back on the road again...

2011-11-19T19:50:00.005+08:00

Omg it's been forever since I last blogged. So many things have happened since then..

I have graduated!!!!Miss all my course mates dearly. I keep wondering how did these 4 years fly by so quickly. It's really one of the quickest 4 years ever. Even my 4 years of secondary school education didn't seem to fly by so quickly. But I'm glad that I filled the 4 years up with so much laughter and happiness.. All the activities and camps, shopping with friends at JP after lesson, early breakfasts in school before 8.30am lessons, last minute exam mugging in the library etc... The only regret I have is that I wished I studied harder in year 2. I did pretty well in year 3 and 4, in an attempt to undo the damage that my year 2 results caused. But it wasn't enough =(

After convocation, I have started work at a lab. I was pretty lucky to get this job. It's not particularly stressful, the workload is fine. Though the pay is minimal, but I can't really complain.

I'm glad though, that I managed to find time in the midst of working to meet up with the girls, maintain my relationship and to exercise and remain fit. I'm still trying to find the perfect balance though...

I sure wish I was back in college. =(

2011-07-27T21:44:00.005+08:00

Yesterday was dinner and dance for the graduating batch of students for SBS. It was held at Marriott Hotel. The event was okay.. The food was 80% identical to the food I had at my cousin's wedding last saturday. So I wasn't too pleased to be eating the same food again. Furthermore, I am not a fan of chinese food. But the company was good. I had a great time with the girls. Pity that Evelyn couldn't go =(

I went the xueting's house to prepare first. I helped xueting and cariann do some parts of their makeup. Gave them some tips for a more flawless photography makeup too. It was lots of fun! This was the first time I did makeup that was 100% photo-friendly also. Glad that it turned out well and the photos look good.

Here was what I packed in my little kit. Basically I tried to keep everything matte and without SPF for face makeup, except for my brozer, because I don't own a matte bronzer. For eyeshadows, I only used a shimmery shade on the inner corners. The rest were satin or matte shades. Mac blot powder was an absolute must for me. I brought it along with me to the dinner for touch ups as well. I packed 2 pairs of lashes too, and I end up with the more dramatic ones because they would show up better in photos.

My little makeup pouch..

Little makeup pouch placed inside a larger makeup bag (bought for me by zac dearest).

Here are photos of DND.. I only have a few shots cause of my lousy camera battery life.
The smoky ballroom.. The effect was quite cool, especially with the poker cards as table numbers and the spot lights. Mysterious ambience.

I liked how one of the spot lights shone on our table.

The first dish. The nicest dish out of all..

Fish dish (rhymes!)

We had a series of table games where we were given 8 riddles. This was the most fun one. We were given a seemingly blank piece of paper and a candle. Getting this part was easy. We had to heat up the paper to reveal the message (DUH).

Heating heating.... And accidentally burnt some spots. Haha. At least ours didn't have holes!

The clue revealed: Small in size; Big in heart; Royal in blood; Guess a book.
Ans: The little prince.

The 'after party'. More smoke with disco lights.. But not many people danced. Haha.

Us girls!

Cariann, Veron and Xueting went for a drinking session outside after that, with don, yc, hui tong, delon (can't spell his name) and some others. I didn't join them, cause I'm not a big fan of pubs/bars, I want my beauty sleep, and I did not want to leave my makeup on my face till morning. Also, my bf came to pick me up (so sweet!).

Convocation is tomorrow! The very final thing before we graduate. So sad. I almost teared during the video montage at the dinner yesterday. Looking at the photos, I can't believe these 4 years of studying, camps, activities and loads of fun is over now. Almost everyday I think about how I spent these 4 years and how quickly they flew by... So bittersweet.

Will update next with convo photos!

2011-07-19T00:13:00.002+08:00

My eyeshadow stash! Actually I have less than I thought I had. Most of the shadows come from the ELF 32 color palette and the china brand 72 eyeshadow/blush palette. So.. Can buy more!!

2011-07-01T16:08:00.002+08:00

Met up with evelyn and cariann yesterday at vivocity. Cariann just came back from taiwan and had gifts for us! Thanks dear!

She got me this Shills lip balm, which I actually already tried even before I took this photo. Haha. It's pretty good. The first Shills item I owned!

We ate at White Dog Cafe. 3 course set lunch for $10.90++. Here was what I had:
The salad (which I only ate a mouth of) and the leek and potato soup with garlic bread. The soup was super good! Never thought that a soup made from veg would taste so good. The garlic bread was too buttery though.

Then I had mushrooms aglio olio linguine. This was really nice. They were so really generous with the mushrooms.

Close-up of my yummy pasta.

Overall, it was a great place to eat at. The staff was polite, especially the manager (I think? He was wearing a shirt instead of what the other waiters were wearing). We wanted to change seats because we were cold. He was more than happy to oblige and he even offered us shawls to keep ourselves warm. Then he made sure we had enough parmesan cheese and chili flakes. I would eat there again.

2011-06-26T12:31:00.002+08:00

Went bugis with evelyn the other day. I bought the fancl cleansing oil from her. I really love it a lot. She gave me a small bottle to try, and I love how thoroughly it removes all my makeup, including my super waterproof mascara. It doesn't leave an oily residue on my face, and it hasn't broken me out. Thanks girl. This retails over $30 bucks, but she sold it to me for under $10. Soooo cheap! Thanks!

I also bought a Stage lipgloss in Helen. It's a nice nude gloss. It was going for $9 for 2, so I shared the cost with eve.

Comparison of Sephora's ultra shine lipgloss in 20 Nude (left) with Stage's Helen. Helen is much more pigmented, and looks more coral. Honestly, Sephora's Nude looks almost clear on my lips, and is quite streaky. Helen goes more smoothly, no streaks, non-sticky, and I love its brush applicator. Loves!

2011-06-19T22:14:00.003+08:00

I just found out how poorly paid researchers are. I guess it's like one of those 'noble' professions where someone has to do it, but it's not well paid, or doesn't have a fantastic future (money wise). Like teachers. I think most teachers teach private tuition on top of teaching in schools, because teaching is another one of those professions that does not pay well even after many years.

Went tcc to eat the other day with zac. We were supposed to eat at momiji, but it closed down already and the website didn't update that! Grr... Luckily, tcc was having 1 for 1 pasta and main course.
Zac had this seafood aglio olio. It was really nice. But too spicy for me. But I like it. It wasn't too oily, and the garlic taste wasn't too overwhelming.

This was what I had, but I couldn't remember the name. I couldn't even pronounce it. Haha. It had some special fish with mushroom, and the pasta type was unique too, so much so that I have no idea what it's called. The cream sauce was perfect. It did not make me too nauseous (cream sauces have that effect on me after awhile).

2011-05-30T22:43:00.002+08:00

Went to cafebiz at Trader's Hotel for buffet lunch, for our anniversary =) The food is really so-so. Not sure what the hype about cafebiz is all about. Maybe the lunch buffet isn't as good as dinner buffet, since it's cheaper.

Here are my 'appetisers'. The smoked salmon is not bad, kind of salty though. Then there're some dim sums, which I only took the 'ha kao'.

Some standard sushi. So-so too. Not as good as japanese places of course.

The indian food which I tried. The naan with curry is nice. The chicken was really spicy, and the fish was pretty nice. But nothing really wowed me.

The best thing on the menu. The baked prawns. They were placed together with the mussels, but I only took prawns since I wasn't a fan of mussels.

There was dessert too, but I ate them before I remembered to take photos. The cakes were really good. Yummy. But 3 things I didn't like about the dessert.
1. They didn't have fruits to go with chocolate fondue
2. They didn't refill the satay sticks for the fondue. The cup that was suppose to hold the sticks, were empty for long. Zac had to ask them for the sticks.
3. The ice cream bowls were very warm, causing the ice cream to melt instantly. I know they use heat to disinfect the bowls and stuff, but shouldn't they make sure the dessert bowls were cool before putting them out? The ice cream was just a disgusting mess in the end, all melted even before zac got back to the table.

Overall, not worth the money if it wasn't for the 1-for-1. Seriously who would pay $38++ (or was it $40++) for such a crappy buffet.

2011-05-30T22:37:00.002+08:00

Everytime the moon is high up and super bright, it shines onto my pillow. Quite cool, but makes it hard to sleep, cause I like my curtains open for better air circulation.

Super bright moon!

The moon light... Onto my hello kitty sheets.

2011-05-22T00:18:00.003+08:00

I have removed my name from this blog. Employers do google potential employees, and my blog posts, which are mainly about shopping, hanging out or complaining about how much I hate working life, are not exactly what employers are looking for.

Now, I can almost hear zac's voice nagging in my head, "Then shouldn't you change? Be less materialistic, be more ambitious blah blah blah." I do dream of being rich, but I am really a simple person who is contented with a normal job with a normal pay. I don't aim for management jobs, I don't aim to be a leader, because higher ranking jobs usually mean more responsibilities, longer working hours, and less time for myself. I value me-time A LOT, as you probably know by now.

I just wish there is a job out there that I want so bad. Maybe makeup artist. Hmm fasion model or stylist maybe. Something in the fashion industry. But nobody in my family would support my decision if I want to be a makeup artist. My mum would baulk and disown me, and I'm not exaggerating. So I got to settle for my second interest, research work. I do enjoy lab work a lot, but not enough to want to wakeup at 6am everyday for it. I love sleeping in and it takes a lot (e.g. to collect toto prize of $1m) to make me sacrifice it. I can't bear the thought of no more sleeping until past 10am for the next 40 years! Kills me to think about it. Argh.

2011-05-20T23:40:00.002+08:00

I really hate getting reminded that I need to find a job. I know being employed is like the most important thing on graduates' minds, but I have not even finished my fyp proper! I need a break! Give me a break! I'm not ultra ambitious and workaholic. After slogging day and night every day for months for fyp, I need a break to even feel human again. I think I have never been more unfit in my life than during fyp days. Everyday when I come home, it's either too late to go out for a run, or I'm too hungry to run. I didn't have time to do what I like, I didn't have time to even keep myself fit and healthy. I'm not the sort who would sacrifice sleep, wake up at 5am for a run. I feel unhealthy, fat, tired, depressed all day long.

I know for some people, getting a job beats everything else. Like zac. He can forgo everything in the world just to get his 'dream' job. He is the ultimate career-obsessed, I-want-to-make-my-first-million-by-25years-old type. I can't. Work is not everything. Health, happiness, friends, shopping etc is more important. Call me unambitious if you want. For me, it's all about balance. Work life has no balance. Once you come home, you only have few hours left to shower, eat, maybe surf the net for awhile before you have to go to bed and hell starts all over again soon. Is this really what everyone wants to do for 40 years? It's no wonder people come up with 'office exercise' regimes, people go on facebook during work hours, lowering productivity. Working hours are just too long for anyone to sit there and be productive all the time. It's inefficient.

Yes, getting a job is important for starting a family etc, but I'm in no hurry to start a family. I can get a job 2 years later and still have money to contribute to the family. When I start working, all the money I earn probably go into splurging on things that I could never buy before.

2011-05-20T22:12:00.002+08:00

Completed thesis!! Haha long overdue photo. But, still so relieved that months of waking up at 620am everyday is over. I know when I start work, this will happen for the next 40 years, so I need to relish this moment.

Cariann's thesis!

Mine!!

This is what's on my nails now. Gorgeous max! If you look carefully (esp index finger), you can see how the glitters reflect rainbow colours as well! But this chinaglaze polish has no label. So I have no idea what shade this is. Sorry!

2011-05-11T19:58:00.002+08:00

Yay! Thesis handed in! But that leaves no excuse for not finding a job already. Sian!

Right after handing in out thesis, cariann, evelyn and I went to Smoochiezz's showroom to see some cosmetic goodies. Smoochiezz is a spree organiser whom has rented a warehouse to store her spree arrivals, and she also sells instock cosmetics like Elf, NYX and OPI there. I bought a chinaglaze nail polish and Elf's cream eyeliner in coffee. The cream liner is abit dried up =( I know it's not smoochiezz fault, because generally, many people worldwide has complained that Elf cream eyeliners are dried up by the time they received it. But many people received decent ones, so I didnt to give it a shot. Haha. But... unlucky me. I love the chinaglaze polish though. It's got very pretty green glitters. I'm kind of into green polishes now! I have on my nails now, Sea Ya Later Sailer by OPI. It's a shimmery pale sea green. Evelyn bought OPI polish in Teenage Dream, from the Katy Perry collection, and a NYX blush. Cariann as usual, bought nothing.

Anyway, cariann, evelyn and I went to the beach today!! It was super hot, great to suntan, great to sunburn also. We spent a super long time in the sea actually. Cause there were little fishes at the sea near the shore, so we were trying to catch them! We tried to prevent the fish from being washed back into the sea by blocking with our legs. Then we tried using our hands to catch, but to no success! Then we decided to use evelyn's macdonalds cup to catch instead. Still no success... The fish's reaction was super fast! They can change direction suddenly and swiftly. Once you blink, it's gone. We spent so long bending over in the sea, that all of us had pretty serious sunburns on our back. Not cool!

The taste of freedom is really great! I really don't want to get a job =(

2011-04-23T18:00:00.003+08:00

Woah it's been ages since I updated. Been really busy with fyp. Now that fyp is going to be over, my project is finally falling into place. I have not finished my project, but I should be able to finish it by this coming week. That leaves me about 1 week to complete my thesis. My thesis is only about 20% done!!!! I'm so dead. Too much to write, too much data and too many pictures to analyse.

