How many countries a Victoria's Secret parcel will pass by before it reaches me

That is a very long title, hahahah...

Anyway, you all know I love VS. There is no secret that I adore its products. Bras, panties, swimwears, shower gels, shampoo, etc. I've gotta say I have tried all types of products it offers (types, not all the products, mind you :P)

So once in a while, when my VS stock gets low (never too low, heheheh), I will order new batches. And the fun of ordering and waiting always makes me feel giddy. One tip for those who are new to this: If you want an express shipment (i.e. you will receive your order in about 3 days from the day your payment cleared) without paying the premium shipping charge, get something heavy in the mix of your purchase. The best example should be shower gels or shampoos. So far this trick never fails me.

I always wonder which route a package from US takes to reach to this small island. It should be different from those routes we have from Singapore to the States, right? Yes, I am correct. Here is the route that my latest purchase is taking (data taken from UPS website):

OBETZ , OH , US --> LOUISVILLE , KY , US --> KOELN (COLOGNE) DE --> DUBAI AE --> BANGKOK (DON MUANG) TH --> SINGAPORE (CHANGI) SG

Wow, 3 countries, exclusive of US and SG. And within 3 days. I'm impressed. So now the package is out for delivery aka I'm gonna receive it soon. Yay! Can't wait!

Happy 27

I have turned 27 today. Yep, 3 more years and I will hit the big 30. But still, I feel myself as young as when I was 25, or even 21. Hahahaha, I might be stretching the number but thoughts are all that count. If you think you are young, then you are young.

Here I am, on the 1st day of my 27th year on earth.

RIP Michael Jackson

It is now 2AM on 8 Jul 09 in Singapore and I am still awake watching Michael Jackson memorial live on CNN.

I have only one person who I can truly say I am his fan, and it is Michael Jackson. My childhood spent on listening to his songs and watching his video clips. I still remember I had 2 or 3 video tapes which included most of his hits and I kept watching them until the tapes turned bad. I remember seeing his skin black became white but I didn't really care. Even when I read those news about him being accused as a child molester, I didn't believe all those groundless accusation. My heart pained when I saw him getting deteriorated over the time. I knew myself that he would not be able to live for very long, but still when I heard him passed away on that Friday (Singapore time), my heart stopped for a moment and I just blocked the news out. But my job requires me to accept it and let his other fans know this sad news.

For those who are watching his memorial, we 'come together' and we 'remember the time' he had been with us and gifted us with his enormous talent, his joys and his sorrows.

RIP, My King of Pop

My shoe collection

I have made a decision with regards to my bags and shoes. From now on, I will try to buy those with good quality. Considered these as investment pieces, this will help me from buying too many shoes and bags which don't last me more than 3 months. Also, given my limited space, I will need to focus more on building a small but well-covered wardrobe. Quality over quantity.

At the moment, I have only 4 pairs of designer shoes. These were bought from different sale events and with discount from 70% and above. I am very proud of this collection even though I haven't managed to establish a personal shoe style. Anyway, I allow myself to acquire about 4 pairs of designer shoes a year. Yes, no more cheap shoes and no more seasonal de-cluttering!

1. Alexander McQueen Mary Jane Heels



Red and brown. Suede and fine leather. Very sharp combination. Dislike its pointy toe cap though, cos it hurt my feet terribly. I have wide feet, ya see!

2. D&G buckle crunched flats



One thing I like about leather-made accessories is that the more you wear them, the more they become beautiful. This pair of flats isn't an exception. I have been wearing it for more than 6 months and it looks prettier and prettier. However, due to the crunched design, it was a pain in the ass to wear. Until I cut the rubber band and it is perfect.

3. Marc Jacobs dark blue pumps



Square toe and chunky heel, a comfortable design? Nah, dun let it deceive you. It's 4-inch high which can really kill you if you walk too much. Talking from a painful experience here! But I love the additional height it gives me and the compliments I got from wearing it. Just be prepared to soak my poor feet in warm water at the end of the day though.

