Image Of Success?

This sounds to be another narcissistic post. I seem to be focusing a lot on myself lately. It is me against the world, as always. People may wonder why am I always rambling on about myself and my own vanity? Why not rave about intelligent world news?

 

Good point actually. But then world news is public, whereas personal news, well, not so public. Whatever I want to say about any current affairs, people would have already said, and many a times, they have much stronger opinions than me on those issues. So what is one more or less opinion, when all are the same anyway?

 

Hence I chose to rave about myself. Whatever I do is not news of course, but at least to me, it is an avenue to let out what I feel. Whether people read or not or appreciate or not, that does not really matter to me.

 

Of course, I do know that as long as the information is shared on the internet, it is no longer private. Which is why many a time, especially in this internet rampant age where whatever people do are being scrutinised with millions of eyes, one must be especially careful on what to disclose and what not to disclose.

 

That is why I can only disclose about myself, because I do not mind sharing, well, some aspects of my life and ongoings, no matter how trivial and boring my existence is. It is not polite nor appropriate to disclose others' affairs, hence I refrain from talking about others, be it my family, loved ones, friends, co-workers and so on, although during times of frustration and bewilderment, I do start raving and ranting on just to let off steam.

 

Two months into the new year, what exactly have I achieved? Nothing extraordinary I guess, as usual. Actually I wanted to get a lot of things done by 2010, but turned out nothing was done. Maybe if I should have pushed more, or done more, or made more effort. But whatever it is, many things are beyond my control.

 

The only thing I can control is myself, and how I do things. External factors are beyond me. So for now, I just want to improve my own self-image. Image is important, especially for self-confidence and impression. You never know when you will get noticed to do better things.

 

In order to do that, first off, I went to do a wardrobe overhaul. I got rid of some old clothes, and bought some new ones. While clearing stuff, I realise that actually my dressing style and taste is a lot like Princess Kate - we both like straight, simple cuts that look classic yet elegant. I do not like clothes with lots of prints and patterns. The other kind of style I like is flowy dress or skirt, where one can wear anywhere be it on a casual date or on the beach or on vacation.

 

The next thing is an image overhaul. With the new masks I bought, coupled with my existing skincare routine and some new makeup, I think I can make myself look years younger. Not to mention the hair stylers I have, that can give me wavy, curly, straight, sleek or even crimpy hair!

 

Vanity calls. But only with vanity that one can look good, and when one looks good, somehow their lives will be better? I do not know if there is any basis in that theory, but so far those people who are pretty successful are those who not only have a positive image, but they look very good for their ages too!

 

After all, I cannot keep griping that I am not successful if I do not wish to take the first step right?

Card Of Passion

I have been thinking of applying for a PAssion Card for quite some time, but never got down to doing that because I am just too darn lazy to go down personally to a community centre, queue up and sign up for the card. Besides, the PAssion Card does not make any difference to my lifestyle, except it can be used on public transport, tapping and paying for small purchases at selected stores, and gives great discounts to courses held by community centres, which incidentally I have never participated.

 

However, when I heard that there is a closed-door sale at selected pharmacies yesterday for PAssion Card members, and that we can sign up for the card on the spot, I went down to take a look. Essentially there are half prices with another five percent off for selected toiletries and products for card members.

 

When I reached one of the stores, it was pretty crowded. Afterall, everyone who is anyone would want to utilise a sale, is it not? Those who did not hold a PAssion Card or who did not bring theirs were not allowed in. So I signed up for the card on the spot, by paying for a five-year membership (in case anyone of you think it is expensive, bear in mind that the five-year membership averages to only S$2.40 per year). My card will be delivered to me in about six weeks.

 

After that I took the receipt and went into the store. Since it was crowded I did not wish to linger around much. The awecome discounts did not affect me as well since I still do not hold the card as of now. But since I was already there, I might as well look around more, and luckily I did as I managed to find the sunscreen I was looking for!

 

Now I just have to sit back, relax and wait for my card to arrive! Once that has come, I can officially retire my old worn out public transport card and start using this to travel on public transport with a PAssion!

Crushing Candy!

After recommendations from a few people, I started on the game Candy Crush Saga to take a look. I am never a game person. People find it boring to play games with me, because I always prefer to play intelligent and educational games like word games, puzzles, trivial, hidden objects that actually tell a story, or whodunits. Which is why I never took to Angry Birds as I find the game so meaningless, hence I can never understand the hype about this game.

