reflections

the last day of the year...and i don't seem to know what to say or think
looking back, it's been eventful, tiring and quite a ride this year
i wish for it to be better in 2009...
perhaps healthier...a more balanced work/social life...more fulfilling...
and that my friends and family be blessed with good health and happiness.....
happy new year to you all...and yes, it's gonna be better....no...it has to be better!

if you like it, miss it, think of it now and then..
and feel a little empty without it, you should take chance and get it.
after all it'll bring you satisfaction and fill your life with memories and perhaps even emotions.
what's more...it is an asset. umm...it is.

so yes..i should get it...and i did!!
boy did my face lit up just holding it.
happy.

winter wonderland

i feel like a child once again when i received this from water. a snow globe-like card....merry xmas to me...and may my wishes come through...

it's the season of giving...

i made the pegs. used the kodomo no kao stamps i got from osaka and borrowed D's labeller. something practical for my colleagues. hope they like it.

"White Fruit" Radio

Literally a radio box, with no knobs whatsoever. Instead, station selection & volume are adjusted by running your finger along the ridges on top. Beautifully designed by Swann Bourotte, the wood used is sycamore, prized for its acoustic properties and often used in the finest musical instruments.

patience...it's a matter of time....

a jolly season of love...and friendship...

had a great time last night. bonding, chatting, hugging,teasing and laughing.
no more no less, just 11 of us in our private dinner room.
i feel nourished, both by the tasteful dishes as well as the company i had.
our 10th year of celebration. so nice to grow old together.
here's a toast to many more years ahead my dearest gang! cheers!

LV Mahjong!?

Spotted at their NYC showroom's The Magic Room. Also check out their cheese fondue set!

The Wooden Clothes Peg Reborn

Re-imagining the humble wooden clothes peg, people who do this definitely have a creative flair! This designs were found on the site Poor Design.

*photos by J. Pierzchała.

Key to My LAPTOP

Check out this US-based design firm, BY:AMT, headed by Dutch designer Alissia Melka-Teichroew.

Double Umbrella

Finally, an effective brolly for 2pax! Available online at the SkyMall.

15 years too late?

i don't know what took me so long. but i finally caught Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's classic movie, Sleepless in Seattle this afternoon. wish i had caught it earlier .... to feel part of the sleepless nights...watching it now, gives a different feel to it ....

Fluidline

Mac Fluidline
Ultra-smooth, Fluidline’s gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action.

I've got the blacktrack one and it's a shade of solid flat black. An angled eyeliner brush is required. Great for shakey hands like mine. Thinking of getting another color.

beauty

Solitaire 1895

This solitaire has been a Cartier classic since 1895.

The elegance of the lines is unique;

the refined and light setting allows the light of the diamond to flow freely.

i just love emerald-cut diamonds like that. Such beauty. oooohhh..

Bentley Laptop

A limited edition (250 sets) offering from the luxury car brand.. seems that all the luxury brands are expressing themselves in the tech lifestyle arena. Well.. not my favourite design. Ego for Bentley.

Dior Phone

The ultra-luxury phone by Christian Dior. Available in the Sapphire Crystal model, and the 3251 carats Diamond model (encrusted with 640 diamonds; only in black). Pictured in the last two visuals are mini phones ("My Dior") that can be used (with basic phone functions) based on their bluetooth connection to the Dior Phones.

A Slice of Time.. Lemon @ 4pm

Save the Earth! Replace batteries with lemons! Literally!

Designed by Anna Gram. Learn more about how the Citrus Clock works here.

spending time with water is like finding myself back again
the conversations, the ambience, the dressing up and the drinks
things i missed sometimes

2 different gals, from 2 different countries with only one common number - 26
enjoying the moment and may there be more to come

An alternative to "smart" phones (for the mobile executives who needs to be always checking their emails; eg, iPhone). Sometimes we simply want a phone, and don't need to surf the web on a 'large' handphone screen whenever we are not at our computer desks. Designed by Porsche.



Touchscreen, GPS and even a fingerprint sensor for security, among other features. If only Steve Jobs (Apple) would come out with a more compact handphone. And how about a consumer and prosumer camera!?!

LUX MINERALIS Porcelain Lights

Designed by Christophe Garcia, organic & reminiscent of seashells & corals.

"Paper" House

The Ayuntamento de Madrid Book Fair Pavilion, designed by Olga Sanina + Marcelo Dantas. The topographic space is created with plastic sheets.

Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel Euro Coins!

Designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Coco Chanel's 125th anniversary of the latter's birthday, the choice of the 5 Euro coin was inspired by Chanel No 5 perfume. The design features a portrait of Coco Chanel surrounded by a string of pearls near the coin's edge, and the signature quilted pattern - "matelassé".


To be released on December 1 by the French Mint, the gold version (limited to 99 pieces) weighs 5 ounces, and is available for 5900 Euros, while the silver version is available for 45 Euros.

christmas, new year..festives..are all about being NEW.
new clothes, new job, new resolutions and now for me a new hair style.
just got my hair cut really short (in my definition).
was a tough decision made together with my dear stylist.
finally..a fresh...new look...hopefully something that'll last me a while..

