Our Getaway to JB...

JW and I left work early last Thursday... both being weary from work... we decided to pop into JB for a 'getaway'... To us, JB is like the easiest, quickest, most economical way to get away from it all... We try to do so at least once a month...

We got into JB around 5pm... bus ride and customs were a breeze... it is usually so on a weekday... before 6pm...

JW headed straight for his urut massage while I did my usual rounds at Central Square... FOS... Padini Concepts... Reject Shop... with the Mega Malaysia Sale being on till 31 August... there were still plenty of good deals...

Padini Concept store was where we got our 'haul'...

All from SEED...

2 white tees... a pair of draw string berms to wear at home... 2 color block polo tees... JW looked great in them... a red gingham shirt to share... yes... JW and I basically share all our clothes...

Managed to grab my Alicafe Tongkat Ali coffee on sale... not available here... some Eclipse's mints... toiletries... much cheaper there... and some snacks....

Had dinner at PappaRich... JW was miffed that they have changed their menus... there were less items now compared to our last trip in... beginning of July... cendol is no longer available... Cendol is JW all time fave dessert... he can eat it everyday.... so we just had our usual nasi lemak and otak with yuan yang and shared a laksa... too much food for 2???

PappaRich's nasi lemak... imo... is slightly better than Old Town's... but both pales in comparison to Madam Kwan's... I wished they had a Madam Kwan's in JB... I miss their nasi lemak...

Even though we were 'away' for less than 5 hours... It was still a good way to relax and spend some quality time together...

Drooling over... Super Junior 5th Album...

Yay... my fave korean band SUPER JUNIOR... dreamy... 5th album.... MR SIMPLE... will be out next week... Tuesday 2nd of August 2011... Can't wait...

Caught a sneak peak of their promo poster in the apple daily today...

OMG... check out Siwon's abs!!!

Very 'loud'... very 'in your face'... very different from their previous images of boy next door or prince charming...  Electro punk meets ghetto chic... I luv luv luv... 

SUPER JUNIOR... FIGHTING!!!

Drooling over... Strapya World iMeshi Japanese Sushi iPhone 4 Cover

Trust the Japanese to come up with such kawaii and ingenious creations...

Calling all fans of sushi... if you love sushi... like me... or you love an unusual iphone cover... consider this...

Yes... it's an iphone cover... featuring super realistic model sushi (toro & ebi or uni & ikura)... hand crafted by professional sample food makers in Japan... just like those you see in the display windows of japanese restaurants...set on a clear case that caps onto the iphone...

The only gripe is that it doesn't come with a hole for the camera... guess that would compromise the overall aesthetics... which means.... to take a pic you would need to remove the case...

At US$48.80 each from www.strapya-world.com ... drool worthy

Drooling over... Zara Bloodhound Tee

I was in Zara today... yes... yet again... no... I didn't buy anything... I am done with the sale...

I was there only to check out the new arrivals... but I was tempted...

New for pre F/W 2011... More dog themed printed tees...

This time the tees featured prints of anthropomorphized dogs engaging in various human activities...  they reminded me totally of the many paintings done by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge...

Who???

He was a 19th century American visual artist... best known for his series of paintings... "dogs playing poker"

I especially heart this feldgrau (field grey) colored tee... of a bloodhound... deep in thought...

Doesn't the tee look great with my...
Project Blood Bro cuff
Zara military cargos
New Look boots

Did you know...

The Bloodhound, also known as the St. Hubert Hound is a very good-hearted dog? This scent hound is renowned for its intelligence, dedication and devotion towards their owners. The good nature of the bloodhound allows it to be patient, affectionate and excellent with people... especially towards children... rarely show aggressive tendencies and gets along very well with other dogs...

At S$39.90 a pop... drool worthy

My Shopping Conquest from Topman... Arc Leg in Tawny

Topman is currently having up to 70% of their selected sale racks...

I managed to pick up this pair of tawny colored arc leg today...

I liked that the color and cut was different and that it looked and felt more like a pair of chinos rather than denim... with carrot fit chinos being a new trend this F/W 2011... these will still fit right in...

Original price of S$113... marked down to S$39.90...

what a steal...

What I Overheard... While Shopping...

