It's called retail THERAPY

Dress from ASOS - got it in a 12 was WAY too big and then had to go to Far East plaza to alter it for SGD30 but Choo Alteration Center did a kickass job - basically everything I'm buying is to go with this dress which I'm planning to wear after my last exam for a Christmas dinner party and then party-partying...

Bought this belt to cinch the dress, because it looks better from Forever 21 at Orchard XChange. Ten bucks - totally worth it.

Kinda boring but I got this Cyber Colors Zero Pore Primer from Sasa. I dunno if its any good but Cyber Colors is generally good and the Majorca Majolica one I have makes me look insanely white because it has SPF in it. Plus I'm so tanned now so it doesn't work. It was on sale from SGD25.90 to SGD20.72 so I thought that was cool.

Again kinda boring but I got a neutral-ish lipliner in Clover Pink from The Body Shop. I checked out Maybelline's and Bourjois' but I didn't like them. It's not super neutral nudy its more like pinky brown. It was SGD18.90 - no discount.

Ok fun stuff! Got fake eyelashes - also Cyber Colors. They were SGD8.90 and one free! I'm going to wear them so I can try and recreate Lisa Eldridge's pretty makeup look.

More fun stuff! I got the Bourjois Effet 3D Lip Gloss in Rose Gold. The idea is that it will go over the lipliner to be super shiny and pretty. Kinda expensive at SGD23.50. But it was recommended by Lisa Eldridge so...

And these GORGEOUS ear-rings are from DIVA. I saw them and I was like this is it! I love them, they were SGD17.

Bought these two t-shirts from Esprit today, I got them both at 20% off so it was supposed to be like SGD50 but then it was SGD40. I love them - the purple one fits well and the pink one is just so me...

That's it! Hopefully this is the end to my mad shopping urges :)

Epiphany Friday

In descending order of how huge the epiphany was:

5. I am born in the wrong era. I've been watching Pan Am for the past two days and no one can deny that I wouldn't look good in one of those tight-ass dresses and with winged eyeliner. The 1960s man. Those were the days. I mean not if I wasn't a white American though, because if I wasn't that would be shittay...

4. I am a hardcore procrastinator. As in I should have been writing my paper, but instead I was watching Pan Am. To the point where I had to do my final powerpoint presentation in under 30 minutes. It was good presentation though.

3. I can really eat a lot of food. It's just that majority of the time I have intense will power.

2. I really am happier when I don't like someone. I don't feel anxious or get that choking constricty feeling.

1. I look WAY better when I don't line my eyes the whole way round! It looks way better just on top because I think my eyes are getting smaller or maybe the rest of my face is getting bigger?? Is that two epiphanies?!?!

Watch Lisa Eldridge do no eyeliner on the bottom lid:

I'm sick and procrastinating

I have 3 final research papers due next week. A take-home exam due the Monday the week after and the last of my final research papers due that Wednesday. And I'm blogging. While transcribing in-depth interviews for another one of my final projects. Also I'm sick. Not I'm going to die sick but like low grade fever, painful throat, super duper tired kind of sick. Which I really can't afford seeing as I have basically the majority of everything due this next week.

I think that my blog doesn't have a focus, like its about me but not so much about anything else. Don't think I can be a cosmetics blogger - coz I've gone off that. Can't really do lifestyle because my life isn't exactly a baller lifestyle. Also I like clothes but I just don't think I'm one of those people who really understands how to wear clothes. Ok enough of that.

I don't have time to actually post so I'm just going to embed music I've been enjoying. Some of its quite shameful.

Ghetto Love - Karl Wolf - this guy is like MTL's answer to Shawn Desman. Not that an answer was needed or anything...


Wherever You Will Go - Charlene Soraia - so good


Bedardi Raja - Delhi Belly - this is good, kinda slow but nice


5 O'Clock - T-Pain feat Wiz Khalifa and Lily Allen - what a great remix of this song


Will blog later when time and mood permits!

I have not been blogging because...

I am drowning under a sea of reading
Bad decision-making (partying instead of studying)
and too many friends, when I'm used to... none.

Wish me luck!!

Awesome new blogs and housing updates

I've been at home for AWHILE and because of that I've had a lot of time to go online and discover new things. Here are some new blogs that I've been reading:

Will Work for Makeup - It's a standard makeup blog I know but its got good pictures and she does a great interview with other beauty gurus so you can check out what works for you. I also like that she's Asian because coloring wise it makes more sense for me...