I think I've just found my favourite nude nail polish. Surprisingly, it's from Aries! Only $2.50 I think.Finally a nude polish that is creamy and opaque enough. 2 coats were all I needed. The colour looks different in different lighting too. Sometimes it looks a little brownish, sometimes a little greyish, sometimes plain nude. So pretty! Seems to be a paler relative of Rimmel's Beige Babe nail polish.

2011-02-20T22:06:00.002+08:00

Fyp is so unsuccessful. Everything seems to be going wrong, especially when you have unpredictable animals and fancy diagnostic machines.

First, someone whom I cannot name dropped the red light lamp in the electroretinogram (ERG) room. The room has to be pitch dark except for dim red light. With the lamp spoilt, I was only using a super TINY red light torch to see everything, including grabbing mice out from the cage, restraining them, giving them eyedrops and injecting them with anaesthesia. All the fumbling resulted in a damn mouse biting me, then I had to go get a tetanus jab. The mouse is a crazy mouse! It bit the other animal techinicians too. That particular one is just high on drugs or something.

Then my mice started getting weird cataracts, which means they cannot be used at all anymore. Then my spanking brand new Micron III machine broke down. The light was all crazy and flickering, and there was a burning smell coming from it!! The only thing missing is probably smoke. Micron III is suppose to be the star of my fyp. Now it's spoilt, my fyp has nothing special anymore. Mice not breeding well either, so I'm lacking mice now =(

So scared to do ERG again. Hate mice, especially in the dark. Had to learn another machine which does the same job as Micron III, but SIBEI inferior. Arghs!!!!! So depressing.

2011-02-04T15:39:00.002+08:00

Yipee got my spree items!!! I'm super loving the Kabuki Face Brush. So soft, great for loose face powder. I haven't tried it for mineral loose powder foundations, so I wouldn't know. The Stipple Brush is not bad too. Kind of flimsy, but still usable for liquid foundations. Love the Red Cherry lashes! I should get more. They're made of real hair, so they look much more natural. They're similar to ardell lashes, but way cheaper.

Happy CNY to all! =)

2011-01-30T13:12:00.002+08:00

Got my animal cert! The course was a terrifying experience to be honest. The mice we had was nuts. It tried to bite at every opportunity. Poor yucui got bitten twice. I didnt get bitten, cause I only tried to handle the mouse when I have mustered enough courage, such that my hands were not trembling. I also handled it with a gauze pad, so if it were to turn around to to bite, it would be biting on the gauze instead of my fingers. Poor mice though. They're cute, albeit crazy. The rat was much better. Although it was 5x bigger than a mouse, it was much more docile, maybe it's more intelligent. As long as I didnt try to hold it tight, it was a good little animal and just sat on my arm, front paws on my chest, looking up at me. Haha. So cute! It likes crawling everywhere, like it was just curious, unlike the mouse, which was just scrambling away or trying to bite all the time.

I'm super worried though. I need to handle mice all the time in my project. How am I to do it? Only one mouse during the course, and I was so shaken and mentally drained.

Some eye slices I made using the crystat (microtome). The microtome is a pretty cool machine. It's minus 20 degress inside, and I had to triple-glove my hands to use it. Coldddd!

2011-01-30T12:48:00.002+08:00

Haven't updated in awhile. FYP is tiring. Everytime I come home, I barely have any time to do anything else before I need to sleep. Well, here are some of my recent buys.. =))

Sembonia heels in a nude, dusty pink colour. Very nice and classy for a dinner. In fact, I wore it for a dinner already, and it was really comfortable. Shall wear this for cny too. Haha.

Got my mac brush cleanser finally. It's quite cheap, $18 for 235ml. I use it for spot cleaning only, because I don't think it can clean thoroughly enough for deep cleaning. Picked up mac select moisture cover in NW20. I have another one in NW25, but it's too dark for me. I use this for my dark circles. Then, I saw L'oreal UV Perfect in Venus for only $11.90!!?! This is a whooping $10 cheaper than in Watsons.

Etude house nail polish (only RM3!!) and 2 Etude house eyeshadows (RM12 for both!!!!).

I bought this pair of sneakers from far east plaza for lab. Comfortable, and good for sneaking (literally!) around the lab facility. I take frequent toilet breaks, pantry breaks etc when I get too bored, and this is good for sneaking pass the fellows', PIs' and director's offices without any noise.

2011-01-07T22:26:00.003+08:00

This post shall be kind of a new year's resolution thing. I won't be listing down my resolutions, but I'll just share my thoughts on this brand new year.

Honestly, this year scares the hell out of me. There will be huge important life decisions that I have to make, milestones to accomplish and so much more I have to do to be a proper grown up.

What scares me the most is that I will be graduating in a few months time, and I got to go out there and make a living. I got to find myself a PERMANENT job, which really scares me, because I'm not very sure if lifesciences research is all I want to do for the rest of my life. I do have another way out, which is to get a cosmetology diploma and be a pro makeup artist. But I won't have my parents' support for this. Really in a dilemma. Right now, my passion for makeup overrides my love for lifesciences. One is a PASSION, one is a love. Both are different, now I realised. Passion is where you just want to eat everything that is related to that thing, up! It's like you can't get enough of it at any one time, where you wish you could breathe, eat, sleep the same thing, and perhaps even bathe in it! Love is not as 'fiery'. It's like something you can't live without, you can't imagne your life without it, but if it disappears, you can find a way to survive. It may take years, but you'll live, you won't die without it. That's the difference, I feel.

And I think my final year project is going to help me find out what I want in life. I will be attached to SERI, as most people know already. It's going to be a tough semester, where everyday is 8.30am to 6pm, where I will end up eating, breathing, sleeping and bathing in eye research. This is what is going to tell me if I'm cut out for research or not. And I'm so scared I'll hate it so much that I'll just give up on research work after this. I do want to do well first of course. Sigh. FYP will also tell me if I can survive a full time job life. I will need to juggle relationships, friendships, exercise, shopping, work. Argh. So much to do, but so little time. I just hope I'm resilient enough to cope.

Talking about relationships, I have to admit mine needs to be worked on. Hope I don't get too stressed out.

2011-01-07T22:12:00.002+08:00

Waaaay overdue post. Was too 'busy' doing the things I wana do, like meeting up friends, watching loads and loads of dramas, shopping etc.

Anyway, for the christmas that just passed, I met up the girls for shopping in town, followed by gift exchange.

Here is my gift. There was a foot mask, hand mask, eye masks, lipgloss and hand cream in it. And xueting got my prezzie! Congrats! Haha. I made the wrapper from 4 pieces of paper from a jap magazine. I've always been pretty crafty.

And I got evelyn's gift, which is a makeup pouch from naraya (did I spell this right?). It's so sweet, and I aptly placed it on my makeup area when taking this photo =D

I really love how it has compartments in it. Just a few days before this gift exchange, I was contemplating on getting a makeup pouch with compartments. And coincidentally, I got what I wished for! Thanks girl! And on top on that, evelyn made me a card and developed some photos of us together.

Well, here is the junk that I put in the pouch. Haha.

2010-12-22T22:03:00.003+08:00

Exams are finally over! I don't know quite how to describe this round of exams. It's not killer, but it's not easy either. It's not killer, probably because I only have 4 papers compared to my usual 6. As a result, I kind of got complacent that I don't need to work as hard or something? Which led to the exams not being easy for me. I think the most okay paper should be muscle biology. Psychology of crisis stress management ranks the same as Genetics, I feel. Worst paper, not surprising, is Viro/Microbiology. I did really badly for Year 2's microbio in sem 1, and then viro in sem 2. So my basics are not there at all. Furthermore, that was two years ago!!

Talking about 2 years ago, I can't believe that I'm going to graduate soon. It's too fast. But other people like cariann and my bro, begged to differ. They said that these 4 years felt like forever. For the final leg of my uni life, I'm going to be attached to Singapore Eye Research Institute for my final year project. Super mixed feelings about this one. I'm excited to be doing actual research work in an actual research lab, but I'm also nervous that I can't contribute much and don't meet their expectations =( I'll be researching about diabetic retinopathy. As many as 1 in 10 type 2 diabetic patients have deteriorating eyesight, which could lead to blindness, due to retinopathy. It feels great to be able to contribute to some kind of research that has great implications to the standard of life for these chronic sufferers. Although my role may be tiny, but it's still something. Every step taken in the life science field, no matter how small, is still a step which counts.

Okay, now onto something less serious, here are my purchases during the Prestige warehouse sale held long ago. Haha.

Gap EDT and body lotion set for $15 only!

Paul and Joe limited edition loose powder. Got this at $20, where the retail price is $56!! Awesome bargain! Haven't used this yet though. Still using Mac's blot pressed powder, which had hit the pan already, and Nature Republic's blemish loose powder.

2010-12-05T17:54:00.003+08:00

Totally unmotivated to study. It's my very last exam ever! Unless I decided to further my studies.. But still no motivation. I just watched Shutter Island today. Great movie. Totally recommend everyone to watch this! I just cannot stop watching dramas, movies and shopping online. So going to screw up again this semester. Yes, AGAIN, because I screwed up in year 2. =(

One big reason why I'm not motivated is because it's the holiday/christmas season. My exams end on the 22nd dec!!! WTF ok. Thank you very much YOG for screwing up our semester and christmas holidays. Everyone else has finished their exams except us. Boo.

2010-12-01T22:33:00.002+08:00

Reminder to self: No more buying anymore base makeup until I finish at least TWO of the above!

2010-11-22T22:57:00.003+08:00

Just saw an interesting video. This guy was making a speech during his graduation. Since I'll be graduating soon, I thought it would be interesting or inspiring to listen to his speech. And what's even more interesting and relevant to me is that the speaker is an AVERAGE student. He wasn't some full GPA student, or someone who is very outstanding. He is an average student who wants to change the way people thinking about being just average. The title of the video is Average is the New Exception.

Some of the things he mentioned is really true and inspiring. It proves that being average has its own perks and being average should be respected as well. And some stuff he said is just plain funny, but true.

"We, the average, who continue to prove to the nation that apathy and procrastination are not just big words, but also a way of life." LOL!

"This speech is for the student who has never seen extra credit as an opportunity, but instead, a threat! This speech is for the professor who understands that wikipedia is the greatest invention of the 21st century, and turnitin.com, is not. At all. Ever!" Personally, I can't live w/o wikipedia! I use wiki more than my textbooks. And I SUPER HATE turnitin.com. It's the dumbest anti-plagarism program ever.

"Maybe average is the new exceptional. We live in a culture that emphasises wealth, power and achievement. We're taught by society that we should strive for fame, fortune and the american dream. I'm sorry that average will never be fame, fortune or the american dream, but average is something much more. Average is the parent who drives their son or daughter to school everyday so that their child can have a better life than the one they had. "

And the best part is, "Average is knowing that you don't receive respect, but you earn it. Average is knowing that you don't receive opportunity, but you fight for it."

Yay to the averages!!

2010-11-12T21:46:00.002+08:00

Received this last week from my online purchases. Super excited about these. Have been waiting over a month for them to arrive!

Elf 32 eyeshadow palette. The colour pigmentation is not bad. But the glittery shades have crazy fallout. Will need a good sticky base for them to adhere to properly. Check out that electric blue! Awesome. This palette is very usable for me, because they're many neutral shades which I prefer, and only 2 pinks. Haha.

My 24pieces brush set from taobao.com!!! I wanted to get a brush roll to put my brushes in when I travel, or one day when I start freelancing. But since the brushes are dirt cheap, I decided to buy the entire set of brushes with the brush roll. Only S$18 including shipping!!! Granted, some of the bigger brushes are scratchy, but all the eye brushes are good. I especially love the concealer brush (10th brush from left). I feel more pro after having this!

2010-11-12T21:31:00.002+08:00

Went to beauty world centre today. It's a super old old mall which has never been upgraded before. I knew there was this big shop that sells clothes (albeit ugly and old fashioned), and hair and makeup accessories. But I didn't expect to find super cheap cosmetics there! Look at what I picked up, and how cheap they are!

On the left is Love Alpha (china brand) Meteorites Illuminating Pressed Powder. Doesn't it just sound and look like Guerlain's Meteorites?? There's 10g of product and only $3.90! On the right is Flamingo's curl double mascara. It looks like YSL's effet faux cils mascara. Anyway flamingo is a rather popular china mascara brand, but it's usually around $10 online.

The patterns look a lot like Guerlain's. Haha. There's a very shimmery overspray. I only realised it's an overspray when I was swatching it. The powder under the overspray is more of a satin finish, which is wonderful for me. Anything that is too shimmery will accentuate my blemishes.

Left: Both colours swirled together. Middle: The darker pink. Right: The lighter pink.
I think the darker pink itself is nice for a blush, the lighter pink for highlighting. Or it can be mixed together for a soft pinky glow on the cheeks =)

2010-11-07T11:18:00.003+08:00

Review: TOFU Professional Makeup Sponge

After reading great reviews about this online, I decided to go grab this. This set contains 4 pieces of sponges, and it costs a whopping $16+ from Watsons. But it's totally worth it, if you're a cosmetic fanatic, and quality application means a lot to you. Sadly, I haven't seen this at watsons anymore. But I think you can still get it at some online stores.

