missingavenue

A light that never goes

2012-02-03T01:43:00.003+08:00

I would honestly be lying if I were to say life's great and I'm okay because I clearly am not. Sometimes the things life throws at you can really affect you even if you don't want it to, and other times, no matter how hard you try, it just stays there. I guess its been like this for me for so many years I've been able to lose track of the time I've spent trying to make myself feel better. Or pretending that I'm okay by building this wall around me and creating this whole other world that I still live in. So I'm sorry if I can't be this person a lot of you expect me to be. All I can do is leave it to God and pray, and likewise, I'm thankful I have places to go to that make me feel kind of better. I wasn't at the beach but the sound of the waves even from the pier gave me comfort I never thought would have been able to fulfil me. God is good. And likewise, you might think its odd for me to mention this now but I very much wanted today to be such a good one that I wore this outfit out because its one of my recent favourites. The kind that make you feel good throughout? I was having a great time until the day came to a close and I was hit by realities that kind of made me want to fall flat on the floor and cry like a baby. Enough about that though, I'd just like to add I love this jacket to bits. It is lying on my lap now and it kind of makes me feel a teeny bit better just by stroking it in its heavenly goodness. I got it off Nastygal awhile ago and can't wait to think of other ways to wear this once I'm better.

Meanwhile, I know this space has seen enough of green recently but I was on my way to the Canon service centre today to try to get my camera fixed and I came along this stretch. The weather was so nice and chilly today and this little path way kind of got me…it just looks so serene and calming, plus the weather just made it extra nice to walk through. As for my camera, I couldn't get it fixed because its body is too old and not really worth spending hundreds making it good again. I got to stick with this for now before I really invest in a better body. I'm currently financially unable to upkeep such an expensive hobby and it really wears me down a little. But then again, reading everyone's lovely comments in the giveaway post really makes me feel that doing what I do is so worthwhile and I really just don't mind...

Rachel & Constance

2012-02-01T23:33:00.004+08:00

Love these shots I snapped of Rachel and Constance! Its so nice having friends who not only inspire me but also are a great bunch of fun to be with everyday! I hope everyone is having a great week so far, stay safe kitties. xx

Blog Giveaway!

2012-02-01T00:03:00.005+08:00

I've been so caught up with school but since I thought I'm bound to be making a trip to the post office next week (thanks for all the support on shopmissingavenue!) I thought I'll get a headstart on something I've been wanting to do here for ages. I'll be giving away 2 pairs of these knitted shorts at random, just to say thanks for being such supportive readers! I appreciate each and everyone's lovely comments and it means so much to me that people actually read, and enjoy what I love to do. So this is really the least I can do for now- I bought these for the giveaway ages ago but just never got to it. So now that its finally up…..All you need to do is:

1. Leave a comment and tell me a little something about yourself.

2. Be sure to add your name and email on the comment.

3. Thats it!

I will be randomly choosing 2 people from the comments to give a pair each- no limits to where in the world you are, as long as you leave a comment you stand a chance! So good luck!

I will now enjoy my supper and await to read your comments and know more about you! xx

Winners will be announced next week when I have some time on my hands but all comments until Sunday, 11:59pm will stand a chance to win!

Shredded feathers

2012-01-29T23:57:00.005+08:00

I'm not sure what particularly inspired me to take photos beside a huge drain but I guess it did enough justice to one of my favourite skirts. I'll be super honest and say that I'm not very satisfied with these images (how many times have I stood behind grass, omg) but my dad was kind enough to take these for me, so thats an A+ for effort! This was our second location so you can only imagine how patient he was.. Anyway! Always fun playing with textures. Too much to love about this skirt. Happy days.

twos

2012-01-28T00:15:00.003+08:00

Just two shots from the past week- Last weekend I grilled the perfect steak (Gotta thank Jamie Oliver for that, his Perfect Steak video always allows me to take credit for making a really really good steak for an ammature like me- I've done it his way a couple of times and it never fails!) and sliced it into strips before serving it up with honey lemony salad. The juice you get from resting the steak makes the salad even more wicked. Fucking delicious. Also, stocking up on anything shorts. Really, I think I've gone crazy over the past few months collecting these little nuggets. The 2 newest additions include the mesa knit from Nastygal and Kenny's Guadalajara shorts. Love these little minis.

*Ps- I've just updated shopmissingavenue with a few knick-knacks! All orders to go directly to my email and orders will be shipped out by the following week!

Quant-like

2012-01-25T01:15:00.003+08:00

Marni Dress, H&M hat, Dolce Vita boots, Balenciaga bag

I guess its right to want to never miss a moment- especially when its got to do with blogging. I'm not particularly on a streak but if time did persist, I would blog all day, every day! And this blog would be revamped with cute little buttons labeled 'recipes', 'art and craft', 'adventures', 'outfits'…you pretty much get the drift.. I am a dreamer. Not really good with words to be honest, more visual than the rest so I'd probably go on tiny adventures every day to take photos to blog and be happy about it. Thats me. Blogging gives me good vibes, the kind you feel like you've something to look forward to? So photo-wise, I got an upgrade over the weekend, new lenses which kind of make me want to go super!wow!omg!, I would give them all the credit for the fact that my camera itself hasn't been in the best of shape but the lenses did do a little magic. I'd give a proper camera update again for those who are wondering. So I guess this also means…more photos and posts! Suuuuuuperrrr!

I've had the dress I'm wearing for about 2 months, it is by far a huge favourite when it comes to wardrobe options but I never took the chance to actually wear it properly and today seemed perfect. I think I am in love with the pockets more than anything, and pretty much how the dress is like a shift dress but only, cuter x10. It flares abit below the waist but then goes back together at the ends. The print is rad as well, so thats a double bonus. It reminds me so much of London in the sixties, without a doubt my favourite decade of the past century where as we all know, fashion was crazy! So to dedicate this dress to then, I altered it to a super short length, Mary Quant would have so approved. I could see Twiggy in this, oh god, best birthday present ever.

Ps* Happy Dragon year to all my chinese readers!

sweater of scrambled stars

2012-01-24T00:32:00.003+08:00

Zara sweater, Dolce Vita boots, Topshop clutch

The weather has been perfect for days like this where I can decently go out in a sweater without being labeled as a crazy person. OK, maybe not. See what being stuck in a place too long does to you?

2AM by TBA

2012-01-22T19:16:00.005+08:00

I vividly remember balling my eyes out over some stupid school shit when Ty's hilarious Facebook status popped up on my news feed- somewhere along the lines of old slurry voice messages made when he was barely sober and finding of all things, GLITTER, in the most absurd of places. I laughed. It made my night. I told him about it. And before I knew it, "MELODY! Whats your size again?" and this pair of TO BE ANNOUNCED's were on their way by FedEx, to me. I think I got even more emotional prior to that (it was too sudden I literally wanted to cry) and he sent me videos to make me feel somewhat better so I think I managed to end my night laughing it off thanks to him and some of Whitney Houston's 'So Emotional'.. I love it that the people I've been so lucky to be able to collaborate with have remained good friends and we're able to share such memories despite being thousands of miles away from each other. Can't wait to get to meet one day. That aside, these might not be in my forte when it comes to shoes but I like them and I'm pretty excited to pair them with either my favourite Marni dress or some cut-offs and a T-shirt. Perfect. Big big hugs to Ty and Solestruck for such an opportunity! This label of shoes is pretty new to the site so be sure to check them out here!

Le Boyfriend Jacket

2012-01-19T01:25:00.002+08:00

Zara shirt, random boyfriend jacket, H&M shorts and hat, Topshop boots, Balenciaga bag

I've lost track of the amount of time I've spent trying to find a perfect boyfriend blazer that was anything other than black- this came randomly online and I just knew it had to go into my cart. Part of an early birthday gift to myself last year. I paired it like how I would probably pair any other blazer I own with shorts and a shirt. (yes, I do get that boring, I'll update again when I do decide to take a risk) I love the tweed and the faux leather collar detail- you probably can't see it here but I promise its awesome. And pretty much how it reminds the people who have complimented the jacket so far, and myself of Chanel, but slightly more funky.

Kind of stuck with thoughts I shouldn't be thinking about in my head, I feel like this year I have so much I want to prove to myself and I can only pray I'd be up for it. I'm too afraid for my own good. Well, for that matter, its nice being able to come to this space and de-stress for abit. Always have and always will be.

Hair Talk

2012-01-15T21:41:00.002+08:00

Not going to drown you guys with the technical terms today…but thought I'd share a slightly more in-depth approach to talk about the hair. Lets make this clear first though, I have never had good hair and it runs in the family. So I'm not going to make my photos look deceiving…Anyway! A couple of weeks ago at Salon Vim, Gary and Ivan introduced one of the most popular french coloring technique for my highlights and I can honestly honestly say this has been my favourite so far since I plunged into having coloured hair. Balayage is a hair colouring technique designed to create very natural-looking highlights which grow out without developing a noticeable and obvious root. Its been extremely popular with the likes of celebrities and models like Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba, Erin Wasson and Gisele Bunchen.

'Balayage' is French for "to sweep"- The colour is applied by hand in a sweeping motion which moves from the base to the tip of the hair. This is different from traditional foiling or other highlighting techniques. Colour is applied very lightly as the base of the hair rather than at the tip where the colour is a lot heavier. The great thing is that this technique looks great on anyone from short cropped pixie hair to long wavy locks like Rapunzel. The natural highlights allow anyone to go from soft, dreamy look to something strong and punky. A plus point is how low maintenence it is, realistically, how much time do we really have to spend sitting in the salon all day? As the hair grows out, the root will be concealed for the first few months by the thinner colour applied to the base of the hair.

Balayage will definitely dry out your hair so its always good to use salon professional hair products as well as have regular treatments (in my case I did a Loreal hair filling serum which reconstructs hair cortex and a power repair B which repairs and strengthens hair cuticles). How dry and frizzy does my hair look here? I bleached and permed by hair a couple of months ago so this really is no surprise. Don't know how magic happens but after applying some Loreal serum for my curls and when I'm all changed and ready to go….. It becomes perfectly fine again!

Huge difference from the above right? I'm not the sort who blow-dry my hair so I usually sleep it in and when I wake up, it usually is my perfect kind of do. Gary recommends that Balayage looks best finished on loose curls or beachy waves where you can see the colour variations ribbon through the hair just like in the photo above.

You can see how the highlights are reflected by the sun in this photo. Another plus point is the highlights are folded in the hair and on the base, that when the light is reflected on your hair, your face naturally looks longer and slimmer. This I have definitely noticed, I don't photoshop my face in 98% of the pictures on my blog but on occasions where I have a photo that shows off a bad angle, I do a teeny bit of liquifying but ever since I did the Balayage….aha! I have kissed the liquify tool goodbye. So in conclusion, of course I'd recommend Balayage for everyone! It has been the best thing that has happened to me hair-wise and I am so grateful. With the Lunar new year approaching, many salons are going through a mad rush of customers and likewise for Salon Vim of course but the best part is there isn't a price increment! All stylists will be working everyday from now till the 21st before the salon is closed fo the new year break. So…call 68847757 make your appointments now! The stylists will be more than pleased to be able answer any enquires you might have on Balayage. Its perfect for the celebrations and what better timing? Book your appointments with Ivan now! Mention the blog and you get a 10% off! Salon Vim is located at 13 Somerset #04-07/08/09.

flower girl

2012-01-14T23:56:00.004+08:00

Zara blouse and skirt, Topshop loafers, Chanel 2.55 handbag

This morning in yet another village we drove into, road trips now make dressing up seem compulsory because the locations never fail to surprise you and I personally kinda never want to miss a moment. Apart from that, I think I spent the whole day eating. I've been feeling rather romantic lately and this shirt + skirt ensemble fit the bill entirely, at a first glance I thought I'd pair the shirt with shorts but it seemed too boring for my own good. No promises I will keep to that when it comes to school though, just ended my first week and I am thrilled to be finally, finally doing what I came here to do but that also means I'll be cut off from having much of a social life. Photos shot by Sherman. Guess we put up quite a show, a bunch of kids started squatting around to look at us throughout the whole shoot. When 4 ten year olds on a motorbike stopped right in front of us, I knew I had to... More on that next time. But they were more than happy.

Noir

2012-01-12T23:08:00.004+08:00

Taobao.com cardigan, H&M scalloped shorts, TheScarletRoom Bustier, Chanel 2.55

I swear I love this cardigan (or the whole outfit for that matter) so much I could wear it every day, to school, to the grocer's, to the post office, to Mcdonalds, to my wedding, on board flights when I travel, to Christmas, to New Year, to London, to Norway, to New York, to meet Ryan Gosling if I ever get to meet him..........I paired them with my Steve Maddens which seem perfect for these sort of dreamy outfits, anytime, anywhere.

Sous Style

2012-01-10T21:32:00.004+08:00

I think I just found my new favourite site, ever! Created by the photo director at Elle, Pippa Lord, Sous Style features all sorts of creative and beautiful (plus stylish!) individuals in their kitchens cooking up a gorgeous meal, or just sharing a recipe or a short snippet on their love for food. Thats not all, though I have to admit I've been ogling at those 2 hot models in the 'COOK FOR ME' section for the past hour or so (^The dude baking and the one with the dog^)-Sous Style also features beautiful apartments, fun interviews and articles on everything we love from food of course, to decorating, art and crafts and entertaining. Love how they're described as the younger and fresher martha Stewart. A part of me wishes I could do a project like this. Sous Style makes me want to cook all day, every day.

Back To School

2012-01-10T02:36:00.003+08:00

Taken at the heart of school- first day back yesterday! Wore my favourite sweater you've probably seen on here countless of times paired with these perfect little shorts W.A.R sent me, a random white blouse with really special collar detailing I have to show you next time (I cut it myself), vintage Coach handbag (!) and back to school loafers I snagged at Topshop. Feels really good to be back, and as hard as rock these loafers can get, I barely don't care. Flats always gave me more things to complain about anyway.

