26. 5 Months Later....

Oh gosh, it has been a long while since I've last written on this platform. Though I am 100% certain no one is going to read this post, I decided I would come back and periodically update this space because I somehow chanced upon my older posts and older blogs and re-read a large portion of my life in words from 2014 to where I stopped, last year (2016). I smiled, frowned and laughed at some of the content and I realized how great it is to look back and see how the years have changed me as a person.

I guess when I am older, I will be able to look back at these posts and be thankful and reminisce on the type of feelings I had at a certain point in time...
--
Fast forward May 2017. A ton of things have changed, and maybe I'll get everyone (or just future me) up to speed.

- I gained weight, LOL I don't know why this is the first thing that came to my mind but yes, I am significantly larger than I was in 2014 and demoralizing as it is, I am trying to better myself, get fitter and more toned. Also to care less of the numbers on the scale. It is extremely hard for someone like me with ZERO, 0, discipline to stick to a routine so I often start and stop almost 1-2 weeks in. Praying that this time somethings sticks.

- I am no longer working at my previous workplace. I shan't elaborate on a public platform why but those who are interested; ya'll know social media has private DMs and such. I have been working for NUS since the beginning of March and it's been a whirlwind in the best and worst ways possible. Being a working 'adult' demands so much more energy and time than university ever did to me. My time out of work is so precious now and I finally get why TGIF is such a humongous movement. I am basically a sloth because 80% of the time, my work requires me to be in the office. If PE was what kept me fit in school, I don't have the luxury of that forced-physical activity thus, weight gain rapidly. I've been to more stats courses than I would ever imagine myself taking, if you asked uni-gwyn if she thought it was possible she'd laugh at you. Life works in weird ways. I have also come to the conclusion that no matter where you go, there is always one co-worker that pisses you off and there's nothing you can do to avoid them; just breathe. I could do an entire other post or essay on being a working adult ....

- J and I are still going strong and he's my pillar of strength and the one person who helps to keep me grounded and sane. I don't think I could deal with myself if I were a guy... I am forever and always thankful for all he has done for me.

- I am an aunty! My elder sister gave birth to a cute potato of a boy in November last year and he is just the centre of everyone's attention. He brings light and life into the eyes of my grandfather, my parents and even my dog's excited. Cookie was apprehensive at first but now she just wants to lick his face to the added dismay and confusion of the baby.

- My friends are still scattered all across the globe and it still gets lonely. What's new.

I guess for now, these will do. Here's a promise to myself, to keep this space updated.

X

25. My 2016 IN 4 MINUTES

As 2016 draws to a close in approximately 4 minutes I attempt to wrap the year up in a few sentences of the words my mind scrambles to piece together.

It was a year of loss - loss of people close to my heart who I still think of every now and then. Some people worth the tears, some not but my mind still wanders to. It was a year of new experiences - writing up my thesis, waiting anxiously for my results, getting it, the anxiety of job-seeking, securing a job (and all the craziness that came along with that), graduating...

It was a year of growing older, wising up, maturing and knowing that truly, everything happens for a reason.

It was a year of chaos, the world had so much going on in 2016. I watched in awe; other times distraught at how the world could have so many crazy things going on at the same time.

2016 was a beautiful year nonetheless, and whatever I've learnt will put me in good stead for 2017.

Bring it on :)

x

24. Thoughts on the Nicole Choo Ridhwan & DK saga

I am so sick of seeing certain responses to Nicole Choo and Ridhwan's "stunt" that I'm reduced to writing about this for twitter's 150 characters will never be enough.

Sure, I agree that they could have executed it in a better way without bringing pregnancy into the picture but they've clarified and apologised. You know what I can't stand?

Just because they're on the unpopular end of the spectrum they're getting hated on for no apparent logical reason. If you think about it, Dk bullied them, he started tweeting about them first.

What warrants 4 videos and discussing about their relationship at length? Because it fuels the fire and creates attention. Everyone likes to hate on a common denominator: for example, Donald trump for voicing out stupid decisions like building a wall around the USA to keep immigrants out. That's a legit reason to hate on him.

What stupid and illegal thing did Ridhwan and Nicole do that warranted such cyber bullying? He left tjht? So? That was his own decision to make. When the news first came out tjht also put up a couple of instagram posts adding fuel to the fire but the only one who got bashed was Ridh for wanting to get attention. 