 

After playing Candy Crush, I realise it is just like Bejewelled, another game that I used to play and quite like it, except instead of gems, it is pieces of candy. The trick is to bring down as much candy as you can, otherwise the time will run out and we have to start over.

 

I can understand the hype about this because this game can be rather addictive. However, as with all games and me, the hype will probably die down after a while. Still, the adrenalin rush when playing the game and knowing that you manage to go through another round is exhilarating indeed!

 

The other game I am playing now is Scramble. I know, sounds boring to most people. But Scramble is really a good game to help improve one's vocabulary and trains you to think quick, because we only have two minutes to form as many words as possible and score as high as possible. Needless to say I always lose because I can never think that quickly, and many a times, I only managed to see the words at the last moment but it was too late to form the words. :-( I hope I can score better in Scramble!

All-In-One Nail Spa

It has arrived! The all-in-one manicure set that I ordered from Groupon a few days back, and it has already been delivered to my place today. Kudos to Groupon indeed! When I first saw the picture I did not know how big it is. But now that I own this, I find that it is small indeed. Just perfect for my small hands and fingers! :-)

 

The set consists of a hand bath and detachable units of buffing, filing and cleaning tools, as well as a drying pad. It works on full electricity and comes with a charger and adapter as well. This is one of a girl's dream come true, to have your own convenient manicure set. I am not sure how long this has been in the market though, but I really cannot wait to use this set!

The top of the set. The hand bath is at the back and the kits are enclosed in front.

 

 Close-up of the kits. There are tools for buffing, cleaning and filing. The centre part is the unit to attach all the tools.

 

The drying pad, with a fan and rubber pad to dry nail polish after applying

Disappointing Oscars ...

So the Oscars are over, and I am really not pleased with the results! How can Argo win the Best Picture? There are so many better quality shows! Considering all the nominations, I would say Lincoln is the best, although Les Miserables is a close second. Even those shows that are not nominated, Hitchcock and Cloud Atlas are pretty good too!

 

So how did Argo even manage to win? Just because the state supports it? But a movie is a movie, and for an award of this scale, it should be on quality, is it not? I am not saying Argo is a bad movie, it is of pretty good quality too, but how is it better than Lincoln, or even Silver Linings Playbook?

 

As for the rest of the winners, I am pretty pleased that Anne Hathaway finally got her deserving Oscar. I am disappointed Hugh Jackman did not win though, but then since he lost out to Daniel Day-Lewis who is a living and breathing Abraham Lincoln, I have no complaints about that.

 

I hope next year's nominees and winners will be really based on quality and not politics. Hopefully the movies next year will be good too, as there have been a few times where the movies are quite disappointing and no real good Best Picture movie was shown. This year seems to be a good year for movies, and hopefully next year will be better!

The Day I Forgot My Pass

I changed bag today, to a more corporate looking Kate Spade which I also bought recently.

I like this because it is suitable for office use, and there are compartments to put in documents, keys, mobile, purse, a few books and even an iPad for those who have one! So I decided to start using this bag to work.

 

Unfortunately, because I changed bag, I totally forgot my office pass! Normally I was the first to reach the office, so today I was stranded outside at the main door for a while before someone from the other side opened the door for me. But he was not able to open my main office door, so I had to sit around in the reception area until my colleague came in and opened the door for me.

 

I was told when I first joined this company that I must carry my office pass with me at all times, because when we tagged in and out is when the system will record when we go in and out of the office. So if we tagged in at half past nine, it is deemed that we only came in at that time.

 

Since I did not bring my pass today, it would be deemed that I was not at work today. I had to call our receptionist and told her I forgot to bring my pass today, so she would at least know I was around, otherwise on record it would be as if I did not go to work!

 

Wonder why I was so careless? At least it is a lesson learnt never to forget something as important as an office pass henceforth!

The Original "Journey To The West"

Finally I found it! I have been looking for this for ages and I finally found it today! Furthermore it is going at a very good price! I am talking about the original DVD set of the original "Journey To The West" drama series, broadcasted around the mid-eighties. I did not watch all the show, but I did watch the reruns and little snippets of it, and I remember getting really captivated and impressed by this show. This is the show that got me interested in the whole story.

 

Since then no other "Journey To The West" versions can exceed this version. This is still the best version, and the guy who played the Monkey God really did that to perfection! I really did not expect to find this set, but since it is still popular amongst many people, I guess there is still the demand. Thank goodness for that!

 

However, when I started watching the show again, somehow I did not feel as captivated as before. Maybe because I was so excited and had my hopes up so high, that the show did not meet up to all the hype. Or maybe because I am now much older and have seen my fair share of shows, I actually find the special effects so fake and lame.