Spaghetti with Meatballs Recipe

2012-01-08T20:06:00.009+08:00

So I thought I'd have a take at doing up my own recipe. Everyone has had spaghetti with meatballs before, and everyone does it differently. So this is how I do it. I LOVE THESE MEATBALLS. I eat them with everything from pasta, to potatoes and salad. (Just like how I served them here) And I use the same method when I make the meat patty for my mini sliders. Plusssssss…meatloaf! You can also bake the meatballs, but I like to grill them so that they become extra crunchy. Anyway, the mix is entirely done up on my own after improvising many times, so if you do decide to try making it, please let me know what you think!

The ingredients are as follows. You might have to squint a teeny bit, but its pretty and I can't bear to change it! So far it looks fine from my Mac but let me know if you'd like me to type out the ingredients.

TIP: For the meatballs, you can use any kind of meat. Beef would obviously be the best but for me, I always mix beef with pork. You can also use ground chicken or turkey. mix it however you like.

For the meatballs: Stir-fry your chopped onion. Mix together all the ingredients and roll them into medium-sized balls.

TIP: You can always improvise all the time like I do, try out different fresh or dried herbs, add more worcestershire sauce for more oomph, add more breadcrumbs if you like your meatballs to be more like that of Ikea's.. its entirely up to you! What I usually do when I experiemnt is I roll my very first meatball and cook it first, then taste and see if I like it. That way, you know what you need to add to balance the flavors.

Put olive oil into a hot pan and grill for approximately 7 minutes, turning the meatballs every 2 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the grill and leave them to cool.

For the spaghetti: Cook the pasta in boiling water (with salt and olive oil) then prep the ingredients for the sauce. Do all the washing and chopping you need to do. On a clean, hot pan. Add two table spoons of olive oil and fry the chopped garlic, when slightly golden, add in the onions. After a minute or so, add the mushrooms- continuously stirring. When the mushrooms start to reduce in size and start to simmer, add in the can of tomato paste. Any brand will do. Fill 3/4 of the can with water and pour it into the mixture. Continue stirring until it starts to boil. Leave to simmer.

Add the fresh basil and parsley followed by a dash of the dried herbs and salt and pepper to taste. The sauce would be ready in about 6 to 7 minutes max. Make sure you remove the spaghetti out of the water when its ready!

TIP: If you don't like your sauce too sour, grate some parmesan into the sauce and stir away.

You can either choose to place the meatballs into the sauce to coat it, or place the meatballs over the spaghetti before pouring the sauce over. Finally, grate some parmesan on your pasta and your spaghetti with meatballs is ready to be eaten! (save some fresh parsley and basil to sprinkle if you'd like!)

Let me know how it goes if you decide to try! Have fun! All photos are taken myself with 50mm lenses- for those who have been asking!

*Ps Thank you Anamei for doing up the graphics for me and giving me the inspiration to do this!

Default

2012-01-06T16:00:00.004+08:00

DKNY cardigan, random striped sweater and shorts, satchel ℅ sundayswithyou, Topshop socks and boots.

Default Saturday outfit: Throwing on a cardigan thats excellent for pretty much anything in anyone's wardrobe. And happy shorts I picked up randomly in the states, which I also love to stock up on. Have at least 5 pairs of these crochet/lace-like minis and I doubt there would ever be a day I'd grow sick of them. Paired them with my favourite socks of all time!!! (3 exclaimation marks wouldn't suffice my love for it) You can't see it but there are little trimmings on the socks which kind of make me giggle to myself whenever I look at them. I've had them for so long but barely posted them up- so unrepresentative of our relationship because I wear them literally every other day. Love little details like these. Thank you Hazel for the shots!

The littlest

2012-01-04T00:12:00.003+08:00

Second photo of me looking like I've got impossibly long legs shot by Consie (I'm honestly not very tall), wish I could have spent more time in the dirtiest but also most beautiful back alley I've ever came across. Love how unexpected my road trips always turn out. Details next time.

Wearing a Zara Poncho, H&M shorts I got at Harajuku, my favourite Topshop boots and a Chloe Paraty hand bag.

Recently...

2012-01-03T03:20:00.003+08:00

Went on a road trip and explored the deserted back of shopping malls.

Baked a meatloaf for a potluck dinner and it was gobbled up more quickly than I expected it to be. Yum. And juicy. And fat.

Made christmas trees out of nothing but paper, straws and lots of tape. Our twirly wurly one in the middle got tied in at second place.

Caught up with my pal, Jack, over tea and accidentally eavesdropped on the most awkward conversation… which left us kind of….amused wouldn't even describe it right now (*Ps Check out the flawless skin)

Had chinese for lunch at Spring Court, one of Singapore's oldest chinese restaurants. So fucking delicious.

Finally got to doing this.. Thank you God for 2011 :)

And welcomed 2012 in style!

Made red velvet cupcakes which didn't turn out red enough, and doodled on cake boxes because I felt like it. Hope you like them, Salon Vim!

Found the perfect sweater at the kids section in Zara. On sale! Love it, even though it makes me look like I haven't got any boobs.

Paid Anamei a visit and played with her collection of cameras…this girl is crazy! And talked about NYC and laughed a lot as we watched Zooey Deschanel's New Girl on itunes.

Happy 2012 everyone!

New Year

2011-12-31T02:37:00.004+08:00

Last post of the year! Time flies so quickly. I feel like 2011 has taught me so much more than I ever have, last year and this year, I am so happy to have learnt about the importance of gratitude and having more than just a little faith. God has blessed me with so much people, laughter, tears, travels, perspective, lessons, opportunities, presents, shopping, and showing me different parts of the world I never thought I would have had the chance to step into again. Polariods from the last 2 weeks, probably best 2 weeks of my social calender all year. So thankful, so blessed, so scared but excited to see what 2012 has in store for me. Thank you everyone for reading my blog all year(s)! Sorry I can be such an awful blogger at times. I know I was supposed to hold a giveaway ages ago but I haven't had the time to take pictures to do it up properly….I promise to do it in the next week or two! Tons to do now, I hope everyone is having a great time celebrating the end of 2011 because I believe 2012 is gonna be even bigger and better! Time to get started on my resolutions….Sending all my love to everyone! Happy new year's eve!

Postcards from Tokyo

2011-12-31T00:38:00.010+08:00

View from Shimbashi station I think? One of the things I'm proud of achieving this year is finally taking the subway alone in Tokyo. Its total madness there but I survived. Super long post up ahead..oops! Guess this took forever to even begin…but here goes!

I knew I was in the right place the first thing I landed when I saw this..

Lobby of The Fujiya Hotel in Hakone- whats really special about this place is the many celebrities and dignitaries it has played host too, including John Lennon and the Japanese emperor and empress…and maybe some Swedish prince I couldn't quite get the name of. So much history in one place! From how it was rebuilt twice to the black and white portraits of its guests on the creeky hallways. Its extremely expensive for locals to stay here, costing up to 20,000 yen per head to stay for a night. I think we paid 3 times less for 2 rooms (4 people! compared to 20,000 for 1!) because tourists get a special package. So it was definitely worthwhile to visit, and so beautiful too.

One last one from Hakone.

Upon arrival in back in the city, we headed straight to Ginza. Always love it when the roads close up during the weekends so it becomes like a blown up set in Universal Studios. Wearing a H&M shirt, Zara dress and coat from Korea (Thanks Jack!)

After which, runnng to Ippudo's for supper. I think the gyozas are my favourite.

Christmas lights near our hotel

Home at the Conrad.

View from the lobby on the 28th floor which soon felt like familarity.

Pretty pimped up kiddos.

We seem to always spend Sundays at Harajuku before heading down to Asakusa for lunch. On the way I spotted these ramen people!

Best tempura I've ever tasted in my LIFE. !!!!!!!!!!! (100 exclaimation marks wouldn't do it enough justice)

Shinn-san finally making his debut on the blog! He has been bringing us around for some of the best food in Tokyo and is the most stylish businessman I know. I guess thats partly because we share one thing in common: our love for shoes. But this dude is crazy, he owns 200 pairs he buys all over Europe and Japan. (Not including the 8 pairs lying in his office!) And he understands the importance of a perfect fit before anything else.

So in Tokyo I photograph lots of random stuff…..

And buy them too..

Learn a trick or two at Japanese home cooking whenever Miyuki invites us for dinner.

Always so well-fed by Shinn and Miyuki, I look kinda chubbs.. no idea how Miyuki and Koji-san stay so fit, they're the perfect couple. One's a marathon runner and the other's a surfer dude.

They brought us for japanese pancakes at the Marunouchi the next day…loved being able to feel like I could 'whip' something up onto my plate.

Such a pretty place..and always with great company.

So it took me 3 trips to Japan to finally visit the famous Tsukiji fish market.

But it soon became a pretty gruesome sight as you can see why….. couldn't really handle it.

Back at the Asakusa shrine, I went to get a lot for fun…and got a good one!

Of course you need touristy pics at a touristy place..wearing a leather jacket from Hong Kong and vest from Taobao.com with an American Aparel skirt.

On early nights, I play dress-up as a detective and head down to the local amusement discount stores which sell everything from groceries to home furnishing appliances and even vintage Chanel. Wearing a Burberry trench with my trusty Dolce Vitas and a Monki hat.

On the way to our after-christmas party to stuff ourselves silly because we had 30,000 yen to bomb on champange and food!

So I ate alot. Like 3 bowls of chicken wings for myself and tons of pizza.

Shopping at Shinjuku.

And finally, en route home. Awaiting my flight at the ANA lounge. So nice to be able to take a shower at one of the most impressive lounges I've ever stepped into, and enjoy a piping hot bowl of udon before my flight. Check out my Tokyo Banana stash…

I guess thats it! One beautiful week in Tokyo and I can't wait to be back. Definitely need to start planning…anyway hope you enjoyed! Are you ready for more photo diaries from LA?

Kampong Buangkok

2011-12-28T00:39:00.004+08:00

I swear its so hard trying to balance normalcy with a mind overwhelmed by a whirlwind of thoughts. I tend to get freaked out when the year comes to a close, scramble for bits of paper or a decent notebook I can find to really, really sit down and write all I have to be thankful for over the year. Then its off to resolutions. Oh god, I'm so scared for school…

Today's inspiration: life from a whole new perspective. If you ask me, it would probably also be my biggest inspiration. We found ourselves in Singapore's last surviving kampong (for those who don't know what it means- its a village) and basically just took time to really, take it all in. That probably explains the lack of photos. What was so intriguing was the dualities of living in a place like this in one of the most advanced cities in the world- and how life can vary so much from the rest of us in just a road's turn away. I watched Hazel interviewing a family and photographing an adorable 4 year old who was so happily posing for the camera in his home. The people here just enjoy the slower pace of life at home even though they have the most typical jobs but they're happy despite the difficulties of maintaining their way of life. It made me think of the people in the 21st century who are constantly in the the pursuit of a comfortable lifestyle and would do pretty much whatever it takes to get there. To me, you only live once. And I never want to live a life where I'm constantly in a chase for a better one or where I am so stuck by my circumstances that I forget what its like to live. Its crazy isn't it? Life in general and the people living it.

I wore my favourite new pants, I like to call them my John Lennon pants just because it reminds me so much of him. But more on that in another post…! Till then, I hope everyone's having a great week so far.

Photos by me and Sam.

minutes before sunset

2011-12-26T02:03:00.004+08:00

You probably knew this one was coming, its one of those inevitable spots I just HAD to take photos at. I suppose it doesn't have to be part of blogging but it just seems right when you're miles away from home. These taken during our afternoon walk just exploring Hakone, the bottom half of the mountain where the main landing train station is. I wasn't kidding when I said we had nothing to do, and even shooting pictures doesn't take too much time (approximately 7 minutes or less for these), we ended back in the hotel at about half six figuring what to do as it was already pitch dark. I guess I was lucky because I shot these just before the sun set at 4. It was freezing and there was still random snow parts in my hair but I figured I should brave a few minutes out and just take it all in., even though I know its wrong. The kimono is past season, but I think I'll always love it for its flowy goodness, so soft and comfy! I wore this under a Burberry coat to keep decently warm- or just to lie to the adults I'm not being too vain.

I spent Christmas sick in bed all afternoon, completely losing my sense of taste (worst timing of the year especially when all you see is a buffet spread of food) and feeling awful and mildly depressed throughout- this being evident on Twitter. Lost count on the number of pills I've taken but all I want to do is get my taste buds back! I did everything from massages, vapour rub, trapping my head into hot steam and sleeping on sides. I've barely been able to breathe right and its so uncomfortable! Hopefully, this will be a good excuse to start sorting out the thousands of pictures I have piling up in my hard disk and get some photo diary posts up- even the L.A ones which I never got to. You wouldn't mind, right?

*Ps Pardon the unbuttoned shirt. I hated it but I forgot this shirt didn't have one and I had nothing to pin it prior to wearing it.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.002+08:00

Are you guys having an awesome festive weekend so far? Don't forget to pop some confetti…..

I did some reflection today for how good I've been all year…

And figured, heck it! I still deserve those shoes on Solestruck…So after going through thousands of shoes, it came to this:

So tonight, I'm going to cozy up in the couch and watch The Holiday just because I love Jude. Really I do. I really really do. Can I have him in my stocking?

Oh no, time to check on my chicken roasting in the oven! But I hope everyone's having a great time with friends and family because I sure am! Happy Christmas everyone!!!!!!!

xoxo, Melody.

denim on denim

2011-12-22T23:57:00.005+08:00

I've spent the past week in Kuala Lumpur with family and friends- so nice to actually be disconnected from the cyber world for these few days where everything seemed to just fall nicely into place. I spent last night sleeping on the couch which was stratigically placed just in front of the Twin Towers, made me realise how much of a luxury it is to travel, even in neighbouring countries we always seem to take the most for granted. It was beautiful to be able to fall alseep and wake up to such a view, I wished I could have managed a shot but I've spent the past couple of days having so much fun, the camera just seemed to be having its own holiday as well. Being so used to lugging my camera practically everywhere with me, this felt kind of strange but I think I needed it. Sometimes blogging really feels like this job I'm trying to keep up with that I'm pushing myself too much to get the perfect photos that I do it just for the sake of it and no longer for myself. It was a good break, and I've devoured the best pizza I've had in awhile at Papa John's (Can't believe I didn't try this in L.A) and sat some of the craziest thrill rides that spin you 360 degrees for a good 3 minutes, non stop in full speed and just played little kiddie games with the people I've practically known for my whole life. I've come home more thankful than I've ever been for awhile and it feels great to be spending this festive weekend with a great start.

