I was glad to be part of the team behind Cartier's highly anticipated Time Art exhibition on Dec 13 with a cocktail soiree attended by over 350 guests which included Ms Dimple Aswani and Ms Genecia Luo whom I personally invited.

Held at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands (one of my favourite museums), the exhibition marks the first time Cartier is showcasing such a sizable collection of the brand's work outside of Switzerland.

If you asked me, I loved the Mystery clocks the most. As well as the crash watch which resembles Dali's melting clock much. The ID one exhibition by Tokujin was also pretty spectacular - what I loved was how sunlight was simulated in the room along with a huge installation of straws that made one feel like they were in the artic regions or something.

I was in the museum for some 3 days leading up to the grand exhibition, and on the day of the event - busy coordinating the models and our 50 bellboys all decked in the lovely red attire that resembled toy soldiers :). Too bad I didn't have time to pop over to the titanic exhibition.

Ladies and gentleman I doubt there's any watch brand with a history so steep, and linked to that many royalty. There's even a clock which used to be owned by Barbara streisand - I was blew away when I was told that materials such as kingfisher feathers in it as part of the clock's built and design. A feast for the eyes :)

P.S I am not sure if this is still valid but bring along your IC on your visit to the ASM. It should entitle you 10% off tickets to any exhibits.






Cartier ID one

A collage of shots by www.kozystudios.com for BLOW.

Michelle's really photogenic isn't she. :)

While we were in Phuket, she was hiding under towels and umbrellas mostly. HAHAH

It's at ALEENTA resort - Phuket where we celebrated Melissa's birthday for perhaps the third time. (FYI first was a night out at Filter, and 2nd dinner with her family and friends at Garibaldi).

Aleenta's sort of the perfect resort for honeymooners. Not quite the place for a bunch of girls (only because it's like an hours drive to downtown Phuket) LOL but what I did like was the resorts huge efforts in conservation of sea turtles who are natives to Phuket island. Couples will be glad to know that the rooms feature high ceilings, lots of glass. And that includes, a peekaboo window in the living area where you can view what's going on in the bathroom? HAHAH.

The 4 of us girls shared 2 lofts with attached lap pools which was alot of fun, we were swimming to each other's rooms for group lunches. (Someone had to spoil the fun by taking up the room in between...).

The SPA sessions were also divine. One of the best I've had so far. And it only got better because it was a complimentary session from the management of Aleenta due to a little security hiccip that occurred in our rooms. To say the least, our belongings could have been compromised but well everything was in tact so thank goodness we found out early. (I know ...how vague).

The Thai food served at the resort was ..not quite authentic. Probably because the establishment is booked mostly by american and europeans anyway. But breakfast - as you can see from the pictures are quite a roaring start and sure enough to give you the boost needed to kick start the day!

I'm glad I did this despite being really afraid and rather paranoid that I was gonna go down with the thai floods.


http://www.aleenta.com/phuket/
Starts at 300USD a night or something (Reason I can't quite recall is because our lovely birthday girl sponsored our entire trip).

Well I love Thailand and it's ever so hard to resist a trip back there. I just can't believe my boyfriend hasn't been there yet? hehe

Becointreauversial - a burlesque number by Cointreau and Dita Von Teese.
We waited some 2hrs to watch this. Way to long for a show which lasted only some 15minutes.

But it was in some sense, worth the anticipation. Kumar made a great Emcee for the night, and I was surprised Dita's alot more beautiful in person than pictures would have you think sometimes.

If there's something amazing about her. It's her 22 inch waist. Achieved through years of wearing the corset. I'm not sure how some women go through that, but I heard wearing one really helps to get you back into shape post-pregnancy. That should be the least of my worries since I really do not plan for kids.

Was glad to have bumped into Loren and a few journalist which I used to work with. While photo taking was restricted, it didn't stop shutterbugs like me from....documenting things.

The show was rather risque so I won't put it up those pictures on my blog. Better luck on twitter guys.

Spirited away.

I attended the launch of Mink with Adeline, Michelle, Melissa, James (Frolick anybody?), Brian and many others. Mink is the extension of RoyalRoom Nx door. Brought to you by the same people behind Filter. (Think the Emerald hill group and a bunch of hipsters by the name of Langan and Phil).

