Some news

Hi beautiful people,

Due to work issues, I've been having trouble updating this blog as often as I would like to. It's getting tougher to string coherent sentences together into paragraphs (it seems!) and I don't like the feeling of being obliged to write something just so that I don't let people down.

Know what I mean?

So, I thought, maybe twitter would be a better option for me. I'm really grateful and happy to have known so many beautiful people in the past year of blogging here. Thanks for all your comments and tips.

I would return here, as and when I really need to write something (long! ;P) but if you would like to keep in touch, in between those looooong periods of silence, pls go to www.twitter.com/pinkybeanie

Blessings to all!

Hugs & kisses,
Pinky


----------------
Now playing: Ra. D - I`m in love (Piano RMX)
via FoxyTunes

Balenciaga

I didn't know what I was getting into when I bought my first ever Balenciaga. Aptly, it was the First ;P in fuschia no less. I fell deeply in love and there has been no turning back since.

Anyway, I was glad I gave it a second chance. Many of you may still remember my encounter with the Giant Balenciaga City with the super heavy hardware. I thought that was the end of it, but how could I resist such a cute colour as fuschia? LOL.

So ... I bought it. And I've been loving it ever since. I tote it almost every single weekend. The size is perfect n the weight, not overwhelming.



When the Balenciaga City came along, I just thought I needed a work bag. Being the practical person that I am, I thought Anthracite was a lovely colour for everyday esp WORK days, plus the size was just rite! And it wasn't too heavy. And the price was a steal for a full leather bag ... you get my drift.

So, here I am today, on my way to get my 3rd B baby: the Part Time in Sahara.



My family is growing.

*Photos courtesy of Balenciaga.com


----------------
Now playing: Ra. D - Jesus Loves me (Groovy RMX) (feat. 조수아, Hena)
via FoxyTunes

The days have been getting longer lately, with the sunset getting later each day. Temperature is inching up and I'm longing for icy fruity smoothies.

Got this in my mailbox today. What a wonderful way to start a new season .... by shopping! LOL. Looking forward to summer :)

Ten Tips for Successful Summer Casual Dressing

If you are interested in building an affordable and practical casual wardrobe this season, read on! These ten tips are designed to be your road map. Use them to bring focus to your shopping and organization to your closet:

#1 Think About Lifestyle.
Before you shop, jot down the casual activities you like doing and the clothes that make you feel your best doing them. Getting focused ahead of time about the types of clothes and accessories you actually need to build a functional casual wardrobe will keep you on track at the store.

#2 Determine Your Retail Sizing.
Many women settle for less than a perfect fit, especially with their casual clothing. Taking the time to know your correct size — petite, missy, plus or some combination — will make creating a look that fits and flatters easier. Yes, even sweat suits can fit you well and make you feel good!

#3 Pick Your Base Neutrals.
Black, white, khaki, navy and stone are good warm weather neutrals and mix and match well with a variety of brighter colors and prints.

#4 Bottoms Up.
Focus on bottoms first — pants, shorts, Capris, skirts and jeans. Once you are happy with these selections, add a minimum of three tops for each.

#5 Pick a Signature Color.
To further simplify your wardrobe, consider accenting base neutrals with one hue that you love. Stock up on tops, bags, shoes and other accessories in the same shade of this color and you will get many looks with fewer pieces than you ever imagined — promise!

#6 Know Your Fabrics.
For extra ease and comfort in the warmer weather, opt for machine washable, non-iron looks so you can grab, pack and go.

#7 Layer Effectively.
Tees, camisoles, shirts, sweaters and jackets can be combined in a myriad of ways to give you climate control and a polished appearance.

#8 Connect the Dots.
Pay attention to buttons, zippers, stitching and other details on clothes and accessories as you assemble your outfits. Typically, it takes a minimum of three similar metals, colors or other details to pull a look together.

#9 Tie It All Together With Casual Outerwear.
Wraps and rain & shine coats are a necessity for challenging weather and chilly nights, even in the summer. You enjoy all your clothes more when you take the time to think through your outerwear options. Make sure casual outfits are included in this thought process.

#10 Check Out At the Store, Check In With Your Closet.
Before you snip the tags, be sure what you buy complements what you already own. Promptly return anything that is an extra or doesn't make you feel your personal best.

Last Word

Casual clothes help you celebrate everyday moments and should be treated with as much thought and attention as the rest of your wardrobe. There is nothing casual about planning ahead so that you look and feel your personal best no matter the dress code for the days ahead this season!


