*Update* Just spotted on Youtube that you can get 20% discount off NAC tix by using the promo code 20LESS. Not sure if it’s just a Labour Day promo or not

The annual National Achievers Congress never fails to get me excited about their lineup of speakers each year! This year is no different. We’ll get to hear from *drumroll* Sir Richard Branson! Some people I’ve interviewed for this blog previously will also be speaking at the event – watch out for Vanessa Tan and Cayden Chang. My friend, Sean Seah, will be speaking at the NAC too – I’m so happy for him! And hopefully, one day I’ll be able to take the stage at the NAC too. Muahaha! *Dreams up plans for world domination*

Needless to say, I’ll be at the NAC this year too, from 10th to 12th May. You’ll be there too right? If you haven’t bought your tickets, get them now at www.nacsingapore.com [use promo code GRACE to receive 15% discount off General and VIP seats!] Alternatively, call Gwen at 86120291 – mention this blog and you get the discount too. No reason not to be there!

Here’s some information about the speakers at this year’s NAC, that I got from Success Resources:

13. Marcus Di Maria, Forex – “Forex your way to freedom” – Building a consistent FOREX system towards accumulating profits. Marcus will share with you the mental model of an investor about their greed and fear during the ups and down times and how to thrive to take advantage and earn. 

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Honestly, I’m looking forward mainly to hearing from Sir Richard Branson, Les Brown and Andy Harrington. However, the rest of the speakers seem like authorities in their field too, so I believe the NAC will be worth the time spent there.

Date: 10th – 12th May 2013

Time: 9am – 6pm

Location: Singapore Expo Hall 3A

Attire: Smart Casual

Ticket Pricing

VIP: S$2,228.00
Benefits of VIP: (VIP Treatment, Priority Sign-In, Access to VIP Lounge for lunch/dinner with Sir Richard Branson and key speakers, Private Q&A Session with Key Speakers and seated right in the first few rows.)

General: S$88.00

Stall: S$48.00

To get your tickets, head over to www.nacsingapore.com [use promo code GRACE to receive 15% discount off General and VIP seats!] Alternatively, call Gwen at 86120291 – mention this blog and you get the discount too.

I’ll see you at the NAC!

We started the day with a visit to Kuromon Market, which was within walking distance from Hotel Hillarys. Then made our way back to Kani Doraku at Dotonburi for lunch.

KitKat for 298 yen, about S$4

Lunch at Kani Doraku was an uneventful affair. I had expected LONG queues, but no, there were not many customers when we went by. I suppose there would be queues at dinnertime. Having said that, though, there are THREE Kani Doraku outlets along the SAME street so I suppose the crowd is evenly dispersed! One of the 3 outlets even has a takeaway counter outside the restaurant so those who don’t want to wait or dine-in can grab a bento or some sushi to take away!

We spent a total of 5,400 yen on lunch. I especially liked the crab sushi.

Here’s some of what we ate. Will do another post on Kani Doraku specifically!

We also went into an arcade called Round 1, and I caught a Hello Kitty plush toy from one of the UFO Catcher machines! Hurray!

The first… of many…

Then we went shopping. I found a Lowry’s Farm outlet and bought a dress (about 20% cheaper than in SG). We also visited Sanrio Gallery (whoo!) and Disney store. All these were around the Shinsaibashi/Dotonburi area.

I’d bring this kitty home, but it’s ginormous:

One of the reasons why Singaporeans like visiting Japan:

And guess what, I spotted a number of cute guys giving out free hugs! OMG!

I get to hug cute Japanese guys for free??!!

But.. the fiance was just next to me so… nothing happened.

After shopping (and no hugging), we headed for the Tombori River Cruise (free of charge if you have the Osaka Unlimited Pass). The Tombori River Cruise is very much like the cruise along the Singapore River – touristy, plus we did not understand a word from the Japanese guide!

Dinner was at Shakey’s Pizza buffet! For just 990 yen per pax or S$13, we got to eat to our heart’s content – soup, pizza, pasta, meatballs, fruits. I’ve heard that the Japanese don’t eat very much at each meal so I was surprised there are such buffet places. Oh wait, perhaps it is BECAUSE they don’t eat much, that it makes sense to open buffet places – Singaporeans would just whack every meatball there is (I know I did). Muahaha.

With our Osaka Unlimited Pass, we also went for a ride on the HEP FIVE ferris wheel. I have a fear of heights so I couldn’t wait to get back down on the ground but someone had fun.

I Heart You… sometimes

Because of him, we also went up to the freezing cold heights they call the Floating Garden Observatory at the top of the Umeda Sky Building. It was SUPER COLD with icy cold winds – I felt like I had walked into a giant freezer. And guess what, he said we should walk the entire round (I just wanted to run back into the lift!). But walk we did. And nearly died from pneumonia, I guess.

Picture taken one second before I became a human popsicle

Then we waited to board our Willer Express bus to Tokyo. It was an overnight ride that would take us to Tokyo Station. Having survived the local inter-state trains in China, THIS was a piece of cake. Quite comfy with a pram-like cover to keep out the light:

Spooky picture, but I assure you that’s me…

We paid a total of 22,800 yen in total for 2 Willer Express rides – to Tokyo and back. We shopped, ate and did touristy stuff in the daytime and shuttled between the cities at night. Kinda cool. Not advised if you have old folks or young kids with you – it’s a long overnight ride!

And that’s it – the end of our Osaka adventures. Will be blogging about the Tokyo part of the trip next. I have to say, though, that I think the people in Osaka are much friendlier than the people in Tokyo – as if you don’t already know that.

Click for:

Day One of Osaka

Day Two of Osaka

You’ve seen her on the covers of many fashion magazines. You’ve seen her walking the runway for brands like LV, Gucci and Armani. You’ve also noticed her in SK-II ads – she’s the first and sole Brand Ambassador for SK-II from Singapore!

And… I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF INTERVIEWING HER!

The one and only Sheila Sim!

Ch U film crew were also on set to film snippets for a documentary. Pressure, pressure. But I think it all went very well. Sheila was a joy to interview and I think I got many nuggets of wisdom from her. Will upload a video clip of the interview soon but in the meantime, read on…

1st Question:

My first question to Sheila was about her decision to head to Hong Kong at the relatively young age of 17 to pursue her modeling career, and whether she had any regrets thereafter about her career choice.

Sheila explained that her aunt used to be a model and Sheila was offered a contract at age 16 but she brushed it aside then. But at age 17, they repeated the offer and she didn’t know what to study in polytechnics, so she thought to herself “why not go ahead and try?”

Sheila started modeling in Singapore for about 6 months and after which, an agency in Hong Kong called with a contract. Thinking it should be “fun”, Sheila agreed, stating that she was at an age when she was more adventurous and “a little rebellious and curious”. What was supposed to have been a stint lasting just a few months eventually became 4 years. Then Sheila returned to Singapore and is now celebrating her 12th year in modeling!

She said that she “didn’t really plan” for it all but her career turned out to be “smooth sailing” and she was happy and had learnt a lot of things, hence she has no regrets. One perk of the job was the travel opportunities, during which she learnt to be very independent and to take good care of herself.

2nd Question:

 My second question to Sheila was about how she managed to remain grounded despite being in this industry with all its glitz and glamour, and having achieved so much success.

Sheila explained that her aunt used to be a top model in the late 80s and 90s. She was “always down to earth, doesn’t party or drink, goes home after jobs” and did not wear much makeup on her off days. Sheila admired how her aunt remained a “simple woman” who “doesn’t go for branded stuff”, and sought to follow in her footsteps.

She came to understand that modeling is just a job. “Modeling is an occupation, not a label. Outside of modeling, you are supposed to be who you are. I’m not a model, I’m modeling”.

