To break the monotony

Mixed Blessings

Loving the eclecticism & juxtaposition in this picture, and the retro and dreamy colours of it.

Feeling really bored, and extremely distracted, so I'm posting on this blog one of my favourite pictures from the photography module I'm taking. The original picture didn't have colours like that, and there wasn't any wite vignetting. (: All touched up in photoshop. As with the colours in those Esplanade pictures that I tested on previously (:

Btw those eggs are painted in acryllic, no one had a month-old-baby, and no those eggs cannot be eaten.

Hope you like this! It's my favourite in the project.

Update: Photo Projeckt

Here's another from the same series.


Credits: Xu Zi
Colour rendering: ME!

Unfortunately, yours truly isn't model material. BUT luckily for me (& you), there is one avid amateur photographer, and a REALLY good camera. (:

First time I see myself look this good in a picture. I think I look really different here, unless this is how I look everytime I space out, i.e. glamorous, but I really doubt so! Thanks dearie for this great picture!

PHOTO PROJECKT

...another one on the sidelines that was too lovely for me to resist perfecting. :P




@ the Esplanade. After HTC flashmob.

New Musical Experience

My iPod earphones have served me well.. I think it's about year and a half since I got them, but the due to wear and tear the rubber coating's come off. Dearie also needed a pair cos his precious Crossroads spoilt.

So we went shopping today for new earphones between dinner and class time.

I started out looking for a pair of cheap and pretty earphones like the ones that Karen recommended sometime ago. The bling bling ones that cost only $15.

BUT we discovered a new shop selling only audio equipment, ranging from the cheapest of about $14, up to $600 for a personal listening experience. $600! What could be so good!

We wondered around the shop in amazement at the assortment of earphones, headphones, speakers, and iPhone accessories that this store stocked. Of course then I discovered Audio Technica's pretty designs, and started wowing at them. Hehe. I was worried that it would be pretty only but far from the target in the design department, but Soozey, being the techie, assured me that Audio Technica's products are good.


We wondered around somemore before I asked for something that has deep bass - Sony was introduced, and was on the verge of getting it for $39, then finally the bf asked about Creative EP-630. We compared the sound quality and decided that, at $45, he would fork out for it. But it took me some time to convince myself - $6 difference isn't a lot for the amazing improvement in sound quality. And so I bought a pair too. I bought the pink one! He bought a pair of all black one which I thought was damn cool, but not easy to dirty, but it just wasn't me.

So now I'm "burning in" the earphones - Dearie taught me - to blast some music for 10-12 hours through the earpieces so that the audio experience after that would be richer. The earphones are so good, that its now acting as speakers when I turn it to the highest volume.

Now I can finally enjoy music complete with bass and sound surround. It's my first set of in-ear earphones and I hope I get used to it on long term wearing.

Anastasia B.

Recently been poring over Anastasia Barbieri's works. And her recent fascination with blending stylishly chic feminine elements with masculine looks really intrigues me.

I'd been raving over the new boyfriend blazer that I'd gotten, and pairing it with almost anything girly/sexy that I have. Now here's what I'd really like to be wearing. (:

I need a little more bling in my wardrobe. And I'm guessing it would be good to invest in a pair of stylish knee high boots, for both the purpose of my trip to Japan with BF at the end of the year, as well as future fashion shoots and, whenever I feel like dominating the world (; . And. I want to get skinny belt and harem pants.

Will be looking out for her works in the near future. Lovin' it and lappin' it all up. *slurp*

Consumerism

Guess what I found when I sifted through some sites online?

Gold iPhone,
with the a DIAMOND apple!
£22,995.00

This is, in dearie's words. "Omg so opulent!"

Note: I seem to have run out of vocabulary and only Poonie and the BF can supply such words. I shall quote extensively from now on.


This atas craftsman set up a company that recreates the bodice of normal consumer goods in gold and diamonds. What's could be a common phone right now is given a brand new, lavish look.

You have an iPhone too? But mine is exceptional. It's gold and comes with 53diamonds encrusted in the apple icon.

