May Muses

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!

 Reading: Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki. 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.

Watching: Delicacy. 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!

Using: Perfect Multi Compact by Maquillage. 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!

Weleda Wild Rose Body Lotion. I've finished my bottle of SukiVelvet Moisturizing Cream 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.

Drinking: Sokenbi Cha. 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!

Shopping at: iHerb.com 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.

Yojiya from Kyoto. 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.

Lusting after: An Issey Miyaki Bao Bao 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.

Loving: Kyoto! 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!

April Muses

Reading: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This is gifted by my boyfriend (who has extremely good taste in books and many other stuff) in my Kindle and has been sitting there unread for months. I'm finally at it and loving every bit of this well written story of a girl who enjoyed stealing books and reading while living in Germany under the Nazi's reign. It's a fantastic read!

Listening to: Amy Winehouse. The most recent artist to join the " 27 Club" , Amy Winehouse had it coming for her with her crazy substance abuse habits, but what a waste of talent cos I could never get enough of her soulful voice. Her Love is A Loving Game popped out the other day on my iPod when it shuffled and I've been listening nonstop since to revisit her sexy magnetic vocals.

Wearing: I have an addiction to stripes shirt and while shopping for corporate dresses for work, I ended up with the most un-corporate green stripes tee shirt from Mango. I love green and the beige accent makes the green pop even more.

Also wearing Kai Perfume Oil. Toted as one of the top 5 cult perfume by In Style Magazine, there's a reason why this is such a favorite with its nice accords of Gardenia, Jasmine, Tuberose and Lily. Its soft floral of white flower accords is indeed a winner. I'm hooked!

Using: 100% Pure Healthy Flawless Skin Foundation with SPF 20. I've finally finished my Juice Beauty Refining Finishing Powder! Yes, for once, I actually finished up my face makeup since I've made a commitment to be a responsible consumer. I'm loving the 100% Pure foundation! It's a dry powder foundation that gives light to medium coverage that evens out the skin tone to give you a nice glow. It lasts pretty well and doesn't cake up. Looks like I might have found my perfect organic match for foundation.

Also using Dean & Deluca canvas tote. I couldn't help but bought a gray Dean & Deluca tote while in NYC. It was an impulse buy that turned out to be a good buy cos it holds everything. I'm using this to hold all my workout clothes and it doubles up as a light-weight casual weekend bag.

Loving: Illume Twilight Vanilla Candle. I impulse bought the Ladurée Candle while I was in NYC 2 weeks ago. It looks gorgeous but burns quite poorly because it's using bad quality paraffin wax! What horror! I didn't expect that from a high end iconic brand so my Ladurée Candle will remain as a decorative piece. But say hello to Illume Twilight Soy Wax Candle in Twilight Vanilla. Soy wax candles are heaps better and burns cleaner. This one smells quite potent if you give it direct sniff but when it burns, it's soft! Nice!

Ecotools makeup brushes. Started by animal activist and Hollywood actress Alicia Silverstone, the Ecotools range features grooming products made with bamboo and recycled materials. I love their eco-friendly makeup brushes that's not only functional, great for the environment but very affordable too.

Eating: Endangered Species Chocolate. I love my dark chocolate and Endangered Species Chocolate not only does really good ones with no nasty palm oil, they donate part of their profits to yes, you got it, endangered species around the world. What better way to enjoy life's little pleasure while knowing you're contributing to helping animals!

Looking forward to: JAPAN!!! I can't wait for my trip to Japan end of April!! It's been more than a decade since I last went there during my college days!

March Muse

Reading: Comics! It's super unlike me to read comics and the last time I read comics was more than 15 years ago. Embarrassingly, I used to totally dig Sailor Moon and I read the comics then (seriously, the comics are much better! No judgement please!). This time, my sister showed me a really funny one called Saint Young Men and I have to read it because it's about Jesus and Buddha coming down to Earth to live as housemates in modern day Tokyo. It's hilarious and I love all the jokes (harmless really!) about these two religious icons. It's so funny I would laugh out loud reading it and I'm hooked. There's a total of seven volumes and I definitely would want all of them. Now I just need to go somewhere to find the rest of the volumes. Wish me luck on that as I have no freaking idea where I can find comic shops these days.

Watching: New Girl with Zooey Deschanel as Jess Day, the quirky school teacher who lives with three other guys as house mates. I love it cos Zooey's my March's girl crush and I started a series after my friend J told me I have to watch it cos he thinks I resemble Jess Day with my weird ass ways. So I downloaded the series out of curiosity and I'm hooked! The season just finished with 14 episodes and I can't wait for the new season to start.

Wearing: Navy blue polka dot skirt from Mango. I love the versatility of a classic polka dot skirt and this Mango one can take me from work (just wear with shirt or a slouchy tank and structured jacket) to weekend (with slouchy tees).

Using: Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo and Conditioner. These certified organic hair products are my all time favorites! Started by Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda (he later left the brand to start Intelligent Nutrients), Intelligent Nutrients does fully organic products using super safe, food grade ingredients. In fact, it's so safe that Horst actually took a swig of their hair spray in his mouth during a press launch as proof of its product safety. Anyhow, this shampoo and conditioner combo is such a winner with super fresh minty feel to leave hair thoroughly clean, soft and shiny. You can also use the shampoo as a body and even face wash as it's super mild! It's a total pleasure using them!

Burt's Bees Radiance Serum. This tiny bottle is jammed packed with the goodness of royal jelly, licorice roots, glycerin and tons of Vitamins (A,C, D & K) and amino acids. It promises to brighten your skin in four weeks and it works. In fact, it's been less than four weeks and I already feel that my skin is more radiant and even-toned. Zit marks also heal faster too! I absolutely adore this one and it's got a very light fluid texture that's quickly absorbed into the skin. You'll need only 2 to 3 drops each application. I highly recommend this one!

Drinking: Lemon Water. This is gonna be a new project. I'm gonna try and drink a glass of warm water every morning with the juice of half a lemon. There are tons of reasons to do so and it's great for health too! Not only does it detox you while packing in all the Vitamin C, it also maintains an alkaline pH environment in the body which is the ideal anti-cancer environment. Now the challenge is to wake up a wee bit early to guzzle down the goodness and that's gonna be a wee bit difficult!

Loving: The Clarisonic Mia! I simply can't gush enough about this little convenient contraption that thoroughly cleanses your skin with sonic vibration. It gives your skin a good micro massage with just a mere one minute a day. I really wish I had bought it earlier and maybe I won't be having so much tiny oily bumps on my forehead which thankfully, are going going gone with the Mia.

The Sakox Lollipop Pen. This is such an "act cute" pen with a fluffy pom pom fur ball but I really couldn't resist when I saw them in City Super in Hong Kong. I get attracted to colourful shiny stuff and I'm glad I got a purple one for myself cos it really brightens up my desk and make it looks all chirpy. It makes perfect gifts for your girl friends too!

Lusting after: The birdie ring from Twinkle Bird it's so cute!! I love all their stuff especially the cloud necklace! Things to collect slowly one by one.

February Muse

Reading: The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard Following the youtube on The Story of Stuff, I'm so amused and inspired by the information that I bought the book to read up more. If I have to choose one book to read this year, this potentially could be the one as it's an eye opener to how our stuff is made and disposed, as well as all the precious insight into consumerism. I'm more determined to reform my ways when consumerism is concerned and so far, I think I'm doing pretty well as I'm not recklessly buying shit anymore.

Watching: Wicked! Finally! Going for the musical this Saturday and I can't wait when I got the tickets in January. I've got some pretty decent seats and it's definitely something to look forward to this weekend!

