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In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. -Coco Chanel
When life gives you lemons, ask for tequila & salt.
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HEADING OUT...
Thursday, Nov 5, 2009 10:21AM / Members only
Be Back in December...
Leaving you guys a few photo & the Geneva album.
A few photos of my usual hiking trail, behind me is Stanford...
Gotcha...squirrel...
Bet you guys don't know my favorite cuisine is Korean foods :)
Love the mushroom + tofu stew
Honey sweet potato...
Breakfast at Mimi's. They have the best caramel nut muffin...
The foam just came with the heart-shape like that and I have a waitress :)
Bloody breakfast that cure all moods...and hangover :-)
Blueberry stuffed cream cheese French toast top with strawberry & syrup.
So the subject of boots and many ways of wearing them come up a lot lately with the girls.
Here are some of mine (dressy, work/everyday, weekend, and travel boots, etc.) and how I would wear them...well a few ways :-) I generally update my boots collection every 5 years & they suppose to be season-less...
I'm always the look out for these key elements: versatile, functional, comfort
& if at all possible polished.
Same pair, 2 ways of wearing them, fold-over or the new trend, over the knee
My warm & rugged work/everyday boots
...wearing with short...
My walking/travel boots
Finally, my new sunglasses that suppose to not give me headache & dizziness but still chic (so I hope =P)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! -
China in November...
Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 4:15PM / Members only
My China trip is finalized; last destination is Beijing late Nov., probably try to take it easy this time around (^_^) It will be a short one pending a longer duration trip soon afterward that will include Singapore. Thanksgiving away from home doesn't look so bad this year. Carmen to join me from Melbourne; guess I can say it's 8 years almost reunion for us. I was originally plan to book a tour between all the cities (still debate if I should visit Xian too or use that time to stay longer in Shanghai) but being with group of people all the time and no flexibility is no way to relax so we'll play it by moods and get to know the cities our way this time. Its going to be really interesting since this is the first time I have no plan upon arrival aside from work. Any suggestion or tips are hugely appreciated!!! That said, please forgive me being slow and unresponsive from now on as I will be swamped for a long time. Thank you (^_^)
This is the 3rd camera this year for me prove how much I love the ZS3.
Love antique blue color I'd before but figure I go for different color this time, is red too flashy?
Test photo(s) using the camera, still pretty good huh (^_^) The Blue Angels is coming in to town...the navy are everywhere!!!
Elmo, after his grooming :-)
Paddy, this is what a Dutch baby look like...nope, it's not a 20s something blond
but I know that probably your breakfast of choice.
Need a girlie opinion, should I keep my hair straight which is somewhat high maintenance especially with all the travelings I going to do from now on. Waking up looking like a broom is definitely not the look I'm going for...lol. I'm thinking of putting *body wave* (soft big, curl on my hair) like my profile pic...little body & bouncy definition so I can wake up and look...presentable. My hair is super thick and stubborn, it doesn't look like this in the morning for sure :-( Help the girl out would ya' all? Sowee, my bare face ain't easy to look at but these are the only close up photo I got :-( Having a "blah" moment again but cutting my hair short probably piss off all my friends...ahh, peer pressures of being a girl...hehehe. Question for the guys...what is this about long hair that you guys love so much?
Wavy hair :)
Thank you guys!!! -
Bon Appétit (^_^)
Friday, Sep 25, 2009 2:10PM / Members only
So I was asked why I don't blog about random, everyday personal stuffs. Honestly, if my last blog is not personal enough, I don't know what is. I like travel, love foods and adore pretty things so those are the things I often blogged about and share photos. Anyway, here I am, sharing a typical Weds night with you guys...that if I get to go home from work before everyone is in bed.
This is meant to be a personal blog, a blog that share another side of me that even close friends don't get to see often. I don't cook, not frequent enough but cooking is my de-stress mechanism. I cook to relieve work pressure, personal pain and depression. Because of that, I take my time in the kitchen but follow no technique whatsoever. This meal take about an hour and a half mainly because the pork is slow roasted. It easy to prepare, consider an heart-attack dinner but it's comfort food (^_^)Tonight menu,
dry roasted pork serve on Ramen noodle with beef broth,
white chocolate macadamia nut,
pear green sparkling tea.