While shopping at Zara Liat Towers... I had wanted to pick up another bottle of Urban Male Dark Edition EDT... in came 2 very good looking young men in their early 20s... one was wearing an Yves Saint Laurent tee and carrying a Prada Saffiano camouflage tote...the other had a Gucci canvas tote in hand... that's when I overheard one telling the other...

"Sale is not an excuse to buy more lah... Don't you know it's how they get rid of what people don't want..."

To be honest... I was a tad offended...

"Honey... what 'people' are you referring too? ...not every sale item is 'unwanted'... It's also about being savvy with your parents'... oops I meant...your money..."

Obviously this guy has money coming out of his ears... thanks to rich parents that spoilt him rotten... to not have to wait for a sale to be able to afford everything...

Some of us... to get what we want... have to work really hard... budget or plan or save... even than... it may still not be enough...that's when a SALE helps...

That being said... 

Haven't we... at some point or another... brought home things we don't really need simply because it was on sale?

Ain't we all guilty of impulse buys during a sale??

Which of us has not bought stuff during a sale only to realize later that the one good thing about it was only the 70% discount???

Gosh... if I could return all the impulse sale items I bought over the years... I think I could buy a car... well... or at least pay the down payment... not that I can drive...

Precisely because of that... I have learnt a few tricks to curb the edge to buy more than what I need or want during a sale...

First...I would look at the price to see if I can afford it... If I could, I would grab it... I won't rush to try it or pay for it... I will hold it in my hands, walk around, pick up more stuff that I like... Sometimes by then... the initial excitement over the item would have worn off... so much so... I don't even want to try it on anymore... let alone buy it...

I ask myself...while in the dressing room...

"Do I look good in it?"

"Can it go with the things I already have??"

"Do I REALLY want it if it wasn't on SALE???"

If the answer is yes to all 3... I would proceed to the cashier...

Sometimes... I would leave the item.. discreetly stashing it in a corner... walk out of the store... clear my head and justify some more...

"Do I really need to buy another... when I just bought like 20 others... that were on sale... that I have yet to wear/use..."

If it's still a yes... I proceed back... at times the item will be gone but like what I always say...

"If I was meant to have it... I was meant to have it..."

I am not being prudent... I am just trying to be a smart shopper... because every dollar you saved from buying impulse sale items is a dollar more to the next sale item that you truly want or need or a non sale item that you have been drooling over...

With all these being said... I still could lugged home plenty of stuff that I don't need... and a closet full of clothes... with price tag still on... that I will never wear...

SHEESH...

Drooling over... NOT... Balenciaga Lowcut Mesh Sneaker

Balenciaga's Arena family of bags... especially the Weekender... rose gold hardware... triple tour bracelet (luv luv luv)... Giant Day.. even the 'fresh from the oven' Alsatian prints...  are to die for...

BUT... these Balenciaga Lowcut Mesh Sneaker???

New for F/W 2011...

Hideous... Simply HIDEOUS!!!

I wouldn't even go near it with a 10 inch pole...

Utter disappointment??? YES!!!  Drool worthy??? NOT!!!

Drooling over... Christian Louboutin Silver Glitter Rollerball Spikes

Monsieur Louboutin too has a... imo... even more gorgeous and striking glitter penny loafer...

Correction... Rollerball... even the name sounds more glam...

Rollerball Spike in Silver Glitter...

OMG...  These are like fierce... These Louboutin Rollerball will kick Jimmy Choo's Penny Loafer's ass any day... 

"Where's my screw driver??? Where's my box of spikes??? My homemade Jimmy Choo need some spikes to become a Louboutin!!!"

S$2000 (approx)... kick ass drool worthy...

Drooling over... Jimmy Choo Glitter Penny Loafers

Dato Jimmy Choo has officially entered the men's market this F/W 2011...

Presenting... Jimmy Choo Black Glitter Penny Loafers

"Where's my glue and glitter???"

S$1100 (approx) a pop... expensive for something so simple drool worthy...

Drooling... literally... over Lee Wee & Brothers' Otak

JW had the craving for otak today... Whatever food JW wants... I will try and get it for him... Yes... I indulge him that way...

I happened to be at Vivo... so instead of getting otak from our usual otak uncle 2 blocks from our place... I went to NEX... it was along the way... NEX had a Lee Wee & Brother's otak kiosk... JW happens to luv their fish head otak...

