So as we are travelling on the road in a taxi, he decided it’s an opportune time to present me my gift. First, I chortled at his gift-wrapping effort. Three sides wrapped with another random piece of paper plastered over the area where he realised there wasn’t enough wrapper. Then I peeked through the gaps between the wrapper. Umm… two black boxes and some text that says… I N S T A X. I simply couldn’t make out what it was. So I proceeded to rip off the wrapper and TADA!

*Cue SQUEAL*

A Fuji polaroid 50S in Black Piano!!!

I have been yearning to get either a lomo camera or a polaroid camera and have been caught in a dilemma for the longest time. I wanted to have either one and start taking random couple photos which we can hang on the photo line for all to admire. All that rustic whimsical feel. So it’s great that The Man has decided for me.

And so I’m clicking away!  

 The 50S apparently comprises a few features that will develop sharper and more vibrant images than the previous models. The ingenious self-timer even allows user to take two shots with a single touch of the shutter button.

I have to agree that the 50S does take sharper images. When my new polaroids were juxtaposed with 70S’ polaroids, a marked difference is observed. The colours are slightly more true and less of the dull yellow tint.

The Man thought it well – he included 2 packs of polaroid films, 2 packs of films with printed patterns, a transparent crystal case and a zoom lens with mirror for self-protrait(!) Of course, now the question is “where to purchase cheap polaroid film pack?” I have to start scouring the online markets! Actually, the first thing I did was to search for accessories. Kekeke. I got my eye on this camera bag that is actually just a rip-off inspired by Alviero Martini’s signature bags. WANT WANT WANT!

In other news, I tried out my new bottle of nail varnish from Butter London. Fiddlestick’s the name! Pardon the smudgy edges though. Like I said, I can’t paint straight to save my life.

Anyway I’m cautious not to waste any polaroid films (i.e. random useless shots) until I get my hands on more cheap films to stock up. So hard….

What is that ONE gift you so yearn for this year?

XOXO
Gie

This holiday season I’m lapping up every dark lustrous velvety shade possible. Right now, I’m wearing a shade of dark dark emerald with gold specks ‘Live And Let Die’.

OPI Skyfall Collection featuring Bond Girl Severine includes:
Golden Eye (Honey Gold)
The Spy Who Loved Me (Apple Red)
The World Is Not Enough (Rosy Silver)
Live And Let Die (Dark Emerald/Forest Green)

Pardon the grainy pictures! I believe my mobile’s camera is acting up again. Normally indoor pictures work rather well but not this time.

Anyway I’ve read so much about Butter London’s bevy of shades comparable to OPI’s. I fell to temptation and got myself a Butter London Fiddlestick. Such warm cosy shade of ‘magenta glitter suspended in a raspberry base’. Almost oh-so-delicious.

 From left to right: Butter London Fiddlestick; OPI The Spy Who Loved Me

I can’t wait to try on the reds and magenta over the new year and lunar new year. In the meantime, my favourite shade of nude OPI colour is sitting in my cabinet. That poor lonely thing.

What are you favourite go-to colours for the holiday period?

xoxo
Gie

The Mother put in a very valid concern: what if it rains on our wedding day, this time next year? When The Man and I opted for an outdoor solemnisation in December, we were half-prepared. I say ‘half’ because we know we can blame nobody if shit really happens. Another half is lacking because we haven’t thought of a plan B.

Maybe we’ll get married in one of those giant-ass umbrellas with the howling wind blowing into our faces and the misty rain coating our dress and suit. Well, old-wives tales has it that fortune will come your way when it rains on your wedding day.

Putting a smile back on a rainy weekend

The Man and I revisited a previous old haunt – Oriole Cafe at 313 Sommerset. I like my coffee in the evening. Strange I know, but I enjoy sipping my lattes and Straits7 as the sun goes down. Since Oriole Cafe @ 313 stopped serving coffee after 7pm, we have diverted our attention to other cafes. The coffee still had us falling heads over heels. The bold roasty flavour is just what we love about Oriole’s coffee. I’m ever thankful that The Man loves and appreciates his coffee as much as I do – something we have in common and bond over.

