book review: One Man's View of the World by Lee Kuan Yew

He is the founding father and architect of modern Singapore. All Singaporeans (real home grown, local bred Singaporeans) will respect this man because if not for his foresight, aggressiveness and perseverance, we will not become what we are today.

Imagine we are just a tiny dot on this world map with no natural resources of our own, who gives a shit about us? So the value and the position that we have built for ourselves today is all but the hard work of LKY and his team.

He is getting so old now. Perhaps the worst yet inevitable scenario would come soon in the near future. I think all Singaporeans (real home grown, local bred Singaporeans) will mourn should this day come. But his legacy will live on and he will always be known as the best leader that SIngapore history has ever had.

It was written in clear simple English which made it very easy to understand. Surprisingly, it wasn't a boring book, but some of his views were nothing new. This book is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to understands more about the world in a very simple concise summarized manner. His insights are good to have, but I find myself more interested in his critical and rational thinking skills, how straightforward his train of thoughts are, and his "PR" skills. A truly inspiring leader to learn from.

eyeshadow: neutral tones of brown/yellow/gold in metallic

Neutral tones, suitable for the work day, yet "bling" enough for the Friday night party.

We can intensify the look with liquid eyeliner and add-on coats of mascara for the night.

music: Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

As the title says, I (we) can't stop listening to this song.

After her "stunning" performance at VMA this year, many veteran artistes started to publicize their negative thoughts about her.

I really like this girl, and I like her even more after she ditched her girly-girly image and went into this bad-girl punky funky style and look. Not everyone can carry that off so well. She has so much character with her new look!

As an artiste, I think she has really given her best to entertain the audience. Come on, only the young and sexy can pull off that VMA performance. Do we want to see an older singer doing those moves? It would be quite a turn-off, no?

So I say, please give this lady a break!

Miley, ganbatte!

book review: Inferno by Dan Brown **spoiler alert**

I took a very long time to finish this book, not because this book is no good. I was held back by too much stuff going-on. I can only say that I was too ambitious. I am so glad that I have finally finished this book and I made a mental note that I should not over commit on other activities such that I have no time to read <(_ _)>.

 
The twists and turns were quite engaging. But I find the cause of the plot and the ending a little sad. This book highlighted the dilemmas of life and how we should choose. The greatest problem of mankind is indeed denial. If this is really happening in the real world, I feel that the viral vector should allow at least every couple to have 1 child instead of taking the chance away from 1/3 of the population. It will prolong the period for population control to be achieved but I think it is a more "balanced" decision.

magic brushes... (part 1 - basic brushes for daily makeup)

A friend asked me the other day about make up brushes.

Honestly, I was stumped. I thought very hard about how I should present this. I even tried to make a video a tutorial which in the end I decided not to use because it totally didn't work up to the effect I wanted. It is difficult to explain everything in 1 post so it will have to come in steps.

So today is step 1.

Firstly, my rules for buying brushes:

1. Expensive brushes need not necessarily be good brushes. Do not splurge on expensive brushes, especially when one is new to makeup. My first brushes were from Body Shop and I am still using them now.

2. Do some research online first, then be physically there at the counter/shop to try out the brushes. Things to look out for:
~ how the brushes feel on our skin (no "rough" feeling)
~ how well the brushes pick up color/pigment
~ the size of the brush (pick a size that is just right for our face/eyes)

3. Natural hair brushes or synthetic brushes??
Natural hair brushes are usually used with powder products. Non-powder products such as   liquid foundation, gel eyeliner, cream blusher, usually works better with synthetic brushes.
(Recently I heard from a makeup artist that natural hair blusher brush works well with cream blusher. I have yet to try it out.
Also, prevention of cruelty to animals activists will swear by using synthetic brushes. So sometimes it is really a personal preference more than anything.)

4. Invest in full size brushes, instead of travel size.
I know travel size brushes are convenient, but being smaller (flatter) and having shorter handles mean they are harder to control. Likewise for those small little brushes that come with the eyeshadow/blusher palettes, they are very difficult to control. I never use them.

