All part of growing up

As I’m going through the post-graduation-beginning-career stage in life, I begin to ponder about life and how my taste in fashion has transformed.

It was not long ago where I shed the awkward teenage years - of not knowing what I look good in - ugly hairdos, baggy tees, flare jeans, and chunky wedges that were large enough to kill a rat (I’m still amazed that I was able to run in those for 20 metres to catch a bus).

And right now, I’m changing my wardrobe from a largely tube tops and jeans combo to a feminine work dress and funky summer outfit closet. I’m still pretty much figuring out what suits my shape and what doesn’t cut it. What is my style, and what is fashion. But hey, even if this takes a couple of years to iron it out, it is still alright. I think everyone deserves the option of being well put together.

After a while, I realise dressing up is always fun. Fashion is dynamic. Subjecting to yourself to the latest trend is a big no-no, but injecting elements of the latest trend into your staples to complement your style, is a big yes. You can be flamboyant one day, and the next, subtle and sweet. All in your signature dress sense of course.

I still remember as a young child, I often sneered at my sister’s extravagant taste in fashion - I really preferred to be dressed in sloppy board shorts and big school tees - then to carry LVs or wear $100 plus shoes. And to buy anything more than SGD$50 was outrageous.

But time has changed, and age has helped me to appreciate my sister’s keen eyes in fashion. It really is not about buying branded goods, it is about  investing in classic items that will age gracefully with you. 80% staples, 20% trends. It is also about comfort. Sometimes it does pay to spend a little more for the extra luxe touch - I rather not slip on a pair of $5 shoe, if it will cause my feet to break out in blisters.

Just like most women, I have come to love my Chanels, Tiffanys, LVs, Ferragamos, Tods, Louboutins, and Bottegas.

I know I can’t really score them all, and yes I do realise that it is really a matter of careful selection and learning the art of putting the pieces together tastefully make them work for you. Decking oneself out in branded or expensive goods from head to toe is crazy, it is fashion pornography.

Mix-and-match I would say, is something that I have learnt. Avoid looking too over-dressed or too under-dressed for any occasion. Pair a $10 dress with a $100 bag and you can look spectacular. Pair a $1000 dress with a $100 bag and you may look over-kill.

But at the end of the day, I’m now a great beliver of good classic pieces, vintage are a big come back anytime. And I am working my way on selectively acquiring those pieces that would still work magic 20 years from now. It is all about being a smart shopper.

Enough said, I’m awaiting the arrival of my leather boots, snake-skin print pumps, and (chuckle) my 2.55 to arrive.

Little girl has come a long way ehz?

Harper’s Island - Splash

Aaaaarrrrrghhh.. anguish. My favourite couple died on Harper’s island this week.

Episode 11:
Victim 1: Nikki Bolten. The biker chick. Died by being stabbed.
Victim 2: Shane Pierce. The townie. Died by being stabbed and hung.
Victim 3: Deputy Lillis. Slashed.
Victim 4: Cal Vendeusen. The outsider. Died by being stabbed.
Victim 5: Chloe Carter. The flirt. Committed suicide after seeing Cal died.

We have a killer, Wakefield, on the rampage. Could Jimmy be the long lost son of Wakefield? Or could this entire ordeal been orchestrated by Henry?

Alright folks, Danny and Sully has to go. Shea should go soon. As for Madison. I’m not sure if it’s right for a kid to die. Trish trish, your luck is running out.

I just wished they would have kept Cal and Chloe for an episode or two longer.

Would your fiance die for you?

Enjoy the ending song by Civil Twilight: Letters from the sky.

Sleep over

I had a sleep-over with my best girl friends from high school a week ago. Even though we are probably too old for gatherings such as that, we had a blast.

We played paintball (will upload the photos soon), did grocery shopping, cooked up a storm, and battled out in a 3-hour risk game.

I heart my girl friends - Bing, Min, and Ganny.

Here are the food that we cooked! My badly taken photos (plus unedited) with my lousy camera phone (yet again) do not really do justice to the food. Girlies forgive me.

Ganny’s soya - sauce chicken (only because I did not know where my mum placed the sesame oil).

Min’s pot of mixed mushroom. She does it so well.

Bing’s mah po tou fu. Definitely something I can attempt to cook!

Ganny’s baked asparagus with olive oil and pepper. So Mediterranean.

And my one and only dish - sambal stingray (baked, toasted, or steam - we had like 7 slices to cook in 30 min - my friends bullied me by making me the last to cook).

Supper on the other hand, was a very fun affair!

We made (from scratch) tung-yuan. If I had it my way, I would have just bought the ready made ones.

I felt like I was back in art class, and no, I failed miserably at the clay moulding module.

Making the tung-yuan from scratch. A mash of gooey dough. And Gan’s slim model fingers.

I know my friends heart me back too.

Bing and Gan combine effort. I still think dough-in-the-making smells horrid. But oh the love covers it all. Stop laughing my girlies.

Sorry about the yellowish photo. End result of my tung-yuan with filling. See, I told you I wanted to buy the pre-packed tung-yuans. There was a reason why. But, I had ton of fun.

And the 3 hour-risk game ended with a kamakazi move by me, and a back up plan by my ally, Bing, to try and eliminate Ganny. The strongest of us all though was Min, and she didn’t even know it. She was more interested in watching her tv show.

