lalalalalala.. smurf attack! Too Faced palettes...

even though Too Faced is not widely available here in singapore, you can tell from my previous posts that i really like this american cosmetics brand. their stuff are fun, funky, pretty and comes in very usable, intense colours. i especially love their all-in-one palettes.

my colleague forwarded a link to this new limited edition collection to me today...

*gasp* Too Faced with SMURFS! awww.. so cute! so nostalgic! :D
i love Smurfs. most of us (around my age) grew up watching the cartoons on "sunday morning singapore" every weekend... i want the smurfette eyeshadow palette and lip gloss!!

sephora has just opened its flagship store at ngee an city in singapore earlier this month, and despite the very very very limited range of new brands introduced, there is a tiny Too Faced section :) prices are slightly steeper than US prices, and not the full range of products available. i do hope the management will bring in more exciting products over time (especially the "gift ideas and palettes").

get your hands on the limited edition (sephora-exclusive) Too Faced-Smurfs products today!
- so smurfy eye shadow collection (US$32.50)
- so smurfy illumination face powder (US$26)
- mood swing emotionally activated lip gloss (US$ 18.50)
- smurfy-eyed liquid eyeliner (US$17.50)

merry christmas

it's christmas day.
may this holiday be a peaceful and blessed one, may everyone be touched by the spirit of christmas, and find peace, love and happiness in our hearts.

merry joyous christmas.

countdown to Christmas: 1 more day...

it's Christmas eve, the best gift of all is to share the gift of giving.
make a donation to a charity organisation of your choice - either for yourself, or in the name of your loved one and send an ecard to let him/her know.

something that costs only as much as your generosity stretches - simple, quick and very meaningful. even the smallest token may mean a lot to your beneficiary, so share some love this Christmas.

here are some online donation/charity e-greeting card websites:
- unicef (international - charity tribute ecards available)
- nokia-unicef ecard (international)
- make a wish foundation (u.s.a. - charity ecards available)
- we are macmillan cancer support (u.k. - charity ecards available)
- red cross society (singapore - direct donations)
- community chest (singapore - direct donations)
- children's cancer foundation (singapore - direct donations)

ho ho ho.. have a blessed merry Christmas, everyone!
this holiday, may we all be surrounded with people we love and those who loves us.

countdown to Christmas: 2 more days...

nothing says "you are special" more than something home-made by you.
if you are a good cook/baker, go ahead bake some warm and spicy Christmas cookies for the ones you love - get some inspirations from the recipes here. if not, try one of these "cookie mix in a jar" ideas instead... they make very nice, presentable and economical gifts.

all you have to do is just get the recipe portion right, pack the dry recipe mix/flour/sugar nicely in a glass jar or fancy holiday tin. top it up with a festive cookie cutter or decoration in the shape or a reindeer or snowman... and voila! a heartfelt gift that'll be appreciated especially by those who bakes :)

if cookie mixes are not for you, you're sure to find something else from one of these interesting festive and oh-so-homey recipes on these sites instead:
- razzle dazzle recipes
- food gifts from your kitchen
- that's my home

countdown to Christmas: 3 more days...

charm someone special this Christmas...
- with juicy couture's holiday charm bracelet (US$152);


- or this feminine, stylish charm mini leather bag (US$158).
available in paradise found pink or black quilted leather.

will santa please leave me one of these? :)

countdown to Christmas: 4 more days...

guitar hero on the go - for your favourite techie friend :)

"Features smash hits from Guitar Hero I and II. Measures about 3"x7.25" & 3"x4" when folded."

US$22 from fredflare.com.

countdown to Christmas: 5 more days...

ok.. i have to admit, i actually found this under the kids' section on the website... but which woman (no matter how old you are) doesn't still have that little girl in her? ;)

this set of gela & pam dolls (US$110) is just soooo pinky frilly ruffly and oh so dolly. it would look 100% cute on her dressing table or in a glass cabinet of collectibles... so how could any fashionista who loves anything juicy couture resist this? :) take a closer look and you'll see a mini replica of the juicy couture fragrance bottle in the centre of the backdrop. too adorable.

top up your gift with one of these juicy couture holiday cards, and your package is perfect to go!

more.. kids' items here ;)

countdown to Christmas: 6 more days...