 

Still, it was not a total disappointment. I still enjoy seeing the whiny monk thinking too good of himself and that he could do without his disciples simply because they tried to get rid of demons for him. The whole series is still pretty good in general, although certain parts can be too draggy. At least now that I have the set, I can take my time to watch as and when I like!

More Groupons ...

I am really starting to like Groupon. After the first time I used and there are really no hidden costs and the services rendered are really good, I decided to use Groupon as much as possible from now on, especially when it comes to great deals.

 

So today I bought a spa session for myself, consisting of full body massage, face spa, foot bath and steam room. I also bought an all-in-one manicure set, a session of macaron baking lesson and a meal at Charly T's.

 

Since everyone in the world is trying to save as much money as possible, Groupon is really a good way to cut down on expenses. For instance, the spa session will cost a few hundred, but under this Groupon deal, it is only less than fifty. Talk about great savings! Of course the rest of the deals have great savings too!

 

I really cannot wait to try out all these deals and see if the merchants really do honour their words and not just another scam! At least from the first batch it is not a scam, it is really too good to be true, but I shall see for this second batch.

Episcopal Ordination Of New Archbishop

Today is the Episcopal Ordination of our new Archbishop. This year seems like a pretty significant year so far. Our Archbishop changed, and our Pope resigned. What next I wonder? Will they allow women to be priests? I really hope for that!

 

I had the priviledge of attending a retreat conducted by our incoming Archbishop a couple of years back. He is someone who is very intense about his faith, and very giving to the people he serves. Although some may find him arrogant, but he does drive home good points and inspire lots of people. In fact, for those who have been to his retreat, they have always changed their view towards their religion. Not just that, every time when his retreat was going to be conducted, the registration is always full within the first day. Hence I was rather priviledged to have attended at that point in time.

 

I do believe that God only chooses the best people to serve. So even though this has been a year of leadership changes, I trust that all will be well and with new blood, there may be new ways and activities of doing things. I hope these new changes will bring the faith up to a positive light!

A Polite And Nice Cabbie To End My Tired Day

This has been a really tiring day, not to mention my mobile shut down on my way home and I could not call out. I took a cab because I had to detour to run some errands before going home. So I told the cabbie I wanted to go to two places, and he was pretty obliging.

 

When I got to my first destination, my mobile phone ran out of battery. I had to borrow the cabbie's phone and called people before finally being able to collect my things. The cabbie had to wait about five minutes together with me. Then I directed him back to my place.

 

It was the evening rush hour, traffic was slowed to a crawl, and there were peak hour charges, not to mention the electronic road pricing and the distance covered. So my final bill came up quite hefty. I think this must be the most expensive cab fare I ever forked out! But about half the fare came from the peak hour charges and the electronic road pricing, the actual fare was not that much considering I had to go two places.

 

All these while, the cabbie had been very nice and patient. He let me use his phone to call out, even though I called two people to find out the exact destination. Then he waited patiently together with me. After that when he drove me home, he did not even charge me extra fare, nor did he grumble. I apologised about making him go so many places and making him wait, and he said, "No worries, I should thank you instead for giving me so much business! If not for you, I would probably have stayed waiting somewhere else."

 

Now is that not just nice? Other cabbies would grumble about the trouble, or refused to take me more than one place, or refused to wait longer. Some cabbies would refuse to even lend me his phone, claiming he did not have a phone, but I could later hear his phone ringing while he was driving!

 

It is a good end to an otherwise tiring day! I wish more cabbies would make my day like that!

Getting Rid Of My "Worst Enemy"

A girl's worst enemy is not men, or scummy men at that. Rather, a girl's worst enemy is the little orangy peel skin known as celluloid, that is very prominent on her tummy, upper thighs and bum area. For someone like me who is dangerously pear-shaped inherited from my mother and grandmother and possibly all the ancestors above them, I do not have a choice how my figure is like. Hence, it is no use griping about how others can have naturally slender figures or how naturally curvy figures others have.

 

The only thing I can do is to prevent this as much as possible. When I was younger, in my teenage years and even in my twenties, my figure was, well, not perfect, but at least shapely. However, ever since I approached my late twenties, I found out that no matter what I eat or how little I eat, suddenly I have become much more bottom heavy.

 

Few years back, my mum, in a bid to help me lose weight, bought me a slimming package. The package is good because it did help me shed off unnecessary weight, but when I finished the sessions in the package, I found that I gained weight even more easily by then.

