Everything does happen for a reason.

Yup.
When I look back, I would understand.

Narcissism decline..

Ohaiyo!

It's been a while since I last found the mood to look at photoshop in a fun way. 

It always and mostly will be work work work work work related.

I took this picture a couple of months ago (when the hair was still mermaid length, and the shades was new), The new speckled aviator shades, I seriously love how the colours popped and spoke to me. (Ahhhh.. come on, I can never resist the combination of purple/ red or purple/fushia. )  

I made the attempt to capture the crazy colors

Months later, I finally found the mood to fix the picture and made it the way I wanted, even if its just a 5 minutes work.

Greyscale + shades in its original colour.

I had to cheat a little and whiten my teeth, just because the grey makes them look yellower than necessary. (hohoho)

Here's my forever amateur end product, and a narcissistic picture of le Daphne in a jiffy!

Truth be told, i have about 230089682 picture of myself, waiting to be edited into whatever I have in mind. 

Sometimes they turn out well, and sometimes they don't. 

Rwar!

Most of the time, I'm just too lazy to post a picture of myself.

Don't get me wrong.

My narcism level hasn't declined much in person. 

I still dress up like i'm in denial. 

It's just the online postings on myself that has dropped. 

I've reached a point where I do not need to post up fancy schmoozy pictures of myself to justify how much I love myself for personal record.

It's like how Claud pointed out that I haven't changed my profile picture on Facebook circa 30 Dec 2013. That's close to a year! 

How unlike myself.

I love change, I love doing things different, I love challenging routines, and new projects.

I still do. Just getting a little lazy.

And taking things off public record a little.

Ageing anyone?

:D

Blast from the past

Cleaned up the photo album cabinet and I discovered old pictures of everyone!

I emailed daddy some of his old black and white pictures during his teenage years just for the fun of it. 

His first question to me was 

Where did you find these from?! 

And the second email to me was... Who do I resemble? 

Handsome right? 

I replied him with a gaggy face, and told him he's picked up from the dustbin, since he doesn't resemble my grandparents. 

Haha. 

This dustbin trick never grows old on me. 

Oh, I picked out random pictures from the past, and these would be at my second birthday party! Always pleased in the presence of cakes.. 

My mom obviously chose my wardrobe during my toddler days, but I'm still in love with the cropped top flutter sleeve with high waist pants and a contrast sash set outfit.

Oh and no one touch my fluffy kitty please!

I spent the later half of my childhood dragging kitty on leash around the house, like a dog, and kitty turned grey at the bottom from too much abuse. 

The mommy threw kitty into the machine for a wash, and I no longer became friends with kitty, just because kitty no longer feels the same ;(

Tangled, rough and ugly - I couldn't even find her eyes amidst the fur tangling. 

Sorry kitty! 

Next would be Le Daphne at some chalet. Back then, my parents were always full of activities. 

Company events and outings with friends, weekly Karaoke and majong sessions at my place. 

Wow wee. 

Back to the picture, Those bear bear shades totally nailed the look. Mom matched my shades and shorts together?

Hahahha 

As for the pose? I apparently started young with fatty belly and all!

Next, 

This was taken at home with the sister and our beloved piano. 

Sometimes random stranger would ask if we are twins. 

We understand that our mother fancies dressing us alike, but one really short twin and one really tall twin?! 

Well.... When Da and I talk about it in recent years, she'll reason out that those strangers must have been really naive with low comparative skills. 

One really short twin? 

Doesn't make sense at all. 

Tsk.

Accessories accessories accessories.

The outfit of the day #ootd would be furry headband + sunnies + layered frilled dress. 

Le sister and I are obviously delighted with our matching dress and accessories!

This picture in the backdrop still exist at home to date. Omg!

Vintage frames.

The mom tells me that she very much misses the house when it has less furnitures.

We have so much stuff lying around everywhere, that she gave up prettifying the house a long time ago!

At one of our monthly outings to the beach, If my memory wasn't failing, we were heading out for an island tour/ ferry trip to Sister's island.