how about one of these "melts in your mouth, not in your hands"? ;)

we love chocolates, don't we?
get your loved ones some of these custom printed M&M's (customisable colour and text/print on the candy) or the latest "faces on M&M's" chocolate candies... sure to impress!

i personally prefer the custom-printed version... biting into a candy with my own or someone else's face just seems a little odd :P

if you missed the custom-print production timeline, check out one of these pre-packaged M&M's gifts instead... equally sweet.

countdown to Christmas: 7 more days...

as the weather gets a little chilly this time of the year, how about one of these adorable Christmas indoor slipper socks? ;)


you can wear them outdoors too, if you want to...

countdown to Christmas: 8 more days...

this has got to be one of the simplest yet most brilliant gift idea of all!

perfumes make very nice gifts, but unless you have a very good idea what type of scents your gift-recipient likes, you could end up with a seriously wrong choice that would just be chucked aside or end up as toilet spray :P

sephora has the perfect solution to this - the sephora fragrance gift certificate.

• what do you get: a fragrance gift certificate and a pre-grouped mix of 8 - 10 different fragrances (in miniatures or sample vials only)
• what to choose from: 4 differents sets for ladies (new classics for her - US$70; deluxe fragrance - US$70; trendsetters for her - US$50; best sellers for her - US$50) and 1 set for men (best sellers for him - US$50)
• how much do you pay: US$50 - 70
• what do you do: sample the fragrances and choose your favourite scent, then fill in the enclosed voucher, and bring it to your local sephora store to redeem a full-size fragrance (i believe it's 30ml/1fl oz.) that you've chosen.

this way, your gift-recipient gets to choose his/her own favourite scent in full-size, and still keep the miniature or sample vials of the other perfumes. great for travelling too!

if you can't think of anyone to send this to, get it for yourself! :)

countdown to Christmas: 9 more days...

customise a nike t-shirt for your loved one.

finally, our very own nike flagship store is opened here in singapore, at wisma atria (28 november). if you love nike and want to inject your own personality into what you wear, this gift cannot be more perfect.

hop on down to the NIKEiD studio at the singapore nike flagship store today:

435 Orchard Road

#02-21/#03-23 Wisma Atria
Singapore 238877
tel: 65133151 (customer service line)

create your own catchphrase, add your name, symbol, favourite number etc...
estimate cost: alphabets - S$2 each; numbers - S$3 each; symbols - S$1 each; t-shirt (plain) - S$27; Nike swoosh logo - S$12.

check out a real life example on this blog. pretty cool.
guaranteed one-of-a-kind.

countdown to Christmas: 10 more days...

10 more days to Christmas, 10 daily gift ideas for the last minute shoppers :)

design your own personalised Too Faced makeup palette:

step 1: customise shades
select your shades from a glamourous assortment of Too Faced's bestselling products.

step 2: create custom cover
create a custom cover for your one-of-a-kind collection, using signature Too Faced patterns and icons.

step 3: personalise gift tag
personalise your glam gift tag for that lucky gal pal on your list.

an easy peasy gift, yet something thoughtful and personalised... good fun for the person creating the palette too :) US$35 from Too Faced cosmetics.

hello.. erh.. hello kitty?

i don't mind hello kitty but i'm not a big fan of it either.
some hello kitty items look very cute (the pinks the pastels), but others run the risk of looking too kiddish. the small-ish accessories are ok, for example piggy banks, keychains, little pouches, or ornamental toys etc. but day-time clothes, regular bags or shoes with loud hello kitty prints are typically big "no-no"s for me. even the tokidoki-hello kitty collaboration didn't appeal to me (though i love tokidoki!) - i find it less sophisticated and not as original.

now there is another big hello kitty collaboration coming up - M.A.C. hello kitty collection. following M.A.C cosmetic's big success with its barbie loves M.A.C. collaboration in 2007, and fafi for M.A.C. team-up earlier this year, many would say this new iconic partnership with sanrio global wouldn't really come as a surprise. i personally find the barbie collection a lot sexier and more appealing than hello kitty (also more in line with the brand's image), but there is no denial in hello kitty's huge following and fan base, especially here in asia, which means potentially another big revenue-generator for the company. so, will you hop onto the bandwagon too?

i do like the fact that this hello kitty is black :)
the pink blush compact, and brush set looks promising too... hehe.

