News and Purchases!

So it's been awhile. Life hasn't been crazy persay but I just haven't had the desire to blog. I also kind of forgot I had a blog.

ANYWAY, I'm done with my Master of Mass Communication at NTU. The graduation ceremony is in two weeks. After which I'm supposed to be starting my job *fingers crossed if everything goes well* as a Research Associate in NTU. It's going to be a job doing research using Digital Technology to Combat Obesity. Can't really explain it. But its cool.

In the meantime I'm back in Malaysia for a couple of days recouping with the family, waiting for immigration paperwork type stuff and generally eating my face off.

I'm also moving into a new place in Singapore - a condo where I'll be renting a room from a lovely lady which should be great. I now have these new resolutions for me being 26. I'm SUPER excited about it, but thats totes another post.

So basically its a bit of limbo time for me - packing up stuff, throwing away stuff, immigration stuff, hanging out with the fam stuff and so on. I'm also turning 26... so... I BOUGHT NEW CLOTHES! Ahahahaha - which is really the actual point of this post.

So the other day with my friends Hattie I went to the Ngee Ann City Food Festival where we ate some Taiwanese fried chicken and ate famazing Udderz ice-cream. And then we SHOPPED.

I bought a Pull and Bear skirt for like SGD9.90 - I know its a bandage skirt and I have like 5 but I love it!

I then bought this SGD10 from Cotton On (I have one just like it in like Tiger print something which looks good) and a belt from Myphosis for another SGD10 for my birthday.

But then the next day when I went to Marina Square Mall to kill time I found this dress for a super cheap SGD47.90 at Desigual and I HAD TO HAVE IT.

I'm planning on wearing it with silver hoops and obviously just pretending I'm Latine :)

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...

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

And... I'm done!

I finally finished my application to Nanyang Tech's Master of Mass Comm program, which is such a freakin' relief because I swear I'd been driving myself crazy because I just couldn't finish it. I just couldn't make myself do the essays in one go. I just had these fits where I would write a bit - come back, write something else that was mostly unrelated and then go away again. So it became this stop and start thing. Since the deadline was December 31st, I finished it this week and sent off the documents this morning. Just checked UPS, apparently it is "in transit" and has left Malaysia. So basically I now feel like this load has been lifted off me.

I've been planning on applying for my Masters for a while. Hopefully I'll get in. If I do I'll be in Singapore for the duration of the course which is basically 1 year from Aug 2011 onwards. Crazy. I can't imagine leaving my parents. I know I studied at McGill for 4 years without them but it just seems like I'm so much closer to them now. I feel kind of a panic descending on me whenever I think about leaving them.

My mom tells me that its important that I put some distance between us because I need to figure out how to live without them. The truth is, I'm the youngest child so realistically I know that we wont have forever together. But I just dont think I can even face the prospect of my life without them. I guess my mom figured that out and thinks I should get married or something. Which I totally agree with but I don't know to who and how and when and all that other stuff.

Also there's the whole country issue. Malaysia is Malaysia. And it seems like nothing is really changing here which is sad because Malaysia is such a wonderful country. I don't know whether my future will always be here and yet I can't imagine a life without my parents somewhere else. I know, it's about my parents again, but really they my whole world in a way. Even though I've been ALL over the place.

Anyway I better go, I'm getting a little tired and I want to read a couple of beauty blogs. Signing off!

The Great Singapore Adventure

I got back 2 days ago from a dizzying trip to Singapore. I was there for my friend Tina's wedding to Karan (gorgeous couple) and also to just sightsee and shop. Unfortunately I am now also at home with a bit of back problem as a result of having an actual slip disc and having to do stupid lifting work at my office despite my protests that it was hard for me. Still I was ignored and then overstrained and hence now I am lying prone on my back for today and tomorrow. With a couple of minutes here and there at the computer for blogging time :)

I was with two colleagues from work, Lega and Vasanthi and basically we explored Singapore - fast and furiously. Our itinerary was as follows:

Day 1:
Wake up at 4:00am
Flight at 7:30am
Land in Singapore at 8:30am
Go to hotel - dump bags
Eat lunch in Little India (was terrible)
Go to Vivo City - shop
Take the monorail to Sentosa Island
Walk on the Beach at Sentosa and take pictures
Go back to hotel and check-in officially
Eat dinner at Orchard Road with a stopover at Sephora (will elaborate)
Take public transportation (1 hour) to the Animal Safari
Catch home last MRT at 12:00am which stops halfway to hotel
Take cab the remainder of the way back and sleep at 1:00am

Day 2:
Wake up at 9:00am (too tired from the night before)
Breakfast at 9:30am
Off to Bugis street for some street shopping at 12:00pm ish
Lunch at Nando's (could not take Singaporean food anymore) at 3:00pm ish
Back to hotel at 5:00pm to get ready for Tina's wedding
At Tina's wedding at 8:30pm

Day 3:
Drinks after in Honeymoon suite with family till 3:00am
Sleep at 3:30am
Wake up at 9:00am for breakfast
Pack up bags by 11:00am
Off to Bugis area - this time to the malls by 11:30 am
Shop, shop, shop
Lunch at McDonald's at 2:00pm
Back to the hotel by 3:00pm
In airport by 3:50pm - check in
Flight slight delayed, left at 6:00pm ish

As you can see out itinerary was CRAZY.

What really struck me most of all about Singapore was the insane level of consumerism that seems to be the very lifeblood of the city. Especially Orchard Road. I mean look at it:


And it was like that EVERYWHERE on Orchard. Which makes me think, since I am planning on doing my Masters there... will I also get swept up in the frenzy and then fall flat on my face? I wonder. I don't want to go broke. But I do love shopping and have been known to indulge. Speaking of...