3rd Question:

When asked about who else inspires her, Sheila said that her grandmother is her inspiration. Sheila grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories which were “full of morals and wisdom”, such as to save up for the rainy days. “She doesn’t say much but when she speaks, she speaks with a lot of wisdom”.

4th Question: 

Many women grapple with weight and self-esteem issues and while some may think that Sheila has it all (the height, the figure, the looks), I wondered if she might also have a lot of pressure on her shoulders simply because of the demands of this grueling modeling industry.

Sheila agreed that she faces more pressures than the average woman as the modeling industry welcomes new faces every day and “To stay at the top is very hard”. Her advice to ladies is “I think it’s about confidence and loving yourself for who you are, instead of always comparing yourself with someone else better”.

She shares that she has questioned herself about whether she should be thinking of retiring, especially during some low periods. But ultimately she just goes back to this notion of “just love yourself for who you are”.

“There will always be someone skinnier, there will always be someone more beautiful, there will always be someone who is more attractive. But they are not you. See yourself in a positive light. Stop comparing and becoming negative and unhappy.”

Sheila thinks that the statement that “Models don’t eat” is judgemental and stereotypical – “I go to the gym, where’s the credit for that?”

Because she works very hard in the gym, she is careful about not eating unhealthy food too often and she is very careful with her health.

“I go to the gym a lot more than other people. I need to have good skin. I actually eat a lot, but I eat healthy stuff and I work out 3 times a week.”

Sheila also added that she stays away from shark’s fin, foie gras, and rabbit meat, “for a cause”. And guess what, after the interview, I began turning down shark’s fin and foie gras too! Rabbit meat isn’t very common so it’s not an issue for me. XD

Sheila also told me that she eats a lot of vegetables and she swims about 3 times a week, depending on her schedule, for 20 laps each time. Each gym session also lasts for 1.5 hours.

On Crash Diets

In the initial part of her modeling career, Sheila ate only an apple a day for two weeks, and nothing else. Eventually she collapsed. She said that she looked “so pale and green, unhealthy, with no energy to perform at work”. After that episode, she put on weight a lot faster too because her metabolic rate became very low.

“Modeling has made me strong in the mind. People always come up to you to say nasty things. You are too skinny or too fat. You are never just right. Believe that this is what I am. You can sometimes get insecure but it shouldn’t linger on for too long. Bad hair or breakout… move on. My skin is not so good today but tomorrow it will be better.”

5th Question:

My fifth and final question to Sheila was about her advice to people who are at a crossroads – undecided whether they should follow their heart and do something unconventional or “crazy”, or take the safe, tried-and-tested route.

“Follow your heart – it worked out for me. The thing about following your path is that you may end up being very poor… or very rich. If you go for the tried and tested, your life will be pretty safe. But why not be happy?”

She added, though, that it ultimately boils down to “Different strokes for different folks”. She could only conclude that her journey has been a “Fluctuating ride but it was worth it”.

“Don’t listen so much to what other people tell you to do. Listen to yourself. What is it you want. If you listen to someone else’s advice, and it’s not what you want, you are going to regret ‘cos you are doing it for someone else, not yourself.”

After we’d wrapped up the interview and stopped the filming, Sheila shared with me that she likes interviews sometimes – “they make me think”. When questions are thrown at her, and the answers flow naturally, they help her understand herself a little more. For a 28-year old, I think she’s like a wise old person in a young woman’s body. She’s so worldly-wise that it’s incredible!

And unlike what you may think, she is not confident all the time, it seems…

“Not everyday is a confident day. Ups and downs – it’s life. I won’t be pretentious and say I am a confident woman everyday. However confident a woman seems, there will always be ups and downs.”

“One of the challenges is this – you can never show it in modeling. You are just supposed to look beautiful and confident all the time.”

We concluded the entire meetup with Sheila’s down-to-earth take on her inroads into acting – “I don’t plan to conquer,” she says. I like her attitude towards life – going with the flow, and where her heart leads her, without being overly ambitious. I guess therein lies her ‘secret to success’.

Do catch Sheila in her first acting stint: Watch I’m In Charge, starting May 27th at 9pm on Channel 8!

I’ve been invited to speak at a social media lunch and it’s only the second time I’m publicly sharing about social media (and blogging in particular). I don’t want to cover popular topics that everyone else has covered before. So I thought it’d be appropriate to share about the mistakes some companies have been making when they hire or engage bloggers for their campaigns, and hopefully other companies which chance upon this blogpost will find it useful for them too.

My Sharing Session Content – In Brief

#1) Always define WIIFM – Bloggers won’t attend your event or write about you until you clearly define WHY they should do it.

#2) Hire Bloggers, not treat them as beggars – if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys, doesn’t matter which industry.

#3) Don’t make them jump through hoops to get the deal – most of the time, they CAN do without what you are offering. They can likely afford better too.

#4) Don’t spam them – ‘no reply’ is a reply.

#5) Without attendance, press releases are spam! I don’t want to know about your event AFTER the event.

#6) Don’t bug them after the event for the blogpost – if it’s cool, we’d already be raving about it. If it’s not, it can wait.

#7) If your event is uninteresting, don’t expect a review (unless you don’t mind a really HONEST opinion).

#8) Treat them well. Allow a plus one when possible.

#9) Bloggers do expect “good” freebies – no leftover goodies from last year, please.

#10) Always remember #1

There are some companies whose executives act as if they are doing us bloggers a favor by giving us something to blog about. They can’t be more wrong, and I do hope they wise up or get fired.

Of course, having said all that, there are so many PR agencies I love as they have been absolute darlings and are super sweet to bloggers.

*Will update this blogpost after the sharing session*

On Wednesday, I went for a sponsored hair color change and it caused quite an uproar on my Facebook page. I’ll just let pictures do the talking, ya?

My ‘Before’ and ‘After’ Pictures:

Some of you are probably thinking “Who in their right mind would…” and I don’t blame you.

I got all sorts of comments on Facebook, from “fiery” to “Tts crazy!!” to “looks more like a wig”. (@_@)

Here are some more:

And yes, you can be absolutely honest with me. ‘Cos frankly, I hated my hair after that. But you know what, it just failed to turn out the way I wanted.

Here’s what I requested for, versus what I got:

Unlike what some may have thought, I did not crack under “stress” or lose my marbles. It is just that my perception of what is beautiful hair differed a little from my stylist’s.

Still, you know what people say – all things happen for a reason, right? So here are 5 life lessons I learnt from my disastrous hair color change aka “hair job”.

Life Lesson #1: If it’s a tough job, only engage someone you trust, then hand your life hair over to him. As the Chinese saying goes, 用人不疑,疑人不用.

I didn’t really trust the stylists there to do a good job as their boss was away in Melbourne and I could tell that they just wanted to get this over and done with as quickly as possible. How did I know that? The “Senior Stylist” named Christina just kept saying “no” to all my requests – “No, we don’t have these colors”, “No, I can’t work on your hair just yet. I have a customer coming by in fifteen minutes’ time”, “No, I only have standard colors” – by standard colors, she meant black, dark brown, and probably black again. She claimed to not even have red.

Two other bloggers requested for simple highlights and they got what they wanted very quickly. I had thrown the stylists too big a challenge – or one they did not care to accept. Hence, the results are *ahem* less-than-satisfactory.

The stylist who worked on my hair is Bryan and I found him to be more friendly than the other one, but the colors just didn’t turn out as he’d promised.

I really should have let only a trusted stylist work on my hair. And, as you already know, with free stuff come certain risks.

I had let them work on my hair despite the bad attitude from the lady because I had gone all the way to Holland Road JUST for this salon review and I felt it would be a waste to not get what I wanted there and then, instead of waiting for the boss to get back to Singapore in a couple of days’ time.

