The Power of an Understated Outfit

There was a birthday brunch today and the weather forecast was grey and windy. The only concern was not to freeze my gams off so it's a no-brainer to pair the oversized green sweater and black skinny with neon-pink socks and brown brogues. With a couple of armbands thrown in. This is my go-to ensemble of late. Comfortable and tidy, I could wear it everyday.

Then the man remarked, 'Don't you want to dress up?' Rolling my eyes, my very quiet reply was, 'I find this dressy enough!' while he avoided my killer glare. Hahaha...

I didn't feel like fitting in today and his hint that I should slip on a dress was a loud one. Not that I don't like dresses, I love them! But I suspect I am suffering from dress-tights-boots fatigue at the moment. By merging the attire with comfort and plainness, I suppose my brain is signalling me to take a break. I don't intend to abandon my dresses forever. Who knows, I might wear one tomorrow. The point is, keeping it simple is refreshing and assuring. Being dissimilar also provides a sense of freedom to experiment until I come to the epitome called my personal style. In other words, I feel good in my effortless and practical outfit today and therefore I think I must have looked quite alright too. :)

Photo credits: here, here and here

Let's all take a deep breath

I was anticipating an awful day. The little hiccups leading up to the lunch was frustrating. When I woke this morning, the hunch was some were going to cancel on me. Indeed, an email and a SMS confirmed my uncanny intuition. The fact that I couldn't get a much-needed haircut because the hairstylist was fully booked today, of all days, didn't help my mood either.

I took a deep breath and murmured to myself: It is okay. It is really not that bad. I did my best to arrange the lunch. I can have my haircut on another day. I can still live with the overgrown mop for a few more days.

True enough, the day turned out just fine. Just when I needed to tighten my purse strings, someone bought us lunch, received a free coffee from the Starbucks staff because it's a wrong order, paid a few euros lesser for the little one's water bottle due to the store's oversight and because I was honest enough to inform the staff, she waved the blunder away.

Moral of the story: do myself a favour by not getting excessively hung up on little glitches which I have no control over. Sometimes it may not work according to my control-freaky way but things will ulitmately work out somehow and it is not the end of the world. Breathe and move on with a smile.

 

And the search goes on...

We are so sick of the winter that stowing away those cold-weather coats and boots seems such a fantastic idea. So the moment the sun came out to woo us out of the pad, we really didn't need much persuading to get out and bask in the much-missed sunshine. Everyone seemed to be in high-spirits. Children running around the park, squealing in delight. Yes, the long-awaited spring is finally in the air! No more chunky sweaters, thick padded coats, scarves or gloves. A change of wardrobe is in order! For the little one of course. Haha...

With my current obsession with anything parka, olive or camouflage, the search for a little spring jacket is no easy task. It mustn't be too thin (perferably with detachable lining), too thick, must be hardy enough for kindergarten and must have the winning factor. Attaining that perfect jacket is not without its obstacles however. Either the good (and cheap) ones are sold out, cost an arm and leg, or are only available for bigger girls. Oh, the trials and tribulations of being a mother.

Here are some cool jackets which resisted my acquisition:

Zara Camouflage Jacket with Detachable Lining

Zara Parka with Detachable Waistcoat

Scotch R'Belle Parka

 

Scotch R'Belle Parka with Detachable Lining

 

A great start to a journey

Hi peeps! I am happy to announce the first digital issue of our Wellness Way magazine is now out! If you want to find out more about luxurious spa resorts in Asia, pampering yourself with our featured beauty products or organic eateries in the region, please go here to subscribe. The next delivery will be available for download on the 4th February.

This is my first time writing for a magazine. I was thrilled and terrified at the same time! I have to admit it was certainly not as easy as I initially and naively thought it would be. Still, it was an awesome and humbling experience. I am terribly grateful I was given a chance to have a taste of it and am hoping with all my might for more such opportunities to showcase my potential and to bring me to greater heights. YAY!!! :D

 

Reflect, repent and reboot!

Loud blasting of colourful fireworks and an annoying throbbing toothache ushered me into the new year, with an oblivious little one sleeping through those booms and bams. Rather than stuffing my face with food again on New Year's Eve, the pain kept me at home and I am not exactly crying bloody murder about it. Some quality time was spent with Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting which was absolutely brilliant. I am kicking myself why I didn't watch it earlier.

A quiet night equals to some reflecting. 2012 wasn't all booms and bangs but it's no indicator that the year was any less significant.