Sephora Haul

Urban Decay Primer Potion Professional Size, SGD 50.00


Basically a staple since I wear it everyday under my eyeshadow.

Givenchy Le Prisme Blush in Vintage Pink, SGD 79.00



I wasn't planning on buying an overpriced blush. However I left my beauteous Nars and Bobbi Brown Blushes at home so I figured ok nvm I'll buy a drugstore blush to tide me over. NOTHING worked. It was all incredibly unflattering. So I thought yeah, I'll splurge for another Nars blush. Turns out Sephora Singapore doesn't do Nars. What??!! I asked an SA for help. He turned out to be a Givenchy makeup artist who just wanted to sell me his stuff. He was convinced I would look good in peach something. I was convinced I would look better in pink. I was right. I bought the blush.

Bugis Street

Owl Necklace, SGD5.60 and Disc Ear-rings, SGD6.00


Cute no? Especially the necklace. It was one of those love at first sight type purchases.

Muji
I am obsessed with Muji. I think that if I could outfit my life from one store, it would be Muji. Seriously. Except I wouldn't have anything to wear to Indian weddings. Anyway here's what I got.

Make-up case, SGD29.90





How awesome is this make-up case? It can hold my brushes and it comes with a random polka dot thing that completely confuses me. I think it's supposed to hold tissue.

Leather Belt, SGD35.00


I wear a belt practically everyday and this one is really simple and looks like it's pretty decent quality so I bought it.

Long Cylindrical Plastic Containers, SGD1.90 and Pot Plastic Container, SGD2.30


I always travel with small bottles of liquid so this is basically perfect. The lipgloss pot is so I can depot my old Urban Decay Primer Potion that's gone hard.

Boss' Christmas Present Bag, SGD1.90


Cute bag no? I photographed her whole present though. Got the Man U Desk Calendar from the Book Depository for USD7.95 and got the novelty Christmas M&M's at Cold Storage for like SGD8.00. I think it's a super cute gift.

So that's basically what I got. I actually think they're all really good buys EXCEPT for the Singaporean version of Her World which was complete shit. It was basically like a very long advertisement and the articles had teeny tiny print.

Singapore on the whole was a lot of fun. Super tiring though. Also my friend's shoes went missing in the hotel which ended up being a whole big drama. I felt really bad though especially since it was their first time out of Malaysia. Actually it was really interesting to travel with people who have never been overseas before. It made me appreciate that I've had the opportunity to travel all over the place much more.

Better sign off - wanna watch BONES!

தீபாவளி வாழ்த்துக்கள்

Apparently what I just cut and paste as my title means "Happy Deepavali" in Tamil. Right. Well I hope so anyway.

What's up with me? Well, a very exhausting Deepavali weekend just happened. Oh and a very Happy Deepavali/Diwali to all my Hindu brethren. Basically there was a massive Open House that was held at my house. We invited colleagues, extended relatives and some other ppl to our house to enjoy some catered food, some home cooked food, some cookies I bought from an ex colleague.

It was crazy. Let me list the food we had.

1. Mutton peratal (catered)
2. Chicken peratal (catered)
3. Spicy brinjal (catered)
4. Ghee rice (made by mum)
5. Prawn sambal (made by mum)
6. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian bihun (made by kakak)
7. Chick pea masala (made by mum)
8. Dalcha (made by mum)
9. Potato batata vadas with mint chutney (made by mum)
10. Payasam (made by mum)
11. Milo, rose and vanilla jelly (made by mum)
12. Punch - sunkist cordial, water and sprite (made by dad)
13. Cookies (bought from ex-colleague)
14. Murukku (gift from an ex-housecleaner)

So we had all this food and all these people came. First my current colleagues came and then my ex colleagues came later, and all our neighbors, old friends and family we haven't seen for years.

Now there are two things about this whole Open House experience.
1. It's hella tiring. Like I was on my feet the whole day till like 9:00pm, running around and sweating in a bad way. Because someone came to visit us after the Open House. They're real polite.
2. It's really nice to see everyone and re-connect. Really and truly. I felt warm and fuzzy inside.

And you know I didn't lose my temper even once. Which is crazy. Because I mean I thought I would. What with all the running around, everyone in my family being rude to each other due to the high intensity of the situation. But I was totally alright.

One thing though, when people kept asking me about my job I was like no, I'm not teaching but I want to but that doesn't mean I'm a secretary although sometimes I do menial tasks... so I guess that made me realize I like need to get a move on and start teaching soon-ish. I think I'm going to take CELTA, offered at the British Council so I can be a lovely, proficient ESL teacher. I just think I need some confidence in terms of of teaching skills. Because right now I think I would make a GREAT teacher. I just don't know exactly how.

Oh and back to my Deepavali, we got like all this chocolate and food and craziness. It was awesome. I had my first Cadbury Gold two days ago. It was good. Like Ferrero Rocher good.

What else? Oh I'm going to Singapore on Saturday and coming back on Sunday, to visit Tripti who was a friend at McGill. I'm super excited having never been to Singapore. I've planned all my outfits and I think I'm going to pack tonight to avoid the pre-departure day frenzy. I also just checked with my boss and she's ok with me taking Friday off next week because Meg, Katie's old apartment mate in Montreal, will be in town. I think maybe we'll go shopping or just eat and chill out. I'm pretty excited about that too.

That's about it y'all. Oh and I'm still pining over Alexander Skarsgard who may or may not be with Kate Bosworth. I'm not sure what I think about that.

Peace.

P.S. Dammit I just realized I said I was pining after Alexander Skarsgard and not Eric Northman. Sigh.