Own Time Own Target

I've been purchasing stuff from all over the internet since way back when...

It started off with mostly electronic gadgets, the first being a roomba vacuum cleaner maybe 8 years ago and then subsequently various palm accessories.

Then I moved on to sports accessories, like running shorts, caps, and camelbak water pouches.

I mean these are stuff that I want and need and cant get from shopping in Singapore, so why not?

But I had resisted buying clothes off blogshops for the longest time possible, because I would really really like to try stuff on for fit before buying. The selection then were not much to look at too...

And then THREE kids happened, and I no longer have the luxury of shopping for clothes. I can grab something during lunch time, but that's not really shopping and I'm stuck with doing that in where ever I'm having lunch...

So I tiptoe into the blogshops and managed a few successful purchases from the local ones, though there were 1 or 2 pieces which didnt work out that well, but they were not total losses, and I am now blog-shopping with a vengence!

Clothes, bags etc etc

The latest shop that I'm going to try is Versuaz Store operating from a warehouse in China. The site seems legit and there are quite many followers on FB and some positive reviews on the web.



The clothes come in 1 size with details of length and material etc and some color choices, all modeled by professionally made-up cutesy girls who are too thin to be real people. But if you can get pass that, the clothes are amazingly cheap and I can see many carts hawking clothes from them.

The only catch is there is a minimum purchase of 5 pcs, but no minimum value; and shipping is not that cheap at US$22 for 5 pcs to Singapore but it gets cheaper with each subsequent 5 pieces.

I'm going to take the plunge if I can get a discount code, and will post a review of the goods (or a cheap sale if they dont fit me...) ;)

Labels: to Shop Buy

Sigh.

I first got wind of the Pre in Jan 09 (when it was still known as the Palm Nova Device) , and booked E to get it for my Valentine's Day present with way too much blind optimism.

My birthday since passed.

Mother's Day too.

The next viable present receiving occasion is probably Christmas... if that.

Unfortunately my current crappy trusty easily-4-year old SE w800i is dying although you almost cant tell from its appearance apart from its dislocated rubber pad from the track stick and loose camera lens cover.

But I know better. It has been trying to reply to sms via voice instead of the default text mode; auto playing of mp3; battery less holding power; the increasing tendency to hang and requiring a reboot with battery removed.

So my w800i and I are limping along and ... waiting.


Oh good grief.

So when, Palm?

Labels: geek stuff, to Shop Buy

It is really tough when E's birthday is so close to V-day, the Most Commercialized and Over-rated Day of the year, at least there is some sort of goodwill towards mankind with Christmas.

I can only thank god that we do not celebrate a white day (14-March IIRC*) that the Japanese do. Oh wait, maybe I should wish that we do, since that is the day when boys give things to girls... argh. whatever.

Last year, we went to Morton's on me (it was over-rated and under value for money, thank god for credit card redemption vouchers...)

This year's gift is super-easy, he ran out (more accurately, it had been so long since he last used it and the smell went bad) and I bought him this

Labels: to Love, to Shop Buy

(Needless to say but this is NOT a paid advertorial. haha.)

It works!

I was skeptical but since it didnt cost an arm and a leg at $75 for 30ml (compared to 6-12 times for botox + filler), I bought one to try 3.5 weeks ago (when i was not that desperately poor yet)

Twice a day application on the 3 long and deep horizontal groves on my neck which had bothered me since school days. Imagine me wearing 3 donut rings and you wont be far from the actual image.

Just a week later, the middle line has the edges on both sides of neck lightened, and the others not as deep.

1.5 weeks later, the top line has lifted to show itself to be 2 lines instead of 1 deep line.

now, at 3.5 weeks later and 1/3 tube down, the bottom line has almost disappeared; the sides of the middle line has disappeared further, leaving only a faint line in the center; the top (2 in 1) line has decreased in depth overall.

I look almost normal.

The miraculous thing is that it is not "cosmetic" only, i.e. such as makeup where the coverage disappears when you wash it off. After showering, the lines are still away! The effect is as if I have stretched my skin without using my fingers. The line is simply not there!

Even better, the effect lasts. I had gone for a 3 days work trip and had forgotten to pack it for the travel. The lines didnt return in the mean time. Upon my return and 1st 2 application, the effect simply continued to improve.

