my douchebag of a then-boyfriend to be transferred to the Land Rover Discovery for some off roading adventure.<br />
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That very image crystal clear in my head like it happened just a couple of weeks ago. Only that it was, in actual fact, more than 10 years ago! A fucking decade has passed and the sense of nostalgia has set off my longing for the lightness that comes with being in my days of youth. Free of responsibilities, free of worries.<br />
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Now, here's the problem. Fast forward a decade or so, and my walk down the memory lane made me feel that I haven't done enough crazy stuff that's worthy of being one of those cool stories that start with "You know, that one time...".<br />
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I still feel like the 19-year-old I once was, running in some kind of standstill, while my peers have progressed to do the whole adult shebang of marriage, mortgage, and 2.5 kids. My entire 20s seemed to have happened in a blur and now I found myself longing to be a 20-year-old all over again because if I could, I promise I wouldn't worry as much, I wouldn't grip as much and I wouldn't mope around too long over silly things. Next I came face-to-face with the heavy question and burning burden on how to live it up well so I won't have the same feeling of underachievement in 10 years' time.<br />
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All the pensive pondering and dwelling on the what ifs, should haves and could haves plunged me in some dark pit of philosophical mulling until one crazy hardcore Vinyasa yoga session some nights ago ended with some sense of epiphany. When your body is contorted and twisted in complicated and sometimes painful yoga poses, your mind probably simplifies and straightens up to compensate and suddenly, that moment of clarity happens. Heavens open, the angels sing!<br />
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While standing upside down on my head with legs in full lotus, a little voice in my head told me that precisely because I'm feeling that I didn't live it up enough in my 20s, I should STOP feeling moody and worrying how best to live it up! No more wasting time fretting and feeling gloomy, my "living it up" starts NOW! Yes NOW!<br />
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The fact that I'm a happier person these days as opposed to the somewhat miserable sod I was in my 20s means that I'm doing something right. When in doubt, always go back to happiness for your bearings. That much I'm sure.<br />
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Having lost my bearings and found it back means I'm back on track, more sure of myself than before. Now, even the clouds of an early mid life crisis has its silver linings. All is well. All is well. Now, more Vinyasa Yoga next week for me!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-68290460215481390092012-04-17T08:49:00.000+08:002012-04-17T08:49:47.208+08:00Notable Quotable<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">"Peace isn't an experience free of challenges, free of rough and smooth; it's an experience that's expansive enough to include all that arises without feeling threatened."</span></span> <br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-- </span></span><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pema Chödrön</span></em></div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-45036095731643177822012-04-12T09:28:00.000+08:002012-04-12T09:28:50.498+08:00The Traveling Scent TrioIt's no secret I'm a perfume whore or rather, a <a href="http://b-muses.blogspot.com/2011/08/scentimental-trail.html" target="_blank">"scent-imental"</a> person as I would prefer to be known. I love fragrance. Quite obsessively in fact. So much so that I not only wear them, I travel everywhere with a couple of them. My "Traveling Trio". From left to right, Sage Citrine Perfume Oil, Kai Perfume Oil and Diptyque Do Son solid perfume. