By the time you see this post, I’ll be up at Snowy Mountains for a 1 week ski trip! Meanwhile though, I thought I’ll take the opportunity to share more pictures from my shoot with KC from Tiny Dot Photography. 😉

I really adore this set of photos, especially the ones taken with the trees in the backdrop. Everything was picture perfect, right down to the lighting, mood and setting. Of course, I have KC to thank for capturing such beautiful pictures.

The sun rays streaming down from the sky cast a beautiful ray of light that’s almost magical. I felt like I was transported to an enchanted forest where fairies and pixies frolick with their little wands.

KC also took another series of photos of me in the same outfit in the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood. Immaculate attention to details was the focus of this series.

Again, I love how the images are framed, like in the photograph above.

More often than not, being a photographer is not about having the most expensive lens or the best camera.

A good photographer has the aesthetic awareness and creativity to conjure impactful images, even in the simplest of surroundings. 🙂 That, to me, is the art of photography.

We’ve been spending quite a bit of time at cafes because it has been raining all day long and My Sweet Memory is one of the new cafes that we checked out recently.

The cafe specializes in drinks, desserts and decorative items, including some antiques too!. I’ve a penchant for home decor and am constantly on the lookout for interesting little knick knacks to spruce up my home, so this is the perfect chill-out place for me (much to the dismay of my hubby).

He had the signature hot chocolate. It pales in comparison to what you would get at Lindt, but a hot chocolate drink is always comforting on a cold day, so no complaints there.

I originally ordered a tiramisu cake, but the lady at the counter dropped the entire cake, leaving me with no choice but to settle for a chocolate hazelnut cake. It was yummy nevertheless, but not as good as the black and white cheese cake that JW ordered.

This is the black and white cheese cake. The top layer is a rich, sticky coat of chocolate toffee I believe, and it goes remarkably well with the smooth consistency of the cheese cake. This is a tiny taste of heaven which melts in your mouth with every bite! I liked it so much I went back again the next day. 😛

The Sydney Fish Market is a must-go destination for everyone, especially if you’re a fan of seafood. After all, it is the second largest seafood market in the world and boasts some of the freshest varieties of seafood that you can find in the Southern Hemisphere!

I was looking forward to devouring scallops, sashimi and oysters!

It has been raining incessantly over the past couple of days but the rain and throngs of tourists could not stop us in our quest to savour these delicacies.

The oysters are so sweet and succulent. Have an oyster here and you’ll truly feel that the world is your oyster.

If you’re adventurous and don’t require much sleep (unlike me), you can also book a Behind the Scenes Tour to catch all the action during the auction (sounds a little like a tongue-twister, doesn’t it?) in the wee hours of the morning.

One of our friends recommended that we try the scampi (sashimi-style), which is a type of small lobster, so I gamely bought one home to try. I must admit that it looks a little disgusting because its head is so much bigger than its body. Some of my friends love prawn heads and would suck out all the juices within. I know Jun would probably love this because the scampi’s head is beyond enormous. LOL but alas, I just couldn’t bring myself to try the scampi’s head. Oh, but the flesh…when I took a bite at it, it was oozing with a sweetness that words alone could not describe. Everyone should definitely give it a go!

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!