 

And I refuse to give up eating. Food is just too good and tasty to give up. I admit I do not have the discipline like other people to give up eating and just survive on "rabbit food". I will have no strength and energy to go through the rest of the time.

 

My dad also helped by giving me diet drinks where the drink can be a meal replacement. But I find that not very effective, because unless we really stop eating breakfast and dinner and just drink the meal replacement for lunch, otherwise it is also hard to shed off the weight.

 

I have also tried slimming creams from established brands. Besides giving my skin an overall sticky feeling and making me feel really hungry, those do not really help much too. So what can I do?

 

Recently I came across a body massager via Groupon. After hesitating, I decided to buy it to try out. After all the price is marked down by a lot from the original, and I can use that to speed up my weight loss process, so besides meal replacements, slimming creams and cutting down on food, I can use the body massager to rub on the problematic areas to increase lymphatic flow and hopefully help me slim down once and for all.

 

The body massager just arrived today. It is a round equipment with bristles and a handle to massage the problematic areas of your body. It is to be used during shower. I have not started using that yet though but will do so soon.

 

I sincerely hope that this can work, otherwise there is no other alternative but to accept that my figure has since been distorted, and I cannot do much about it anymore!

My Beauty Diary

After all the hype about sheet masks and traditional masks, on the recommendation of a few friends, I went to order a few sets of My Beauty Diary sheet masks. This mask originated from Taiwan, and had been featured in several shows. Apparently this is the best selling mask in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

 

What makes this mask so attractive is that the packaging is really pretty! I cannot comment on the smell and texture because I have not used it, but the price is very good! One box at the pharmacist is about S$14.50, making it around S$1.45 per piece. And if we buy online from its main supplier, it is even cheaper!

 

Since I have planned to use sheet masks more often than before, I decided to buy a bit more. So I bought a box of 2-Step Europe Clarifying Pack, Chocolate Truffle Mask, Hello Kitty Strawberry Milk Mask, Japanese Cherry Blossom Mask, Royal Jelly Mask, Collagen Firming Mask, Black Pearl Mask, Cooling Mask and Red Wine Mask. Just look at all these flavours and one can tell it is already so yummy!

 

I cannot wait for the sets to come! Hopefully my face will start shining more after using!

Sheet Mask Vs Traditional Mask

Recently I have developed an interest in sheet masks. Okay, sheet masks have been around for a long time, ever since the famous brand SK II came up with the mask sheets that people can just put on and throw away after that. Since then, many others came up with those mask sheets soaked in essence or moisturising agents that act as cooling effects, hydration and soothing effects to girls everywhere, particularly in Asia.

 

I showed no interest in those sheet masks. I was sceptical, because to me, how effective are these paper or cloth sheets when one can use clay or mud masks to treat our faces more thoroughly? Even if I go for facial, the therapist will use a heavy going clay / mud pack and slather all over my face in order for the nutrients to penetrate my skin deeply. So how can these paper or cloth sheets be as effective?

 

However, in the last decade, I realise that sheet masks are the way to go. Many of my friends are using sheet masks. Feedback received is that they are convenient, cool you down after a hot day, and your face comes out more moisturised and hydrated than ever, without even the need of a moisturiser.

 

I was still sceptical as I still preferred the traditional way. Still, through the years, sheet masks are propping up everywhere. There are so many brands on the market now, all claiming to be the best and using whichever ingredients that will "change" one's skin. I took all these with a pinch of salt and continued my own skincare routine the way it always is.

A few months back, I received a sample bag, consisting of sheet masks, small bottles of toner and moisturiser, eye patches, shampoo and conditioner, even small perfume bottles. With all the raves about sheet masks, I decided to give it a try, since they were free anyway.

 

My verdict? I like it! The moment I put the sheet on my face, I could feel the coolness of the mask. It really cools down my face, especially in tropical weather like down here. Furthermore, I can rub the essence all over my neck and face, making my skin more moisturised. When I took out the mask, I could actually see my skin getting more hydrated and brighter! So it is a pretty good experience for me!

 

Since then, I have developed an interest in sheet masks. Unfortunately, most sheet masks only come in sets of five or ten, so will not last more than a month. Even though they are relatively cheaper, but still, it is troublesome to keep replenishing. And sheet masks are to be used once or twice a week in order to get the full effects.

 

Whereas for clay or mud masks, it can be used just once a month. Even though a tube may be more expensive, it lasts much longer so may not cost more in the long run. And the effects do show after applying a mud or clay mask.