Source: dressingwell.com

----------------
Now playing: Spicy Soda - 나에 곁으로
via FoxyTunes

HMV in Shibuya

Had the opportunity to visit Tokyo past couple of weeks. Couldn't resist popping into the HMV at Shibuya, if only to see if the Japanese people really like Korean music (or the hallyu wave, they call it) as much as I've been reading abt it online.

I realised HMV has a very good collection of K-pop and are really up-to-date with what's on the scene at the moment.

Take a look ... ...

Btw, I think Tohoshinki/DBSK/东方神起 is really hot in Japan. They've a whole display devoted to them (that's one whole wall of peraphernalia) and 1 whole row of shelves. Whew.

PS: Pls DO NOT hotlink the photos. Thank you.

----------------
Listening to: Bach - Violin Concerto in E major (BWV 1042) - Processional: Bach - Strings. WEDDING MUSIC. WORLDWIDE PUBLIC DOMAIN. S.I. PUBLISHING (SOCAN).
via FoxyTunes

Lovely presents (part 2)

Met up wif Mag over lunch the other day. It was a last min thingy (thanks for calling Mag!) n I'm glad we had the chance to lunch together. Spent the time gabbing abt K-dramas n stuff we'd read online. Mag is a really vivacious person yet thoughtful at the same time. We've to do lunch some time again, Mag!

Mag also gifted me with a package of goodies. My goodness, that's a lot of things. Can't wait to try them out ;)

----------------
Now playing: 장근석 - Good Bye
via FoxyTunes

Lovely presents (part 1)

Haven't been updating for a while as things were getting intense at work and I was on an overseas trip last week.

However, I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to the lovely ladies who had gifted me with their presence over lunch and dinner and the wonderful presents they gave me.

Met up with Yumeko, Mag & Haru for dinner some time in Mar when Yumeko was in town for a work/play trip. It was a fun evening of laughter n catching up. Really enjoyed myself tremendously. It's always great to gather wif lovely ladies who are beautiful, inside and out :) Let's get together again soon!

This was a pretty nifty and sweet package from Yumeko. It's soo pretty, I've yet to use it. Still in the admiring stage kekeke ;)

----------------
Listening to: Lisa Ono 小野リサ - All Of Me
via FoxyTunes

Dinner

2 of my favourite dishes: tofu cooked claypot style and long beans fried with minced meat & a bean-paste type of thingy.

----------------
Listening to: Scouting for Girls - She's so Lovely
via FoxyTunes

Skin food

I've been trying to eat healthy these days. Since the detox thingy, thought it would be a good thing if I'd persevere for a while.

So far, have been taking more veggies and water. I find Korean food is good for this ;) Loads of veggies and I really love kimchi. This is from a dinner recently.

----------------
Now playing: Ra. D - Goodbye (Original mix)
via FoxyTunes

Let's detox Day 5

Today's the 5th & final day of my 1 (work) week experiment. I think we (my colleagues & I) outdid ourselves in the salad department. But more on that later.

There were more meetings in the morning, so I grabbed a quick roti-prata with onions and egg. Roti-prata is a kind of Indian fried pancake made from dough; when made really well, it's an interesting mix of crispy and chewy textures all in one. You can add eggs or veggies or even meat to it. In my case, I like it with onions & an egg :)

Lunch was late today after that hearty breakfast but it was all worth it. Here're the pics which I managed to shoot before the gobbling began ^^

All in all, I think this was a pretty good week. I didn't expect to see much difference as I really did not make that much changes to my diet. However, my pants were loose at the end of the week and I feel more alert in the afternoons than if I'd had a 'normal' lunch. Don't think I could do this for the long term tho as it would require more effort and commitment than this beanie want to put in. Maybe once a week?

Happy weekend!!


----------------
Listening to: Lisa Ono 小野リサ - I Got Rhythm
via FoxyTunes

Let's detox Day 4

If there's going to be any falling off the bandwagon on any diet, I guess today is the day.

Was out running about for some meetings in the morning and didn't have the time to think carefully about my food choices. Do I feel guilty or upset? Surprisingly, no, I don't.

I think it's a gd break for me from the routine that I've been having the past 3 days. It also made me realise that wat we eat requires careful planning & effort, much as we would manage our makeup/beauty routines, finances or pretty much else in our lives.

I was at a breakfast meeting, so couldn't pass up the opportunity to grab some finger sandwiches that were beckoning to me on the many trays laid out in the buffet area ;P I had a salmon sandwich, a cucumber & cheese one, 1 turkey breast one and even a peanut butter wif cream cheese one. Yum *drool, slurp, heh*

Lunch was at a food court near the meeting venue. The place was packed but there was no queue for the fried prawn noodles, so how could I resist? Fried prawn noodles it was, all washed down with a nice warm cup of milk tea. I don't usually eat fried prawn noodles as it's not easy to get nicely cooked ones. I'm glad to report: this plate was worth all the calories ^^

Mad rush today, can't wait to get back to wholemeal bread tomorrow!


