Here’s an update on some that I’ve caught in the month of December:

• Ninja Assasin

- Yay for rain’s abs, nay for rain’s hair. a better than expected storyline for an action movie. Though some girls may not be prepared for the amount of blood shed, or people getting sliced to pieces.

• New Moon

- I wasn’t much of a fan of twilight. the bad patchy white vampire look does not go well with me. however, with a new director, the action scenes have gotten better. Though i can’t say much has improved with regards to the main leads’ acting skills. Question: if they are so in love, why can’t Edward look Bella in the eyes when he speaks to her?

• Planet 51

- There’s only so much you can do with an alien movie. the references to ’star wars’ and other well known sci-fi movies are stark. Most of the funny parts were seen in the trailer though. Also, I’ve come to realise animations+cartoons aren’t made to cater to an audience of kids. Thumbs up for Justin Long, the mannerisms of the ‘alien’ he plays are just so Justin Long.

And what I’m looking forward to:

1. Sherlock Holmes – Hot actors. Pretty actress. Decent director.
2. The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus – Heath Ledger.
3. New York I Love You – Wasn’t a fan of 2006’s “Paris Je T’aime,” but hey, we all love a tad of americanization right?

I love the month of december. I love the parties and dressing up to the nines. Some might consider it taking dressing up too seriously. But, when it comes to fashion, all that matters is how YOU feel. And… YOU should feel awesome and special too! (Plus, it gives you more reasons to get some shopping done)

When it comes to parties, there are all kinds of parties. From the casual sit- on- the- floor party to the allocated seating fine dining party.  Some of you might worry about what kind of outfits would be appropriate for a given function. So, I’ve compiled some of the possible looks you could try out this season!

• the brunch party (with the girlfriends) = something casual yet girly

• the lunch party (with the boyfriend’s friends) = laidback but not sloppy

• “meeting the parents” party (with the unfamiliar uncles+aunties+cousins) = something not too revealing but lets you have some fun

• the fine dining/dinner party (with the atas friends) = the little black dress with statement jewellery is effortless

• the post- party party (with the party people) = crazy, bright prints to reflect the mood you’re in!

best thing about the outfits i’ve chosen? they’re at great prices and ship to singapore!

p.s. – don’t forget about the heels! a pair of simple black peep-toes will work with all the looks :)

also, don’t forget to get a manicure and pedicure in a luscious shade of red!

It’s finally December, the month of Christmas and all the festivities that go along with it.

The parties to attend. The food to consume. The drinks to finish.

But one thing that often bugs people is giving the perfect gift to a friend or loved one.

What I like to do – since most people like the sweeter things in life – is to spend an afternoon in the kitchen, whipping up something yummy and bringing out my inner Nigella Lawson.

That said, I’m not an excellent cake or pastry chef. I stick to basic recipes, with cookies or cakes. And if anything goes wrong, there’s always my annual baking girlfriend to blame :P

This year, I’ve invested in a handheld mixer, which saves me the hassle of using and washing up the bulky traditional mixer. So preparing the dough should be a whizz!

These are some of the recipes from taste.com.au that i’m considering:

*marshmallow truffles

ingredients

• 200g good-quality milk chocolate, chopped
• 1/3 cup thickened cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup vanilla Mallow Bakes, chopped
• 1/4 cup coloured sprinkles

*candy cane biscuits

If you read my posts often enough, you’ll come to realise I like to distract myself from studying/doing important things.

This post is no different.

Recently, I’ve developed the habit of cutting, shaping and painting my fingernails and toenails. This takes a good 45 minutes, with the base coat, nail varnish and top coat. I love O.P.I and Sally Hansen :D

Instead of the typical one colour look, I prefer adding tips to the nails. Not your average white french tips, but more bold colours like pink, red and black against a coloured base – some call it a reverse french.

Some girls find it hard to paint their right hand (if they’re right handed), or their left hand (if they’re left-handed), but I strongly believe it all comes with practice.