Hosanna shot these of me on our way back home, just outside of Tebrau City in Johor, I've been quite a regular there with all my road trips to Malaysia just to do some grocery shopping or get a good meal but just only realised how the mess Johor might be makes it the most perfect scenic locations to shoot for the blog. So near and familar. Can't wait to go back for yet another adventure with my dad. Ps* Yes it was pretty warm but I figured why not with the leopard coat, it went well with my denim shirt and shorts, both Topshop. Coat by Rosebullet and boots by Dolce Vita.

Shibuya

2011-12-14T14:35:00.003+08:00

Shopping at Shibuya on Monday. One of the few days here in Tokyo where a jacket is able to keep me going. This one was a birthday gift from Hosanna, I paired it with a crisp white shirt and black H&M jeans. Guess nothing could have gone wrong with the whole ensemble in the first place so no harm putting on the hat. Its been an interesting past few days, I would love to share more but I'm heading to the airport and have about 4 minutes to pick up my luggage.

I've finally managed to get my body clock back on track throughout my past few days here. Kind of worried about going home now because my flight lands at 3:55 am. I'm done with 8am bed times and waking up only to find the day gone. Hopefully, Tokyo Banana and all the jap mags I've gotten or about to get at the airport will keep me going. Time to fly, gotta run! Stay safe kitties.

child-like

2011-12-11T23:06:00.004+08:00

While waiting for lunch to happen at Asakusa, wearing what could only be a child's coat. And underneath- a teeny little surprise screams hello. Okay, sorry. I just failed at trying to sound literal but yeah, I was referring to my tu tu skirt. I was just about to say how much I love the way the little frills show beneath my little cape.

I've also successfully managed to once again pair a sweater with a tu tu. Can't find any other way that seems to justify it without looking like I walked out of swan lake or in any case, Harajuku. Everything here has been worn before here and here. Just moved into the Conrad here at Shimbashi and I can't believe I am actually staying here. My room has personalized teddy bears welcoming me with a beautiful dish of chocolates. An incredible view and a bath tubthat would put the ones in MBS to shame. Can't wait for breakfast in bed! Its just me and the city for the next few days. Or at least, thats how I like to think of it as. I've also interestingly learnt a fact about Tokyo train lines today during dinner: The length of the Yamamotei line is longer than the width of Singapore. In other words, oh my god!

Ps* Coat from Zara.

h.a.k.o.n.e

2011-12-10T22:55:00.007+08:00

Chilling my ass off in Hakone- mountainous beauty west of Tokyo. We spent the night in Japan's oldest western hotel right smack in the middle of the mountain so its safe to say my legs have been given a good work-out. Not a very good tip to be in 6 inch boots going up and down slopes and steps and rocky, slippery roads. It was beautiful, I'm not a very touristy person when it comes to travel so I hope these scenic views don't bore you. I don't wanna be one of those people who have an album with 400 photos of beautiful orangey red leaves on balding trees and mountains with grey mist floating like we're in a scene of Narnia or something. But anyway, back to the hotel. It felt seemingly surreal to be walking through hallways of old black and white portraits of the different guests the hotel has played host to, including the many dignitaries and celebrities from pretty much everywhere. I loved the old creaky floors and just how the whole hotel was oozing ambience. Wished the hotel tour wasn't just in Japanese. This place has so much history its so hard not to peep my nose through every open door whenever I can. The area is filled with quaint little boutiques selling vintage crafts and cafes serving overpriced sandwiches and japanese coffee served in little english tea cups. So there wasn't much to do apart from tons of walking.. I ended my night soaking in the goodness of the hotel's onsen…first time after much persuasion!! And only because everyone else had already left. Not into the whole stripping thing with a group of strangers. I've always successfully managed to avoid anything to do with 'onsens' and 'hot springs' whenever I am in Japan..its so awkward.

Currently back in Tokyo, its so nice to be able to be back here after a year and I can't wait to be reunited with my favourite japanese big sister, Miyuki! I am just happy to also be able to slurp through a bowl of Ippudo's at Ginza, for those who don't know what it is. Its in my opinion, where you get the best bowl of noodles in the world. So much atmosphere in this teeny dimly-lit underground noodle bar. Oh and the cooks are pretty good lookers. No trip to Tokyo is complete without a bowl of piping hot ramen in these bars.

It snowed yesterday in Hakone, I looked pretty much like this since boarding the plane. The snow on my faux fur really made me look like a wild boar… I guess I blend in pretty well huh? Wearing a Topshop faux fur jacket, H&M jeans, random ol' striped sweater and Hermes handbag.

Just Instagram

2011-12-08T03:33:00.002+08:00

1. Supermarket shopping with Jamie & Chloe 2. Shirley 3. Casual days in school 4. Days where iPhone cameras make do for outfit photos 5. Birthday Pancakes 6. Best ice cream cake everrrrrrrrr 7 & 8. Some birthday presents 9. Mustard chicken cookin' on the pan 10. My kind of an indoor picnic, just one of our good ol' random Tuesdays in the kitchen 11. One of the books I did decide to read this year- about a Singaporean living in New York who came back to Singapore after over 10 years to learn to cook the food that defined her childhood and the long-buried family stories that helped her to reconnect herself with her family through lessons taught in the kitchen. I'm a quarter through and its been one of the few books I'm able to relate to being a Singapore girl. So if you're one and you love to cook, this book is definitely for you. 12. Oreo cupcakes I baked last week, yum. 13. One of the random dinners I decided to go to with part of my dad's cap collection on, I walked around the mall for an hour in it enjoying my rockmelon gelato. Heaven. 14. Long lost photo from L.A at The Bazzar by Jose Andreas…I had the best steak in my entire life. One of the better luxury culinary experiences I've been able to be a part of.

missingavenue x wardrobeflux grab bags

2011-12-04T00:53:00.007+08:00

Its the festive seasons and that sure calls for a celebration! Hosanna and I have teamed up to bring you our 'spankin' ace festive grab bags' full of jolly goodness to perk up the start of everyone's favourite month of the year. For $30, you'll receive 2 to 3 items (apparel/accessories) randomly chosen with a value of up to a $100 per bag. We all love a little mystery so hesitate no more and join us for this special! Limited bags are available so grab yours quick! Sale ends Wednesday, 7th Dec, 2am.

To make your order, simply drop us an email at grabyourgrabbags@gmail.com in the following format:

Name:

Contact:

Quantity:

Postage Option: (Normal/Registered + $2.50)

Mailing address:

We would appreciate it if you stick to the above format to avoid confusion. All orders sent to our personal emails or comment boxes will not be entertained. We have put in tender-loving care into making these grab bags a very special treat for you so we hope to hear from you! xoxo

Sequined minis

2011-12-02T21:56:00.002+08:00

Loving how a piece in anyone's wardrobe can be labelled as a little too 'snooki' but yet turn into a staple after styling it a little more casually. I only got this pair of shorts a couple of weeks ago but have already worn them countless of times. Likewise for this sweater, too comfortable to be true. I've lived in it during the weekends. Looks like they're both gonna be up and about even more than I expected.

Heaven on a Platter

2011-11-30T01:31:00.004+08:00

We've been spending our Tuesdays in the kitchen, dancing along to my ipod blasted on loudspeakers and making beautiful things whilst having wonderful conversations. Today it was mini sliders and they tasted like nothing but heaven. I can't believe I had a part to do in this beauty. My own meat patty recipe! Makes me happy anyhow. I hope everyone's having a good week so far… we're thinking of putting those thai cooking classes I joined in Bangkok to good use next week. Can't wait, hello tom yum!

Visuals:

2011-11-29T02:05:00.004+08:00

Adventures with Sherman- who have always been patiently and so kindly taking the photos on this blog for years now. He's a little camera-shy for the blog but I love this dude to death and have had some of the most hilarious and memorable adventures, cheers to 4 years of friendship!

Fur-Frenzy

2011-11-28T02:03:00.009+08:00

I love outer wear that makes me feel like a crazy person. As much as to secretly giggle to myself when I am questioned to my choice of clothing with regards to the weather. Its my kind of a compliment and I love it when people think I'm crazy. Basically, I don't care. I've been teased and laughed at, stared at and everything that I could possibly be labelled for, poked fun at (don't even remind me of secondary school) for years thats I am pretty numb to everything though I feel I'm pretty toned down with the choice of dressing, I mean have you guys seen people out there yet? I could never be like that! No matter how much I not care, I will still be self-conscious. I obviously make sure I love what I am wearing and that I'm comfortable or it would defeat the whole purpose. And I'm sure the same goes for these people or they wouldn't even bother to step out of the house. But anyway, I thought I'd use this opportunity to blog about some looks that you can wear crazy winter outer wear with. In Singapore. Or anywhere else in the world. Whatever the weather or season. Or if you think I'm nuts, fine by me. But I love these looks anyhow so I hope you do too!

Many have asked me how I'm able to bare my legs during the winter. Its extremely contradicting because you're sort of expected to cover up. But it has never been something mandatory in the first place right? And I'm never a trouser or leggings kind of person. So if its minus degrees outside, I probably pile on about 4 pairs of nude stockings so I can wear shorts. But in Singapore, thats a different story altogether. If you're going top-heavy, be more minimal for the bottoms so it won't get too distracting. Also, because this faux fur jacket I'm wearing is extremely furry..and thick. Its always better not to 'wear' it but more of, 'carry' it. In my case, I slinged it over my shoulders. Paired with my new favourite pair of tiny sequin shorts. Not really an outfit to jump around in but how about cozying up with the boyfriend at the movies?

I guess the fur vest needs no introduction. And its definitely wearable in Singapore. I mean, why not? If its cold, I'd layer it over a leather jacket or a crisp denim shirt. Its so easy to jump and move around in this piece, I love it!

One of my favourite purchases last year. I love how the mustard goes so well with the denim. And black is obviously another perfect combination so I mixed all three. Put on a light top with fringe or crochet so it won't get too warm or if you're daring enough, a bustier would be just as amazing. Pair it with black boots and you're good to go!

Like the very first outfit, I chose to sling this furry coat around my shoulders like a cape. Though this is much lighter than all the rest of the outerwear, it can get pretty warm because of the wool. But I kind of imagine it to also be perfect with black tailored pants and a white shirt and the coat worn over it. So its like a huge boxy jacket. I wore it with a little mod shift dress from Zara and a sheer H&M shirt.

4 outfits…..but already the longest 'outfit' post I've ever done in a long time. Or maybe even the first. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed this! Photos taken by Hosanna (Thank you so much babe!), we dragged a suitcase full of clothes out at night and finally put the flash on my camera to good use, playing around and cheering on passer-bys jogging along the track. It was great fun and I wish I could share more but thats all my luggage could fit. So lets just all be crazy people and rock some (faux) fur in Singapore alright?! Or if you're in winter, show off the sexy legs! Ok I have to admit I am sounding too excited about this post I am starting to sound like a crazy person. Thank you for reading!

Other items featured on this post incude (in order of appearance) : Topshop faux fur jacket, H&M sheer white shirt, random Vivi mag kind of sequin shorts I came across, Chanel 2.55 maxi, crochet blouse, borrowed from Rachel, Crochet shorts from Taobao.com, Chloe Paraty bag, TheScarletRoom bustier, mustard jacket from Tokyo, Topshop denim shorts, coat, birthday present from Jack, and boots are Dolce vita courtesy of Solestruck.

shopmissingavenue

2011-11-25T08:55:00.005+08:00

I like to buy in bulk- so I found some extra pieces of these beauties lying around at home and they're currently up for grabs in shopmissingavenue (along with some other stuff) so get yourself a piece! All are brand new and happily ready to find new owners. Hope you love them as much as I do, they're staples in my own wardrobe.

On a side note, I will be having a stall at the YOUFLEA at Homeclub tomorrow from 12pm! Its my first time doing a flea so I'd appreciate your support! Clothes featured on the blog or sourced from my travels will be up for grabs and affordable enough not to burn a hole in your wallets so I really hope to see you there, or just come to say Hi! Home Club is at 20 Upper Circular Road, B1-01/06, The Riverwalk.

friends

2011-11-24T01:12:00.003+08:00

Turning 18 last week probably made me realize one thing- even if this took forever to realize but I guess better late than never right? Its time I started having real faith in my friends. I would be lying to say I haven't been struggling, and every time I try to pick myself up again it ends up in bed sobbing my eyes off asking God why I have to go through this. But looking back, I've been so blessed…Expectation really can be a hard thing to keep up with. There's a fine line between expecting too much and believing. But at the same time, I am a strong believer of using positive energy to bring more into your life. Never failed me. So I guess its only right to say that I've been hanging loosely on threads. I love my friends. I really do. I'd go all out for the people I love even if they didn't deserve it. And I just want them to know that even though every time I cry because I don't believe in their love or feel worthy of it, it means the world to me that they are still here and I know with my heart they do love me. Even typing all of this feels seemingly impossible. I really am quite cynical aren't I? If you go back to the first few posts of this blog in 2008, you'd realise how time changes everything. It used to be worst and this blog was nothing but emotional outbursts of my depression. But I am so glad to be where I am today, I think blogging did make me a stronger person as time passed. Its been a long time since I wrote about my feelings publicly..feels kinda weird but this huge weight has been lifted off my chest. So I'm thankful and I know this might be a bit to take in so suddenly so I hope you don't mind.

A couple of my friends came to hang out at my place today, I made pasta with meatballs with Rachel in the messiest way possible but everything turned out delicious, then we played dress up in my bursting collection of outerwear (winter wear to be exact). I know its contradicting living in Singapore and having such a passion for my winter wardrobe but I have devised a way of being able to improvise these pieces into your everyday wardrobe suited for Singapore weather. (More on that in another post!) Always a joy playing dress up with the right company, can you guess who we are?