He slapped his ex gf but that's super old news. Surely if you were Ridh you wouldn't want to be judged based on one stupid decision you made at one point in your life to define you as a person forever. Then what is the point of the yellow ribbon project? Lets just shun all ex offenders for they will NEVER turn over a new leaf shall we? (sarcasm)

Dk can have his own opinion about this. We all do. Some I don't agree with too. But just cause Dk has the platform, the followers and the right friends he thinks it's alright to speak about Ridhwan this way? 

Don't get me wrong. I really like some of dks videos, some are funny as hell and relevant. I watch him. I don't hate him. But I sure don't agree with the way he's been putting ridh down. This reminds me of freelee when she made a video about Anna Saccone stating the reason she had a miscarriage was because of the food she was eating?! Bitch please no one should be putting anyone else down based on what you see online.

Ridh and Nicole only show us how much of their lives. No one but themselves know what they're struggling with.

Tjht made an instagram video about social experiments to mock Nicole and Ridh. It's so blatantly obvious who he's referring to. Tweens look up to this guy and he's sending the message that it's alright to indirectly bully someone online?

They're getting so much shit for nothing they've done. Everyone just wants to be on the bandwagon that they can benefit from.

I mean what led to Ridh being the biggest idiot in Singapore in one of the videos, even on TOP of Amos yee who got in deep shit with the government, offended Christians and tried to tell us that Lee Kuan Yew did nothing for this country?! Ridh left a company on his own accord and suddenly just cause he's dating Nicole it gets blown out of proportion? Sure That makes him the biggest idiot...

And all y'all saying Nicole looks like crap under make up come on you think everyone is born like Kylie Jenner? Half of the bloggers out there's natural face is complete with false lashes and embroidered eyebrows. Make up is a fun tool for us to play with to add confidence to ourselves and not something that girls should be bashing each other about just cause she looks too different I mean who buys make up to look exactly the same before they put it on?

I'm out. 

23. Final Year Thesis: Done and Dusted

Here's a lighter topic than the previous post =) I know I've been away from the blogosphere for the longest time ever - months. I've been busy with an internship and my final year thesis, which is finally and thankfully done with. 10k words later, I am now officially unemployed and a psychology graduate. I'm doing this post to get ya'll up to speed and also, I that free now.

I was interning for 2.5 months at AWARE (the women's organization that NS men dislike haha). The pay was um, well, lets just say it felt like free labour but it was a meaningful internship for I got to learn how a non profit organisation works in the inside. I also got to work on really interesting projects - single parenthood, women rights, rights for single parents in the HDB sphere... etc. It really shows you a side of Singapore you do not get to usually see (single parenthood is after all a really taboo subject, just as homosexuality is).

I ended my internship about half a month earlier because it was getting really stressful to juggle my thesis data collection, meeting up with my supervisor and actually writing the thesis. My supervisor, Patrick is God-sent. He was ever so helpful with anything I needed and would actually reply my cries for help at 9/10pm at night. I hit the jackpot with my supervisor this time! Thesis writing..is so so tiring. I have written so many essays, from as little as 1.5k to 4k words but nothing could have prepared me enough for this daunting task. Some days you look at your work and think, what in the world am have I been writing, this is ALL rubbish. Other days you feel quite good and confident but it is mostly tiring and exhausting. Sometimes you have the motivation to continue but you can't find anymore information that seems relevant. You just end up staring at your document and getting a headache from all the words swimming in your head.

Anywho after about 2.5 months of slugging my guts out, I was finally done. Getting them printed and binded felt numb and surreal. I wanted to be done with the university and its shitty admin staff and poor communications with students but at the same time I wanted to continue studying. HOW DO I ADULT. All a student has to worry about is homework, essays, tests and things like that. In comparison to insurance, bills, marriage and the list goes on. Do you know it takes 1 mill to raise a kid in Singapore? Like, I don't think i can even make a million in a lifetime what more by the time I am ready to have a child?

The weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders and now a different kind of weight has landed on them. I gotta start job searching........stat.

x

22. My first car accident: Reflections

I guess there's a first for everything in life? I got into my first car accident recently and boy was it an experience. I was hit from the back while my car was stationary (will not go into the little details), and the Singapore law states that once that happens, the vehicle from the back is at fault. The impact was huge, and the car's Neck Pro (installed in the head rests) activated immediately. It was so shocking and I was shaking even after many hours passed.

For anyone's sake, here are some ''tips'' for if you ever get into a car accident..

# Do not admit to any fault (even if it may seem like it is yours). I read a post before on DOs and DONTs and the definite DONT is to say 'I'm sorry'

# Exchange identification cards, numbers and insurance agencies.

# Take as many pictures as you can of your vehicle and the other party's in terms of damage inflicted.

# Do not agree to settle the payment 'on your own' or at another workshop. Always leave it to your insurance agent to contact the other party's agent.