The Blonde Salad - This is like a lifestyle/fashion blog. This girl is Italian. Ok the only reason I'm reading this is because her boyfriend is super cute. See left sidebar on her blog.

Delicate Hummingbird - Very good makeup blog with lots of swatches.

Mouldy Fruit - Well this isn't new but I love her blog! Love her style too - it's so bright!

Been room hunting in Singapore - so far its going slow, I'm going there next week so hopefully the real estate agents come through and set up some viewings next week. Its such a competitive market! Its going to cost me minimum SGD550 to stay in a bloody room per month. Today I had a hilarious conversation with a real estate agent which involved him scolding me because all the Malaysians he has ever dealt with never showed up for their appointments. Classic.

Makeup To Go!

I can't claim any originality for this, but I needed a good way to store my makeup when I go to NTU and also a good way to move it around, SO I totally copied Giselle and got a plastic faux tool kit to hold my makeup. Isn't it beauteous??

Here's the view from the outside:

Here's the top tray, it's got concealer, powder, eyeliner, mascara - basically the everyday use stuff.

Here's the second tray, its got the lipglosses/sticks, rest of the eyeshadows and primers.

Finally the deep tray, its got my foundation, blushers, tools and backup mascara, eyeliner and concealers.

Here's the whole lovely thing!

Awesome no?? If only I was having the same kind of luck finding someone to stay with in Singapore...

Packing for the end of TIME

In the days leading up to my move to Singapore I have been buying lots and lots of stuff. Face stuff, body stuff, eye stuff... and my room is starting to resemble a haphazard end of time type bomb shelter. I figured I would take some pictures and share the immense amount of stuff that I have accumulated for my Singapore adventure.

Here goes...

And this is just a fraction of everything I've bought and I'll be taking. I haven't included clothes, kitchen stuff, fly swat, medication, etc. etc... I swear going back to school is making me a very poor person.

Singapore Calling

I went to Singapore yesterday on this mad one day journey to book my housing for the 1 1/2 years that I'll be attending NTU. I went with my Dad and on Tiger Airways, which has been getting bad press lately but I've always really liked it. We arrived at 9 something in the morning (had to wake up at 5am which was BRUTAL).

From the Budget Terminal in Singapore we took a shuttle to the main Changi Terminal and then took the MRT to Boon Lay which is the closet MRT to the hostel I'll be at. The journey took 64 freakin' minutes. I know this because the boards tell you how far everything is - yaay for Singapore efficiency, nay for how damn far my uni is. We got to the hostel soon enough to book the place. It is basic and so different from what I'm used to that I think I kind of freaked out a bit. More on that later.

Then my Dad and I took the 199 SBS bus into campus which took 15 minutes to get to the North spine (so far!) which is where we stopped and had lunch. I was supposed to pay some fees to register, totally went to the wrong Office of Finance at the North Spine (N2.1) a really nice lady told us to go the Office of Finance in the Student Services Centre. I then opened a new bank account with OCBC which looked completely like not a bank and more like a CD store, totally odd but kinda fun. Then we went and paid the fees at the Student Services Centre which was also super far away. I mean look at this place:

Then it was back to the airport where we waited for like 4 hours before it was time to go because I was too tired to do anything else. We ate in Ananda Bhavan there which was such a godsend after eating McDonalds and Subway all day.

The whole day I felt kind of off. It was partly because I was so damn tired from waking up at 5am. But I know it was mostly because I'm having all these mixed, cold feet type feelings about going back to school to Nanyang Tech and also about leaving home. This trip to Singapore really made me realize that hey - it's happening! I have been living at home for about three years now. And its been glorious. I don't have to cook, clean, wash or pay bills on anything to do with the house. All I need to do is go to work, buy stuff I need for my money and go out with my friends when I want. In short, I have become complacent and lazy and I'm loving it.

Going to NTU means leaving the comfort of my parents and home, the comfort of Malaysia, the comfort of knowing where I'm going to be and what I'm going to be doing day in and day in and day out and its SCARY.

I didn't think that it was going to hit me this hard. I'm worried about the fact that I might not get along with my flatmate, that my back might not be able to handle the grocery shopping run and the commute to the campus, that I'm just not going to have anyone to talk to. Which is hard. Also I think at this point I'm so used to how comfortable my house is physically, as in my own room and attached bathroom is AWESOME and my new flat is not anywhere near my house's awesomeness, which is hard.