Back 2 Basics

2011-11-21T23:37:00.003+08:00

In a time when fashion has been revisited countless of times, where everything has been there and done, (trends on and off), I feel like it's the perfect time we go back to basics. The basic essentials of anyone's wardrobe have proven to be wearable in so many different ways, even after years. Over the past month, I went on several online shopping sprees but upon the arrival of my goodies- it dawned on me that I ended buying the very basics... Let's say about 10 sweaters and 6 pairs of shorts.. (I am a shorts kind of girl, no doubts about that) this sweater from H&M is another good example, it's sheds like crazy but if there's anything I love about it it's got to be how cool the color gradient gradually goes from a blue to green. And despite the mohair, its actually pretty comfortable. So why not to wearing it all season? Or even next summer? Or next winter? Or 5 years down the road? Basics at its best. I think I've stocked up on more than enough for now, and I apologize if the outfits I feature on my blog get too casual in the time to come.

Today along Club Street. I know my pretty scalloped shorts look way too short in the pictures but if it does any justice, I bought it 2 sizes larger and wore a huge-ass rubber band around my waist to pull it up. Didn't realize it got up so high until we were done taking the photos, the rain was frustrating the hell out of me to notice and my hair got messed up…so pardon me if my indecency has been a disturbance, I promise to take better notice in the future. Paired with H&M shorts, hat and sweater, Dolce Vita Jemma boots and Balenciaga bag. Can't wait to get some cooking done tomorrow!

Saturday Cookin:

2011-11-19T23:46:00.003+08:00

My take on a Jamie Oliver meal- Sherman and Marrcus got me his new 30 Minute Meal cookbook for my birthday and I couldn't be any happier. Loved the series- watched most of it on youtube every other night on my iPhone or iPad, drooled all over my blanket…fell in love with the amazing visuals in the book. Except that I just love to take my time. You know how he manages to whip up this feast including sides and a dessert under half and hour? I only did the noodles and salmon and it probably took me nearly 2 hours. (These perfect little cupcakes taste like heaven, thank you Aunty Irene!) Trying to work my blender/food processor and scrambling between pots and pans. I am a messy person by nature. Extremely unorganized. But thankfully pulled this together- Its asian-styled salmon with a noodle broth but as you can see, my broth turned into more of a thick gravy because my noodles turned out to be too starchy. Nevertheless, it tasted delicious. Now that I finally have some time on my hands I think I am going to dedicate my time to this cookbook and another favourite. Hope you guys wouldn't mind if I regularly blogged about it because I absoulutely love every second about it! From the grocery shopping to the cooking and then serving, photographing, EATING, editing and posting. I'll be giving my all this month to the blog because I've missed it so much so hurray!

Aladdin pants

2011-11-18T21:28:00.003+08:00

How I looked like last weekend, took a dive and decided to try on these aladdin pants (it was actually a jumpsuit but the cardigan seemed to come in handy). I have to be honest I felt pretty weird throughout but the print was too peacocky I loved everything about it. Slinging over my Paraty seemed the only obvious way of carrying my hand bag that day before it started to pour. Interesting choice of pants for church, someone mistakenly thought my style of dress was 'cosplay' and decided to ask…I was too lost for words before I could even react. But at the very least managed a smile and said 'no, it isn't'. Wore this home to feast myself in a home-styled barbeque with my friends before diving into a food coma. The adorable print makes me so happy and hopefully everyone else too because we had a lovely time. Have a great weekend!

Venice Beach

2011-11-16T23:27:00.003+08:00

Holla! Its been quite awhile….and I've definitely more than missed blogging here. I celebrated my 18th birthday over the weekend, God knows why but I have the tendency to get all depressed just before my birthday approaches every year. But it turned out all good at the very end. Prior to my hiatus from blogging, I've been doing absolutely nothing except being in bed. It feels like forever since I took photos for the blog or much less did anything that can prove my day productive. On a very random note, here are just a couple of pics taken in one of my absolute favourite places in LA..Venice beach! Oh my godddddd I miss Venice, I miss the cookie ice cream sandwiches and buffalo wings.. I've featured this dress on the blog before. Still an all time favourite. Paired with a J Dauphin bag and H&M boots (any takers? email me!) Miss LA miss doing so many things…I hope everyone's been well and amazing. Hope to be back blogging soon!

yummmmmy

2011-11-07T14:16:00.005+08:00

I just happen to be the sort who can sit down..anywhere for hours whilst slowly savouring every bite of my meal. So its really no surprise that today's lunch is still on my plate, its been 40 minutes since I last posted a photo of this beauty (May I also add- I love my plate!! I wish I could share a photo of it right now but its a little deer in the woods I got at Anthropologie in L.A!) on Instagram annnnd I'm planning on seconds. How long do I actually take when I'm having lunch alone, really? On the other hand, it feels absolutely great to be cooking again! I'm still going to be hella busy for the next day or two but thought I'd take a breather with some time in the kitchen! Grilled these meatballs a little longer than I'm supposed to so they would be crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Tastes like heaven. Have a happy Monday everyone! And *PS If I were to share a recipe, what would you like to see?

*PPS I know how much everyone loves these cute knitted shorts, also seen 2 posts down. I swear I couldn't keep my eyes off them that I bought 5 pairs in probably every color. But good news! I will be giving a pair away on the blog soon so stay tuned!

MKA INSPIRATION

2011-11-06T06:50:00.004+08:00

Source/Source

Sorry this space has been rather stale lately- simple to say, I've been a good girl trying to complete my homework. Anyway, just to perk up my weekend, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite looks by the Olsens! Always, and all ways my number one inspiration when it comes to my wardrobe. I'd do anything to look half as good as them. Are you having a good weekend?

Deepavali

2011-11-01T02:38:00.004+08:00

It just happens that my aunt has some of the most amazing friends, so full of life, love, laughter and fun and they have parties once in awhile in their beautiful homes. Sometimes I tag along because these are really some of the most stunning homes I've stepped into in Singapore. Most of the time, to be very honest, the food is too good for words and I just join in happily feasting away and listening to these adult conversations- which I actually enjoy being a part of at times. Most of the time, everyone just ends the day with even more laughs, hugs and champange. Last week, Aruno had a Deepavali lunch at her gorgeous home (cool furniture from all over the world!) so I was treated to wild hibiscus swimming in champange, a huge indian feast and home made snacks. Mint salad was plucked out of their garden which felt like a dream…I love the idea of having a kitchen beside a garden. And my first time tasting mango curry passed down from generations. I had a great time and I thought I'd just share a couple of photos I took with the help of Instagram. Wore a lovely pink dress by Rojita (which I found out about from ViVi mag!)- my kind of Bollywood.

just two

2011-10-29T00:16:00.005+08:00

Woke up this morning to an email from Ty from Solestruck telling me that I am live on the main page! Feels so surreal seeing myself on the site of America's trendiest shoe company. And if you haven't gotten your Dolce Vita's, please do! They are amazing to walk in and I secretly want another pair in brown.

I spent Thursday evening at Salon Vim again and Ivan did an amazing job with my hair using Loreal's new Time Master technique. Its especially for curly hair like mine (since I permed it in June) where the hair is slicked down in front and highlighted with extra copper red blonde, and set off with a tinge of copper brown to make my hair texture look ultra soft and strong at the same time. Slightly different from the first time I got my hair red here but this new technique is basically suited according to your head shape so…..trust me, it can never go wrong. I've never seen 3 hair stylists so serious in conversation about doing up whats best for my hair so I knew I could trust Ivan to do a great job. And he did! I prefer this much better to the first time I got it red, probably also because I was so new to the whole color thing at first and took awhile to get used to seeing me with red hair. Just felt it never suited me enough but I don't know why I just love my hair now, more than I ever have. The Time Master technique gave my hair more tone and texture. We ended the evening with Lo'real's fiberceutic hair filling serum, powercell repair and absolut repair cellular masque. I shan't bore you with the details because they work wonders. Just pay Salon Vim a visit and go to Ivan only to leave with your hair given a new lift of life. He knows what's best :)

I feel so blessed to be able to leave my hair in the care of these amazingly talented people (I genuinely go into a daze whenever I get a haircut because I can never understand how these people are so good with scissors?! I can't even cut my own fabric or paper! And they're handling hair! ) Sometimes I just sit in the salon and enjoy looking around me and the smiles these customers always leave with. Makes me want to smile to myself to but I always end up looking like an idiot. Book your appointments with Ivan now! Mention the blog and you get a 10% off! Salon Vim is located at 13 Somerset #04-07/08/09.

Ps* How cute are my new knit shorts? I absoultely love Fridays with my best pals and of course, my new Chloe! More pictures next time!

what we wore

2011-10-28T14:15:00.005+08:00

Our weekly Friday routine. I wish I could tell you guys how much of a drag school has been. 2 weeks and I'm done! But here is what we wore last week:

On Rachel- Zara blazer, The Scarlet Room bustier, Knit shorts, Topshop boots.

On Edgar- H&M sweater, Topman jeans, Longchamp bag.

On myself- Cardigan worn as sweater, Lace shorts from L.A, Steve Madden shoes, Chanel 2.55 handbag.

Have a great weekend!

wild thing

2011-10-25T14:06:00.004+08:00

Unif Leopard Dream Dress, Topshop Bustier & Shorts, Dolce Vita Jemma Boots

Another random day shooting with Sherman. Too much to think about at the moment….. hard times.

Paraty

2011-10-23T16:29:00.002+08:00

I woke up this morning to perfection right by my bedside. Say hi to my new Paraty. This shade of clay is Chloe's take on the bag for fall/winter and it is a dream to carry in its creamy soft leather. Love the satisfaction a new bag never fails to give me- it feels like I'm this new person yet again.

All Black.

2011-10-22T00:40:00.004+08:00

The only reason for the first photo is pretty much because of I love the little peeptoe of these Steve Madden heels. They look adorable close-up but even better from afar. They kind of remind me of Prada. Today I realised I am always whining about the weather on my blog but seriously! I can hardly wear all my suede shoes anymore… I unknowingly killed a little bit of my Dolce Vita boots on the inside because they got into some water. Makes me so sad….. So true that our style is kind of dependent on the weather though.

I've been dressed in black all week. How uninspiring, even though I love wearing black but not when it becomes routine with school. Today I wore these lace shorts I came across randomly while shopping at Santa Monica. I probably own about 5 pairs of laced or crochet shorts now…. its become quite an obsession. Shorts in general, really. Also, to date my favourite and most worn to death cardigan (still convincing myself to order another piece before its sold out) that I wear both front and back ways. I love the practicality of most of my clothes to be honest, especially those in black. Probably why I am convinved each time I need to buy something, I tend to deem it as practical. Today's inspiration: Abit of Audrey Hepburn with regards to the shoes and Chanel. And trying to get a contrast out of this outfit with the shorts and minimal jewellery. Or to be true to myself, I will also admit that one of my rings broke.. Anyhow, have a great weekend!

we don't care about the rest

2011-10-16T02:44:00.003+08:00

If this set of really random images have got anything to do with fashion, it would only have to be that yes, it was still a hundred degrees yesterday and yes, I was big bird. For the whole day/night. I love this jacket to bits!!!! Especially the color and how its a great compliment to my denim shorts from Topshop. So bearing the heat for it felt well worth it, everyone thought I was crazy but who cares? It was a happy day. Also, holla to my new Topshop boots! Rachel had a similar jacket in black she happened to bring along with her to show me so she put it on for the photos. We had fun goofing around while shooting these with Sherman, these pictures would probably best describe my personality- for those who always wondered. Kinda crazy, and kinda random but fun in every way I can possibly be. Got another of these jackets in cream I can't wait to receive! Have a happy Sunday babes!

streetstyle outtakes

2011-10-15T00:22:00.005+08:00

Friends with great style and personalities. Each so different in amazing ways its almost hard to comprehend. But thats the whole beauty of people. Yeah, I'm all about the whole embracing of individualism thingy. Its been keeping me going for the past 2 and a half years and I'm glad it still is…Anyway, apart from the fact that all of them are in outerwear, I also would like to applaud myself for spending a day shooting in my trusty leather jacket. Nearly melted but yes I'm still here. I think the weather in Singapore is going through a serious case of PMS. Have a great weekend!

No I never

2011-10-12T23:30:00.002+08:00

Destroyed knit dress from a long long long time ago, supposedly to be good for cozy days but I guess not. Ended up itching away for the 2 days I wore it. My whole outfit is random, just like the location. Too much to think about right now…..

shopmissingavenue

2011-10-10T00:59:00.002+08:00

Updated the store with loads of random stuff from my closet and not forgetting, an overload of vintage denim I lugged home during one of my recent travels. Plenty of Levi's to go around so be sure to grab your pick! And if you've purchased items from me before but never received them, it could be a case of genuine forgetfulness. I'm extremely apologetic if you had to expereince this but in any case…drop me an email!

SHOP NOW

nothing but a tee shirt

2011-10-08T20:30:00.010+08:00

Sheer tee, kismet, bustier, H&M, fur clutch, Tokyo, shoes, L.A.M.B, necklace, Bangkok

Everytime I carry this clutch, my friends think I cruelly shaved the hair off my dog to make it for myself…hell no! Clearly remember going on a hunt for a bag like this last December in Tokyo at Shibuya 101 which felt like I was going through a war of shops and people shouting strings of japanese words to get you in. Its been almost a year and I miss Tokyo so much and my favourite japanese big sister, Miyuki-san. I've been keeping December free on my calender just in case the opportunity to visit the beautiful city again pops up. Sometimes I feel like my whole life has been a constant pursuit of happiness- seeing the world and traveling to new places is probably one of those things that make me immensely satisfied because I am constantly amazed by what these new adventures have to offer me. Be it meeting new people or trying new things, seeing new places for a first, second or hundredth, I would gladly return just to be able to take the whole experience in and embrace everything about it. God, You are so good. Today's inspiration: Back tracking to a couple of months ago and looking through the If lookbook that was perfectly styled, everything I needed in my wardrobe...I have always wanted a sheer kaftan but never got around to making one for myself or purchasing the perfect one, this tee came in handy after lying in my wardrobe for a year or so. Its big enough to be a dress and fluid like how I want it to be. The shoes seemed like a great compliment and I wish I could share with everyone how it looks like in real life because the pictures really never do enough justice. Its perfectly arched and angled in a way that makes its structure quite an illusion. Gwen Stefani, you did it right. And on a random note, my hair is no longer red, red. I'd go more into detail in another post. But just a quick shout-out to Salon Vim for always making my hair feel like brand new every time I visit! Hope everyone's having a great weekend.

candid

2011-10-06T23:55:00.003+08:00

Days where it gets so hot, I can't imagine going out in anything more than that. I was nearly suffocating in my jacket but its gorgeous isn't it? It happened to be the last one on the rack during the Topshop Breakfast Party a couple of months ago so it was a little on the loose side for me but I loved how fresh and fluid it made the jacket look even more. And prior to my previous post about the Jemmas, you probably get the drift now when I said the arch of the heel spoke to me. Simplicity taken to a new level I say, thank You God that finally someone understood. Me today: Spending a good hour and a half in front of a sewing machine I couldn't get used to resulting in nearly sewing my finger to..the machine itself, napping at the oddest times in the day, or should I say night. Thinking about school work which makes me feel sick in my stomach, and scrambling to find that crochet dress I've been eyeing on for ages but took too long to decide on. Its now…out of stock. The last 3 words you want to hear when you've spent the week happily adding new stuff to cart. Photo by Sherman See-Tho who managed this shot from across the road where I was standing on. Probably had to believe but it was..half candid. If that makes sense.