Ramen Noodles on bed of veggies, slided green/purple onion,
mushroom and hard boiled eggs
I've tried many egg noodle but I love this brand, a Nippon company subsidiary but
factory is right here in San Jose, a Product of U.S.A, funny twist!!!
Broth is cook from beef bone, add seasoning and a teaspoon of Olive Oil,
doesn't suppose to look good, just have to taste good!!!
Growing up, I love roasted pork. I remember the crunchy pork skin that I always got yelled for clean up the poor piggie before the guests even get to it.
2 .3 pounds of pork belly marinade with special roasted spice powder and dry-refrigerated for 2 nights prior till I cook the poor thing. Oven tend to trap water so it has to be done from a toaster in high heat but slow roast to golden perfection.
Beverage is actually sparkling pear tea. I made the tea before work in the morning,
as it cool down to warm tea, leave 2 slides of ripe pear and refrigerate. Tea will be soaking with delicious pear sweetness and aroma by the time dinner is ready, add a bit of Club soda and....you got yourself a nice drink. Soda is meant to help digest the fatty meat :-)
Lastly, the chunky, warm bake white chocolate macadamia nut cookie to wash all that down :-) Will probably do desert blog one of these days. I'm taking vote, Napoleon, Eclair, or Creme brulee...and yes, from scratch!!!
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MAKEUP JUNKIE...
Wednesday, Sep 16, 2009 2:07AM / Members only
I don't blog about makeup and beauty products much not because I don't like beauty products but because I'm clueless when come to make up, skin care, etc. There's a lot of makeup artists on AnD and members that are much much makeup savvy and while enjoying reading & learning, I feel I should not talk about stuffs I know so little about. I'm not a makeup junkies consider I usually buy major makeup twice a year and hardly stop by the makeup counters unless I need to replace something. I don't follow the hype or keep up with makeup news and have no urge to replace something if it works well, I won't change and keep buying the same thing for years. I do believe that at certain ages, a girl should know few things to enhance her face not only to protect what her mom gave her but also to look age appropriate. I do believe there's such things is TOO much but there are people that seriously need make up because it honestly scare me seeing their real face...lol. I am, however, the type that would try to put makeup on to get that "natural" no makeup look...hehehe. I think makeup should be use to enhance your look, not to change your face :-)
That said, this blog is meant to share with you girls my habits and routines but in no mean serve as tips :-) Also, it's because I keep bother you girls with all my silly questions, it's about time I put up a blog especially for Butter & JAC =P Recently, I decided to clean up my usual routines. I used to feel that it's my face, I should put the most expensive stuffs that money can buy because you can't settle when it come to your face right? Boys, am I wrong...after much trial & errors and breaking the bank for years, I figure it out, costly products don't always mean they're the best and believe me, I tried them all...to the ridiculous face cream that have crushed diamond in it. Does it help...not really....I now go to spa to pamper myself but fresh Aloe Vera I grow out in my balcony and milk mask are seriously the 2 things that really make my skin glow and acceptable enough to go bare face in public....I also found that the myth that right makeup for your face actually will make your skin look better over time is true. It's almost kill me but I actually throw out pretty much all the stuffs I bought last year and start over again with colors that really work for me and brand that I always reach for, not because it has pretty packaging and the cool logo. Here are a few photo...of whatever left in my daily routines :-)
Easiest combo-3 to fake the flawless-skin look, Px Flawless foundation primer, 16-hour Mineral liquid foundation, and Virtual Matte Pressed powder!!!
My other favorite brand is Armani. The Luminous Silk Foundation powder is very expensive so I don't use everyday but feel and look like a dream. Ultrafine, soft silky matte finish make my face look like I'm being photoshop :-) I tote it around in my bag in case I need it but I don't use it everyday. Their eyeshadow formula is amazing but too bad the color collection is not much to work with. The SA was so nice to give me 2 free full-size eyeshadow that use as their tester; my favorite color # 55 that being discontinued...that's $28 bucks each pan.
All my brushes :-) I use Chanel, Bobbie Brown, and Sephora...
My lovely new brushes collection. I find brushes really is the key to perfect makeup routines...
Best Chanel eyeshadow Demure quad, very feminine soft...