They left much to be desired. In the old neighborhood salons my mum used to get her hair dyed at, customers would be given little plastic pieces to prevent stains on their ears/skin. But look what happened to me *haiz*:

Life Lesson #2: A small change can make a BIG difference.

First of all, if you had seen me directly before and after my hair color change, you would have noticed that I looked like I had aged 5 years in just one day. The golds and browns made me look like the Monkey God, Sun Wu Kong.

But there was some good out of that. Because my hair color became so WILD, I started behaving differently, to suit my hairstyle. I became a lot more vocal, loud and fun-loving. The very next day after my crazy hair color change, I went for the bloggers’ preview to the Navy Open House and had a blast! It was such fun! I wore a hot pink tee, hot pink shoes, and had neon pink nails to match. I became known as “Pink” to the officers showing me around – they thought I was hilarious and the feeling was mutual.

So guess what, every little change in your life can cause huge ripples in other aspects of your life.

Even after I re-dyed some parts of my hair (while keeping the pink strands), I was more “loud” in terms of my dressing. For the National Achievers Congress today, I wore a white top with pink jeans and hot pink Nine West heels. I’ve never worn those jeans since purchasing them in Kota Kinabalu last year!

So, if you are an introvert like me, or you just want to be more confident, more expressive, more daring, do consider a small change in the way you look!

Life Lesson #3: You Cannot Please Everybody!

I’m sure you already know this. You just cannot please every single person. But don’t we try so hard to do that? You put on that new outfit you bought, and everyone says it looks good on you, but just one person says it makes you look fat/old/frumpy and it affects you so much that you can’t remember all the previous compliments you got. Does that happen to you? It sure does happen to me. I give those nasty people my most evil stare every time.

Just about everyone on Facebook said my hair looked awful, some more tactfully than others. But guess what, at the Naval base, two ladies from MINDEF came up to me (separately) and asked me where I got my hair colored ‘cos they liked it a lot. To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I had spent the entire day hiding my hair under a cap, leaving only the shocking pink parts sticking out.

And…

Local entrepreneur and 77th Street’s Founder, Elim Chew, actually shared my photo on her Facebook wall, writing “More Ideas For Colors !!!!” apparently having taken a fancy to my new hair colors. Seriously??!!

Hers was the one and only ‘share’ I got for this picture! LOL!!!

So, you see, no matter how disastrous you think something is, there will be someone who appreciates it.

Life Lesson #4: A Cover-up Works But It’s SUPER Uncomfortable

I spent the whole day after the “hair job” wearing a cap over my hair. The first half of the day was unbearably hot, as I toured the Changi Naval Base. My hair stuck to my scalp because of the perspiration and it felt like a sauna under my cap.

No one pointed any fingers at me and started laughing away at my crazy hair but oh how I longed to remove the cap!

Anyway, the point I want to make is that cover-ups work but be prepared for some discomfort. It’s never easy when you have something to hide. So live in such a way that you don’t ever have to hide anything.

Life Lesson #5: All’s Not Lost Even If Things Look Really Bad

Don’t despair even if things seem hopeless.

My fiance actually advised me to get a wig. I was almost inconsolable when I showed him my hair. I desperately wanted to get it re-dyed, but he, afraid that too much hair dye/bleach would damage my hair, advised that I get a wig instead.

I thought it would be such a joke to get a wig so I headed to Watsons and bought a DIY dye pack instead. And I’m certainly thanking my lucky stars that it turned out alright. I kept the pink parts but re-dyed the browns and golds to a dark copper (almost black).

I hated the rest of the “hair job” but I liked the pink ends so, like in many situations, you can definitely salvage some things, and rectify others. Not all will be lost.

Don’t worry about things you can’t change. Just change the things you can, and move on.

I’m looking much less crazy now, and I have to thank Bigen for the wonderful dye pack being sold at Watsons (for S$16.90) and Pantene for sponsoring the shampoo and conditioner from their new ’6 week color protect’ range.

In case you are wondering, I got my hair dyed at Eden Salon, 293 Holland Road, Cold Storage Jelita. And no, you probably do not want to head there unless you are an angmoh, because as Christina will tell you, they only “cater to expats” and some bloggers, if I may add.

In conclusion, if you are thinking of making a BIG change in the way you look, always always always look for someone you trust. And if something costs nothing, don’t ask for too much!

I didn’t expect an invitation to the bloggers’ preview for the Navy Open House so when it arrived, I was both amused and curious. As it turned out, I was the ONLY female blogger who showed up. LOL! But I have to say that it all went swimmingly well and I had a whale of a time.

If you’ve read my previous blogpost about the disastrous hair color I received the day before the preview, you will not be surprised by these pictures of me hiding my hair under a cap.

I have to state, upfront, that I found the preview so enjoyable thanks to one man, funnyman Terence Ong. He’s apparently one of the higher ranked officers in the Navy but I like the fella – he’s funny!

I was very nervous at the sight of ginormous mock-ups of missiles – some KILL planes, ships, subs, etc *shiver* But I could tell that Terence, aka “Sir” was very happy to share about those missiles. (@_@)

I had thought navy officers would be people without a sense of humor because everything associated with national defence is usually awe-inspiring and stern and not funny at all. Hur hur. But at the preview, I found that they are actually normal folks with extraordinary careers. I was also made to feel really at home by the lovely Lieutenant Q T Lin:

I was very surprised to meet this pretty female officer. In fact, I could not help but ask her why she decided to join the navy. She shared with me that her dad badly wanted a son and I guess, raised her up like one. So she’s no less capable than a guy at roughing it out and I found it interesting when she mentioned that the guys would cuss less whenever female officers were around. She also told me that it was no different working around guys – we are all just… people. And that made so much sense!

And one of the things I loved most at the Open House preview was the many photo opportunities. LOL! Here’s one well-taken picture of me from fellow blogger, Jerome’s blog:

I suppose I look dangerous… and an easy target – uniforms must never come in bright pink!

And there was a funny moment when I had to pose with another officer, who was kinda like… Are you serious? I have to pose with HER??!!

You’d probably have guessed by now that I’m not going to introduce the names of guns and warships to you, ‘cos *ahem* it’s not of special interest to me but at the end of this blogpost will be links to the male bloggers who will tell you about the corvettes, typhoon guns, amphibious crafts, and such.

And here are two bloggers, all dressed up and looking very friendly. HP and Andy:

I also got a photo taken with naval divers. Apparently these guys don’t blink, their eyes are wide open in EVERY picture!

Tip: If you want to stand out in pictures at the Open House, ditch clothes in white, black, grey, brown etc.

We witnessed the storming of a ship, saw a submarine from afar, and spotted the divers dropping out of helicopters into the water. There’s nothing quite like experiencing this firsthand so make sure you are there at the Navy Open House this weekend!

You won’t be able to board a submarine ‘cos what goes on inside is all top-secret stuff but you can enter the mock-up and see how submariners live!

And there’s a whole range of vehicles you can check out, and pose in…

Here I am, looking very smug atop a tank:

And the biggest gun that day… which I’m told would have made me fly backwards from the recoil under normal circumstances.

We also went for a cruise, on one of the navy’s ships! It was too cool!

Funnyman Terence Ong aka “Sir” also found me a spot near the front of the ship when it was going at top speed and my goodness, the strong winds gave me an instant facelift! If I’m looking younger now, I have him to thank!

Snapped a picture of Sir mid-speech, with daddy blogger Andy next to him:

Bring your children along for an unforgettable experience! As long as your kids are not cranky, and don’t start wailing under a little sun, it’s fine. This blogger’s kids were super well-behaved and had a lot of fun!

And finally, a group picture after a memorable cruise experience!

See how easy it is to spot me? What did I tell you about choice of outfit color?