Coincidentally, our wedding day-to-be is also The Man’s parents’ wedding anniversary, which makes the affair a whole lot meaningful. Although his father is no longer around, the family has been commerating him in many ways, including on the parents’ wedding anniversary. The Man’s father loves eating out and sussing out the best food in town, so what better ways than to feast in his memory? He would have loved this traditional Teochew cold crab from Guan Hin Teochew Restaurant. The meat was so fresh and tender that everyone at the table agreed the best way to savour this dish is to skip the dipping sauce.

Caramelised Pear cake from Cedele, courtesy of my dear colleagues

The office has a tradition of celebrating birthdays every month. Two days after getting the cake, we then remembered the cake was still sitting in thr fridge! I almost wanted to concole the poor thing. Such delectable work of art and we almost left it to rot over the weekend.

I was the ONLY December baby but unfortunately that does not enetitle me to have the entire cake to myself. LOL!

Christmas is nigh. Yet another year of
- feasting
- yearning (don’t you wish that DIOR bag is yours?)
- loving (who’s proposing?)
- and getting all made-up (you got that $128 make-up palette for a reason, no?)

Getting in touch with my inner Bond Girl alter ego. Wearing ‘Live and Let Die’ from OPI Skyfall collection.

Warm Christmas greetings from a dear dear friend in United Kingdom.

And soon, Lunar New Year will arrive. The Great Singapore Sale will mark the mid-year. Then Christmas will be back all over again. How the year recycles itself. So may we all grow wiser and healthier.

What are your Christmas wishes?

xoxo,
Gie

All you need is a cuppa hot peppermint mocha and a big bear hug!

It did not disappoint. The perfume. The notes are the most spectacular that even I have fallen in love with the sophisticated  subtle musky fragrance.

The Boyf did not disappoint either. *chuckles* Sending me into fits of laughter when I witnessed the skills at gift-wrapping (or rather the lack of it). The chap got me a Tivoli Audio Table Radio, touted as ‘the original radio company’ that makes ‘the best sounding table radio’. True enough, the internal antenna works very well and listening to the Christmas jingles on Class 95fm was such heaven.

But I can’t bear to use it. It shall sit at my bedside table in our new house very soon.

Another year has passed and new beginnings beckon. Counting down to the new year, folks!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

xoGie

Red Velvet @ Twelve Cupcakes

Lovely night view from Singapore Flyer

Modern art on Tin Tin @ Xtra

My grand masterpiece @ Artestiq

Get-well geberras from The Boyf

Wrapping Christmas gifts for my lovely ones

How’s your Christmasy mood coming along

xoGie

True story. I decided to just let the season slide and go with the flow. Past years have seen me flustered with house parties, late-comers and guests who simply didn’t turn up (the monster rain’s the culprit). Then I gave myself headaches over the dinner menu, entertainment and gifts (right down to the order of songs on my iPod playlist). Monstrous is the way to describe it.

I won’t deny I had a lot of fun Warm memories still etched in my mind. But really, this yearly routine/ritual and its accompanying hassle wears me down. This year, I just want to chill with the family.

Of course you will never find me far from a bottle of bubblies no matter what. First at our homely Christmas dinner. Right after that, The Boyf and I joined some friends at TAB for more drinks. You may remember TAB from my encounter about my birthday dinner reservation being screwed up. Well, Adrian and Varian, the co-owners promised to ‘make it up’ to me and they did it just right.

All I could say is I was pretty high on bubblies by the time the clock stuck at midnight.

I’m rather excited about 2011. A couple of close friends getting married (read: excuse to purchase new clothes!) and a plan to get the hell out of town this time next year for a holiday. A white Christmas I’m hoping

Happy holidays to y’all

xoxo,
Gie