You gotta buy it. For yourself, your mom, your wife, your mom-in-law, your elder sister.

It works. I didnt believe it, but it does.

Labels: to Shop Buy

So the Dow had fallen on hard times (crashed is too drastic a word to use at this time) over the sub-prime credit crisis and markets all over panicked and fell to 3 year lows, wiping out billion, trillions of dollars worth in market capitalisation in sustained plunges over the last few months.

Some markets (such as Indonesia) even saw it fit to suspend trading until calm (or as least less panic) prevailed when they fell more than 10% in less than a day's trading.

My portfolio suffered mid-5 digits losses too, not helped by some last minute gambling on contra basis when I bet that the bailout plan will strengthen the market. HAHAhaha*sniff*

Had to beg, borrow and steal to eat them up and hold on to hope, instead of realising the losses.

Love is when you tell your hubby what you've done, and he was not only ok with borrowing from the family account, he was actually willing to take losses via the family account too. Sigh. I do hope I am deserving of such trust and understanding, which of course I AM. DUH. But lets not take it for granted.

So I trooped down to the brokers office to cough out the dole for the stocks, and i passed by Donut Factory on the way back.

The man in front of me wanted 3 boxes, and the staff told him that by paying $3 more ($21 instead of $18), he will get 4 boxes. He said no. I pondered for a minute and I proposed he buy 4 boxes, and I will pay him $6 for that 4th. In this way, he actually will pay $14 for 3, and I pay $6 instead of $7. To his credit, he first offered to take just $3 then actually said he will pay for me! I insisted on paying him $4 and left happy that I've save $3, almost forgetting the astonishing sum that i've lost in a day.

Labels: to Invest, to Shop Buy

I blew my whole pay cheque from my 1st temp contract during my 1st uni vacation on an antique watch, about S$1400 IIRC.

When I graduated, my parents bought me a Rolex.

Then I bought a watch for myself every Christmas in the first few years of working life. Well, just a swatch, but one with date and 3 hands.

I've since stopped that indulgence but it doesnt diminish the pleasure of receiving a watch as a gift or giving them as gifts.

I bought hubby a watch for our engagement, and he's still wearing it.

Got this from my dad last week (with a black leather band, brown is so yucky).


I like the over-sized man watch

I like the weight

and i have been staring at my wrist ever so often since.


Thanks Dad. :)

Labels: to Shop Buy

Still havent received my birthday present this year.

Seems like the LV Bag i want is stillllll out of stock, and I've stopped lusting so much after the HP2133 when I found that it is too hot to handle. Literally, as it burns your lap. ew. ouch.

But I've found the latest I-GOTTA-HAVE-IT

a Wii Fit!



Seriously, on days when it is just not possible to run outside, becos it is raining, it is too dark and dangerous, you have bad hair day, you have nothing to wear, and the Elliptical trainer is just too boring.

You get to choose Yoga/ Strength/ Core Balance and Aerobic by playing games, and it even tracks progresses.

How cool is that?

The Wii Fit with balancing board is about S$179 and it will need to work with the wii console which comes bundle with 2 games (heh heh, more games) at about $649, or bare will console at about $500 if you can get it.

The only question now is, do i need to get another TV for it?

;)

Labels: to Shop Buy

I want after the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC (the model with the mostest and NO VISTA, not the entry level for student's use obviously), I dont really need it since the Fujitsu baby I have is still working fine, though a little worst for wear over 3+ years.

But I drool at the thought of less weight (with the 3-cell battery) on my shoulders when I travel.

And the pretty skin and accessories...



Obviously it will be more logical to lust after the sexy Macbook Air, but it will more integrated functions and ports wins hands-down for me.

Hubby still owes me a birthday prezzy, and he wanted to buy me an iphone...

or I just might send in a requisition at my office ;)

Labels: geek stuff, to Shop Buy

well actually i've never yearned for a huge rock, i mean, they are just highly pressurized carbon, right?


then my dad went to an auction to buy some diamond jewelry on the cheap

a ring with a 1.03ct

a pendent with 1.59ct


that's the first time i've seen and tried wearing a diamond that's more than 1 ct (200mg)


I wore the ring on my ring finger and went to show E

"look"

"nice"

"but it's too big" pout

"the diamond?"