I’ve never had much difficulty painting neatly, so adding tips is just a simple act of drawing a line across the white parts of the nail. I like to keep my nails fairly short, which makes it easier to type, write and shampoo my hair. So please don’t use the reason of: oh, my nails are too short to do tips!

this was inspired by the month of october: HALLOWEEN!

this was created when i felt like being more clean and sophisticated

As you can see, it’s more fun to play around with two colours than one. Painting your nails reflects the mood you’re in. Painting my nails makes me happy to catch a brief look at them when I’m writing my notes during boring lectures or study sessions.

Doing a self-manicure or pedicure helps me to save money, destress and feel good about myself.

A hint of advice: If you want to keep the colour on for long, I suggest using a less rich/vivid colour. A neutral base works best, but have fun with the colour of the tips. Apply a good topcoat every 5 days to maintain the colour :)

A black eye in a good way. I’m currently in love with Brown Eyed Girls’ Son Gain’s eyes! (That’s alot of ‘eye’ in one line!)

I’ve always envied girls with double eyelids…double eyelids which allow them to use all sorts of eyeliner to further enhance the beauty of their big eyes.

As for me, I don’t have double eyelids. Neither do I have single eyelids. I consider it to be a wrinkle/crease where a double eyelid should be.

Some asian celebrities swear that they never went under the knife to get their double eyelids. “Due to the use of double eyelid tape, gradually it just formed!” Yeah, right.

I’ve never liked the idea of sticking a plastic cutout onto my eyelid. It just looks too fake and obvious. On the other hand, eyeliner can do wonders to make one’s eyes and pupil’s look bigger.

One night, I caught an episode of one of the many interesting taiwanese variety shows. the theme of that night was: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Basically, 4 girls appeared on the show, sans makeup looking totally normal, or even less than average (harsh, i know). But boy, did those girls know how to take full advantage of eyeliner and false eyelashes. True, they did look a tad overdone (doll-like), but they were so much prettier!

Over the past year, I’ve experimented with all sorts of methods to line the eye. From eyeshadow to liquid eyeliner, and I’ve come to love Shiseido’s Accentuating Cream Eyeliner. It comes in a pot filled with a crayon-like solid and a mini-brush. Simply wet the brush, slick on a few strokes and ta-dah! the eyes are lined and smudge free for a full day.

Some may ask, why not use eyeshadow? They can make the eyes pop as well. Truthfully? I’m just too lazy to blend 3 different shades on my eyelid. Plus, I probably lack the artistic skill to blend well and evenly. Ha!

In the meantime, check out the video down below. I’m not one to really try out stuff i see on youtube, but this looks easy enough! (maybe the coloured contacts give it an added ‘oomph’, but i’ll never shove anything into my eye!)

credits to : rosebabe888

Chanel should no longer be thought of simply being a fashion house. True, it is hard to deny the beauty and quality of its tweed jackets, 2.55 bags, pearl necklaces and fine watches. And it sure isn’t easy to resist the classic scent of Chanel No.5. But fans of the brand should be glad to know that the  French company has an excellent collection of  beauty products as well, ranging from gorgeous hues of nail varnish to skincare products.

I am a strong believer in cleansing all the dirt and make-up off my skin at the end of the day, no matter how lazy (or smashed) I am from a day out. Chanel’s Gel-Huile Pureté is a gentle yet effective cleanser, as it removes even the most stubborn waterproof mascara. My sensitive skin is left feeling clean and refreshed.

Out of the four cleansers available, only one has a lightweight gel texture, which I love. Somehow I’ve never found foaming mousse cleansers to be particularly effective. Maybe it’s a psychological thing, just like those instant foaming handsoaps.

The cleaner works within seconds upon application onto the face, no splashing of water required. The gel texture becomes a satiny smooth oil that removes all traces of make-up on the face, eyes and lips. Better yet, all the impurities and oil are also removed. The lotion rinses away easily, leaving my skin feel clean and oil-free, but not tight as I’ve experienced with other cleansers from popular make-up brands.

If you believe in taking good care of your skin, Chanel is the right brand for you. Its extensive range of cleaners, nanolotions, masks and whitening products are extremely gentle and pampering. Head down to one of the Chanel beauty counters and the consultants will analyse the needs of your skin and what products to use. The cost may be a bit more than you’d be willing to spend initially, but trust me, you’ll be addicted after your first try.

oooh.

now don’t get me wrong, I don’t go to any dodgy sites.