4. Yves Saint Laurent Ballerina Flats in Purple



My latest addition into the collection. Actually I wanted to buy the silver cage bow heels but that pair cost over SGD1k, even after a 50% discount. And it is 4-inch high and I was still traumatized over my Marc Jacobs pumps. Anyway, I just realized I hadn't had any purple shoes before. So here it is, lovely sitting there in my shoe rack.

All in all, for this year, I have bought 2 pairs. I might buy about 2 more pairs, if there are any good deals out there for me grab! My wish list includes a pair of Lanvin flats and a pair of Christian Louboutin heels.

Look Fabulous For Less

From Nini's Style blog:

Look fabulous at all time without spending a fortune. Know when to splurge and when to save. Your head to toe outfits does not have to be all designers, but you just need to know how to pick and put it all together. Here are some of the tips that I’d like to share with you:

Coat, shoes, and handbag should be your big ticket items. You can never go wrong with a pair of Christian Louboutin Stiletto, a great Lanvin bag, or a Prada coat.

It Doesn’t matter whatever you have on your body, it could be K-mart, forever 21, or Ross. You can rock it if you have on a pair of good shoes. As seen on my photos, my skirt is vintage, turtle-neck from thift store, Judith Leiber belt, and shoes from Marni.

There’s no need to buy another version of what you’ve already owned instead change the accessories.

The black dress that been sitting in your closet, take it out today and wear it with a fun color scarf, and your new favorite shoes.

You should consider paying for less on items that you replace every season like t-shirt, legging, tank, and running around clothes. I personally like theory and vince basic tees, it’s really soft and last for a long time.

By mixing the highs and lows and adding a touch of vintage is the modern ways of dressing. Who wants the look of dressing head-to-toe in one designer brand?

I love to mix my Commes des Garcons ruffles hook and eye sweater with XXI skinny pant, and vintage clutch. Building your outfit around one good statement piece should consist items that you spend on the low ends. This will bring out the statement piece and will give an overall fabulous look. XXI now carry a lot of nature fiber clothing that you can choose from. I love that store….

Know what looks good on you. Be honest with yourself about your body. It will save you time and money.
Choose clothes that fit your life.

GSS 2009

I'm so broke this sale season! After 4 months of not-so-much shopping, GSS 2009 has been a disaster for me! I've been spending too much now, and in combination of other events, I'm nearly broke. But of course, I'm happily broke.

To keep myself in track, I will use this post to list all the good purchases I have been making. Dun read if you are not a shopaholic. You have been warned.

- 10 books (checking)
- 1 pair of Met store pearl earrings
- Zara dress
- 2 Ralph Lauren dresses
- 1 Ralph Lauren turtle neck top
- 1 pair of Tommy flats
- 1 pair of FCUK flats
- 1 FCUK dress
- 1 Island shop dress
- 1 vintage dress
- 1 pair of Marc Jacobs heels
- 1 Swarovski necklace
- 1 Kate Spade Tarrytown Quinn in Orange
- 1 Mango dress
- 2 pairs of United Colors of Benetton tights
- 2 Massimo Dutti scarves
- 1 Massimo Dutti cotton vest
- 1 BCBG dress
- 2 Zara dresses
- 1 Zara slip
- 1 Zara scarf
- 1 Zara cropped cardigan
- 1 YSL ballerina flats

December travel plan

Okie, here is the deal! Due to some unpredicted events, I have decided to move my Sep trip to Dec. Even the country has been changed. It is Canada now, baby! I would love to celebrate a white christmas once in my life. So I cancelled my air ticket to NY, just in case I change my mind again.

As you know, I love making list. Since we are in the paperless era, I think writing a blog post about my trip planning could be so fabulous. [Edited] I have managed to redeem an air ticket to NYC so I guess I don't need to plan for LA or SFO.