Happy that the otaks were fresh and piping hot... I boarded the bus...

BIG MISTAKE...

... THAT SMELL... OMG... WHAT'S THAT SMELL???

That's when it hit me... It's from my otaks... Despite being packed in plastic... the fishy smell of the barbecued fish paste still stunk up the bus...

Suddenly everyone around me started to wrinkle their noses... I swear the lady seated next to me even took out her medicated oil...

OMG... OMG... I became so conscious... so embarrassed...

OMG... maybe I should just stuff it in my bag... but that would mean... it would stink up my MBMJ Olive Special Item North South bag... HELL NO !!!

Maybe I should get off ??? But I am only half way home...

What choice do I have... What can I do???

So I did the age old trick... pretend to be asleep...

I jumped out from my seat and pressed the bell... the moment I saw my stop...

Sigh... the things I do for love...

My Shopping Conquests from Zara... Chocolate Leather Belt... Urban Male Dark Edition Eau de Toilette

Picked up 2 more Zara sale items today... this time from Zara Vivo...

I heart Zara... especially when it's on sale... I would ear marked items I like at the start of the sale... wait patiently for it to drop from 30% to 50%... When it hits 70%... that's when I swoop in and start grabbing stuff... Yes, it may be the last dregs of the sale... the items I have wanted maybe gone... or out of my size... but there are still gems to be had... plus I firmly live by the motto...

"If I was meant to have it... I was meant to have it..."

I had wanted a brown belt that did not have any obvious hardware... that way I could easily match it with any of my silver, gold or gunmetal accessories or hardware... it's not just about matching brown shades with brown shades... it's also about matching hardware... yes... I am anal that way...

That's why Zara's chocolate colored leather belt with leather covered oval buckle fits the bill perfectly...

At just $19.90 marked down from S$59.90... it's a S$40 off perfect steal...

I luv the smell of Urban Male Dark Edition... it smells very similar to John Varvatos Vintage... which happens to be JW and mine all time favourite scent... unfortunately... Vintage is not easily available here...

Reduced from S$59.90 to S$39.90... for 100ml... it's a steal

Drooling... literally... over Pop DoH Donut House Pop Doh

While waiting for JW to get off work today... I had the sudden munchies...

So I decided to try out Pop DoH Donut House... at the basement food court of Taka... They have been around for like ever... while many came and went...

Now... I know why...

The mini cream filled doughnut holes or Pop Doh were going for just S$1.95 for 3... 

so I picked... apple cinnamon... chocolate cream... white choc strawberry...

They did not disappoint...

Fresh soft dough... thick glaze... ample fillings... especially the apple cinnamon... it was chockful of moist apple bits.... yummy...

As Arnie would say it... "I'll be back..."

My Shopping Conquest from Zara... Doberman Tee

Zara has always been the forerunner in bringing designer trends to the masses...

Man's best friend is big this F/W 2011... with Givenchy's Rottweiler and Balenciaga's Alsatian... it was no wonder that Zara should have theirs...

Presenting Zara's Doberman... with the cute caption:

STAY OUT! DON'T PET ME, I'M WORKING

Me in Zara trying on the tee
Playhound sling bag
SEED  gladiator sandals
Sport b leather tour bracelet

Priced at just S$17.90... marked down from S$29.90 for the Zara Sale... it was a steal

Also picked up this black lacquered bolt ring from Aldo...

Doesn't it look great when paired with my Diesel watch???

At S$6... a 50% discount from the original S$12... it's a steal...

Drooling over... NOT... Longchamp Le Pliage 'Christmas 2011'

Longchamp Le Pliage... is an elegant and affordable designer bag... especially if you were to get it in Paris... which explains why it has now taken over Louis Vuitton Neverfull as the national bag of Singapore... you only need to look around you and easily you will spot a Le Pliage... real or otherwise... on the hands of every other gal and even on a few guys... yes... I personally feel that guys can get away with it... but only the larger Le Pliage please...

So I am wondering why in the world would Longchamp come up with something like this... as part of 'Christmas 2011'...

You know I luv whimsical... I luv cute...  but this is just...

IMO... trying too hard...

"it's so cute..."

"but it's whimsical and christmasee..."

" it's a Longchamp"

 yah right... just continue to delude yourself...