This is my mom still working her stylist aptitude on her kids. 

I pointed to her that she obviously dissected the set of outfit and exchanged them, and she laughed. 

Good job mommy!

This is my mommy and I "bickering". 

We start our love-hate bicker really young. 

Judging by both the parent's expression… 

I figured it must have been something that I suggested or said that triggered their reactions.

Dad's like huh? What's going on you both?

While the mommy would give me her usual "you sure you're allowed to do it…" sort of standard answers..

While my sister usually just ignores and stares far away doing her own stuff~ 

This picture depicts family life as it is.

Oh and the brother isn't in existence yet. But in reality, he adopted Da's far away stance whenever Mommy, Da and I start on one of our epic girlie topics over dinner. 

Totally predictive. Who's to know that our personalities would have been captured at such tender age?

Lastly, a random picture of us at home, celebrating daddy's birthday. 

Their friends and colleagues all hidden behind the photographer. 

My folks used to throw parties at home every week, so perhaps that's why my mom dressed us up so much when we were kiddos. 

My dad, mom and uncle. 

So young! And so skinny!

My brother looked at the old pictures, and jokes that the picture is daddy and uncle at normal size, and what we see of them now in person, is similar to how wide screen TV works. 

Stretched. 

Blast from the past, evokes so much Nostalgic feeling, and seriously, home is truly where the heart is.

The dust from going through the photo albums is epic. 

They get into the eyes and nose, and made me itchy all over. 

It's good that I had mimi training, prior to picture spring cleaning. 

Mimi's been adopted by a Dutch family, and is currently on trial at their place. 

I hope everything works out for Mimi there! 

Posh place 

Bigger place for her to run and explore. 

Better food 

Access to the balcony ( mimi has a keen interest to birds.) 

I found out about it when I let her out for a stroll, and (her reaction) when she saw snowy the speckled pigeon who lives by my room's air condition unit.

She practically dashed to my window in a flash, just to bird watch/ bird hunt.

I'm super glad that mimi's in good hands, and I am thankful for everything that has fallen into place so far. 

Thank you universe and the big guy up there for taking care of Mimi. 

Short curtains

Remember my dog shaming post a couple of days ago? 

Here's the situation in my bathroom.. 

With compliments from Trixie lee who thought my shower curtains was too long , and needed fixing while I was away in China sometime back.

Truth be told, I'm still living with this useless shower curtain, because I haven't visited ikea for new ones yet. 

Lol 

At the right moment..

Everything comes to you at the right moment. Be patient. 

Oh yeah. 

And I also like all that red Indian feathers sticking all over the place. Very pretty girl warrior inspired.

Cool or what? 

I'll want to recreate this look some day... 

But the side profile of my face is lacking some deeper valleys and mountains in the features...if you get my drift. 

#woesofanasiangirl

Dog Shaming

Wanted to work, but website was down…

So shall throw in a random entry that I found amusing, not matter how many times I see it.

Dogs getting into trouble never gets old on me!

Here we go…

I eat Crayon and poop rainbow!

I've eaten so many LEGOS, I could poop a star wars ship!

I ate my dad's Teeth!

                                                             

                                                             I have shamed my family

The shower curtain was too long, so I fixed it!

* I cracked up at this, because Trixie was also guilty of this!

I sneak under the fence..

I break into the pantry and hid potatoes all around the house

I got drunk eating chocolate liquor..

Killed Yoda I did #hahahahah

Murdering Dora the Explorer!

This is the funniest! 

I laughed so bad.

I stick my head through the shower curtain, and lick people's bums when they aren't looking 

aptitude

Just a random thought …

sometimes I'll meet new people, and just sometimes we'll talk about what we do, where we'll school at and tell each other more about ourselves.

In the conversations, we'll probably touch about how much I love clothes, fashion, fabrics and being a little arty with my random projects.

When I tell people that I went to fashion school once upon a time, 

I might get replies that goes

"oohh... that explains why you're always dressed so well"

I'm not very sure how I'd react to that comment.

It's a mindless reply aimed at niceties.

