Our relationship with Stuff

We humans have a symbiotic relationship with our stuff. We collect stuff. We keep adding more stuff to our growing pile of stuff. We spend hours online and offline hunting for our holy grail stuff. We finally track it down only to lose interest in a few short months and then we're off on our next expedition to locate the next stuff. We even organize events to swap stuff.

The burgeoning pile of stuff forces us to spend more money to buy a bigger house to store our stuff. We spend hours trying to edit our closet in order to make way for more stuff. We fill empty spaces in our house with stuff but only special stuff that classify as mementos.

There are even large storage units that we can hire to store our stuff if we move overseas and didn't want to take them. We dutifully pay hefty fees to store stuff that we forget as soon as we arrive in our new destination. We fork out extra dough to lug heavy suitcases only to wear half of what we brought. Not to mention that using public transportation to and from the airport is out of the question, thanks to our stuff.

The more stuff we own, the more it costs to insure them. We hold on to stuff for sentimental reasons including ones that look pukeworthy like the hideous giant glass vase (mine) that's too big to put flowers in and too small to fit a human body. And when we're dead, our grieving kids collapse with exhaustion just trying to get rid of our stuff.

Interesting Reads for the Weekend

10 of China's most powerful women.  My favorite quote came from Gong Li, China's best and perhaps the most famous actress. "I don't think good looks can ensure that a woman will have everything. That's a very naive thinking. A woman has to be a contributor to society. What I mean is that having a career or creating something positive is key because good looks can fade and you are left only with your abilities."

There are many possible realities but which life do you want to live? The choice is yours.

"There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4.18. What would you do if you know the person you'll marry will die? 

A heartwarming story about how a lost Indian boy who found his way home 20 something years later using Google Earth. It took him 6 long years tracking thousands of railway lines relying only on his memories as a 5 year old. Here's his story.

The dramatic Rick Owens Naska Leather jacket

After a series of selfies taken for the purpose of displaying this Rick Owens jacket, I'm now convinced that a self portrait is an art form in itself. Trying to pose appropriately, relaxing facial muscles without looking like a wide eyed deranged woman on drugs while trying to control my arms  trembling from holding a hefty camera - all done simultaneously is quite a feat. On a more positive note, freezing myself into several poses with my gut sucked is considered a new form of Pilates...... Who knew?

So.......let me introduce you to the avant-garde Rick Owens Naska leather jacket, complete with a coat-tail. This new and edgier version caught my eye a few months ago. I decided to take the plunge when the Liberty store offered a 40% discount to all their VIP customers. Thus began a comedy of errors on their part - cancelation of order due to computer error, a demand to show evidence of my order (because the customer doesn't have a brain so she doesn't know what the heck she was trying to order in the first place), re-order, wrong SKU number (my fault apparently even though I don't even have a clue who does the tagging in their store) and finally, overcharging me (refunded with an arrogant message "we decided to refund as a gesture of goodwill").

Of course, the story wouldn't be complete without a mini soap opera of some sort - all culminated with my darling (note the sarcasm) sales associate who declared "this jacket is the BANE of my life" before holding further discussions with his colleague while forgetting that his phone wasn't on mute.  Nice one, bud. How one supposedly prominent and much admired store can be so sloppy with a simple transaction confounds me......

Okay, rant over. Despite its rather inauspicious start, I'm ecstatic with the jacket. But then again, Rick Owens is a genius for being able to design a leather jacket with a dramatic flair that managed to look both feminine and badass at the same time. The slightly padded shoulders gave my droopy ones an extra lift, the nipped in waist squeezed all my fatty bits into the right places giving me a pseudo-hourglass silhouette and the long sleeves with knitted wool inserts make my batwings look long and slender.

p.s. By the way, I'm a size UK 8 which converts to a 42. There's a UK 10/ IT 44 Rick Owens Nasja jacket at 30% off at the moment.

Smile.....you're on camera!

Photographing inanimate objects is a far easier task than people. There's no need to engage with a cupcake nor deal with its self doubts (does my frosting look good? Is my strawberry topper unbruised?)  and you'll never ever have to get it to relax its posture either. When you're a naturally shy and quiet kid like me who view the word party as death sentence, it's twice as hard to appear bubbly and cheerful when your DNA is programmed to do the opposite.