Wanna chat Eduardo Saverin up? here's the place to be.

Celebrating the love in films from around the world with pride.

The 4th Love & Pride Film Festival returns at GV Grand, Great World City and is held from 18 till 23 October 2011.

Be amongst the exclusive few to watch films passed uncut and in Cantonese never seen before on the big screen. Catch Tom Price, star of Amphetamine in an exclusive Q&A session during the Opening Gala

Tickets are available for sale online and at any GV Box Office. Patrons are strongly encouraged to book their tickets online so we may contact you should there be any changes in festival programming.

I'll most likely be tuning into The Kids Are Alright, or Amphetamine. What about you?

Ticketing and screening dates here

I'll be at the CozyCot Love Fest selling my polaroid cameras.

Happening on:

8 and 9th October. Ochard Central from 1-7pm!

Do drop by to say hi!

For more information check out http://lovefest2011.cozycot.com/

ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT

You have an artistic eye and your open-minded outlook on life means that you have a wide-ranging appreciation of the arts and culture. With your bold, adventurous personality, you have a creative flair and are often drawn to grand, striking ideas. You have got a wonderfully childlike spirit. You see the beauty in the simplest of things. Happiness is not something to save for the future, it's about living in the moment.

You're a fast-mover and feel energized about anything that gets your pulse racing! You're enthusiastic about life and an upbeat spirit who knows how to have fun and tends to value all which is fresh and new in the world. You tire quickly of old conventions and outdated ideas, wishing to experience new methods with youthful innocence and vigor. It's all about big thrills and exciting antics that take you out of your comfort zone. You want to feel connected to the world around you and actively seek out opportunities to get closer to nature. For you, it is all about broadening your horizons and living life to the fullest! Plan your next adventure on nytimes.com/travel.

(Ah marketing gimmick much?)


Take the Quiz here if you like http://tinyurl.com/3esmzom

So I had tickets to the Johnny English premier. Thanks to Omy.sg and UIP.

Did you know that Rowan Atkinson’s film career began in 1983 with a supporting role in Never Say Never Again, touted as the “unofficial” James Bond movie? He did several other movies before he became Mr. Bean, the character that has become second skin to him.

First thing's first. Here's the trailer.
. Like it?

Now Johnny English reborn - The sequel to Johnny English - (A James Bond parody) is depending on how you take humour - "Unwatchable"? or it could be "unexpectedly hilarious"..

It was the formal for me, the later for my boyfriend.

The movie starts with Johnny hiding in Tibet after an assignment goes wrong. Living in shame, he is then trained in martial arts and then placed on an assignment to put a stop to the pending "assassination" of The Chinese Premier.

There are plenty of scenes where Johnny so effortlessly outsmarts his chinese opponents (A skilled kungfu dude, and a haughty (Creepy) faced granny (The people planning to assassinate the chinese premier). I probably preferred this half of the show alot better than the next where the stunts pulled were silly things like - the broken chair lever which caused Johnny's chair to heighten and lower to ridiculous levels. Or Johnny drinking a highly potent mind control elixir by mistake (which was no surprise)..

And the highlight: Johnny in Lipstick, Johnny is a wheelchair, and last but not least Johnny's rolls royce :)

All in all, I'll probably say watch it on a weekday if you have to. If you don't, the trailer has all the funny bits captured.

Read the full article here:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/BUSINESS/08/16/money.and.meanness/index.html?iref=allsearch

Now these are the three favourite quotes I have from Randy.

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.

You don't beat the grim reaper by living longer; you beat the grim reaper by living better.



And his testimony to the US Congress in bids to get more funding for Pancreatic Cancer


Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, but receives extremely little federal funding to support research efforts. In March of 2008, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network went to Congress to urge the federal government to provide critical funding to speed the cure for this horrible disease.

My balenciaga papyrus giant rose gold work.
Thanks hun for the birthday gift. SO much love.

Hello friends!

Please help to like www.facebook.com/blow.sg

We're trying to hit 400 likes :)

BLOW is on the news!

At

Labels: hair blow dry singapore, insead, martell vsop, ultimate start up space

Labels: Martell TUSS, Official Martell V.S.O.P, The Ultimate Start-up Space shoot, TUSS

Every wondered why there isn't a place where you can attain catwalk worthy hair, fast? I asked myself that plenty of times, and when no one answered, my friend and I set ourselves up on a mission to bring great hair, fast and affordable to you.