Here is the tentative itinerary:

- 15 Dec: Fly from SIN to NYC
- 16 Dec: Fly from NYC to Niagara Falls (Jetblue)
- 16 Dec - 18 Dec: Niagara Falls Canada (2 nights)
- 18 Dec: From Niagara Falls Canada to Toronto
- 18 Dec - 28 Dec: Toronto (10 nights)
- 28 Dec: From Toronto to NYC (Air Canada, arrive to Newark)
- 28 Dec - 05 Jan: NYC (8 nights)
YES! I'll count down new year in New York! Good God! I love this plan!
- 05 Jan: Fly from NYC back to SIN

Budget:
Round trip from SIN to NYC and back again: S$621
One-way trip from JFK to Niagara Falls: USD 110
2 nights in Niagara Falls: USD 300 (Sheraton Fallsview Hotel & Conference Center or Sheraton on the Falls)
One-way trip from Toronto to NYC: USD150
8 nights in NYC:
1. USD1700 (The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Tribeca)
2. USD1900 (Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca)

Alright! I know I'm a bit fickle-minded. But think about it! December is winter and what can you see at Niagara Falls in winter? Ice and snow, exactly. And my friend told me it is quite near to where she stays, which I might convince her to go with me on one of the days I am in Toronto. But that's if it is convenient.

So here is my plan B:
- 15 Dec: Fly from SIN to NYC
- 16 Dec: Fly from NYC to Chicago (Jetblue)
- 16 Dec - 20 Dec: Chicago (4 nights)
- 20 Dec: Fly from Chicago to Toronto
- 20 Dec - 28 Dec: Toronto (8 nights)
- 28 Dec: From Toronto to NYC (Air Canada, arrive to Newark)
- 28 Dec - 05 Jan: NYC (8 nights)
- 05 Jan: Fly from NYC back to SIN

Budget:
Round trip from SIN to NYC and back again: S$621
One-way trip from JFK to Chicago: USD
4 nights in Chicago: USD 460 (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers) or USD 510 (The Westin Chicago River North)
One-way trip from Chicago to Toronto: USD
One-way trip from Toronto to NYC: USD150
8 nights in NYC:
1. USD1700 (The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Tribeca)
2. USD1900 (Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca)
To be updated...

San Francisco Sep 08

This was taken on 29 Sep 08 at Union Square in San Francisco. I so love the weather there! Just nice to wear light coat and boots. And introducing my lovely Furla bag.

Am I a bag snob?

I am on the 9th cloud right now. Why? It is because I just bought a Kate Spade Tarrytown Quinn for myself. For those who know about my travel plan this Sep, laugh all you want. Yes, I know I was talking about waiting to shop in the States. Yes, I know I need to save lots of money for that trip. Yes, I know this year the economy is down. Yes, I know there were many reasons that I need to save money. But really, I thought very hard before I decided to bring this bag home. I have been lusting over this bag for a year, or as long as I saw it. And when it was on sale last year, it was 30% discount and I couldn't feel justified enough, for that kind of leather, color and brand.

Time passed, this year's sale has come, I wandered to Kate Spade store again, didn't expect much. And there it was, sitting invitingly on the shelf. I couldn't help myself and took a look at it. Lo and behold, it was a 50% discount and in my favourite color. OMG, I thought to myself, "I could afford it, should I buy it?" Anyway, I walked out of the store and went to buy some jewelry at Swarovski. The next day, I was still thinking about it which meaned I really wanted to buy it. So I went back there with a friend who I wanted to give me a rational voice. And you know what? The bag was sold out at the store. What the heck? I felt so lost and so sad. And I realized I would have to buy it at all means. So I asked the SA to call to another branch to check if they still had stock. The answer was YES. I felt so relieved but it was too late to go there at that time. And today, I went to the other branch, saw the bag, checked with SA for the new piece, had my credit card swiped and BAM, I am a proud owner of a new bag. A Kate Spade Tarrytown Quinn in orange.

That is the typical story of a reformed shopaholic. And back to the question, am I a bag snob? I do not know. Truly. I just feel myself loving bags made of good materials, and at the moment, I am really into leather. I do believe that leather bags will last you very long, compared with bags made of other types of material. The more you wear them, the more they look beautiful. Long-time worn leather bags have a very particular look which make them more unique. Also, just do some simple math, if you keep buying cheap-material bags, you can only wear a few months and then you will feel bored with them, and of course, discard them. And nowadays, those bags are not very cheap either. You can spend nearly 100 bucks for them. And because you think they are cheap, you will buy more, quantity over quality. Within a year, you can easily spend a few hundred bucks on bags which you can't keep at all. Whereas, you save and buy 1 or 2 good bags a year, but you feel content and confident when wearing them. Over the time, you will have a collection of good bags which you might be able to pass down to the next generation. That is if you keep them in very good condition.