Jemma

2011-10-01T01:26:00.003+08:00

The gorgeous Jemma by Dolce Vita. When Ty from Solestruck told me to choose a pair for myself to keep, I knew without a doubt this had to be it. Everyone knows I'm quite the minimalist when it comes to shoes, but it surprised my friends when I picked a plain pair of black boots because I have at least 3 or 4 pairs of black boots. But opening the package and gleaming right at me was everything I could ask for…or to be very honest, the arch of the heel spoke to me, it brought the shoe to a whole new level. That made it, it. The suede was the perfect compliment to it, it made the shoe feel like there was a certain balance to it. Something I'm extremely grateful for. I've worn them a couple of times now and they're really walkable. Pretty OK even for a 12-hour day on full whack. As much as I've been abusing my little toes with all the different sets of new heights my feet have to get used to every other day, these shoes have been a dream to walk in, especially with fuzzy winter socks which I absolutely love. I'd be spending my weekend shooting a couple of looks for Solestruck with Sherman this weekend! Thanks to the lovely team at Solestruck and Ty especially for calling up Dolce Vita just so I could get these babies in the fastest way possible.

Ritual

2011-09-28T21:00:00.002+08:00

2 looks from the same week I debuted my first post on Solestruck for those who missed it.

Taken at 2 different ends of Singapore, I thought my dad did a great job with the second set of photos.

I was inspired by the rawness of these locations. Places that people in Singapore would never think of going just started to pop out in my mind. They were either abandoned or at a remotely deserted area, walking through the walls where life once seemed abundant was a mix of feelings. I thought about the people who used to live here and their way of life. It just sorts of leave you hanging, as eerie as the whole area seemed, I left with a peace of mind I haven't been able to feel for awhile now.

Bluebell Petals

2011-09-27T22:26:00.002+08:00

1. The pains I make my dear friends go through when I take blog photos. 2 huge safety pins and endless bobby pins later, the dress still fell every 2 minutes.. Then came the routine of picking up flowers and throwing them in air, and at myself… thank god it was all in the name of pure good fun.

2. Days where I just need to sit on my 'rug' and enjoy blueberries and yoghurt reading Lula. Thats if I had to name a favourite among the three. But there was nothing not to love about stunning Elle Fanning (who was 10 metres away from me during the premiere of Super 8 in West Hollywood! And a quick glance of Steven Spielberg!) on LOVE and Edie Campbell for Tank…that little spread screamed everything about me. Frolicking amongst gardens in beautiful floral dresses and lying on all the lovely green, playing dress up in a neighbourhood that reminded me of Eastborne in England. Tank never fails on days you just need to feel a wee-bit intellectual especially for a noob like me when there is so much technology involved.

3. All I need right now is a day spent with nature and pretty dresses and perhaps indulging in a good salad. I guess its easy to tell how much school has sucked the life out of me. And…I am desperate for my fringe to grow. I've missed how it could flow along with the rest of my ever-growing bird's nest (just because my hair seems to collect all sorts of stuff from loose thread during class or maybe a yarn or two and tiny bits of food..) I'm looking forward to spending an evening at Salon Vim this week!

What Happens In Vegas

2011-09-22T16:45:00.005+08:00

Visuals from my weekend in Vegas- Simple to say, a blown up wonderland where the city really never, ever sleeps. Wearing one of my favourite dresses where I can get away with swooshing around. I've needed this bright splash of color in my wardrobe for some time now.

Candy Princess

2011-09-20T22:21:00.003+08:00

I had my own solo party last weekend during my stay at the gorgeous Marina Bay Sands- wearing the most adorable dress made by the lovely Rachel who was so kind to lend it to me, just so I could play dress up! I love the back of this dress so much, socks!!!!!! Actually the whole top was made out of socks except for the bustier which was paper and wire and the tulle. Reminds me so much of candy, wish I could beautify my photos by creating my own candy lane kind of set but I had to make do. As crazy my friends thought the dress seemed, anyone who knows me well enough would know I never ever give up the opportunity to play dress up and who am I kidding really?

PS* Rach- Love you babe, and love your creation!

PPS* Wanling & Biru- Thanks for all your patience and assisting me with these photos!

visuals 4.5

2011-09-13T01:44:00.004+08:00

Visuals over the two past weeks- exploring places, laughing with my dad, making a gorgeous meatloaf for my friends and lunching on fake grass, planning outfits, blogging for Solestruck, making the perfect steak (thank god for Jamie Oliver!) with salsa verde and an amazing rocket salad, having meaningful conversations with people who are worth it, and laughing a lot.

Salon Vim Gives Back

2011-09-13T01:09:00.002+08:00

The extremely generous people behind Salon Vim have started a new campaign, for the best reasons! Salon Vim wants to help you to give your friend the best gift she can probably receive, a boost in the confidence she needs. You and your friend get a complimentary hair-makeover, courtesy of Salon Vim, and hopefully have an experience thats worth remembering.

" The world goes around in a cycle and one thing leads to another.
A kind act will continue to go around the world changing lives.
Do you have a friend whom you wish to help?
Let us know."

All you have to do is go to their Facebook page- post a photo of you and your friend, write about why you'd like to help your friend and what this opportunity would mean to her and how it would change her life. So simple and so worth it. Salon Vim will be choosing the winning entry based on whose story touches them the most. So..! If you're in Singapore and you know of someone whom you'd like Salon Vim to make life better for, please take part in this campaign! Its not just about who wins or lose, but the thought that really counts. And asking yourself how much of a difference it would make for her in her life. So head on down to their Facebook page and change you and your friend's life!

Under gray skies i'll come undone

2011-09-08T02:59:00.004+08:00

Lovely Wednesday evening and I've been busy dragging out all my shoes to share a snippet of my ever growing shoe collection with you guys. The above are daily essentials needed in everybody's life, at least I think so. They're so practical, comfortable and sexy, giving a boost in not just confidence but also height. I can't tell you how thankful I am for being a boring shoe person. I could stick to black my whole life. Well, to see a bit more of my shoe stash, and a couple of photos snapped during the weekend rocking (yes- I am praising myself) my L.A.M.B wedges, go to the Solestruck blog! Probably one of the most serene places I've ever been to in Singapore. Whats even better is how its just a short drive from home. Trying to balance 5 inch wedges on wobbly planks and checking out the fishermen with their cool fish and goofing around with the dogs relaxing on boats. Enjoying the beautiful sunset. What more can I ask for an adventure? For now, more will be up here. I'm hoping to sort out the rest of my photos taken over the week and do a visual diary soon-something I am excited to be able to share with you guys. Fingers crossed school won't be too much of a bitch for the next 2 days.

Red ends

2011-09-03T23:40:00.002+08:00

After doing pretty much the same thing to my hair during my past few visits at Salon Vim, Ivan felt that it was time to finally go for change. My whole life I've been so conservative about my hair, I kid you not when I say I freaked out and stayed home for 2 days after I got my new hairdo. But I've spent the past week trying to get used to my new do and I think its great I finally went for a change after 18 years of my life having jet black hair. Even though I had to lighten my hair in order to do these dark copper red highlights at the ends, Ivan used a L'oreal ammonia-free lighening paste which is somewhat like bleaching. I have to admit the damaging properties of bleach did scare me at first, obviously I didn't want to be left with dry, frizzy hair especially with my already horrible hair condition (it sadly runs in the family). And I guess I don't need to go on about how dangerous ammonia is especially in bleach. So the great thing about this lightening paste was that it also strengthens and nourishes cuticles, smoothens and softens hair fibre and maintains hair surfaces for healthy-looking hair. A L'oreal nature's treats series clay masque scalp treatment and ginseng color treatment followed after. I now am part a red head. Part's the word. Part. Just part. Ivan did a great job and though my hair might still need some time getting used to, I'm so glad I went for this change. And embracing it just the way I should. The hair cut was just a good finish too. My fringe needs a week or so to grow out before it becomes the perfect length! Its been a rather interesting week with the new hair. So i'll just wait and see where it takes me too now! Salon vim is located at 313 Somerset #04-07/08/09. My readers get a 10% off!

raw

2011-09-02T18:12:00.004+08:00

Photos by Ydee Jumanto

A couple of raw, unedited photos snapped a while ago, playing with the stairways outside of my home. I'm sorry this space hasn't been able to be as visually appealing as I want it to be, school has sucked the life out of me but thankfully, I'll be spending the weekend snapping some pics for my guest blogging debut on Solestruck. Annnnnd, I got a massive (its probably not anything but to me its major..since I've never coloured my hair in my life) hair makeover last weekend. I've spent all week trying to get used to it….and even saw myself feeling at wits end just because I felt so weird.. but the number of compliments I've been receiving have been completely unexpected. Loads to thank Ivan for now, I'd update more about my new hair tomorrow! For now, I hope these photos do the trick for a kick-start, missingavenue is back in business!

waiting for my peace to come

2011-08-23T01:02:00.005+08:00

Skirt courtesy of Wanderwit

I've been feeling extremely uninspired over the past week so when Wanderwit sent me this skirt, I just thought I'd paired it with black drapes like how I normally do for any black outfit. There is nothing special about this outfit, but there is something very much I love about wearing black from head to toe for an occasion. Or even just for a day out. School not included. Black in school usually means I'm just too bored to be bothered. Which is what I've been living on over the weeks… Sad but true! Though there wasn't an occasion I wore this to, we just felt like taking some pictures in the park so I got dressed and we did. Literally ran for the life of my dear shoes when it started to pour again. Nevertheless, black makes me feel kind of dark and mysterious but in a good way every once in awhile and I love this. I love how to skirt flows with my drapey vest and the shoes did a great deal in giving a kick start to this outfit. Big Ol' thanks to Wanderwit for the lovely skirt!

Sneaks-Peaks

2011-08-20T17:36:00.002+08:00

LOVE: I still can't get over my recent acquisition of these L.A.M.B wedges. There was no holding back the moment my eyes caught them. They're kind of arched so high up I think its hurting my bones but I simply don't care. Its been an abnormally rainy day so I've sadly kept them back in its little crowned glory of a home. More of what I'm wearing tomorrow!

Greenhouse

2011-08-13T22:16:00.005+08:00

I've been feeling rather different lately…weird that things are rather ordinary yet I feel like everything is just going in place as it should and as I want to. Peaceful days mean pretty dresses. This I got in Chatuchak. along with this random vintage clutch which turned out to be such a steal. I've been inspired so much by nature recently, its entire existence is something I am deeply grateful for especially when I make my way out everyday. I guess dressing in neutral tones magically blends in with nature. And it makes me feel so good. Its perfect with my favourite Playhound oxfords and a little sunshine.

Tuesday Morning

2011-08-10T01:23:00.007+08:00

I made my sis take these photos for me and as ridiculous as it sounds, I went back to this

florist 3 times within an hour just to get a proper photo. And even bought myself a sunflower. Whats even more ridiculous is the amount of time I spend putting up a proper post together just because I am so anal about everything. I know my posts are short but I take hours to get it together. Maybe this is like a plus point to show everyone how much I love blogging and my blog itself ^^ Oh that aside, how cute are these shorts?! I grabbed them at Urban Outfitters during one of my last shopping opportunities at 3rd Street Promenade. Clearly not forgetting how much I was of a wreck that night running from store to store in my bloody heels to make it in time before they closed. But like I said, these knitted minis are everything I can ask for in a pair of shorts. So very me and it makes me so happy I can't help giggling to myself as I type this. The clutch was a great vintage buy at Chatuchak while the flats and blouse are from H&M I got in Hong Kong awhile ago! I hope everyone had a great national day holiday, I sure did. Now to spend the rest of my night/morning reading British Vogue and Vivi magazine. God, I love Vivi. Even though I can't read a single shit out of it.

You Only Live Once

2011-08-09T02:13:00.003+08:00

1. I have recently heard so much about how people think I'm the last person they want to be acquainted with because I look so 'intimidating' and 'unapproachable'….cmon man! Its not my fault I look this way, guess it has to be those cat eyes or super dark bushy brows…or the fact that I do tend to dress up quite a bit once in awhile but I swear I am a genuinely nice and friendly person. I try to smile whenever I can, actually I always am when I'm with friends. Say Hi next time! It really upsets me that people think I'm some arrogant bitch ha ha ha, I really really am not! On a side note, with regards to the hair, I've recently been immersing myself with treatment after treatment at Salon Vim. The last one I did was LO'real's approach to nature where formulas are created based on natural ingredients and fragrances. So obviously it was refreshing and felt great. I had an amaaaaaazinggggg hair massage as part of the treatment (I love hair massages! My god, they are DOPE.) My hair might still have quite a long way to go but I'm positive that its on its way to a whole new self! Get your nature treatments at Salon Vim today! Salon vim is located at 313 Somerset #04-07/08/09. My readers get a 10% off!

2. Meet my new friend, Sydney, all the way from Germany! Happily smiling for the camera with all the cheap thrills Bugis Street had to offer her. I brought her out a few times and we've had so much fun getting to know each other and each other's cultures and countries. I so badly want to visit germany now! And buy a cute bicycle just because everyone cycles there. I've been introducing her to probably the best of the shops I know so far. What I love is how she has a part of Singapore in her, having a mom who is Singaporean. Its so adorable when she commutes with shop tenders in her broken mandarin. And tells me about her 'gong gong'. or small random things about her childhood living in Singapore and then moving back to Germany. This is what I absolutely love about being able to meet new people from all over the world. Stories to tell and memories to keep. Good times roll baby.