5. Do have a brush roll to store the brushes properly. This will greatly extend their "brush life". Packing them for travel is also made easier with a brush roll, which means we do not need travel size brushes (See point 3 above). Amazon has lots of affordable and good quality brush roll offerings. I bought mine there.

I want to introduce some basic brushes. The first 4 brushes are essentials for daily makeup, while the remaining 2 brushes are optional.

(1) Flat foundation brush - (I use it for liquid foundation and concealer)

I absolutely swear by this now: Using the flat foundation brush to apply liquid foundation will give the perfect flawless finish on my skin. Always blend in the same direction with the foundation brush to get the perfect finish.

I also double it up as a concealer brush, instead of using the small concealer brush. I have big areas of leftover acne marks, and some small spots to conceal. This brush can handle both. The large surface area of the brush allows me to finish blending everything out nicely before the concealer dries up. Also, since it has some leftover foundation on it, the concealer gets mixed into the foundation pigment, and so resulting in seamless finish.


(2) Eyebrow/lash brush

I only use the brow brush. There are many standalone brow brushes in the market. Mine happens to have both.

It is important to blend out the hard lines of the brow pencil/gel/powder, to have natural looking eyebrows.

Choose one that goes easy on your skin. I have ever encountered one which has bristles that were so rough, I think it tore my skin. ~(>_<~)

(3) Blusher brush

Pick the right size for better control. I chose a smaller one because I like to control the intensity slowly on specific areas. The small size is also useful for blending, especially when I also double it up as a contour brush.

(4) Eyeshadow brush (large) 

I call it my all-purpose eyeshadow brush because I use it to apply and blend. For general 2 color eye makeup, this is good enough to handle everything.

The above 4 brushes are really the essentials. Next two brushes are quite optional.

(5) Eyeshadow brush (small) ---- optional

For targeted small area on the eyelid, the above eye line, and the under eye line. In summary, this brush covers the small narrow areas on our eyes.

(6) Angled eyeliner brush ------- optional

If one prefers to use cream or gel eyeliner (instead of pen liquid eyeliners), then I highly suggest getting the angled eyeliner brush instead of the flat eyeliner brush. The angled brush is much easier to control, which is much needed for drawing the eyeliner.

It will take a while to get used to the brushes so make sure we use them often. Pick up some simple technics with them and be adventurous. Practice makes perfect! ヽ(^。^)丿

product review: NYX HD Eye Shadow Base

I read raving reviews so decide to give it a try.

Pros (⌒▽⌒)☆:

~ With primer on, eye shadow color stands out better and lasts longer.

~ The creamy texture of the primer makes it easy to apply and blend on my eyelid. Its application wand, similar to a lip gloss wand, helps to make application a breeze too.

~ It is slighted tinted (very light beige) so it can be worn on its own for a natural look.

Cons ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ:

~ With the primer on, I find it harder to blend out the eyeshadow color on my eyelid. Blending is possible, but really need more effort.

~ It is slightly tinted (very light beige), which means it might not be suitable for ladies with darker skin tone.

Overall, for a drugstore brand (and thus the affordable price), I would say its a keeper.

back to normal + casual french braid

I think I was being overly ambitious. The recent swarm of activities and the participation of blogtember had taken its toll on me. I gave up on the last 2 entries and took a retreat. 

It was G.R.E.A.T!

To be away from the computer, away from the daily madness of trying to meet the deadline of submitting my post. I was also a little disappointed with the host, who on some occasions did not follow the prompt she had given out, while the rest of us tried to stick to it as best as we could.

So it may be my first and last, to participate in such an event.

Moving forward, I am going to steer my blog towards the direction that I intended for it. It is ok that I do not have followers or large audience. This blog was intended to be my little escape haven.