I chanced upon this attention-grabbing header while browsing new york magazine online.

what was the product being advertised?

the latest Maybelline vibrating mascara.

a pat on the back of the people behind the advertising/marketing campaign.

whatever happened to “Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline.”

here’s the plug:

The latest “buzz” on the beauty scene is vibrating mascara. Now, lash know-it-all Maybelline is introducing Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara, so you can check out the technology without breaking the bank. The patented vibrating brush coats evenly, separates precisely and sculpts perfectly for a new level of lash definition from root to tip.

personally, i LOVE maybelline mascaras. cheap and good for those lush lush lashes.

The weather has been killing me for the past two days. The weather forecaster said: “Today’s weather is at a high of 33.5°C, with the chance of slight showers in the afternoon.” NOT ENOUGH FOR ME. Give me some thunderstorms and howling winds – not monsoons and typhoons though. I love the temperature at a comfortable 22°C. The things I would do to live in a country with such great weather. Does such a country even exist? (If it does, please tell me!)

In line with the theme of being eco-friendly, I would like to discourage the overuse of (almost) every Singaporean’s favourite electrical appliance – the air-conditioner. It was once reported by the Wall Street Journal that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that someone should invent air-conditioned underwear, because that way “everyone can then work at his optimum temperature and civilisation can spread across all climates.” (Yes, I googled “lee kuan yew aircon underwear” – so wrong, so ridiculous, but TRUE).

Sure, the heat may be killing us. But switching on the air-conditioner is not going to make matters any better. In fact, it’s just going to make it worse.

Heat waves will be more frequent and unbearable. The heat and carbon dioxide produced by the air-conditioning unit is just adding more crap to the atmosphere.

If you’re selfish and don’t care about the environment, think about your wallet. For every degree raised on your air-conditioners thermostat, results in less energy being used, which results in less electricity being consumed, and ultimately, less money is spent on the utility bills.

Scientists have called this phenomenon an “urban heat island” effect, where the temperature in the city can be up to 10°C higher than the surrounding countryside. The built-up urban environment acts like a giant storage heater, with air pollution, traffic and a lack of open space contributing to the heat of the city. The heavy use of modern day appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners also add more heat to the environment.

In this never-ending cycle of consumption and heat generation, we should all play a part in trying to reduce or slow down the rate of heat emissions.  Architects can design buildings with more green solutions and solar panels can be installed on rooftops. Politicians can push for industries to reduce their greenhouse gases emissions. But as individuals, we can all do something, right here, right now.

These are some feasible tips, with regards to dealing with the heat and air-conditioners:

1. Try setting the temperature of the air-conditioner one degree higher each day, to find what temperature you are really comfortable at.
2. Petition or rally for your company or school to not have the air-conditioners on when the rooms are empty.
3. Invest in a heat recovery system. Rather than using electricity, reuse the heat generated by the air-conditioner to heat the water in your hot water tank.
4. If possible, go back to the basics. Open the windows, switch on the fans to allow for a breezy experience. Smell the fresh air -while it lasts, before the air gets really polluted.
5. Since your refrigerator/freezer is on, make some popsicles to suck on :)
6. Even when in the car, try not to blast the air-conditioning as that results in more carbon dioxide being produced.
7. If you feel like you’re melting, jump into the pool and go for a swim to cool off (and get some exercise). Don’t forget to slap on some sunblock!

A ring.

One can never have too many rings. That’s why we have 10 fingers.

You can always pile them up. Stack them up.

Add some pizazz and reflect your character with rings.

So in this article, I’m going to show you some unique/custom-made rings that I stumbled upon while on my hunt for some fierce-ass knuckle rings – all so amazing you’d want to wear them all at the same time.

Such insanely awesome and creative ideas, I must admit, I would have never thought possible.

These attention grabbing pieces definitely make a statement on their own:

Candy Ring

This ring would be perfect for a much needed sugar pick-me-up any time of the day. Upon seeing these goodies, I was immediately reminded of the $3 ring-pops that was a hit favourite among my generation of kids when we were 5. Sucking on the sweet candy would result in sticky fingers and very coloured blue/purple/red tongues. And the ‘rock’ would always be so big that I always felt queasy after. But I never learnt my lesson.