----------------
Now playing: Jang Geun Seok - 들리나요 Part 2
via FoxyTunes

Let's detox Day 3

It's the middle of the week and I think I'm starting to get the hang of this ;) My stomach is getting used to the low-fat or almost non-fat lunch. Tummy doesn't feel bloated after lunch time plus I don't get the afternoon drowsies much as I used to.

Breakfast today was just a glass of green apple juice as I wasn't hungry and work was getting busy. Lunch as usual: 2 slices wholemeal bread; lettuce & nuts wif apple cider-honey dressing; and a egg done sunny side up. Yums!

I've to be out of the office for some meetings tomorrow tho, so may not be able to do lunch as I would like to but let's see how things go. Wish me luck! ^^


----------------
Listening to: 김종국 - 사랑스러워
via FoxyTunes

Let's detox Day 2

And we're in Day 2.

Breakfast today is a glass of fresh squeezed green apple juice. I'm fortunate: there's a fruit store near the office which sells fresh & cheap juice. Yummilicious ^^ I also brought a peanut butter & cheese sandwich from home. Here it is in all its uneaten glory ;P

Lunch:
Aaack, again I was too quick to gobble things down, hence no photos, sorry! But here's what I ate -

• 2 slices wholemeal bread
• Scrambled eggs (wif chilli sauce from McD's for seasoning ;P)
• Lettuce wif apple cider & honey dressing
• Some nuts & raisins
  

I think my stomach have started adjusting to this diet. I'm not as hungry as I was on Day 1. In fact, it took a bit of effort for me to finish the sandwich. I wasn't fervently praying for dinner to be here soon, though I was famished by 6pm.

Here's looking to Day 3!

----------------
Listening to: Bach - Air on G
via FoxyTunes

Let's detox Day 1

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been MIA for like, ages ... Had a case of skin sensitivities (which I thot I'd never see again but well, never say never) n had to pare my skincare routine down to a bare monastic minimal.

What with the Chinese Lunar New Year & birthdays & celebrations n this n that, I've been eating like a famine is imminent and I'd better store some food, hiaks hiaks. Was chatting wif my colleagues abt this last week: one thing led to another, before I knew it, I was "enrolled" in a one week detox diet with the rest of the ladies.

Our plan is simple: lunch on 2 slices of wholemeal bread for 5 days. Sandwich fillings can include:

• loads of veggies (no dressing except balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil or something along these lines), 
• no meat, maybe tuna (in brine, mind you, oil is a no-no) or 
• eggs.

So, today is day 1 :) I forgot to take photos of my lunch cos I was too busy stuffing my face. But it was gd. On today's menu:

• 2 slices wholemeal bread, 
• 1 piece egg omelette (courtesy of a colleague who woke up early), 
• loads of iceberg lettuce wif balsamic vinaigrette & honey dressing 
• a tablespoon of mashed avocado as a spread.

My ... I can't wait for dinner ... LOL.

To keep me on the straight and narrow, I shall start listing down my entire day's food intake from Day 2. Fingers' crossed, let's hope this works!


----------------
Now playing: 이홍기 (Lee Hong Ki) - 여전히 (Still)
via FoxyTunes

Wild Horses

Ok, so this isn't quite beauty related. I'm sorry BUT I couldn't resist. Despite me going gaga n all fangirly over loads of pop acts recently, it's been a LOOOOOONG while since I got goosebumps while listening to someone sing.

THIS gave me GOOSEBUMPS, of the good kind. It's beautiful.



Read more about this song, "Wild Horses", from Wikipedia.


Wild Horses
Written by Mick Jagger/Keith Richards

Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands
Wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Wild wild horses couldn't drag me away

I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or off stage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind
Wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Wild wild horses couldn't drag me away

I know I've dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken tears must be cried
Let's do some living after we die
Wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Wild wild horses we'll ride them someday
Wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Wild wild horses we'll ride them someday

Liz Lisa Mook

Was browsing at Kinokuniya and guess what I saw? :)




Liz Lisa mook out now and there's a gift with purchase attached :)


----------------
Now playing: Miss $ - 하늘에서 내려와 With 오원빈 (Descend from The Sky with Oh Won Bin)
via FoxyTunes

Christmas is coming

Hi everyone, how's it going? It's been a while since I updated and we're now in the month of Dec.

Yup, Dec. Christmas is coming! Woot ^^

This is going to be a happy month for me: filled with feasting and more merry-making.