Wearing: Keeping it real with Gap neon pink stripes tee shirt. I love stripes and this neon pink stripes tee gives the boring black, white and navy ones I have a break. The slouchy fit is perfect for casual look and layering.

Using: 100% Pure Sheer Cheek Colour in Strawberry. I love 100% Pure! Its safe and organic range of make up products are toxin free and made from fruit pigments. This cheek colour gives a perfect flush for a natural, healthy look and the light texture makes it easy to blend. You can increase the intensity by dabbing more layers. Perfect for everyday use. Available at Bud Cosmetics.

My old Chanel 2.55 Reissue Accordion in metallic blue with gold chain strap. Haven't  used this baby for awhile but I think the Accordion trumps the classic 2.55 flap cos the classic shape is so common these days that everyone, from socialites to skanks, is using it. Accordion is rare and when I saw the blue with gold, I knew I wanted it cos it's different. It's definitely one of my heirloom pieces.

Eating: At Real Food at Central Mall (it's very much the only attraction there in my opinion) . It's one of my favourite haunts for a good healthy grub and I'm glad Mr Bear loves it too and we're there at least once a week these days and I'm not getting sick of it. I love their Dry Brown Rice Noodle with Mushroom and Miso Soup with Barley and Veggies...I can never get enough of it! Omnomnomnom......

Drinking: This is starting to sound like "Tea of the month" but yes, I'm so loving herbal tea and my poison this month is the Lemon & Ginger tea from Yogi Tea. I've never really liked ginger anything but somehow this blend is sooo very soothing without being overpowering and it makes me goes "Ahhhh" every time I smell and drink it. Such a treat and it makes me feel like there's nothing a cup of nice herbal tea can't solve. It's calmness in a cup.

Loving: Scotch Naturals!!! I can't stop gushing about the awesomeness of Scotch Naturals (see previous post on review) cos it's pretty much the best nail polish out there. It's water-base, toxins free, doesn't smell, paints well, dries fast and glossy, and comes in so many gorgeous colours! What's not to love? I've now amassed a total of 6 delish colours. Can't wait for more!

Lusting after: This is by far the most mumsy lust item, but when I saw the tv advertisement of the Philip Air Fryer during the boring Chinese New Year time at my grandpa's place, I want one! I'm a foodie at heart who once said that if there's no health repercussion of eating deep fried food, I would eat it everyday cos it's so tasty. So this gadget supposedly uses "air" to deep fry your food for a healthy alternative. How it works I have no idea and neither do I give a damn as long as it produces healthy fried food (what an oxymoron!)! One of these days, I would go down to Tangs and be all domestic about it to see the demonstration and try out the food to see if it tastes as good. But at about $400 a pop, it's ouch to the wallet!

Consumerism Overhaul

In my quest to simplify, de-clutter and streamline my stuff, my things and potentially my life in a recent overhaul exercise inspired by the book The Joy of Less, I've chanced upon a youtube video that is completely life-changing. It's totally changed the way I look at consumerism and capitalism and I'm so sure that my serendipitous discovery of this video clip (I chanced upon it while researching on safe organic toiletries!) is a sign that I REALLY must change the way I participate in the whole consumerism cycle.


The Story of Stuff is a project started by Annie Leonard in 2007 when she got fed up with the whole "Buy and throw away" culture, prompting her to investigate and dig deeper into the whole cycle of consumerism and what fuels its fire. Along the way, she's uncovered many ugly truths about consumerism and exposes its nasty underbellies that challenges the way we would (at least I did) look at consumerism.

It's a pretty long video but I savored every seconds of it and it'll be something I'll re-watch every now and then whenever I feel seduced by the lure of advertisers and big money-making corporations. I'm even more determined to go through a "consumerism rehab" and re-program myself to not "want" and "need" things too much! This video is truly life-changing for me!

January Muse

Reading: The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide by Francine Jay. I've been on a mission to declutter, downsize and pare down my stuff. When I told my friends I'm gonna TRY to be minimalist, they all burst out laughing, knowing that shopping and buying stuff seems to be my super power. But really, perhaps one of this year's resolutions (I don't do resolutions btw) is to buy very selectively and to give/throw away all the stuff I don't need. This book is awesome as Francine teaches you how to declutter, drilling down to the the psychology of why people hoard their things. I've been decluttering some stuff and I love the feeling of chucking out old stuff and reclaiming space. It's a wake up call that the stuff I chuck out is money too and it's all from my senseless consuming and buying. So from now on, I'm gonna be very selective in the stuff that I get. Wish me luck!

Also reading Time Out Singapore. I check in on Time Out Singapore every now and then to keep up with all the stuff that's happening in this sunny island of durian eaters. Great tips on where to eat, what to see, where to go etc. A must-read if you're bored of your routine and would want something new to do and see.

Watching: Animations from the Ghibli Studio! How I love Hayao Miyazaki's work! My dad started me on it when I was 9 or so when he took me to watch my first Miyazaki cartoon, Laputa, Castle in the Sky. I've been a fan since, with special affinity to Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service because they're my childhood favorites. I've been re-watching Miyazaki animations over the holidays. LOVE them!

Later this month, I'll also be watching Giselle by The Paris Opera Ballet. I can't wait!! And I've got pretty good ticket!

Wearing: Diptyque Do Son Perfume. I got the solid perfume version of this lovely Tuberose scent. Will blog more about it another time. It's super nice and I love the packaging!

Also wearing a lot of my Vamoose necklace. So pretty! Perfect for layering!

Using: The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Cream. I was done with my Ole Henriksen moisturizer and I'm switching a lot of my face and body care to organic stuff. I got The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Cream this time. It smells divine with a nice citrus scent and nice texture that's quickly absorbed. I just started using it for about 2 weeks now. Will blog more about it soon when I can speak more about it, but so far so good.

Drinking: EveryDay Detox tea by Traditional Medicinals. I'm hooked on herbal tea and I'm drinking this one almost everyday. Traditional Medicinals makes really great herbal tea and I've got the night time sleep well tea as well for the occasional insomnia.

Loving: Hardly a sexy thing to love but I must admit I love using the NeilMed Netti Pot. The ceramic netti pot I bought in India broke long time ago and now I've replaced it with a plastic one from NeilMed. It comes with its salt mixture in convenient sachets and it does wonders for my sinus. I rinse my nose every night now. I know it sounds painful and uncomfortable to flush your nostrils but trust me, if you have sinus, this is a god sent! On top of keeping sinus at bay, ancient ayurvedic medicine also says using a netti pot balances the Ida (ying) and Pingala (yang) energy too.

Lusting after: The Dior Oui necklace. I love it. Plain and simple. Oui si vous plait!!

December Muse

OMG, it's December! This year, there's no going back home for Christmas for me cos I've started a new job and I didn't expect to feel so lousy not going home for festive :( But it's okay cos I guess it makes me value the time with them more. Anyway, here's a delayed December Muse....been so damn busy! I'm looking forward to the much much-needed long Christmas weekend!

Reading: November Issue of Monocle...yes, I'm a laggard cos it's already December but I simply had no time to read at all! So I'm reading the back issue cos it's an issue on food. Not just gourmet food but supermarket grocer, fast food (MOS Burger made it to Monocle) etc etc...

Listening to: The Best of Vanessa Paradis....Love the easy listening and soothing girlie voice. Perfect for the rainy weather of December. She's definitely one of my favorite celebrities! LOVE!

Drinking: Clipper Organic Chamomile tea with lemon balm and honey. Comfort in a cup...again, perfect for rainy days and it's soooo delicious and immensely satisfying. Definitely one of the many simple joys in life.