Yours is US$299? Mine is £22,995.00.

Go take a look and be amazed by how the really rich spend their money.

Eh this brings the idea of elites and consumerism to a whole new level. If you have this much excess cash give even more to South African children leh, also not like that spend one mah. A phone is a phone, and I'm sure Vertu phones are already lavish and reliable enough, and with its 24-hour concierge service, it's way better than having a £22,995 iPhone.

But I have to admit that it's very chio. Haha. I'm sure there are fake iPhone cases out there in "gold-plated" exterior and bling apple, lol.

---

image from: bakingfiend.blogspot.com

On another note, my parents are getting funnier. Last night my aunt went to the new Lim Chee Guan (for the uninitiated it's this famous bakkwa shop) opening at ION and brought home free samples for my mum. My mum distributed the golden coins (the small round ones) to us. There wasn't much. My dad took one and slowly ate, thinking that we'd leave a lot behind for him. So when he finally came looking for it an hour later, of course there wasn't any left. We all love bakkwa to bits.

He kept harassing mummy: Eh 肉干咧?
Mummy says: 没有了。只有一点点。
Daddy: 真的？你藏在哪里了？
Mummy: 没有藏啦！没有了！
Daddy: 真？！ 还不快点把它拿出来！
Mummy: 哎呀真是的，你很烦咧。都跟你说没有了！

But Daddy doesn't seem to believe her. He keeps cajoling her for next 3 minutes to surrender the rest of the bakkwa. Hhaha. Cute or not?

This morning, I found one big square piece of it sandwiched between my bread for breakfast.

:P


Yums.

Fab find at SONG&SONG!

Bought some winter wear for Japan trip, from, of all places, Song & Song, lol.

ADIDAS (the best stuff!) - Adidas Originals Russian Jacket

This was the best picture I could find online. Finally they had my size. I hope I don't put on any weight at the girth while mugging, cos I fit just nice in it... Haha.

It's ivory in colour with gold buckles, and faux fur in white at the collar, made of thick fleece and has thin inner cotton lining.




I'm very tired.

The XCBs again! Jiatian

This was supposed to be up ages ago as well (: We went to Lot One to celebrate JT's bday, and as usual, not many photos were taken. But there ARE a few gems (:

Attn: Xuefen, look out hor. :b

Our 6 times a year meeting. (: Jiaying you better be in the next picture we take together hor. :P

Xuefen, you remember the all blue picture?

I made you look damn pretty here.

You better use as FB profile ok! Hahaha.

I miss you all!

BINTAN - Arrival!

We just arrived at Bintan for our weekend trip. it's to make up for missing the one year anniversary mark last week cos of DR practs and rehearsals. <3

The weather is freaking warm. We'll just nua in the room for the time being.

xoxo,

elln

Of new and old

Key's from my parents last year, when they bought me the necklace just because they were at the jeweller's. :P They said. "No more for you this year le har! It's your 21st present!" But they still willingly forked out some cash for my party this year, haha.

The name plate from dearie. Stainless steel. Going strong! (: For those who haven't seen it yet, it was on the zipper of a handphone pouch that the boyfriend made for me a little more than a year back. Just before we got together. He secretly went to buy a pouch and customise a steel tag when I told him I needed a phone pouch. (: on it was "Ellen".

Here's why the words on that plate now is not "Ellen" but "毓雅":

...BUT. Scattered-brain me left the pouch on the train when I stood up and didn't notice that it slid off my lap. It's the first time I felt so sad losing something, so I had to call him and confessed and apologised profusely. :(

2 days later, another pouch came, this time even nicer, sleeker, and with my chinese name carved on it. (: I was rather surprised that he knew how my name was written, haha.

And the reason why it's now on my necklace is:


I bought a new phone recently. It was my favourite model from the past, and now that I'd gotten a little tired of my swanky (albeit rather useless) Samsung T480, I thought hard and finally decided to sell that and get a brand new Nokia 6300. IN WHITE! (((:

YAY!