Went shopping after a huge lunch today with my colleagues. This caught my eye.





----------------
Now playing: Park Shin Hye - 말도 없이
via FoxyTunes

Lovingkindness

Got this from plingonline.com recently n loving it! :)

Testing out mobile blogging wif this post.

----------------
Now playing: 박신혜 - Lovely Day
via FoxyTunes

Review: Foltene Eyelash & Eyebrow treatment

Remember this Foltene treatment that I tried a while ago? Well, I've to say I tried it out and managed to finish one tube of the treatment before I got lazy. Heh.

What I liked:

• There was no smell. You know I've this thing abt heavily scented/fragranced stuff ya? ;)
• It didn't irritate my eyes *thumbs up*
• It seemed to work
  

What I didn't like:

• You need to be diligent with this aka no slacking, just put it on every day.
• It's not as cheap as some of the other treatments on the market. I would say this is more of an observation; there're more expensive treatments out there too, so this would be a relatively mid-priced option ESP since I got this at a discount ;)
  

What I did:

• Apply as I would a mascara
• Brushed it on my eyelashes every nite before bed (or as much as I could remember to. I was too tired at times n simply forgot *oops*)
• Wash my face as usual in the morning tho I did pay a little more attention to my lashes by "wiping" them down a little. It's one of my idiosyncrasies I guess. Even if a mask says there's no need to wash off, I tend to use water to cleanse off any perceived residue.
  

And the results ... ... (don't be freaked out by the photos ya)

What I started with:


On-going process:


At the end:


The photos don't seem to reveal much difference, do they? ;) Well, I'm not sure if it's psychological but I really saw a difference as soon as one week after I started using the product. My lashes seemed fuller, they were easier to curl (n hold the curl better too); I just could see more of them.

I've to admit, I lost interest after one tube n haven't been paying attention to my lashes since, SO I've no idea if the effect has worn off after I stopped using this. For something more obvious n hassle-free, perhaps eyelash extensions or falsies would work better? But that's another story for another time.

Have a good weekend! :)


----------------
Now playing: 9th STREET - 말도 없이 (Without Saying)
via FoxyTunes

How are you lovelies doing?

Hello everyone!

I'm really sorry to have been MIA for a loooooong time :( I've been caught up with life off-line and with my limited "band-width", haven't been blogging for some time. I found twitter a nice option tho (140 characters or less!) ;P n have been tweeting no end. Do add me on twitter too if you like :) Drop me a note when you add me tho, so I'll know who you are and add you back!

A disclaimer here: This post has nothing (well, not much anyway) to do with skincare nor cosmetics ...

Well, what has Pinky been up to the past couple of months? Sept was an awfully busy month at work for me. Let's just say I'm glad it's over ;P

In Oct, I had the opp to go for a uber long trip to the US of A. Well, not that long as in years or months, but I was there almost the entire month. It was an eye-opener for me. I still have loads to digest on tho it's been some weeks since I came back. Let me know if you're interested and I'll try to distill out the more interesting titbits of that trip ;)

And now here we are in Nov. The weather has turned cool - yes, incredible but it has happened, right here on our little sunny isle. I'm bringing out more of my cardis and jackets. I think they're a nice touch/add-on to my daily work dresses plus a gd additional layer should the office air-con get too cold.

The strap of my work-bag is falling to pieces n my sis bought me a really gorgeous pink-n-black one as a replacement. It goes incredibly well with the bag charm aichaku made for me. I'll try to take some photos n post it up soon. Remind me! :)

In k-drama land, anyone (other than Yumeko, whom I've been fan-girling wif ;P) watching "You're Beautiful"? Don't let the synopsis nor title fool you. It's achingly funny n incredibly addictive. You can read episode recaps here by the awesome Javabeans.

I know I owe some of you product reviews and prices. I'll get to it before this month is over. Gdness, it has been a while. Thanks for being patient with me!

In the meantime, something I've been reading recently. Thot it too good not to share.

Have a lovely beautiful day! ^^

**********************************
Elie Wiesel's Acceptance Speech, on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, December 10, 1986

It is with a profound sense of humility that I accept the honor you have chosen to bestow upon me. I know: your choice transcends me. This both frightens and pleases me.

It frightens me because I wonder: do I have the right to represent the multitudes who have perished? Do I have the right to accept this great honor on their behalf? ... I do not. That would be presumptuous. No one may speak for the dead, no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions.

It pleases me because I may say that this honor belongs to all the survivors and their children, and through us, to the Jewish people with whose destiny I have always identified.