I'm sure, it probably was meant to be a compliment. But truly, I think it came off wrong.

Wrong?

Yep. You got it.

Since I'm down with the flu bug, my nose is crying and my eyes are stinging from being sick…and I'll assume that i'm going to be muddled with my sentences, therefore I shall try to be less wordy

Statement.

Being equipped with an education in fashion, does not  MEAN that you have a flair for dressing up to look good.

Question.

Assuming that my parents did not agree to me pursuing my interest in fashion, would that have made me a bad dresser with no flair?

Looking at my sister, I think she's pretty stylish without having to go into fashion school.

zzz

Aptitude

aptitude

ˈaptɪtjuːd/

noun

1. a natural ability to do something.

   "children with an aptitude for painting and drawing"

   • a natural tendency.

     "his aptitude for deceit"

     synonyms:

     talent, gift, flair, bent, skill, knack, facility, finesse, genius; More

Yeah you got it.

Aptitude.

The progression to pursue an interest and learn the technicalities based on aptitude and interest.

In fashion school I learnt to refine my sewing skills, widen my repertoire and improved what I already have a flair for.

Come on, you could go to fashion school, and still dress like shit. It's a non guaranteed!

Alternatively, you can also NOT go to fashion school, and still have an awesome flair for fashion!

My grandma cooks awesome and delicious food. Does that mean that she went for culinary lessons? 

I also went to business school. Does that guarantee that i'm going to be a multi million business owner?

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs dropped out of school, what makes them who they are today based on the same "ohhhh no wonder" theory?

The statement does not make sense at all.

That's why it annoys me.

I know i'm nitpicking for the fun of it.

I also think i'm just being cranky today because my nose hurts from too much tissue abrasion.

But yeah, talent does not equate to education.

It is also dependent on a lot of other stuff!

But first, let me credit it to the big guy up there who gifted me with these qualities/flairs/aptitude.

The parents who allowed me to enhance my talents and equipped me with guts and a superb esteem to dare to dress as I deem fit.

and finally the school that showed me a broader horizon.

Attending school, I can finally explain backed up with proper theories about why something looks odd, weird or ugly, when previously without training, it would just be as simple as my internal organs says no ~ That looks horrible because my internal system screams yucks! and revolted by doing some intestine flips.

Backed by qualifications, it give me a bonus when arguing about technicalities, should there be a dispute. But that's about it.

Lastly, the non complimenting compliments that I received, that sparked this weird, weird grumbly post.

hahaha.

Alright i'm done.

I hope to recover before the weekends, and shall spend quiet time to mend clothes that requires some attention.

xo

Miss drippy nose.

Kitty diaries

Dear diary, 

I decided that today is an awesome day to formally introduce the animals in house to each other. 

Mainly Trixie and mama (since bunny eccentrically has no love for new and exciting stuff, I usually leave him be) 

The introduction went pretty well!

Here I am, sitting between the meow and the woof like a chaperone, while they go on with their conversations. 

Pleased! 

However the babies are an entirely new story to tell! 

Their duel reaction was dramatically painful. 

All the fur raising and spitting drama 

I was shredded up barely 2 minutes of introducing them. :/ 

Legend of the scaredy meow-verines . 

This picture looked like a mini spoof for wolverine from xmen.

It doesn't look too bad until it's bath time, then cat scratches distinguishes itself between scratches of everything else. 

Muahahaha *evil laughter* 

Whichever case, scratches are scratches. 

My previous one was from Blackie the clumsy cutie.

I was perched on the edge of the sofa, and he typically wanted to sit on my lap. 

Jumped up the sofa, lost his footing as he stepped onto my thighs, and went down with his claws attempting to cling on to me. 

Ouch? 

This was taken the day after.

I'm like a seasoned scratching post. 

I was selecting pajamas for the mother and taking pictures of the short listed items through whatsapp, and her first reply to me was  

"What happened to your leg"

My mom's eyes are super sharp! 

Nothing escapes her eyes when I was a kid. :(

I seriously would have been more excited with the selection of clothings more than the scratch on the daughter. Lol. 