(photo credit: WWD via temptalia)
2 different lines will be offered: hello kitty color collection (for the funkier, younger crowd); and kitty kouture (pricier, targeting more mature customers). scheduled to launch in the USA on 10 february 2009, and internationally in march.

for more information, check out temptalia; more pictures here.

do you know where cashew nuts come from?

my dad just returned tonight from a short vacation to cambodia, and brought back adidas t-shirts from the factory outlet, and some local snacks, including cashew nuts which mum loves.

while munching on the cashew nuts just a while ago, i casually asked dad if these nuts grow underground like peanuts. his answer was no. incidentally, the tour group had passed by some cashew trees during their trip, and they noticed that the cashew is one of the rare plants which has seeds (the cashew nuts) that actually grow outside the fruit and not within.

so out of curiosity, i did a quick google search and found this picture:
(picture credit: amy kate horn @ SLOG)

see that light brownish arched shell (the fruit) at the bottom of the bigger crimson fruit (called a pseudo-fruit because it doesn't actually bear the seed/nut)? that's where the cashew nut can be found (within). very interesting, isn't it? the cashew nuts that we eat so often, and yet know so little of :)

did you also know:

"The (Cashew) nut kernel inside is covered with an inner shell, and between the two shells is a thick, caustic, and toxic oil called cardol. Cashew nuts must be cleaned to remove the cardol and then roasted or boiled to remove the toxins before they can be eaten." (source: raintree nutrition)

i guess that's why those yummy packs of roasted cashew nuts we find at the supermarkets don't come cheap :)

if the fun facts on cashew nuts got you curious about other nuts we commonly consume too, here are some other interesting pictures and facts from wikipedia:

- almond
- hazel
- macadamia
- pistachio
- walnut

a kiss from your prince, and you shall be deaf??...

erhm.. interesting news..
so it may be very romantic, sweet, sexy and sensual... but the next time you kiss, here's something to be mindful of :P

"While kissing is normally very safe, doctors urge people to proceed with caution..."
"The incident prompted newspapers to dispense kissing safety advice."

full article on MSN news - Kiss of deaf: woman loses hearing in passionate pucker

a story that touches our hearts - chilean hero dog

saw this on Channel U news tonight and i just had to google for the clip. the incident happened last week on 4 december in chile, and has since been widely broadcasted over the Internet.

it's a regular thursday, an unfortunate stray dog got hit on the highway while crossing it and was left to die... watch and see what happened next.

(courtesy of MrCristea on youtube)



it is amazing how the world continues to surprise us everyday - even animals know love and kindness. according to the news report, the injured dog didn't make it in the end (though the above youtube clip says otherwise). nonetheless, a very touching event, a truly amazing dog.

secret santa online

a show of hands, how many of you have played the "secret santa" gift-exchange game before? :) i'm sure most of us are familiar with this, there are a few variations but typically each person prepares a gift of an agreed budget, and bring it along to the Christmas party for exchange. this makes sure that everyone at the party would get a nice gift back in return.

Christmas is just around the corner, and it's the time of the year when friends, family, old acquaintances gather to celebrate and catch up with one another. if you haven't started planning for this year's party or are just about to send out invites or organise a "secret santa" gift-exchange for your group, do check out www.secretsanta.com.

this gift-exchange event planner provides easy-to-use online tools to help you send out e-invites to your friends, who can easily RSVP via the same website. what's cool about this is the feature that automatically pre-matches your guests to his/her "secret santa" gift-recipient. once you've confirmed your attendees, with just a click of the "send" button, everyone in your attendees list will receive an email with the designated recipient name that only he/she would know (even you - the administrator, wouldn't have a clue). you can also choose to indicate a budget range for the gift, set up a wish list, and/or even an "exclusion list" to prevent scenarios where, for example, a recipient gets a gift from her own husband or vice versa.

for something more unconventional and funny, try the "yankee doodle swap" or "white elephant" versions instead - equally intelligent tools. best part of it all, the applications are absolutely FREE, only the administrator needs to sign-up. ho ho ho!

must-watch movies...

this list is to remind myself of the current/upcoming movies i wanna watch - and also to inform friends who wanna watch these films to please ask me along :)

