322 of Project 365: The Perfume Library

These are some of the most recent additions to my perfume collection. 

It seems like my taste has changed judging from the brands and also a testament to the changing retail landscape in Singapore where we can now get brands like Penhaligon, Jo Malone, Diptyque, etc on our shore.

My recent favourite is Jo Malone's Blackcurrant & Bay which I can also combine with Vanilla & Anise. This concept of combining/layering perfume is something new to me until I found Jo Malone. I am all for unqiue, individual fragrance and with these two it's a 1 plus 1 equals 3 formula.

ISO: 320

Exposure: 1/8 sec

Aperture: 5.1

Focal Length: 28mm

Flash Used: No

321 of Project 365: Chunky Business

Chunky accessories are all the rage now. So I can't help myself when I saw these at a sale.

I must admit that I'm not very creative and daring when it comes to wearing/layering accessories, so these two should be considered relatively safe and easy to wear pieces.

ISO: 400

Exposure: 1/10 sec

Aperture: 4.0

Focal Length: 37mm

Flash Used: No

320 of Project 365: Oldie but Goodie

I first used the Origins Spot Remover more than 10 years ago and it was my saviour for treating the never ending outbreaks. I can't remember how many bottles I've gone through before ending my long term reliance. Back then, it cost S$20.00 a bottle which is really expensive compared to products like Oxy 10 and it wasn't a drugstore brand so I had to travel some distance to Isetan Scotts to get this shot.

Now, more than 10 years later, I was reminded of this goodie when I suffered a bout of outbreak (hormonal or not) and decided to go back to it. Oh my, how times fly and prices soar! This baby here cost me a good S$29.00! Well, hopefully this will last me a long time and I won't be needing it much as I seriously don't want to deal with frequent outbreak.

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/200 sec

Aperture: 1.7

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

319 of Project 365: Essentials

Those close to me know that I can't leave home or go anywhere without my Axe Oil.

I need to have a bottle of Axe Oil at home, at work and in my bag.

A friend told me that she had a colleague who is so addicted to Axe Oil that she will sniff it daily and even when the bottle is empty, she'll leave the uncapped empty bottle on her desk as aromatherapy to scent the air.

Well, I don't go to such extent but I do sniff it whenever I need a pick-me-up or when I feel a headache coming. I used it mainly to soothe the itchiness on my body which is a constant nuisance. But I am quite conscious whenever I use this, because the scent can be very lethal and spread real quick, so I tried as best not to use this in the public.

This should be the medium size bottle, there's also a small cute mini size bottle (which is not economical for my usage level) and a huge giant bottle which can last me about 6 months.

ISO: 160

Exposure: 1/30 sec

Aperture: 1.7

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

318 of Project 365: Chain Maille Bracelet

Recently, I started to get back to my hobby of accessories making and did this chain maille bracelet.

It's a time-consuming but simple project using only jump rings and 2 pairs of pliers.

Here I used 7mm and 5mm silver jump rings.

A simple and elegant piece that goes well with different outfits and looks.

ISO: 125

Exposure: 1/125 sec

Aperture: 1.7

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

My Little Pal

On a cold & rainy day, we spent almost 2 hours waiting in line to scale the tower of the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris. The cold was still bearable but it was quite boring when I didn't have anything on hand to kill time. This little cutey was in line behind us, so I started playing with him to entertain him & myself. And before I know it, we were playing like good friends. He was having still a wild time that I almost wanted to surrender.

This picture was taken at the gift shop inside the Notre Dame Cathedral. I was sitting on a bench catching my breath from our merry-go-round spin (me the pivot, he being spinned), the little fellow came up to me & gave me the sweetest smile indicating me to take a picture of him.

Isn't it amazing that despite our language barrier and age gap, kids are simply kids. Spend a few moments playing with them, that's all they want. 

This is definitely one of the great memories I would like to remember of my Paris trip.

A Lovely Day at Jardin des Plantes

Paris, Day One at Jardin des Plantes

I couldn't resist taking a picture of this lovely scene I saw in front of me at Jardin des Plantes. The cutest thing is the baby's butt crack, which is simply adorable!