But that's just mom. 

That's also why when you feel like being defiant, just spend a day out with the mother without ironing my outfit, the creases all 360 degrees is enough to drive her nuts. 

Mademoiselle mommy is super detailed, bordering on the point of OCD! 

Aesthetics means so much to her, it sort of counter explains why I always need to dress up "dress up" whenever I leave home. 

Therefore, I'm not vain. 

It's just that I've been programmed and overly emphasized by the mother that she won't love me/ I will have no friends, if I leave the house looking frumpy and never iron my clothes, since the start of time.

Hurhurhur. 

I am how poor thing ;( 

Jokes aside,

I shall end the post of the 3 charged with accidental scratching. 

Suspect A

Suspect B 

Suspect C

In conclusion, despite my love for all animals, 

I think dogs are safer than cats for me. 

Guinea pigs are my top choice, followed by dogs. 

Trixie only leave tiny dotted bruises on me  whenever she propels herself off me in her excitement declaration of "I love you" by placing the front of her paws on me. 

Cats are scratch hazardous. 

Bunny hates being affectionate, so long as I don't attempt to cuddle him, I'm absolutely safe. 

Claw tips looks very tempting. 

And silly! 

Cats vs cats

Foster cats. 

This is my first time fostering an entire family. 

Usually it's the ophan kittens treated like scraps. 

Mommy cat is pregnant and her 2 babies are approximately 3-4 months old. 

As usual, cats just detest dogs. Therefore my foster babies are putting up in my toilet until things get friendlier. 

In the meantime, borrowing the brother's toilet whenever I remember to. 

I miss my Garfields because they are more "niap" by nature even though the ones in my toilet are human friendly, but nothing beats how human affectionate Garfields are in general as a cat breed.

Always reaching out to touch me whenever they can. 

How not to love them

Randomly selecting pictures of blackie, Bambi and Toots to reminisce. 

Swimming ashore

I'm tired. 

It's like swimming against sea currents, the precise moment when you will wish for an imaginary hands to pluck you off from all that swim paddling and just plonk you back to land. 

And yet I often marvel wonder at the strength mustered from within, to swim back ashore. The survival instincts. 

Well, I'd say that when you set sights on your destination, and your heart is locked on, you'll just keep paddling, no matter how tough it feels at the moment. 

Just because the urge to Iive and survive is stronger than the rational to give up and drown? 

But it's true. I learnt that the first time I was swept off by the current. 

Just keep swimming. 

Everything would just be alright, plus there's the board that you can cling on dearly to. 

#randomthingslearntfromholidaylearnthalfalifetimeago.

#postbali #surflessons #life 

Clothes. Where the heck did it run off to?!

Hunted for my new white cropped top that daddy just brought back for me from my collection, and it's nowhere to be found! 

#Omgpapaya! 

It's so frustrating that I practically cleared up the entire room, and it's still missing! 

The last I saw it was a week ago when I tossed it aside when it did not fit/matched what I was wearing on Sunday. 

I must be really nuts to even be writing this down here, but really, can't be the ghosties fogging my sight right! 

#frustrated20140807 

#goodnightworld

On other thoughts, was flipping through Instagram and I noticed top "fashionista" showing off their latest splurge. 

Everyday different outfit and nothing repeats. 

It's as if they would not wear their clothes twice. Even if the skirt could be matched with another top for an interesting combination. 

Errrr... If you think you really rock fashion, shouldn't you be able to mix and match various items from Stone Age coordinated with something in trend now? 

As opposed to wearing a different outfit just because you think money can buy you style? 

Fashion really doesn't work this way!

You wouldn't be fashionista, but rather just transitional clothes hanger, and if you're up for it, model! 

Ok goodnight! 

Done bitching!

Bye July!

Busy.
That's what the month of July brings about for me.
I like it when i'm mobbed down with activities that I enjoy.
It's like busy in a good way (If you know what i mean)

July has been a busy month. Not all smooth sailing, but overall, has treated me well on hindsight.