 

So which is better? Personally, I think it is good to use both. Use the sheet mask once or twice a week, especially before sleeping to sooth and hydrate, and then use the clay or mud pack (or go for a facial) once a month, for deep cleansing and removing of the impurities and blackheads on your skin.

 

A sheet mask is good for a "pick me up" after a long day, or a whole day in the sun. It is also great for soothing of a tired skin. But for a real cleansing effect, I would still prefer a normal facial or a traditional mask.

 

Ah... the joy of being a woman, to have these kind of choices that the men do not get!

Six Movies A Day

I always pride myself on being efficient. I can get many things done in a day, hence my office work is always done within half a day or a day the most, with hardly any spilling over to the next day. Even when I travel, I try to cover everything as much as possible within a day. My Australian relatives were so impressed because I actually covered most of Sydney (central, parks, waterfront, beaches, Eastern suburbs, red light district, northern district) in a day.

 

Even in my own life it is the same. I believe in being efficient and covering as many things as possible in a day. So for the past few weeks, I have gone crazy and dedicated one full day just to watch movies alone. In this way, I can watch all the shows I want to and spend the rest of the week doing other things.

 

Last Saturday I watched a record of six shows in a day at the same cinema. This is not the first time I watched an influx of shows, the last time I did that was some weeks back. People may wonder how in the world that can be achieved, but trust me, it is feasible. One just have to plan the timing and duration effectively.

 

A few weeks back, I watched The Sessions, The Grandmasters (Chinese show), Hansel And Gretel, The Tower (Korean show), Time No Enough (local show) and Zero Dark Thirty in one day. The first show was about a quarter to eleven in the morning, followed by twelve plus, then three plus, then five plus, then seven plus, and finally the last show was around half past nine at night. Hence I managed to reach home before midnight.

 

Last Saturday, I watched Les Miserables (again! For the fourth time!), Beautiful Creatures, The Last Stand, Journey To The West (Chinese show), Hitchcock, and finally Upside Down. All these are good shows in their own right. The first show was at eleven in the morning, then one plus, then five in the afternoon, then seven plus, nine plus and finally eleven at night.

 

To top it off, it is really enjoyable doing that! Okay, I think everyone can certify me as mad now, since no one else can ever do what I do. But this is the only way I can get to watch all the movies I want to watch. Being such a perfectionist as myself, I do not like to pick and choose, I want everything! So this is the only way I can get to watch all the shows I thought of watching!

 

Do bear in mind though that this is not for everyone, even though you can be great movie buffs. It is very tiring, and unless you can really sit through a movie theatre and go in and out, with hardly any breaks in between, otherwise just take it easy. I do not do that all the time as well, only once in a while, otherwise I myself cannot survive too!

A "Free" Facial

Last night I went to claim another one of my Groupon vouchers - the first of the three facial sessions. This facial treatment consist of a normal facial (cleasing, toning, extraction), with neck and shoulder massage and an ampoule.

 

Since it is a "free" or rather, discounted facial, I should not have any complaints, but I must say, the facial treatment, even though it is a basic facial, is not as thorough as the other facial treatments I have had. There is the normal cleansing, scrub, ampoule treatment, steaming of blackheads, extraction and mask, but I am not sure if the extraction was complete since the lady did not seem to remove all my blackheads. Furthermore, the mask is only a gel mask and not a deep cleansing mask that requires a gauze to apply on.

 

But then again, there is no free lunch. We pay for what we get, and for the price, it is already very good that the facial treatment has all the essentials already. Groupon's requirement is that I need to complete the remaining two within the next two months, so I have to call in for the next two appointments, before deciding whether to actually sign a package with them or to go back to my normal facial therapist who does a much more thorough job.

 

After all, when it comes to skincare and maintenance, one cannot be too haphazard about it!

Are You The Good Witch Of The East, Or Wicked Witch Of The West?

With the upcoming movie The Great And Powerful Oz, cosmetics brand Urban Decay has launched their Glinda and Theodora palettes. The Glinda palette consists of the colours Michelle Williams wears in the show, as Glinda the good witch. The Theodora palette consists of the colours Mila Kunis wears in the show, as Theodora the bad witch.

 

I was looking through the colours online, and found that the Glinda palette consists of pastel shades of pink, lavendar and sparkling silver, with a nude shade of lip colour. The Theodora palette consists of shades like dark brown, gold, green and charcoal, with a strong red shade of lip colour. Personally, I fell in love with the Theodora palette, as I find the colours more sultry and appealing as compared to the Glinda palette.