For the male blogger’s perspective about the Open House preview:

1) Jerome’s blog

2) HP’s blog

Final words: I’m very thankful for this great experience – would never have thought that the Navy Open House is such fun! Many thanks to the fabulous folks at MINDEF for the invite, the Sirs and the Mams for being so welcoming and lots of thanks to everyone in the Navy for protecting our country and keeping our waters safe from external threat! *salute*

Visit the Navy’s Facebook page and show them some love HERE.

When visiting the Navy Open House, do bring:

1) A cap

2) Sunblock

3) Water

4) Sunglasses

And wear a comfortable t-shirt and jeans or long pants, with track shoes. No slippers, sandals, heels, dresses or skirts as you may be boarding a ship and some “climbing” is involved. Balloting is required for some cruises.

See you at the Navy Open House!

18th and 19th May, Changi Naval Base.

Entrance only via shuttle bus from Singapore Expo, 8am to 4.30pm on 18th May and 8.30am to 4.30pm on 19th May. Visit the Navy Open House website HERE.

This week, I found myself on ice again – only the 2nd time in my entire life. And it’s the first time the fiance and I have gone ice skating together. Please don’t get me wrong, we are no experts – we are very much beginners! We didn’t fall over each other but it’s easy to see how ice skating can make couples fall in love again.

Here’s a picture taken by my friend, Clarence. I try to look glam in all photos but the fiance likes to do the opposite. I hope he’s regretting now…

And in the picture, you see a little girl using a penguin skating aid (S$10 for 2hours). It’s actually a great help for those learning to skate for the first time. I actually “borrowed” one for a bit too.

But the real penguin was behind me all the time… the fiance.

Actually, the reason he was around was because I had been invited to go ice skating by a male friend. If said friend is female, the fiance might have stayed on longer at work and given ice skating a miss entirely. Heh!

And I understand perfectly… Ice skating is very much a “contact sport” *wink*. So instead of bringing your date to watch a horror movie and hoping she clings on to you during the scary parts of the movie, go ice skating instead. A newbie skater will be clinging onto you the SECOND she gets onto the ice! Ha! *Of course, guys, please ensure you are proficient at skating first, ok?

Back to the penguin behind me…

He stayed close to me all the time, ever ready to catch me if I was wobbling a little on the skates / looked like I was about to fall / shrieking as if I was about to fall. To be honest, I wasn’t very appreciative of that. I didn’t want to appear “weak”, I thought I could figure out this whole balancing and skating thing on my own, without any help. [Sorry darling. I was lucky you were around or I'd have ended up on my bum or knees.]

Only when I got home and into the shower did I realize the BIG difference in character between the current love and the immediate past boyfriend. The latter was always in a competition with me. I’m VERY competitive and I think he was WORSE. When we learnt swimming together, he was absolutely livid when he found that I was swimming faster. I didn’t know whether he was furious at me (for being lighter?) or at himself for kicking really hard but not moving anywhere. Then one day, on vacation, he tried to teach me table tennis. And before I had gotten the hang of it, he decided to thrash me at the game and bring stinging tears to my eyes.

This is not to say that the ex is not an amazing human being – he is. In fact, he’s a great cook, public speaker and all-round nice guy (except in a competitive situation).

I’m thankful I now have a “penguin” who doesn’t skate well (yet) but will always be there to catch me if I fall.

If you are already in a relationship and don’t know where to go on ‘date night’, why not head to an ice-skating rink? It’ll be fun!

Bring your own socks and gloves to The Rink @ JCube (#03-11) and you’ll only have to pay S$35 for two adults (skates included) – 2 hour session.

*I’d read online that jeans tend to restrict one’s movements so I wore leggings instead. You should do that too. Just don’t leave your knees exposed – someone at the rink got bloody knees this evening. Not a pretty sight. Especially not on a first date, eh?

I got to know about Virgin Active (SG) via a series of Facebook ads and when I found out they have a roadshow going on at One Raffles Place, I just had to go take a look.

I have to say that the Virgin brand really excites me and I believe the first Virgin Active gym in Singapore will be one-of-a-kind.

At the roadshow, I got to test out one of their sleep pods aka energypod:

Basically, the cover can be swung to the front to shield you from all external lights and you can take a quick 20 minute snooze while soothing music plays, at the end of which a gentle vibration near your lower back will wake you up. Too cool! I suspect many sleep-deprived people working in Raffles Place will be making a beeline for the gym when it opens, not to work out but to catch forty winks!

Location of the gym: One Raffles Place, Tower 2, Levels 5, 6 and 7.

I’ve signed up to be one of the first to work out at the gym when it opens, likely sometime in August this year. Membership fees are rather steep, but I think the first month’s fees (at 50% discount) would be worth it. And here are the freebies for signing up now:

*If you head down to a roadshow and tell them you are a Facebook fan of Virgin Active SG, you will receive a 330ml bottle of Evian water and a Nature Valley granola bar.

So, what are the fees like?

The compulsory Activation Fee is supposedly S$199 but is at S$25 (before tax) if you sign up now. They don’t have full-year memberships but fees are collected fortnightly and a week’s fees are at S$42.50 before tax. Thus, a month’s membership would cost S$170 before tax. The first month’s fees are halved if you sign up now. And yes, I am thinking of only visiting this gym for one month and then cancelling the membership thereafter.

Guest fees are pretty steep (so I don’t suggest you bring a friend) at S$40 (before tax) per visit.

If you are going overseas (for a minimum of 4 weeks), you have to pay S$10 per week to freeze your membership fees.

The membership fees aren’t ‘cheap’, compared to what I was paying at another gym chain but I’m happy to pay for the experience – can’t wait to visit the Salt Room and also check out the many classes on offer. To find out more, check out Virgin Active’s Facebook Page here.

Honestly, I’m impressed by the Virgin brand and what it offers, hence I signed up. I was less impressed by one of the staff at the roadshow. First of all, it was after lunch when I visited and the guy named Djohan Shah smelled like he could do with a breath mint – I could literally smell what he had eaten for lunch from his breath. Eew, I know.

Then he gave me that salesman spiel which would have made other women weak in the knees, something along the lines of, “We will take care of you throughout because we care for you, and we’ll begin to take care of you right now!”. How touching. (@_@) Except that when I was reading the contract to find out the nitty gritties of the membership terms, he let out a huge, exasperated sigh. So, I’m supposed to just hand over my credit card details immediately, is it? This former Fitness First personal trainer had already let his body get flabby (I spotted his tummy) and isn’t a very good salesperson. At least bitch about me only after I’ve left the roadshow venue, right? Tsk tsk.

So yes, Virgin Active, I’m impressed with the brand. But your salespeople need some work… and some workouts*.

*I am by no means saying that I am uber fit or anything like that. That’s why I need a gym membership right? Just saying.

I visit Malaysia about once a month with the fiance for groceries, shopping, dining and sometimes even prawning or fishing. We have been across the Causeway multiple times and it was only yesterday that our complacency was exposed and led to a car break-in. We usually go to malls like KSL, Holiday Plaza, Tebrau City etc and nothing untoward has happened before.

Yesterday, the fiance decided to visit other malls and I believe the car was broken into while we were shopping at The Store. He had parked the car at the outdoor carpark – the sun was blisteringly hot and we had thought no one in their right mind would try anything funny in broad daylight and under the hot sun.

We were wrong.

We came back to find the car unlocked. Thankfully the car was still around. And our stuff were largely intact, or so we thought.

Only after getting back home in SG did I realize that a pair of my wedges were missing (I left them in the car and wore slippers because the latter would be more comfortable for shopping) and the thief had stolen my newly bought Hello Kitty tee and handphone accessories! The audacity!