I am really quite lucky to get such a good deal for this phone that's out of production already, since it debuted 2 years ago. I found a brand new one at a shop, complete with warranty, for $238. There were cheaper prices at others, but none in white. I had to get my hands on this one, HAHAHA.

Alrights, now that I've finished sharing with you all my joy and pride for my purchase last week, I shall continue with the story.

The shop owner gave me a free pouch (made of felt, with some geometric lines, really pretty!), and I thought I'd replace the zipper tag with the one dearie gave me, BUT the metal arm broke while I was tweaking it. ): So now the new pouch can't be used.

So I just put it together with the diamond key pendant. It looks really good doesn't it?


Thanks dearie.

Happy one year in advance!



ps:/ hope the photog course is doing my photos some good! I took these myself! (:
ps:/ who is this strange "ellen" posting on the tagboard? Don't tell me is ellen kim?

Ellen Kim!!! Mariel Martin!

Swagg Out is here!

Ok I've only attended Ellen Kim's class and will only be attending this one. But I am so happy!!!!!

Ellen Kim is a ball of energy, and though Mariel was only the assistant for this class I can't stop looking at her dance. Wah utter fangirlism. First time I see my youtube idols in flesh. ^_^

Mariel:


More inspiration to dance better. (:

*********
On another note, I just got to know that United Square is the haven for taitais and their rich kids. Like really rich kids. I was there on Friday after class waiting for Soozey before he sent me to Ellen Kim's class. And in the mall I saw lots of shops for kids - tuition, supplements, atas apparel and game shops. And I thought United Square will be deserted and conducive for studying. The place was teeming with screaming kids and young parents. It turned out that there was some carnival for children in the forum.

So I headed to Mac's, cos I was craving for shaker fries [they didn't have it though ): but that's not the point] I found a good spot at the sofa, and one pair of young mums and their children came and went.

The conversations, both pairs, talked about:
1. Their children
2. Their progress in school
3. The school management
4. Parking at the school compounds and parking problems
5. The school prefects and how to get past being late.
6. NUtritional problems etc.

The mums were around 28/29? I sorta shudder to think that this is how I would sound like once I become a mom and meet other young mums, and all we talk about are our children and the children's lives.

:S

Stupid things tired people do

Over the past few days I was really tired managing so many things all in a week. Things like dancing (just realised there are 6 choreos to remember), rehearsing and reblocking, giving tuition, going for classes, managing assignments and readings.

So here is a list of stupid things that I've done over the past few days:

1. Changing my shoulder bag to a bigger duffel to contain all costume and clothes changes, and effectively leaving my wallet, keys and card holder in the old bag. SO. All I have is my iPod and phone, all the way from classes in the morning till dance finished at night.
2. The next day, I took out the iPod to charge. I put the iPod back into my pouch. without the earphones. So theoretically I had the music with me, but I didn't?
3. I made breakfast and lunch sandwiches for myself one day, so I could save some lunch money. But I left all of it at home. =.=
4. I thought I finished all my readings for the week. I was so happy. Then I checked the workbin and saw that there was an assignment due the next day. Omg. And I had practice till 11 that night. Rarh. I slept at 4 that night and had a lesson at 10.

I dunno whether to laugh or to cry.

Welcome to ELLENation @ NM3223

Here's a link to a blog that I had to create for one of my modules. NM3223 - Digital Photography and Imaging. Please do make it a regular read and sign it up for your Google Reader and whatnot and please give me brutal and honest feedback ok! I really need this A+++++ this sem.

Click on the image to below, or [here] to get redirected to the blog.

If you think the layout looks even a tad familiar, no you are wrong, I did NOT rip it off this blog. :P

I can't be bothered. This looks good enough for a photolog. Clear, concise, space for huge pictures. Made the text Verdana over there for a more formal/class assignment look.

Of beer, lamborghini, flames and a twentyfirst

Momo is TWENTYONE.

She held a cosy party at RedDot Brewhouse (yes the same one in a few post back) yesterday and it was a really enjoyable gathering of old friends and new friends.

HAPPY BELATED! (:

FAREWELL! Dance your heart out dudes!