Wearing: Lululemon City to Yoga jacket. I'm supposed to not buy any Lululemon stuff cos I've got enough but when I saw this cute jacket with nice scallop edges and a peplum, I couldn't resist. It's super comfy and warmer than the usual Define Jacket. Didn't experience any buyer's regret at all!

Versace for H&M red dress. I call this the Superman dress cos it comes with a cape and my lovely friend snatched one for me. It's in my book, the classiest piece in the collection. I haven't worn it cos I need to get past the chili red colour since I've never been a red person but I think I'll wear this for Christmas dinner or something. Fits perfectly and very comfy fabric.


Using: Lancome Visionaire Serum. It contains LR 2412 and in plain English, it means it's supposed to give you good skin with finer texture, smaller pores, improved pigmentation and reduced fine lines. Fact or fiction? I can't say yet cos I've just started using and I'll write a review a little later. Right now I can only say that the texture is good and light since it absorbs very quickly but as with all Lancome products, I hate the heavy scent that's artificial.....this one unfortunately smells like men's deodorant. I wish Lancome can go easy on the smell. I like nice smelling stuff but I hate smells that's too artificial, especially for stuff I put on my face.

Loving: OPI Rainbow Connection. This is just so awesome! I don't care if it's a total bitch to remove it but I love the colours and the metallic look. Goes with everything and I actually have a matching Ante Prima wire bag for the colors!

Dogeared Emerald Jade necklace.  It's simple and so pretty. I still haven't got sick of it and I don't think I will. I love the green and gold combination.

Waiting for: Toms Wedges. I've been wearing Toms classic for awhile and I wasn't sure whether to get the wedges when they first came out due to the mixed reviews, but I couldn't resist and got a black pair and it's on the way to me. I'll let you know if it hurts my feet or if it's the best thing after slice bread when it's here.

Wishing for: Better welfare for all the animals in the world, great health for my loved ones &Mr Bond, and more compassion and kindness.

November Muse

Hello from Hong Kong! It's already November!!!
 
Reading: Deluxe. How Luxury lost its lustre by Dana Thomas. In my previous blog post, I wrote about counterfeit goods and how it's a vicious trade that's more than buying a couple of fake bags. A lot of the info came from the book and now I'm reading the entire book. Dana Thomas' book expounds on the history of luxury goods and how the luxury industry is no longer true to its milieu with the emergence of counterfeit business. It's an extremely interesting read!

Listening to: Smash by Martin Solveig. Very happy tunes, especially Hello featuring Dragonette. Perfect for my break in Hong Kong now. Happy music and very snappy.


Drinking: Rainforest Ultimate Acai Meal Replacement. My TCM doctor ordered me to up my protein intake to counteract fatigue. Clearly, my mostly vegetarian diet (probably 95% with some occasional sashimi) isn't giving me enough protein, so roll in the Rainforest Ultimate Acai Meal Replacement. It's a plant protein based shake that gives 25g of protein per shot with an additional dose of nutritious Acai berry. Perfect protein supplement for me.

Using: Ettusais Mineral BB Powder. My Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder died a sudden death thanks to my maid. She dropped it into the toilet bowl and flooded all the powder. End of story. So i bought the Ettusais Mineral BB Powder and it's so good I feel that the Jurlique is destined to fall into the toilet bowl instead! The powder is silky fine and goes on smoothly for a nice even finish. The coverage is light but it's precisely what I want. It's got pretty good staying power for a powder and it does cut shine too. It's a good lighter alternative to the Ettusais Sparkling Pack which I super love too.

Wearing: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue perfume. I'm revisiting this old favorites. So fresh and I just never get sick of it.

Zara Sequin Skirt. The awesome perfect sequin skirt! It's not too sparkly in this nice nude shade. Pair it with a crisp white shirt and a pair of nude pumps for a sophisticated look that can bring you from day to night. I love it!

Loving: My new Balenciaga Giant Work bag in black and rose gold hardware. I've decided that I kinda hate the Celine Luggage Tote for the simple reason that it's never available. They literally get snapped up the moment they hit the store and honestly, that kind of crazy obsession with it really puts me off wanting one. So when I saw the Balenciaga Giant Work in black and rose gold hardware, I went for it cos I've been wanting the black and rose gold combination for awhile and here it is! A new addition to my Balenciaga family. I'm loving the bigger size than my purple City, very roomy and I love big bags.

Bose QC15 Headphones! I got this as one of my birthday "package" from the amazing Mr Bear. It's such a god sent for flight as it cuts out all the noisy airplane engine sound and you get some lovely quiet time on the plane. It comes with an adapter for the in-flight entertainment system so you can watch movies with awesome sound! Amazing!!

Lusting after: Lanvin flats! I'm always willing to splurge on bags cos good ones last forever, but when it comes to shoes, I'm a total Scrooge cos you stomp on them and then they die. But these Lanvin flats are so damn freaking comfy and well made that I'm really trying very very hard to resist!!

October Muse

Reading: The Secret History of the World by Mark Booth. If you would like to challenge what you've been taught on our history, this book is for you. History is the story of the winners and Mark Booth uncovers some of the hidden history carefully concealed and deflected by religious groups and the secret societies of the world. It also touches on the Mystery schools associated with many famous leaders, scientists, author and in general, people of high power. If you like all the conspiracy theories in The Da Vinci Code, then you'll have to read this one. I actually got this book some time back but left it n the book shelf but then after reading the topic of mind control programme from artist Kim Noble's case, I got so interested in all the secrets different governments and authorities of power are trying to hide. Interesting read though it gets a bit out of the world, but like I said, it's about challenging what you're taught to believe in.

Watching: 3 Idiots. Recommended by my sister and all the rage in Hong Kong now, this 2009 Hindi film is a three-hour comedy extravaganza about the education system in India. I  caught it over the weekend and it's freaking awesome! Very funny yet heartwarming with lots of LOL moments and lovely location at the end of the movie.

Listening to: The Best of Beatles. Every now and then, when I've run out of things to listen to, I'll go back to one of the classics, and this month it is The Beatles. I love them and it's always a perennial favorite because it reminds me of the time when I took on a holiday job in Esprit and they played The Beatles on the shop floor a lot. It was such happy times, so The Beatles is always my happy music.

Wearing: TopShop lace top. I like that this has a vintage mama-san feel to it. It's very comfy with a loose relaxed fit and mixes well with jeans for a Friday dress-down chic. Pair it with bright coloured heels for an extra pop of colour.

Jewel Rocks Amazonite bracelet. I can't get enough of Jewel Rocks bracelets and I absolutely regret not getting more while I was in Bali. I wear it almost everyday and their pieces make awesome choice for stacking into an arm party as coined by Men Repeller.

Using: Clarins Liquid Bronzer. Don't let the sun-kissed skin fade! It was compliment after compliment since coming back from Bali with a hint of tan! Self-tanner is the best choice if you want a sun-kissed glow without the UV Rays damaged. It's especially important for me since I don't tan well at all and will normally burn instead. So fake it, don't bake it.

Also using Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder. I'm cutting down foundation and I only wear foundation once in a while. So to keep the skin matte, cut shine after applying moisturizer and set concealer , I use a translucent powder instead. I've used the Lavender version some time back but didn't quite like it then cos it's too dry for me. This Rose version seems to be a little better for dry skin. Not sure if it's due to an improved formula but the Rose Silk Finishing Powder does a pretty good job at keeping the skin matte without drying it out. The nice hint of rose scent is an extra plus.