Strangely enough, the fiance’s brand-new Samsung S3 Mini was still in the car, and so was his Braun Buffel bag (transferred from the boot to the backseat, no less!)

This is so mind-boggling and crazy that I have no explanation for this. I swear the thief is trying to mess with our heads. Why take my Hello Kitty tee and shoes instead of the handphone or branded bag??? (@_@)

It’s so difficult to understand that I shall not even try to.

The rest of our groceries and valuables (compact camera, GPS, cashcards, etc) were INTACT. And I guess we were considerably lucky this time, compared to other Singaporeans who have gotten killed, injured, robbed, or had their cars stolen (or windows broken or otherwise).

A quick check online proved that crime in JB has been nothing but frequent.

On mycarforum.com, a commentor wrote that “Car break ins in jb is as common as cars breaking down in sg all along“. Often, there would be “no sign of forced entry”, thus showing how skilled the thieves are.

Another site, virtualtourist.com, offers up even more insights about Malaysia, like policemen who determine how much to fine you for “speeding” (usually a false charge) based on how much is in your wallet (I will carry two wallets if I have to go into JB again! If mugged, I will hand over the wallet with just a little cash too). Usually, one can get away from corrupt police officers by just handing over RM50 to pay the “fine”.

Also, do check out InSing.com’s ’10 high-crime places in Johor to avoid’.

Lessons learnt from this strange incident:

- Don’t leave ANYTHING in the car – we had allowed our purchases to pile up in the back seats and we were simply inviting trouble

- Don’t leave passports or valuables in the car – we didn’t do that but it’s a good reminder

- Leave your laptops at home, not in your car boot

- Don’t leave your MPVs or SUVs unattended

- Taman Sentosa and City Square have been deemed unsafe – perhaps ‘cos Singaporeans love heading to these two places

- Park only in well-lit areas, with patrolling guards and ensure vehicle is securely locked

- Avoid heading into Malaysia unless absolutely necessary

i think that us Singaporeans have gotten too complacent due to the sense of security we get from living in Singapore. So if you are heading into JB, please be reminded not to drive a flashy car or do anything to attract unwanted attention to yourself or your vehicle.

As for me, I’m staying away and mourning the loss of my Hello Kitty tee. Hopefully, it goes to someone too poor to afford clothes and not end up in a bin or something or I shall be most upset with the thief indeed!

Did you manage to catch Singapore’s version of 女人我最大 yesterday night on Starhub TV? I sure did. I even stayed over at the fiance’s place just so I could watch the program! If you didn’t manage to catch the program, here’s what you missed…

Makeup maestro, Kevin, and hair styling guru, Ken, were on the show together with Pauline and 5 female guests.

Of particular concern during this first episode are the weather-related problems faced by Singaporean women, namely, oily faces and flat and/or oily hair.

Some tips I learnt from Episode 1:

1) After applying sunblock, wait for 3 minutes before applying your makeup

2) Apply concealer in a downward, not upward, motion or it’ll clog ur pores

3) For the more oily parts of your face, use less powder so no clumps will form when you do touch-ups

4) Before you do touch-ups, lower your body’s temperature by getting the back of your neck cool first (use a wet towel or cool spray). The back of your neck is somewhat like a heat-sensing region – more oil is produced on your face if this “heat-sensor” detects that temperatures have gone up!

5) Use a clean foundation sponge to dab off facial oil, instead of using oil removal wipes as the latter tend to strip your face of the essential layer of oils, causing more oil to be produced

Bad skin camouflaged by makeup, but exposed by HD TV *hmmm*

6) If you have an oily scalp problem but you also have dry hair, use a shampoo for oily scalps and a moisturizing conditioner

7) Use dry shampoo for soaking up oil and prevent the occurrence of flat hair

8) Too much black around your eyes “shrinks” the eye area. Obese folks like wearing black clothes for the slimming effect which makes them look smaller. So if you use black around your eyes, your eyes may actually appear smaller!

9) Apply mascara first for the roots of your lashes. Then apply a second coat to lengthen, and finally a third waterproof coat to prevent smudging

10) Apply eyeliner just at the ends of your eyes for an uplifting and lengthening look

11) Wash your hair everyday! A female guest on the program claimed she washes her hair only once every two to three days. And everyone said her hair was smelly, on top of being greasy. Apparently, too much oil clogs pores and worsens her hair loss problem. So she was exacerbating the problem unknowingly!

And there you have it, my 11 takeaways from watching the program. If this is helpful to you, leave me a comment ok, even if you just want to say two words – thank you! Then I’ll be happy to share my notes about the upcoming episodes too.

~

Earlier on, Pauline Lan came to Singapore to speak with the press about this new program and when quizzed about how stylish she thought Singaporean women are, she gave us a 3 out of 10 on her style scale. I was rather pissed. I wanted to tell her that not all Taiwanese women look good too, despite her haranguing them for what must have been a decade already. Then I realized that it could also be a ploy to get us to watch her program, ‘cos watch it I did! LOL!

It’s a great program to watch to learn some makeup, beauty or style tips! Even the fiance was impressed (he actually watched the entire thing with me!!!) and he made two observations: One, the makeup guy (Kevin) is really good at what he does, and two, Pauline Lan doesn’t do very much, she’s very much a facilitator for what happens on the show. I can’t help but agree with him!

~

For more, visit the Lady First SG website: http://www.ladyfirstsg.com/en

I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Sentosa 4D AdventureLand on 22 May 2013, and what a blast it was! For lots of “twists, turns, thrills and spills”, make your way down to Sentosa now…

Just 1 Price, 3 Exciting Experiences:

You can get a One-Day Adventure Pass for UNLIMITED access to all three!

Adults pay S$38.90 and children pay S$26.90 (aged 3 to 12). Free entry for children below 3 years old.

*Note that Sentosa Island admission and transport charges still apply.

Opening hours: 10am to 9pm daily (last ticket, redemption and entry at 8.15pm)

Location: 51B Imbiah Road, Sentosa, Singapore 099708 (Imbiah Lookout)

Now, I’ll tell you more about what I loved about these 3 interactive experiences!

First up is the 4D Movie Experience ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’ [15mins]. Besides the star-studded cast including Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock, and Vanessa Hudgens, it was a fully immersive experience engaging all of one’s senses! I especially loved the “wind” that made me feel like the giant centipede (or is it a millipede?) was making its way past the back of my legs -> Very scary indeed! I got water sprayed in my face multiple times (and so will you), saw bubbles, and smelled grassland! Best of all was that totally unexpected poke! <- That’s all I will say now, go experience it yourself.

Then I became a cowboy (-girl?) at ‘Desperados’ [6mins], a fun shoot-out game utilizing a motion-sensor pistol while riding on a motion-based saddle seat (like a horse). I got a dismal score of 20-something from sitting at the back of the theatre (here’s a tip: get closer to the screen!) but thankfully, when the top shooters and the lousiest shooters get their picture shown on the huge screen for all to see, it was not of their faces, but of random body parts (like a leg or clothing). Ha! *Phew* Final tip: Your motion-sensor pistol will vibrate a little each time you hit a target, so if you don’t feel anything, you’re doing it all wrong. Aim properly.

Finally, I went for the ‘Extreme Log Ride’ [10mins] which transported me to Himalamazon as a wait-for-it… Super-Tree LOG! The bit with crocodiles was scary but I had no idea why crocs would want to snap at wood. There’s really no point to this journey at all, but just try hard to imagine that you are a log, ok? There was a rather abrupt ending too.

How To Have A REALLY Good Time:

1) Bring good company

Made new blogger pals (the Heng family) + Andy and Amanda were there:

[Psst... Even the fiance couldn't spot me in this photo! What about you?]