Drool worthy??? I think NOT...

My Very Own Lookbook...

What I wore to watch Harry Porter yesterday...

SEED red ginham shirt with grey heather sleeve
TOPMAN olive skinny carrot
A/X taupe belt

GUCCI badges-GWP from Japan Vogue Girl

GIALLO red canvas plimsolls from Thailand

DIESEL watch & MBMJ Special Item tote

MBMJ Special Item MJ carabinar rope bracelet

Sista CT who has just returned from a holiday in Melbourne... presented me with these lovely tees...

Freshjive carmine pink tee & Jeanswest carmine pink stripes on white

don't cha just love the color???

Thank you dearie... I luv luv luv them...

What I Overheard... While Shopping...

I had dinner with RG & KW yesterday... JW has been very, very, very busy with work lately... I hate to eat alone...

While in ToysRus... RG had to grab a gift... I overheard the cashier...

A nerdy looking boy... exclaiming...

"Its S$169 now... but in 3 years... it will be about S$500"... He was referring to a certain Transformer toy... don't know which one though... sorry

For all you toy collectors out there... especially those who luv Transformer... please go check out the ToysRus at Paragon...

Guess what I found in my Celine inspired Vincci Cabas today...

Gachapon...

KW saw and bought this while we were at ToysRus... He must have left it in my bag and forgot all about it...

If you don't know what is a gachapon... or as some would call it... gashapon... it's the japanese word for capsule toys... "gacha" or "gasha" refers to the sound made when turning the crank on the toy vending machine, and "pon" for the sound of the toy capsule dropping into the receptacle. It is used to describe both the machines themselves, and any toy obtained from them.... Bandai & Tomy are the 2 biggest gachapon makers...

I can't read japanese... but I think it's a series about jobs/occupations...  10 designs... from Bandai...

KW got the accountant... how cute is that!!!

Drooling over... Marc by Marc Jacobs Bianca Leather Cuff

Oh boy... Oh boy... I foresee that this F/W 2011 is going to be drool season... like major...

Where's my bib???

You know me... luv luv luv Marc by Marc Jacobs... luv luv luv leather bracelets and cuffs...

New for F/W 2011...

The Bianca leather cuff in metallic bronze with antiqued gold plated hardware featuring a gunmetal-plated plate with 'Marc by Marc Jacobs' inscription 'screwed' on the gold plated ala Bianca Bag turn-lock clasp... Luv Luv Luv...

It seems MBMJ is presenting lots of new bracelets and cuffs...

Like I said ... Where's my bid???... I am drowning in my own drool here!!!

At US$98 a pop... drool worthy...

Drooling... literally... over MacDonald's Cinnamon Melt

Back in Hawaii... Cinnabon... famous for their cinnamon buns COATED with a thick layer of frosting... was my death trap...

Why? You asked...

Because...

I luv luv luv cinnamon... also they were loaded with calories...

I thought I was safe when I left the US... since Cinnabon was short lived here...

That is till MacDonald's launched their Cinnamon Melts last year...

...the box says it all...

Ever since...

I have been living in fear and temptation... allowing myself a rare treat once in a while... trying not to cross the line...

Why??? You asked...

Did you know these little yummy morsels have like 460 calories, 19 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat and 32 grams of sugar!!!

A cheeseburger only has 300 calories and McChicken 366....

Yup... I would be better off eating a McChicken...

But... damn it... who could resist these warm bunch of bread pieces with a gooey cinnamon sugar glaze and frosting... even though it did came out of a microwave...

Each bite is like Heaven.. like Hell...

Guilty pleasure???... you bet...

My Shopping Conquest at Rockstar... mein Turquoise Felt Birdie Pin

While browsing around Rockstar at Cineleisure...

I came across mein latest? creation... Felt Birdie and Fluffy Cloud pins in Turquoise, Dark Grey, Heather Grey and Olive...

I was set to get the Birdie...but in which color??? 

I was torn between the dark grey and turquoise... after contemplating for a good five minutes...

I picked the turquoise as it was much cheerier...

In case you are wondering.... mein???

mein is a local design maker/studio that works with ceramics, acrylic and paper... even found materials to create artworks, stationary and letterpress, greeting cards, gifts and limited handmade jewellery... drawing inspiration it seems from Nature... in whimsical designs such as forest animals, birds, clouds and even raindrops...