Work wise, no special breakthroughs
That aside, the upside would be that I went back dancing a little in late june, but officially danced and said hello to all my old friends from the dance community this week.
All thanks to Mosaic's anniversary parties.

So proud to see Mosaic flourishing in their new venue, I saw for myself how much time my sister invested into making the studio happen - tho i'm not sure if its for the love of dancing, or for the love of Zee.
Ok, both.

It's a nice and nostalgic feeling to be back, moving and twirling around.
I'm surprised that muscle memory really works after my hiatus. LOLOL.
Comeon, I exited in 2009? and danced annually thereafter.
Hohoho.

I woke up the next day, with aching body.
But that didn't stop me from attending my first Kizomba class ever!


It has been a while since I have ventured into unchartered territories, and I guess new dance class works for me.
The challenge of doing something that I am unused to.
It's been a while since I last feel like I move awkward, discovering random muscles that I never knew of their existence, and I actually like this feeling of learning something new.
Not forgetting that aching feeling in the abdominal muscles from all that mini body rolls that I did in class.

Oh and waking up to more aching body.


I spoke about taking up Tango, Kizomba and/or Kpop dance at the start of this year.

Happy to have touch base with 5%.
Therefore, "Pleased" is the word.

This weekend has also been exceptionally filled up.
With le bestie back from Indo over his long weekend, and not forgetting the attempted birthday surprise(not) celebration for MF, and it was a rather enjoyable session.

I also accompanied the mother to watch movies.
The last movie that I caught with her, was Ah Boys to men.
It was to help ease the pain, when her baby goes into camp for National Service.
Oh I'm such a terrible daughter sometimes.

Anyway we caught Transformer, the movie, and while waiting for the show to start, we munched on our sweet and salty mixed popcorns, the mother said between munches that she could not decide if she likes the sweet ones better or the salty ones.
#popcornNoobie I told her, that's the beauty of a mixed popcorn, because it balances out so well, that you love both the salty and the sweet!

She also said that every bite is like a surprise, because you don't quite know what you're going to get until you place the popcorns into the mouth.
Well. Instinctively, I fished out a popcorn, said its flavour and planted them into her mouth and asked her if I was right!

Of course I'm right.
Spent the trailer moments helping her to differentiate between the salty and sweets just by groping the popcorn.
Hahahaha.

and before all the popcorn eating happened, the brother declared that our popcorns NEVER made it to the start of the show.
Indeed. He was correct. It was mostly gone by the time the movie started rolling.



Good weekends like this ought to be blogged into memories.
Thank you.

Appreciation

The prettiest flowers in the gardens will merely be flowers if there is no one to appreciate their beauty. 

It's the same with the people around you. 

Once they stop appreciating you for who you are, then you'll merely just be another human on this planet. 

~Daphne 2014 

Fushia pink, purple hues and baby's breath. What's there not to love? 

It's pretty and truly my favourite color combination ever. 

I appreciate the details.

Yet. 

My heart didn't skip a beat.

It forgot how to flutter, or perhaps its lost its wings.

I have a dream. 

I want to know what it feels like, to fly again, and fly forever.

Someday whatever will be, will be. Que sera sera

:)

conversations with mommy

Strolling at the supermarket with the mommy after dinner, she randomly mentioned: 

Mom: your brother's scheduled for wisdom tooth operation on the 18th august.

Daph: okay, should get some mashy food ready for him... 

... Mashed potatoes, porridge, milk shake, ice cream, yakult... Instant soup..all gonna be life savers!

Mom: porridge can already. 

She pauses for a second or two, before saying

Mom: I think I should take 2 days leave to take care of him. 

I turned over and gave mom my biggest unfair facial expression topped with a big frown and pout and exclaims "not fairrrrrrrr!" , just to tease the mother on the special preferential treatment that her "baby" is going to get, whilst kids like me goes unloved. 

Lol.

Mom: When you went for operation, the maid cooked for you what. 

She replied nonchalently.