The packaging is so cute. Looks really like tofu box. The cover is resealable, which is great for travelling, or for makeup artists to store in their traincases.

On the left is the tofu sponge, on the right is the regular cosmetic wedge. The tofu sponge is much bigger than a regular cosmetic wedge, and looks much whiter.

I purposely increased the contrast of the photo like crazy, so the grain of the sponges can be shown better. Look at how smooth the tofu one is, compared to how gritty and hole-ly and porous the regular one is.

Application: The tofu sponge, because it is less porous, sucks up alot less product as you use it. One pump of product is all I needed if I use this sponge, or any foundation brush, or my fingers. Because these things are less absorbent. For the regular sponge, I need around 1.5 to 2 pumps of product usually. Crazy amount of wastage. I have been favouring sponges recently because of the convenience and ease of application, but the regular sponges just absorbs way too much product.

How it feels on the skin: SUPER smooth! The usual sponges are probably made from latex or some rubbery material, hence when I apply my foundation with them, I can feel the sponge dragging and pulling on my skin. However, no such thing when using the tofu sponge.

Washing: I use the daiso sponge cleanser for washing this. Because the sponge is less absorbent, the product doesn't get too deep into the sponge, hence it's easier to clean the foundation off. Tofu also expands when soaked in water, and OMG, when it's soaked, it feels soooooo slick and smooth like a real tofu!!!! It's like white and bouncy and soooo tofu-like. Now I know why it's called TOFU sponge. Haha!

2010-11-06T20:47:00.002+08:00

Although I've only been to 3 interviews, I feel so drained already. Interviews are very tiring, because of the mental battle. I have to research on the project topic, prepare as many questions as possible before the start of the interview, and during the interview, I have to constantly find missing information, loopholes in the project info, so I can ask questions. All these just to impress those external project supervisors, and hopefully one will accept me =( It is more of a battle, because normally the interviews are conducted in a rather big group, and I have to fight with my peers to be outstanding. The feeling sucks, and it's very tiring.

Nothing like a little bit of shopping to make me happier. But what I bought recently are all 'neccessities'. Eye makeup remover, pimple patches, masks from sasa because they were on discount, nail file, nail clipper, blah blah. Boring stuff. I want to haul some bb creams, eyeshadows etc... Those feel more satisfying to purchase.

2010-10-30T18:57:00.002+08:00

It's finally over!! I mean bioentrepreneurship. Actually I'm super relieved, not just because bioentre is over, but this super hectic period is done. Within these 3 weeks, starting from the week before recess week, I finished my genetics assignment, done with virology presentation, psych quiz, and this bioentre crap. Phew! I feel so drained as if it was exam period.

Now i'll be busy with another thing. Choosing my final year project, and going for the interviews =(

2010-10-20T17:34:00.002+08:00

It's so true to think that you should trust no one but yourself, and ok, maybe your spouse.

The professor played sick mind games with us during monday and tuesday of the bioentrepreneurship course. When the results of the games are taken into consideration of your actual course grades, things get dirty. The person whom you think you know, transforms into another person, or rather he/she will show the ugly side that you have never seen. Everyone wants to do well. Who doesn't? The difference is that NOT everyone wants to do well at the expense of other people (unless you hate those people).

It's quite BS when the prof says that the game will show who is the true entrepreneur, i.e. who will dare to be different from others. I think the game more effectively showed who has less integrity than others, who is willing to succeed by making others fail. It's so ironic, because we did an activity before the game to write down the characteristics of an entrepreneur, and one of the characteristic is INTEGRITY.

I think in the real world, you can succeed for the time being by doing 'backdoor' things like sucking up to your leaders, by trying to make others look bad etc, but you cannot succeed forever by doing this. The most successful entrepreneurs are honest and kind people who really want to make a difference in lives of other people.

2010-10-15T15:16:00.003+08:00

Sigh my acne problem is never going to go away =( I have no idea why my skin became so bad. I used to hardly have any acne.

I finished quite a few products recently. So proud of myself for being able to finish my stash bit by bit without buying anymore.

I finished my bio-essence bio-hydra eye and lip makeup remover. It's this dual layer remover, typical of many eye and lip makeup removers. I'm actually thinking of repurchasing this, because it can remove my super super waterproof and stubborn Fasio mascara well, and it doesn't sting my eyes too if i accidentally get it inside my eyes. One thing I don't like is the fragrance, but it doesn't seem to irritate my skin, so I can bear with it. Oh, and it does leave an oily film behind. But that's not a problem because I double cleanse anyway. My eye makeup remover now is Maybelline's, which I don't like as much simply because it can't remove waterproof mascaras as well as bio-essence's. I spend alot more time pressing a soaked cotton pad to my eyes longer. But what I do like is that it doesn't leave an oily film, doesn't sting my eyes and doesn't have a strong fragrance.

Second thing I finished is my L'oreal Derma Genesis toner. I have not much to review about this, because it seems to be a so-so toner, meaning, I don't see any positive results, nor do I see any negative results. It seems pretty mild, doesn't sting my skin even when my skin was sensitive and peeling due to Diacneal use. It's marketed as a pore-minimising toner, but my pores are still as huge as ever.

Third item that I completed is another L'oreal toner. It's the L'oreal Pure Zone toner. This is much stronger and harsher than the derma genesis one. It contains way more alcohol, and can be very dehydrating to people with normal to dry skin. It also has salicylic acid, which makes sense, because this toner is made for blemish skin. I freaking LOVE this toner. I used to break out a long time ago, but after using the daily scrub from the same range, together with this toner, my skin stayed clear. This range is discontinued anyway, which is so upsetting. When I finished the Pure Zone scrub and couldn't find it around anymore, I started having a little more breakout than usual. Then when I finished the toner as well, BAM! I start breaking out like crazy. I do know that Pure Zone products are the things that are keeping my skin clear for so long. I used 3 tubes of the scrub and 3 bottles of the toner, if I remember correctly, which equates to clear skin for a little over a year. Why did L'oreal discontinue this?????? ='(

2010-10-10T12:29:00.003+08:00

ARGH! For one day, ONE DAY ONLY, yesterday, I thought that my skin was getting better. My old zits popped, my cystic pimples flattened already. THEN LAST NIGHT while I was cleaning off my makeup and washing my face, I felt a painful lump another my skin AGAIN!! #^*)($^$@!&W$#$. This morning, it became a full blown cyst which hurts so bad ='( actually it started really hurting in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep on the side with the pimple, because it just hurts so freaking bad!

On top of that, I have a freaking bad sore throat and runny/blocked nose and incessant sweating. And on top of that, my work is piling up. Crap. Talk about with cherries on top.

2010-10-07T18:15:00.003+08:00

Have been so busy lately! Final year is not fun. So much for being happy that I only have 5 modules instead of my usual 6. But the workload is crazy! Psych test coming up, viro presentation next, and I have bioentrepreneurship during the entire recess week. I have no recess week! I hope bioentre is worth sacrificing my recess week for, because I have loads of work due after the recess week. I have no idea how to find time to do them. Probably have to reduce sleeping hours big time.

Even the workload is dampening my shopping spirit! I only bought 1 eyeshadow the entire week. I haven't bought much last week either, just a powder puff from nature republic to replace mac's crappy one, and 2 nail polishes. That's good too, because I save a lot from not shopping!

My skin is going from bad to worse. I have new pimples everyweek. I used to have 1 or 2 cystic pimples a month. Now I get 1 a week, on top of a few other non-cystic pimples. Really contemplating going to the doctor.

I actually wrote a list of a skincare routine to follow. I have a lot of products at home, so I tend to use different ones everyday or so. But now, I'm forcing myself to use the same products everyday, to see if my skin stabilises.

Morning:
Olay cream cleanser for oily/blemish prone skin
Loreal toner (has salicylic acid) diluted with rose water
Avene oil regulating lotion (moisturiser)
Avene very high protection emulsion SPF50
Skinfood peach sake pore bb cream (Just want to finish this up)

Night:
Za cleansing oil (this is finishing, so I'll replace this with Kose's)
Olay cream cleanser for oily/blemish prone skin
Loreal toner (has salicylic acid) diluted with rose water
Avene Diacneal (for old spots), Garnier roll-on spot treatment (for new pimples). I only use Diacneal on alternate days, because it's rather harsh.
Clean and Clear oil-free moisturiser (Just want to finish this up too)

Hope I see some improvement!

2010-09-24T22:02:00.003+08:00

Went to Let's Sweets to celebrate xueting's birthday yesterday. It's a japanese dessert and sweets buffet. Quite a unique idea. It was quite crowded by the time we all got there.

The cakes and sweets selection. Loads of mousse cakes, sweet things in tiny glasses.

There was main course available too. Thank goodness. No way I can eat all these sweet things for lunch. The pasta was really good. So were the bakes rice and pizzas. My favourite was the chocolate pizza! When I was taking a few slices of other pizza, the choc pizza just arrived! It was smoking hot, chocolate was warm and melted all over the pizza. It was soooo good.

Mousse cakes!

Some of the 'sweets'. Don't really know how to describe these things. It's kind of like jelly, but some were really concentrated with flavour, like the mango one. The strawberry one was kind of bland. Veron really liked the sesame one as well, and there was this other coffee and red bean thing that everyone except me, loved.

The buffet was good overall. Only thing I don't like is the 60mins time limit! After the 1hr was up, you're given another 10mins to finish up your food. They didn't time that 10mins though. But during that time, you're not allowed to get anymore food. So before the timer went off, we went to take more cakes! Haha. Luckily we managed to finish almost everything.

We went bugis street to shop after that. I only bought 2 pairs of earrings! I feel proud of myself for not spending much. =D

2010-09-19T20:33:00.002+08:00

I just chanced upon this awesome makeup guru on youtube. Her skills are impeccable. Normally you can tell how experienced a person is, by how well she can blend her makeup properly. Anyway, the thing that strikes me the most, is her creativity. These are the photos I took from her makeup tutorials. Her talent is jaw-dropping, and she IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL. It's such a waste. She should really consider doing makeup as a career. I think she is the definition of a makeup ARTIST, to create art out of makeup.

Notice the photo on the left, how she looks like she has dramatic extended eyelashes? But it's actually shading under her eyes!

She loves covering her brows and re-drawing them in an artistic way..

This is awesome. Her inspiration: A moth.

This is creepy, but in a good way. She won a makeup contest, organised by a makeup artist on youtube, with this look. She deserved to win.

Dark, editorial look. Kind of like a dark gothic royalty.

2010-09-18T20:28:00.002+08:00

I think I bought sooooo many skin care products recently that I must be going mad. But my skin has been going from bad to worse recently. But about 2 days ago, I noticed that my skin has been getting better again! Must be because of avene's miracle products.

I absolutely love their AHA+BHA+Clay mask. It is the best mask I ever ever used in my entire life. It made my skin feel sooooooo smooth. It's for oily and acne-prone skin though, so it's not for everyone. Best thing is that I only need to put it on for 5mins! Im a lazy person. I like masks that i can slap it on in the shower and wash it off after awhile.

I hate viro assignments!! Argh.

2010-09-06T23:05:00.003+08:00

This morning at Palette for breakfast, overheard a conversation:
Girl 1: You want sugar in your coffee? I'm putting some in mine.
Girl 2: How many teaspoons you adding?
Girl 1 (furiously adding many teaspoons of sugar): Oh, the teaspoon seems so small, so I'll just add more.
Auntie at cashier: Aren't you scared the coffee is too sweet? The coffee has sugar in it already.
Girl 1: OH SHIT!!!

LOL. I was sniggering beside her. Maybe she's freshman? I always make fun of freshmen, though I was once a freshman too.

Ahh! The John Little card has 3% rebate for ALL items ALL the time! Even for discounted items! And I always buy from Watsons, because of the Watsons membership. Watsons only has ONE percent rebate la. Only plus side is that they always have extra points here and there. Now John Little has 20% off store wide, and I have 3% rebate. Good time to buy things.

I think Avene is now officially my favourite skin care brand. They have a really good range for acne skin or oily skin. Feel like trying more of their things. I have moisturiser, acne treatment, sunscreen and mask already!!

2010-09-05T15:50:00.002+08:00

Went rock climbing at Climber's Laboratory yesterday with zac. I signed up for the membership. $30. ouch. But it's lifetime membership, and with the membership, student's entrance fee is $5 only, and other rentals are half priced. Luckily zac has his own chalk bag, shoes which i can borrow and belaying device too. So I don't have to rent all these things, only the harness. He bought a harness, thinking it's my size (because he bought the one for females), but ended up being more his size than my size. Haha. I still got to rent a harness.

Forearms aching like crazy!! Good upper body workout, but not so good cardio workout, and totally lousy lower body workout.

2010-09-03T12:05:00.003+08:00

Went to my company's office to collect my pay yesterday too. On top of my pay, they gave me a goodie bag with full sized goodies!!!! I was shocked, because these items have a total retail value of $320!! They're soooo generous =)) Yesterday was indeed a happy day. Haha. They also gave me many samples. I gave zac one hydra replenish gel to try.

All my goodies!! So many! I don't even know which to start using. I only have one face!

Close up.. I think you can see clearer if you click on the photo. I tried the hydra replenish gel before. Although the CUskin guide says that it's meant for dry skin types, I think that it really is suitable for oily skin. The gel texture is so light, and it gets absorbed into the skin really quickly. My face is an oil slick, and I find that many products doesn't get absorbed properly. They just sit on my skin. But not for this. This gel is actually used as a serum. You have to use moisturiser after this, but I find it hydrating enough for me. Dry skin types will need to top up with a moisturiser. Awesome product =)) Haven't tried out the smooth moisture cream, but it sounds like it's for dry skin. Hmm.