 

Does this mean I am the bad witch? Seems that I do have traits of the Wicked Witch of the West in me! I find her character so much more compelling, as compared to the boring perfect Good Witch of the East!

 

So are you a Glinda or a Theodora? I believe everyone of us girls will have both the good and bad witch in us, except one may be more prominent than the other. For those who are interested in the makeup colours, the sets are available for order at the Urban Decay website directly, but do grab them quick before they sell out as they are only around for a limited time to commemorate the movie!

Groupon Or Voucherlicious?

After all the raving on Groupon, I found another discount website called Voucherlicious, which operates just like Groupon, except I think Groupon has better deals. Still, Voucherlicious has some deals which Groupon does not have.

 

Today I was surfing through Voucherlicious, and found two masks being sold at a discounted rate. One is a set of eye masks, which can be used while sleeping, and supposedly get rid of panda eyes and eyebags.

 

The other is a black pore pack which supposedly gets rid of the blackheads on one's nose. These two sets are being sold at half the price, making them less than S$20.00 for two sets! This is a very good deal, because most paper masks are being sold for S$25.00 the cheapest per set already!

 

I went to purchase these two sets together, and the voucher was also sent to my email inbox. The instructions are to email the seller, quote the voucher number, attach the voucher and then wait for the seller to reply.

 

Within an hour, the seller replied that once the vouchers are verified, the products will be sent directly to my address. What a great deal indeed!

 

I am looking forward to them and hopefully the masks do work and I can stop looking like a panda now!

No More Faith In Public Transport

After all the fiascos about the trains breaking down, being stuck for hours, and technical faults to the cables, the latest news regarding public transport is that one of the underground stations caught fire. This came on the first day when people went back to work after the Lunar New Year holidays. What an embarrassment to the transport ministry!

 

Seems that nowadays, even public transport is unsafe to travel on! Trains break down, stations catch fire, buses come late as the drivers go on strike. Looks like the best way now is to own your own form of transport and travel around! So the government has no right to make us pay so much for a car anymore since the public transport system is breaking down ever so often now!

My Deuter Backpack

I have been thinking of getting a backpack for a long time now as that can help me when I travel. Instead of lugging around a big trolley luggage bag, I can just use a backpack to keep all my necessities. After my experience in Mulu, I find the trolley bag really impractical as compared to a backpack.

 

 

After searching for ages to find a backpack, which I can never managed to find one here, I decided to go online (where else?). I was thinking of either a North Face bag, or a Columbia or a Deuter. After all the research, I decided on a Deuter bag because it is supposed to be the best.

 

However, it is not easy to find a Deuter bag online. And it is not cheap either. Finally I found one new one at Amazon, with a reasonable price, and most importantly, it ships here too! So I ordered it and it finally arrived!

 

The Deuter bag I bought is the Futura Varios 45SL, a woman's fit, that is supposedly specially catered for women's back and figure. When I first saw it, I thought it is too big, but when I tried it on, it is just right. It fits my back snugly and I have no problems walking around with it!

 

Now I cannot wait to use my new Deuter backpack to go travelling, if I ever have the chance to use it, that is!

A Valentine's Day (Extended) Gathering

Today is Valentine's Day, and we have an extended family gathering as part of the new year reunion. Every Lunar New Year it is about reunions. First there was the visiting on the first day, breakfast at my grandma's place, then lunch at my aunt's place, there would be the dinner for my dad's side on the second day.

 

Yesterday there was a dinner for my mum's side. Today, we have another extended family gathering on my mum's side. Most of my cousins are now away as they either work overseas or married and moved overseas, and this year they happen to be back for the new year, so we all took the opportunity to meet up.

 

It is another good gathering, although with everyone growing up and getting on in their lives, it is getting harder to meet everyone at the same time. Still, my family makes it a point to meet up once in a while, especially when everyone is back here, so we can catch up and talk at the same time. I hope all these would continue even as our parents get on in years and we children take care of them and let them gather once in a while too!

Local News To Start The New Year

Last year, immediately after the Lunar New Year, two top civil servants got charged for corruption, in the famous sex-for-corruption cases that has been on-going for the past year. Due to this, more people were arrested for trading sex for various favours. I seriously wonder what the younger generation are thinking of right now? They can just talk about sex and use it so freely just like that.

 

In any case, now that a new Lunar New Year has come and gone, the verdict of the more famous trial is out. And he is NOT GUILTY! As in, he did have an affair, but he did not give the lady favours in return for sex. Hence, he is not guilty of corruption, but morally he is wrong.