And speaking of cheap bags, they will do you no good when travelling. I had a case of bag malfunction at the airport where the handle of my bag broke. I had to run around to find a new bag, just to replace that old bag. It wasn't a pleasant experience, I must say.

Anyway, enough talking, now it's time to goggle over my new bag. Muahahhahaha....

In its shopping bag



Then in its dust bag



In its own glory



In another angle



Enough? Yes, I think so!

Last day of 2008

Just to mark the date

This time of the year!!!

It's the last Saturday of 2007! Wow, 1 year has come and gone so quickly that I really feel like it was just yesterday I celebrated Christmas with all of my friends in Vietnam! How time flies!

Christmas this year was really boring for me! Staying at home and watching Japanese drama series the whole day! All because I wanted to avoid the crowd in Orchard Road! Sometimes, it's not that good to be too free!

Anyway, it's the time for me to look back and see what I have done in 2007! Which resolutions have I managed to get done? And what should I focus on improving in 2008?

Here are my 8 resolutions for 2007:

1. To slim down at least 3 kg --> I dunno if I have slimmed down! I haven't weighed myself since... (can't remember! Hheheh) But I just assume I've lost some weight for the sake of my confidence! Well, I'm vain, I know!
2. To start learning ballroom dance --> Yeah, I've managed to learn latin dance for 6 months and then stopped until now! Working and dancing dun mix well, I guess!
3. To spend less on clothes and shoes --> Errr! I dunno how much I have spent on these! Guess it wasn't less than what I had spent on the year before! Couldn't help it! I'm addicted to shopping! Excuses, I know!
4. To earn and save more money --> Saving money? No! Earning more money? Yes! Changing job with better pay? Yes, but I'll count this for 2008 'cos I won't start my new job until next year!
5. To learn Japanese again --> Again, I managed to register for a course! But learning Jap in Vietnam sucks! The Vietnamese teacher has a very bad accent which I couldn't stand! Overzealous classmates who still think good grades are everything that matters! And this is just a language school!
6. To get in touch with friends and acquaitance more frequently --> I had definitely achieved this! Congrats to me! Yay!!!
7. To be more organized --> I guess I did???
8. To read more quality books --> I'm sure I have read more books, but quality books? Not so sure! Dun laugh!

Well, what can I say? I'm a normal human who should never get all her resolutions done! That's what resolutions are, anyway! To let us to have some focus to start our new year with! I'll have my 2008 resolutions ready either on 31 December 07 or 1 January 2008! That's all for now! Cya!

Another Xmas has come!!!

Hi y'all! *Waving madly at her friends*

I've disappeared again for nearly one month! Just too many things happened and I had no time to blog! Sorry for the lack of updates though!

Firstly, update with y'all my whereabout! I'm back to Singapore and this time will be a long long stay! No more staying in Vietnam for 2 consecutive months like before! The next times I'm back to Saigon should be in short periods! So less reviews on Saigon restaurants and shopping for me!

Next, my job! I'm officially unemployed now! However, dun fret for me! Only until end of this year! I'll start my new job on 2 Jan 08! So I have a whole 10 days resting at home before going on a new exciting (hopefully) journey! Good planning, right? I'm celebrating my 12 days of Christmas now!

Last but no least, my shopping! Surprisingly I dun find sale in Singapore is attractive this time! Guess I have too many clothes so I'm in the overload mode for shopping! I'm more concentrated on collecting accessories! Online shopping is still going strong for me though! VS and its super gorgeous collections! Moreover, VS SAS is now on! Less reason for me to shop outside! But there's still Zara which I hope I can cope something from there!

So... that's all for now! And I wish y'all a joyous xmas and a wonderful new year! Loves!

Media appearances!!!

Just my sharing with the reporter! I couldn't believe that she turned it into an article. Felt a bit embarassed but said thanks to her anyway. It's not everyday you can appear on newspaper, right? Hhehhehh...