My company also helped me sign up for cozycot membership card =) It's $2.60 a month, but I got it free.
The goodies I got when I went to collect the membership card. Apparently, they give out free samples everyday! And it's a different product everyday. So cool.

2010-09-03T11:43:00.004+08:00

Went walking around with zac yesterday.. We had lunch at Ion's Itacho. It's this jap restaurant that serves pretty rare and premium sashimi, but they also have super affordabl offerings.

These are salmon in soy sauce. They're smoked, together with the skin. They're only 40cents a piece!!! I never never eat the skin of any fish, because it's where the fishy taste is the strongest. But for these, absolute yum. No fishy taste, and very smooth. If you put the whole thing in your mouth, you can barely taste which part is the meat, which is the skin.

We also had teriyaki don, which I didn't take a picture of. The chicken serving was really generous. Thick fat slices of chicken, with negligible fats.

And then we wandered around town. Zac bought a business suit at G2000. It's quite retarded that he needs to wear a frickin business SUIT with a tie for LESSONS in school.

Then we wandered around until orchard central. The basement 2 seems to be a place out of the world! Looks like some Mediterranean place, with nobody of course!

Nice lamps!

Flower deco that doesnt belong to any shop.. It's just part of the walkway deco. And that's us in the mirror =)

Nice corridor with nice lamps again.

Close up of the lamps..

Almost makes me feel like I'm overseas. Haha =)

2010-08-25T23:23:00.002+08:00

Super shiok day. My mum cooked lunch so early for me today, so I had plenty of time to head down to town to shop before dinner. Bought 2 tops. The white tunic is from forever21, courtesy of evelyn's voucher. Thanks girl! Muacks muacks! The mint green top is only $5 from cotton on. Haha. And it matches my nail colour for the moment.

Here are more stuffs I bought. Bought Olay Total Effects facial wash for blemish-prone skin, from CK department store at far east plaza. They sell toiletries cheaper than watsons, kind of like those chinatown shops. The facial wash is around $2 cheaper than watsons, and normally I couldn't find the Total Effects blemish range in watsons.

Bought Mac studio finish concealer too. I bought this because it has SPF35. I need this to cover my acne. The SPF35 can help prevent the acne from healing into pigmentation scars. Many people don't know this, but UV exposure actually plays a huge huge role in turning your healing acne into hyperpigmentation.

Then I also got myself some health supplements. It's an antioxidant. This one has the highest concentration of antioxidants I can find already, compared to other brands like Blackmores or Brands. I read that it can help give clearer skin. And antioxidants is just fabulous for ALL the cells in your body. Every organ in your body will benefit from this, especially during stressful times like exam period.

Finally, I also received the Skinfood egg white pack in the mail! I ordered it online, and this product was highly recommended from evelyn. So I got to try!

Total damage of the day was crazy!! But I'm still so high from the retail therapy.

Miss my baby! He's in Bali for holiday with his family. Envious...

2010-08-23T23:57:00.000+08:00

We decided to give it another shot. Hope things work out this time...

Zac made me fab fab lunch today. Pizza with salmon and mushrooms. He added scallops for his half of the pizza. Haha. Good thing about making your own pizza is that you can load it with as much toppings as you like. Thank hon. You always make me good food when I go over <33

2010-08-14T17:18:00.002+08:00

Ecotools Foundation Brush

I have been eyeing this for the longest time! Glad I finally got it. It's only $11.90 from watsons. Much cheaper than if I were to get it shipped from drugstore.com.

Ignore my cartoon bedsheets...

On the right is my old foundation brush. It's kind of small, and hard to blend liquid foundations, so I wanted a new brush.

The ecotools brush has so much more bristles. Very smooth too. Love it! Blends well, does the work faster too. Yay. Worth the purchase.

2010-08-14T16:55:00.002+08:00

Mini reviews: Revlon Whitening Two-way foundation; LA colors mineral pressed powder; Sephora Mineral foundation

My powders are all finishing!

Revlon whitening 2-way cake: Won't repurchase. NO oil control, even the darkest shade has a white cast on me, maybe due to the SPF22 or something. The SPF isn't even that high. Coverage is light to medium when used dry. I have never tried using it with a damp sponge.

L.A. Colors mineral pressed powder: Will repurchase. Has hardly any coverage, natural looking, has some oil control, doesn't look powdery and cakey when applied with a fluffly brush. I use this to set my tinted moisturiser or liquid foundation, so all I need is a little bit. Never used this with a sponge before. Anyway it's a pressed powder, not meant to have much coverage. Cheap too!

Here is my replacement for my powders:

If I'm not wrong, this is the newer version. The older one is more expensive ($30) and is a 2-way formula, has SPF10. This one is only twenty bucks, isn't 2-way and has no SPF. I didn't see the older version at sephora. Probably discontinued?

I love it that it's talc free, no fragrance and no parabens. My skin is very sensitive now, due to Diacneal treatment.

Has a mirror and 2-sided sponge. One side gives a heavier coverage, and the other side gives a lighter coverage. I love this so far. I wore it alone with the lighter-coverage side of the sponge, and it looks great on my skin. Looks natural and doesn't have the obvious powdered look. Has decent oil control too. I have also used this with a fluffy brush to set my tinted moisturier. Looks great too. It does oxidise a little like any other foundation. As long as it's nothing crazy like the maybelline mineral foundation, I'm ok with it. I will try this with the heavier-coverage side of the sponge, and with a kabuki brush, soon!

2010-08-07T23:34:00.003+08:00

Review: Maybelline Mineral Power Foundation

This is what it looks like. I'm sure you've seen it before at some drugstore. I bought it when it was on half price offer. Which I'm glad! If I paid the full price, I would have been really sad.

The Pros:
I like the texture. The powder is fine and soft.
Doesn't look powdery and cakey on my face, which I liked a lot. I like powders that DON'T look like powder when I put it on my face. I don't like the obvious powdered look.

The Cons:
The brush is obvious trash.
It oxidises like crazy once in contact with my skin. Or once exposed to air actually. I'm not sure if singapore's humidity contributes to the rapid oxidation, but it oxidies waaaaaayy too quickly. Normally foundation oxidises on me after few hours, but this did in a few seconds! The mineral blush didn't have this problem though.

Did a comparison on the back of my hand.
Left: The foundation when I rubbed it into my skin.
Right: I tried to put more powder on my hand, unblended in, to try to capture how the powder looks like in the tub, relatively unexposed to air. The actual powder looks even lighter than this, really. It gets darker every second I delayed taking the photo.

See how orange and dark and dirty-looking the patch on the left looks. It has oxidised so badly, compared to the powder on the right. The colour of the powder would have been a perfect match with my skin, but see how dark it becomes once I blended the powder in. Yucks. If I leave the powder there just like that, it will really turn just as orange as the left patch is.

Ewww...So dark and orange! I doubt anyone has orange toned face.

This is my THIRD major disappointment with maybelline cosmetics actually. First was the unstoppable mascara which just totally failed--couldnt hold a curl, made my lashes so droopy, no lenghth, no volume. Second was the gel liner--gave me the most horrendous panda eyes; smudged and transferred from my upper lids to lower lids!! And now this. I seriously give up on maybelline already, except their lip products. Their lip glosses and lipsticks are good.

2010-07-31T01:07:00.002+08:00

Cute???

Aww...huge innocent eyes... Love this photo.

Cleaning itself. Looking cute..

Loves sleeping in the basket my neighbour put outside the door...

And it did this to me ='(

It wanted to jump on me. And to grab me, its claws are of course extended. I was wearing pants. Luckily the pants I wore isn't skin tight, it's abit loose, if not, damage will be more extensive. Well, my brother and I don't call it naughty kitty for nothing.

Fierce!
No la. Just yawning...

2010-07-26T22:10:00.002+08:00

Phew! I spent 3 hours cleaning out just the drawers in my 2 wardrobes! Wanted to put all my skincare and cosmetics in the same wardrobe. It was all over the place, in both wardrobes. I want to put them all on one place so I don't have to walk around my room too much when I prepare for work or school. I am lazy!

The result of my hardwork.............

These boxes are meant for keeping dvds or cds, but I used them to put pads. Now I don't have packs of pads toppling all over the place in my cupboard =)

Finally, a neat looking cupboard shelf..

Really please with this outcome. All my extra cosmetics and skincare items, nail polishes etc in one drawer. And somehow I look like I have less items than I thought. Which is great! Justified to buy more.

I love this black tray! Makes my items look so neat.

Other side of the same drawer. The box holding my nail polishes is actually a shoe box. And I used a facial puffs box to store nail accessories, cariann's gift box for false lashes etc.. Re-use, reduce and recycle =)

These are the items I use everyday, or more often. So messy now. I got to pack this shelf again sometime.

Packing is so tiring. Made me hungry too. Ate chocolates and some yogurt right after packing.

2010-07-26T21:53:00.002+08:00

Got these awhile ago...

Skirt from the zara sale. Only $16.90, after further reductions. Their jeans only going for $29.90, but I couldn't find one that fits well enough. What a pity.

Went around the shops in lucky plaza looking for eye creams in sample sizes. Many eye creams come in tubs, like the clinique one. Full size eye creams last me for more than half a year, and I don't like the idea of opening the tub and sticking my finger, in twice a day for over half a year. I get eyelid infections easily. Imagine the amount of bacteria I'm applying all over my eyes! Sample sizes are cheaper too. Intended to get the clinique one only, but I saw the biotherm anti-aging one, so I got that too. Came in a pack of 3 mini tubes. Will probably use up one tube per month. I like using fresh skincare!

Picked this up too. LA colors is hard to find in singapore. Great pigmentation. Wore this to town to meet zac, then to work the other day. Looks really nice.

2010-07-25T23:12:00.002+08:00

Diacneal update

I have used diacneal for 3 nights now. My newer pimples have shrunk, but the older ones are still there and they look the same. They still hurt as well. Some flaking was observed on my cheeks where I applied diacneal, but no flaking on my forehead. I also used diacneal all over my nose area because I have pretty serious blackhead problems, and viola! The blackheads seemed to have diminished by loads. I don't see that many blackheads now. So happy! I also applied diacneal on my milia seeds. The milia seeds have been there for months already, so it will probably take a while to go away, or will never go away =(

I just applied diacneal again just now. Tonight is the 4th night. My skin is starting to show some intolerance towards the product. My cheek areas sting when I applied it. Forehead and nose areas are fine. I'll probably stop using diacneal on my cheeks for at least one day.

2010-07-23T10:10:00.003+08:00

Avene Diacneal (0.1% retinaldehyde, 6% glycolic acid)

Just bought this, as recommended by the pharmacist. I saw good reviews on it on cozycot, so since I work at unity pharmacy, which carry Avene, I picked it up after getting advice from the pharmacist. Indeed, he said this is one of the strongest non-prescription product in the market for acne. It works differently from conventional pimple creams, which normally contains either benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulphur or tea tree oil.

Benzoyl peroxide works by drying up the pimple. Salicylic acid works by exfoliating the outermost layer of your skin, which MAY stimulate your skin to regenerate, hence purging the pimple out, and healing your skin. I'm not very sure about the action of sulphur though. Tea tree is antibacterial and I read that it works the same as benzoyl peroxide. A good quality tea tree oil is actually more potent then a low concentration benzoyl peroxide cream (I just learnt this yesterday from the pharmacist!)

However, if all fails, like with my case, then other things like retinol and glycolic acid have to be used. The problem with my cystic acne is that they remain under my skin for MONTHS. They cannot be purged, they have no pus, nor 'heads' to be squeezed out. Embedded deep in the skin, normal pimple creams do not work, because they do not penetrate skin well. So I chanced upon Avene's Diacneal. I googled it, and learnt that glycolic acid has high efficacy in skin penetration, and stimulates cell regeneration from within your skin. The pharmacist told me that it's even more effective than AHA or BHA. Avene also has AHA/BHA cream, but he advised me to take Diacneal instead. Diacneal, beacuse of its efficacy in stimulating cell regeneration, will push new cells from under the 'older' skin, out to the surface. Of course the old cells will be rid of as well. This is cause the purging effect, and I know it's something I have to endure to get rid of these irritating acne bumps. Because it promotes cell renewal, pitted scars can be prevented also. In fact, Avene diacneal can be used to heal scars and hyperpigmentation. Awesome!

The pharmacist also advised me to take Vitamins A, C and E supplements to accompany Diacneal treatment. ACE vitamins are antioxidants, which aid skin cell renewal too. I saw raffles medical centre selling their skin supplements, which has ACE. Haha. Blackmores also has ACE vitamins. But I didn't buy. Too broke after buying Diacneal.

I just tried it last night, as spot treatment. I put it directly on my acne. It smells really really bad. But it's a small price to pay for good stuff. No visible effect yet =( I have to keep trying, then I'll update. I have to keep in mind to use sunblock, because Diacneal, or other strong acidic products, make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. So use Diacneal only at night, and put sunblock everyday.

2010-07-19T01:19:00.003+08:00

Maybe I don't know the 'promoter ethics' that exists in this industry. But I do know that it is a super competitive industry, and very stressful as well. There are at least 4 promoters in the pharmacy at any one time. If excluding myself, all 4 promoters are promoting health supplements. That is so stressful. However, one of them promotes chinese supplements, so she has no competition. Now let's talk about the other 3 promoters....