1. the women
2. four christmases (typical holiday film)
3. australia (hugh jackman - people magazine's "sexiest man alive 2008"...)
4. marley and me (watch the trailer, the part where they had to stop the car cuz marley partially lept out of the window was funny :D oh and if you like it, adopt a virtual marley for your facebook profile too)
5. the visitor
6. the duchess (i'm still on the fence about this)

top on my list is the upcoming diane english's "the women", somewhat resembles "sex and the city" (it's always about 3 -4 women, isn't it? just like "lipstick jungle", "cashmere mafia" etc.) - less flamboyant and "fashionistic", but appealing nonetheless. i guess stories that wrap around the lives of women and their friendships, with lotsa conversations about life, men, shopping, can hardly go wrong. plus, i love meg ryan and debra messing... so what's not to love about this movie? :) a definite "girl's-night-out" flick. the trailer is available on the official movie website and apple.com, or simply catch it here:

(courtesy of StrayActingChild on youtube)

sweet dreams begin with sweet-print PJs :)

i mostly wear one-piece slip-on cotton/satin sleep-dresses to bed, other times it's the top + shorts PJ sets from women'secret. i love PJs, especially the feminine and cutesy printed ones - give me that warm, cozy tranquility perfect for bedtime :) (btw, check out the new collection from women'secret - some of the sets that come with room-socks and carrier bags are just sooo adorable. they even have the "mr. men and little miss" collection too - interestingly, this range of products suddenly seem to be popping up everywhere, collaborating with so many brands, labels and even shopping malls.)

anyway, back to the topic...

full-length PJs are not very practical for singapore's weather, especially since my bedroom is not air-conditioned. but i still do wear them once in a while during the cooler november - january months, and i usually pack at least one set in my suitcase whenever i travel - gets me into the perfect holiday mood :)

la senza is now having a holiday sale, and thanks to a friend's discount card, i managed to get my new PJs at a pretty reasonable price :) i didn't realise there are so many different designs and prints to choose from, plus this season's colours and prints are all my favourite ones! the pinks/browns/pastels, and polka-dots/cupcakes/doggies etc... so pretty, so hard to decide... i just wanted to buy everything in store! but of course i didn't, gotta be a good girl - limited myself to just the "2-for-a-special-price" promotion.

so here are my first PJs from la senza (naughty festive monkeys and sweet pink scotties)... very pleased to have them, so girly-pinky-sweetie-pie-ish... shall keep them for Christmas and Chinese New Year nights :)

i also really like the "jujube dots", "retro pup" and pink "festive monkey" prints (shown below), will definitely be back for more the next time i need new PJs :)

the home-tv saga

i always get annoyed when my brother invites friends over to watch soccer on weekends, especially during the "golden hours" in the evening after dinner - when i usually love to just chill out on the sofa, sip some hot tea while idly watching some tv serial or movie. it felt like an invasion of my personal/private stay-home moments.

there are 2 tvs at home, one in the common living room area, the other in my parents' bedroom. my brother pays for the subscription of the starhub cable channels - linked only to the living room tv set (because he wanted to watch ESPN and the soccer/sports channels), so that naturally gives him the "authority" to expect me to move aside as and when he wants to watch his soccer matches. that seriously irritates me (to an extent the thought of moving out always comes up whenever that happens) cuz i think it's very unfair given that the living room is a common space and the tv there is supposed to be a family-shared property.. but i always gave in anyway, since i didn't want to kick up a big fuss when his friends or gf is over at our place.

but i guess everyone has their limits.

last weekend, i was couching on the sofa watching "armageddon" on channel 5 (10pm show) after dinner. about 1.5 hours into the show (near show-climax), my brother and his gf suddenly appeared at the door, and said they had to watch a soccer match right away. it was not a question, not a request, just a statement. it's like they knew i have no choice but to give way and retreat into my bedroom. to tell the truth, i had watched "armageddon" years ago, so it wasn't really a big deal having to miss the show ending. but the annoyance from always having to give up the living room (which is a common entertainment area for everyone in the family) and tv to them just made my blood boil - maybe i'm a petty sister, but i just didn't like the fact that i'm subject to all that just because my brother decided to pay for the cable channels subscription. anyway, i gave them a very very annoyed look, held my silence, picked up my tea and retreated to my bedroom to read a novel instead. my parents were already asleep in their bedroom, and i wasn't desperate enough to sneak in to disturb them by switching on their tv. the week passed by the grudge didn't evaporate.