There were another 3 more appearances on HTV but I only have one in cd with me. I had to say I look quite different on screen, but still recognible.

What: Gourmet walnut bread or Walnut rustic bread

Where to buy: Tous Les Jours (Saigon, Vietnam), Carrefour & Swiss Bakery (Singapore)

How much does it cost? 13,000 VND or S$4 - 5.5

This walnut bread is perfect to eat alone or with some bacon or smoke turkey ham! If you prefer some jam or butter, it should be great as well. This is a bread afterall! Hhahhahah...

Indian food for spice lovers

I've got to know Indian food since I went to Singapore to live and study. Yet I didn't taste it until I graduated from uni. That was for 3 years long and I used to wonder why Westerners love eating Indian food so much. I remembered walking into Bizad canteen and saw a long queue of European and American students in front of Indian food stall. It was crazy and funny, I must say.

I officially tasted Indian food when I was working in hotel and got to know May, a Burmese ex-colleague. She's Muslim, speaks English, Burmese and Tamil. She loves Indian movies and TV drama series. And of course, she loves Indian food. I stayed with her for 6 months until I changed my job. It was an interesting cultural experience. There was also Lata, another Malaysian Indian ex-colleague. With their love for Indian food, they has dragged me in and out Indian restaurants and food stalls. And according to them, Blue Diamond near Mustafa is the best Indian restaurant in Singapore. I must say I agree with them whole-heartedly. Also, I prefer Northern cuisine to Southern. You've gotta try it before you understand what I'm talking about.

How about in Saigon? Where is the good place to have Indian food?

I've been back here for a year, minus time I flied back to Singapore for biz trips and shopping. Yet I've just explored Indian food since last month. That was after I get bored with Japanese, Thai, Western and Korean food. Never Vietnamese food, mind you.

The first restaurant I dined in was Tandoor, at Vo Van Tan St. Reason being it's near my house. But I wasn't impressed much. Even though it served Northern cuisine, the taste was mild at best. The only good thing was Nan, unleavened flour bread.

The second dining place I had was Saigon Indian Restaurant at Mac Thi Buoi St. Wow, this was a different class from Tandoor. Very authentic food, both North and South. Why could I be so sure? Because its food tastes nearly like what I had at Blue Diamond in Singapore. The first time I was there, I ordered Ajwanin Fish curry (sour and spicy, a must-try), Chicken Biryani (another must-try) and Cheese nan. Spicy enough for me without burning my throat. One downside was the nan, not so good as the one at Tandoor.

Tired of words? Some pictures for you...

Inside the restaurant

Plain Biryani, not so good as Chicken Biryani

Some vegetable dish, forgot the name, quite delicious!!! Originated from the South of India

Alright, this was one hella spicy dish, Chicken Vindaloo. The waitress told me that it was very sour (vinegar) and spicy (herbs). When I tasted it, I was like "oh gosh, my throat is burning", in a very good way, of course. Have lotsa water ready when taking this dish, okie?

Indulgence of the Month

It's an indulgence to find out your purse was on sale (30% discount) and you'd just gotten your salary. Here is my brand-new purse/wallet, taken by none other than my BFF...

Guess Olympia Trifold in black

Now I feel like regretting writing down that wish list. The list seems to help me to focus on buying what I was neglecting or ignoring before. Some of them require heavy investments. And I just go and turn those wishes into realities. Who else is better in grating my wishes than myself?

Anyway, back to the main topic, I fell in love with this purse quite a long time ago. I like Guess alright. The brand's got style, I must admit. But it's too bling for me, especially its bag and wallet collections. Half of its collections are too showy and heavy (litterally). Except this Olympia collection. More of my style. Since you've seen the purse, you might get what I meant. How about a look at the bag which is now on sale on its website?

