Going to the chapel... Going to get married...

I love weddings in all forms and nuances!
I love wedding preparations!
I love wedding dresses even more!
The excitement, exhilaration, energy of it all.... 


However, it is not me who is getting married this time... (In fact, I don't really think the mould of a traditional marriage would suit me very much-  the wedding preparation would probably be more fun than the marriage itself...) I am helping my cousin prepare for her wedding! Am going bridal dress shopping this weekend! So excited! There is nothing more beautiful than the rosy flush of a new bride-to-be!


My perfect wedding dresses

Love the Audrey Hepburn influence on Rachel's wedding dress!

Am absolutely enamoured with Kate Middleton's dress, with the classic Grace Kelly twist!

Ivana Trump's wedding dress by Vera Wang- my dream dress!

Song of the day

Burns- Jason Chen

The world of my past has collided with the present. Things buried deep into sea of memories have once again been unearthed. Demons of the past have come to haunt my dreams again. Who knew that escape would be so difficult…

Spilling my heart out

I miss blogging... I miss the whole stream of consciousness... I miss spilling my heart out...

The past fortnight has been a handful:

- Uni has started again. Am currently on my GP term.
- Chinese school has started again.
- Exams. Assessments. Impending deadlines.
- Lack of motivation. Lack of direction. Lack of insight into the future.
- Thought of the future scares me. It's hazy. Grey. Uncertain.
- Everyone has started fretting about final exams, which are coming up in 6 months time.
- Anxiety attacks have started again
- Upper back pain, possibly due to muscular strain.
- Everyone has started studying for vivas whilst I am currently procrastinating.
- Lack of sleep
- I am driving to my GP placement- driving and parking has never been my forte of mine.
- My skin is reacting either to the stress or it's another case of cosmetic acne- I have started using Dr G BB cream again which may be the culprit. However, I am cleansing religiously with cleansing oils, makeup remover and toners.
- Sixth year. Final year student. The thought scares me- the exams, finality, uncertainty of it all...
-  Weekends are just not long enough.
- Hopefully I will be able to get through this year...
- Such is life...

As Kelly Clarkson puts it, ' What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Stand a little taller. Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone. What doesn't kill you makes a fighter...'

Song of the day

Fantastic Baby- Big Bang

I heart BIG BANG (Korean hip hop boy band)! Love the song! Love the matrix free fall moves! Love the play on the new images sported by each member!

I was first introduced to the band via Taeyang's 'Make Love' (imagine a K-POP Usher)… Then began going through all their back catalogues. Favourite songs include: Haru Haru, Lies, Tonight and Beautiful Hangover. Boy bands were a hit back in the 90s with BSB, 5ive and N'sync but of late, they are no longer in vogue on the Western pop scene. However, they are still very much alive on the K-POP scene with bands like BEAST, 2PM , BAP etc. And of course, there are the ubiquitous K-POP girl groups like SNSD (Girl's Generation), T-ARA, 2NE1, Wonder Girls etc. (Interestingly, they all identical clones, fantastic choreography and extensive use of auto-tuning)

K-POP boy bands rock guyliner, extensive makeup, carefully co-ordinated outfits and dance moves to kill… Just look at the guyliner in the MV above (puts me to shame…) As much as I love BIG BANG and their music- there are a few things about them that annoy me including: G- dragon (leader of the group who attempts to rock the androgynous  look but often fails), TOP (easily one of the most handsome in the group but of late, dress sense is OTT), Seungri (hardly ever sings)… Actually, I thought the band was going to break up last year due to Daesung's car accident (crashed and killed a motorcyclist), G Dragon and his marijuana usage and the group members venturing into solo activities… However, this is no longer the case…

 Love their new mini album- ALIVE. Two words: Fantastic Baby.

Not such a glamourous topic: Drain Flies

Drain Flies

Drain fly

Also commonly known as the moth fly, sewage gnat, psychod fly or filter fly. Commonly breeds in moist grounds with organic matter. Typically found in the sides of drains, overflow pipes, sewage disposal beds, septic tanks and moist compost. They breed on the gelatinous material (consisting of hair, whatever content that flows in the pipes) on the sides of the drains. Though, they are not dangerous, they are damn annoying...

