Thou greatest enemy is thyself

It’s one of those speedy lunch dates again, a pocket of stolen time with Darling to make sure that he’s fine after the string of late nights (damn those reports!) “还不快叫大嫂？” Lol..i was so tickled when Victor said that to the uni/poly guys. He’s the smart-alecky type while L specializes in cold jokes.

Anyway I have a surprise for L, it’s a striped long-sleeved shirt (being deliberately vague here in case he sees this). The design might create the illusion of broader shoulders and a leaner torso! Also, I saw something on a taiwan spree site which I immediately had to get xD

(Here’s a clue: C_ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _)

Do you get a whiff of the real bargains up ahead? Yeap the GSS is just 2 months away and I’m already getting warmed up lol.. Spent the whole afternoon surveying the new Tampines One and it definitely is a worthy addition to the two major malls in the vicinity. New stores to satiate a stratum of tastes and spending power. Like the shop that sells spa supplies, I was invigorated by the lemongrass fragrance every time I passed by it. Another that sells Jap snacks and groceries, and one sake specialty store! Gawd…must-visit!!

By the way I stocked up on underwear at espirit. Ever since marks and spencer’s had to cut costs (and scrimp on quality!), their lingerie have never been the same again. When I saw the prices of that Espirit bra I’ve been eyeing for so long slashed from $39.90 to $24 and their high-cut panties reduced to $8, I became an Espirit-convert. The cutting is great, neither obnoxiously ‘pushy’ nor nun-like. In total I got 3 bras and 4 panties for $95.

Uniqlo is over-hyped. The built-in bra tops didn’t fit very well and cost a bomb, the Bossini version in B&W is cheaper and better, only $23 but i got it for $18.40 with member’s discount. Also got three basic tops from Dorothy Perkins for $33. Ok no more spending, it’s alr $200+ in this post alone *shudders*

Hate my hedonism. It’s time to earn my keep and spend only on necessities, notwithstanding the constant temptation of shopping during my BKK trip. Can’t wait to go sightseeing! Though I predict I’ll evaporate from the pavement before I’m done. Lol. 

If any kind soul wants to make my day though, I would very much appreciate it if you get me:

Indie Open Keyhole Dress from Hollyhoque.livejournal.com

or #8 Francine Babydoll Top from modparade.livejournal.com

Ciao~

When the alligator is agitated,
Steve Irwin will still jump onto its back.

So don’t turn around and snap. It hurts.
Just sort of nibble firmly to get the msg across. 

My mum is downstairs now, arguing her case in a very 理直气壮 way. I cannot stand her. I came back running, was a little faint and hungry. My mum saw me and said, ‘Oh ok I’ll cook now.’ Feeling a little desperate I replied ‘Why not we go out and eat?’ And she started being very indignant and saying ‘What kind of attitude is this? You come back then cook cannot meh?! You ah…wait a bit also cannot!!’ I was just so shell-shocked that I was lost for words, then the unfairness bubbled up and I stalked to the back and said ‘Eh…I only innocently suggested maybe we could go out and eat since it’s only the three of us. Why did you shoot all those nasty things at me?’ A shouting match ensued, me being more hysterical I admit because i’m sick of being maimed by my mother’s unthinking accusations and assuming-the-worst-side-of-me kind of conversations. It’s exasperating, frustrating, and at it’s worst, depressing. What have I done to deserve remarks like ‘Aiyo I dunno why I have a daughter like you.’ in the kind of tone that suggests that she got a cockroach for a daughter. It really hurts me and I sometimes retort ‘Then why don’t you just abort me?’ and scream/wail/sob. Like now. It’s stupid. And now she’s got the upperhand cuz she’s all calm and still pouring her grievances in rapid-fire succession over the phone to my father, who is undoubtedly siding her to calm her down, and will most likely berate me for not being 懂事。Hell, how could I be when my mum is still immature and like the eldest daughter of the family?

Just now when I just came of the bathroom and feeling a bit better, albeit a bit down, I told my maid Aunty Aida not to cook for me as I’m going out to eat with L (last minute arrangements but it’s our anniversary dinner anyway). She asked me why, I said I was down, and she asked what happened cuz she was obliviously in her room with my sis listening to music and laughing. So I told her Mummu scold me. And she asked ‘Why, again?’ Haha..it’s such a regular occurrence. So I told her the gist of it and I swear without embellishing cuz I was sad not angry. Then my mum stomped over and exclaimed ‘EH don’t tell the maid anything, she is an outsider.’ I was incredulous at her paranoid mentality and began to say ‘She’s just asking why I’m unhappy that’s all, any normal person would ask that?!’ And then she went ‘You got problem, is it, want to complain to outsiders!’ and I couldn’t help but stating the obvious. Isn;t she the one with the problem? A person would be able to judge for herself who is reasonable or not, and with the suspicion and general critical way my mum is treating Aunty Aida it’s no wonder she’s worried about the information I’m telling her. See, she can’t even trust her daughter! I am lamenting.

“Sit down and think about who you are. Make a bit of a journey and make dressing up an event for yourself.” – Patricia Fields, costume designer for Confessions of a Shopaholic, Ugly Betty, The Devil Wears Prada and Sex & The City.

It definitely helps to take time to explore what’s your personality and which kind of fashion fits you and which you in turn definitely like. Instinct plays a huge part on knowing what works and what you would still find stylish many years down the road. But I think that careful study of your own body type and image you want to portray helps too. For too long, I have been experimenting with too many looks, and I have amassed many largely unworn blogshop bargains as a result. Time to clear out the junk and keep those well-worn pieces, bearing in mind that I am still a student with no steady income.

Materialism has no place in a world where we need to be sustainable, hence that little bit of investment in using a few seconds to ask yourself  ‘Do I really need that?’ or ‘Would I still like it in x years?’ and making the extra effort to mix and match to multiply your outfits in a jiffy would do you well!

Alternatively, if you are a hardcore shopaholic, just remember that countless tiny savings from strict abstinence could be blown on a much-more-worth-it spree in say..BKK or 109 Mall in Shibuya.