Fred and Clem are leaving for Prague tonight to represent Ensemble in an international dance competition. So, as friends in support of them, we've prepared them some presents - one of which is a drawing for each of them, at the back of which we'd scribble our wishes.

As for the other presents, shall update tonight lest Clem or Fred are still lurking around on the Net instead of doing last checks on their baggage. :P

Fred, this is drawn with the lovely colour pencils that you gave me for my birthday. I really love them. It's the first drawing that I've done with your art supplies, and this won't be the last. Thanks so much for reminding me about the haven that I find in art, it's one of the best presents that I've gotten. (((:

It's been, what, 2 years since I last drew a sketch in colour pencils? I hope I've still retained some of my skills, while I don't expect to have the same eye for detail, speed and technique. Hope you guys like it!

All the best Clem and Fred, dance your heart out! Enjoy yourselves while you're there, where the heat and humidity don't escalate to unbelievable levels.

Kinky Shoes Arrive

Arrived a week after my birthday, like 2 days after Red Dot. Quoting verbatim from Weiting. "I love your shoes! They're so kinky!"

Red Dot (birthday celebrations cont'd)

We went to the Red Dot Brewhouse on the 5th of June, after unabashedly claiming the long awaited treat from Dearie at Red Dot. He had promised to bring me there "one day" whereupon that quote was uttered about 2 months ago. What a right time to bring it up again! Hahah.

For those of you who don't know what is so special about Red Dot Brewhouse, here's a little intro for you. The Singaporean owner, Ernest Ng, had met 2 South African soldiers while on a family holiday at the Kruger National Park in 1998. They offered him a bottle of beer, and was told that it was a home-brew when he asked what brand it was. Later on, he went on to a homebrew shop in Johannesburg where he chose some ingredients that were packed into package with a single RedDot, and that began his foray into beer-brewing.

Since then, the brews, as well as the well designed restaurant @ Dempsey Hill have received numerous accolades.

I saw a rainbow on the floor, where sun shone through the glass at the busstop.
It was in the morning, on the way to work.

For this day, I wore this dress that I bought very long ago while on a shopping trip with Mo, and we both have the same dress. It's a uber pretty, flowery, lacy dress. In fact, the whole dress is covered in lace. Instead of looking frivolous and bimbotic, we both thought the dress was awesome in its wholesome vintage-ness. My new shoes hadn't arrived yet, so I was wearing my worn down red leather heels, and the dress on clinched at the waist with a large brown belt. But I don't have a full length picture of myself from that day.

We arrive at the restaurant to where a huge red balloon greeted us.

This way please.

The romantically lit entrance.

The house of the brewing gizmos.

I just love this shot.

Effect achieved by placing napkin over flash.

RedDot Lime Wheat and Monster Green beers. The Monster Green was good.

They have lanterns that seem to hover above the paths around the compound. It is really pretty!

Von and Freddo arrive after Kate Willis class. They're ravenous.

Perfect for cheeselovers:
Xuzi's order was the classic 4 cheese pizza - Quattro Formaggi. No meat served.

I was dying to have mushrooms, so I ordered Pollo -
BBQ chicken, mushrooms, onions and bell peppers.

Von's Pumpkin Lasagna. Soozey said the baby spinach topping was a forest of weeds that he'd never touch, just while Fred was gasping at the same said "forest" in envy.

Fred ordered Duck Confit. Apparently the right way to say it is
[con-FEE!] with the FEE! sounding high pitched and nasal.

I told you. He's hungry.

Our order.

That's a tower of beer that't not ours. I'm just showing you this shot to show off this picture. I love my camera, muahaha.

We also ordered a basket of juicy, fried Shitake mushrooms as appetisers, being the funghi-lovers that we are, and stopped ourselves from finishing them all before Von and Fredo came. But oops, it was gone too fast for the camera to snap a decent picture of it. Just order it if you go there!

We ordered another jug of Czech Pilsner to quench our thirst in the sweltering weather. I think by this time I was a little sleepy and light headed from drinking beer like water.