Writing allows me to open windows of information and knowledge which I would otherwise never dream to open. That sense of personal growth I feel is fortunately not short-lived. Instead of counting sheeps when I toss and turn on the bed, I count the many blessings I am bestowed on. Should I expire today, the regrets will be thankfully minimal. Problems, pain and injustice are very real but I choose to focus on the positive aspects of life.

It is with immense joy and pleasure observing how the little one learn, develop and grow into her own little person, with some unfortunate traits clearly inherited from her parents. It's also with great pride and relief to hear the kindergarten teacher praising her as an enduring and sweet-natured child. She must have mistaken her for another child.

The man still sits next to me on the couch every night despite me being an impossible and miserable cow sometimes. He won't hesitate to change that to all the time.

Turning 40 isn't as bad as I initially thought it would be. Thinking of me on that day, the dear friends from far and near sent loads of love and blessings which helped to soften the blow. I feel truly loved and lucky.

Let's see how 2013 unfolds now that my age bracket is officially [40-50]. AAAAAAAHHHHHHH......

Happy news!

I am now one step closer to my writing dreams! Two days ago, my article on air-purifying houseplants for the blog of an online wellness magazine went live. Seeing my work published somewhere else other than on this blog is indeed gratifying and the joy is beyond description. Okay, it is not an earth-shattering kind of literary work which I have always dreamed of, but I am immensely thankful nonetheless for the chance given to me. And turth be told, I enjoyed writing every single word of it. Another affirmation that it's the journey that matters.

So yeah, I can officially call myself a contributor now! *beaming*

So do pop over to the website and find out what amazing plants help to cleanse toxins from your indoor air. Go now. You know you want to. :)

Winter

Winter. It spins me round and round with its icy fingers and then tosses me carelessly into its winter slump. All I want to do is hibernate and eat, hibernate and eat. But then in order to eat, I have to bloody cook! Poof! There goes my hibernation dreaming...

Winter. Cut to the bone coldness which spells one of the most exciting part of the season: change of wardrobe! Time to dig out those warm and cushiony jackets/coats, chunky woolly scarves, boots, boots and boots! All manner of it! Long boots, riding boots, ankle boots, biker boots, cowboy boots, fur-lined boots, slouchy boots.... I get heady just listing them. Where and how does one find that one perfect pair of boots? You don't. You buy a few pairs for different outfits and occasions. Just like the many dresses, sweaters, trousers, skirts, shirts you stash in your bursting cupboard. I present the same argument to the man. Even though he would not be persuaded, he grudgingly relented.

The quintessential casual-chic autumn statement

Winter. Despite the gloomy grey skyline, my face is beaming brightly because something exciting is brewing in the pipeline. I won't reveal the details just yet but I promise to do so when the time is right. So watch this space!

Winter. This year marks my turning four decades old in this Middle-earth. I hope the large numbers won't cause me to confuse reality with fantasy and be wise for a long time to come.

Photo credit: here

Tonic for the soul

I've been wandering on music desert recently that the soul is about to die of thirst. A raid for that droplet of water turned up a gem. An old gem which I used to be very fond of and still am because the words resonate especially with the maternal state in me.

And those outfits! Years later, they don't seem to go out of style and still manage to look fabulously modern. It must be the attitude wearing the clothes and not letting the clothes walk all over you.

 

A little post-holiday blah

Instead of writing regularly, I took off without a word on a month-long trip. Once home, the post-trip me was reeling from jet-lag and withdrawal symptoms of the lion city. Before I could pause to breath, the little one began her kindergarten while her second set of molars threaten to push through. Therefore, sleep has been rather wanting for all of us at home lately. So yes, it's been a crazy few weeks.

I can't believe I just said that, calling Germany my home. Or to be more precise, calling this little cosy pad my home. Singapore is where I was born and grew up in while Germany is where I start my family. The old familiarity and easy intimacy with my home country is of course undeniable the instant I touched down in Changi Airport. But, to be back in my own apartment, my own bed, my own bathroom and not living out of a suitcase, that is equally unbeatable too.

Talk about stuck between two worlds and the odd occasional feeling that I belong to both worlds and yet, at the same time, not belonging anywhere.

I'd rather be handsome than pretty

The hair was chopped off yesterday. It features such severe undercut which serves to further accentuate my already androgynous inclination that for a fleeting moment I contemplated a more feminine wardrobe to strike a balance. No sooner had the idea taken form than I disgustedly cast the stereotypical thought into the toilet bowl. Instead, these came to mind. Brogues. Shirts. Suit jackets. Tuxedos. Masculine pants. Tilda Swinton.

Photo credits: here