317 of Project 365: Starbucks Christmas Mug 2012

Another mug to add to my collection of Starbucks Christmas mugs.

Besides the Christmas collection, I also love the Spring Sakura collection but sadly those launched in Singapore seemed to be different and very limited compared to the range launched in Taiwan & Japan.

I will also buy a Starbucks mug when I'm traveling. Of course, given the hassle of having to bring a fragile and breakable item back, the mug should be something unique which I can't find in Singapore. I don't go for the run-of-the-mill mugs which has the country or city name printed on the mug.

ISO: 125

Exposure: 1/30 sec

Aperture: 1.7

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

316 of Project 365: Poudre Universelle Libre

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre

Natural Finish Loose Powder (Net 30g) in 20 Clair

When it comes to cosmetic & skincare products, I'm a fickle and adventurous consumer who likes to try different brands and products - most often before I finish any of the existing arsenal of products I already have. Which is why, it is a surprise when I realised that I've finished this loose powder from Chanel within the recommended 18M used-by date.

The only explanation is: I like this product enough to keep reaching for it. The finely milled powder matched my skin tone and it doesn't make me look pasty which is a common problem with powder products. It also has a light floral scent which is pleasing without being overwhelming. 

I would definitely repurchase this product but that is only after I finished the existing loose powders I have stashed in my drawer. I can think of at least 4 - 5 other tubs from different brands like MAC, Laura Mercier, Kanebo, Natural Republic,.....

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/80 sec

Aperture: 2.5

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

315 of Project 365: Tool of the Trade 2

Here's another post about the tool I used to apply my makeup. The first post was a dual ended foundation-and-concealer brush.

This is my current favorite brush to apply liquid foundation - Sigma Round Top Kabuki (F82). While doing my research on Sigma synthetic brushes, I found that many recommended the Flat Top Kabuki (F80). In the end, I decided to go with my own preference for a round top brush because I already owned something similar to the flat top kabuki brush.

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/60 sec

Aperture: 2.5

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

314 of Project 365: Under-redded

I bought this "Red Carpet" Revlon ColorStay nail polish when it was on sale at 20% off (RP: S$13.90).
The sales person told me that this is the same red nail polish used by the SIA girls. She even went on to recommend me the matching red lipstick in "Really Red" which I already owned. For those aspiring to create the SIA girl look, here's something affordable to consider.
This is definitely one of the best nail polishes I owned. I've tried many different brands from high-end to low-end so I know that this is a winner when it's quality stood out clearly enough to woo me.
Rich creamy finish with high shine, minimal chipping after one week (with minimal fading around the edges which is a rarity for me).
The thing I love best about this polish is the applicator which has a slightly rounded brush tip so application is a breeze. Another thing I notice is the brush picks up the right amount of polish and it's easy to control the amount of polish being picked up so I wouldn't end up with a huge gob of messy liquid or insufficient polish resulting in uneven finish.
I am tempted to buy another bottle in a neutral color but sometimes different colors might perform differently, which is something we have to bear in mind.

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/250 sec

Aperture: 1.7

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

313 of Project 365: Burberry

This is what happened when I can't make up my mind.

Burberry Complete Eye Palette

NT WT 5.4g

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/200 sec

Aperture: 1.7

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

The eyeshadow is housed in a velvet pouch which also has a side pocket to hold 3 brushes.

312 of Project 365: Nutmeg (豆蔻)

Nutmeg (豆蔻)

This fruit reminds me of the yummy nutmeg drink I had during my recent trip to Penang. Some might find the taste medicinal, as nutmeg is one of the ingredients commonly found in ointment but I like it very much. Most importantly, it is good for health whether you consume or apply it.

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/1300 sec

Aperture: 2.2

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

This is how the fruit looks like inside. Doesn't it remind you of the "Nutmeg and Mace" sculpture by Kumari Nahappan outside ION Orchard? 

311 of Project 365: Dragonfly 2

Dragonfly must be one of the most common insects because I see them in most of the parks in Singapore.