Being in the service industry, I do try to remind myself that customers are always right. And I believe all other promoters also know this. Granted that having 3 promoters at a time to fight over customers, is a really stressful thing. 2 out of these 3 promoters, are allies. They formed a tight partnership. They will not cut each other's sales, nor snatch customers or ugly things like that. However, promoter no.3, is an old lady, who is famous for being wicked, sharp tongued, and being able to convince anyone to buy her products. I blogged about her before. Of course, the 2 partners hate her. Because they keep saying she snatches customers. But slowly, as I start to observe more, I think that the old lady isn't at fault at all.

One of the partners, is a young lady. Let's call her B. B always complains that the old lady always serves customers AFTER B has served them. But thinking about it, there's nothing wrong. They're all promoting health supplements. Customers have every right to know as much as possible about the supplements available on the shelf, before making a choice. So why is it wrong that if a customer, who was served by B, couldn't decide and walked off, and then the old lady then serve the same customer? They're promoting different brands! Customers ought to know about all the choices before making a decision. Afterall, supplements aren't cheap. If I was a customer, looking for info about supplements, I will go talk to all the promoters to find out more, before buying. So in the end, if the customer bought the old lady's products, B can't say that the old lady snatched her customer. B can only blame herself for not being as convincing, or it's the customer's own choice to pick something that suits him/her the best. So I really don't see why B is always making a huge fuss whenever the old lady serves a customer that B has previously served.

The other partner, is more sensible. She only complains when her previously loyal customers changed from using her products to the old lady's products.

I really don't get why one customer can only be served by one promoter. If a customer was served by vichy's promter, and didn't buy anything, I will still go up to her and promote my products. Because the customer is obviously undecided, and deserves to know more choices. Consumers have the right to information as well.

Isn't that right?

2010-07-16T11:55:00.002+08:00

Went to watch Despicable Me with xueting and cariann. It's not bad. It's a funny movie, and I only paid $6. I wouldn't pay anything more than that to watch cartoons. I wished they showed more of the minions though. Most of the emphasis is on the girls and Mr Gru. The smallest girl is super adorable!! But the minions are cute and funny also.

We went to O2 skin to shop. They were having huge sale. They always have sales. Not sure why.

Bought this blemish mask-like thing for $4.90, and each eyeshadow is $1.90, with min. purchase of 3 pieces. Xueting bought one, I bought 2.

Pretty packaging. <33 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7oDseph2y14/TD_bsv-mS-I/AAAAAAAABNc/nbEAssjZrSc/s1600/12072010287.jpg">Swatches. The shimmery shades, which are the ones I got, are very pigmented. The matte ones are more chalky and powdery.

This is the blemish mask which I bought. There're 10 single use sachets inside. Basically, you tear one open, apply onto your pimples and acne only, wait for it to dry up, then leave it overnight. One sachet is really too much. I used one sachet over 2 times. It does have a cooling effect when I just applied it. However it peels off too easily. When I talk, laugh or move my facial muscles, they will start coming off at the edges. By the time I sleep, they're already close to dropping off =(

2010-07-16T11:44:00.002+08:00

MAC In The Groove

This is all I got! Initially chosen 3 mineralised eyeshadows, but I ended up with only one. For Soften the Mood and Togetherness, the lightest shadow colour in the trio looked white and chalky, so I only bought Blue My Mind. Then I also got the much coveted Stereo Rose mineralised skin finish, and also a mineralised blush, New Vibe.

Stereo Rose. Nice peachy pink with gold undertones. I can only use this for a blush colour, and it's huge. Will take me years to finish, with EVERYDAY use! So I haven't decided if I want to keep this or sell this.

New Vibe. Meant to be mixed together as a blush, but the gold half is actually pigmented enough to use as an eyeshadow.

Blue My Mind. The middle strip of blue is sooooooo thin!! Argh. Not sure if I can still exchange it or what. Too much of the black shade. I don't use black enough. I can't get away with smokey eyes for work or school!

2010-07-07T20:15:00.004+08:00

Daiso Haul. Again =)

Initially, I just wanted to get the cushion paddings for my shoes, but ended up with 2 eyebrow pencils, a scarf and a peach-scented incense set. My fave eyebrow pencil is from daiso, but it's finishing and I couldn't find the exact same one again! =(( I always get compliments about my brows, and people are always shocked to know that I use a $2 daiso brow pencil to draw my brows. It's in the skill, not the product =p
I couln't get the stupid incense to light up. Argh. The thought of having my room smelling like peaches made me get that set, which totally failed. Should have gotten the aroma oil instead.

This is what the scarf is for--to decorate my otherwise plain longchamp. =)

Mini Watsons Haul!

Promotion for Pure Beauty brightening series. Only $5 off. Pass!!

Pure Beauty antioxidant range is 50% off after spending $10 on other stuffs. I just had to take advantage of this promotion!!!

So.....

Maybelline Pure Mineral foundation at $12.95 only! It was 50% off. And bio-essence eye mask at $1.95. I got the Pure Beauty pomegranate antioxidant essence for 50% off, which is around $9.95 only. Wanted to get the moisturiser, but I don't think there's any oil control, and I really need oil control when it comes to moisturisers, so I got the essence instead. Been looking around for an essence already.

Nice packaging! Comes with a convenient pump =)

Will review the maybelline mineral foundation and this pure beauty essence after I've tried them.

2010-07-03T18:55:00.004+08:00

I got another gift from cariann. Almost forgot, because it was in my bag; I was using it for my coins already. My wallet doesn't have a coin compartment. Pretty purple coin purse =) In my fave colour too. Thanks dear!

I bought a pair of heels yesterday. Saw this parsar malam thingie at CCK interchange. There're many temporary stalls, and I saw a shoe stall. All shoes going for $10 each. I just had to take a look, and I came home with this!
Yea china brand. But no qualms about it, since it was only $10. Pretty comfy. I like the rounded toes and wide toe box. Because of the round toe box, it makes my feet look small. My colleague said that. Haha. These shoes were in fact one size bigger than what I normally wear. I think it's more comfortable to covered shoes one size bigger. If it gets too lose, can easily buy $2 insoles from daiso to stuff inside.

Like the wooden stacked-heels look!

Nice detailings. I don't know why I like dark caramel-coloured loafers-looking shoes recently.

I just watchted Hua Mulan, the movie. Such a sad movie. Sigh. War movies with love plots in them, somehow always have sad endings. Zhao wei and Chen kun are such great actor/actress. They couldn't be together in the end, because chen kun had to sacrifice himself to marry the enemy's princess, so there can be peace between the 2 states. Chen kun wanted to elope with zhao wei, but her character, being the heroine from the start, told chen kun of the importance of sacrificing for the state's welfare. Sigh. Tough love.

2010-07-02T01:32:00.002+08:00

Met cariann and xueting at orchard on wednesday. Evelyn joined us shortly after. Anyway, cariann gave me my birthday present! =) I love presents! No matter how overdue they are!
Came in this nice box...

Together with evelyn's present for me, which I brought with me. Haha. We went to forever21 at 313sommerset, but I couldn't find anything I want to get.

Everything put together! Nice lashes! Just the type I like to wear. And my fave face mask from wo de xin ji, the caviar extract mask. It's really effective for pore-shrinking. Evelyn's forever21 voucher which I have yet to utilise, though I got it long ago. I'm trying to find something I really really like to use with the voucher.

We went to Miss Clarity's Cafe at bugis after that. Veron and Elicia joined us for dinner. The cafe's food is quite worth the money, because the portions are huge. I had fish baked rice, and there was so much fish that I couldn't see the rice beneath. But I was disappointed that the fish was breaded fish. All the flour that coated the fish made me so full that I didn't finish my food =( . I really liked the rice itself also. It's not plain white rice, but rice that seemed to be soaked in tomato pasta sauce or something. Yum. GST and service charge already included in the food prices as well. And then I had to go home! Booo! Elicia still asked, "Why so early??" Yea it was only close to 9pm. But it will take me about an hour to reach home. So I better leave earlier to avoid mum's nagging.

I think I got stalked by some weird malay guy AGAIN! =(

2010-06-30T00:30:00.002+08:00

empty........

Latest addiction: Body lotions =)
Because of my rather severely dry body skin, I need to moisturise daily. St. Ives intensive healing moisturiser is my savior. I've used up 2 big bottles already, and I just bought 2 smaller ones that were on discount. This is really good. It doesn't smell good, but it does heal my cracked, scaly and flaky skin. The rest I bought because either they're cheap, or smell good, but don't do much good for me. So I layer them over my St.Ives for the smell.
The newest member in my collection. Suppose to give a natural looking tan. Not sure if the tan washes off when you shower, or it's buildable day by day. The description sounds like it's a buildable one, since it says 'gradually builds up a natural looking tan', but the sales assisstant says it doesn't last. Washes and rubs off easily. Got it only because it was on sale, but either way, cocoa butter is very moisturising and is good for skin.

2010-06-28T12:37:00.003+08:00

Promoters war at work yesterday. Two of the supplements promoters were shouting at each other because one accused of the other one for cutting her sales. Almost thought they were going to slap each other or pull each other's hair. As usual, busy body customers watching the commotion.

MAC In The Groove Collection: My lemmings! I only want the mineralised eyeshadows badly. Not a big fan of blushers. I like mineralised skin finishes, but I like the natural finished one, not the shimmery frosty ones.

Pretty right??? Togetherness, Blue My Mind and Soften the Mood.

2010-06-27T01:12:00.002+08:00

Look at how empty the pharmacy was on friday! Friday leh! When I got to lot1, it was sooooo crowded everywhere. I was really optimistic as I walked towards the pharmacy. Until I got inside there, I think there was only one or two customers inside. And it remained like that the entire time I was working there. What's up man?? It was never like that before. Normally, the pharmacy was quiet, but there will still be maybe 3 customers in the pharmacy at most times? But on friday, at least 50% of the time, there wasn't A SINGLE CUSTOMER inside. And when there were customers, it was only one or 2. Less than 5 at any one time. So ridiculous! How to sell my products =( There isn't even many people I can introduce the brand to. Feel really stressed already, and luck isn't on my side at all the entire week. Thursday was crowded, but again, no luck. Many ladies rejected me, and didn't even want to accept the booklet or sample, or didn't even want to listen to me. Really really really hope sunday will be better. No idea why my luck is THIS bad.

You know how it is when just one thing in your life starts to go wrong, everything else will start to follow suit. Believe many people experienced this before.

My new longchamp bags =) bro bought it for me when he was in france.

2010-06-22T23:58:00.003+08:00

I think I'm really not cut out for sales job. Everytime I didn't sell anything for the entire day, I will take it out on myself. Must be something wrong with me. I didn't try hard enough, or I'm just not convincing enough. I know zac always says it's pure luck, and I'm promoting a new brand that is pretty expensive, to a neighbourhood crowd that do not have spending power. Still, it's my job to help the brand take off, and I think I'm doing a poor job. So stressed out. I might be too harsh on myself, but it's just true that I'm not producing results. Sigh.

2010-06-19T23:58:00.002+08:00

Was watching this taiwanese drama called My Queen. Quite nice. And this guy, who was trying to get over his ex, said (in chinese of course) to her, "I always took you to be my goal in life, my final destination. But now, when I realised that you're just a passerby in my life's journey, it's easier to let go, and find another goal."

So true. Perhaps I really have to take you as just another of my life's lesson, another stop in my life out of the many that I will have. So we can both move on..

2010-06-18T00:13:00.002+08:00

Bad day today. I didn't sleep well, so I went to work tired. I was also pretty discouraged by the poor sales recently. So I was packing the shelf, and the tester bottle toppled off. The outer casing shattered. The pump still works, the contents still inside, but the outer casing was badly cracked and bits were missing. And my boss's assisstant came down to check today. I admitted to him that I dropped it. Could tell that he was really unhappy, though he didn't say it explicitly, plus the poor sales, he looked really displeased with me. Poor sales, not my fault. Because the brand is new and unheard of, and nobody would pay $59 to $89 dollars for just a bottle of skincare product. I would rather buy La Roche Posay, Vichy, and the Estee Lauder group of companies. A promoter from a supplements brand, said that I shouldn't own up. But I was honest, and I didn't thought of lying even. Should I have lied?

Working sucks. Really not cut out for sales job, especially where I have to convince people to buy something that is never heard of. Feel like I'm cheating people's money. I'm not like this other promoter there, who can talk cock her way through and convince people to buy her equally unheard of, and equally expensive skincare. She promotes supplements and other stuffs too. Her brand has everything. Almost everyone she promotes to, will buy her products. Even little old ladies whom don't look rich, and probably don't care for expensive skincare.

Even if you were a million miles away
I could still feel you in my bed
near me, touch me, feel me
And even in the bottom of the sea
I can still hear inside my head
Telling me, touch me, feel me
And all the time you were telling me lies

So tonight I’m gonna find a way to make it without you
Tonight I’m gonna find a way to make it without you
I’m gonna hold on to the times that we had
Tonight I’m gonna find a way to make it without you

Have you ever tried sleeping with a broken heart?
Well you can try sleeping in my bed
Lonely, only, nobody ever shut it down like you
You wore the crown, you make my body feel heaven-bound
Why don’t you hold me, need me, I thought you told me
You’d never leave me

Looking in the sky I can see your face
And i knew right where I’d fit in
Take me, make me
You know that I’ll always be in love with you
Right til the end

Alicia Keys - Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart

2010-06-15T00:45:00.003+08:00

Daiso at bukit panjang plaza has opened! I didn't know it opened, but I was at bpp because I wanted to go to the bank, and I saw that it is opened! So happy. Of course I went in to grab some stuff! My favourite charcoal nose pack isn't there either. I think daiso stopped bringing it in already. So sad. It really is the best nose pack I ever ever used.