Coco Avant Channel

Oh man...i nearly died reading this. New face for Chanel, Audrey Tautou is going to be acting as the elegant Coco in a movie to be aired early 2009. And what's better is that the Art Director of Chanel House, Karl Lagerfield will be supervising the re-creation of costumes and accessories for the production. With the fashion, the styling and Audrey in this one, this is a MUST watch.

can't believe this is true. utterly disappointed.

Conceptual Design

Pictured are "Non-Collar" and "Hand-Bag", samples of the creations of designer Jo Cope. Check out her website for other conceptual work, all with a message (see the info tab in the top right of the screen).

The Massacre

have i mentioned before how i turned to banking as a career? don't laugh at me, but it was a childhood fantasy back those days when i was about 4 to 5 years old.

i had a pair of bankers as neighbours. they are a great couple and both our families always go for meals together, cooked for each other and my sis and i played with their children who are around our age. i always hear my mum said that my neighbour wore salvatore ferragamo shoes. back then, i don't know what these shoes were except that they were very very expensive shoes (that's how mum put it).and sometimes during festives seasons, through the eyehole from my apartment, i would see people delivering hampers to their house. though dad had quite a few hampers too, but i always wondered, why do they have so many hampers? then i asked dad and he said, that's because they are bankers.

and that's it. from the age of 5, i have my career and mind all set in banking.

i wouldn't say i had a great career so far nor that i've achieved alot as i feel that there is still a long road ahead of me, but i must say that i have learnt alot from the various roles i've undertook in the few local/foreign banks i've worked for. i've met some people i wish had not met, but also many great people i'm glad i've met. some became enemies and some became friends.

it was never easy. some asked if i love what i do. frankly, i don't. and those hampers don't really exist actually. these days, you need to declare monetary valued gifts to compliance in case you are being bribe and what's not. so no hampers and no salvatore ferragamo ...all bullshit. just some childhood silly aspiration. also handling clients or internal customers can be a pain. and what's worse is dealing with people's money, dealing with regulations and policies etc etc.

so why am i still here? for a simple reason - it's my bread and butter. life is not just about what you like to do or what you want to do, but sometimes it's about your livelihood. i've always wish i could worry less of others and just do what i want. but that never happened and will never happen.

and perhaps my recent career stint changed my thoughts of 13 years. i never thought that a job would be that important to me. and never thought that i would be feel affected if retrenchment were to happen to my organization as i always feel that one could easily move on and find something new. but perhaps as you aged, or perhaps it's on home ground, or maybe perhaps it's the many familiar faces, voices, friends, environment and surrounding you're facing and are in, the fear seems to surfaced gradually. that you want to keep your job.

the massacre took place today. it seems like any other day at work, but to the 900, i'm sure they left the bank with disappointment, anger while some others might feel relieve.

i'm glad it wasn't me. this day has marked the next milestone of my banking career as it is the worse i've seen and felt so far. let's hope for the better and let this coming christmas lift the mood up for us.

colour pencils

Finnish environmental Artist: Jonna Pohjalainen

McQueen strikes again!

Lee's latest Samsonite design:



the limited edition Hero piece.

Fashionable Spirits!

The bar and the catwalk have always been close, which some of these designs would attest to. Take this limited edition Chivas Regal bottling designed by Alexander McQueen, for example. Only 2,000 pieces, exclusively at Selfridges for GBP300:



Or the Cosy edition of Grand Marnier:



Hand-made Moët & Chandon's Midnight Gold, limited to 100 cases:



Also involving Swarovski crystals and Moët & Chandon's champagne, a personalized service available briefly at Atelier Moët, London:



Another Swarovski adventure, by French fashion designer Catherine Malandrino, for Cointreau:

shd i..shd i not?

but i WANT!!!!

it's so quiet tonight...
but i got alot to do on my to-do list
need to plan for this weekend..
yeah, going to do my nails...
then cuz 's wedding to attend...
then..it's bday celebration with the gals this wkend
we're gonna have xmas planning...big discussion...
and..need to jot down my shopping list...
did i miss anything...?

07 Jan 2009

i must mark my calendar...the special date with STARS....they're coming!!!

ho ho ho!!

christmas shopping has begun!! and it lifted my spirit!!!

ps : yay...i'm gonna get myself a great christmas prezzie...to keep all beautiful moments in life!!

i feel an overcast in the sky...like it is hovering above me...
i wish it be gone soon..so that i see smiles and happiness ..
And that they laugh till they grow old...

i can only wish...and just wish....

i'm so pissed............stupid bank...i'm glad i left.

Latest Beauty Craze

Almond Apple Velvet Concentrate - face moisturizer

Foaming Rice CleanserFoaming Rice Cleanser

Brightening Smoothing Exfoliator

i always liked L'OCCITANE's beauty skin and body care. happened to browse their range yesterday and found lots of interesting products. i got those above for daily use and the exfoliators to brighten my skin. tried the Riz Rice one already and i must say i'm giving it a thumbs up.

i'm interested in the following too...and they might be great xmas gifts for my gfs...i would love to see them aged beautifully in grace and elegance. i'm already looking forward for xmas now....!!

Delicious Tummy - Firm Skin Around Tummy/Waistline

Cherry Blossom Hand Cream

Brightening Cleansing Foam

Grape Anti-Water Retention Gel

Cherry Blossom Body Lotion

Very Precious Eye Serum