I normally won't go for pencil eyeliner but this survive all day at work, my birthday party and wake up the next morning with perfect eyeliner but come right off with face cleanser. Showed in Marine which is really nice dark blue/green but they came in many nice colors. Still love my Chanel La Ligne Duo in brown; also I found that Magic Night eyeshadow when use wet make perfect, warm purple liner as well.
Chanel Orient Express eyeshadow duo, one of their very best combo color ever...
The color look very deceiving in the package but it's soft blue-purple and soft barely there satin pink.
Chanel Safari eyeshadow and Rouge Allure Laque lipcolor. Safari is the one color I always re-buy when it ran out, a single color I can't live without. Rouge Allure in Curious is Chanel best to spoil yourself. It's sheer brown nude lipstick that no one seem to make these days.
JAC + Butter, this is the softer Duo than the Orient Express called StarDust, pretty right?
Different formula too since it's more creamy than the prior.
Best lilac shade for eyeshadow EVER, cool indoor and warm outdoor.
Same shadow, 2 ways to wear it :-)
One hair product I can't live without :-) It kept my hair manageable but at the same time shiny, glossy and healthy.
Laura Mercier Tender Mauve is matte blush that has a hint of brown. Winter Bloom has some shimmering in it and both colors kinda blend with your skin and depend on lighting, change their shades a bit which I find very versatile for girls that constantly on the go. I like the compact packaging and unlike many others, quantity is not always a great thing because I never have problem that they don't last and I always ended up throw them out and replace at the end of the year. The third one I use as shadow base or when I don't want to use eyeshadow and just put on mascara :-) It has this really light matte beige-pink...like a baby butt smooth...lol
Two Faced Shadow Insurance (best shadow primer for me keeping and I found that it helps bring out the true color of shadows as well as make it look vibrant), Giorgio Armani Sheer lipstick (it's non sticky and has the barely there tinted chapstick look) . I have full lips plus it's already pink so naturally I'm a gloss girl, can't handle lipstick most of time and I love how light and non sticky Bobbie Brown & Chanel glosses are. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 is the product I choose if I can only have 1 item in my makeup bag. Sometime, I actually wake up, bundle my hair up, put my Prime Time foundation primer on & the Tinted Moisturizer and out the door to work. Also, I highly recommended Prime Time foundation primer. Facial moisturizer won't give you what this can, make your skin smooth and even out flaws and I sometime just use it without put on my foundation powder because it's amazing :-) Laura Mercier Foundation Powder # 3 and # 4 work best for most of my Asian gf and I use both shades. It soft and natural, flawless coverage. I also swear by Shiseido's blotting paper. It helps set my makeup and lift the oil and keep my face look fresh like I just apply makeup :-)
I have yet found a better blotting paper than this and it doesn't have loose powder that mess up your makeup. Make Up Forever Aqua eyeliner have some really good colors and my fave to brighten my eyes are Teal & Deep Purple colors. Although they don't work as well as my gel eyeliner but if you smudge it a little, it last me through 90 degree heat the whole day, sauna and 2 hours Yoga section. Lots of great reviews for this but I know that it doesn't work the same for everyone; it makes my coworker look like a clown after 3 hours but for me it work when I don't want to mess around with brush and gel liner. Mascara, I use DiorShow blue (above), Max Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper Mascara (brown), Prestige (jet black)
After trying all the popular brands, I find nothing really improve my skins as claimed. Amazingly, Neutrogena & Aveeno even out and brighten my skin after a month use so I stick to them. I don't use wipes to remove make up but I use Biore' when I'm at the gym. I'm lazy and don't like to mess around with makeup removal and Philosophy Purity as well as Lancome cream cleanser work really well with taking off everything from my face in the shower and don't dry my skin out....
I read somewhere that scent memories is the strongest & coincidentally, I don't remember what my mum look like but I still can remember what she smell like and she passed away when I was 2. Because both her and my nanny use Chanel # 5, I adopted this scent for myself. I usually only spray perfume on my clothes the night before but I strongly depend on perfume lotion to help me smell...me during the day :-) Most of the time, I don't use perfume unless I get into the power mood. Yes, I'm boring but these are what I used for the longest time and I don't try new scent...very faithful to my scent :-) Fresh Sugar Lemon, Chanel # 5, Dolce Gabbana classic, Chanel Chance =P :-)
My mini Chanel # 5 that travel in my bag everywhere, work and travel. It's so elegant yet cute and functional 1oz. size. Came with refill too.