Nevermind. Here are some of the things I got.

Eyeshadow applicators. I still love my brushes, but lately I've been liking these. I used to think they're crap and useless for application, but I realised they allow very precise application. I don't have a pencil brush, so I think this is the second best option. Great for concentrating dark colours close to the lash line, smudging out pencil liners, getting colours in the crease etc. And these ones from daiso comes in a tube like that, which is great. No more holding a super short handle, or leaving them in the open.

New tweezers. It looked so high tech and it says it's ceramic tipped. Sounds like a cool idea, so I got it. Needed new tweezers.

Pencil stand for my makeup brushes. I like the dividers, so I can find my brushes more easily.

This is my old crappy one. Looks so messy. My eye brushes always gets lost in my face brushes.

So much better now! Eye brushes separated from face brushes. I even separated my blush brushes, which are somehow shorter than my face brushes. I actually squeezed 20 over brushes in there.... I think I need more holders.

I also got gel heel paddings for my work shoes. I have to stand for long hours which is making my heels hurt. I got new sponge insoles too. It has flower patterns on it. So cute. That's all. It's $12 well spent!

2010-06-12T22:18:00.002+08:00

Interesting things that happened at work couple of days back..
Some old chinaman shouted at the cashier over 30cents! He bought this medicated plaster few days back. It was $3.07 originally. So if you pay cash, it gets rounded down to $3.05. So, that day, he bought 15 pieces. OF COURSE, the total cost is $(3.07 x 15). So he demanded why it's 2 cents more per piece now. And he made a huge fuss over it, shouting really loudly at the cashier, as if she made the mistake and refuse to correct it. A couple of staff, including the head pharmacist, tried to explain the rounding down thing, but that chinaman just refused to listen, and wanted his 30cents back. 30cents because 15 x 2cents/piece. Crazy! And while he was making a huge fuss at the dispensary counter, the cashier thought that he doesn't want to buy the products anymore, placed them back on the shelf. After that, the crazy guy returned to the cashier and shouted at her again for putting the items back. He's totally nuts. He spent 15mins haranguing with the head pharmacist, of course anyone would think that he wouldn't want to buy them anymore. The cashier was wrong in handling the situation though. I don't blame her for not keeping her cool, but she shouldn't have made discriminatory comments, which she did. It just made the man angrier, of course.

Interesting. Because my job is pretty boring, especially before the peak hour crowd comes in.

Today I went over to his place! Thanks for driving me there and back, and cooking such awesome pasta for me. It was cream-sauced pasta with ham, mushrooms and prawns. Yummm. Thanks for the mussles as well. We went jogging prior to the meal, but the meal was probably 800kcal at least. Haha.

2010-06-04T00:18:00.002+08:00

I quite like working this job. Being in the pharmacy, it's just so interesting to hear the pharmacist advise customers/patients, hear all the drug names, complications etc. And some of the drug names are actually familiar to me due to the pharmaco module which I took. Although it's not within my job scope to give advice, but I still like to help with whatever I can help.

One man came into our pharmacy with a DISLOCATED arm, to ask for help. He actually went to the TCM shop, eu yan sang, or something like that, first!! Then the TCM shop staff came to the pharmacy to ask for help. Er??? Raffles medical clinic is just next door??? And with arm dislocation, only the hospital can help you! The pharmacist tied an arm support for him, then asked him to go the the hospital. So poor thing. He was doubling over with pain as the pharmacist was helping him with an arm sling. Ouch.

I have 30% staff discount for my products! So happy. And I bought vitamin supplements from the supplements promoter, on staff discount too. So nice of her. She called her company to specially ask for staff discount for me.

2010-05-31T18:48:00.002+08:00

Finally got a job!! It's pretty close to my dream job: Near my place, slack hours, related to beauty/lifesciences. I'm working for CU cosmeceuticals and biotechnology. Ok la not really working for them, but working for the company that imports these products.

These products are real pharmaceutics. Some of their products can only be found in specialised skin or asthetic clinics, not just off-the-shelf products. All their products, however, are recommended by the clinics which prescribe CU products. So they're really good for skin, and they really work to heal skin problems. However, they also have some no-brainer products like cleanser, and their famous BB cream. These products, can only be found in The Living Pharmacy, which I will be working at. Not your normal watsons/guardian products!

I'll start work at the Lot1 outlet this week. Next week will be at Tanglin Mall. I'll be there almost every evening! If you want to buy any CU skin products, come to me!! There's free membership for CU, where you can accumulate points. Now is the promotional period, so got double the points for BB cream and the whitening cream!! Come to me ok? Haha.

My uniform-lab coat. How to tell it's not a real lab coat: 3 quarter sleeves!!!

Company name. Can go to http://www.dioneinternational.com.sg to find out more.

Free samples! These 2 products will give you double the points until end of June. The BB cream is really highly raved. Awesome stuff. The other product is Pure Whitening Cream. Very highly raved too, until the lady boss say there's not much stock left, and NO samples left. I took the last few pieces. Haha. Free samples at The Living Pharmacy too. Yup. =D

Stage cosmetics sale last day today! Everything is so cheap. I indeed hauled again.

2010-05-30T14:58:00.002+08:00

Pastel Colour Craze!
So crazy for pastels now. Kind of the trend for this summer season, though Singapore is summer all year round.

Saw this lipstick going for $5 only at SaSa. Brand is Color Combos. Never heard of this brand, but I love this coral colour!! Have been looking for a coral lipstick for so long. Most look too pink or too orange, but this is perfect. Cute silver tube packaging too.

See the little gold sparkles in the lipstick? Nice touch, but not obvious on the lips, which is great. This lipstick is like a cross between a lipstick and lipgloss. It's not very thick and creamy, and it looks very glossy. Kind of like the MAC lustre lipstick, sheer, but still shows up enough. Looks natural.

More pastels! Cheapo palette from some neighbourhood shop. Bad colour payoff with a brush, but somehow looks good with those sponge applicators.

New polishes from The Faceshop! When I saw that minty green, I just had to get it. Wanted to get one from china glaze or OPI, but after shipping etc, would cost me quite a lot. The Faceshop really have quality polishes for $2.90. My fave dark red polish from there is already 5 years old, and still hasn't dried up.

Finally I'm going for a job interview tmr. Promoting skincare products at pharmacies. Hope I get that job. At least I have an interest for beauty products, just not sure how am I going to sell them. Because many of the pharmacies are in heartland malls, and heartland malls are full of cheapos who are not willing to invest in skincare. And inside a pharmacy? Not many people shop there when it comes to skincare. They'll just go to the normal drugstore like Watsons, where there're cheaper brands. The pharmacy only carry expensive skincare, targetted at really problematic or sensitive skin.

2010-05-28T11:55:00.002+08:00

Didn't really want to see my results for the last semester. But I still checked anyway. Glad I did! It was so much better than I expected. I expected C for stem cell, D for proteomics, the rest hopefully in the B range. I got A for pharmacology!! It was so unexpected, because the day before pharmaco paper, I had business law paper till 7.30pm, and reached home at 8 plus. So I didn't have lots of time to look through and memorise the thousand over drugs?? So happy for my pharmaco paper. I got another A-, and the rest were Bs. No C or D!!! Unbelievable....

2010-05-24T11:37:00.002+08:00

Finished the vertical marathon. 63 storeys. I feel like I did better than last year. I didn't stop for long, only took one water break. The stairs this year was more challenging though. It was built in more of a spiral sense, instead of the normal types of stairs, where you go straight up one flight, then turn 180 degrees to go up the next flight. And the stair well was sooo narrow! More claustrophobic. There was vomit on almost every floor after the 40th floor or so. I didn't quite feel like throwing up, but seeing and smelling the puke, almost made me puke!

Although I feel like I did better, but I think I still took a longer time to complete. If I were to complete it faster than the time I took last year, my team would be in top 5 already! Not sure why everyone seemed slower this year. Maybe the stairs was more challenging.

2010-05-21T19:59:00.002+08:00

It was only 5 days away from our 5th anniversary...
No amount of shopping could heal me. Nevertheless, the bodyshop strawberry body butter smells like heaven. on 40% off. Also bought the mango body scrub for very dry skin. On 40% off too.

Really need a job to occupy myself.

2010-05-20T22:17:00.002+08:00

Went shopping with evelyn and xueting yesterday! So happy. We went to Tangs private sale, and evelyn bought a pair of sunglasses. Well, she bought really a lot of stuff yesterday. We spent quite a long time at sephora, because their sale was still on. We went to the NAC one first. Evelyn wanted to get sephora's foundation brush, on 40% off, but there was only 2 left, and they weren't in excellent condition. So the SAs said that the Sephora at Ion will definitely have more stock. So we went down to Ion. And it was totally OOS there, not even one left! Stupid SA. Anyway there was more of the bronzer powder brush at Ion, which I wanted. So I got it. 40% off! Great deal!

Anyway we decided to go back to NAC's Sephora so evelyn could get her foundation brush. I got a foundation this time. My shade was OOS at Ion. The balancing foundation was 40% off too, which makes it cheaper than drug store foundations. Had to get one to stock up. It's safely tucked in my drawer now, so I can resist the temptation to open it before my current foundation finishes. Xueting wanted to get Sephora's hydrating and smoothing foundation, but it wasn't on discount. If it was on sale, I would have gotten it as well. The balancing foundation is more for oily skin. Mattifies, is oil free and smells like Revlon ColorStay for oily/combi skin. I always wanted to try a hydrating foundation. I only buy oil-control types of foundation, because I have oily skin. But my skin is also dehydrated, so I wonder how a hydrating foundation would work on my skin.

Woohoo! Great discount!!

It's a bronzer powder brush, but it is so dense!! I intend to use it as a buffer brush, or a kabuki brush.

Anyway, we headed back to Tangs, to meet evelyn's sis, and her sis's baby, Thaddeus! He was soooo cute! Falling asleep already, but looking so adorable.

2010-05-16T21:20:00.002+08:00

Tools Day. Kind of. Just have a couple of new toys to play with. I mean cosmetic tools.

These are actually artist brushes. For painting. I bought a set of all the above for only $8! They're really soft. I bought these because of the finest brush. If I were to buy these alone, one brush would have set me back $3 to $6 each. So why not buy the entire set? The biggest brush is barely a centimetre long. So imagine how small the tiniest one is! I need it for my gel eyeliners. There're a few that can be used for gel liners actually. The third from the left, with the flat top, is also good for eyeliners. The rest, I'll use it for my concealers, cream shadows, paintpots etc. Really soft and smooth bristles.

The teeny brush, seen with my MAC fluidline.

Just got these in the mail. The elf studio line blush brush, which is oh-so-soft!! The eyeshadow brush, which is unexpectedly different from my previous one, and my much needed lash curler. Got to retire my old one. Cheap but good stuff. hehs.

Ok, so here is why I said my elf shadow brush is unexpectedly different. The one on the left is the older version of the same brush. Longer bristles, more 'C' shaped.

Side view: The one on the left is the old one. More bristles! Thicker.

And finally, the length difference.... oh well. It doesn't quite matter, because I still love that brush. So soft, and picks up colour well. I wanted to get a flatter, shorter-bristled shadow brush anyway, from sephora. Now I don't need to!

Just random: 3 totally different items that look so alike. MAC select moisturecover, elf mineral eyeshadow primer and Sephora ultra-brillance gloss. Hope I won't pick up the wrong thing, especially if I'm too sleepy or tired.

2010-05-15T23:09:00.003+08:00

holidays are here! 3 months break means it's time to find a job. Sigh. I was actually shortlisted for a temp job for NEA, but this is for the meteorological department, and their office is at changi airport terminal 2. It's only a 4 day job, but I still have to go down a few times, so I turned it down, because it takes me about 1.5 hours or more to go there by MRT from where I live. So I think it's just not worth the effort. I really hate travelling. I applied for few other jobs, but I haven't heard from them, so I need to continue looking =(

Went cycling at ECP with zac on thursday. Thanks dear for driving me. Well, he gotta drive his bicycle there too, but then, if not for me, I think he'll just cycle there. Bouna vista to ECP? Chicken feet! He's like some garang 200km-at-one-shot cyclist. Singapore isn't even big enough for him to cycle, so he had to cycle to malaysia to meet that distance. Haha. Amazing. And we only cycled like 9km at ecp. Sorry la, only my 3rd time cycling. Sometimes I feel like I'm holding him back. Oh well. It rained like crazy while we were cycling! We had to take shelter at the toilets for pretty long. Totally drenched. Then we saw this poor kitty running to find shelter. So sad. What a heart wrenching sight. It was really pouring like mad. Funny thing is, when we saw it running for shelter, it had already been raining for half hour? So I don't know what it was doing in the rain for so long without shelter. Poor thing though. =(

Okay some stuff I got the past 2 months, haven't been shopping much due to my project 10 pan, which is like a cosmetics-shopping ban, and due to exams too. But I figured I should still be allowed to buy things that I do not have, not even a similar one.
Sigma SS168 contour brush. And bobbi brown lip pencil. I do not own a single lip pencil before this. So you get what I mean by I should be allowed to buys things I do not have. Haha.