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnoGxAt1EnyQppdzLuA53ruhKwURJ5RDXU5LECtqM9Sm1bF4teUHBRamviBO2-DyK-BE7W73Vk20K-uUmgjEu1d1gLNp_qeGyOU3G9n2YCqBJP_xSpSUOzv8kBIwCymFQUQvr/s1600/IMG_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnoGxAt1EnyQppdzLuA53ruhKwURJ5RDXU5LECtqM9Sm1bF4teUHBRamviBO2-DyK-BE7W73Vk20K-uUmgjEu1d1gLNp_qeGyOU3G9n2YCqBJP_xSpSUOzv8kBIwCymFQUQvr/s640/IMG_0781.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Residing more or less permanently in my bag du jour, these three perfumes seem to be the only three I'm wearing these days for the simple reason that morning mad rush always leave me forgetting to spray on a cloud of fragrance before I leave the door. I'm sure there's something to do with the fact that they're all Phalates-free as I'm embracing a non-toxic lifestyle. Oh how I love them!Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-78154118843973546792012-04-11T14:52:00.000+08:002012-04-11T14:52:16.237+08:00Someone That I Used to KnowSong of the moment and I couldn't stop obsessing it cos it's such a major ear worm with awesome lyrics.<br />
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Don't we all have some douchebag ex who kinda fits the lyrics? I can think of a few myself...enjoy!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="386" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d9NF2edxy-M" width="700"></iframe>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-21481347149799899872012-04-10T10:46:00.000+08:002012-04-10T10:46:45.475+08:00Omakase Kaiseki @ KUMO KaisekiNever underestimate the power of comfort food.<br />
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Some people indulge in a chocolate feast, some commit "carb-icide" with tons of pasta or potato anything, while others binge themselves sick with junk food. Different strokes for different folks indeed. I, on the other hand, would like to think that I'm a little bit more sophisticated when it comes to beating the occasional blues with comfort food cos I go for <a href="http://www.kumokaiseki.com.sg/chef.htm" target="_blank"><u>Chef Nobu</u></a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omakase" target="_blank">Omakase</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiseki" target="_blank">Kaiseki</a> Menu at <b><a href="http://www.kumokaiseki.com.sg/" target="_blank"><u>Kumo</u> Japanese Kaiseki </a></b>to make myself happy!<br />
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For those not too familiar with Japanese cuisine, Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course dinner that is carefully prepared using the freshest ingredients in season. On top of its exquisite taste, each dish is carefully decorated with much attention to details to ensure its visual appeal. It usually comprises appetizer, a simmered dish, sashimi, a grilled course, a steamed course and whatever that's up to the chef. It's the western equivalent to haute cuisine. Omakase means the chef gets to decide what you get to eat and they basically start with your palate preference to tailor something for you.<br />
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My discovery on the mood-lifting power of Chef Nobu's Omakase Kaiseki came when someone mentioned his comfort food of choice is none other than Omakase Kaiseki at Kumo. When he's depressed, he looks for Chef Nobu to hit him with some skillfully and artistically prepared Japanese cuisine. Omakase Kaiseki is definitely out of the choc-and-chips norm when choices of comfort food is concerned, but one visit to Kumo for Nobu's Omakase Kaiseki and I totally understand why.<br />
