I have always been a fan of toga dresses because they reveal just a hint of flesh, which to me, is sexy without going overboard. I particularly adore the Selina Toga Dress from Eternity Loft’s Summer Desire Collection as it comes in cheerful, summery shades, making it the perfect dress for every occasion!

I chose the dress in Marine as it comes with a contrasting coral sash. Shades of green are so on trend now and the combination of marine with coral literally took my breath away because colourblocking with candy shades is one of my favourite trends. 😉

Besides the gorgeous colour, I also love the cut-out shoulder panel and swing skirt, both of which enhance the female silhouette with utmost grace, allure and sophistication. Dressing it up or down is also not an issue as a change of footwear and accessories will easily do the trick.

This lovely number comes in Coral, Lilac and Cream, and would be an ideal choice for bridesmaid dresses too. How very versatile indeed!

I don’t quite fancy the wintry weather as it can get so dreary at times, especially when it rains, the sun sets prematurely at 5p.m. and everyone is dressed in shades of black and grey.

I’ve been stocking up on clothes in candy colours this season and they’re the perfect antidote to battle the depressing weather. I think bright candy colours help to dispel negative energy as well as rebalance the body emotionally and physically. You can also probably tell that I’ve not gotten over the colourblocking phase, except that this time, I’m colourblocking with candy and pastel shades.

I reworked the same pair of mint jeans on a separate occasion with a mustard coloured top and purple booties. The end result looks a little kiddy in my opinion, but it was all done in the name of fun. 😉

I haven’t been doing much these days except eat, cook and eat some more. I can totally understand why people put on weight in Australia, or even become diabetic. The cakes, sweets and chocolates here are so wonderful I could eat them for all 3 meals.

Here I was, at New York Cafe at Chatswood, drinking hot chocolate.

JW was devouring a bun. I always joke that he has this impeccable ability to make anything that he eats look delicious. Don’t you agree?

Here’s what he can’t do without – coffee, although it does nothing to keep him awake. In fact, it does the exact opposite. He feels sleepy right after coffee.

What I can’t live without in Sydney – desserts. This carrot cake is sooo yummy! I also had my green tea snow ice fix at ZenQ recently and have been eating chocolates just about everyday.

I never really had a sweet tooth in Singapore, but I guess Australia changed everything.

At this rate, Diabetes will soon become my best friend.

Just wanted to share another set of photos taken by KC of Tiny Dot Photography. The first shot is my favourite because unlike the usual profile shots, I like how the strands of flyaway hair broke loose and took on a life of their own, adding movement and interest to the photo.

The perfection of imperfection, that’s what it is.

As we strolled along the back alleys, we came across a distinctive stand-alone circular building which is so rare, you probably wouldn’t find it anywhere else on the very cosmopolitan city state of Singapore these days. I particularly like the retro feel of the photos, and this cute little blue van below is quite possibly the perfect prop for prewedding shoots!

The last two shots that I’m sharing with you are a little different from my usual photos. I guess they’re more expressive in a melancholic and contemplative way. I personally like how these photos turned out. How about you?

It’s autumn over here and I’m glad I can finally put all my fluffy trench coats and jackets to good use. The weather is much cooler than I expected, especially indoors because heaters aren’t provided in the university apartments. We’ve one that’s left behind by the previous tenant, but I reckon it emits less heat than a hot water bottle. :S

Trench coat from Hong Kong
Lace stockings from Topshop
Bow Heels from Dip Drops
Idylle Speedy Bag from Louis Vuitton
Hairband (looks like a hat isn’t it?) from Talisman, FEP

I’ve lived in Beijing in winter during subzero conditions, but this is the first time I actually feel cold indoors! Time for us to get a REAL heater soon….

I thought I would need some time to get used to the pace of life here after a hectic 2 months in Singapore, but I think I’m settling in pretty well. Taking it slow, smelling the flowers and erm.. hibernating, are well, second nature to me.

The very next morning after I arrived in Sydney, I woke up to the aroma of mushrooms and steak. I thought I was dreaming when I saw JW in the kitchen. LOL.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s cooking! Looks yummy!

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought JW could whip up something that looks good and tastes edible. To his credit, the steak is delicious. Definitely a commendable effort, I must say.

Likewise, never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that driving is no longer an obstacle for me after just two months in Singapore. I never found the need to drive because my dad and JW always drove me around. I also have wonderful friends like Yitian who’ll pick me up whenever we head out, but I’m glad that I can finally return the favour! I guess being apart helped in our personal development, even more so when we’re driven to extremes. 😉 It is certainly not a bad thing, considering that we each picked up a new life skill!