I learn from the best, my everyday makeup junks organized & pretty; thanks Butter!!!
Found new mascara :-)
Nail Polish, I was told that well-groom toes and hair show how well you take care of yourself :) I call my Chanel nail polishes "the" Vampire collection :-)
This is my makeup bag I carry everyday...kinda boring isn't it :)
Just wake up, gloss & primer are the only thing I put on my face so I can walk the Mo. Technically, no make up...yet :-(
After my daily makeup routine....all made up, do I look different? I don't use eyeliner most of time and light eyeshadow to soften the my face...
Some photo of dinner, in fact I think I only eat dinner ONCE this whole week :( Have a good week ahead everyone!!!
Spring roll, Nan flat bread with curry sauce, Sate chicken in spicy peanut sauce, String bean in garlic & prawn sauce...
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09-09-09
Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 2:23AM / Members only
Happy TRIPPLE-9 everyone (^_^) Call this blog peer pressure blog if you may but here are random stuffs about me that for some reasons my lovely friends want me to write them down even they already know most of them. If you're catching this blog while you're hungry, don't scroll pass # 40...fair warning (^_^)
1. What time did you get up this morning? 3am
2. How do you like your steak? Well done
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? District 9
4. What is your favorite TV show? Most of shows I watch are on Showtime and HBO but current addictions, True Blood, Dexter, Burn Notice, Californication...can't really name just one :-(
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? N. California
6. What did you have for breakfast? 4 oz. of blueberry, 2 boiled eggs, and a Dutch baby
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Thai
8. What foods do you dislike? Foods that move and foods that I can't name =P
9. Favorite place to eat? Friday's (their beer battered shrimp & Jack Daniel sauce is divine)
10. Favorite dressing? Honey Mustard and Ranch (equally)
11. What are your favourite clothes? Jean & dress shirt
12. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Jordan (and all the place I haven't been in the last 10 years, specifically 4 continents worth of countries :-)
13. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Either
14. Where would you want to retire? Vancouver
15. Favorite time of day? 2pm
16. Where were you born? I honestly don't know
17. What is your favorite sport to watch? Hockey, American football, tennis
18. Bird watcher? Absolutely not (I can't sit still for that long...)
19. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning
20. Do you have any pets? Yup (plus coworkers)
21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Possibility that biological father is not my real father. (For those that know me well, this is HUGE.)
22. What did you want to be when you were little? An architect, a pilot, a governor, a valet attendant (not sure what happen there)...
23. What is your best childhood memory? 99.9% of my childhood memories are horrific, no joke.
24. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog person, I like pets that listen to me :-)
25. Always wear your seat belt? Of course...with the way I'm driving :)
26. Pet Peeves? Ignorance, arrogant people, waiting.
27. Favorite Pizza Toppings? sausage and mushroom
28. Favorite Flower? I'm not a flower person but cherry blossom and yellow roses.
29. Favorite ice cream? Vanilla
30. Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonald (yes cliche') and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (New Orleans style fast food, what's not to love...)
31. How many times did you fail your driver's test? 0
32. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Saks Fifth Avenue, they have everything even luxury car and vacation packages...bet ya' all didn't know that huh?!
33. Do anything spontaneous lately? Almost everything I do lately is...
34. Like your job? Absof#$#)%*kinglutely not...
35. What was your favorite vacation? Bora Bora
36. Last person you went out to dinner with? Me, myself and I :-)
37. What are you listening to right now? Foo Fighter
38. What is your favorite color? Red, it's my power color
39. How many tattoos do you have? 3
40. Coffee Drinker? Of Course
Mango, grilled prawn salad, Italian wedding soup
(My typical lunch...)
Yeah, I'm allergic...pretty sure now :-(
Filet Mignon, delicious for calories counter....lol
This to answer question # 40 above :-)
Trying the Berry Mojito. Have so many going away lunch lately, it's depressing!!!
Sh00t, I look as white as a vamp, geez, thanks iPhone...
Some really good Rum that I just got as gift ,Mount Gay Rum...sound funny
but it's 30 years old Rum :-)
My absolute favorite time of the day, well almost...
I lost counts
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