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Trained in Kyoto directly under Kaiseki Maestro Teiichi Yuki (the man who made Kaiseki dining famous and possibly the best Kaiseki chef in the world), Nobu is one of the few licensed chefs trained to serve <i>fugu</i> or the poisonous puffer fish (he jokingly asked who I'd like to kill when I tried to order some) and his attention to detail means every dish is an edible art piece to really savour. Below are the courses I had in its order. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IzAgR4XYBcXiUpiMAoREcfRe5-n_As5iYTH6Eb7ygrgZPwh9CT1K57NBweTsTdnWnxH9mKMbxXtZeioOspNKT5zTzwbjNLohtzGsyRf3jU9IX4yDRrCq3V80130_AtiXbpuI/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IzAgR4XYBcXiUpiMAoREcfRe5-n_As5iYTH6Eb7ygrgZPwh9CT1K57NBweTsTdnWnxH9mKMbxXtZeioOspNKT5zTzwbjNLohtzGsyRf3jU9IX4yDRrCq3V80130_AtiXbpuI/s640/IMG_0628.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The appetizer opens with a pretty display of seafood, vegetable and beef, decorated with fresh peach blossom. </i><i>They tasted as good as they looked, leaving you lusting for more</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPa9t6nNewoX7GpK6VDmdL73-GP6YaRbrWPuSjeMGmK7ib68_HwSC7RpY9IlHq7ylaQ1RU03B0SjNJRg4rLCVmUHfM18WaB8zOOllhrzgU5q7kHYyMCBgYirDw8UACcfzxo8M7/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPa9t6nNewoX7GpK6VDmdL73-GP6YaRbrWPuSjeMGmK7ib68_HwSC7RpY9IlHq7ylaQ1RU03B0SjNJRg4rLCVmUHfM18WaB8zOOllhrzgU5q7kHYyMCBgYirDw8UACcfzxo8M7/s640/IMG_0629.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This signature Bonito soup with crab meat dumpling and a hint of yuzu is definitely something I can never get enough! Oiishi!</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZwjNuGMcLysCCi704KdFOlpylRtxEJ4F8tXgPz1dUvp4n3B4hynYsFjVBIwO7MqqUej4MnsqT642v2by1qO-mPHWJfIJ2ShwR6b5-c0-mWJ9sl0z56ucB_ORL96m6C5vM-Yk/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZwjNuGMcLysCCi704KdFOlpylRtxEJ4F8tXgPz1dUvp4n3B4hynYsFjVBIwO7MqqUej4MnsqT642v2by1qO-mPHWJfIJ2ShwR6b5-c0-mWJ9sl0z56ucB_ORL96m6C5vM-Yk/s640/IMG_0632.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Freshest sashimi (Kampachi, Tuna Toro and Kijiki) just got prettier with edible decorations</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwbISGYcgkR1KY1Ce7Xkub4KcfQWsFJs62GqqEBSZZhg6VDI7yuqqN3GXsiuCq6cVLvYvAQJnHuX4z5kiSxpBbUySDzpXgR_JVyeKoaRB-7kdVgpizrTU8VfxHaKfq4avWzCO/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwbISGYcgkR1KY1Ce7Xkub4KcfQWsFJs62GqqEBSZZhg6VDI7yuqqN3GXsiuCq6cVLvYvAQJnHuX4z5kiSxpBbUySDzpXgR_JVyeKoaRB-7kdVgpizrTU8VfxHaKfq4avWzCO/s640/IMG_0633.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A simmered dish of fish might look ordinary but it's bursting with flavor. A total surprise</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNjqfma9149CaDU2WJvufEHJ6bkFNOVyEoMphNOH91B8a-8DvIY-hPDc4f77fwGtRQ8Aycx-ce6bOgZUxi1MmB_0heA-VYcA-493HL3A6Ahb71yFuj24Ee2DDAhwaYx0iDAdx/s1600/IMG_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNjqfma9149CaDU2WJvufEHJ6bkFNOVyEoMphNOH91B8a-8DvIY-hPDc4f77fwGtRQ8Aycx-ce6bOgZUxi1MmB_0heA-VYcA-493HL3A6Ahb71yFuj24Ee2DDAhwaYx0iDAdx/s640/IMG_0636.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Grilled dish of tuna with side dishes of vegetable. Notice even the bean was so carefully cut to reveal just the right amount of peas in the pod and one of the pea was half-cut. Now that would take some skills</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8rJRp8jyEafb0KYofn5Qkj7GLGzZbYRj0kXPTT231C5WbL953I_PHA_Vt_MPJYCQXL1jl_3PPLa-CWfoBMlmVmiHSVobjCUmou6p0S7P5j7BMwmEyrZ20auYxJzH9Miuex8g/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8rJRp8jyEafb0KYofn5Qkj7GLGzZbYRj0kXPTT231C5WbL953I_PHA_Vt_MPJYCQXL1jl_3PPLa-CWfoBMlmVmiHSVobjCUmou6p0S7P5j7BMwmEyrZ20auYxJzH9Miuex8g/s640/IMG_0638.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>An interesting dish both in taste and texture. It's actually baby eels in special ponzu sauce</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVPruP8g7VRE3VGV4NC6ulqdWsflk89WdInxAMA8TfhNncOOd36xmBa1aolJ4xC_Hw-6cAW-63UTKrmiacjko3WfUSqgQR228x-6jbtBrItbT0fe9cotusnLGJfVX7nhyphenhyphenMirX/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVPruP8g7VRE3VGV4NC6ulqdWsflk89WdInxAMA8TfhNncOOd36xmBa1aolJ4xC_Hw-6cAW-63UTKrmiacjko3WfUSqgQR228x-6jbtBrItbT0fe9cotusnLGJfVX7nhyphenhyphenMirX/s640/IMG_0641.