Yesterday, I did up a little hairdo. The casual french braid with hidden ends. It was totally random and a very simple hairdo. The weather was getting too hot and it was getting too boring to simply tie my messy hair up in a ponytail. I recalled seeing this hairdo somewhere before so I decide to give it a try.

I think it is perfect for the weekend brunch or coffee date. It keeps the hair away, while we still look chic and pretty.

Bali Food: Warung Biku

Warung Biku.

It is one of the a-must-restaurant to bring our friends to because the ambience is very Balinese. This restaurant serves local Balinese food, as well as food from other Southeast Asian countries. Besides food, this place has one of the nicest cakes selection in Bali and they have a wide selection of tea from all over the world. They serve a "high tea for two" set everyday which is delicious and value for money.

This restaurant has a small bookstore, and carries a good range of cute little merchandises that are displayed around the restaurant. One of them I really like is the teapot "dress" which can be draped over the teapot to keep the pot warm and for identification.

Hosting our friends in Bali makes me happy. Many of them usually come with little expectation but end up discovering a lot more about Bali. We usually show them the hidden gems for food, activities and places of interest and they usually both surprised and delighted by our choices. So seeing our friends enjoying their vacation here makes me happy too! 

book review: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

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Part of the ending was quite unexpected for me, it was both shocking and touching. We have always perceived science and religion to be always opposing each other, so this book really provided another angle of thought. The story was very interesting. As usual, reading Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series tend to inspire notions of travel. I've never been to Washington DC and found myself researching on the various buildings involved in the story, so it was really fun for me too. I didn't think Washington DC could be such an interesting and mysterious place.

Now I am reading the fourth book in this series, Inferno (as seen on my blog). I am stuck at it for a while because I have been held back by blogging and traveling. I am very determined to finish by this week, because I have 2 other books on hand which I can't wait to start.

Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is the founding father and architect of modern Singapore. He is well known for his straightforwardness in his public speeches, and for his charisma and ability to move his audience.

Singapore would not have become what she is, if not for this man and his vision.

So his latest book is definitely in my to-read list.

Heard too many good reviews for this book. After I have finished the Hannibal series by Thomas Harris, I was looking for similar material because I really love reading psycho-criminology.

Was planning to read this after Inferno, but Mr. Lee's book came in from a friend so I guess this will have to wait.  (∩︵∩)

music: Carla Bruni

Ok I am sloooowwwwww to find out about this...
Which planet was I living on?

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This lady rocks! I am a fan of hers since her modeling days. When she married Nicolas Sarkosy, I was really happy for her. I thought that the path ahead of her won't be easy, and I am so glad she moved along with such grace and elegance (literally too).

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And I just found out today that she sings!? And pretty darn well! Am I the last to know about this? Probably! (#／。＼#)

So I asked, who says God is fair?

product review: ghd V Gold Classic Styler (flat iron straightener)

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I cannot stop raving about my ghd flat iron straightener (V Gold Classic Styler).

For the record, I am a fan of volume and a flat iron straightener isn't exactly the volume tool. But when I am in a rush for a quick fix of my messy thick wavy hair, flat iron is the tool I'll grab.

I used to have a Jose Eber Signature Series, which is one of their bestsellers that can flat iron dry and wet hair. I have never used it on my wet hair, no matter what the marketing promises because I am not risking my hair getting fried like a banana. It was a good flat iron, but I always find my hair looking very stiff straight after using it.

Then one day, one of my besties told me about the ghd flat iron. I was skeptical at first but I ordered one anyway. It ended up she gave it to me as a birthday present! And I am eternally grateful to her after that because the ghd flat iron is so amazing! へ(゜∇、°)へ

In the picture below, I have used the ghd flat iron to straighten my hair. You can see that my hair is smooth and looks naturally straight. The curl-in at the ends and the side-sweep-big-wave on my left fringe was done using the ghd flat iron.

my hair straightened with ghd flat iron

Compare above with hair straightened with Jose Eber flat iron (picture below). My hair looks "stiffy" straight and the curl-in on the ends is not that natural.