3. Happy Birthday Singapore!

Midsummer bedtime stories

2011-08-03T21:34:00.004+08:00

Very simply how I paired my H&M shorts from my recent post, floating around in my own dream land. Photos by Sherman.

I'm obviously a complete sucker for anything dreamy but I guess I kind of look like I'm in my pjs. Comfort first, right?

Red Velvety Magic

2011-07-31T20:17:00.005+08:00

What I'd love to call my very own 'Photo(s) of the day' post- where everything perfectly falls into place and even depicts your mood for the day. The result of my Saturday afternoon in the kitchen. And sleep deprived to the extent I could even dig some chocolate out from my room and cut some ribbons just to give these photos the magical touch they need. The goodness of red velvet all in a jar calling to be eaten, topped off with my Disney sprinkles! As exhausted as I am, and nervous to quite a certain extent of officially starting school again tomorrow after a hiatus of 2 and a half months….I am excited to finally be able to study what I came to Lasalle for, fashion! I hope school will still allow me to regularly post on this blog as often as I can. This blog is now exactly 3 years old and looking back, you can only imagine how thankful I am for such supportive readers like you guys! Thank you everyone for your immense support, comments and emails. Missingavenue would not be where it is today without any of you! Let me allow this jar to be a toast to the 3 years and many more to come! Have an amazing week ahead everyone ^^!

Today's Details

2011-07-30T00:44:00.005+08:00

Shorts are something I absolutely can't get enough of recently…I've been almost 'stocking up' on them over the past months and love that there's never a day tiny shorts would make anything go wrong. Quite a rough person by nature so it came to no surprise when the beads of this pair from H&M started to slowly fall off, after which I spent a good hour trying to sew as many back as I could. Because to be very honest, whats there not to love about this lovely pair? Wore them 2 days in a row just because I can.

Three.

2011-07-25T02:20:00.003+08:00

Just 3 things that I am thankful for recently. I know I am not the best blogger or photographer but there are the simple things life does offer me once in awhile that I just want to be able to share with all of you. Shoes, for a first, make me feel great especially when they start to tower slightly over 6 inches. Or anything above 4 for that matter. They give me this boost of energy and sense of satisfaction I cannot be given elsewhere. But the hype dies down after awhile when I stare at them long enough. And every time I feel bored or down, I find my comfort in going on Youtube and watching Nigella or Jamie Oliver cook up a storm. And I am ashamed to admit that this past year I haven't been able to read a proper book unless you consider a flipping through a cookbook and drooling over the pages reading. When I combine a good cooking show and a cook book, thats when I secretly get over ambitious and greedy because I end up making a feast for like 4 and gobble it up myself. The worst part…and so embarrassing I can't believe I am saying it here. I talk to myself when I cook as if I am on my own show. Then, I document everything I make. Like how I document a lot of what goes on in my life whenever I can. In my own way. I really enjoy being behind the camera because its kind of where my imagination is allowed to run wild. I have so many ideas of the kind of photos I want to take that I take up every given opportunity to fulfill it. I was more than happy to be able to assist Fadli during a shoot last week…giving my take on some of the styling, picturing several compositions for the two models and trying to get decent make up on the both of them. Jack included. Then being Fadli's arm rest while he shot them. Ha ha! After the shoot, I happily skipped to 15 Minutes and placed the cheesecake I baked on a plate so that Jack could eat it while I photographed him. It was a request I was happy to do for him since he wanted some clean shots of himself. The whole day was a laugh and thats how I've been spending my last few weeks of vacation. Laughing with friends over the most ridiculous things, cooking, baking then sharing. Youtubing cooking shows like crazy every night and drooling under my blanket. Taking photos, processing them…eating, sleeping. I am such a pig. This is Melody for you. Life is good as it is and I can only thank the different people who have made it possible for me to feel this way. School in a week, yikes!

Silky Mondays

2011-07-19T01:53:00.003+08:00

Photos by Sherman See-Tho

A few quick pictures from today, which clearly show how tired I am. Even after 18 hours of rest, I had a horrible evening to be very honest but managed to cool myself down after a quick prayer and immersing myself into getting my Harry Potter fix by bombarding Sherms with question after question. In which, he patiently answered, and with some help from Wikipedia, I managed to finally grasp a better understand of the whole storyline. Hur hur I have followed the movies as a kid but slowly just…lost myself in Hogwarts and anything that had to do with magic that I could no longer be bothered to watch the rest after the Half Blood Prince. Awaiting a day where my closest friends will be able to come round my crib and feast ourselves in a home cooked english meal (By yours truly of course^^) and watch the entire series, patiently clearing any doubt I might still have with the story. All that aside! A huge shout out to the lovely Jordus, from W.A.R who gave me this playsuit which I have admittedly worn countless of times over the past 2 months. I love it to bits, its my kind of casual and so soft and comfy I could go into a deep sleep in this. Actually…I did! At the back of long car rides during my time in L.A, I slept like a complete pig because this was too comfortable for my own good. Maybe even drooled a little. Paired with these Steve Maddens I picked up from Nordstrom and a random necklace which apparently is a great conversation starter when I am around adults. But really….I shall not go into that! I hope all of you have had a great start to the week, and just want to say a quick thank you to the great responses to the Bangkok guide!

Bangkok Guide

2011-07-17T13:37:00.001+08:00

NOTE: This is NOT a blog post, this is an in-depth guide based on my experiences in Bangkok. The following will be image-heavy and rather wordy. But I promise that I have put my all into this so everyone gets to experience Bangkok like they should!

So…I am almost redoing this guide from scratch because so much has changed since I last went to Bangkok. However, I would like to first make it a point to mention that my guide might not be 100% accurate, Bangkok is ever-changing and these photographs have been collected over different trips to the city over the years. Nevertheless, I promise you will have a great time be it for business or pleasure.

1. Pack light! You want to save plenty of room for your shopping! And I suggest not to bring more than a pair of flip-flops or sneakers. You're bound to buy shoes anyway. Even if you don't bring any clothes or toiletries, its honestly nothing to worry about.

2. Getting there

These days, there are tons of deals you can get for flights online and they're really reasonable so yay! I usually fly on budget, either Jetstar or Airasia. Their planes all have leather seats from my experiences which makes it bearable for the short flight. You also get the luxury of duty-free shopping at Terminal 1 so thats definitely another plus point! I hate Tiger Airways. And for many reasons- 1. You go to the Budget terminal which really sucks. The best you can get out of shopping there is probably Charles & Keith if I remember correctly 2. There is no waiting lounge at the boarding gate in the budget Terminal, you stand and queue while waiting to board the plane before climbing the stairs up. 3. Only 15 kg of baggage is allowed for check-in unlike Jetstar & Airasia where 20kg is the norm. This 15kg of check-in baggage is also usually not included in the package you get. Thats from my experience sitting Tiger..

Its also rather worthwhile if you want to get full luxury out of the trip so Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines are definitely the best choices. Prices do not differ as much from budget flights if you include the price of a meal. I flew on Thai during my most recent trip and the flight felt too quick. Food is served about half and hour after take off and you barely finish a movie and tadahh you have reached your destination. So I loved that.

Buckle up your seat belts & have a great flight! Don't forget to make some friends on the plane!

When you arrive in Bangkok, RUN to the immigration counter. I'm sorry but I've always had bad experiences at immigration, waiting time is crazy. I once has to wait for close to 45 minutes. Immigration is usually worse when you leave Bangkok.

3. STAY at The Ecotel. "A new 3 star hotel located right in the heart of Bangkok, clean and cheap with reliable services. " Rooms shouldn't go more than 70 sgd per night. Hotel is within walking distance to the ever-popular Platinum Fashion Mall, Pratunam Clothing Market and if you have the patience, Central World. The nearest sky train station will be Chitlom which is opposite Siam Square. This is the best budget hotel I've stayed in Bangkok. There aren't amenities like a pool or gym but it really doesn't matter since I assume most of you just want a clean and comfy place to retire for the night. Of course Bangkok has really good 5-star hotels. I've stayed in a few and they usually never disappoint.

Rooms at The Ecotel are very basic but clean and comfortable. I always enjoy my stay here. You will be greeted by the friendly doorman. I think there is a new guy now, not sure about my friend though. He always never failed to make me feel so welcomed whenever I came back.

Breakfast used to be great..I am honestly not sure if their standard dropped just because they are now feeding a bigger capacity but maybe I just came late when the food was almost gone. Still, even if your package doesn't include breakfast, there are plenty of pushcarts or stalls around the hotel within a walking distance. They sell almost everything so there is absolutely nothing to worry about! I used to buy mini dough fritters, banana fritters and mango with sticky rice from the pushcarts for breakfast. Yum! The stall with the little brown poodle had the best mango with sticky rice…though I am not sure if they still sell it.

Hosanna and I used to love sliding along the doorways in our flip flops. Ha ha it was so much fun! If you're wondering why I'm in such a ridiculous outfit, Petchuburi road isn't the safest of places to roam around at night especially when you're alone. The roads get pretty dark and I wouldn't suggest it unless you really have to. Hosanna and I went to 7/11 across the road and the creeps were already making all those weird annoying noises so…(please do not judge but it really was a laugh then!) we devised a plan to make us look like 'goondoos' (for my international readers, that means crazy).

We put on our largest maxi dresses, piled tons of jewellery and wore huge shades that covered half our faces. Then, skipped out of the hotel arm in arm in the same manner of 'siao zha bors' (crazy girls) so the creeps wouldn't bother to approach us. I'm not trying to say that staying around The Ecotel is dangerous but its always best to play safe when you are in Thailand. If you're coming back late at night, take a cab and try not to be alone. A tuk-tuk at night will be rather unsafe because the drivers tend to go into small back alleys and roads and even through deserted areas, scared the hell out of me at that time.

Shopping:

4. If its a weekday, spend it at the Platinum Fashion Mall. Here you get to buy in either retail or wholesale prices. Wholesale prices tend to be cheaper but you need to buy out a minimum of 2 to 3 pieces for most shops. The good thing is you get to mix around and choose whatever designs you like. I would suggest shopping at Platinum before you head to Chatuchak because you might be able to get better deals there when you're paying wholesale prices and you also get a wider variety of colours and what not for a particular design. It is almost impossible to haggle prices there unless its your lucky day, wholesale prices are usually fixed. Most shops start to close at about 6:30 to 7 in the evening so don't bother going there at night!

5. There is absolutely NOTHING that can beat the Chatuchak Weekend Market, with over 10,000 stalls, you'll never come out empty handed wherever you head to. No trip to Bangkok can do without this gem. Eat your heart out, meet all sorts of people, and shop till you drop! It is the one stop place for everything and anything. You get animals, arts, culture, fashion, food, design and so much more out of this place. Its kind of like a maze of shopping in there so get a map to find your way around the different sections. My favourites are always the pet and clothing sections. This is where you can start haggling your way around to get the best deals out of your shopping. I always ask for a discount and 90% of the time they give me one. Apply tons of sun screen and drink loads of water!

How can you resist the most adorable little pups crawling all over you??

The clothing section is divided into 2 main sections : Used clothing which is the vintage section and just clothing where you get the new stuff. I really love the vintage section, its a treasure cove in there. Even if you're not very interested in the used sneakers stacked up or an overload of denim, it really is one of the places I love the most in Chatuchak. There is so much to see in just those 4 little lanes of shops. The stall-tenders there are the coolest people I meet in Bangkok, usually decked out in their denim ensemble or vintage cowboy leather gear. My favourites are the hippies of course, with their 60's hairdos and John Lennon glasses, how could I forget those bell bottom jeans? You also hardly get to find vintage clothing or bags in great condition this cheap.

There is plenty of food in Chatuchak so don't worry about going hungry. A local must-try Chatuchak delight is without a doubt the coconut ice cream! & my second favourite is the coconut jelly where you get coconut flavoured jelly in a coconut! OK…I know the scoop of the ice cream in the photo looks huge but sadly, they've almost halved that portion hur hur. And the price also went up to 30 baht. Its still really cheap but I guess you can't blame them since business is so good. Anyway, you get a free cup of fresh coconut juice along with the ice cream. There are plenty of other stalls selling coconut ice cream but this one is the best. Its hard to miss, at the corner of the main market road with umbrellas and chairs to sit and enjoy while you eat.

6. If you want some night life, Khao San is definitely a must-go. Its another favourite of mine and I almost never go to Bangkok without visiting the infamous Backpackers Trail. (Which its also known for) For those who want to Back pack in Bangkok, the cheapest places to stay are usually along here. The trail is full of bars, internet cafes, tattoo parlors, travel agents, clubs, market and food stalls and restaurants. Its always such a good time there. And quite an eye opener sharing alcohol with your friends from huge colored plastic mugs sitting on plastic stools. Or dancing along to the music in the background with a random group of people. I love this place! If I arrive in Bangkok in the evening, I usually try to make the rest of by night worthwhile by going straight to Khao San after putting down my baggage at the hotel. The road is closed at night so the pushcarts and stall tenders all move their 'gold' to the middle of the road. Its also the place if you want to get a fake ID or something. Anyway, because Khao San is a touristy place, its not recommended to shop there. Stall holders tend to jerk up the prices like crazy because they know you aren't local. Food on the other hand is not something to worry about.

The Sunset Bar is my favourite cafe there to have a late supper. Its hard to find it amidst all the crowds of people in the bars that look almost alike…so I usually look for Starbucks and you will see this alley which is the bar itself. You can sit along the road of course, the alley would be more quiet but outside where everyone is will definitely be more fun. Chicken wings there are the best, Hosanna and I had 6 plates during one of my visits there. So damn good!

A must try along Khao San road is the banana pancake. Which is actually prata with an egg and a whole banana sliced up in it. Then served with condensed milk and sugar. I know it sounds like the most sinful thing ever but it is so bloody good and only 25 baht. Where in the world can you get a prata with so much goodies for about a dollar sgd? Seriously? These 'prata' pushcarts are all over the streets of Bangkok though quite a rarity but almost impossible to not find in Khao San. I like to call it a Khao San specialty.