Unicorn Ring

Unicorns are without a doubt, one of the most awesome things you could wear on your fingers. Better than plain horses or little ponies. But if I had to choose between unicorns and pegasi, that would be a hard one. Nonetheless, wearing this rarity is like having a bit of magic with you wherever you go.

Crowned Skull Ring

This Jessica Kagan Cushman piece is such a great twist on the commonly seen skull. Not just for Goths, the crown atop the skull adds a bit of fun to the piece. The very wide smile of the skull makes the skull seem a tad sinister to me; which makes the ring all the more interesting.

Dining Surprise

Okay, this is not wearable on your finger, but you must admit, this is such a smart, subtle idea. Guys who intend to propose need not worry on the future wife-to-be choking on the ring. And what a lovely surprise at the end of a fabulous meal! Also, no more of the disgusting “let’s get a HDB flat” marriage proposal.

Diamond Ring

On the topic of marriage, comes the issue of engagement rings. The most important rule all guys should learn to accept and adhere to: let the girl choose the ring. The cut, the setting, the clarity, the colour – these are things that the bride-to-be has thought hard and long about for most of her life. In the meantime, a pseudo diamond ring such as this would be perfect! Or ladies, if you are one of those independent ones who don’t need your man to buy you a diamond ring, this is a great substitute during the saving up process :)Crude Oil Ring

Diamonds are forever, but crude oil is in a league of its own. A novel idea that grabbed my attention.  The barrel on the ring states the price of the oil on that particular day of the year. The only thing left to wonder about this is: Is there really some crude oil in that barrel? If that’s the case, I’m totally for it!

If you liked this article, please comment, or you could be so very amazing and give me one of the featured darlings :D

Post-Dancetitude 2009 (which was a blast btw, for those of you who didn’t attend), I am trying my bestest to ditch hiphop, trash pop and re-embrace the soul-soothing tunes of indie music.

Now, since here in good ol’ little red dot there are only about 4 radio stations I know that play contemporary music, I consider all songs that make it to their playlists – mainstream. So then, how does one go about pretending to know about and listen to all things indie?

Step 1: Google is your best friend. Googling randomly in your free time does help uncover the rare gem or two, like how Kerrie introduced a very useful site to us some time back. From here on I would tell you to then search for the artist or song title on iTunes but what is about to follow below will directly contradict this sentence.

Step 2: Software like Ares and Limewire are your second tier best friends. This I say because the use of this type of software infringes on copyright laws one way or another so lest I be accused of encouraging illegal music downloading, let me discourage everyone from using the said softwares. However, in case you happen to be the incorrigible pirate, go ahead and type random phrases you think might pass off as a band name. You never know, seeing how “Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start” IS an actual band whose debut album is “Worst Band Name Ever”. To top it all off, their music is actually somewhat decent though I think they’d be hard-pressed to find fame with such a mouthful for a band name.

Step 3: Make friends with Communications students (or anyone in that field). I try very hard not to stereotype or buy into them, but thus far people from this field tend to have the most interesting and tasteful musical preferences. I also know a couple of engineers and pharmacists whose choice of music I absolutely adore, but for the most part, please avoid business students. (And here comes the hate mail. :))

Step 2: Be cheap and browse Kinokuniya or HMV for overpriced specialty magazines to flip through. A few good examples would be Q Magazine, Rolling Stone, Blender, etc. More often than not, magazines give you a more focused insight on certain aspects of music, allowing you to delve deeper into what floats your boat and filter the trash. Plus you’re paying for it so the information you get is bound to come attached with some semblance of credibility.

Step 1: Take a cue from Garfield. When in doubt, act stupid. Most indie bands are indie bands because of the fact that nobody knows them to start with. Therefore, in my humble opinion, it’s perfectly acceptable to say “I’ve never heard of this band before!” and take up the other party’s invitation to give you a sampling. After all, nobody likes a pretentious know-it-all and this could be the chance you’ve been waiting for to spend a few geek moments with that crush of yours with amazing taste in music.

Turn off the radio for once, take out the Black Eyed Peas record in your player and go surfing around. And for those of you who share a network with like a million other people, did I mention iTunes has the library sharing function for a reason? :D