[Picture courtesy of pictureair.com]

If you have given up already, I’m the one in white. Have perfect eyesight but bought fake black-rimmed glasses for a new (and perhaps, nerdy) look.

2) Engage in friendly competition (at Desperados’ shootout!)

3) Bring your imagination! The log ride will be the test!

Inside the theatre:

4) Just go silly and have FUN!

I DID!

Look! I nearly got eaten by a fish at Sentosa but put up enough resistance so I could at least get a photo taken!

Also, here’s what we did at Vivocity when we spotted Iron Man!

Muahaha!

Back to Sentosa 4D AdventureLand…

How To Get There:

By MRT: From HarbourFront MRT Station, head to VivoCity Lobby L, Level 3 and board the Sentosa Express. Alight at Imbiah Station.

[I took the MRT route. After alighting at Imbiah Station, exit and take 4 escalators up to Imbiah Lookout. The 4D Adventureland is behind the bus stop. Look out for signposts along the way to guide you!]

By Car: Drive into Sentosa and park at the Imbiah Lookout Car Park.

By Cable Car: Take the Cable Car ride from Mount Faber or HarbourFront Tower 2. Arrive at the Singapore Cable Car Station at Imbiah Lookout, Sentosa.

By Bus: Hop on to Sentosa Bus 1 or Bus 2 and alight at Imbiah Lookout Bus Stop.

Sentosa 4D AdventureLand is *not* for people who are pregnant, have heart & cardiac conditions, physical disabilities, back & spinal problems, are intoxicated, and/or are prone to motion sickness and vertigo!

If you need any more information, visit: http://www.4dadventureland.com.sg, https://www.facebook.com/4dadventureland

Final bit…

We were also entertained by a performance from Ridhwan Azman, better known as Ismail from the movie Ah Boys To Men:

The fangirls may have gotten seizures during his performance ‘cos he came SO CLOSE!

Go on… it’s the long weekend and you know you want to visit Sentosa 4D Adventureland! *winks*

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and copyright of New Line Productions, Inc. and Walden Media, LLC. 

[If you have missed Episode 1, here it is]

In episode 1, the Lady First Singapore team shared about the makeup and hair woes of Singaporean ladies living on this oh-so-hot-and-humid island. In the same vein, episode 2 is about the problems we face when dressing up – what’s cool enough for this climate but warm enough so we don’t shiver after stepping into air-conditioned rooms?

Also, this episode tackles some of those body shape issues faced by local women – do you find that you are too short, too plump, too skinny, pear-shaped, look fat in photographs, etc? Then you’ll love episode 2.

With Pauline this time is Clarence and Kevin (who takes on a ‘stylist’ role). I’m very impressed by Kevin actually!

Here are some of the ladies after their fashion makeovers:

The guest in the middle (可欣) is rather short and from the back, it seems as though she has a long bottom (measured from waistline to end of butt). I think Kevin commented that it’s due to lack of exercise. In any case, he put her in high-waist pants as you can see from the picture and they made her legs look SO LONG! Also, she put on really high heels in the same color as her pants so it looks like an extension of the outfit, creating a visually lengthening effect.

Kelly (second from right) came in a baggy outfit resembling pyjamas so they put a belt on her to pull in that waist and also gave her more fashionable shoes. Kevin mentioned that guys don’t like ladies in leggings, though he failed to explain why. Maybe men want to see more skin? But it seems wedges are considered less intimidating than stiletto heels:

Kevin advised Kelly not to dress like guys or men would only view her as one of their “bros” and not as someone they could possibly date. He later gave her an outfit makeover and had her wear a white flowing dress with pink accessories. Also, he mentioned that in fashion are shoes with a sporty, athletic look. Statement necklaces also help to jazz up any outfit.

Another guest, Celyn, laments her pear-shaped figure but Kevin dressed her up like a Japanese girl and she looked great – less stout, plus the skirt helped hide her fleshy bum. Apparently, light blue denim jackets are very popular this year too. Kevin advised against big tote bags for bigger ladies, and he chose a smaller neon pink bag for Celyn.

As for another guest, Angel, whose face tends to look ‘fat’ in photographs, the consensus was that she had done too much ‘shading’ on her face, which made her face look “dirty”. What she was taught was that a pearlescent blush/makeup can give her a ‘dewy’ look. Also, her face and eyes are round, so she should make her eyes look wider with eyeliner (which shouldn’t extend beyond the length of her eyebrows!)

The ‘highlight of the show was very likely the makeover for the fifth guest, Christina. She is obese and Kevin showed her how to flaunt her curves appropriately:

“Where are you looking, Kevin?”

Kevin explained that while polka dots are tricky for obese folks, the trick is in choosing outfits with dots that are spaced far apart, on a black base, and the dots should be off-white instead of pure white. He had Christina put on shape wear which, coupled with the ‘ribbon dress’s deep V neckline’, resulted in a well-fitted look. The dress also hid her big thighs and her pastel purple suede shoes gave her a more proportional look overall – apparently because shoes in brighter colors help “expand” the area around her feet, thus “balancing out” her ‘bigger’ body. Kevin also gave her a rich, plum lip color to help make her face look smaller. How? A nude lip color would make it seem as though the lower portion of her face is just one huge mass of flesh. The outstanding plum color helps ‘break’ this “continuity” and makes the face look a little smaller. Now we know.

I think this episode is largely a success – us Singaporean ladies now know how to look good despite our flaws. However, I do still think that the outfits do not really suit our climate. I do love dressing up but it’s SO HOT here that I just want to put on a tee and shorts, not a whole denim jacket + dress + hat ensemble! (@_@)

In any case, I’m looking forward to Episode 3! I’ll also be blogging about Kevin’s recommended makeup and beauty products in a bit so come back again soon. Leave me a comment (even if you just want to say ‘THANKS!’) so I know people are reading this and appreciating it, then I’ll post about the upcoming episodes too. Have a question? Leave a comment!

The ONLY time I will ask for your help this year:

I’ve been nominated for Best Individual Blog this year at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013.

Could you help vote for me?

Just one minute, and two steps:

1) Register here: http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/register/

2) Log in, and vote here: http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=individual

(I’m the one with the Hello Kitty) *meow*

THANKS!

Don’t worry, I’m not considering a career switch. Just amused at how, in the space of one month, I have accepted two hair product reviews (one from Pantene and one from Silkpro). Come join me on my hair-raising ADventures (hur hur) and see if these products are better than what you are currently using!

Here’s my pre-treatment hair

First up is Pantene’s Liquid Crystal Shampoo System:

Pros: Smells really good, helped untangle and moisturize my hair after I got it bleached twice and dyed multiple times [DO NOT do what I did!]

Cons: It doesn’t quite make hair color vibrant like it promises to – my new hair color faded a little after a week [not sure if it is due to the off-the-shelf dye pack]

I’m now alternating Pantene’s range with Silkpro’s Hair Fall Control shampoo, Treatment Conditioner and Hair Tonic:

Pros: Despite containing 11 herbs, the shampoo has a mild, pleasant scent and leaves a cool, tingly sensation on the scalp! Perfect for days when the weather is hot and my scalp gets oily and itchy!

Cons: The Hair Tonic made my scalp feel warm and prickly. Would have been great if it was cooling like the shampoo instead.

 *Tip: Alternate between two shampoos to keep scalp and hair receptive to each product’s benefits. 

My hair now – on a good day

Got a good shampoo to recommend? Leave me a comment?

Also, vote for me to win at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013. Thanks everybody thanks!

During one of the rare times I switched on the TV this week, I caught snippets of an episode on the Dr Oz show. The guests cried and I nearly cried too. It was an episode about health and mortality, and how the two are linked.