 Upon my return to home from my rural term, I was greeted with a plague of these flies on the walls, mirror and smooth surfaces in the house... (Perhaps, a slight exaggeration on my behalf) We tried spraying insecticides which killed the visible flies but they returned with vengeance within the next week. Next, we tried pest bombs. Same problem. Then I began doing a bit of detective work and uncovered the identity of this unwelcomed intruder into my house.

Note: this isn't the plague of drain flies...

There are a number of solutions to get rid of these pests:

• call the plumber to clean all the drains
• drain gel
• organic solution which consists of: dumping 1/2 cup salt down the drain, then dump 1/2 cup baking soda down on top of it. Follow that with 1 cup of plain white vinegar. Allow this concoction to sit overnight, and flush it all down with boiling water in the morning.

Unfortunately, I am not this kawaii...

And the mission begins....

Song of the day

Rain by Madonna

A befitting song for today's gloomy, gray, rainy weather...

Things happening in my life

• My uncle from HK has come to visit Australia for the next week or so, which means, eating out every single night… And because it's mainly the older generation- its good ol' style Chinese banquet food, which equates to flavour, richness, MSG and lots of fat…

• My article on HBV adherence to oral antiviral therapy has finally been published! YAY! The process has taken nearly 2 years from ethics, recruitment, data analysis, write-up to publication. To be quite honest, never thought of the possibility of being published… It was obviously the work of Lady Luck and Fortune…

• To celebrate the above good news, I decided to treat myself to a Lancome khol eyeliner in Black Ebony (seriously, the Lancome khol eyeliners are perfect  for achieving the smoky eye effect) and Dior eyeliner brush…

• Am absolutely enamoured with my Elizabeth Arden color intrigue eyeshadow palette in Cashmere Neutrals- it's such a lovely neutrals palette perfect for work and casual outings… It's highly pigmented with little fallout as opposed to the SLEEK storm palette. With regards to the Intervene eyecream, it's not too bad… 1. It has SPF 15+. 2. Acts as good base for my Lancome under-eye concealer. 3. Has shimmer which does help to brighten my under- eye area.

•  Product that changed my life: Clinique Clarifying Lotion # 2. I have been using it for the past fortnight and the results are impressive. Brighter, radiant, blemish-free skin… Initially, was quite hesitant due to the fact that it contained alcohol but surprisingly my skin has not reacted at all… 

• Attended a birthday dinner tonight, it was so lovely to see the old familiar faces. These are the friends I first met during my first year of med school and I am so glad that we are still in touch with each other…

• Jung Da Yeon, also known as 'Momjjang Ahjumma' (Mrs. Hot Body), head of a fitness empire in Korea. I have been trialling her Figurerobics, which promises toned arms, buttocks, abs and thighs, for the past week. Note: she was once an overweight housewife with 2 kids who decided to turn her life around at the age of 33 with the exercises in her routine and healthy dieting.  Imagine the Korean equivalent of Tracy Anderson (celebrity trainer to Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow). Though, it is still too early to see any results, it is surprisingly addictive… My body is literally perspiring like crazy and sore after the workout. Admittedly, I have never been the most fit or healthy person, but it's time for a change…

• Went to the appointment this Monday. It is possibly the biggest decision I have made in my life. I am resolved to go through with it. I am glad I have the support of my family. Although, there have been people who have sneered at my decision, saying it's all due to vanity… I am going to go ahead with it. I hope at the end of this year, I will end up being satisfied with the results. Though, honestly, I am shaking with trepidation and anticipation…

• To buy list: (once I have hit the pan of its predecessor)

• Lierac Clay Masque
• Guerlains Meteorites
• Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2

Thought of the day

I've always admired BeautyQQ not only because of her good looks, extensive makeup collection and sagely advice but also her honest take on things. It does take a quite a lot of courage to admit to plastic surgery. After all, if you deny vehemently, there is always the benefit of doubt... Perhaps, we should all take her advice and admire a person's beauty regardless whether natural or manufactured...