 

This is going to spark off controversy. I believe objectively, many people will be happy that he is let off scot free, because the corruption officer did use some underhanded ways to extract information from the lady, who claimed they had sex and that he would buy her products if she gave him sex. Seems like even the corruption officer is corrupt himself!

 

However, due to this, does it mean that anyone can go around having affairs, and behave loosely as they think they can now get off scot free and that the judge will listen to the man but not the woman? If that is the case, then the world is going to be a very sad place to live in, if it is not already the case!

 

Personally, I do believe the law is just, and if the corruption officer did not screw things up, the plaintiff could have been charged for corruption and sex-for-bribes. But then one's moral issues is not the same as legal issues. Under the law, he did not do anything wrong, but morally, and perhaps in the eyes of God, he did mess up big time.

 

That is always the thin line here, whether you do things morally wrong and legally wrong, and often than not, people tend to tread a fine line between these.

Crouching Dragon, Hidden Snake

With the Dragon year over and the Snake year coming in, here's wishing everyone (all the Chinese in particular), a

 

Happy Lunar New Year and

Best Wishes For The Year Of The Snake!

Having A Brazilian ...

Today I went for the last part of my pre-Lunar New Year grooming - a Brazilian Wax. This was the second time I went for a brazilian. The first time was at a salon, and because it was the first time, the staff put in more gentle wax that would not be so painful when it was torn off. Hence, I did not experience much pain the first time round.

 

This time, I went to another home-based salon very near my place. In fact, it is just two bus stops down from my place. The lady operates in a private house and one room is converted to be her waxing salon. Very good idea!

 

This time round, the wax is warmer, and when it was torn off, it is a bit painful, but nothing unbearable. She did a very good job though, I am now so clean and smooth! The whole process took about half an hour the most, and she is also very professional and nice! I will definitely go back again, as the price is also much better on my pocket.

 

Looks like home-based salons are giving professional salons a run for their money, because the end product may be better, cheaper and the staff is more professional and polite! The grooming industry is facing very stiff competition indeed!

Gel Nails ...

After making an appointment at this home-based nail salon, I went for the gelish manicure and pedicure yesterday after my leg hair removal session. This nail salon is run by two sisters, and one room in their flat is converted into a mini nail salon with nice decoration and conducive environment.

 

The two sisters are cute and polite, and they run their business hours all the way after work until midnight on weekdays and full day on weekends, yet juggling their own full-time jobs at the same time. I really salute them for their passion!

 

My slot was pretty late, around ten o'clock in the evening, but I managed to reach there earlier. When I first reached there, I was told to look at the colours and make my pick. Because my nails are short and stubby, it is hard to do a French manicure, which was what I originally wanted. In the end, I chose a full colour in the shade of turquoise as that matches my new year dress.

 

I let them exercise their creativity, so in the end, I got alternate French pedicure on my feet and nail art on the hands. My feet is a normal pedicure, but for my hands, it is a gelish manicure, which means instead of a normal polish, a gel one is used. This is to prevent chipping and the colour lasts longer too. I am pleased with the results. Now my nails are done and I can start ushering in the new year!

 

The two girls are so nice that they even gave me two pairs of shoes that are hardly worn, because my feet are small enough. Not only that, they let me wear an old pair of slippers home so my shoes would not smudge the pedicure. With such service and attitude, and great price too, I am sure going to go back there for my nail services again!

My manicure

 



The pedicure

 



My new year dress

Permanent Hair Removal?

Last night I went for the first series of my pre-Lunar New Year grooming, permanent leg hair removal and manicure and pedicure. I utilised one of the Groupon vouchers, and went for the first session of leg hair removal.

 

The process is not the same as waxing, nor is it laser treatment to "burn" off all the hairs. In fact, the staff first used a gel to apply all over my legs, then used a machine to "trim" off all the hair. Because it was my first session, they shaved off some of the hair for me, but I was told that for subsequent sessions, I had to shave at least a few days before the next appointment to make it easier for the hair to be removed.

 

The whole process is painless, and there is really no hidden cost. I just produced the Groupon voucher, then signed for my first session, and that was it. After the session, I made an appointment for the next session, which would be two months' later, as the staff told me it is best to do hair removal every two months.

 

I must say, I am very happy with the results. For once, my legs look so smooth and clean! It is definitely much better than shaving, where some bristles still remain. Do bear in mind though that even though it is supposed to be a permanent hair removal process, the hair will not be totally removed, and it will still grow back. It will only be removed until it is fine enough, and even when it grows back, it is still fine and not thick and hairy. However, it will be less noticeable so one need not shave anymore.