I heart my girlies very much.

Lisa Ekdahl - Slow knowing smile

Give me that slow knowing smile.

Swedish songwriter and singer Lisa Ekdahl, sure knows how to pull a string or two in my heart.

Compared to her previous work, her latest album is more upbeat, jazzy, and with a touch of romanticism. I love ALL the songs in the album (and that is rare).

I sorta feel like I’m back in the knee deep snow days, gazing at the greyish cloud, and looking at the flurries fall. Standing alone in the sparse city space, and laughing as the cold flakes melt on my icy face.

Hope was what I felt.

Warmth from that cup of hot chocolate was what I longed for.

Slow knowing smile.

And at the end, when I’m really cold, and had too much fun making imaginary snow angels. I know my Papa is waiting for me to pass me my pink mittens. And to give me a great bear hug.

Thanks Lisa.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson passed away 2 days ago, on the 25th of June 2009. He was 50.

The entertainment arena stands still for a moment to remember the “King of Pop”.

I have always thought Jackson as the successor of Elvis Presley. They were both icons of their time. Great singers who did well in what they were born to do.

Despite his extreme physical changes (generating rumours that he suffered from skin cancer) and eccentric behaviours (hanging his son out of a hotel in Berlin), he still had a loyal fan following.

To be frank, I’m a big fan of his song “Heal the World”. I thought that out of all the songs he has sung, that song was the most meaningful of them all. It always puts a tear in my eye.

I was anticipating his “This is It” tour in London this coming July. Even though I have no luck flying there to watch the concert, I really wanted to read in the news about how great and successful his comeback was. I had hoped that after 4 years, he would have bounced back from his court trials and hopefully somehow erase off memories of his childhood abuse.

Like all great singers, even with his passing away, Jackson will continue to live on as a legend. His songs would be played and heard for a good many years to come.

May he finally find the peace he was looking for all his life. And with his dreams, may people be inspired by his songs.

The “King of Pop” will live on.

Lisa Ono & Chocolatchino

I love my bags and pretty dresses. But, music will always be my soul.

I take a really long time to decide on whether I want to purchase a bag or a wallet; the same goes for clothes. But, when it comes to buying music cds, I always seem to buy them after listening a sample.

Japanese - Brazilian singer, Lisa Ono, recently released two Bossanova CDs: Look to the rainbow and Cheek to cheek.

And they are really good.

The songs in Look to the rainbow have a quirky feel to it, whilst the songs in Cheek to cheek are more soothing and mainstream. For a sample of songs from either one of the CDs, visit Lisa Ono’s website at http://www.onolisa.com.

I don’t know why she released the songs in two separate albums, even though the songs were recorded during the same period and released with twin-like covers. Perhaps it is because there is a slight difference in the character of songs in the two albums.

To fully enjoy the music, listen to it on a rainy day, snuggle up in bed, read a book whilst drinking a cup of hot chocolate. Now, that’s art.

Love goes round.

Every once in a while, people need encouragement and love.

Encourage someone today.

You never know how it’ll come around.

Colour Block

Colour block clothes are all in the rage.

Check out these bold picks from Urban Outfitters.

Harper’s Island - Gurgle, Seep, Snap.

I’m definitely way behind blogging about Harper’s Island, even though I faithfully follow it every week.

In episode 8:
Victim 1: J.D. Dunn. The black sheep. Died by being slashed by the killer.
Victim 2: Cole Herkin (A victim of the killings seven years ago). Died by being shot by arrows.
Victim 3: Deputy Garrette (A police officer on Harper’s Island). Died by being shot.

In episode 9:
Victim 1: Beth Barrington. The single girl. Died by being cut up (this was probably the most horrid. She was left in two parts with guts flowing out).

Victim 2: Katherine Wellington. The stepmother. Died by being stabbed by a sheer.

In episode 10:

Victim 1: Sheriff Charlie Mills. The sheriff. Died by being pulled from the second floor and left strangled on a noose.

Victim 2: Maggie Krell. The wedding planner. Died by being hung from a rope from the roof.
Victim 3: Officer T. Coulter. Died by being shot.
Victim 4: Officer D. Riggens. Died by being shot.

In the 10th episode, Abby meets the killer Wakefield.

Only 3 more episodes to go. 25 to start with, 13 died. Only 12 left. Who is going to go next?

I’m thinking Niki, Danny, Sully. I’m praying that they keep odd pair Chloe and Cal (I think they are just in the show for kicks). Quick someone get rid of Madison, she is spooky (though adults may cry foul if we axe an innocent child off the show - it is just not a pg thing to do).

I know that this is a little late after thought. But, 10 episodes in, I’m starting to wonder, why did I decide to watch such a bizzare tragic show?

I’m still a loyal fan though.

Jak & Jil

Recently I’ve been hooked reading Jak & Jil’s blog. The author of the blog is a fashion photographer who is fantastic at snapping candid shots of fashionable people living in Paris.

His blog is simply a treasury of fabulicious photos of people dressed in an array of tip-top fashion-forward clothings.

True paparazzi style.

J’aime.

In particular I’m in love with this shot. Haunting.

Check out Jak & Jil’s blog: http://jakandjil.com