Rewind / restart

The second half of 2016 passed too quickly. It feels as though every year I'm just struggling to write/remember the year correctly, and when I've finally gotten used to it, the year has ended again. Till now I still make the mistake of writing '2015' instead of '2016'. The fact that time will never slow down adds on so much pressure, and this December has got to be my worst month of the year, emotions wise. 

Every other day I felt the constant urge to break down and cry, then I pacified myself but the good thoughts dissipated quickly. I had so many doubts about what I really want, on what I am going to pursue. I was highly unmotivated, my life felt stagnant, and nothing was improving, yet the world continues to revolve. 

The Christmas holiday had been such a good break because I realised what I really needed was time. Time for myself, and me only. So many nights in December I suffered from insomnia and could only fall asleep after a long time with this unsettling feeling; without having at least a bit of time in the day to do something I like, to even reflect on my thoughts and actions. I felt so disconnected from me. I really admire people who can work without a day of rest or spend all their free time with other people, because I can't and, possibly, can never do that.

Goodbye 2016, you did not exactly end on a good note, but I appreciate all that I've earned and learned during your time. The new year can only hold greater experiences and adventures. Come forth, 2017!

x

Hang them up

Just a few pieces I'm obsessed with recently... my favourite way of wearing chokers is over a V neckline, or a statement tee under a thick chain.

x

Vertical alignment

October was by far the craziest month for me this year. I didn't realise that I've left this space untouched for a month. But busy as it was, I find time less wasted, and there were more rewarding moments. Or maybe it was simply too hectic that I cherish the stolen times even more than ever.

I was with Allan spending his first weekend out when we discovered some of the prettiest houses at the most beautiful hour of the day, so obviously I couldn't miss this photo opportunity. But now that I think about it, even with the bougainvilleas in assorted colours adorning the whole stretch of road, if it had been a gloomy rainy day, the whole place wouldn't have look so attractive. How wonderful it is for light to beautify everything around it. ✨

x

Where to get fresh cut flowers in Singapore

You wish roses are this cheap in Singapore.

In this infernal weather, fresh cut flowers don't last long at all. Spending a bomb on these flowers at boutique florists only to have them wilt 3 days later can be really frustrating, so I'm always on the lookout for cheap and fresh flowers from local wet markets and wholesale florists. So far, there are three places where I usually get my fresh cut beauties:

Far East Flora at 565 Thomson Road

Far East Flora specializes in online deliveries, floral decoration, and the usual bouquets for every occasions, but what I really love about FEF is their cold room! UBER cold room, mind you. I feel numb to the bones in about 10 seconds after stepping in there. Although the location of this place is the furthest from where I stay, they have the best selection of cut flowers, with species that are hard to find anywhere else without busting your wallet (they even have a room stocking fake flowers). FEF is also the priciest on this list of three: a bunch of 10 tulips costs around $20, and the freshest roses from the cold room cost about $24. If you don't mind getting the older bouquets to save a few bucks, look in the other room just right outside the cold room. There are usually more chrysanthemums, pom poms, daisies and such, but there are also some buckets holding slightly bruised roses (some bouquets look perfectly okay actually, prolly just a few days old) going for around $10 - $14. 

Tiong Bahru Market at 30 Seng Poh Road

Again, not located near where I stay (man, can't have the best of both worlds) but the ground level of this market is occupied by a few florists situated right beside each other, which means competitive prices. Of course you don't get as many different species as FEF here but the selection is still pretty wide. The floral scent is awesome and they have an array of colourful baby's breaths. I got a whole bunch of roses for $14, and sometimes I purchase them by the stalk too; chrysanthemums are around 80 cents per stalk, roses are $1.50. Sometimes, the nice folks will even round down the price. Also, they have some of the best hawker fares upstairs, and the cutest directory website ever. Not to mention the numerous cafes and bakeries nearby. Win!

Cold Storage Supermarkets

Obviously the most convenient on the list. Minus the ones in places such as the airport, I think most outlets stock fresh flowers. The most common flowers I see being sold at the nearest Cold Storage to where I stay are baby's breaths, lilies, chrysanthemums, and roses. I also notice that the Cold Storage at Bugis Junction stocks a whole lot more different species than the neighbourhood outlets. The chrysanthemums and baby's breaths usually go for $3.40 a bunch, while the roses are a lot pricier (also not as pretty) than the ones at FEF and Tiong Bahru Market. But if you're not as lucky as the folks staying right beside FEF or Tiong Bahru then Cold Storage is your best bet for express flower shopping. 