# Drive (if your car is still in a state to) to the nearest police station to make a report.

# Call the TP (Traffic police) or Ambulance if the car is not in any drivable state and if anyone is injured. Also your relevant cars' 24 hour hotline for roadside assist.

# See a doctor. You may seem fine but you never know what's going on inside your body (My boyfriend - in the passenger seat and I were diagnosed with mild head contusions and he had a sprained shoulder with dizzy spells and nausea)

# Be thankful. You're okay!!! Your life is more important than the car's aesthetics. Thank God or your lucky stars if you're not religious.

Take it as an experience and learn from it.

Drive carefully everyone!

21. Whampoa Market - Xin Heng Feng Guo Tiao Tan (Fishhead Steamboat) review

(photo courtesy of fatboo.com)

why hello, Keegan 

I'm back with another short review on, fishhead steamboat, again. This time at Whampoa Market, a lot nearer to me than Tampines! This hawker is bustling in the day time and eerily quiet at night if it weren't for this stall. Be sure to come early (5pm) because the waiting time does get quiet lengthy as the night goes by. We were there around 715pm and got our steamboat at 740pm. You order at the stall and an uncle will come by with a trolley tray with side dishes. They have duck wings, salted veg, taupok and braised eggs :) Humble homely food.

We ordered promfret, medium size, taupok and salted vegetable (not pictured) and the bill came up to $46-47. There were four of us so that would amount to $12 per person which is really reasonable for the amount of food there was! Also promfret is the most expensive fish option! The soup is filled with yam, seaweed, vegetables, fish and the thing I found that allowed it to stand out from the rest is...... garlic or shallot bits? or I'm not entirely sure.. but it made the soup extra tangy and flavourful. You have to try it to believe it. You can also top up the soup!!

Comparing this to the one at Tampines, my heart calls out for this one. Not only is it nearer to me, the soup brings me back to my grandmother's cooking :') It really is worth the trip down if you live further away and the wait on crowded hours.

Toodless

Xin Heng Feng Guo Tiao Tan
Mon: 17:00 - 21:30
Wed - Sun: 17:00 - 21:30
Closed on: Tuesday

#01-14/15,
Whampoa Market,
91 Whampoa Drive,
320091

20. Yves Rocher - Haul!!

So recently I've been introduced to this brand by my mom's friend and when we went down today, there was a sale! 1 for 1 storewide, but only till the 8th of March. I suggest ya'll hurry down to grab their goodies from Yves Rocher - all made in france, made from plant extracts and all things good you'd imagine. Some of the items are selling out quickly too! In this short post I'll just share with you some of the things I got with my mom ;-)

*enlarge pictures by clicking on them for specific names*

Their vegetal range for oily & combination skin. I do like to switch my skincare routine every now and then plus the fact that my faceshop range has been discontinued has motivated me to try this out! The facial wash (blue gel) is from the moisturising-hydra vegetal range so that it won't be too harsh on my skin if I use all of the vegetal range. 

L-R: Serum $20, Face wash $14, Toner/Micellar water $18, Gel Cream $24

ETD for the man or woman in your life -

L-R: Nature Cedar Wood & Lime (subtle), $38

Nature Guaic Wood & Juniper (stronger scent), $38 ($19 each after 1 for 1)

Female: Cherry Blossom $30, Green tea $30 ($15 each after 1 for 1)

Lip balms - Macadamia & Karite (no color or scent). They have others with tints and scents too! 

$5 each ($2.50 each after 1 for 1)

Been watching lots of youtubers lately and realized I am lacking in the eye-serum department.. my current one is for dark circles but I figured 22 would probably the time when anti-aging eye-care would come in handy.. This is under their signature elixir 7.9 range (7 plants, 9 anti-aging patents) and is retailing for $42. My mom bought one as well for her age range and that cost $55. Thus, each eye serum would be $27.5 after the 1 for 1 promotion. Which is pretty reasonable if you ask me! 

Not pictured is their olive oil body soap which was already running off the shelves! They were $6 each after the promotion. The 1 for 1 is till the 8th of March only (Tuesday) so hurry down if you want to grab these deals. They also have shampoo and body/foot scrubs which I didn't purchase. 

Yves Rocher

Ngee Ann City

#B2-03

P/S I'll definitely do a review of the above products once I have tested them out for a period of time. Happy shopping!!!!