 

So for those who expect really clean, smooth and white legs, think again! The hair will still grow back, but will not be that noticeable anymore, and yes, one can still wear the mini skirts and boots to show off the sexy legs!

South African Magnets

My youngest brother is back for vacation, and he spent some time doing volunteer work in South Africa, as well as travelling around that region. I asked him to bring back some South African magnets. He did not buy a lot, and my aunt in Australia had the first pick because she had been taking care of us so much.

 

So he gave me whatever was leftovers, plus some others which he wanted to bring back to his friends. I managed to get two magnets, one that is of a caricarture of Nelson Mandela, and another one of a lion head, that is one of the Big Four, or is it Big Five, or South Africa.

Mr Mandela himself

The Lion Head

 

Incidentally, South Africa is one country I have always wanted to go to. I was supposed to make a trip there with some friends a few years back, but then I changed job so could not take so many day offs, hence missed the trip. I hope to be able to make a trip there sometime soon, to see the Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, swimming with the sharks, Kruger Safari and Victoria Falls with my own eyes!

Madama Butterfly Again

Eight years ago, I was a member of the Lyric Opera, and participated in their rendition of "Madame Butterfly". Despite all the tight rehearsal schedules and practices, I had lots of fun and made many friends in the process, some of whom I am still in touch with.

 

Since then, I have participated in some other small musicals, but none as big an extent as "Madame Butterfly". The following year, our Artistic Director left and the Lyric Opera underwent new management, so many of us left, including me.

 

We were also priviledged to have with us as overall Choreographer one of the most famous theatre artists, which made the whole "Madama Butterfly" opera so artistic and captivating. Because of him, there was actually a fire burning on stage (with gas of course), the setting of the stage, the shadow play, everything was incorporated into the opera. I must say that was indeed a very good rendition, not just because I was in it!

 

Last night, I "revisited" the opera again, this time as an audience. The opera, the singing, the storyline, everything is still good and familiar, but somehow this rendition is not as good as the previous one. The stage setting was simpler, the costumes and makeup were plainer, and the sets did not change much.

 

Gosh, it brings back so much memories! I am so tempted to go sing again!

The Catholic Lawyers' Guild

I have wanted to join a religious network for a long time. A religious network does not mean a community, but just a network for like-minded people to pray and take part in some of the activities. There is the Catholic Business Network, but these are mainly for business owners or those who are partners in some firms, which does not really relate to me.

 

After searching, I found the Catholic Lawyers' Guild, which is just perfect! I can be on the network, and if I choose to, take part in the activities and mingle with people of my profession. The membership fee is very reasonable too. After all, the Law Society and Academy of Law membership is already a very large sum as compared to this!

 

Hence I have sent in my application. Whether I get selected as a member or not, I do not know, but at least it is worth trying!

Another Wet (And Ill) Weekend

I was home the whole weekend as I had been ill with a combination of flu, stomach discomfort and being lethargic. Besides this, it is also another wet weekend, with massive rainfalls, the kind of weather where one just want to sleep and not do anything! I wish I can get well before the Lunar New Year, otherwise I will not be able to enjoy and celebrate!

Making Use Of Groupons

I have been a member of Groupon for a long time, but never used any of its services or bought any of its products. The reason being I am quite skeptical of the deals. There is no free lunch in this world, and if I buy the services at such low prices, will there be any hidden costs involved? However, I have heard from friends who have used Groupon, that the things they bought were really at that price with no hidden costs. So I decided to give it a try, but have not found any great deals until recently.

 

For the past couple of days, I found some great deals via Groupon, and decided to buy some of them, as afterall, if we can get things at a discount, why pay the full amount right? So I bought the voucher for discounted entrance fees to the Bird Park, a place that I have not been for ages. Another one I bought is a voucher for entrance to Gardens By The Bay, Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon, at a very good bundled price!

 

Besides all these, there are also deals for facials, permanent hair removal, even slimming ampoules! All these are very good prices, and if I am to sign up for packages, it will cost me five figure at least, but these are all going for less than S$100.00 each! Where else can anyone get a deal like that?

 

So I bought a package consisting of twelve sessions of lower leg hair removal and six sessions of upper leg hair removal, that cost a tenth of the original price. I also bought another package consisting of unlimited sessions of undearm hair removal, which means I can go for as many times as I like until the hair is all removed. Goodbye to shaving!

 

Besides these, I also bought a three session facial package. All these combined together cost less than S$400.00. It is a really great deal indeed! I am so going to love Groupon from now on! The person who came up with this is a genius indeed!