Loving: Kindle.Yes, I relented. I was adamant about not having electronic book because I love the smell of books and the feel of flipping pages the old school way. BUT, I want to read more while I'm out commuting on public transport and let's face it, books can be bulky to lug around, not to mention the pesky dog ears that I absolutely abhor. So I traded pulp for plastic and I'm actually loving it. I read more now because the Kindle is so light and small and it's always with me. I still buy and collect books despite the Kindle. Just that now I'm collecting mostly graphic books instead.

Also loving China Glaze For Audrey nail polish. Thing is, Essie is still the best nail polish and China Glaze isn't even anywhere near Essie but this lovely teal colour is irresistible, especially among the sea of ubiquitous baby blue. It's probably named For Audrey because it's the Tiffany blue and in honour of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's. China Glaze isn't easy to paint on because the texture is really thick and it tends to streak. After messing it up many tries, the trick to paint it is doing just 1 coat but with more polish on the brush and yes, it's thick enough to give a good saturation of colour with just one coat. That's how viscous it is. The good thing about it, however, is that it lasts and doesn't chip even without a top coat. So something's gotta give I guess.

September Muse

It's September! Another 4 days to go before I'll be in Bali! I cannot wait!


Reading: The Meowmorphosis by Franz Kafka and Coleridge Cook. Yes, it's the Quirk Classic and it's the only one Quirk Classic I'm will to read. The rest of the Quirk Classic like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies just never appeal to me cos I'm such a literature Nazi but The Meowmorphosis is the exception cos instead of turning into an insect like the original Kafka Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa turned into a giant furry kitten. You don't say no to cute cuddly kitty cat. I'm halfway through it, not too bad I must say. Ohhh, I'm ordered a Kindle online and it should be here anytime now. I'll talk more about that another time....


Listening to: Le Bapteme by M, otherwise known as Mathieu Chedid. One of my favourite French artists. Le Bapteme's his debut album back in 1997. Was listening to this when I was still in school. La Fleur is a favorite track of mine. Lovely lovely lyrics in French.


Wearing: Chanel Le Vernis in Peridot. It's one of the more interesting colours out there as I've mentioned before. Haven't got sick of it!

YSL Arty Ring. It's been many weeks since I got the Arty but I still love it as much and I wear it almost everyday. It doesn't look like I'll get sick of it any time soon in fact. I want more!

Loving: Jo Malone Nutmeg and Ginger Perfume. It isn't mine but the boy bought it for himself and I've been stealing his to use and I realize it might just be my new favorite. I love it. In fact, I like it more than all the rest I've got...oh no! I got fooled by the relatively un-sexy sounding "Nutmeg and Ginger" name, thinking I'd very much prefer the floral version but when I smell it on my man, I realize it's super duper yummy! I'm gonna get one for myself...or perhaps just steal his. I've been trying to convince him that it smells better on me but he's not letting it go haha.

Using: Blackberry Torch 9800. I'm still Team Blackberry and my last one isn't working too well so here's the new one. I know the Blackberry Bold 9900 is all the rage now and lots of iPhone peeps actually switched back to the BB because of the 9900 but I still like the Torch cos it's got a much bigger screen. Best of both worlds, keypad and a touch screen.

Eating: Tofurky. Who said vegan food is always shit? Tofurky does some really yummy vegan cold cuts for sandwich and stuff. I love it! Cruelty-free is always good!

Drinking: Fancl Tense-Up Ex. My skin's been feeling kinda dull lately and Fancl Tense-Up Ex is always a good perk-me-up for skin that needs a boost. It's supposed to boost collagen production and give you more radiance. It's worked for me in the past, so I've bought a month worth of it. Gotta invest in good skin.


Lusting after: The Celine Luggage Tote in red. It's funny how people are calling it the Celine Face Bag cos it looks like it's got eyes and a mouth. I want a Celine Luggage Micro Tote! I'm not really a red person but then I really love the red Celine Luggage Tote. Red bag and shoes are always a good way to wear red cos they're not so in your face like a red dress or shirt but it's bright enough to give your outfit an extra oomph. Only that the luggage tote is always out of stock in most places.

August Muse 2011

Ohhh August now and one more month before Bali....I can't wait! Meanwhile...here's August...

Reading: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov...Yes, some couple of months ago, I said I was reading Lolita but I kinda stopped halfway cos I got kinda grossed out by all the lewd thoughts Humbert Humbert had in his head on a 12-year-old girl. It's disturbing so I stopped but then I picked it up again, bracing myself for more paedophilic perversity cos Nabokov's writing and language is just too good to miss. 

Listening to: "Conditions" by The Temper Trap....Love this Aussie band...not a new album but nice breezy tunes with a rocky edge. 

Watching: West is West by Andy de Emmony.....this is the sequel to East is East which was made more than a decade ago! I watched East is East while I was still in Uni and it took them 10 years to do a sequel! But this British Indie film kicks ass! I saw it on Saturday and I LOVE IT!!! It's so freaking funny but the poignant moments add so much depth to it. I had a tear in my eye at some scenes. If you love Indie films, this is a must-watch. 

Wearing: Cool Racer Back by Lululemon. Okay, I'm officially addicted to the Cool Racer Back cos it's so comfy with a very very flattering cut that actually makes me look skinnier and my arms toner. Nice cut too cos it's not too tight and it's perfect for workout and you can wear it to go out...I've got 3 and I wish I have one in every color. 

Using: Clarins Shaping Facial Lift....It promises the world by contouring your face and giving you shapelier profile...with my stupid face so damn prone to water retention (often making me look like a "Char Siew Bao"), I need this...I use it at night. Smells divine, awesome texture that gets absorbed quickly and it leaves skin soft. No complain! Dunno about the effects but at least I feel psychologically better and since it softens my skin and supposedly "detox" the skin, I'm in.

Miu Miu Butterfly Bow Bag in white....It's been all about Mulberry and Balenciaga for ages and I've neglected my first proper bag bought years ago. So out it came and I'm using my Miu Miu quite a bit. Still love it much! I think I gotta take it for some proper cleaning and servicing soon though...yes, you do need to bring your luxury bag to a bag beautician every now and then as part of the care regime. 

Eating: Lots of cherries! I LOVE cherries and it's my favorite fruit (I like white cherry more). I saw tons of it at the supermarket and I've been buying boxes after boxes nonstop (despite it being quite expensive at about $15 a box). Is it the season now or what? Dunno, don't care. I'm munching nonstop....

Loving: Jo Malone French Lime Blossom and Orange Blossom cologne. Oh so nice....Love Jo Malone cos it's exclusive and their perfumes don't smell like what every other person has on the street. I'm layering the French Lime Blossom with Jo Malone Grapefruit cologne for an extra burst of freshness while I wear my Orange Blossom neat most of the time. I think I would like to get the White Jasmine and Mint next. 

Lusting after: Still the Fujifilm X100. It's fucking awesome....Mr Bear has one and I get very annoyed when I play with it cos I want my own! The picture quality is just ridiculously good and really gives Leica a run for its money (a hell lot of it). Now you said I can just borrow it but it's not the same when it comes to shooting your own photos with someone else's camera. So MAYBE if I'm good, I MIGHT get mine end of the year....

July Muse 2011

Reading: British Vogue....Honestly, I prefer British magazines to American ones anytime because British mags are simply better in terms of contents and style. They're just heaps better...I've been getting the British Vogue after giving in to the exorbitant prices. Annoying that it costs about $19 here when it's just less than 5 quids in UK. But well, what to do?? It's a good read....

Listening to: Shock Value by Timbaland.....Not new obviously but I've always loved Timbaland and he makes great snappy music. Now I'm listening to him cos my pole dance class is choreographed to his song "The way I are"....