My hair straightened with Jose Eber flat iron

Pros (⌒▽⌒)☆:
~ The ghd flat iron smooths out my natural curls in just 2-3 times of going through my hair with it. The result is silky smooth hair that looks naturally healthy straight.
~ It heats up really fast! This is a major plus for me because when I am rushing (which is all the time), I need things fast *snap snap fingers*.
~ The switch on the flat iron has a nice light indicator and it beeps when it is heated up. I love the beep sound alert feature. It becomes very intuitive to use --> switch on, beeeeep, use! (Check out video below)
~ It is made of very good sturdy material, yet it is light and easy to use. Great for traveling!



Cons ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ:
~ There is a plastic cover which comes together, that is used for keeping the flat iron in closed position for storage or traveling purpose. It is well thought but the plastic cover fits loosely so it could come off easily. It is especially irritating when I am trying to hold it, or carry it around or pack it into my luggage. I have to take special care that the cover doesn't fly off or my flat iron doesn't fall out and lands on the floor.
~ It is more expensive than most flat irons in the market.

Overall, I would say "YES! Please get this flat iron because it is soooooo good!". ＼(*T▽T*)／
Even though it is pricey, it is worth every cent for the result that it delivers. And I realised that many professional hair stylists use the ghd flat iron on their clients. So without a doubt, go get one!

product review: Revlon PhotoReady 3D Mascara

I love mascara! It is my staple, the only make up item that I would not mess up. So naturally I am always happy to review a mascara.

I have a few strands of fairly long lashes. So I really need V.O.L.U.M.E! I also have sparse bottom lashes so a good comb that could cover my bottom lash would be a plus.

My preparation:
I have primed my top and bottom lashes with Mary Kay lash primer. I chose this primer because it is good enough to condition and protect my lashes yet it does not enhance the effect of the mascara, unlike some other primers.

Pros (⌒▽⌒)☆:
~ The fine bristle brush design allows me to coat every strand evenly. It also coats my sparse lower lashes without making a mess.
~ With just 1 coat, my lashes were lengthened. Woahla!
~ The second and third layers were added on easily, without having to manage clumping of product (too much mascara sometimes tend to lump together).

Cons ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ:
~ Generally, I find that the wand is not well designed ergonomically, especially when I try to coat lashes on my left eye (I am a right-hander). It was also awkward to reach my inner eyelashes. I smudged some mascara on my eye lid a couple of times.

Overall, I would say I love it because its gives me the full volume lashes that I need. I find that I don't need to go all the way to 3 coats actually. Just 1 or 2 coats is already "powerful" enough for me for daily wear. Anything more should be reserved for glamourous dinner parties. The result is really good for a drugstore brand. I guess I will need to try get use to the awkward angle issue to avoid cleaning up smudges.

book review: Mythology by Edith Hamiliton

I didn't think I could finish this book because I read in reviews that it was used as textbook in schools. But I also read that it was good material to start off for understanding Greek and Roman mythology so I took the leap of faith. Guess what? I finished it and I have good things to say about it!

This book is very very good for people who knows nothing about Greek & Roman Mythology (like me). It covers more of Greek Mythology and it was very well organized, making it very easy to follow. Highly recommended for those looking for 101 of Greek Mythology.

The author also explained the origins of the stories, which helps the reader to understand why and how the stories were created. This is quite a thick book but I do not think it is difficult to finish it.

liquid foundation woes: sponge, brush or fingers?

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So what do you use?

I have used every method there is, but this is not going to be a "which-application-method-is-the-best" post from me. There is good and bad in each method, as with all things, so it all boils down to which is most suitable for us. So it is best that we understand what each can help us do or achieve with our liquid foundation.

(1) Fingers

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I am going to talk about fingers first because I often use mine when I used to apply my foundation daily. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using our fingers. It is definitely convenient. We do everything with our hands, why would applying foundation not be? Plus, there is one less brush to wash. Haha! So lazy!