I remember: it happened yesterday or eternities ago. A young Jewish boy discovered the kingdom of night. I remember his bewilderment, I remember his anguish. It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar upon which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed.

I remember: he asked his father: "Can this be true?" This is the twentieth century, not the Middle Ages. Who would allow such crimes to be committed? How could the world remain silent?

And now the boy is turning to me: "Tell me," he asks. "What have you done with my future? What have you done with your life?"

And I tell him that I have tried. That I have tried to keep memory alive, that I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.

And then I explained to him how naive we were, that the world did know and remain silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.

Of course, since I am a Jew profoundly rooted in my peoples' memory and tradition, my first response is to Jewish fears, Jewish needs, Jewish crises. For I belong to a traumatized generation, one that experienced the abandonment and solitude of our people. It would be unnatural for me not to make Jewish priorities my own: Israel, Soviet Jewry, Jews in Arab lands ... But there are others as important to me. Apartheid is, in my view, as abhorrent as anti-Semitism. To me, Andrei Sakharov's isolation is as much of a disgrace as Josef Biegun's imprisonment. As is the denial of Solidarity and its leader Lech Walesa's right to dissent. And Nelson Mandela's interminable imprisonment.

There is so much injustice and suffering crying out for our attention: victims of hunger, of racism, and political persecution, writers and poets, prisoners in so many lands governed by the Left and by the Right. Human rights are being violated on every continent. More people are oppressed than free. And then, too, there are the Palestinians to whose plight I am sensitive but whose methods I deplore. Violence and terrorism are not the answer. Something must be done about their suffering, and soon. I trust Israel, for I have faith in the Jewish people. Let Israel be given a chance, let hatred and danger be removed from her horizons, and there will be peace in and around the Holy Land.

Yes, I have faith. Faith in God and even in His creation. Without it no action would be possible. And action is the only remedy to indifference: the most insidious danger of all. Isn't this the meaning of Alfred Nobel's legacy? Wasn't his fear of war a shield against war?

There is much to be done, there is much that can be done. One person – a Raoul Wallenberg, an Albert Schweitzer, one person of integrity, can make a difference, a difference of life and death. As long as one dissident is in prison, our freedom will not be true. As long as one child is hungry, our lives will be filled with anguish and shame. What all these victims need above all is to know that they are not alone; that we are not forgetting them, that when their voices are stifled we shall lend them ours, that while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.

This is what I say to the young Jewish boy wondering what I have done with his years. It is in his name that I speak to you and that I express to you my deepest gratitude. No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the kingdom of night. We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them. Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately.

Thank you, Chairman Aarvik. Thank you, members of the Nobel Committee. Thank you, people of Norway, for declaring on this singular occasion that our survival has meaning for mankind.

From Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel Prizes 1986, Editor Wilhelm Odelberg, [Nobel Foundation], Stockholm, 1987
**********************************


----------------
Listening to: 이지혜 - 숨겨봐도 안되는 마음
via FoxyTunes

It never rains but it pours

First the beauty stuff :)

I've been lazy recently, just comfortably going abt my daily skincare/makeup routine without putting much thought to it. Have not been shopping for a while - was supposedly on a shopping diet which seemed to have worked for a bit. Downside of it tho: I tend to pull out all stops when I really do buy something.

Case in point: Was browsing Sasa this afternoon for an eyelash curler. I seemed to have misplaced it somewhere, somewhere which led to me wearing mascara without curling my lashes first. Do I hear a collective gasp of horror from my makeup sisterhood in cyber space? ;P Yeah, that's how far I've gotten, lol.

Anyway, I was in Sasa. Decisions, decisions. So many eyelash curlers in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours ... aaacck. Believe me I stood before the display rack for quite some time. In the end, I got these:


hahaha...

On a fangirl note, there's this Taiwanese drama serial, Black & White, which I've been watching on and off. The story is a straight-forward cop-and-robbers kinda stuff, not breaking any new ground here. I watch it more for the eye-candy in the form of Vic Zhou and Mark Chao. If you like Hana Yori Dango or the Korean Boys over Flowers/Boys before Flowers, well, Vic Zhou is one of the original Taiwanese F4 who filmed the Taiwanese version of Hana Yori. He's the guy in the character of Hanazawa Rui :)

Anyway, I happened to be at the same shopping mall where there was a fan meet-and-greet for the main cast of Black & White.

Look at that crowd. It was drizzling but the fans were there. Had to rush off for a prior appt tho, else I would have hung around a bit to try and get my very first fangirl moment in action ;P and to see how these stars look like in person of course. Oh well.

Have a good week ahead everyone!


----------------
Now playing: SS501 - Fighter
via FoxyTunes