Wearing: Cool Down Crop by Lululemon. Lululemon's been my favorite sportswear brand since I shelled out quite a bit of money to get my first pair (okay, first 3 pairs since I bought 3 at one go then) years ago. Eight years down the road, they're still in pretty good condition. So yes, all Lululemon's stuff is worth the premium price and this Cool Down Crop is super comfy and lightweight. Perfect for me to wear it after my pole dance class. I'll probably be wearing it a lot over the weekends. And I've bought quite a few of their sports bra...super comfy....the only complain is that I need to order online and pay $30USD every time for shipping...mehhh

Essie nail color in Haute as Hello....it's a great coral color perfect for the "summer"...not that there's any other seasons in Singapore but it's a nice chirpy hue

Carrying: Balenciaga Part Time in Pink....okay, you see, I'm now saving money and it's not about buying new bags but it's revisiting what I already have and haven't used for a bit. This pink Part Time is my first Balenciaga and I love it still. I've been recently using my new one in purple and have neglected the pink one. Fret not, it's out again, and just nice for the chirpy "Summer" hue...

Using: Balance Me Super Oil....Omg, this award-winning oil is...well SUPER! I've been a Balance Me fan and the Super Oil is my favorite product. Balance Me does really awesome natural products that's no-nasty and free of Paraben, Sulphate, mineral oil, artificial fragrance and all the lousy stuff that's bad for the skin. It's all heavenly scented with natural aromatherapy skin loving essential oils. I use this super oil in place of a body moisturizer now and it's a dry oil that gets absorbed quickly. It's got all the goodness of Bergamot, Juniper, Geranium, lavender and good fatty acid from Jojoba, Macadamia, Sweet Almond and Wheat Germ. Super awesome. My skin gets very hydrated and super soft. It's also supposed to boost blood circulation too and if you dry brush your skin before applying, it'll help with cellulite too. What's there to not like? It's available at Super Nature by Club 21 in Orchard Boulevard.

Waiting for: Moroccan Oil....I've just ordered the oil from US and this is Argan Oil which is also known as Moroccan Oil. It's all the rage for being awesome to the hair and has received raving reviews, so I can't wait to receive it as it's still "in transit" somewhere in the US. Will write more about it when I finally get my hands on it.

Loving: Peony Lim.....probably one of the best-dressed 23-year-olds, this UK lass runs her own blog on fashion and is one-third of the PRP aka the Photographing Real People blog on street style and fashion. She causes major wardrobe envy. Definitely not the typical beauty of mixed parentage (Chinese & British...actually she looks a bit odd if you ask me...a wee bit like the Devon Aoki type) but she definitely has that x-factor with impeccable style. Thing is, I wonder if she's super loaded cos how does she afford all the Chanel, Hermes et al??? At age 23? Now it's a love hate thing no?

Lusting after: Fuji X100 camera.....OMFG....it's so freaking beautiful...it's built to have a retro look but apparently it's a great camera too. And despite the single lens which you can't change, I WANT!! But the cool $1500 price tag means I probably will not be getting it....not to mention I'm still very happy with my Olympus Pen but well, you can never have enough cameras (or not?)

June Muse 2011

Reading: A Spy in the House of Love by Anais Nin. Better known for her erotic novels, Nin had an expressive ways of writing despite being a bit convoluted in her description at times. Nonetheless, I do like her  style and creativity in her descriptive language.

Eating: Home made Tofu Burger with Tofu Burger mix....got this Tofu Burger mix from Meidi-Ya at Liang Court. Not too bad. You just need to mesh up one block of firm tofu and mix it with the Tofu Burger mix with bare hands and then knead them into little patties before you pan fry them and serve them up in burger, lettuce, tomatoes and a yummy slice of cheese...et viola! Vegetarian burger!

Wearing: H&M fuchsia pink skirt I picked up during my recent Hong Kong trip. Love the strong hue and it's in line with the current bright and neon spring trend....very comfy too. Love it.
I dig the H&M beaded bracelets too. I bought a big chunks of them in different colors and I wear them all stacked up. I love chunky bracelets and bangles! This is a very good alternative to all those nice big chunky bangles that are way too big for my wrist...I know you're supposed to have it lose and use that wrist bone to stop the bangle from falling off but I always have this fear of injuring my toe in the event that the heavy bangle falls off and land on the digits....so yeah, I'll stick to beaded bracelets for now....

Also wearing Lanvin Jeanne La Plume perfume. I'm usually not a fan of sweet fruity perfume but while I was at the airport passing time, I spritz on the limited edition La Plume and actually quite liked it cos it's super light and doesn't overwhelm like most sickly sweet perfume. It's light and smells like orange candy! And I got it as a present from Mr Bear...lalalalala......

Using: YSL Touche Eclat....Okay, I'm back to using the classic and much celebrated Touche Eclat cos I finished my Fresh concealer and wanted a pen type and I just went back to YSL. Let's just say I totally forgot how much I used to love this. I remember years ago, when I tried it, the formula seemed to be a bit dry around the eye area and it got a bit cakey, but now, I'm not sure if it's because they've improved the formula or what but it seems so much better. It's light and doesn't cake. I love it. Looks like it's here to stay.

Ettusais Quick Fix Powder. Oh, I gave in to the nice pink packaging...It's so pretty and it's nice to have in your bag but it's pretty good for touching up the mid-day shine. I wouldn't say it's exceptional but it does the job well

Loving: Sophie Theallet for Nine West shoes. So pretty! And it's by Sophie Theallet, a French designer who has worked with heavy weights like Jean Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaia. She collaborated with Nine West for a series of spring shoes and they're gorgeous. It's super comfy too cos they're high wedges you can absolutely walk in....

Ettusais Peeling Milk. Now this is awesome cos it's an exfoliating milk that's a bit similar to Cure Water but it's much better. It actually leaves the skin very soft and supple and I use it 3 times a week. Smells really nice too and I'm totally addicted to this. I't's by far the best clumping flakey (the type where you rub and flakes come off type...dunno how else to describe it) exfoliating product I've tried. Use it on dry face with dry hands though or it won't work. But yes, try this...it has a very good skin softening effect and my skin feels very smooth and soft after.

May Muse

Reading: An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin who's the actor. Father of the Bride Steve Martin. Someone told me he writes well and he wrote this book around arts and famous painting and I just have to give him a shot. Does he write well? Well, let's just say he's not the worse but I'm reading it for the insight into Arts the book offers....Oh the super gorgeous cover helps though! It's like a canvas...


Listening to: The Black Key. I've always loved them and I'm listening to Tighten Up. Love them! And they always have really funny MTV. Awesome band!


Wearing: D&G black lace dress. Super love this! Got it in Hong Kong and there're many ways to wear it! Pair it with a black slip dress underneath for a standard look. A nude slip for a bit of a twist. And wear it on its own with nice underwear for a wild night out.

Christian Louboutin Biana in nude. Finally a Louboutin! But this requires major training cos it's so high! It's the hardest Louboutin to walk in! My other two Louboutins are so much more manageable but I really love this one!!! Yet I have a feeling that I'm gonna fall flat on my face anytime.

CK One perfume....it's one of my favorite androgynous scent and every now and then, I love to revisit it when I'm in the mood for something light and as we inch towards the "oily face" weather and humidity, I wanted something citrus-y and breezy so I've been wearing CK One quite a bit. 

Using: Kiehl's Golden Berry Lip Gloss. Yummy color and very moisturising! What's there to not like? It's got the same texture as the legendary Kiehl's lipbalm #1 but with a gorgeous hint of color and shine.