For those who have been following my blog since 2 years ago, you would know that I have had a huge admiration towards Central World. Central World is the 3rd largest shopping complex in the world, pretty much explains why its every girl's paradise when it comes to the shopping. From luxury labels to high street stores like Topshop, Zara and Forever 21. You can also play in an arcade or catch a movie while you're there. Movies are so cheap and the cinema in Central World is really of a great standard. I've had so much memories here in Central World. Especially in this restaurant called Gia Long Cuisine because I met a cute thai waiter called Yoo there and sort of wrote him a letter when I was younger in my more foolish days after 2 trips to Bangkok in 2009. I got my good friend Regina to pass him the letter when she went that same year. He was always so adorable whenever he was taking my orders and I went back so many times during my several trips after. Whenever I spoke to him, his boss who was such a kind lady, would translate everything patiently so we could have a decent Hi-Bye kind of conversation because Yoo was too shy to say anything at all. I laughed so hard in that restaurant till I cried for so many reasons. With my dad, with Cammy, Pong & her dad, with Regina and with Hosanna. It not only served great food but also was a beautiful place to dine at. Each time I came back, I would have so many stories to share with my loved ones just from that restaurant alone. I always came out of Central World happy! Otherwise maybe a little upset then if I didn't get to see Yoo before I left.

The above are really in memory of this lovely restaurant because as we all know Central World was one of the badly burnt properties during the red shirt anti-government protests and though I didn't get to really explore Central World since it reopened, I have to say I am pretty convinced Gia Long was affected in the fire. It was just beside the lifestyle trend megastore, Zen which was completely burnt down.. Still! Central World is a great place to visit. There is so much good food there, an ice skating rink…. shops after shops...and honestly, so much to explore in that mall alone.

In Bangkok, there are surprisingly a large number of Japanese restaurants serving authentic Jap cuisine. 3 of the most popular are Ootoya, Zen (not the departmental store) and Fuji. You can trust me that these won't disappoint. And you're only paying a fraction of what you normally pay in Singapore for quality food.

Another Japanese restaurant I recently visited for the first time was Sukishi. It is a small chain of restaurants serving Jap and also Korean food. It was quite an interesting time there. I love grills so this place was perfect for me. You are served your platter of raw meat and vegetables like quality beef, ribs, pork or beef sukiyaki, and seafood which you will put on your grill to cook. What I loved about this place was the mini extractor fan above our head which will be lowered to your desired height when you start grilling. So I didn't feel as 'gross' neither did I reek the smell of barbecue after my meal. The meat was really nicely marinated so everything was delicious. They also serve other authentic Japanese food like sashimi and everything you can find on a Japanese menu and also authentic Korean dishes like bibimbab.

7. Siam Center is my favourite mall in Bangkok. Its full of thai local designers and other branded goods. For the girls, I guess most of you love Jeffrey Campbell so there is a shoe boutique there which has all the JC shoes you can imagine right in front of your eyes. And its a hell lot cheaper too after doing some of my own calculations. You also save yourself shipping like when purchasing from american online stores! And for the guys, this really is THE place to shop for quality clothing with good aesthetic. Hands down, I really can't think of any place else. Things here are definitely more pricey but so worth it. Everything is so unique and you probably won't be able to find many people in Singapore wearing the same things. Even for the ladies, I feel like thai local designers really have the dope. I quote my previous post " Speaking of which, the thai local designers which never fail to make me in awe of their meticulously put together collections. Everything from the clothes and accessories to the lookbooks and store fronts. Their sense of direction is beyond comprehensible and leaves me thinking how in the world are they able to come up with something as genius as this?"

Siam really is the most inspiring place for me whenever I am in Bangkok. There are so many labels worth checking out. One of which is Greyhound. It is known for its sleek streetwear- basics with an edge. Under Greyhound, there are also spin-off brands called Playhound & Grey. And there is also a Greyhound Cafe at the first level of the mall which should be really good. Speaking of cafe, there are also plenty of cafes and restaurants around the mall.

Another must visit in Siam Square itself is Mob.F. Its a thai multi-label boutique of young designers with the same quality and aesthetic as the rest of the labels around the mall.

Its definitely worth visiting and sometimes you get to speak to the designers who will serve you when you shop there. This store is just as inspiring as the rest of the mall.

These are the rest of the following places that are worth visiting in my opinion. Or otherwise not. I'm sorry I don't have images!

Siam Paragon, The Emporium- simple to describe this place, a glossy magazine coming to life. Its the one stop luxury mall with labels like Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Lanvin, YSL…the list goes on. Oh and Siam Ocean World is located at the basement of Siam Paragon shopping mall. One of the world's leading aquarium operators.I have never been there but I guess it could be rather interesting… Also! There is a Bangkok's very own Madame Tussauds at Siam Discovery. I went to the one in NYC and it was fun camwhoring with some of the world's most famous people so it should be fun going with friends!

MBK center- This place was like of 5 years ago, so I'm pretty sure nobody goes there anymore. It used to be the #1 tourist mall but over time I guess Platinum took over. So really, don't bother going….

Chinatown- Its easy to go with a cab and worthwhile if you want cheap and good chinese style seafood. People here speak mandarin and other dialects. Everything is for a quarter for what you're paying here in Singapore. Think the bird's nest, the shark's fin soup, the tiger prawns…..

Speaking of chinese seafood, a restaurant really worth visiting is Somboon Seafood restaurant. It is most well-known for its original fried curry crab. Which is delish! I only have an Instagram photo for this as I didn't have my camera with me that day. They have 5 branches all over Bangkok which you can check out at their site here. Just give the address to the taxi driver and ask him to take you there. Its good seafood at good prices! And really packed too. But they're very quick. Its crab is so famous that even the Japanese Prime Minister ate there when he was in Bangkok. And members of the Thai royal family have visited the restaurant several times. Legend also has it that a Singaporean dude flies to Bangkok every month for his fried curry crab fix.

Nightlife- Patpong is one of the world's most famous red-light districts. I have no idea why but I used to go there alot as a kid with my parents. But mainly just to eat and shop…though there was really nothing to buy. It houses around 100 neon-lit strip bars offering risque sex shows, purchasable pole-dancers and post-op ladyboys. This place has a reputation so…you get the drift! Its also a night market for tourists and backpackers to shop for fake cheap thrills. Pat Pong night market is also famous for selling fake luxury goods because you choose what you want out of a catalogue and there are different grades when it comes to the quality and how similar they make it to be compared to the real deal. Guess it could be quite an experience to visit if its your first!

Another place for some night life you might want to go would be Zouk if you're the clubbing sort.

Dream World- Its an amusement park about an hour away from Bangkok. I used to go there with my family whenever we were in the city. You can usually book transportation to the place from your hotel, which usually includes a pick-up in the evening. Its a great place for some fun with friends and family and I have to say I really enjoyed the rides and would love to go again in the near future.

Safari World- Animal & Leisure Park! You can to drive through the Safari Park like you're in Africa, the tiger and lion feeding show is NOT TO BE MISSED. I remember seeing this human in a cage with buckets of meat then having the tigers crawl all over the cage while the guy feeds them. They have tons of stunt shows as well. I had a great time there as a young little teen. Especially when I got to feed the baby tiger cubs and carry it! Likewise, you can easily book transportation or tours from your hotel.

Places that can also be worth checking out if you want more scenic or traditional/religious spots-

River Kwai- This is a tour for you if you love history. A typical River Kwai tour includes a trip to the War Cemetery, a ride over the original 'Death Railway' which is the railway where thousands of POW and forced labourers lost their lives in the Second World War. Enjoy a scenic long-tail boat trip along the Maeklong River to the famous bridge over the River Kwai. Transportation to and from your hotel should also included in your tour.

Floating Market- This has really died down but if its your first, I would say go visit for the experience! Though, there isn't anything to buy from the boats, and they obviously know you're a tourist so prices are also higher than it normally should. And the number of floating stalls left have been decreasing each year. The tour you book will most likely include a few other places, that I really cannot remember where but overall, these tours are usually pretty O.K

Tiger Temple- Its a buddhist temple which is also a conservatory for tigers so basically you get to see a hell lot of tigers and probably get up close to them. If I'm not wrong, there are also activities you can do with elephants like getting a ride or feeding them.

Reclining Buddha- I'm not buddhist but I've been to the Wat Pho temple with the 'world famous' Reclining Buddha several times. This temple is the birthplace of traditional thai massage and masseurs get proper training from the temple in order to be certified before coming out to work in thai massage parlors. Unless you want to go for worship and such, its kinda boring.

Hua Hin- 3 hours off from bangkok, its a beautiful island. Known as Thailand's Royal beach resort. Mainly a resort where you can enjoy the usual good food, a nice beach, watersports, spa & golf. You can also explore around their parks, peaks, caves and waterfalls. I have never been to Hua Hin but after looking at the pictures, I am convinced I need to.

Very lastly, this really is for those who aren't aware of the closure of Suan Lum Night Bazzar. I know its kind of depressing. Suam Lum used to be the #1 night market right after the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Over the past few years, there has been talks about the market's closure but the area was on a borrowed lease so usually there was still quite a crowd whenever I visited. I loved that place, the shops were great and the food was good. Its sadly no longer operational. They officially closed the place down some time early this year.

A few other things to do in Bangkok:

1. Thai massage- of course, how can any trip to Thailand be complete without a traditional thai massage? Apart from the fact that the massages you get in Thailand is definitely authentic, its also so cheap I kind of feel bad towards the masseurs. I usually pay about 150 baht for a 60 minute foot and back rub, or 300 baht for a full body massage.

2. Manicure & Pedicure- The thais are definitely good with their hands! You can easily get a classic manicure and pedicure for half the price than what you normally pay for in Singapore. Apart from that, I also like to do nail art when I am there because it is dirt cheap and these ladies have so much talent. I did my zebra and Miu Miu nails at a tent stall outside of Pratunam Center. However, during my most recent trip there, the whole little row of tents outside the mall was gone. It was sad but anyway, you can pretty much do anything with your nails as long as you provide a clear picture of the nail art you want done to most of the manicure ladies.

3. Thai Cooking Lessons- They have been rather popular over the last year with tourists and I gave it a try with Angsana, who is just great. You can visit her site here. You pay 2800 baht for a private one to one class to cook 3 thai dishes of your choice. Each additional person is 2000 baht for a group up to 5 people. The class includes a pick-up from On Nut Station where she will drive you to the market to buy ingredients. This is optional of course but I highly recommend it. It was a first really immersing myself in thai every day life.

She will then drive you to her home where you will cook in her kitchen. I loved the class and managed to learn all my favourite thai dishes in a day. I was greedy so I requested to learn 5 dishes, each dish for an additional 700 baht. The classes are in English or Thai, and include all ingredients and also copies of recipes in english for you to take home. You also get to eat all the food you've prepared in the kitchen, otherwise you may choose to take them back with you in disposable boxes Angsana kindly provides. Cooking lessons is definitely a must-try in Bangkok! It was overall a great experience, from pounding my own thai green curry paste to frying my very own phad thai and drinking tom yum out of the pot. I especially enjoyed the trip to the market. So do give it a try if you have the time! All details are on her website. Just email or call her for any enquiries. She replies really promptly!

LASTLY…Getting around Bangkok is easy. Cabs are so cheap, and of course, so are the BTS which is their sky train system. Its very straightforward and easy to understand as long as you know which station you want to alight at. However, if you're going in more than a group of 2, sometimes taking a cab is relatively cheaper if you add it up together. Traffic in Bangkok is always bad though, so taking the BTS does save you a lot of time. The trains are very new and clean, just like Singapore's! Tuk-tuks are fun for the thrill but not very safe all the time. The drivers tend to offer you dirt cheap prices as low as 40 baht to get to your destination but a few metres after you hop on, they will usually try to set up some sort of deal with you to visit this place first otherwise you pay xxx baht. And if you disagree, they'll ask you to get off. They usually want to grab some sort of lunch or dinner 'coupon' when they send tourists to a particular shopping area. Hence the dirt cheap prices but I highly discourage anyone to allow them to take you to God knows where. This is likewise for the cabs as well. So its important to make sure that the metre is running for a fair deal. You will definitely get to your destination. Also like I said earlier, its always good to play safe in Thailand. Avoid taking a tuk-tuk at night because of the small alleys the drivers usually drive into to avoid traffic. They can be so dark by night it really feels unsafe. And try to have company with you all the time. There is also another form of public transportation though, which I have never tried before but my dad says it is worth the experience. The Khlong river boat taxis you will see along Saen Saep Canal, where Pratunam is, near Central World is the interchange station. You queue for the boat taxi and the conductor will collect the money from you once you are on board. The boats are the best for getting to and from Siam Square during the rush hour and cost a mere 12 baht.

To sum this guide up, Thais are generally very nice and friendly people. Be nice to them and they'll be nice to you too. Start off with a simple Sa-wa-di-ka (for the girls) or Sa-wa-di-kup (for the guys) which is a thai greeting, or simple to say it means, hello. And a Kup-kun-ka (for the girls) or Kap-kun-kup (for the guys) which means thank you. It is definitely always good if you have a local to bring you around because sometimes the stall tenders like to jerk up the price a little when they know you're a tourist. But even so, things are still relatively cheap there. Whatever it is, I guess my job is done here! Its 6:17 am right now and I've been doing this in-depth guide up for the past 5 and a half hours on full whack…I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I have. I also apologize if I happened to whine a bit along the way. Bangkok is a beautiful city. Its without a doubt a holiday destination wherever you are from in the world. I hope this guide has helped you! Thank you for bearing with me if you got all the way here! Its a very long post…I know. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any enquiries and I will try my best to answer them!

Venice Canals

2011-07-13T01:25:00.004+08:00

Furry Jacket, random online purchase, Crochet dress worn as top, Thai label Baking Soda, Adderbite ring, vintage necklace, Balenciaga bag.