I jumped at the opportunity to attend a photography workshop organized by the lovely guys at Green Light Digital on behalf of Simply Health. I've learned a few new jokes, tried a new lens to shoot, gorged on street food at KERB, caught up with the effervescent Emma whose smiles can light up any room and left with several helpful tips from our coach, Paul who's also an award winning photographer.

Thank you, Green Light and Simply Health for the fantastic day. A huge thank you to Annie,  Jess, Olivia, Sarah, Emma and Lucy for offering their services and volunteered to be willing victims models. 

Interesting Reads for Weekend

Made in China clothes. The truth about the High Street.

A tearjerker TV commercial showing what kindness is all about.

Absolutely blown away by the articulate and talented 3 year old who wants to make people happy.

Dami Im, Australian's X Factor 2013 winner's humility and talent won the nation's heart. Her husband reminded her that she won because of the people who voted for her, thus she must remember to give back to the community. Here's the story.

Zipping through Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a photographer's paradise. It's also the land of friendly golden haired giants (never felt so petite in my life), bicycles and boats. Everyone seems to be driving/cycling on the wrong side of the road (sorry.....couldn't resist) and I kept looking on the other side........ I was nearly knocked down on multiple occasions by bikes, trams and cars. I am alive thanks to Angela's insistence on holding my hand each time we cross the road. #MajorRoadSafetyFail

Although we were there for work and on a relentless schedule, we still managed to snatch a few moments to admire the scenery and drink copious cups of coffee.  It was my first trip to Amsterdam but it certainly wouldn't be my last. On our last day, we nipped into De Nieuwe Kerk to see the World Press exhibition. The photos were deeply moving, poignant, tragic and inspiring. I doubt any of the attendees left without feeling like we were put through an emotional wringer.

NAP sales

1. Etoilé Isabel Marant Bradi leather jacket 

2. Moschino earphones

3. Etoilé Isabel Marant Gabe jacket

4. Tod's bracelet

5. Gucci suede pumps

6. Rick Owens leather jacket

7. Bottega Veneta pouch

Bear with me for a second because I've got sales on my mind. Net-a-porter global sale is ON. You'll probably notice that I've got a thing for black leather jackets......... I was rather surprised that the black Etoilé Isabel Marant Bradi has been reduced by 40%. It's a little too similar to my Kady or else I would've nabbed it in an instant. I'm drawn to the Gabe jacket too....... what do you think? Yay or nay? I've been thinking of the Gucci suede pumps with rather interesting bamboo heels. Too sedate? Or not bad? 

Top Sales Picks

1. T by Alexander Wang classic t-shirt (reduced from £65 to £37)

2. Lancome eyeliner (reduced from £20 to £10)

3. Lancome mascara (reduced from £22.50 to £11)

4. Givenchy Lucrezia bag (reduced from £1365 to £546)

5. Petit Bateau pajamas (reduced from £33 to £14)

6. Isabel Marant Dicker boots (reduced from £360 to £215)

7. Senso Fafi sandals (reduced from £175 to £88)

8. Fendi double wrap bracelet (reduced from £200 to £100)

9. Senso Jolie sandals (reduced from £170 to £85)

10. Barbour jacket for kids (reduced from £79 to £39)

If you shop the way I do, you make note of what you want when the new collections hit the racks and wait till the sale season before taking the plunge.  I was amazed at how much the Givenchy Lucrezia bag has been reduced along with my favorite Lancome products. If you have kids, the Petit Bateau range and Barbour jackets have been reduced by 50% to 70%. The Isabel Marant Dicker boots are fabulously comfortable and they're selling at a decent price. I've just checked out a few items and can't wait till my packages arrive. Has anyone managed to nab a few great bargains?

Embracing new things

Outfit: Isabel Marant Etoile utility jacket, Alexander Wang t-shirt, 7FAM denim cutoffs (similar), Hermes Cape Code watch and ankle boots (similar).

Forgive my rather lackluster posts in the last few weeks. Work, family and personal projects have kept me so busy that I feel like my brain's completely fried.


Self Image...............