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Steamed wakame and bamboo shoot came with matching bowl. It's super tasty with a rich flavored broth</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vnpb_C_V-lf0tzRHRQZtFNFjRUjkhvP9LOix8E3kVJ6ntb2UMdcBo58qAOGnLcT6wYVXfA8g7HAP5raLAibROfwAgKrK6q0asNzaF3xsxTsWaqj97Ctq9kRI0QZ7jCjXxa5K/s1600/IMG_0643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vnpb_C_V-lf0tzRHRQZtFNFjRUjkhvP9LOix8E3kVJ6ntb2UMdcBo58qAOGnLcT6wYVXfA8g7HAP5raLAibROfwAgKrK6q0asNzaF3xsxTsWaqj97Ctq9kRI0QZ7jCjXxa5K/s640/IMG_0643.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lightly pan seared wagyu beef in light sauce</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDi0KOi9ylg8D-QI-GpfjJ2myWxbLiO-Ayc8Wp-gVqo9xAKg81F4Hs10G9ZzeEFeNg9Cl-bS5iBkM_jKyDM6zSZsWMKhI678iJRduxRQ-dhyphenhyphenE3Ey12ocyfC6E-dNcQNxJj2G4/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDi0KOi9ylg8D-QI-GpfjJ2myWxbLiO-Ayc8Wp-gVqo9xAKg81F4Hs10G9ZzeEFeNg9Cl-bS5iBkM_jKyDM6zSZsWMKhI678iJRduxRQ-dhyphenhyphenE3Ey12ocyfC6E-dNcQNxJj2G4/s640/IMG_0648.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sushi platter haute cuisine style. They're all carefully made and decorated and extremely tasty. The fish was so fresh you simply don't need any soy sauce</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6dqLs6sqMarpc5e-JFWT80TbZr4y-tyH28Jmyv0NMdAhUxhT1rPtJB5Tifh4ojw-Cb1dsAQFi9rVEO0w08mh5n0JFUJi3KRdJqpl7Tf9OacqS68zc2A5ULO49wVaG2RgDqAd/s1600/IMG_0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6dqLs6sqMarpc5e-JFWT80TbZr4y-tyH28Jmyv0NMdAhUxhT1rPtJB5Tifh4ojw-Cb1dsAQFi9rVEO0w08mh5n0JFUJi3KRdJqpl7Tf9OacqS68zc2A5ULO49wVaG2RgDqAd/s640/IMG_0651.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Rare marbled wagyu beef. Nobu said it's an extremely rare cut near the shoulder blade (if I remember correctly) and they're rationed out to licensed restaurants around the world (Kumo Kaiseki is one of them). They don't come easy! I was really lucky!</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxRPv4X9AduHMWua6U3iBK4DOZdWOR_av2EBmc-D1uRpKdMAnhAi1XsBNj46Zgyfzi03WYwnZv2MDOBx6er5CDtrGKoIBtFogGB7TBjSAhPTuGsjhnQApzjzwbtk6cbcpD-Bp/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxRPv4X9AduHMWua6U3iBK4DOZdWOR_av2EBmc-D1uRpKdMAnhAi1XsBNj46Zgyfzi03WYwnZv2MDOBx6er5CDtrGKoIBtFogGB7TBjSAhPTuGsjhnQApzjzwbtk6cbcpD-Bp/s640/IMG_0654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Omakase menu at Kumo normally ends with their special cheese cake but I traded it for my favorite Choya jelly! They use Choya, the famed Japanese Plum Wine, to cook the jelly before putting a bunch of fresh fruits. It's amazingly aromatic and super refreshing!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kumo Omakase Kaiseki is nothing short of heavenly. In a somewhat corny way, Kumo is quitely aptly named as it means clouds in Japanese and I was definitely on cloud 9 in heaven every time I go there! It's my happy place where every dish makes my heart sing cos it's a visual treat as much as a gastronomical wonder. Kumo is officially my favorite Japanese restaurant in Singapore and really the best I've been to outside of Japan (yes, it totally trumps <a href="http://b-muses.blogspot.com/2012/02/hong-kong-omnomnom-vol-2_23.html" target="_blank">Oedo in Hong Kong</a>). You seriously NEED to try it out! Satisfaction Guaranteed and I know I'm gonna be a regular now!</div>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13632241.post-6701281201808996482012-04-09T09:30:00.000+08:002012-04-09T09:30:13.209+08:00Notable Quotable<span style="font-size: x-large;">"You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important"</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;">-- Aibileen, The Help</div><br />
Yes, YOU!<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Amazing movie by the way!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="386" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UZimx1wHYcs" width="700"></iframe>Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14348920370421864568noreply@blogger.com6