I've talked to the parents and they're being amazing, all if you don't want to live there its fine! Also, we'll buy you a new mattress and washing machine and whatever. Also, if you really don't think you can handle NTU, its ok you don't have to go!

Which is all well and fine. I know that usually its not worth putting myself through stress. But this time it is. A Masters means a job I want and a way to learn about a field I'm passionate about. I think that I have to learn how to channel these feelings. The feelings are inevitable but I have to be rational about the whole thing.

Do I want to go to NTU? Yes. Is it super daunting? Yes. Is it going to be super hard? Possibly. What are you going to do? Suck it up and get on with it.

Wish me luck!

Using my MacBook PROOOOOO

Ok, I'm using my MacBook pro, can't quite figure out how to work it, like right then, the screen had super duper small writing so I thought I was going mad, but then I figured out that I can press command and the plus sign and VOILA! I'm done. It's very shiny and nice. I feel a bit like its too nice for me. But whatevs, its cool.

Back is kind of killing me today which sucks. Tomorrow is my first pilates lesson. Hope it's good.

Ok gotta go.

Acne Update

I realize that I never did a follow up post about how my skin has been doing. So in my last update I was taking Diane-35 as an oral contraceptive to clear my skin, I was using the Eucerin Gentle Cleanser, Dr Brandt Intensolution and Oil Free Hydrator. I have also been using the Aesop Chamomile Blemish Mask twice a week.

Basically this has really worked for me. My skin has cleared up and I am no longer getting cystic acne. I have a couple of blackhead issues and a ton of scars (I'll address that a bit later) but in terms of acne, I'm really happy with the results.

I think that the reason why it worked was the combo of products together. Diane-35 regulated my hormones while the other stuff really worked to calm down the surface of my skin and control oil. I also used Dalacin-T as a topical antibiotic since Benzoyl Peroxide doesn't work on me anymore. The Aesop mask is actually very effectively is calming down the skin and reducing oil. Highly, highly recommended.

I've stopped using Diane-35 after about 4 months because it was giving me very bad dry eye syndrome. Which is actually painful. I now have to use Natural Tears (preservative free) and I've developed sensitivity to contacts, which I don't really mind since I wear glasses most of the time. However, my acne did mostly subside before I stopped taking it.

I now have pretty deep pock mark type acne scars on my cheeks that are also dark in color. I'm not going to do any kind of medical procedure yet since I think its a little too soon and also because the last time I did a chemical peel, my skin died.

So instead I went back to Kens Apothecary in Empire Subang and met with Marznum (the SA who helped me last time and recommended all the Dr Brandt stuff). She suggested that I get the Dr Sebagh Vitamin C powder to lighten my scars. It costs a whopping RM679. which is a bit shit since its only cost 79 pounds on the damn website, which is like half the price. But whatever, nvm, if it doesn't work I can take it back and she'll give me a refund and other products or whatever. So ANYWAY, I'm going to be a doing a review of whether it works later, hopefully it does!

A day in the life of Back Pain Induced House Arrest Dini

Wake up. Drink Apple Cider Vinegar and Manuka Honey. Do Breathing exercises. Lie back down for a while. Take a shower. Eat 2 eggs and fruit. Lie down somemore. Use the heat pack on my back. Do stretching. Check my email. Look at make-up blogs. Lie down. Heat Pack. Stretching. Eat lunch. Lie down. Heat Pack. Stretching. Look at fashion blogs. Lie down. Heat Pack. Stretching. Eat dinner. Watch Criminal Minds/Bones/House/Got to Dance/Glee. Lie down. Heat Pack. Stretching. Sleep.

A little sad, I know. I'm kept sane by awesome Mom and Dad. Also making lists for Singapore help, so far I've established that I really need a fly swat (roaches)and a spray bottle to put water and soap in (rooches - do you know that they breathe through their skin?? They die if they are sprayed by soap!)

I have rediscovered all my favorite blogs tho - which is always good :)

Ooh and I ordered a MacBook Pro! Coming Wednesday, can't wait.