Whether you're hoping to put together your own bouquet or centrepiece, these places can help you save big bucks without compromising on quality and aesthetic. I heard that the market in Holland Village also offers fresh cut flowers but I haven't been there to check it out. If you know of any places in Singapore that sells cut flowers at a great price, and also how to make the fragile babies last longer, do share them with me!

x

New Romantics

dress: Patvarin via Modparade; hat: Lack of Color

A simple low bun, paired with a flat-brimmed fedora, has become one of my favourite way to tame my mane. Often, I find it difficult to style my hair as the thickness hinders the hair tie from making more rounds to keep the bun or ponytail secure. To lighten the load, I usually opt for light layering at the hair ends, but that also means that the shorter layers will fall out of the bundle to become pesky little flyaways. With this bun, the flyaway fine hairs actually add on to the whole 'effortless' look, and the hat keeps them away from the face. 

This dress was a piece I picked last out of my selects from Modparade, but is fast becoming one of my favourite dresses. The lace-up detailing towards the hem makes a classic shift silhouette so much more interesting to look at and wear... I am glad that my collection of dresses is growing. They are so easy for lazy days, and the possibilities of layering with them are aplenty. 

This dress is part of the curated collection by Modparade, which will feature various labels from different Asian territories, so do drop by their physical store at 68 Haji Lane to get your Thai Designer pieces from now till January 2017!

x

Obsessed with: Graphic Tees

Tee: Modparade

Ever since I got the Campbell's Soup Cans tee, I knew I'm onto something. I love how perfect these tees are for hot summer days, or rather, perpetually sunny Singapore. They are so good with just jeans and a choker, like this one. They look so good layered too. Maybe a basic black tee will do just fine. But will it ever look as cool as one that says Chanel in the Metal Lord font?

Nope.

This obsession ain't gonna stop for me. Uh-oh!

x

Light layers

food & place: Noshery

pinafore: ASOS; top: Zara

I LOVE two-piece layering. I have a looooong way to go in mastering the art of layering, but my layered outfits are the more prominent outfits I've showcased on my Instagram. It can be as casual and normal as just an outerwear or my denim vest over a top, or a sleeveless dress over a sheer white tee. Layering can elevate the look of two pieces that would otherwise be plain worn alone. I live on this tropical island that is sunny 365 and the heat really makes wearing an outerwear unbearable most of the time. Some people say "do it for the gram!" but I have near zero tolerance to feeling burnt under a leather jacket and sweating at the back. You know your favourite Instagrammers based near the equator are going through a lot for those pictures. Haha!

Anyway, my next best bet is to opt for thin layers. Spaghetti straps, tees, and overalls can make layering a breeze. Not to forget about the details - flared sleeves, embroidery, cuffs, and the fabric of the pieces. Being in my layered outfits gives me a sense of confidence similar to wearing a good pair of shoes, because it is true to my style. Years of experimentation made me realise that it makes me really self-conscious and awkward to wear something that I feel uncomfortable in. Uncomfortable in this case can refer to the outfit not suiting my character, doesn't fit my body shape and height well etc. You can take cues from the fashion bloggers you follow, but inspirations can only take you so far. When the day comes to an end, you have to be the one to know what fits you the best. 

Here, I've paired this uber cute Pepsi logo crop with my new favourite overall. After a few days of "normal" weather, the temperature is slowly climbing back up to hell. I was glad to live through that day in this outfit. Aside from my obsession with layering, I'm also a huge believer in accessorising, and hence brought my newly acquired retro-look gold eyeglasses out to play the same day. Believe it or not, it costed only $4! And is surprisingly sturdy. Love when I find cheap but good finds like that, but doesn't everyone?

This post is a little too wordy than I've imagined, but I think after 1.5 weeks of not updating the space there's so many things crammed up in my mind that I need to declutter. Psst, that 1.5 weeks was spent watching the drama Misaeng, which is really good and motivational. You know that feeling when you finish a real good show and don't know what to do with your life afterwards? Haha! Time to start hunting for another drama.

x