Eating: Ho-e-sik  Creamy Cheese & Mushroom Spaghetti from Hong Kong...it's instant pasta and it's freaking awesome. Manufactured by the famous Doll company but it's only available in Hong Kong. I've been eating this quite a bit as supper while I was in Hong Kong and I intend to get my sister Becks to send me some cos it's super good to keep in the office. Easy to cook too!

Loving: Olympus Pen E-LP2! OMG! Super awesome camera! And I don't think I need another camera now. It's a mini DSLR with the power of big ass DSLR and I've got my photo blog up finally!! It'll be an ongoing thing for now...check out my new photo blog here! Well the next dream camera I want is the Canon 5D MarkII....okay, maybe a couple of new lenses for my Olympus first....

My new Macbook Pro 2011.....No need explanation right? Time to upgrade my old macbook anyway and I love Mac!

Lusting after: A Kindle....okay, I've expressed my disgust over Kindle numerous times calling it blasphemous to the literature purist cos when it comes to books, it's gotta be the good old hard copy on good old pulp! I want to flip the pages, smell the paper and feel the book! But then my sister Beck and my Mr Bear got a Kindle and I fiddled with it a bit and realized it's super cool. Mostly becos of the picture display with all the classic literature heavy weight authors and it looks so damn good....And come to think of it, I wouldn't mind loading newspaper like The New York Times and perhaps non-fictions since I tend to love to collection fiction....now they have a white version...dunno...maybe black still...or white? Black? White? Whatever but I'm still wondering if I should get it!

April Muse

Reading: Monocle...I've given Monocle a break and I'm back on it. I dunno why but it seems like these days, men's magazines have got more things to read up on in terms of culture and the arts compared to women's magazine. I'm totally not loving most women's mags these days cos it's always revisiting the same old themes like men cheating or how to give good blow job. It's getting stale...so these days, I love Nat Geo, Monocle, UK Harpers Bazaar and Nylon....they're my staples now.

Listening to: Mayer Hawthorne...Love his sound! A Strange Arrangement is his debut and I love it. Shared his song, Just Ain't Gonna Work Out, awhile back on my blog and that's my favorite track. Love his retro breezy easy tune that's super upbeat. Lots of falsetto singing but his way of singing is actually nice and snappy unlike those annoying one like Justin Timberlake or something...and when he drops his falsetto, he can sing too...so double yay!...Recently, he's done a couple of nice collaboration with people like Snoop Dog too that's got a really nice beat to it (check it out)...Puts me in a good mood.

Wearing: Mango Silk Green Blouse and retro blue pleat skirt...okay, not at the same time but couple of weeks ago, I went shopping with Joanie and I bought stuff from Mango. It must have been years since I bought something from them but when I got the Silk Blouse, I totally love it cos it's so comfy and I love it's relax chic when paired with roll-up skinny jeans and nude heels. I wear it tucked out (shown tucked in in the picture) with jeans, but tuck out only if you are wearing slim cut pants or it'll look too slouchy. I pair it with skirts too but tuck it in. Love the color jade peridot color that's a nice twist from the usual nude and black....The blue pleat skirt is another favorite cos it's so cute. It's shown here with a coral top but I wear mine with a red cardigan and white camisole on the inside, and I'll throw in my metallic blue Chanel 2.55 reissue. Viola! Perfect!

Sage Machado Citrine perfume oil...I'm revisiting an old love. It's lovely! It's a very feminine yet refreshing blend of citrus scent that reminds me of a lovely spring garden in the warm sunshine. It's got an accent of grapefruit, bergamot and sweet cassis built around a delicate white flower to give it a great balance. It smells divine and it lasts super long too. You just need a dab or two and it'll last for the entire day. I don't think it's available in Singapore anymore cos they used to sell it in Apothecary but it's closed down since. Gotta buy online from now. 


Also wearing the Clarins limted edition Rouge Hydra lipstick in 02 Nude Coral. Clarins came up with a very sheer and glossy nude that's so comfortable to wear! It's so moisturizing that it's really like wearing a lip balm and I love it. It smells and tastes a bit like vanilla ice cream too so I have to consciously try not to eat my lipstick.


Using: Ole Henriksen's 3 Little Wonders. Truth Serum Collagen Booster, Invigorating Night Gel and Sheer Transformation Cream. They're the 3 basic products from Ole Henriksen that promise to deliver great result by boosting collagen, refining skin, evening out skin tone and shrinking pores. It's my current night regime. You're supposed to use it day and night but I have a different regime in the morning. I would say this works pretty well. My skin feels clearer but the results are quite progressive so don't expect it to work overnight. I've been using it for a month plus now and it seems to have refined my skin a bit. Not miraculous but it's good enough as long as there's improvement right? It's worth a try and I bought them during the Christmas special at Sephora so it's totally worth it cos the 3 items cost only $125 then.

Loving: Filthy Farm Girl Filthy Pussy soap....omg! Filthy Farm Girl does the best soap EVER and the Filthy Pussy is a super divine Minty Rose flavor! It's soooo nice and smells so good I can't wait to shower everyday and inhale the wonderful aroma! It's sulphate free and parabens free and made of mostly organic ingredients! I've got a couple of other flavors too! And I love their risque and naughty copy writing and beautiful designs...If I have the money, I'll buy ALL OF THEM to display at home...I've really never been a soap person until now!!

I LOVE Aurora Alchemist Goddess Oil!!!! I've recently found these wonderful oils that I can't live without now! Owner Yvette rediscovered her spiritual path and she started making goddess oils and channeling the magical energy of different goddesses into her oils after learning the ancient art of alchemy in Egypt. Her oils are infused with natural ingredients of the highest quality and crystals to give them the healing properties. It's excellent in working through physical and emotional blockages and when I heard about the oil, I was a bit skeptical and I bought a bottle for myself. Now I have 4 (Virgin Mary, Aphrodite, Lakshmi and Fairies) and the collection is definitely growing cos I'll be getting the Kwan Yin, Green Tara and Queen of the Night oils too. It works for me definitely. And I use it everyday now to align myself on a vibrational level. It gives me a really good sense of well being....read more here...The oils are available at A Curious Teepee at Scape.

February Muse

Hmmm I actually enjoy doing my monthly muse...contemplating doing it twice a month actually...haha...Anyway, Happy Lunar New Year little bunnies!


Reading: I'm reading a lot of books at the same time. Thing is, I don't watch TV and I would very well not have a TV at home cos I simply don't watch it at all and books are a bit like my version of "TV programmes" cos I'll read a few books at the same time and they're a little like my different tv shows and this month, I have 2 great books (among the many more actually) I'm reading. First is Mao's Great Famine by Frank Dikotter and it tells the factual story about the horrible famine during Mao Zhedong's communist regime that led up to the cultural revolution. Dikotter did extension research from the official dossiers that many didn't have access too and later piece together the actual picture of what happened during the ghastly 50s in China where the biggest famine in the modern world took place and millions of lives were lost thanks to Mao's regime. It's such an interesting read that I could hardly put it down and the atrocity that the communist party did was so bad that reading it makes me cringed and at some part, it's so horrifying that I had to stop reading it for a bit...like how some boy stole a bun cos he was starving and to punish him, Mao's cadres ordered the father to actually kill his own son with a gun....gosh...it's so blood-curdling but I guess I would want to know what really happened. The thing that got me wondering is that, despite the atrocity of Mao's regime and his retarded, overly confident policies, why the hell was and still is so respected by the Chinese people??? You see him being glorified in arts and stuff and it's something I don't understand. You see him on t shirts and memorabilia but you don't see tyrants like Hitler getting glorified. I mean, think about it, you can't possibly not be crucified and get pelted with kosher food if you wear a t shirt with Hitler's face on it can you? So I don't know...but it's a hauntingly good read.