We got to know more about Jay, aged 43, via his wife, who is terribly concerned about his health. Jay is clearly obese, a huge fan of barbecues and a lover of meat and alcohol. His wife fears that she will lose her “best friend” unexpectedly one day in the near future. Jay thinks otherwise – he doesn’t think there will be consequences to his actions, he thinks he’ll live till he’s 80. So the hard truth is put to him after a series of lab tests: doctors expect that he will die at age 57:

That gives him just 14 years left to live.

What this means for Jay is that, unless something changes, his best friend will be left to manage the home alone, he will die when his children are in their teens, he will not be able to walk his daughter down the aisle when she gets married, and he most certainly will not be able to carry his future grandchildren.

That’s when the grown man started crying.

When the brutal truth is put forth this way, there is no denying the facts anymore.

This is when I am reminded of people I know (usually male) who have young children at home that they care about and love dearly. Their Facebook profiles have become their kids’ profiles because it is full of pictures of that beloved daughter or that adorable son.

BUT…

My friends are definitely, undeniably obese.

How do I tell them to stop drinking those soft drinks?

How do I tell them to stop eating fast food?

How do I tell them that their lifestyle choices TODAY determine whether they will be around TOMORROW?

How do I do all these without pissing them off?

How do I tell them I am worried about them?

That’s the reason I am writing this blogpost, wondering if they will read it and ask themselves this question – “How Old Will I Be When I Die?” and the related questions:

Will I see (insert daughter’s name) get married and walk her down the aisle as her proud father?

Will I see my boy complete National Service and pat him on the back and say “Well done, son! while he beams with pride?

Will I get to hold my grandchildren in my arms?

IF, right now, you have people you care dearly about (for whom you would even give up your life for in a heartbeat), and you are obese, I hope you think twice before putting your lips to that straw, before putting that French fry into your mouth, before thinking that you can start that exercise program next week.

What if next week never comes?

Do you even know how old you will be when you die?

Aren’t those shoes lovely?

Would you like to own those shoes?

Would you like to own those shoes without actually buying new shoes?

I have a recommendation for you!

Haute Shuz Bar’s shoe clips

Haute Shuz Bar is an online shoe retailer which has an impressive range of shoe clips that can help transform your shoes from boring to stunning, from day to night, from office shoes to party-ready shoes!

Here’s a pair of my favorite shoes from Haute Shuz Bar – the Double Stripes Mary Jane. They are so comfortable and the clips are really adorable:

Without the clips, the shoes look rather plain. But I think this pair of shoe clips really complements the shoes very well, don’t you think so? The best part is that for just S$33.90, you get both the shoes and the clips! There are only a few pairs left so hurry and get yours here.

The unique double-strap design can be troublesome to remove if you are the kind who likes kicking off your shoes in a jiffy. But otherwise, it is a very pretty pair which will make you stand out from the crowd!

*I took the photo above while out on a date at Punggol Waterway – I’m crazy like that. Anyone spotted the barefooted lady snapping pictures of her own shoes?

And don’t just stop at these shoes, you can use those fabulous shoe clips to jazz up your own (old and boring) shoes, outfits, even bags!

I found an old and hardly-ever-worn pair of Elisa Litz heels at home and decided to work some magic on them with Haute Shuz Bar shoe clips!

Put together all the clips I got from Haute Shuz Bar and tried matching them with the heels:

I decided that the feathers with a little bling looked the best on these heels It’s like an instant touch of glamour!

If you already have many pairs of shoes at home, but want to give your shoes a brand new look, why not get some shoe clips for them?

View the entire range HERE.

~

Here’s another pair of heels from Haute Shuz Bar. I think something is missing…

Red Dark Chocolate High Heel:

I’ve already decided on the accessories for the look – sunglasses, bag, bangle… But I still need something else for my shoes!

Make a guess – what else do my shoes need?

You can find the answer here :)

[Episode 1][Episode 2]

Lady First SG Episode 3 is all about how to look beautiful whether you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s! I’ve picked up some useful makeup and skincare tips so read on to find out what they are!

On the show this time are the beauty experts Xiao Kai 老师 and Bryan:

Sidenote: I find good-looking Taiwanese men very attractive

The show begins with Kelly hitting the streets to ask people how old they think the female guests on the show are. Celyn, seated next to Kelly, is in her early 20s but people thought she was at least 40 years old! Poor thing!

First Problem: Pimples!

Celyn actually demonstrated to us how she uses BB cream with anti-acne properties – she puts a HUGE amount of it onto her face as if she’s slapping cement onto bricks! Xiao Kai 老师 tells her that is way too much and that it will block her pores! He also advises that such creams or even anti-acne medications must be applied right after cleansing.

Also, if you have pimples, get lightweight foundation so it is almost like airbrushing. You want coverage, and not to look like you are wearing a mask.

Everyone was shocked when Xiao Kai 老师 revealed that a powder puff not washed for 3 days has more bacteria than a toilet bowl! (@_@) You definitely do not want that on your acne-prone skin!

Also, you will need a concealer brush to hide pimples, blemishes, etc. Fingers are not good enough for the job.

Second Problem: Wrinkles!

Kelly is beginning to see wrinkles as she nears age 30. Xiao Kai 老师 recommends under-eye massages to reduce wrinkles and upper-eyelid massages (with gentle pressure in three areas) to reduce puffiness.

Above: With improved blood circulation, dark eye circles and eye-bags will naturally disappear!

*He also shared that if we want a v-shaped jawline, we must not forget the neck areas during our skincare regimen. Always push the skin upwards and also, do not let the apples of your cheeks sag too! Pull from the side of your nostrils to your temples.

Third Problem: Lines on neck!

Candyce has been eating vitamins since she was young and thus has fairly good skin. However, she has multiple lines (folds?) on her neck which are supposedly hereditary. Bryan recommends a mixture of “mi kang you”, “ru xiang jing you” and
“tan xiang fen”(tumeric?) to help Candyce. [I have NO idea what the first two ingredients are]

Bryan also mentioned that we must exfoliate the skin around the neck but not by using products we usually use on our body as the skin around the neck is thinner!

He said that If one’s spleen is weak, the neck starts to sag. Hmm…

Fourth Problem: Dull skin and too much concealer!

Carrie uses concealer on her whole face (except for two small parts) The result is that there is no glow. She does all that just to conceal small facial veins, blemishes and pimples. But Xiao Kai 老师 says that If skin is radiant, it can hide blemishes already. He advises using pearlescent makeup so, instead of concealing, just reflect light. But of course, do not use those products on their own or you will start “glowing” like a lightbulb. Mix the product with a liquid foundation, and blend it in.

Final Problem: Mature skin/Loss of elasticity

Limei is in her 40s and her skin has clearly lost much of its elasticity. Bryan used a handheld RF device to stimulate collagen production, at about 40 degrees Celsius.  It looked like it worked!

Final words from Xiao Kai 老师: We have access to great makeup and skincare products so do not let your lack of skills put them to waste.

Missed an episode?

Lady First SG Episode 1

Lady First SG Episode 2

Leave me a comment!

I’d love to know if you found my notes for this episode useful! If you have a question, comment, or you just want to say ‘thank you’, go ahead and do so in the comment box! I will respond to all comments! *wink*

I attended Joe’s ‘Master Your Ceremonies: The Art of Emceeing’ workshop at Art of Voice last month and had a GREAT time! And if you don’t already know, Joe interviewed Richard Branson on stage at the National Achievers Congress 2013! It is one thing to learn from the guy and another to see him in action the very next day!

And the best part is this: ONE of you will get to attend Joe’s course for free. [Choose from either Master of Ceremonies OR Dynamic Presentations] Details at the end of this interview blogpost

I also had the pleasure of a short interview (over the phone) with Joe. Check this out:

1) You conduct a course on emceeing called ‘Master Your Ceremonies’. Share with us the highlights of your journey as an emcee and tell us which has been your most embarrassing emcee moment, and what you learnt from that experience.