this weekend, history repeated itself.

i was watching the saturday night movie "the cheetah girls" on channel 5 last evening, when my brother and his gf came home. i was still halfway through dinner in front of the tv, when he came over and said, "erh sis, we are going to switch the channel to watch soccer now." this was all too familiar, only this time i flared up and responded in a slightly raised tone, "all you know is to come home and ask me to go away. that's all you do and everytime i just have to do your bidding." i knew that would make his gf feel uncomfortable, but i didn't care (plus i think PMS made it harder to control my temper). i spitefully picked up my unfinished food, retreated to my bedroom and SLAMMED the door - making my dismay very obvious. for the rest of the night, i didn't speak a word to either of them... and i ended up staying up the entire night finishing off the 392-page novel i had been reading. by the time i was done and ready to turn in, it was already 8am in the morning. and when i woke up in the afternoon, brother and gf had already left.

things were quiet and peaceful (i got to enjoy the living room again) until brother and gf showed up just now at 6:00pm... with a new mini television! i instantly knew what that meant (and it made me feel guilty for losing my temper last night), but stubborn me just refused to act a bit excited or apologetic. it isn't an expensive brand, but i certainly didn't expect him to go out and buy home a tv for me. it is actually a very nice thing to do, especially coming from him. i had also been contemplating getting myself a real cool flat-screen tv for my own bedroom (complete with DVD player etc.) but given the current economic situation, i felt that could wait. now that he's gotten one for me, i don't have to worry about that anymore.

it is still a big surprise.

now i feel like a big baddy for acting the way i did last night.
but then again, maybe if i hadn't shown my dismay so obviously, perhaps i would still have been taken for granted? :P

pretty soon it'll be dangerous to eat or drink anything at all...

following the recent milk scam (melamine poisoning) from China... more scary news about what we put into our mouths.

Japan's Nissin recalls 500,000 noodles over insecticide fears

bad news for instant noodles lovers.

tokidoki - 'til death do us part'

hehehehe.. too cute.
just had to share this short little clip starring Adios and Ciao Ciao ;)

juicy loves sephora

juicy couture always makes the cutest stuff - from handbags, to clothes, pouches, jewellery charms, trinkets, fragrances etc. so when they tied-up with sephora to offer limited edition "juicy loves sephora" items, you can imagine how i almost suffered a heart-attack just browsing the pages!

motives of cute cuddly terriers, royal crown, pink, gold and brown (all my favourites)... it's no wonder i fall for them time after time. well, i guess the adrenaline rush will do my heart some good.. hehe. it's a good thing they're not readily available here in singapore, saves my pocket some damage.

not counting the juicy couture-"inspired" camera case i got from bangkok earlier this year, the only item i have from this label is the travel-size EDP fragrance i got from seattle recently :) love it to bits... comes with a cute little charm too - mine's the "terrier" charm version, the one shown on sephora.com features the new "cupcake" edition.

it's a story book.. it's a box.. it's.. it's a camera?

fredflare has some of the quirkiest merchandise on their website. i like that.
you know me, those cool-looking, sometimes not-very-useful but prettily packaged stuff :P

now, check out this super-cool camera. it looks like a story book or some toy box.. but flip it open, it's actually a real camera in disguise! how interesting!
i even like the pastel green colour, deers and bunnies prints on it :) not exactly expensive at USD55 but i don't think i'd be running to get it (unless i see it in person at a retail store and just have the sudden urge to spend). certainly fun and a definite conversation-piece, just not very practical. works with 110 film.

while you're on the site, don't miss this ikimono mini keychain 110 camera (USD22) too *lol*..
the japanese are just so creative and the king of kawaii-ness! very cute!

other very original "camera" items on fredflare.com.

oh wow! fantastic deal - too faced collection!

soooo wish this collection was already available when i was in seattle last month... i would have snapped this up in a heartbeat! what a FANTASTIC deal.. 8 x too faced quickie chronicles minis for less than USD60??!! WOW.
(edited to add: price on Sephora.com further reduced to USD30 - OMG! but it's out of stock now)

not to mention, i have always loved too faced quickie chronicles palettes (original size or minis)... they're soooo adorable and retro. plus, the fact that the palettes come with pre-matched eyeshadows and cheek colour, it's a no-brainer compact makeup on-the-go.