Then the other great book is Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. It gives an insight into the meat eating culture of the modern world and throws light on how our meat of today is being produced in factory farms and its implications on the environment and the world we live in. It's not really a book to turn you into vegetarianism but it's to give a clear undiluted picture of how the meat that ends up on your plate and later in your gut comes about. I think everyone should read it cos as the saying goes, you're what you eat, and would you want to know what you put into your tummy? It reaffirms me to be as vegan as possible. I've been a vegetarian for a really long time but then a year ago, I started getting back on meat cos my doctor said I ought to be back on meat and also, I was training in the gym and I went pescatarian eating fish and seafood and I was even eating a bit of chicken and sometime a slab of steak (oh no...). It feels wrong really and I feel guilty every time I tucked in and the other day, I felt gross marinating a piece of chicken fillet at home cos when I touched the meat and trying to take out the skin, I feel like a murderer. So this month, I'm gonna be back on my vegan diet. I don't care really and I don't even eat eggs and drink milk cos it's cruel...I'll get protein from soy powder and beans and now I'm eating mostly organic now. It's costly but it's worth it and I eat with a good conscience knowing no animal is harmed and it's healthier...I actually feel less healthy when I'm back on meat...big mistake. And I'm gonna stay vegan as much as I can. 


Watching: Black Swan...okay, I haven't watched it but I CAN'T WAIT!!! I'm supposed to watch it with Mr Bunny and it'll be after he's back in SG. BUT I CAN'T WAIT! I'm tempted to just go watch it first and then watch it the second time cos I know I'm gonna freaking love it, considering I did ballet and wanted to be a full-time dancer....But I love films by Darren Aronofsky! I loved Requiem For A Dream by him and it was hauntingly good (I actually watched it on a first date and freaked out the guy I dated then cos it was totally not a first date movie with it's freaky drug theme and an ending with Jared Leto's arm turning septic and had it amputated. LOL)


Wearing: Lancome Tresor in Love. I finally bought the perfume and I'm loving it. I've always been a Tresor fan cos when I was young, my grandma gave me a small miniature bottle of the old Tresor and I've always loved it and when Lancome came up with Tresor in Love, it's a modern day interpretation of their classic scent and it's lovely. It's younger and more floral and I totally love this warm, floral scent that's got hint of slight fruity top note of nectarine and the heart of warm sensual rose...

Also wearing my Tiffany Key!!! Another "Finally I bought it!" item. I've been wanting the Tiffany Key since last year and thing is, I just didn't buy it. I initially wanted the large pure silver one but they just look kinda big and good thing that I wait cos they came up with a small dainty one with a tiny delicate diamond on the center. I walked into Tiffany over the weekend with HL and yup, that's it, that's MY key and walked out with it in tow...settled...Love it!

Using: Pukka Organic Rosewater. I got this from Super Nature too and you can either use it to flavor food (I add a table spoon to my water for a cooling treat) or as face toner. It's awesome as it's very pure rosewater and it costs a bomb ($89 bucks), but it's worth every drop of it cos the rosewater is distilled from roses grown at a high altitude to optimise essential oil content, the roses are hand picked at dawn and before sunrise to protect their valuable aromatic oils from being evaporated. They are then gently steam-distilled for optimum extraction of the wonderful fragrance. I use it mainly as a face spray. I pop one in my bag and use it as a face mist throughout the day. It really leaves your skin very very soft.

Love n Toast Lipbalm in Pear. With a scent and packaging so great, how can I not get addicted?? Plus it's super nourishing too. And the smell, ohhh the wonderful smell, is just heavenly. And yup, it's organic...and that adds to its divine quality! I'm sold!

Drinking: Water infused with Duchy's Organic Detox Tincture. I got this awhile ago from Super Nature and I've loved it since. It's got a very nice mild taste to it and it's detoxing. I add it into my water everyday and I think it might well be a mainstay for me...I love to know that the water I drink is also getting rid of all the bad toxins in my body...I'll drink more if I feel that the food I eat has got MSG cos I hate MSG and I think it's absolutely evil and drinking the tincture infused water makes me feel better

And Lemongrass House Lavender Aromatic Room & Pillow Spray. I was told that this is Lemongrass House's best seller with it flying off the shelves a lot and now that I've started using it, I've developed some kind of dependency of it cos it's so nice! I spray it on my pillows and duvet before I go to sleep and the thing about the Lavender scent from Lemongrass House is that it's the perfect Lavender scent. Some lavender scents aren't pure as they mix in other smell and they end up smelling cheap and nasty. Others are just too heavy with the heady French Lavender that's a bit too strong. The one from Lemongrass House is perfect for me, just nice and it's very very soothing and I can't get enough of their lavender anything (from shower gel to shampoo etc...), and it really helps when the quality of their products is really excellent.

Loving: My Lomography Diana F+ Mini....After buying the full size Diana F+, I had to get the Diana F+ mini cos it's just gorgeous...I haven't finished the entire roll of film but I would slowly take my time. I'm so hooked on analogue photos! I wish someone would buy me a Leica M8!! Dream on...but now, I'm just happy with the Diana F+ mini cos it's sooo cute and it's the perfect size to pop into my hand bag cos it's tiny

I'm loving SteamCream too! Not only does the packaging looks awesome, the cream packs some seriously good stuff in it to nourish your skin. I use it mostly on my hand but when my face feels dry, I'll apply a thick layer on my face before I go to bed and the next day? "Good morning soft skin!"

L'eclipse

Listening to Sean Lennon sings L'eclipse.....he's actually a family friend cos my aunt in NYC was his piano teacher for the longest of time...this is my favorite tune from Sean...the MTV is awesome...The other day, someone as me which Lennon do I like, Julian or Sean (they're half brothers in case you don't know)....I can't decide...I think Julian is a much better singer and I love his music especially Salt Water but Sean is cuter in a more artsy sense..It's a draw...hahaha....I like Julian cos he's a bit of the underdog that John Lennon neglected and Sean Lennon is the prized golden boy but well, despite his girlie voice, this golden boy does have some good talent and he's a very strong resemblance of his father in terms of looks and music (song writing that is, not voice...Julian sounds more like John)....yeah, it's got to be a draw...Okay, maybe it's Sean Lennon after all.....Anyway, here's L'eclipse...



He actually sounds a hell lot better (and sexier) singing French...Cette chanson est trop belle! I love!

January Muse

Happy New Year people! Time really flies and it's 2011. It's creepy isn't it? And in a couple of days, I'll be back in SG and back to the grind :( Totally not looking forward to that :( And I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get the post holiday blues cos not only am I gonna be back work, I'm gonna miss my family too :( Mehhhhh, but meanwhile, here's my January Muse 2011....read on....