I have been a huge fan of theirs ever since I saw and bought one of their acrylic Squirrel pins... from Rockstar last year... I especially like their forest animals' series...

My advice... if you like any of mein creations... buy it... they sell out real quick... once they are gone... They are GONE...

....my collection of mein forest animal pins...

Yay... I now have mein pins in four different mediums... acrylic squirrel... ceramics fox.... felt birdie... kiri wood sparrow on branch...

Can't wait to see what their next selection will be...

At just S$8... being an original handmade design... it was a steal...

Drooling... literally... over Krispy Kreme doughnuts

I am now a doughnut lover... thanks to Krispy Kreme and their yummilicious creme filled doughnuts...

Their New York cheesecake flavor is to die for...

I first encounter Krispy Kreme not in the US where it originated... founded in 1937 by Vernon Rudolph... but in Shanghai... even though I didn't get to try one... it left an impression...

During my recent trip with RG, KW and Sista CT... who are Krispy Kreme fans... to KL... and again with JW...

I totally fell in love...

Sad to say... we don't have a Krispy Kreme in Singapore... the closest being the one in KL's Mid Valley...

To ease the sudden crave today... I had Dunkin' Donuts...

Never, ever again... it was just HORRIBLE... HORRIBLE!!!

Dunkin' Donuts is currently running a promotion... get a free glazed doughnut with any iced coffee or latte...

My advice... have the iced coffee... its pretty yummy actually... leave the doughnut... your taste buds will thank you...

Drooling over... Marc by Marc Jacobs Concrete Jungle Double Wrap Leather Bracelet

Only hours after meeting my MBMJ black leather bracelet... in person... I am eyeing another...

Fickled?... Frivolous??... Just plain greedy???

New for F/W 2011...

MBMJ Double Wrap Leather Bracelet with gold-tone buckle and band keeper with dangling script pendant. Comes in 3 colour choices of Black... Moss... Peony... 

I heart the Moss...

 At US$88 a pop... drool worthy

My Shopping Conquest... Online... Marc by Marc Jacobs Black Leather Bracelet with Enamel Discs

Guess what came in the mail today???

This took the longest time to arrive... 1 month to be exact... Not once have any of my online purchases taken a month to arrive... thru no fault of the seller... I was starting to worried that it was lost... I was so happy when I opened the mailbox today and there it was... It totally lifted my spirits and kept me in a wonderful mood the whole day...

I couldn't wait to rip open the package but not before I took a snap...

Presenting... from the Marc by Marc Jacobs S/S 2011 collection...

The seller enclosed a vintage postcard with the package

MBMJ black leather bracelet with gold/tri coloured alphabet enamel disc...

I first saw this bracelet at the MBMJ counter at Isetan Scotts and shall I say... It was love at first sight... I fell deeply in loved when the SA took it out and double toured it around my wrist... sad to say... the S$160 price tag nipped the 'relationship' in the bud before it even had a chance to 'blossom'...

Determined to reunite... I started my hunt online...

As Fate would have it... I found it online 2 weeks later... as if it was meant to be... the Buy It Now price was... US$35!!! with S/H at only US$10!!!... My eyes almost popped out...

"It's too good to be true"

"I must have seen wrongly... there must be something wrong"

I must have read the item description at least 3 times...

Nope... I read correctly... it was brand new with no defects... there were no hidden fine print anywhere...

Absolutely convinced it was totally legit... I clicked the buy it now with shaky fingers... Few seconds later the deal was sealed...

Destiny... as they say...

"It's mine... It's mine..."

I was totally delighted... anxiously waiting for it to arrive... 2 weeks became 3 and then 4... every day I would open the mailbox only to be disappointed... yes... my heart literally dropped each time...

"Why is it not here yet?"

Just when I have given up... just when I thought that it was all to good to be true... just when I was contemplating if I should contact the seller...

It came...

Oh oh oh... It more pretty than I remember.

Thick black leather band, studded with jumbled gold enamel discs of white, black and powder blue... embossed gold alphabet on each disc... un scramble the discs and what does it spell???

What else but...

 ... MARC BY MARC JACOBS...

At S$60... it was... for my sake... I hope it not the last... the steal of the year...