Continuing on the topic of self image......... it seems that the more photo shoots I do of women, the more I notice how insecure most women are about their looks. Who am I to say since I loathe being in front of the camera too? If it wasn't for this blog, you'll be hard pressed to find photos of me anywhere, even in my younger days. More than a decade ago, my wedding photographer shot me a venomous glare when I told her that 10 photos was enough............ If looks could kill, the husband would've been a widower on our wedding day.

It's this anxiety that starts to rise like a tsunami wave the minute the camera is pointed at you. Should I turn to my left or right? Actually, which IS my good side? Am I slouching? Is my double chin showing? Is she going to photograph my muffin top? I found this video recently on how to pose for a head shot which will ensure that you'll have a beautiful and well defined jaw line.


Embracing new things..............

I need another visit to my optometrist because I can only make out the words if my book or laptop is an arm's length away. Each time I part my hair, I notice more grey hair than ever. BUT......I've taken on a new challenge.... to NOT be limited by my age. I've started listening to K-pop and C-pop (Korean pop and Chinese pop) songs and was inspired by their creative and at times, very quirky approach to music. I've hung out with bloggers half my age and their curiosity and fearless approach to new technology motivated me to do the same.

I feel that there's a certain social code attached to moms. It's as if that one gets "mommified" from the minute you have a wee babe attached to your boobs and beyond. Now you have to be r.e.s.p.o.n.s.i.b.l.e. As my child gets older and I feel more comfortable in my skin, I feel the urge to embrace new things and not limit myself. To ask why not  and plough ahead when facing new challenges. It's good to feel that tad bit uncomfortable when doing a new task because that means that I'm growing.

So what if wearing a pair of cutoffs and ankle boots isn't supposedly age appropriate for a 40 year old? Ahem.....actually, I injured my foot and have been limping since Saturday. The only pair of shoes that I can wear are the boots. Go figure. I drew odd looks from a few individuals but my friends loved the new look. The encouragement may be just the vehicle for me to embrace my quirky fashion sense.

Photography: Lil L

The Concept of Ideal Beauty

Talk about the concept of the ideal beauty and you'll get multitude of variations depending on which continent you live in. It's a topic that we can postulate for months....... Is it any wonder that the cosmetics industry is growing by leaps and bounds and projected to hit $265 billion by 2017?

On the other hand, fewer men seem to suffer from the same affliction. I often wonder if we judge ourselves more harshly whereas there's less emphasis on looks for the other sex. It's interesting how different the East and West perceive the ideal beauty to be. There are times when straddling the two different cultures makes me feel like I need to install two operating systems in my brain because they're polar opposites.

It's the pursuit of the impossible. The Asian continent wants whiter skin, larger eyes, smaller faces preferably with more angular jaw line and smaller lips. The Europeans prefer a tanned look, fuller lips and larger breasts. The only common point I can see is rhinoplasty because a narrow and sharp nose is desired by both cultures.

Is the growth of the global beauty industry fueled by our obsession for unattainable perfection? Is our self esteem linked to our self image? How is it most of the accomplished women that I know are so self conscious when it comes to their looks?


Photography: Angela Martinez

Summer Outfits

Outfit: J.Crew camo sweatshirt, Zara boyfriend jeans and K.Jacques St Tropez sandals



Outfit: Love Sam top (size S), 7FAM denim cutoffs (similar here), Hermes Cape Cod watch, K.Jacques St Tropez sandals and Chanel sunglasses.

YEEEEESSSSSSSS!!! Sunshine!  *pounding fist in the air*  Bet those of you who live in the U.K can understand my elation when the weather forecast flashed 20 something degree Celsius for the rest of the week.

Here are a couple of quick snapshots with my phone. I'm loving my Love Sam (pun intended) cotton lace top. It's slightly voluminous, simple enough to be versatile yet eye-catching so that it's not just another boring black top. It took a couple of wears to break into my new K Jacques St Tropez sandals and they're my new favorite. I'll keep this short and sweet as I've got packing to do and an early flight to catch tomorrow.

Interesting Reads for the Weekend

Here's the ultimate Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote guide complete with everything you'll ever need to know about the bag.

The co-founder of the popular Polyvore, Jess Lee with the story of how she went from a super user to being the CEO of the company.

What happens if you have to tell someone something important that will change their life forever?

The case for fewer but better clothes.

10 life lessons from a Navy Seal.