Pretty, right? It's now selling at USD48. Compared with the usual price at USD80, it's a real steal. Anyone coming back from the States, please let me know and help me to grant my 10th wish. [Edit: A guess spree was open, yet the bag was OOS. Shocked and disappointed]

I'm wandering again. The trifold was selling at S$59.9 when I last saw it in Singapore. In Vietnam, the price tage was at 599k VND. A tad expensive for a wallet, I think. So when it was on sale at 30% discount, I didn't hesitate paying for it anymore. Either Guess or Mango. And Mango accessories this season are quite disappointing, being that they are leaning toward 80s trend, except sunglasses. It came with a box which I now use to put name cards inside. Quite convenient, hohohoh!!!

L'Amour

May I introduce to you my new BFF, Nokia 7373 from the L'Amour Collection?

It's been 2 and a half months my ex BFF left me at Changi Airport. I was mourning for her loss and purnished myself by forcing me to use back my very old Nokia 2650. Not a pleasant experience, I assure you. When I use the word "old", it really means old. Poor him! Had to work over time with me! Even his keypad was separated from his body!

Actually, before I decided on N7373, I was thinking about Nokia N70, N72 and 7373. In the end, 7373 has won and I found myself in accompany of her, even though I had to pay for her at retail price. So how is she? So far so good.

2 megapixel camera. Pink color for the cover, sweet and elegant. 128 MB memory card. Since I've bought a cable to connect with my lappie, I can download games or whatever I like to the phone, or vice versa, I can upload my pictures I take to my lappie immediately.

What else could I ask for in a cell phone? Love it!!!

Indulgence of the Day

It's an indulgence when you have a 2-litre tub of ice cream sitting in your fridge, waiting for you to have a go at it whenever you'd like.

This is top of my list of comfort food.

X Cream Green Tea Ice Cream - a damn big tub and chock full of goodness in it!!! You can see smoke is coming out from the tub! Of course, it's like a block of ice for all we know!

There it is! A tub full of ice cream in front of me! It's green in color. My new hp doesn't have a flash so I couldn't capture the color well. But who cares? Just look at it, I feel my mouth watering.

Have a scoop of this and you will know what heaven is like, especially in a hot day.

I'm a shower gel freak...

that's why I ordered a total of 10 body care items...

5 of them have arrived my friend's house... Mine were the boxes which were red-circled. Other items are from other spree-ers. Mine hasn't reached to Singapore yet. Hhahaha... I might post them, though. If you request so nicely...

The parcel was so big, bigger than an A4-sized magazine

What were inside it were more special

5 paper-wrapped unknown items (to you only. Of course I knew what they are...) and a VS catalogue with a super duper sexy Alessandra Ambrosio on the cover. A bonus from Amanda babe... Inviting? Yessssss.... VS bras, I'm so expecting you...

Best chocolate cake in Saigon...

... in my opinion as a disclaimer.

I love food. I love dessert, especially ice cream and cake. I had discovered the best ice cream in Saigon in my list and it's still X cream (screw Bud's and Fanny, not up to my standard! at least for green tea flavour). But cake is really a challenge.

I have my fair share of dining in restaurants and hotels. Caravelle, Sheraton, Equatorial, Windsor, Sofitel, Rex, just to name a few. I tried their buffet just so that I could try their cakes. Love the caramel spoon at Equatorial (exclusively at the Club Lounge, I think!). There are 4 types of cake I always want to taste, i.e. chocolate, cheese, blackforest and chocolate fudge. Yet I'm still in the quest to look for the latter 3.

I also have a fair share of spending my time at coffee houses. But cakes there are disappointed at the very least, even Highland, Terrace. And don't even talk about Kinh Do, Broadard or Duc Phat. They are just selling normal birthday cakes and I no longer eat those. (a bit fussy in this department, heheh!)

That's why it explained my surprise when I tasted chocolate cake at Soho Cafe & lounge bar. Chocolate cake over there is heaven materialized in a piece of cake. The chocolate is not too sweet, a bit bitter, melt immediately in your mouth. The sponge is not sweet either, perfectly combined with the chocolate, to give you the best taste ever. This piece of cake can be compared to the one I had as my b-day cake last year. Yummy!

I've tried Soho's Chocolate cake and Green Tea cake. The latter is just average standard. Yet still, there are other types of cake for me to choose next time I come back here. But the price is a bit steep. 25k for a piece. Worth trying? Absolutely yes!!!