We all know how easy it is to dress up, and when we do. Often with the most expensive dress or handbag on our hands. Something is still lacking. Well we've got the answer to those who want to look good and not just on special occassion

BLOW is Singapore's first hair “blow dry bar” fully dedicated to those on the go. There will be no cuts, no colors, and no fuss. It's Great Hair Everyday.

Now did I mention our start up idea has made it to the top 10 ideas for The Martell Ultimate Start Up Space competition?

We're in the running for a rent free , 1400sq ft shop space down at 29 Boon Tat Street, as well as the start up capital of 20,000 generously sponsored by Martell, and co sponsored by INSEAD, the business school, Epicentre, and Home FIX.

20% of our team's score will come from crowdfunding and here's how you can get in on the action. Be our crowdfunder to help us get to the TOP, and be rewarded! As our crowdfunders, you will receive great perks when we open from partner brands such as Frolick yogurt, TheScarletRoom, and other great brands!

To support our idea, you'll need a paypal account which is free and easy to sign up for here. Choose to open a personal account.

Thereafter, go to http://www.ultimatestartupspace.com.sg/top10/blow to make your pledge. In return, you'll get a lovely BLOW DRY at knock out prices, and the redcarpet treatment at our store when we open. You also stand to in an ipad 2!

Labels: blow dry bar, entrepreneurship, Jane alethea seet, Martell TUSS, Michelle Chong, PLMGSS, singapore, temasek poly, top 10, ultimate start up space

A women is often measured by the things she cannot control.

She is measured by how her body curves or does not curve.

By where she is flat or straight or round.

She is measured by 36-24-36 and inches and ages and numbers.

By all the outside things that don't ever add up to who she is on the inside.

And so,

If a woman is to be measured, let her be measured by the things she can control, by who she is and who she is trying to become because as every woman knows, measurements are only statistics and statistics lie.

TEN LESSONS FROM THE BAMBOO (summary)

(1) Remember: What looks weak is strong
The body of even the largest type of bamboo is not large compared to the other much larger trees in the forest. But the plants endure cold winters and extremely hot summers and are some times the only trees left standing in the aftermath of a storm. Remember the words of a great Jedi Master: "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size do you?" We must be careful not to underestimate others or ourselves based only on old notions of what is weak and what is strong. You do not have to be big and imposing to be strong. You may not be from the biggest company or the product of the most famous school, but like the bamboo, stand tall, believe in your own strengths, and know that you are as strong as you need to be. Remember too that there is strength in the light, in openness and transparency. There is strength in kindness, compassion, and cooperation.

(2) Bend but don't break.
One of the most impressive things about the bamboo is how it sways with the breeze. This gentle swaying movement is a symbol of humility. The foundation of the bamboo is solid, yet it moves and sways harmoniously with the wind, never fighting against it. In time, even the strongest wind tires itself out, but the bamboo remains standing tall and still. A bend-but-don't-break or go-with-the-natural-flow attitude is one of the secrets for success whether we're talking about bamboo trees, answering tough questions in a Q&A session, or just dealing with the everyday vagaries of life.

(3) Be deeply rooted yet flexible
The bamboo is remarkable for its incredible flexibility. This flexibility is made possible in part due to the bamboo's complex root structure which is said to make the ground around a bamboo forest very stable. Roots are important, yet in an increasingly mobile world many individuals and families do not take the time or effort to establish roots in their own communities. The challenge, then, for many of us is to remain the mobile, flexible, international travelers and busy professionals that we are while at the same time making the effort and taking the time to become involved and deeply rooted in the local community right outside our door.

(4) Slow down your busy mind
We have far more information available than ever before and most of us live at a very fast pace. Even if most of our work life is on-line, life itself can seem quite hectic, and at times chaotic. Often it is difficult to see the signal through all the noise. In this kind of environment, it seems all the more important to take the time to slow down, to calm your busy mind so that you may see things more clearly.

(5) Be always ready
As the great Aikido master Kensho Furuya says in Kodo: Ancient Ways, "The warrior, like bamboo, is ever ready for action." In presentation or other professional activities too, through training and practice we can develop in our own way a state of being ever ready. Through study and practice we can at least do our best to be ready for any situation.