We went to Venice beach twice, all in hopes of finding this quaint little neighbourhood called the Venice Canals. And after doing massive amounts of walking, it still wasn't in sight until one day Sam decided to deliberately take a wrong turn when our GPS was being a bitch. Just walking along some of the most beautiful homes along the west coast of Los Angeles was a complete eye opener for me. I cannot imagine being able to live by a canal a metre from my doorstep and then hopping onto my boat with my lover then just having a nice romantic paddle while watching the sun set every other evening. For something as beautiful as this, who was to know that there was so much history behind it. As I learnt, the canals were dug out for the opening of Little Venice, somewhat a copy of Venice itself and construction began in 1904. And because in the 1920s, automobiles were to stay, the canals seemed impractical and a majority of them were converted to roads. During the sixties, they used to be the homes of hippies, beatniks and different artists. In the 70s, there were annual boat races where contestants would build their own boat and sail down the Linnie Canal. This was the last of the party scene at the canals and right now, these homes are nothing like they used to be. So calm and peaceful. Only about 6 of the original canals are left, sadly. Millions were spent to refurbish the remaining 6 canals. It is the one place in Los Angeles I wish I could call home. All that aside, Hosanna and I were invited to lunch at an indonesian cafe that day and I was kind of in the mood to be in something more loud than usual so this jacket came in very handy. Its such a random buy I found online for about 20 bucks. I love cheap thrills like these so much! This dress, as worn also here, is another favourite in my closet and I had to get used to the compliments I was getting whenever I wore it around the U.S, I even had a girl wind down a window in her car and shout out at me while I was crossing the road to ask me where my dress was from. I nearly died trying to cross that road but all is good. There is something I very much love about this outfit that I cannot contain my excitement about being able to wear it again. Which is hopefully soon! I hope you guys like it as much as I do. Don't be surprised if you see it up on the blog again! I won't be able to help it by then. Happy days!

Sawadee

2011-07-11T02:13:00.004+08:00

A quick post of visuals of the finer things Bangkok had to offer me. The real deal will probably be up in the guide which I will be re-doing soon. Hopefully, if my patience persists..! But all is good and Bangkok treated me more than well enough. I was at first upset upset that the nothingness of little things changed. These little things built up together that always made me look forward to more whenever I came back. Then, a walk along Petchuburi Road the other evening reminded me that some things do stay the same. The same faces, the same smiles, the same shops, pushcarts and stall tenders, the same food and the same culture. A young man and old lady who smiled at me and told me they remembered me even after 3 years. The time I spent alone with the city proved to be how much it has constantly inspired me. Speaking of which, the thai local designers which never fail to make me in awe of their meticulously put together collections. Everything from the clothes and accessories to the lookbooks and store fronts. Their sense of direction is beyond comprehensible and leaves me thinking how in the world are they able to come up with something as genius as this? Nevertheless, I'd love to share my full experience with everyone who reads the blog with a proper guide on one of my favourite cities of all time. Feels great to be home! Time I get properly settled down.

Update:

2011-07-06T02:42:00.003+08:00

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

Just a quickie: I am off to Bangkok for a short getaway! Planning to have a very nice long weekend relaxing and soaking up in the goodness of cheap thrills, good food, the familiar scent of the streets and everything else it will have to offer me! This trip will be a slightly different experience because I have signed up for a private thai home cooking class for a day which I would love to share with all of you. And I will also be taking more photos and recommending more places to update my Bangkok guide which has been stale for the past year or so. I am so excited about doing the post up again! So stay tuned!

Make-Up Fever

2011-07-05T00:20:00.009+08:00

The size of my images on my blog has been bothering me for as long as I know it. They're too small aren't they? I'm working on them, I promise! As requested, here are the products I'm using right now. Since these products are tiny, I decided to spare you squinting your eyes away and uploaded these in a bigger size! I won't go into elaborating about them, basically because I don't see myself going through any particular routine whatsoever. And secondly because I am a complete noob when it comes to make-up. I honestly just dab everything on my face, trying to look the least bit normal. It is honestly shocking my complexion has been able to still be this maintained after years of complete neglect. As I've said before, as girly as I want to be, I really am not when it comes to body and face care.

Urban Decay's 'Naked' - This is everything I can ask for in a palette, so it came to no surprise when I saw myself running to Sephora at 3rd Street Promenade in my feisty heels, running to the Urban Decay section to see it all gone, then panting away as I enquired about it to the Sephora guy who seemed more amused with my shoes than anything else. All that running was made worth it the moment he opened that very drawer and 4 boxes of golden 'NAKED' velvety goodness were right in front of me. Whoohoo!

Tokidoki Pittura Brush Set- How cute is this?! Honestly, I am a lazy person when it comes to proper cosmetic 'tools' but I couldn't stop my hands from reaching out to the most adorable set of brushes in HISTORY. Period.

Fasio MascaLiner- I got this in Hong Kong last winter, its a 2 in 1 mascara and eyeliner thing but I don't really care because I usually find myself too lazy to even curl my lashes and apply this magic goodness that supposedly makes your eye lashes triple in length and double in volume. But on days when I do bother, it is hardly visible but I do see a slight difference in my lower lashes. Which makes me at least a little satisfied.

Hanskin BB cream- They were a gift from Jack and happened to come in a box of mini travel sized tubes. I heard some good reviews so thought it would be no harm giving it a shot. So far so good!

Daiso eyelashes- For 2 bucks, these are the best lashes you can get! I am all for cheap thrills. They're even cheaper in Japan but how does it matter when they can be used for weeks without any trouble and still make me look the least bit decent. I cannot live without them. If you ask me to go anywhere with no make-up at all, I think I still am able to do so but trust me, I live on these lashes and have boxes and boxes of them stocked up. I simply cannot do without them!

Apart from these, I use YSL's matt and radiance pressed poweder in Pink Sand, Benefit's 'Don't Stray' stay-put primer for concealers and eyeshadows, Estee Lauder eyeliner, Clinque's blushing blush power in 'Cupid 08' and some random lip gloss which was a gift from Miyuki-San from Tokyo.

I hope this gives you guys a rough idea of the cosmetics I use! I would love to be able to call myself a pro and give a tutorial just because its fun but really, I am not. Ha ha. Have a great week ahead! It was fun neatly laying these products on the carpet of Hazel's lovely apartment and taking these photos!

Lazy Days.

2011-07-01T01:53:00.005+08:00

So….I got my hair treated at Salon Vim the other day again. The humidity in Singapore completely ruined my curls for the first few days since I was back. So hopefully, the treatment managed to salvage them. Still, whatever I do to my hair, I am genuinely convinced that quite a number of you aren't really that interested. But I hope you guys will bear with me as its there is no point denying that the salon has been sponsoring me hair services for the past few months. Getting my hair done has always been a luxury for me, because I can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars to get my hair done regularly and to be very very honest, I relished the thought of my hard earned money going to….hair. Rather than clothes and bags which can stay with me forever. Reason being why my hair has never been at its best for so many years until Salon Vim did approach me. I can't help feeling so apologetic to Ivan whenever I go back to get my hair done because I know there is still so much room for improvement. But you can really trust me when I say that my hair has shifted from hell to what feels like heaven after my several visits there. Like I said earlier, doing my hair has always been a luxury so I was so pleased when I saw that this was one of first salons I've been to with the latest fashion magazines. I am sure many other salons do that but seriously!!! I was so happy. And being such a fan of whatever tea you can give me, life feels perfect whenever you're on comfortable leather seats accompanied with free flow of tea, and happily getting my monthly fashion fix. All this while seeing my hair transforming and being a whole new self. Now I'm more than happy to just let time pass while I'm there, even if it means 5 hours on the chair until my butt hurts. Simply because I am so completely relaxed! So I am being very honest here, I really do, have so much to thank Salon Vim for. And Ivan especially who has been so patient with me all this while, answering to my every need. Right now, my hair still looks the same old black but I'm hoping to get something different done next month….that will probably be something interesting to update on I hope. Sorry for the word vomit, the visuals show how I looked like that Tuesday afternoon. The dress/top whatever you want to call it is secondhand, the boots are H&M, the bag is by J Dauphin from Doorstep Luxury, and the necklace is from Bangkok. Lazy but happy days because I was still in the midst of trying to settle down properly. Salon vim is located at 313 Somerset #04-07/08/09. My readers get a 10% off! And they're having some special offers right now with the GSS around. So be sure to check them out on Facebook!

SHOPMISSINGAVENUE

2011-06-29T22:01:00.004+08:00

Please help me clear out my wardrobe at shopmissingavenue!

Sequined Jacket

2011-06-27T21:07:00.004+08:00

Jacket & shorts by Topshop, Bag, J Dauphin

These were freshly taken in the morning outside our hotel during our stay in Vegas. I've worn this jacket so many times and its definitely still a keeper. Paired with my favourite denim shorts from Topshop, which mysteriously disappeared towards the end of my trip…I miss it so much!! And for those who recall, I mentioned in my Instagram post that the lovely ladies of Doorstep Luxury gave me this gorgeous J Dauphin bag, here should be a better view of it. But I guess I can always leave its details for later!

Despite it being barely 9 in the morning, the streets of Vegas were still rather packed, and casinos still full of people who lost track of the time while gambling. As epic Vegas was from what I vaguely remembered looking through old photographs of me as a kid, it hasn't changed much. Its still a blown-up wonderland, every part of the world in this little city. I felt like I was stuck in some sort of game for a moment. My stay there proved to be a wake up call for me personally, I hated how superficial everything there felt like. And seeing people gamble from day to night served as a reminder for myself how my life should never be simply based on a slot machine. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience and I would go back if I could, only because there were so many shows I wished I could watch. And not to mention, just being able to spend a night or two at some of the most stunning hotels there. I believe nothing much would change the next time I'm there. Maybe even see a familiar face or two. Whatever it is, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Scarificial.

2011-06-27T05:51:00.006+08:00

As some of you should know, I am back in Singapore! Still in the midst of settling down and getting used to the climate here, yet again. But it feels great to be home. I know I have not been faithfully updating this space as much as I should be, but I promise good pictures very soon! For now, I spare you guys the agony of watching me spin non stop in a GIF image. Have a great week everyone!

Come my sunshine

2011-06-16T07:08:00.006+08:00

Pleated skirt, Destrucked, Clutch, London, Shoes, Jessica Simpson, Cuff, H&M, Ring, Ysl

We 'trespassed' a beautiful garden opposite a home we were visiting yesterday evening and found ourselves frolicking among the flowers and pathways. You'll hardly find flowers in Singapore blooming this beautifully and smelling so good. The home we visited was just as adorable, dinner was american hotdogs with the kindest family and we spent the rest of the night singing hymn after hymn. Looking forward to visiting more of the beaches tomorrow, Venice & Santa Monica here we come!

The Grove

2011-06-10T16:30:00.003+08:00

Blouse, Kaitlyn, skirt, Destrucked, bag, vintage coach, heels, Jessica Simpson

We spent the afternoon at The Grove which is undeniably one of the most beautiful shopping arcades I've ever stepped on to. Kind of love how Hosanna and I are always dressing for the occasion, even though this was unplanned for, it kind of blended in pretty well. This pretty lace skirt will soon be up on Destrucked, I am so glad I wore it today because I adore it to bits! Ended the lovely day with american sushi and major supermarket shopping-stocking up on all my calorie packs which I've been dying to indulge myself in since 2 years ago. I love those Oreo, honey maid, chips ahoy hundred calorie packs so so so much, the previous time I was here, I stocked up on them to bring home with me but couldn't bear to eat them until they expired. So lesson learnt, and I plan to devour those little babies as soon as I return to Singapore. Spending the weekend in the happiest place on earth, Disneyland! Stay safe kitties.

Le Grand Canyon

2011-06-08T13:57:00.009+08:00

Our Vegas tour included a trip up to the Grand Canyon on Saturday and we travelled up for about 5 hours before getting a glimpse of the breath-taking view at the south canyon. I was privileged as a child to have been able to visit the other side of the canyon and took the scariest helicopter ride of my life. Though I don't really remember much about that trip, the ten hours of traveling to and fro this time did prove to be worth it.

L.A so far has been pretty great, I wouldn't say its amaaaazing yet probably because there's simply too much I've yet to explore and after only spending a day here, we were off to Vegas for the weekend. Also, what I've got to see so far is almost like how people here live everyday. It isn't so much of the Hollywood part that people see on the glossy covers on celebrity magazines. I mean, it is a lovely place to live in but so hard to get around unless you have a car and everything here is so overpriced compared to what we have we Singapore. Apart from a few things like cars of course. But then, the past few days here in the US has made me realise so much how lucky I am to be a Singaporean. No matter how poor a Singaporean is, you'd at the very least have a roof to live under but thats not really the case here. I see the homeless here every day begging for spare change, or barging into a restaurant trying to pick on people's food or digging the trash and picking up a cup of unwanted Starbucks coffee, taking a sip then throwing it back in. Would you actually feel safe in such an environment? Hazel, who's been here for the past 2 months has had creeps coming up to her almost every other day and even Hosanna and myself experienced that on our very first evening here. At Vegas, we had drunkards following us so closely at 2am shouting gibberish and it was only when we started to hasten our pace, they sort of gave up and went into another club. That experience in Vegas was abit of a wake-up call for me. I don't know about people but I am so glad to be a part of Singapore. Even my trip to London last year did make me realise how safe Singapore really really is. It was pitch dark just steps away from my penpal's home.

Anyway, back to the Grand Canyon…we've had fast food almost throughout the tour which isn't so great all the time but I did manage to survive the bus ride with a couple of snacks from the petrol kiosks and movies that happened to be playing. I was (ashamed but honestly speaking) more excited to put on my matching outfit to go with the day trip in the beginning but the epic view was obviously the star that day. We spent a good hour there while I was hilariously using my cape and crawling about to protect myself from the bees. So all is good now and we're back safely in L.A, will share more next time. Bye for now!

Wearing- Ztamp shorts, Hosanna's military cape, random bralette, H&M boots

Along 3rd street

2011-06-04T13:40:00.002+08:00

Finally here after 16 hours of flying and tons of worrying at the immigration checkpoint. But all's good and I'm loving the weather here. Spent today at 3rd street promenade for a quick visit before heading down to the supermarket and whipping up an asian feast for Hazel's portuguese room mate to try. The thing I love the most about being able to live with people when you're traveling is how its a completely whole new experience altogether from being able to just almost live like how the people here live. And being a part of their everyday life. We are heading to Vegas for the weekend and I am so thrilled so, till then! I will hopefully update with a proper visual diary by then!