I don’t get embarrassed. There have been challenges, such as the complete failure of all electrical systems. Thankfully, it was a small room.

When I was 21, I did my second emceeing gig and did not get paid – the cheque for $400 bounced. I always problem-solve so now I am very strict about taking payments before a show. Even big clients can default. For voice-overs, I also incentivise upfront payment by offering discounts.

[Grace: Joe is one of those rare few who completely strategise every move and think of all possible things that can go wrong and come up with contingencies for each. It's pretty incredible.]

I attended the ‘Master Your Ceremonies’ course which is great for people who want to learn how to be emcees! If you want to learn tips not taught elsewhere, then you should attend Joe’s course. I loved the many practice sessions – one, it stops me from falling asleep, especially after lunch, and two, it helps me check if I have indeed understood what Joe has just taught. And constructive feedback from the other participants is really useful too! It is great that the class size is kept comfortably small.

I’m kicking myself now for not visiting the Gardens when the tulips were in bloom. Now, they have been replaced by hot air balloons. It gets boring after the first few pictures, really. So I’ll just include two balloon pictures in this blogpost.

In any case, if you are a huge fan of hot air balloons OR you love the Gardens by the Bay, the ‘Flight of Fancy’ display will last all the way till 21 July. Because of the June school holidays, kids will also enjoy 50% discount off tickets till 28 June!

Another promotion I like:

Satay deal @ Satay by the Bay: Buy 20 sticks of satay at $16 and get extra 10 sticks and 2 ketupat on the house! Only weekdays, 28 June to 28 July!

I call this Meditation by the Bay:

The fiance, trying to make his face look smaller than mine and succeeding:

The Falls:

Some cool orchids I spotted:

For more information:

http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

[I've interviewed many people for my blog but this is the first time I'm interviewing my dad! This is for a themed challenge for the Singapore Blog Awards 2013. Please vote for me here - one vote everyday! Thanks, everybody, thanks!]

Now, what really intrigues and inspires me about the 60s, apart from how we were kicked out broke away from Malaysia and survived, is how the men from my dad’s generation were introduced to the concept of National Service, went through with it, and emerged as tougher men. I would have protested if I were them, after all, I’d say, my dad didn’t have to do NS! But those guys did something their own dads didn’t have to do, and because of them, the baton of defending our nation-state has been successfully handed down from a generation to the next! And what all these NSmen have done is to help ensure the sovereignty of our nation-state. Sometimes we forget that Singapore is such a tiny red dot that it is unlikely to survive without a dedicated defence force to protect us from external threats. So, a big thank you to all who have played their part!

~

As a kid, I used to listen enthralled to my dad’s tales of his army days and recent heroics. As I grew older, my friends and later, Facebook, took over. But for this blogpost, I sought out my dad to ask him about being an NSman in the 60s and he was very thrilled to share the tale again.

Here’s a photo of me and my dad (taken in the 80s or even 90s!)

I know I look cute

Some background: National Service began in 1967 in Singapore and in 1968, my dad got into the fifth batch. After 6 months of combat training, he became a combat medic due to his prior stint with the Red Cross.

1) Why is this person in the picture screaming away? 

This photograph was taken during medic training. We had NO anaesthetic! Your partner will have to use a big needle to draw blood from your arm. Some men cried out of fear or pain or because they couldn’t stand the sight of blood! Some of them anyhow poke and your arm would be blue-black the next day! And the very next day, the person gets another shot at drawing blood from you again! Your partner MUST successfully draw blood from your arm. Nurses get to “train” first with fruit like oranges, but we had to just do it straightaway!

2) Who were the instructors back then? The Israelis? (Something I remember from History lessons in the past)

They were gangsters, with tattoos! Only these guys would sign on as regulars. They were bullies and often ill-treated us. So we became very tough, not like these weaklings nowadays.

The Israelis trained the first batch then supervised the exercises for the subsequent batches once in every few months.

There was a Chinese saying back then that 好人不当兵 (good people don’t join the army). Only the notorious figures joined the army – even those who only had primary school education could join.

3) What sort of punishment did you guys get?

There was ‘stand by bed’ to check if there was any dust in our bunks. The punishment could be a ‘changing parade’ – one moment, they would want us in one attire, and then make us take a bath and come back in another attire. If your bunk is on the third floor, then good luck to you. You must be fast in running up and down lah and cannot take your own sweet time. We were only given a few minutes for bath-time and they said they MUST smell Lux soap on us.

But we were also smart (*grin) and we only washed our faces and arms with soap. They think we are stupid but we are actually quite intelligent! They would not smell our boots anyway.

If one guy does something wrong, the entire company or battalion would be punished. At night, a “blanket party” will be thrown for the guy who sabo-ed everyone. He would be covered with a blanket (so he won’t know who is attacking him) and people would whack the fella.

4) Were there handphones at that time? What do you guys do in your free time?

There was no handphone, no pager even. [Matter of factly] We washed our own clothes and polished our boots.

5) What was army food like back then? Was it good?

It was not nice lah, packets of dried meat, etc. But we must eat or else we won’t have enough strength and if we faint, we won’t get to go back home on Sunday!

6) What was the training like?

Sometimes it was very dangerous, like when we had to cross rivers at night. It was probably somewhere in Punggol. An instructor would swim across and tie the rope to a tree. Thankfully, the current was not very strong so nobody got swept away! Our rifles had to be covered in plastic and we had to get across and set up camp. We also had to keep oiling our rifles, drying them, then oiling them again. We had to take care of our rifles or we would be punished.

The 3-day, 3-night road march was the worst. We had to cover 70 miles. And by the second day, everyone got blisters. But I was a first-aider so I stuck many plasters to my feet and got fewer blisters! We got a 10-minute break after every hour. So those who still fainted were punished. Why? Because you are weak so you have to train harder! You are supposed to be fit!

And sometimes, we had to evacuate a “casualty” as part of our field training. We would choose the youngest or the thinnest guy. And four of us would carry our own arms plus the casualty on a stretcher. We had to cross small streams and go up and down small hills carrying the fella! But once the Sergeant had his back turned to us, or when we were hidden by some bushes, we would kick the fella and make him walk with us. (That was in the Jurong area, where there were hills once, but which have been replaced by flats now) When the Sergeant turned back, we would have the guy return to the stretcher quickly. If not, wah, really tired you know!

Those fellas just enjoy themselves lying on the stretcher so we will sometimes give them a kick.

7) Men these days complain all the time about having to serve NS. What about in your time? Did you all do this because you love the country or something?

[Without hesitation] NO LAH! We were forced to join also what!

Grace says: That’s how honest my dad is. No politically correct answers to be given. I like.

(Solemn) Some people committed suicide then, as training was very tough. People these days have become soft, everyday play game (*casts a glance at my laptop screen).

Grace says: In my own defence, no, I do not play games on the computer everyday. I blog, I Facebook, I send emails and I watch movies on the computer. But no, I do not play games everyday. Is my dad referring to you?

Finally, I have to say that the people who went through the tough NS training in the 60s truly deserve our respect and admiration. Also, without them, we would probably have had to ‘merge’ with some other country in order to ensure our survival!

During the course of this ‘interview’, my dad showed me his arms with prominent veins bulging out and said that people these days don’t exercise enough and hence, their veins can’t be seen (causing headaches for nurses who need to draw blood from them). Because my dad seemed to be referring to me as one of those who “don’t exercise enough”, I looked down at my own arms and sure enough, my veins can’t be seen.

Ok… ok… I’m gonna go do twenty pushups now, alright?

In the meantime, VOTE FOR ME LAH!

Click on my picture or the link below:

http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=individual

THANK YOU!