Czech Pilsner is a really great drink, smooth and light hop (whatever that means, lifted off the website) I shall order it if I ever come back again! And for those who are looking for nice places to host their birthdays at, this is one great place that I'd recommend. There is a little yard where the grass patch is alternately tiled with huge stone tiles. The ambience will be great whether in the afternoon for tea or at night for socialising activity. But I believe the cost is a little on the high side.

As always, it's a great time with the intellectual jokers. I love your company!

Gadgets for the endless office hours

I was browsing Firebox.com and started looking for gadgets that'd relieve me of the painfully long hours I spend in the office staring at the computer. Of course, that'd be great if we have some of them placed behind the receptionist counter to entertain us poor SAs on duty, heheh.

So browsing all those nonsensical gadgets sort of brightened up my terribly gloomy day that started with a lady stepping on my foot with her heels and then looking nonchalantly at me. I really felt like asking, sorry did I hear something? Wahraus.

Aggravated by the fact that I already can't walk properly because I idiotically walked into the glass doors at Danzpeople @ PoMo. (yes capital M so that it does not read as porno, credits to soozey :P) To think that I had already spent enough time at the new studios to know that their doors open INwards, not out like the usual glass doors. Argh. Freaking embarassing. I'm not the only one to do that. They've had people trying to walk into the studio through the glass walls and doors at the reception area. Double ARGH. They really should do something about all the glass, like some floral decals that match their card boxes? It'd look pretty enough.


So, here are my picks for some of the rather amusing, albeit useless gadgets:

Desktop Warfare Kits: CATAPULT!

Desktop warfare in a class of its own. Instead of arming yourself with crushed waste paper and ambushing your colleagues, arm it with collateral that you can fit into the catapult, and go! Best of all, it won't look like you've just thrown the offending article. Target will not know. But, your neighbours just might. :/

*gulp*

Desktop Coffee Maker: Aromatic beverage brewed in front of your sleepy eyes at your table!

Ok I got to admit that I really love this. I love my caffeine. This thing is small enough to fit on your table, just next to your monitor, and it is much more affordable than the thousand over dollar baby at Takashimaya. If this was at my table, I think I'd be having like 6 cuppas a day.

You can brew a cuppa for your colleague in the neighboring cubicle too after catapulting, and use it to blackmail him from tattling on you. 2 black mugs included.

Cube World: Let's Stack!

Were you crazy over Tamagotchi? I gotta admit, I was, and I wasn't all that crazy over the newer generation called Digimon. Each cube is inhibited by a little pixelated figure of a man, and each cube man has his own specialty/job. If you stack them together, they enter into each other's world and interact!

Buttons on the front of each cube allow you to control your virtual stick man to do everything from kick ups and pull ups to snake charming and juggling, but he will also entertain himself depending on his mood. That said, it goes on to say that each cube is armed with a motion sensor so he can respond to shakes and slides. On a particularly rough day he might bang his head against the wall, talk to Ralph on the great white telephone or shake his fist at you.

USB Whack-it: Ready, steady, WHACK!

Self explanatory enough I guess. But because it's connected to your computer and its a desktop game, this miniature version regretably, does not use the mallet, but you gotta press the lit up heads furiously!

Just as addictive. (: Can pretend each head is your colleague, your superior, or whichever office KPO that threatens to leak your secrets all the time. Imagine the amount of attention that you'll draw when you press the heads furiously, with all those noise.

Banana Guard: No more bruised bananas!

One of the most ridiculous looking creations of all-time, built just for the healthier alternative for a pick me up in the middle of the day. Ehm, what if my banana doesn't curve this way?

Hard Disk!

My spanking new external hard disk! My sister got it for me, 320GB for $105, at the PC show today, the one where I couldn't really find time to go and I really needed one new external HDD badly. I was so afraid my current one would die on me. >.<

Doesn't the design and the packaging look the least bit familiar?
But it's so pretty and slim and light! (:

And a copy of the scanned brochures.

Somehow the logo and the layout of the first brochure reminds me of Creative.