Fail-Safe Outfit

Outfit: Zara blazer, Uniqlo silk shirt,  Zara boyfriend jeans, Marni ankle wrap sandals (similar here), Hermes belt, Hermes Collier de Chien and Chanel wallet on chain.

I'm in my casual gear most of the time (read: track pants). Making sartorial choices for slightly dressier events leave me frazzled most of the time. The end result is never ever good whenever I overthink about my outfits. I'm not the most creative with putting together a look with a wow factor but when all my faculties fail, I resort to a mostly black outfit including the infamous boyfriend jeans. What's your fail-safe outfit?

Juicing for health

I'm not much for detoxing. Sticking to a diet seems to have the reverse affect on me.......meaning I barely last 48 hours before falling off the bandwagon. So I've learned not to make empty promises to myself........ like I'll go off junk food for 2 weeks because I'll inevitably get even more obsessed with the idea of eating them.

Being put on hypertension meds for life has a sobering effect. I had a take a long and hard look at my diet. I've learned that certain types of vegetables and fruits can help lower blood pressure.  For instance, celery, pineapple, potatoes (especially when combined with some sort of dairy), beetroot and banana (which I absolutely detest with a passion).  After a few juicing mad friends preached the benefits of drinking veggie/fruit juice, I went out to buy a super duper juicer that cost an arm and a leg.  After the initial furore over juicing anything that resembled a veggie or fruit, the machine was stashed within the depths of my kitchen.

Fast forward a year........I unearthed my expensive toy and started juicing once or twice a week just to get that extra whack of much needed vitamins, especially after overdosing on patisseries for the past 2 months. Currently, I'm trying kale, cucumber, celery and pineapple. I'm not sure I can bear juicing capsicum or rocket leaves. Has anyone been juicing lately? What's your favorite concoction? Have you noticed any difference, health/skin wise?

Summer in Black & White

1. Love Sam cotton lace top

2. Vanessa Bruno Athé playsuit

3. Vanessa Bruno Athé lace dress

4. Sam Edelman Trina sandals

6. Vanessa Bruno Athé scalloped shorts

I had to google what the summer months in the U.K are. No. Seriously, I did. June IS officially the beginning of summer.  Weather....you could've fooled me. Other than the brief sunny interlude, it's back to grey skies and rain. I'm dying to shed all my coats and wear proper summer clothes for a change.

You'll notice that my love for broderie anglaise, particularly of white and black variety shows no sign of abating. It's still going very strong two years on. Thanks to Eileen who pointed me in the right direction - Love Sam lace top from Shopbop. It worked out to be approximately £110 including duty tax and the shipping was unbelievably quick. The quality is fabulous. I can't see a vast difference between this and my Isabel Marant top. There's a huge price difference between the two brands but the lace top from Love Sam looks FAR better in real life.  FYI - The fit runs slightly big. I ended up with a medium but I could've easily do with an XS.

I'm still adverse to the idea of wearing overalls, dungarees or jumpsuits but this lace playsuit (romper) from the diffusion line of one of my favorite French designers, Vanessa Bruno has been on my mind for the past week. It's pretty and feminine without being overly saccharine. The same can be said for the lace dress which can be casual or glammed up for the evening. The scalloped hem adds an interesting touch to an otherwise ordinary pair of black shorts.

Bag Inserts

You smell that?? That's the scent of freedom. My first sniff after a half term break that seemed to go on and on and on. I swear that maternal love swells to tsunami heights when our kids are asleep or in school.

I've been thinking about getting a bag insert for the longest time. Variations of bag inserts have been around for a long time but lately, the idea of having one holds a stronger appeal. A friend and client kindly allowed me to photograph hers (it's called Fourbi from Hermes) but after numerous price increases, the £400 ish price tag is far too much to even consider as an option.

Swapping bags can be a pain in the bum. I've always ended up leaving something important behind. Pffffffft..... Secondly, my camera has left scratch marks on the leather lining of some of my bags. The other problem is that the bigger the bag, the deeper the sinkhole its interior becomes. I'm constantly digging for stuff which drives me bonkers when I'm at a supermarket checkout. I saw this on Etsy for under £12. It looks pretty impressive for a relatively small sum of money. Do you use one? Is there one that you can recommend?