(6) Find wisdom in emptiness
It is said that in order to learn, the first step is to empty ourselves of our preconceived notions. One can not fill a cup which is already full. The hollow insides of the bamboo reminds us that we are often too full of ourselves and our own conclusions; we have no space for anything else. In order to receive knowledge and wisdom from both nature and people, we have to be open to that which is new and different. When you empty your mind of your prejudices and pride and fear, you become open to the possibilities.

(7) Commit yourself to growth & renewal
Bamboo are among the fastest-growing plants in the world. It does not matter who you are — or where you are — today, you have amazing potential for growth. We usually speak of Kaizen or continuous improvement that is more steady and incremental, where big leaps and bounds are not necessary. Yet even with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement, our growth — like the growth of the bamboo — can be quite remarkable when we look back at what or where we used to be. You may at times become discouraged and feel that you are not improving at all. Do not be discouraged by what you perceive as your lack of growth or improvement. If you have not given up, then you are growing, you just may not see it until much later. How fast or how slow is not our main concern, only that we're moving forward.

(8) Express usefulness through simplicity
Aikido master Kensho Furuya says that "The bamboo in its simplicity expresses its usefulness. Man should do the same." Indeed, we spend a lot of our time trying to show how smart we are, perhaps to convince others — and ourselves — that we are worthy of their attention and praise. Often we complicate the simple to impress and we fail to simplify the complex out of fear that others may know what we know. Life and work are complicated enough without our interjecting the superfluous. If we could lose our fear, perhaps we could be more creative and find simpler solutions to even complex problems that ultimately provide the greatest usefulness for our audiences, customers, patients, or students.

(9) Unleash your power to spring back
Bamboo is a symbol of good luck and one of the symbols of the New Year celebrations in Japan. The important image of snow-covered bamboo represents the ability to spring back after experiencing adversity. In winter the heavy snow bends the bamboo back and back until one day the snow becomes too heavy, begins to fall, and the bamboo snaps back up tall again, brushing aside all the snow. The bamboo endured the heavy burden of the snow, but in the end it had to power to spring back as if to say "I will not be defeated."

(10) Smile, laugh, play
The Kanji (Chinese character) for smile or laugh is 笑う. At the top of this character are two small symbols for bamboo (竹 or take). It is said that bamboo has a strong association with laughter, perhaps because of the sound that the bamboo leaves make on a windy day. If you use your imagination I guess it does sound a bit like the forest laughing; it is a soothing sound. Bamboo itself also has a connection with playfulness as it has been used for generations in traditional Japanese kite making and in arts and crafts such as traditional doll making. We have known intuitively for generations of the importance of smiling, laughing, and playing, now modern science shows evidence that these elements play a real and important role in one's mental and physical health as well.

These are just ten lessons from the bamboo; one could easily come up with dozens more. These are not things that we do not all ready know, of course. Yet like many a good sensei, the bamboo simply reminds us of what we already know but may have forgotten. Then it is up to us to put these lessons (or reminders) of resilience into daily use through persistence and practice. You do not need to be perfect. You need only to be resilient. This is the greatest lesson from the bamboo.

I must have had this ceramic hair tong since 2007. In fact, I was contemplating on selling it off and thus wanted this to be a last test on my hair. The first time, from what I remembered during Winter in oklahoma was... urh. terrble. My hair refused to curl at all.

Now on second thoughts, I'll love to keep this. :)
Off to run some errands now :)

Amazing stuff.

Click on natgeo to view these stuff now.

Excerpt from Geekosystem.com

Here’s a delightful morning snack: When Pakistan experienced severe flooding last year, it had the unexpected and rather creepy-crawly side effect of driving millions upon millions of spiders to the trees, where they could escape the floodwater. Since the flooding lasted for such a long time, many trees became blanketed in thick layers of web.

But according to the UK government, which assisted in the flood release effort this may have actually had a positive health effect: On-the-ground reports suggest that there are fewer mosquitos than would have been expected after the influx of so much stagnant water. This, in turn, may have reduced the very real risk of malaria to local populations afflicted with flooding. The web-coated trees, however, remain scary-looking.