i really really love this collection! what's more, at this incredible price, these mini palettes would make perfect stocking stuffers for christmas.. ooh.. *sigh* what a pity.

limited edition sephora-exclusive offer, in celebration of its 10th year anniversary.
see more coveted deals here.

fit for a princess ;)

one advantage of having your own single-girl's bedroom, is not having to worry or justify to your significant other why you chose a certain bed linen or having to fight over it ;)

i know some friends may frown or feel faint at the sight of this.. hehehe.. but i guess every girl must have dreamt of being a princess at some point in time. i don't think i'm too old for this - yet :P maybe a little childish, a little too girly.. but i like the princessy-fairytale-ness of it, and since it´s in the privacy of my own bedroom, i went ahead and got this for myself :)

at a discounted price, from aussino.

my cakes galore!

it's a cakes galore for my birthday this year :)
i've got not one, not two... but TEN cakes for my birthday today *lol* (tiny ones)

i've already had my advanced birthday celebration lunch (our tradition) with my colleagues last thursday - a joint-celebration with my boss (he's also an early-October born) - at the penang place buffet. since we were having a buffet, we didn't get a cake as we'd be stuffed after lunch anyway. so no cake that day.

today, it was regular lunch at the foodcourt near our office... surprise came after lunch. boss and his wife bought a variety of mini cakes from canele, stuck a candle in one of them, and everyone sang me a birthday song.

it was a nice simple celebration... and everyone's happy to share the tiny cakes too (mix of tiramisu, green tea, strawberry, lemon meringue, chocolate brownie, creme brulee etc.). they were pretty and yummy, not too sweet, not too rich, just-right size. i even had some extras to bring home to my family.

then when i got home, mum had one more mini cake from bengawan solo waiting for me... hehe... sweet of her.

so that's my perfect 10.
10 mini birthday cakes for this year.

there goes my waistline :P

shop anya hindmarch at Target

london designer label - anya hindmarch - which pioneered the photo-bags trend (be-a-bag) years ago and more recently created the "i'm not a plastic bag" eco-tote craze, is now going mass market by offering a limited range of handbags to be sold at Target stores in the USA... with prices supposedly starting from £11.50!

"Anya Hindmarch has partnered with the US retailer Target to launch a limited edition low priced handbag collection (from £11.50). This collection has already received rave reviews in US press and will be on sale in Target stores from mid October. We have a sneak preview of this collection available for you to buy before it hits Target stores exclusively at anyahindmarch.com from 8th – 14th October." (abstract from anyahindmarch.com)

catch a glimpse of the collection before the actual launch.
interesting move from the renown designer label - unbelievable prices.

harajuku lovers - solid perfume coffret

i got this solid perfume coffret set from Macy's during my recent seattle vacation.
they're so SUPER UBER DUPER CUTE!! i just couldn't resist :P not to mention they each have a great sweet girly scent too, and would just be so adorable being tote-around in your handbag/purse.

too cute. love them to bits! :D

the EDT mini sprays (full-size-dolls) are actually cuter - but pricier too (USD25 - 10ml; USD45 - 30ml). would be oh-so-lovely to collect them all!

"Harajuku (hara•joo•koo) n. 1. A style and attitude of Japanese girls from Harajuku, Tokyo. n. 2. Anything goes: outrageous, layered, and eye-catching.

Harajuku Lovers Fragrance: n. 1. A fatal attraction to cuteness.

Inspired by the electric street scene of the Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo, the Harajuku Lovers fragrance collection captures the lyrics and iconography from Gwen Stefani's albums. These unique fragrances, in their adorable doll-decanters, will appeal to anyone with a "fatal attraction to cuteness." Choose the girl that best fits your personality, but (trust us!) after meeting one, you'll have to have them all!"
(abstract from sephora.com)

check out the full range at sephora or macy's.
more about gwen stefani and the world of harajuku lovers.

happy news :)

today is a happy day for me.

i had my practical driving test at bukit batok driving centre this afternoon - my first attempt. as much as i tried to stay calm and relaxed, i just couldn't help feeling nervous during the 30 min. test. i fumbled a little, made some silly mistakes when starting off... fortunately, things eventually turned out well, i was able to stay composed, and i think i got lucky with a kind instructor... so...