Shopping and Other stuff

It's been awhile because of various health issues and also because I just haven't felt up to blogging honestly. I'm off to Singapore in August and I'm slowly getting ready to go, making lists of things to buy, things to pack, things I wish I could afford to buy :P

It's a bit all over the place at the moment. So in my attempt to "cope" I've become completely obsessed with make-up. Since I have limited resources when it actually comes to buying the stuff I've become totally psycho when it comes to checking beauty blogs. Which just added fuel to the fire. I have recently discovered a much healthier alternative which is doing beauty reviews on Makeup Alley (MUA). Since I basically buy most of the products that I buy after a tip from this website I figured I might as well contribute, because who knows, some other oily, acne-prone make-up lover could benefit from my wisdom. I've done like 26 reviews and I'm going strong. It's only hampered by the fact that I can sit for an hour at a go (health issues).

So anyway I'm going to be linking my reviews for any beauty products to my MUA reviews from now on. Brilliant, I know.

Anyway, here's the stuff I bought that I never got around to posting.

Something Borrowed - got this from The Book Depository for like RM18, super cheap. It's on everyone's fav chick lit list but I kinda hated it. I don't think I can do infidelity. Makes me feel ill.



I got the Shady Lady Vol 2. palette for sale at Sasa. I kinda hate it. See my MUA review here.

I got this great t-shirt for like RM40 from a stall in Empire Mall. It's from China and its super cute, long, comfy and has birds on it.

So that was all my random shopping, I also did a bunch of shopping for my Annual Dinner for work.

Let's start with the small stuff, I got this nail polish from Sasa. It's TERRIBLE. Horrible in fact. The normal Sally Hansen base coat is way better and the nail polish is a lurid fluorescent coral pink.

Got this Charles and Keith evening bag for like RM129 which is awesome, except for the fact that it cant really expand. I have a tendency to cram things into my bags so I think I may have already kind of damaged it.

\
Got a MAC Lustreglass called Flashmode. LOVE IT. Read my review here. You know what? I cant find my review, anyway its a great product. Sheer fuchsia, nice and light and looks great layered on top of lipstick.

I got this Gosh Lipstick in Burgundy FREE with an order from Strawberry Net. Makes me look a bit like a prostitute. Actually it makes me look A LOT like a prostitute but with a bit of mixing or a light hand, its a superb berry color.

Got these ear-rings from black pearl, I wore the rhinestone ones for the annual dinner. A bit juvenile I know but they look really good on.

These Scholl shoes were RM188 so worth it and look amazing even though they're supposed to be comfy. Actually they are quite comfy.

Mum picked out this top for me, it was RM40. Looks really good on. Very asymmetrical, very sexy. A bit hot though.

So that's it :) Will be updating more on all the stuff I have to do before I goooooooooooooooooooooooooo

NEWS!

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with my blog. Life kind of got in the way. I actually bought a ton of stuff which I'm supposed to put up, but haven't. But that can wait, because I have news - I got into Nanyang Technological University for their Master of Mass Communication program! Which is amazing and rad and totally scary.

It's amazing because I got in, woot woot! Means I'm all smart and amazing. It's rad because I'll be living in Singapore which I love as a city. It's scary because it means that after working full time for three years and living in Malaysia with my parents I have to move and live alone. And actually study. Something I didn't do too much of at McGill.

So far I've actually resigned from my work. My last week should be the last week of July. Classes start in August. I've applied for housing but its not guaranteed since demand is far greater than the supply and they give priority to grad students who are doing research. And I'm a coursework student. That majorly sucks because Singapore is incredibly expensive to stay in. I'm talking SD800 for a room in an apartment per month which would come up to something like RM2000 which you could use to rent an entire house in Malaysia.

In addition to that I'm having to think about buying all my toiletries here so that I don't waste money, and that probably means dipping into my savings since I don't feel like asking my Dad to cover me for that stuff. Anyway I hope I get a part time job in Singapore so that at least after a month I can cover food, entertainment and the rest of the toiletries for my remaining time there.

I also have to apply for my student pass and everything else but yeah I'm excited, freaked and also feeling the inevitable feeling of being super poor that's going to accompany this adventure :P

Flavor of my Week: White Oleander

I haven't done a random, non-shopping related blog post for a while so I figure here I go. I also haven't done a Flavor of the Week post so I figured I'd at least title the post to pretend like I was doing one. Let's face it though, I have absolutely no dedication nor discipline when it comes to blogging. Anyway, this past week I've been totally consumed by White Oleander.