Daph: nope, by then we were maid-less... 

continues to maintain my most poor thing face, very much like a sad unloved puppy

Pause a little more to think.... And mommy replied

Mom: eh hello, I wasn't working at all, back when you went for the wisdom tooth operation.

What unfair are you talking about huh? I took care of you throughout the entire 8 days of downtime!!!!! 

Well she's got a point there... 

*laughs and resumes making my rendition of poor thing face, because I decided that it was fun to guilt trip the mother a little more....  

Daph: still not fairrrrrr!

It's not the same. This one is time off, specially for the brother, mine's like on the way. 

Quantity vs quality not the same huh. 

Hahaha. 

Continues to make sad pouty face for the next few minutes just for laughs.

#whatdidyoujustread?
#thingsIsaytomymom

Dream a little dream...

Man without dreams, is like a bird without wings.

When you stop dreaming, you pretty much stopped living.

So never stop dreaming, for you set your own limits. 

~Daphne 2014

Catching up with myself

After a really hectic week of work and activities, the thing I really appreciate most, is to find time for myself and do whatever that pleases me..

For all that I put myself through, I owe myself a bit of pleasure in return right?

For tonight, it goes pretty much like this.. 

Lowest form of multi tasking, is to boil the water for my floral tea. It's pretty to look at, easy to drink,  and it cleans out my system. 

Next in line would be honey oats for brunch tomorrow. 

Customized oats are like my newest fad food. Added fresh milk to make it creamier to soak overnight. Totally intending to throw in slices of banana when I'm ready to consume my oats! 

And for instant consumption, would be trixie's freeze dried beef for her supper before bedtime. It seriously smells very good for dog food and she licks her lips a lot more when I'm serving her freeze dried meat, than when it's kibble time. 

#dogfoodconnoisseur

This is about as housewife material I'm made out to be. Lololol 

Unless the instant noodle cooking skills are to be added into the kitchen resume. 

---

And then there's getting rid of dead skin that really fascinates and thrills me. 

My newest toy would be Skin inc's pure revival peel. 

Tried a few peels to date and the amount of dead skin that comes off like "eraser leftovers" for the Skinc ones are very impressive. 

I'm not sure if it meant taking more skin layers off though...

The price is rather hefty for peels. Comparatively, "The cure" cost half the price! 

Anyway, the skinc ones works pretty well, so if price tag isn't the issue, then just buy.

The one I have, is their trial set. 

Dead skin removed, it's now time for my Naruko rose hydrating mask for the face. 

I'm a sucker for any hydrating products for the skin (I've recently realized this actually) 

Like what French thermal spring water... 

Or Japanese Onsen water in my facial products.

Blah! 

I've also taken to drinking mineral water at least once a week. 

Water is essential! I don't know how else I can emphasize water = good skin!

It is to me, externally or internally. Both!!

---

Anyway, as I digress. I'm under the impression that my system is extremely dehydrated. 

My entire mouth and tongue feels like it's been freeze dried. 

Everywhere (in the mouth) feels sore and dried out, and just yesterday, it's evolved into ulcers ünder the tongue and just this morning, a crack appeared at the corner of my lips while I was brushing my teeth. 

It makes laughing out loud and eating a pain (literally!)

The corner if my mouth looks like I've just been sucker punched by someone.

I don't know how the boys deal with it after a fight, but I like the corners of my mouth intact. :(

Poor thing huh. 

Ok and lying with the bed typing this out on the phone... After slathering my skinc capsules and hydrating sleeping mask. 

I bade thee farewell... 

Zzzzz

Post thoughts:

Taking good care of yourself ( exercise, eat right, skin care.. Etc) is a discipline Of mind over self. 

It's not just for vanity's sake, but rather it's the non verbal cue that tells people subconsciously "hey! I'm in control of my thoughts, self and body."

It speaks of prolonged mental determination to overcome the lures of being easy with yourself, and letting go. 

Taking the easy way out, is never an attitude to adopt. 

Work hard, play hard, treat yourself well in the right way, after all there's only one of you in this world and you can never reverse time.