I love to use my fingers because I can have better control on the amount and spread direction. The warmth from my fingers gently heats up the product which makes it smoother to glide on my skin. I usually go in one direction, towards my hairline. The result is a smooth finish with very good coverage.

The only bad thing I can think of is the messy fingers after it is done. Oh! And please make sure that hands are properly washed before touching our skin, especially those with sensitive skin, like me.

(2) Brush
There are 2 types of brushes that can be used for applying foundation. I am going to use MAC brushes for reference, since they are labeled with numbers and are widely used. The down side to brushes is maintaining them. Washing them regularly to avoid bacteria and drying them properly to make them last.

(i) Flat Synthetic brush (ref MAC 190)

As one professional make up artist told me, it is like a paint brush. This is a commonly used foundation brush. Blending strokes must be in one linear direction, and towards the hairline. The finishing is smooth. The coverage is medium so it is ideal for those who have acne marks and pigmentation. I have best control with my flat brush, going neatly under my eyes, around my lips.

(ii) Fluffy round synthetic brush (ref MAC 187)

This brush gives a light coverage and dewy finish. So it is good for those with very good skin or have little pigmentation to hide. The blending strokes is circular. There isn't much control with this brush, which is ok, since there is minimum product going onto our skin, thus not much room for errors. I must say the finish is really so good on those with perfect skin. Love it (love to see it).

(3) Sponge

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This is my emergency backup. If I don't have my brushes with me (trust me, anything can happen and I won't use brushes that are not my own), and I don't wish to use my hands (no washing basin nearby), sponge comes to the rescue. I always have a small piece on standby in my make up kit.

The sponge works like a flat brush, same method for blending, same coverage and finishing. But I do find it awkward to work the sponge especially around my nose and under eye area. And sponge, being a sponge, likes to absorb so it tends to pick up more product but not everything goes onto our skin. Wastage!

So I hope this has been useful for some of you. Thanks for reading! 

my Bali: introduction

Blue Point Beach @ Uluwatu #nofilter

Nammos Beach @ Uluwatu #nofilter

Sunset @ Double Six Beach (Legian / Seminyak)
My parents-in-law strolling along the beach. #nofilter

I, my husband and our doggie retreated to Bali, Indonesia, 9 months ago. We are from sunny island Singapore. While sunny island Singapore is well known for many good things, like her clean and green, well organized city landscape, efficient public transport, etc, it was getting too stressful for us. We really didn't like how our lives were just revolving around certain things, mostly material. For the sake of our mental and emotional well-being, we decide to find a tranquil place to rest. We want to take a break from all the hustle and bustle.

After searching and thinking for a while, we chose Bali, Indonesia. This place is fabulous! 

Firstly, it is still near home (just 2.5 hours flight away) so anytime we get home sick, we can go home.

Secondly, there are already many foreigners living here (majority of them are Australians, French and Italian) so it makes this place more "foreigner friendly". There are many facilities and infrastructures, like well established hospitals, international schools, huge supermarkets, etc, already in placed here. Even many locals can speak simple conversational English.

Thirdly, the local Balinese people are so warm and friendly that we feel welcomed here. 

Fourth, there are many beautiful beaches here to relax on. There is no lack of good food and shopping. When we get tired, there is always a spa or massage parlour down the street or round the corner. Yes, this place is almost a paradise!

So in my blog, I have decided to dedicate a page to this place. Every now and then, I will share my experience as a foreigner living here. I will also cover reviews on restaurants, places of interests, shopping, etc, here. So by the end of my stay here, I hope I have compiled a diary of my life here, for me to reminisce in the future. o (◡‿◡✿)

beauty products that i am craving for this month

I am glad that I started this blog because it "forces" me back into the vanity mood. To be honest, my own beauty bag is also getting boring so it is time to go on an overhaul. Its going to be shopping time when I return to SG this week (YAY!!  (★^O^★)).

Nars Bronzer

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Aquage Uplifting Foam