I PASSED!!!

yay! *celebrations* i am so happy! (didn't know it could feel this exhilarating, but i sure was thrilled when i got my results!) so now i'm an official P-plate (probation plate) driver... hehehe :D yoohoo!!

many thanks to all the well-wishes and support from friends, colleagues and family... it really helped boost my confidence :) at least my 6-month training and money was well worth it.

PS: looking back, i guess it's all a good sign from the beginning... my test date: 10 sep 2008 = 080910 (nice running numbers). and guess what is the car plate number on my test car today? 8910 - nice coincidence, isn't it? ;)

new browser - google chrome

the new google chrome browser is here - have you tried it?

i would love to try, but my laptop has symantec endpoint protection running on it (which apparently has an incompatibility issue with chrome). after downloading the installation file, the browser just wouldn't load properly. *tsk tsk*

for more information on the issue, check out these discussion threads/sites:
google group discussion (google login required)
symantec SNT forum

guess we shall wait and see then...

must-haves for girls! ;)

came across a small feature in the Life! section of The Straits Times paper today, and upon further googling around, found these super duper cute tool kits made for women! if i have my own house, i'd certainly get one of these tool kits for vanity's sake *lol*. well, i'm sure having my very own set of handy tools (in PINK) would so make any handy work around the house much more appealing! imagine fixing up your own D-I-Y ikea furniture with these pink cutsies... ooh chic and cool! and maybe once i pass my driving test, i should get myself one of those car kits as a reward ;)

so pretty just to look at, aren't they?

hello dolly hang-it-up kit (mini tool kit) US$49.90 | S$65.95
- 10.5cm (L) x 5.2cm (W)
- 20-in-1 screwdriver
- 3-in-1 level
- hammer
- tape measure
- assorted hardware (nails, screws, picture hooks)

hello dolly 30 piece tool kit US$79.90 | S$119
- 40cm (L) x 28cm (W) x 6cm (D)
- 20-in-1 screwdriver
- 3-in-1 level
- hammer
- utility knife
- 6" adjustable spanner
- 6.5" blunt nose pliers
- 3m measuring tape
- assorted hardware (nails, screws, picture hooks)
- scissors
- comes in its own slimlline pink case :D

the safety girl roadside emergency kit US$44.99 | S$59
- Space® brand emergency blanket
- safety light stick
- 5 bandages
- 2 antiseptic wipes
- instructions to change a flat tire
- instructions to jump start a dead battery
- emergency contact list
- accident record
- safety girl pencil
- purified water
- Ghirardelli squares chocolate
- Zox breath freshener
- lip moisturiser
- Gilead aromatherapy headache remedy
- Shout instant spot remover wipe
- Dove anti-perspirant
- Speedy Clean cleaning wipes
- 2 Dittie tampons
- emergency sewing repair kit
- professional nail file

more insanely girly stuff available on hello dolly website and safety girl website.

also available on local online store www.glamourpuss.com.sg (reasonable pricing, includes local shipping).

sheer vanity...

i love pink.
i love polka dots.
so what's not to love about this super girly satiny CD wallet with a ribbon?

i didn't exactly need this, but when i saw it on sale at Challenger, i just couldn't resist picking one up :P figured i could always use a cute wallet for storing my digital photos CDs etc. *wink*

wallet for 16 CDs: S$4.90
(dual-pack) wallets for 16 + 48 CDs: S$9.90

new tokidoki - again!

the tokidoki-lesportsac collaboration had ended sometime last year, to the relief of many toki-finatics (yes, time to heal that big hole we've burnt in our pocket)... but the good (or bad) news didn't last long... tokidoki bags are now back with not just 1 nor 2, but 3 new line-ups for this year! :)

the first in the series - carnival - has just launched early this month, with a slightly toned-down selection of bag styles, more pricey, and sole-tokidoki branded (no more co-branding with LSS), though still manufactured by them. i'm excited - tokidoki bags are always cute, and so fun to stare/look at close-up... but looking at the carnival print and the new bag styles, i think i'll be safe for now. no serious lemmings - yet... though i really like the print section with the unicorns-merry-go-round, the cowboy, and the other of the cabaret ipod girl *lol*.. super sweet. a bacio style would be cute....

i'm more keen on the "eco" themed collection - eco mondo - coming out later this year :)

meanwhile, check out the interview with simone legno on karmaloopTV and catch a glimpse of the new, upcoming prints ;) see simone describe the way he creates a new character from sketch, scan, to the full works.. very cool!

btw, happy 08/08/08!

fall collection - COACH lemmings again!