Here's the first post I did featuring the same yellow dragonfly at Hort Park. This time round, I managed to get a closer shot where I can see the fine hairs on the belly & back and the spike on the head. I guess this is the best I can do with my prime lens at 4x zoom. 

Sigh, at times like this, I wish I have a more powerful camera.

Taken at Gardens by the Bay.

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/800 sec

Aperture: 2.5

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

Full frontal shot.

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/800 sec

Aperture: 2.5

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

310 of Project 365: Spider Lily

Taken at Gardens by the Bay

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/1300 sec

Aperture: 2.2

Focal Length: 20mm

Flash Used: No

309 of Project 365: 以人为本的设计

I need a bag to replace my old trusty shoulder bag from UNIQLO which has served me for more than 3 years. So I went back to UNIQLO hoping to find something similar but I was disappointed by the limited range which is catered more for lugging the laptop. 

My next best bet is Muji. I need a bag that is sturdy & big enough to carry my camera, with many compartments within the bag to keep all my barang barang, lightweight, waterproof, ...... The list goes on and on. It didn't take me long to find what I want but I had a small problem. I was looking at the zipper at the bottom of the side pocket which can be unzipped. It doesn't make sense to expose the bottom because it would mean that I won't be able to put anything in the side pocket when it's unzipped. But in my mind I know that the design must serve a purpose, and given the thoughtfulness of Japanese designs, I'm sure it's there for a purpose.

I found this piece of instruction slip in the bag and viola, mystery solved! The side pocket when unzipped at the bottom actually serves as a flap where one can hook the bag through the handle of a luggage handle.

Guess I might not be using this function much because I much prefer to keep it zipped so I can put my stuff in the side pocket for easy access.

ISO: 400

Exposure: 1/6 sec

Aperture: 5.5

Focal Length: 34mm

Flash Used: No

308 of Project 365: Paris

法国 - 巴黎 - 自助

France - Paris - Free & Easy

Yes, free & easy, a word which I fear the most because it takes a lot of planning & research.  But for once I can go on a free & easy trip planned by someone else, my sis.

As usual, my holiday planning can be stressful right from the start. Firstly, getting approval for my leave application is always a nightmare. Well, it's never a straight forward "ok" when it's subject to the whim of one's bosses.

Then it's booking the flight. Different airlines, different dates, different timings and most importantly, prices that can fluctuate so much.

Then comes lodging. Everything seem so expensive in Euro. Even at the supposedly strong SGD rate, nothing looks cheap when you have to multiply by 1.60 times.

Finally, we have to start digging into the guide books, online research for the places to go and things to do while we were there.

This time round, I'll take it easy and let my sis do most of the planning for I shall be a faithful follower.

Au revoir!

ISO: 400

Exposure: 1/15 sec

Aperture: 5.3

Focal Length: 30mm

Flash Used: No

307 of Project 365: Harmonie Du Soir

A picture of perfection for the record before I dip my brush and paint the window to my soul with a rosy view of the world.

Regard Signe De Chanel

Ombres A Paupieres Quatuor

Quadra Eye Shadow

Harmonie Du Soir

ISO: 400

Exposure: 1/30 sec

Aperture: 5.6

Focal Length: 45mm

Flash Used: No

家常菜: 砂锅鱼头

开饭了！

好久没吃的家常菜 - 砂锅鱼头！这应该是一道广东菜式的代表菜之一吧！

有点像大杂烩，因为光看就可以看到很多的料扑在鱼头上，所以完全看不见鱼头的踪影！

我想这也可以叫 “一锅搞定”， 可为均衡的一餐，有鱼，有肉，又有菜。

I Cooked Curry Again!

Haha, can't help but smile when I entitled this post!

Yes, I cooked curry again! And this time with greater success after some modifications.

The colour is not as dark compared to my first try because I didn't poach the purple carrot. What I did was sauteed the onion, white radish, red carrot, purple carrot and chilli padi. This process took the longest time, at least 15 minutes before the onions & carrots are soft enough before adding water, bring it to a boil and finally add the curry cubes. Besides the chilli padi to increase the hotness of the curry, no additional seasoning is required. Easy, peasy right?