SimplyHer magazine sent me the complete set of Phyto's Phytokeratine to test out on my badly damaged locks. (Guess my review will be out this July on the hardcopy magazine). Yea I don't know to be happy or sad about this.

Lovely packaging aside (Except for the fact that I dropped the bottle so it's ...dented?). The shampoo worked great for me.

The lather was fine, and as opposed to my hair getting tangled everytime I tried to wash it. This time, Phyto's phytokeratine shampoo worked its magic with it's plant derived keratine. The formula is said to not contain silicons that tend to weigh hair down or cause product built up. I was able to run my fingers thru my hair easily while shampooing.

The conditioner too was light and didn't coat the skin of my hands nor neck after the process, unlike pantene or some other brands where you get a funny oily coating. To finish off,I applied just 2 pumps of the serum after I toweled dry my hair - perfect for my fuss free hair care routine.

RESULTS: My hair was light, it seemed to have more volume (YAY?) and also managed to stay tangle free throughout the day. While the results are really good. I'll have to check out on the retail prices, because from my knowledge, PHYTO is expensive!

I found the shampoo to be most effective, so those who are keen, if the wallet unfriendly price gets in the way. Start with the shampoo and decide from there!

It's a funny month for me because I'll also be featured in the readers' style picks for HERWORLD magazine this July.

Marie France Bodyline collaborates with one of Singapore’s iconic couture fashion designers, Francis Cheong for his Spring/Summer 2011 Couture Collection show, Club Chinoiserie, on 17 May, 9pm at the Audi Fashion Festival 2011, The Tent, Ngee Ann City.
I was happy to be able to attend this with 2 other friends. So thanks for the invite omy and Marie France Bodyline :)

Drinks for the night were sponsored by Belvedere, Rosemount and Vitamin Water. How lovely.













































About Francis Cheong

Francis Cheong stepped into the dazzling limelight of Asian high fashion when he became the youngest finalist in the history of the prestigious Singapore Young Designer’s Contest. Amidst senior designers like Tan Yoong and Thomas Lee, teenager Francis’ talent was promptly noted. Three years later, the 21 year-old bagged an impressive first runner up for the same competition. Undaunted, Francis continued to wow fashionistas world-wide as he was appointed official designer for the Miss Universe pageant in 1987. Since then, his arresting approach to couture—a combination of immaculate French embroidery with extravagant Italian fabrics—has gained worldwide recognition. This included his design for Beyonce during F1 Singapore.

Femininity is a must for Francis. That’s why through his designs, he strives to create a customised, classic wardrobe worthy to compliment any woman’s body. The meticulous crafting that goes into every fluid creation—striking beadwork and intricate embroidery paired with perfect cuts and simple lines—are all finely balanced to portray Francis’s philosophy of sophisticated femininity.

Believing firmly on the concept of individuality, Francis anchors himself to the notion that staying true to one’s dream is the most important thing in realizing a brand name of such stature in the far eastern market.

Marie France Bodyline Collaboration

This is the first time Marie France Bodyline is closely aligned with Singapore’s couture fashion scene, bringing the beauty of the female silhouette to the forefront through fashion. Marie France Bodyline hopes to use this milestone collaboration as a platform to inspire women to realize their potential in achieving a healthy body image and pays tribute to modern Asian women who are an inspiration to others.

Christy Chung, Marie France’s Bodyline’s celebrity spokesperson of 13 years is one such woman who was an inspiration for Francis’s Spring/Summer 2011 Couture collection.

Want to check out the action backstage? watch http://video.xin.msn.com/watch/video/backstage-with-francis-cheong/7n3j99h9?cpkey=118d2194-7f65-9068-2832-60616cd6fad4|||

Francis’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection depicts Club Chinoiserie through oriental non traditional forms that incorporates a kaleidoscope of colours, beautiful embellishment and flowy silhouettes.

Spotted on the runaway was Irene Ang and Nadia Hutagalung dressed in Francis Cheong's collection. As well as the wonderful Christy Chung, still such a beautiful face she was.

To view upclose shots of models, their gowns and backstage. View
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/DETknfkDbIF/AFF+2011+Francis+Cheong+Couture+Backstage












































































































































And last but not least, we were given a goodie bag with some marie france bodyline products including a caviar eye cream from bella skin care. Just what I needed :)

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