On Thursday I stayed up till 1:30am reading it and basically almost passed out at work. It was so worth it. It's such a vivid, visceral book. I think I like it so much because of how beautifully its written. I love the author's word choice and the fact that its also got a very compelling story.

I've also started visiting the following makeup sites - Just a Bowl of Mouldy Fruit and Bubble Garm. I love their whole too much makeup look, it's so British and I like the overall style of their blogs.

I pre-ordered Something Borrowed from The Book Depository. So cheap, its only $5.99 and no shipping charges. I just have to wait like two more weeks and it will get here. I'm so happy I didn't buy it since it comes up to about RM19 and the cheapest I can get it here is RM42. It's the movie tie-in but who cares since its only the cover that's different.

I'm going to make chicken tikka masala for the family tomorrow night. Got the recipe off Eat Live Run. I made the marinade today and my mum helped me modify it a bit, more chili, more ginger. Should be good I'll let you know.

I'm back on Diane 35 for acne. So far so good. No migraines but my eyes are super dry. Irritating side effect.

I also discovered this website, Nail Fiesta, which sells OPI polish at RM33 a bottle. Much cheaper than the RM59 store price. I'm planning on ordering Dulce de Leche next week. Hopefully it's a smooth process and I'll definitely get more.

India Shopping

This is going to be all pictures of the stuff I bought in India. Nothing else. And of course some descriptions and explanations of what, when and why. Because I obviously can't help myself.

Let's start with the small stuff. I got presents (keychains) for work people and this awesome mousepad from myself from a store, can't remember what its called wait... got it, it's called The Bombay Store!


Got this Lakme quad - looks pretty but the quality is pretty shitty. I also got a bronze gold lipstick I didn't photograph, that's quite nice.


My aunt who was visiting India from the US brought me tons of mascara, as per my request and brought me the John Mayer CD I sent to her house off Amazon. Love this CD.


Also I bought this Marian Keyes book from Crossword in Shoppers Stop. It's good but nowhere near as good as Sushi for Beginners or Last Chance Saloon.

I also got The Mummy because it only cost me RS499 which is basically nothing compared to prices in Malaysia.

Other small stuff I got was these bindis which I got on the last day, at the last minute at the station road. It was madness. I'm so sad I didn't get more.


I got this top and shoes in Inorbit. The grey shoes are Miss Sixty, so cheap like RS2500. Only thing is I have NO idea when/where/how I'm going to wear them. I'm going to try wearing them to work tomorrow. Should be good.



Now for the Indian clothes! BTW I bought more than this but I got lazy photographing it. I did put the most expensive stuff in though. This first kurta I got on sale for RS500, I wear it to work, its nice and simple.

My cousin picked out this kurta. It's sooooooo pretty. I'm going to wear it for Ching Wen's brother's wedding this Saturday. Sorry this picture is so blurry but I can't be bothered to take another one.

My Dad picked out this kurta, completely love it. The dupatta and churidar are silk, while the top is cotton with embroidery. Got it from this store close to my aunt's house called Pagli. Cost about RS5500.



This sari my cousin gave me as a present. It's silk and very sweet.


This sari was on sale, about RS2000, I got it from Shoppers Stop. i love the 70's vibe of it.


I LOVE this sari. It's half net and half silk I think, got it from Jashan. It was about RS5000.



This sari was the most expensive, got it from a store called Sheetal. It was over RS12,000. It's so expensive it came with it's own cloth bag!



And look at these AWESOME shoes I got to wear with Indian clothes. The brand is Catwalk.


Finally I got this jewelry to go with my clothes. Let's start with these awesome ear-rings I got from Shoppers Stop, both Western and Indian clothing friendly. The bangle was a present.


This was a necklace on sale, sorry about the quality of the picture. Anyway it was about RS400. Got it from this jewelry store called Sia. Fake and fabulous jewelry.


These bangles were on sale, I think they were about RS1500 or so. They're very heavy, very fancy.


This necklace my Dad hated. I was shopping with him that day. Anyway I completely ignored him and bought it anyway. It was about RS1500 as well.


That was all my India shopping. Crazy, now that I look back on it. Too much even. I leave you with the image of my O.P.I. painted toenails, Got it done at a L'oreal salon around the corner from my aunt's house in Mumbai.