Reading: National Geographic....taking a break from the usual woman's magazines....I'm a nerd at heart and I love Nat Geo and I can totally sit there for hours to devour the entire mag
Wearing: My new TopShop little black dress with ruffling details! It's super nice and it fits the body super well and is very very flattering! I love the fact that it's got the deconstructive detailing on the front cos it makes this LBD a little edgier. I haven't got to wear it cos I got it a day before I left for HK
Also wearing Chanel double-C ear studs. Well, it'll always be a classic.
Drinking: Vitamin Water! I love it! They're super nice and I'm glad SG has it now! Better than soda pop for sure! And I like that it's not too sweet...I think my papa loves it too
Using: My electric blue Balenciaga "First" bag...I haven't used it for ages. Probably almost a year! So it's time and I'm rediscovering the soft leather and this small bag is what I call a "Big small bag" cos you can stuff lots of stuff in there...yeah, I even shove a small brolly in there! Erm, but I'll be using another bag soon cos a couple of days ago, I got a new Balenciaga City....in purple and with giant hardware...shhhh!!! I didn't dare to use it now cos otherwise my pappy would question me....
Loving: The Chanel Greige (grey+beige) nail color! Ohhhh Greige is my favorite nail color for now cos it's super duper nice. Just right. Dark enough yet it's a nice neutral that's so very versatile...I love the shade so much that I actually bought another similar one from Essie....The Chanel shade is 505 FYI
Love the Fresh Lip Treatment in Rose!!! It's soooo freaking good I'm thinking of buying another one to bring home since SG doesn't have Fresh. This lippy works! It's soooo moisturizing and it's sooooo smooth and doesn't feel sticky at all. And that hint of rosy pink is perfect too....THIS IS AWESOME!
Also loving the black kitty cat pouch from River Island. It's soooo cute!!! I stuffed in my nasal spray and inhaler and lippy!
Playing with: My brand new Lomo Diana F+ Mr Pink Camera!! This stunning lomo camera is so very pretty and the pictures it produces are stunning! Very artsy and dreamy but I'm gonna take a couple of rolls of film to get it right...now 2 rolls down! I can't wait to get back to develop them.

December Muse

OMG, it's December...so soon and before you know it, the year is over. In fact, when I was typing the title of this post, I actually put "November Muse" only to realized it's bloody December already! Anyway, here's this month's muse...you guys going anywhere for Christmas? I'm looking forward to going back home in Hong Kong to spend Christmas with my family (I think x'mas would be spent in Bangkok actually if I'm not wrong...pappy booked the tickets I heard)

Reading: The East, The West & Sex by Richard Bernstein. It's a very very interesting anthropological account of sexuality between the oriental and occidental. It explores the gender dominance of male over women dating back to the Roman empire, elaborates on the historical fascination of the harem culture of the East, and accounts the religious suppression of sexual behavior of the Western past.  Nothing kinky and if you think it's gonna be some hot and steamy sexual thing, wrong! I'm not that shallow and boring... it's more like an anthropology of sexuality...a very fascinating read.


Listening to: Rock Dust Light Star by Jamiraquoi (aka the man I've always wanted to marry). Jay Kay is back with the new album and I'm loving the song "White Knuckle Ride"....groovy....

Wearing: My Annick Goutal Petite Cherie...as mentioned in my earlier post, I recently had a reunion with Petite Cherie after replacing my finished bottle...I'm enjoying it all over again...I think I've very much narrowed down my Signature Scents to two. Petite Cherie and Chloe. They're the two that I've been constantly wearing and Chloe is definitely gonna be here to stay I think (finishing soon and now I'm gonna buy the big bottle this time), joining the rank of Petite Cherie as "Perfumes that I repeatedly buy and use"

Using: Benefit Benetint Lip Balm...this is one great lippy. Not only does it moisturize your smackers, it also gives your lips a rosy tint that's very very natural...you'll get that just bitten look that's super sexy and health with just the right amount of gloss and it doesn't really dry out easily so it makes a really good day lip balm that gives you a hint of color.

Loving: Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Scrub.  Can I ever stop praising Soap&Glory products? No...and this fantabulous body scrub is just super...it's got big grain of scrub (sea salt & sugar) in it and it's got Shea Butter, sweet almond oil, peach seed powder, sea salt and sugar. It's scrubby enough to really remove dead skin cos I hate those scrub that's got too small grain and doesn't do much. This one does wonder and it's got shea butter to moisturise your skin after and keep skin soft. A little goes a looong way too. I've never been diligent enough to scrub all the time but I think that's gonna change cos my skin feels so smooth after.

Carrying: My good old Mulberry Bayswater in Oak Brown....ahhhh this classic has been hibernating in my room for a bit and time to take it out...the rich brown is always great for the year end winter Christmas vibe (despite the fact there's no winter here..garrr)...but my trusted Bayswater never goes out of style and it's a wardrobe staple...HL has also recently bought a black one...I think I've got her appreciating Mulberry....


Drinking: Charlie's Honest Superfood Smoothie.....it's 100% juice with added Spirulina. It's a puree of apple, banana, oranges and juicy kiwi....super duper yum...get it from most Cold Storage outlets


Playing with: My new toy Lomo Smena8m camera....it's a gift from Mr Bunny and I'm still trying to get inspired again to take pictures....My Smena is wayyy cool cos it's a pop purple color! I'm bringing it to Hong Kong with me, together with my Canon S90 of course...


Gifting: The oh-so-cute TopShop Guinea Pig Hottie! I bought this for Ah Meow for Christmas and it's a bit like a hot water bottle except that it's in a shape of a super cute tri-color guinea pig! And you just gotta stick it in the microwave (a rather disturbing idea considering it's a guinea pig) to heat it up so you can warm up your sore muscles....great for period cramps too...I think I might just get one for myself cos it's so adorable....it makes great Christmas gift!

October Muse

Reading: The Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago...the Portuguese
Nobel Prize laureate (1998) has a really good sense of humor and The Elephant's Journey's a pretty good read with a very strong anti-religious stance and cynicism all in good fun. Love it!

Also reading Real Simple Magazine....good practical advice on every day's stuff from home, health, fashion, beauty etc...comes with really good and simple recipe...pretty interesting...

Wearing: Nude peep-toe heels by Nine West. FINALLY found the right nude heels. Every girl needs a pair of nude heels cos it goes with EVERYTHING. LITERALLY and this pair of Nine West is not only a fraction of the price of the Louboutins and Zanottis but they're as comfy. Okay, the first wear was rather painful but it wasn't that bad after a couple of wears...and about time I get back on heels for a change...

Miss Selfridge Lace Dress with velvet peter pan color and trimmings. Found this gem during my solo Bangkok Bender and it's so pretty. It's got a vintage feel to it and it fits really well. In beige and black combo that Mademoiselle Coco would agree with...well, at least Uncle Karl with agree with the lace bit...but I love it...

Using: Soap&Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion. Like I've said in my previous review, it's really the best body lotion I've tried so far. It gets absorbed real fast so it's a god-sent in our humidity, then it melts in, sink in to give me the silkiest of all skin...No other body lotion has done that so far...and it smells so nice and girlie too. And it has really made me religious about applying cos I want to touch my silky smooth skin...I would buy it by the truckload next time

Boots Gorgeous Feet Rapid Crack Heels Repair....This one is cheap and good and really works...I notice significant improvement the very next day if you slather it on at night. Totally worth it and the pretty pink packaging is a plus...

Drinking: Clipper Detox Tea....this one is super awesome with a very nice refreshing taste...I'm addicted...I'm a 100% Clipper Tea fan...their Rooibos is really good too....

Loving: Vanessa Paradis....she's my muse of the month...actually, not just the month cos I've been her fan since she came out with her first album singing Joe le Taxi with her girly baby voice when I was in my teens...I recently watched her in the latest French rom-com L'Arna Coeur and it's soooooo good and funny. She's got the ultimate je ne sais quoi about her with that awkward but so-oh intriguing gap in her front teeth and pixie face...and after 2 kids, she still cuts a super svelte figure...yeah, French women don't get fat I know....and I'm sure Johnny Deep agrees...

Advocating for: The release of the new Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiao Bo! He's still locked up and China is now kicking a major big fuss on how this year's prize went to Liu Xiao Bo and saying he's a criminal in China for the simple fact that he fought for his belief. Seriously...sigh...good guys don't finish last...he might get locked up but he's got great recognition and that is something!