Pretty old item on the market, but pretty pricy, so I had to grab it when I saw it on thirty percent discount. Normally there's only a twenty percent discount. Za Pore smoother. Suppose to be like a primer that smoothes out pores, but reviews say that it doesn't quite do that, BUT it does have pretty decent oil control. So I'm pretty excited to try this. Have not tried it still, because I don't normally wear foundation. I only used tinted moisturiser.

Was rearranging my vanity "area" again. It's really just one shelf in my wardrobe. The stacked drawers are completely full. No idea how I filled them out so quickly.

2010-05-02T19:28:00.002+08:00

Cute not???? Haha =) See how small the kitty's head is, compared to zac's hand. He said he could pick it up with one hand. So cute!!!! So poor thing though. Not sure if it could survive out there on its own.

Ah my batch of handmade tinted moisturiser failed! First time it happened, and it must be due to bio-essence's BB cream. I have used more or less the same ingredients as always, but this time, I added the bb cream in it. I had a sample of the bb cream, and I found the colour to be too pale and ashy on its own, and I also didn't like the thick consistency of it. It's as thick as, or even thicker, than the revlon colorstay foundation! I thought bb creams themselves are tinted moisturisers, so they should be pretty sheer and light in consistency. But this bio-essence one isn't. It's got almost full coverage! Anyway, certain ingredient/s in the bb cream caused my tinted moisturiser to separate. I couldn't mix everything well, no matter how vigorously i mixed it. bleah. Wasted my products.

2010-04-01T22:19:00.002+08:00

Exams are here. No more shopping for me! Still have enough new clothes to last me a couple of years at least. Plus been a little M.A.C crazy recently. Some of their stuffs are really worth the money, because mac cosmetics are not that pricey actually, just slightly higher than drugstore brands, but you get pretty high quality makeup. Not all the things are good though. Take for instance, their foundations. I heard that many people break out from their foundations, which I'm not surprised. Mac stands for makeup art cosmetics. They're really into the artistry form of makeup, hence the excellent colour pigmentations of their eye and lip products. Their face products can create a flawless finish as well, but the chemicals in their face products might not be too friendly to many people's skins. I kind of feel that mac is about how the product look on the face after application (like visual art form), but not really towards being gentle to the skin. Hence for foundations that you're going to use everyday, I think skincare brands like clinique, are better than mac, or any other theatrical makeup brands. That being said, I still love their face powders (excluding powder foundations). Their face powders are normally applied over foundation to set your makeup, and hence, although the chemical composition might not be too skin-friendly, the powder does not have direct contact with your skin surface.

Just my 2 cents worth....

Anyway I'm on a project 10 pan! Meaning, I'm to use up 10 cosmetics items ENTIRELY before I can purchase anymore new makeup. This time of the year is perfect for project 10 pan. Exams are here, and project 10 pan will prevent me from wasting precious study time on shopping for cosmetics. Yay =)

2010-02-20T14:59:00.002+08:00

yikes. All the chinese new year's goodies made me sick again. Bad sore throat again! I hate sore throats. Anyway, this year I got more red packets than usual! But the amount is still around the same because everyone is giving less =(
I also went to evelyn's house, mainly to see baby thaddeus. Not sure if I spelt his name correctly. He's evelyn's nephew, and only a few months old. So cute!!!!! Chubby and active. He has a temperament though. His expressions can change from sad and upset frowning face to a happy laughing expression in no time. Very cute still.
Evelyn's other nephew, caldras, is also very cute. He's some super genius who can add numbers up better and faster than some of the primary sch kids that I taught before. And caldras is only 4 yrs old this year. I heard that he was super upset that his kindergarten (now only nursery level) only taught the kids up to number TWO only! He already knew up to thousands.

School is getting busy! So many projects and biz law presentation coming up. Biz law is getting boring. Hate all the crap about contract law. How I wish we got to present tort law instead.

I realised that Venus Beauty, some neighbourhood beauty supply shop, sells lots of salon hair product at super reasonable prices. I just got this L'oreal Technique hair mask to try out. This hair mask is no usual mask, because you can't find it at drug stores. It's meant for professional use at hair salons only. Many salons use this mask when you ask for treatment after your dye job, because many salons use L'oreal dyes. It's a tad pricey for hair mask, but hey, when you go to a hair salon to pay $50 or more for hair treatment, they use the same thing too. This is a salon product. So if you like going for salon treatments, just go to Venus Beauty, or Beauty Language, and try to find the exact same hair treatment product your salon uses. You save lots of money! I think many salons uses keratase products. The shop carries that too. But of course it costs alot more. Monsoon salons uses their own monsoon brand treatments, and that shop sells the monsoon treatment mask for $26 only. So cheap la! And it's such a huge tub which can last you for months and months.

2010-02-03T22:38:00.003+08:00

Last week, I went to the sheng siong near my house with my parents. My mum wanted to see the CNY flowers on sale and the CNY goodies as well. Many flowers are sold there, but the orchids are the nicest. I don't even like orchids, but they're the nicest flowers there already. the rest are just small and not eye catching.

This is my fave. Deep purple. Love this colour.

Yello orchids---ehh not my fave. The yellow isn't even bright enough.

Green orchids! Never seen them before. Almost thought they were just a bunch of leaves. But quite unique.

And this got to be the most common orchid colour... boring.

Cactus galore!!!!!! My mum bought three. Three for 5 dollars only!

2010-01-17T18:41:00.003+08:00

I'm sick =( not sure with what. It's just the generic symptoms of runny nose, blocked nose, sore throat and slight fever, and the most irritating one: non-stop sneezing. The sneezing left me so lethargic, gave me a headache, and caused me to be in bed for most part of the last 24 hours. Only get up for meals, toilet, and to use the laptop if I get bored of staying in bed. And there's work to do =( Can I be excused for not doing the tutorials? I'm sick what =( The sneezing fits took me by surprise yesterday afternoon, and a night's sleep didn't do me any good at all, because I was kept awake by constant sneezing and my blocked nose. Still feel like crap today. Crap!

2010-01-12T23:04:00.002+08:00

I feel totally unmotivated already. And only one school day has passed. Prof LCF was on his best (boring) behaviour again. Zzzz... I only listened to the first hour of the lecture, out of THREE hours!
I've got some photos to put up, but I haven't edited them. So till then!

2010-01-08T19:09:00.002+08:00

Oh crap school is starting =( I hope I have the motivation to study even harder than last semester. I should teach tuition too. Last sem I managed to cope with teaching JC2 bio (which was absolute hell) and studying. Maybe this sem I can too. I need more As... Hopefully to graduate with second upper honours =( Totally regret slacking off during my second year, which caused my gpa to nose-dive.
I'm so much less active during ISG this time round. Not sure why. Maybe I'm getting older, and hence less enthusiastic about school activities. Haha. Which is ironic, because Cariann just said that she's finally getting active in school =p
Timetable clashing with zac's. Hopefully we can work something out <3

Just ordered some mineral pressed powder and MAC eyeshadow base/paintpots online. So excited. Hopefully the MAC e/s base isn't OOS. My first time using MAC products. Many makeup artists seem to swear by MAC. So I wana try out!

2010-01-01T23:01:00.003+08:00

Got bored few days back, and I decided to make my own tinted moisturiser. I've been wanting to make this actually, because my liquid foundation is a tad too dark for my skin at the moment.

Things I used:

Revlon colourstay foundation: Foundation that is a little too dark. Amazing oil control anyway.
Brandless liquid foundation: Now, this one is a little too light. Haha.
Acnes moisturiser: Bulk of my home made tined moisturiser will be made up of this. It has acne medication and SPF15. So I would like these properties in my end product. Downside is that this moisturiser has damn shitty oil control, but this is going to be balanced by the Revlon Colorstay. Because of the lousy oil control, I wouldn't use it on its own, hence it's perfect to be mixed with Revlon Colorstay.
Elizabeth Arden Moisturiser: I'll just add a bit of this for some higher quality hydration, SPF15 and anti-aging properties.
Clean container and spatula for mixing.

I don't know how much of each product I used. I just went by gut feeling. Haha. Looks like shit now...

Colour was still kind of dark, so I added more of the light coloured one, plus more acnes moisturiser. Looks like major crap now....

My end product is a very frothy, lightweight, feels-like-air kind of tinted moisturiser. It's damn good! I tried it twice already. Decent oil control and I like the dewy look. I think the secret to this is mixing LIKE CRAZY. I stirred the mixture in all directions and very vigourously.
I like the container by the way =) It belongs to this superb moisturiser that can only be found in guardian Josephine counters. It's expensive, but if I have money, I will definitely use it again.

Anyway I dyed my hair black. I haven't seen my hair totally black for at least 5 years!!! It looks nice for a change.

2009-12-30T22:48:00.002+08:00

Foreign workers, being foreign, should be respectful to other people in singapore! It's already horrible enough that they're always in huge groups, and their ugly cabins where they stay at, are totally eye sores. My area has lots of construction going on, mainly the upcoming ITE. The ITE is massive, hence the number of workers there are massive too. It makes me unable to jog at night, because I don't feel safe jogging alone in the dark with these disrespectful, uneducated, impolite, uncouth workers walking around.

Okay this is what happened today. I was jogging again, and thankfully it isn't dark yet. There was this huge group of foreign workers opposite the upcoming ITE. There were 20 over of them, and they're all huddled together tighly in their huge group (reminds me of walrusses in the artic, so black, and hanging out in massive groups), on the pavement, and the grass area beside the pavement. You know pavements aren't very wide. And they're totally blocking the way. Some of these workers saw me jogging towards them, but none of them cared to move aside. As I approached, I said 'excuse me', and all but one, ignored me. I stood there, still waiting for them so move so I could pass, and guess what they did? They just stared at me with lecherous eyes, and burst out in laughter and sniggers, AND STILL REFUSED TO BUDGE! What?? Does it make you stupid, low IQ, retarded idiots feel good or smart for once, when all of you refuse to let one poor jogger pass, and then to laugh at her? I didn't want to go onto the road because it was peak hour; the traffic was fast and there were so many cars. Seriously! What's with these foreign workers?? In the end I squeezed like crazy passed them, while they were still sniggering to themselves. So disgusting! Maybe looking at how these people have lower IQ and common sense, and hence lower social intelligence, I MAY forgive them. Luckily it's not at night. Who knows what these lecherous foreign workers may do to me. I think lots of females in my area dare not go jogging at night because of them. Singapore is becoming unsafe partly because of them. Idiots!

2009-12-30T00:29:00.002+08:00

All I can say about my results is.... I DID IT!!

Okay I didn't get GPA 5 la... But considering I barely reached gpa 3 last sem, this sem was a major improvement.

Neurobiology was my largest disappointment actually. I spent the longest studying for that paper. I came out of the exam hall feeling pretty good, because I could do almost everything. But I guess the 'almost' is what separated me from the better students =( I know I sound like a jealous b****, but there're loads of better students out there who studied non-stop. So how to compete with those? sigh.

The rest of my results are pretty much expected. Kind of what I imagined. Well maybe some are better than I thought. Like I know I'll do well for research seminar. It's a technical english kind of module that concentrates on good english! Of course all those asian scholars out there, FOR ONCE, will lose out to locals who are stronger in english. Yes to more such modules! Although they're boring.

2009-12-28T21:16:00.002+08:00

Went to the gym yesterday, worked out quite a lot, and I woke up with muscles aching everywhere. Then I ran 9km just now. Pretty good progress I must say. I need to exercise more, because when school starts, I tend to neglect exercise. So since I have time now, why not? =)

2009-12-28T21:14:00.001+08:00

Love this photo =) nice scenery, and we look sweet =)
Taken at marina barrage when we celebrated christmas.

2009-12-15T23:37:00.003+08:00

Spent some time packing my vanity area yesterday. It was a huge mess of cosmetics, accessories and other crap. Dumped them all on the floor first......
And then pack part of my cosmetics into this basket thing with dividers. The dividers are so so much needed...... Left most is my face powders, bronzer and eyeshadow palettes that come in bigger compacts, followed by single eyeshadow colours or smaller compacts, then lipglosses, concealers, lip balms, lip sticks, and the right most is my makeup primer/base, liquid foundation. So organised! Love it. =D

This is basically how the whole mess looks like after I packed...
If only I have an entire cabinet to put ALL the skincare and makeup that I have. This is only about one quarter of everything that I own. I still have boxes of face masks, false lashes, extra mascaras, lip glosses, lip sticks, cleansers, toners etc etc, stored in other drawers all over my room. Not as organised as I would like to be. Maybe when I have more time, I'll rearrange the contents of ALL my drawers and wardrobes in my room. Then I think my mum will have a heart attack, knowing how much beauty products I have. You know, when they're stored separately, they look a lot less.