COACH has just updated their website with some items from the fall collection.
eeks... i'm already lemming some new stuff! awww... so cute!

new heritage stripe small zip satchel (USD 248)

and these super uber duper cute keyfobs (USD 38)... ooh i so WANT them!

A.S.D. Keychains

these keychains are so cute. if you love dogs, there is no reason NOT to get one ;)

chanced upon the keychains at the antipodean cashier counter at lunch today, i guess i just had to get something small to prevent myself from splurging on any of the more "sinful" and pricier accessories there. i saw a very pretty bracelet ($70+) from killer heels - it comes with pretty pastel/glass beads + a super adorable rabbit charm pendant. they had the same rabbit pendant on a necklace ($103) and earrings too ($60+).. so tempting... but i had to pass :P their stuff are seriously cute though *smile* - check out the collection on flickr.

anyway, back to the keychains... selling for $5 over the counter, all proceeds go to Action for Singapore Dogs (A.S.D)... so it's for a good cause. what's neat about it.. you can actually replace the regualr $1 coin you have to insert into supermarket trolleys, with the round metal charm on the keychain, smart idea isn't it?

a couple of designs to choose from - i got the shih tzu one (not shown on website): more details here.

my DIY teh-cino :)

my bosses brought a brand new nespresso coffee-maker to the office about 2 weeks ago. since then, everyone's been crazy over their DIY "chi-chi" (expensive/upmarket) inhouse coffee.. *lol*. never do we need starbucks or coffee bean anymore :P

even though i am not a coffee-drinker, i've decided not to be left behind... so today i made my own teh-cino :) it's yummy!

actually all i've done was just to make my regular 3-in-1 lipton vanilla milk tea... and use the coffee machine to warm/froth up some low-fat fresh milk and scoop the froth over my tea. there we have it... my very own teh-cino! :)

night at the museum...

the inaugural night festival - presented by the national museum of singapore - launches this weekend (18/19 july). don't miss the two-weekend line-up of dazzling "theatrical performances, music, open air cinema and fun interactive activities".

highlights for this weekend include "the dancing sky", an aerial ballet performance that sounds promising. ok... i must brush up on my night-photography skills and hopefully be able to take some nice pictures then :)

"The Night Festival opens on 18 July with internationally acclaimed Studio Festi from Italy. Known for their extraordinary staging of large-scale outdoor theatrical performances, including the recent 100-Day Countdown to the Beijing Olympics at Macau, Studio Festi will enthrall with The Dancing Sky. The Museum garden and premises will be transformed into a surreal and magical playground with its site-specific masterpiece." (highlights from National Museum website)

in conjunction with the night festival, 5 leading museums managed by the national heritage board will offer free night admission on 25 july (friday), from 6:00pm - 2:00am:

• asian civilisations museum (ACM)
• national museum of singapore (NMS)
• peranakan museum
• singapore art museum (SAM)
• singapore philatelic museum (SPM)
  

for more information and programme schedule, visit the national museum website.

iphone 3G launched today

the apple iphone 3G launched worldwide on 11 july 2008 (except singapore - sigh) - have you gotten your hands on one yet? :)

get a glimpse of the hype and frenzy this slim little gadget has created around the globe... pretty amazing:
- iphone in new zealand
- iphone in japan
- iphone in hong kong
- iphone in UK
- iphone in US

tangs beauty bag hunt

tangs beauty bag hunt - think you can find all 62 bags and beat the current record of 24.276 seconds?

round 3 of the contest ends on 1 august 2008, so hurry.. give it a try, even if it's just for the fun of it :) at best, i could only find 59 bags in the given 2 minutes... lol. what can i say? fastest fingers first!

even if you don't come close to the super-record-holders, you might want to check out the tangs beauty & fragrance offers on the same site :)