Adding new accessories or redecorating your walls are the little things that can be done to spruce up your bedroom. In fact, giving your bedroom a fresh update has never been easier with IKEA. IKEA offers a wide selection of accessories to cater to different styles and needless to say, I’ve always been a huge fan. 😉 My baroque-style bedside tables and cow hide rug were both from IKEA a few years back!

So, what did I do to revamp my room this time? First up, to add interest to an empty corner of the room, I decided to place an artificial potted plant that complements the wallpaper. That was when the FEJKA Artificial Potted Plant and SKURAR Plant Pot came in handy.

I generally favour darker colours and warm lights for my master bedroom as these elements create a romantic, tranquil ambience that is perfect for sleeping and relaxing. I don’t put much furniture in my bedroom except for the bare essentials i.e. bed frame and bedside tables. Instead, I believe in accessorizing for optimal results.

As you can see, the DROMLIK Scented Candles and DEKAD alarm clock are the perfect additions to my side tables, which were also from IKEA (bought them 3 years back!).

Adding new paintings or frames to your walls also helps to enhance the room’s ambience. I’ve been eyeing the UNG DRILL frame from IKEA for eons. Not only is it very affordable (only $39!), it looks great on its own and adds a luxurious vibe to any room, even more so if you are going for the baroque style of interior design.

I have an oil painting displayed right at the foot of my bed, and I always felt that the UNG Drill Frame deserved a place on the wall just next to my bed as that would complete the room. Instead of hanging the empty frame on its own, my brother and I got down to work on a picture collage comprising photographs of Paris in the early 1900s, taken by renowned photographer Brassai.

Customization always lends a touch of individuality and character to the room that you are designing. More importantly, it can be a lot of fun, especially when family and friends are around to help you out!

The bedroom is one place in your house where you can retreat to for some peace and quiet, so it’s definitely important to create an oasis of calm, a sanctuary where you can just kick off those heels and relax after a long day’s work.

You’ll be surprised to know that sprucing up your bedroom every now and then not only helps to give it a new lease of life, but it directly enhances your mood as well. So, head on down to IKEA now for more ideas and inspirations!

I did a fashion photoshoot with KC from Tinydot Photography last Sunday at Tiong Bahru. KC was my prewedding photographer. He did a magnificent job for our Macau shoot and I love his photos. It was definitely an honour to be able to work with such a talented photographer!

Although KC specializes in wedding photography, he was game to try something new this time and so was I. 😉

The theme for the photoshoot was vintage 60s, which is pretty much my usual style of dressing. I did the make-up, styling and modelling while KC worked his magic with two film cameras. This is the first set of photos that were taken. No editing was done.

Mint lace top from H&M
Detachable pearl collar from Hong Kong
Pink floral tulle skirt from FEP
Nude Pumps from Zara
Candy striped socks from Topshop

I can’t begin to tell you how much I adore Tiong Bahru. I must have said it several times, but this quaint little neighbourhood has such a charming, old world charm and oodles of character.

I like the way the images are framed as well as how light is used to add that soft glow and old-school vibe to the photos.

I’ll be sharing more photos in time to come, so keep checking back!

Early this week, we celebrated JP’s birthday at Antoinette@Mandarin Gallery. I had the latest item on their menu, the crab suzette, which was absolutely superb with generous servings of lightly peppered fresh crab meat. JP had the marinara pasta and Veron had the roast chicken but they both agreed that the crab pasta tastes much better.

Overall, the food was very enjoyable. The desserts alone left us craving for more. Food aside, I also really like the ambience and European decor of the restaurant. We seemingly teleported to the other end of the world in the blink of an eye.

I’ll be heading back to Sydney in a week, and there’s so much to do but so little time. Doesn’t help that my nose is still running like a tap. :S Hopefully, unlike me, the rest of you are having a great time this weekend!

I must have said it a thousand times at least, but Ivins is one of my family’s favourite restaurants. The food is always tasty and flavourful, which explains why the bulk of our family gatherings tend to take place here. In fact, we celebrated my mum’s birthday here some time back in April as my family loves the peranakan dishes.

Some of the dishes that really tickle my tastebuds include ayam tempra, ayam goreng, sambal kang kong, itek tim (salted vegetables and duck soup) and chai pok egg.

Here’s my outfit for the day. I looked pretty tired as I had just recovered from a bout of flu when this picture was taken.

Bangkok top
Zara pastel floral jeans
Louis Vuitton Idylle Speedy in Sepia
Alannah Hill floral clip

This week is a busy week for me as I’m trying as much as I can to catch up with family and friends before I take off again next Saturday. It doesn’t help that I just received news that my grandmother has been warded. I spent 4 hours chatting with her at the hospital yesterday because she was feeling lonely and helpless. 🙁 I can only hope that things will take a change for the better soon and that she’ll have a speedy recovery. Please keep her in your prayers too.