2009-12-10T21:57:00.002+08:00

Exams are over, but I saw this photo that I look because I was so ridiculed by how hard it is to pronounce biological terms. If I can't pronounce it properly, I can't remember properly! Because I'm the reciting sort of person. I need to say it out in my mind to remember it. Just look at point number 3. 6-Pyruvoyltetrahydrobiopterin !@%^&*((%$#@@#$%. And from the photo, you can see that most words are not english per se. Just gibberish names.
Skincare/cosmetics haul! Finally went to get my moisturiser, toner and foundation, and make up remover wipes. They were ALL finishing. At the same time. The shopping is quite shiok though. Haha. Bought eyeshadow brush and brush for my liquid foundation too. It's Revlon Colourstay for oily/combination skin. It's very very highly raved for the oil control, and the staying power. So I decided to not buy mac or sephora foundation, and get this instead. Cheaper too. Though I think liquid foundation finishes faster than compact ones. One compact can last me almost a year!

2009-12-08T19:57:00.002+08:00

Yay my exams are finally over! After 3 crazy weeks of studying harder than I ever did. Well maybe I studied harder for A levels? Afraid for my results though... The competition is so tough. Everyone is studying so hard, it's crazy.

Really need to shop. First, I got to get the essentials. Toner and moisturiser running out. Makeup remover wipes too. And foundation. Feel like trying new products, but I'm afraid they don't work for my skin, and I end up wasting money =(

Now zac's turn to have exams. Can't wait for his exams to end, then we can go have fun!

2009-12-03T21:00:00.002+08:00

Went to zac's house to study for awhile today. Though it's not the most conducive place to study. Actually it's not conducive at all, but I haven't seen him in a while. Zac cooked me lunch, while I was mugging away. So sweet =) thanks love. Had shrimp wanton, macaroni and cheese and seaweed chicken.

Owe him an apology for upsetting him though. Sorry =(

2009-11-24T10:52:00.002+08:00

Busy busy! Exams are here, and Im plagued with infections again. Eye is ultra swollen with a stye again. I just had one few weeks back. Because of this, I had to sleep 8 hours last night so that the stye can heal. If not for this, I wouldn't be sleeping this much. After my paper yesterday, I studied a while in the library, but my eye was too painful, so I went home to sleep. For the whole evening and night, I couldn't study properly because my eye was bothering me too much. Hurts like mad. Argh! So frustrating to get such a stupid infection during exam time. It's going to affect my grades =(

Yesterday paper was okay. But due to stupid siao-on people and ultra muggers in sbs, if I find that the paper was okay, everyone must have found it chicken feet. So the bell curve moderation will prob make me get a C grade or even below! Argh! Feel like killing all those no-lifers.

2009-11-08T20:21:00.002+08:00

Slogging on my lab report now. Sigh. So bored of it.

Random photos: while studying a few days ago at the library. Green peas snack! I think I was disturbing the person sitting beside me with all the crunching sounds I'm making. But who cares. I hate green peas but I like the snack. It tastes nothing like real green peas.

Library again. Can't remember if I was studying or playing facebook games at that time, but this person sitting at the computer opposite me pops out his feet. So damn distracting ok! Horrendous NEON YELLOW fugly crocs. Yes I checked that it was authentic, with the crocs button at the side. What the hell are people thinking when they spend so much on a piece of ugly rubber to put their feet in???? I always crinch at the sight of people wearing crocs, especially neon yellow and orange ones. Worse still, when they're wearing a fake. Come on. People buy imitation good because they can't afford the real thing, and the real thing is usually some high fashion brand, and extremely coveted for. And I think crocs definitely do not fall in that category. Well, I admit that there's pretty decent croc designs now..But this 'original' crocs shoe........? Eww.

2009-11-06T23:44:00.003+08:00

My latest awesome addition to my wardrobe: Levi's Eve square cut, straight fit jeans. It's very low rise too. Loves. I got it soooooo cheaply from this centrepoint shop where levi's, dockers and lizclaiborne at insanely low low low prices. I wanted a pair skinny fit jeans, but they're not cheap enough for me to buy. Oh well, straight fit is good enough too, especially when it's Levi's. Should be very durable.

2009-10-28T19:20:00.002+08:00

I want to get over and done with this week!! It's wednesday already. Jia you to myself. There was lab on monday, tuesday and today, and there will be lab on friday and saturday too. The worse thing is that I have to teach tuition on saturday and the timing clashes with lab! And I totally forgot to get my tutee's mobile number =( I tried emailing her but she hasn't replied. I need to call the agency to get their house number. So troublesome. Just because of the stupid lab session which I think is pretty short.

Long long lab reports coming up. And also developmental bio test, and EXAMS!!! Why does SBS always increase workload by 10 folds when exams are approaching. We need time to revise! SHINGZ (from ris low's dictionary-can be used to replace the f word)!!

Evelyn's sis just gave birth to a baby boy!! So adorable! Looking at photos of the cute baby makes me want to have my own baby. But thinking about the labour process and disfigurement that comes with pregnancy totally puts me off, and will continue putting me off for the next many many many years to come. Worse, thinking about the time and money I have to put into each child is enough to put me off for a lifetime. Is it worth spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on children????

2009-10-23T21:01:00.002+08:00

Look at who I found at canteen A! So adorable! Zac threw a bread crumb on the floor, and the little cat kept staring at it, but it's sooooo timid and dare not come nearer. The cat looked at us periodically, with huge dilated eyes, as if asking, "Is it really okay if I take that crumb?" And then it just continues staring at the crumb. Haha! =)) Then it finally took a small step towards the bread crumb after about 5 minutes of sitting there and staring at it. And after aeons, it finally ate it. Must be hungry. Poor kitty.

Photo below is just to show that there's actually another small cat of the same size under the brown bin area.
And this little cat sleeping so well, near the LRT station. So cute.. Normally kittens or small cats run away or are scared of humans, but this little one just slept and slept. It's calico coloured. Random x chromosome inactivation in each patch of skin results in this colour.

2009-10-21T16:34:00.002+08:00

Argh eye infection. The weather is horrible. Makes me feel horrible. Even my brother is feeling sick, despite his mega-dosing of vitamin C daily.

Sigh got to delete that post. It's kind of too late to delete it, but whatever makes him happy.

Plant lab report about ginseng. Boring. Despite reading those fantastic claims about ginseng, the bottom line is that the effects of ginseng are still not clinically significant enough for it to be incorporated into mainstream medicine. Ginseng seriously sounds like a miracle drug though.

2009-10-20T22:10:00.002+08:00

Just now while having dinner, I told my mum that the egg tofu was really salty today. So I suggested to her to put less salt. My mum tends to have a heavy hand when it comes to adding salt. I was thinking of the health impacts of eating toooo much salt. Instead of getting some kind of assurance that she'll put less salt, she turned back and scolded me like crazy. She was like saying hokkien people traditionally eat salty food. Take it or leave it. She also yelled at me for drinking too much soft drinks or sweet drinks, hence I'm more sensitive to the salty taste. That is so not true. I love salty fries; my salt tolerance is good. But this was way too much until I couldn't even finish one piece of tofu! I was so ridiculed. It's so not about tradition! It's about my health! Now she's like some old hag perhaps she can stop caring that much about her health, but I've got such a long way ahead of me. It's not like I'm some health fiend either, but it's just that the tofu was simply salty beyond measure. My mum is such a ridiculous person. I wished she cared sincerly.

I often complained about my neighbour who smokes all day downstairs, and the smoke travels into our house. The smell is really strong and I cannot breathe everytime my neighbour smokes! Again, my mum was asking me to shut up and stop complaining by saying things like, what's the harm of a little cigarette smoke, and that all her older relatives smoke and they live till a ripe old age, and long ago, people smoke even more harmful things like opium and they do not get lung cancer either. My mum is so ridiculous! She's still so stuck in the damned past that she rather believe that everything is the same as before, than believe in science and statistics. My mum totally cannot adapt. She hates flat screen TVs, hates radios that have no casette player, hates modern washing machines and too many more to mention. Gosh I hope I do not end up like her.

2009-10-18T14:33:00.003+08:00

I don't know what's wrong with me ever since I entered uni. I've lost the motivation to study hard. Since year 1, I've been just studying last before a test or exam. For the rest of the days, I'll just slack around, going out, watching dramas and shopping. I also leave my lab reports till the last minute to do. I've just lost the drive. I hate my results, but I just don't feel like doing anything about it. My only theory is that I got so sick of studying already. Since kindergarten or primary one, my monster mum has been pushing me, forcing me, stressing me to study, and demanding all the good grades. Now that she stopped doing it, I just want a breather from the past 12 years of stress. And because of uni, I cannot take this breather. I resent having to work my ass off to get decent grades. My course is seriously full of over-zealous muggers who have no life but study. The competition is insane. It scares me just to think how much other people are study. I shudder at the mere thought of myself studying just half as hard. Yikes. Hate studying. And for once in my life, I'm not doing well in school.

2009-10-10T11:01:00.003+08:00

Watched the movie Surrogates. It's about how the people in future can buy surrogate bodies to represent themselves in the real world. The surrogate bodies are just very high-tech robots. They're mannequin-like, no wrinkles, but other than that they move and talk like normal people. For example, if you're some fat ugly guy sitting at home and dare not show your face to the world, you can buy this surrogate which looks like a hansdome, suave and muscular guy to represent yourself outside. All you have to do is sit at home, plug into the system which allows your mind to take over the surrogate. So now the surrogate's brain is your brain. You can do all the normal things you wish to do.

In this movie, everyone has a surrogate. The whole world is replaced by surrogates, while everyone just sits at home, controlling their surrogate. Even at home, the family members do not show their faces to each other. Everyone stays in their own room, and communicate via surrogates. At first the idea seemed delicious. I mean, I can buy some saucy bombshell surrogate to represent me. Why not? Or if I were outside, and I got into an accident, it's just my surrogate, and not my real body. But on hindsight, I'd rather not. The couple in the movie, they're just like anyone, using surrogates to take over their lives completely. However the man wants to break out of it. He wanted to see his real wife, he wanted to go on a holiday with her and not the surrogate. Of course the wife didn't want it. The wife didn't want anyone, even her husband to see her present sickly and disheveled state. How sad is that? I can't imagine not looking at my own children's real bodies, touching my husband's plastic polymer body. The real human closeness and interaction is all gone. As some of the anti-surrogates people in the movie said that there's no humanity left in the world.

The world of advancing technology is just scary. You'll never know what the future will be like, when taken over by robots.

2009-10-10T10:54:00.002+08:00

Some photos from the plant biology anatomy lab. I love looking at how those cells are being organised. Nature is awesome. But i do not love drawing all these for the report... So many circles to draw.

Star shape vascular bundles!

This stem is so cool. Everything is arranged to the sides.

This is my favourite! The stomata so cute! And they're all over. The rest of the cells are stained purple. One of my fave colour.

2009-10-01T15:58:00.003+08:00

Felt kind of bored. Took some photos of skin care stuff I got recently.

The refining herb mask from Sasa was buy one get one free! So I grabbed 2 pieces at only $1.95. Super cheap. The last time I bought this was buy TWO get 1 free. The cucumber cooling pads was also buy 1 get 1 free! I was so glad that I put off buying it couple of weeks back when I first saw it. Was buy 2 get 1 free at then. Got some cucumber make-up remover tissues from Sasa too. The rest of the stuff was from Watsons. I very much needed the Clear Up Blemish Patches. It's really useful because the main purpose is to of course heal pimples, however, these patches beats pimple cream because it protects your pimples from dirty pillow cases when you sleep, and I didn't have to worry about my pimple cream smearing on my pillow case too. Great stuff. Next was the Garnier self-heating mask. On discount at $1.95! And it has 2 applications. Cheap mask again.

This was probably my best buy of the lot. Bio-essence waterproof eye makeup remover. I have been looking for a cheap one for soooo long because my previous cheap one became super expensive now, probably due to inflation. Yea bio-essence cheap? Hard to believe right, but this 125ml bottle is only $7.80 I think. It's much cheaper than Loreal and Maybelline and other brands! Bigger bottle yet cheaper. This is the promotional price though. I've seen cheaper ones but they're not for waterproof makeup. I'm so happy I chanced upon this. I almost bought the Maybelline one. 70ml or so for $9.90.

More bio-essence stuff! I got all these free from the singapore beauty show goodie bag. Wah these sachets could probably last me more than a month. Yayness.

2009-09-30T22:44:00.002+08:00

I could feel the tremors from the Indonesian earthquake this evening around 6.30. It took me awhile to realise what was going on. Here was what happened..

I was on my laptop as usual, then I suddenly felt dizzy. The laptop screen appeared to be swaying in front of me, making me think that my head was spinning, though the swaying eventually really did make my head spin. Anyway, I felt dizzy, and a second later, my brother said that he suddenly felt really dizzy too. I turned and stared and him and said, "Huh?! I feel dizzy too!"

We stared at each other.
Brother: I think the building is shaking.
Me: Yea I think so too. Crap.

At that time, I didn't quite believe it. Until a few seconds later, I could feel myself really being rocked side to side in my seat. I rushed to the kitchen and told my mum that the building was shaking. And my mum went, "Got meh? I think you studied too much." I wasn't studying anyway. The block was still swaying...

I rushed outside the flat to see if anyone was outside too, wondering what was happening. There wasn't any commotion at all. The stray cat was still there looking pretty lazy. I wondered if I was imagining things.

Such things are not uncommon at all in Singapore. Tremors are felt pretty frequently, but it just never happened before in my area, and I got pretty scared. At first I just thought the building was going to collapse perhaps due to poor construction. I ruled out earthquake in the beginning because my area never never experienced any tremors before.

Scary experience! My legs turned jelly, hands and feet turned cold at the thought that the block was going to collapse. I hope I never feel this crap again. Really made my head spin.