"the RING!"


DUH!

Labels: to Love, to Shop Buy

Bought a new dress during pre-CNY sale.

It looked alot like this one, but more military looking, with pockets with flaps in front, and pockets at the side of the dress, and normal upturn non-puffy sleeve. Came to mid-thigh on me when standing, shorter when seated.

Totally black so couldnt wore it for CNY proper, so I wore it for a presentation at work instead.

But it had been eons since I wore a dress or skirt to work, being a nice top + pants/ 3/4 pants/ jeans + heels type of girl.

And a long while since I wore a dress when I needed to drive.


What a novel experience.

- Placing my left foot closer to the seat and left knee at an angle pointing towards the right knee, instead of just placing my foot on the footwell and knee pointing outwards.

- The unexpected urge to close my knees whenever I was to step on the brakes.

- Feeling the seat fabric beneath my thighs.

- Getting out of the car gracefully.


I should buy and wear dresses more often, if not for the compliments ;)


Have a good weekend ahead.

Labels: to Drive, to Shop Buy

Labels: to Shop Buy

Bought Christmas gifts for 15+ children around the world via World Vision International's Christmas Catalogue

1 pair new school shoes each for 3 children in Indonesia - $39
1 warm pullover each for 6 children in Myanmar - $43
1 pair of sandals each for 3 children in Philippines - $38
1 set school uniforms for3 children in Laos - $19
1 share of hospital beds to disabled children Uzbekistan - $60

Total = $199

warm fuzzy feeling = priceless

Merry Christmas

Labels: to Shop Buy

I am amazed i actually remembered and that i have time to track these down:

1. FreeCycling

Read about this on the newspapers sometime back.

I've always been a believer in reduce, reuse, recycle, and in that order.

While I cannot yet subscribe to the compact movement, I try baby steps for things that I can do.

So some of the things I've started practicing are:
- Using my own bags when shopping
- shopping and buying things that i need versus i want
- recyclying glass, drink cans, paper cartons, drink cartons, plastic
- selling newspaper and magazines to the garang guni man
- passing on toys and children's clothes to friends and family

Despite these, I still feel that it is a real waste to simply throw (even recycle or sell to the garang guni man) something that is merely old(er) but is no longer suitable for my needs.

So the freecycling is appealing as it is very different from:
- abstinence where you cannot enjoy new things or shop, i.e. No New Books, only borrow from librabry
- exchange where you get something by trading something you do not want,
- handing down, to whom specifically? Even second hand store dont want the old books, for nothing!
- recycling, where the item is trashed and and remade into something else from its demise, i.e. Nice book but not good enough to keep in my collection, recycle as paper waste.

This is purely giving something that you have no use for, to someone who has use for it. And an active local Singapore Group! (unlike those book exchange groups that trickle down to nothing when they come to Asia)

Joined as a member, gonna lurk around abit and see whatsup before giving away some stuff.


2. Plant a Tree programme

Caught a TV news report on plant-a-tree in Singapore and i thought what an excellent idea!

Living in the concrete jungle, we have no land or garden to speak of.

But to be able to plant a tree and be able to revisit it as it grows!

What a magnificient idea!

To commemerate an event, to honor your parents/ family, to teach your children!

Only $200 per tree, and $1500 for 10.

You are encouraged to be there to plant the tree, you will receive a photo and a certificate, and be able to return to the same spot to mark the growth of a tree. A living, breathing, growing TREE. Not just a house plant. wow.

I just might do it. A present for all my immediate family, for Singapore, for Earth.

what? it is the gahment's job? please...

Labels: to Read Think, to Shop Buy

have been barely surviving with a kink in my back since forever (ok, at least a month back) and finally went to my regular massuer at Far East Plaza (or is it Lucky Plaza? i'm forever confusing them by name, but i mean the one next to Goodwood Park) last week

the good news is she restarted the head/ face massage as part of her service when she received a replacement tool which looked alot like this


the massage as she explained it, is actually a type of 刮沙, and she applied the tool on my scalp and my face. And the immediate sensation was a releasing of tension in my head. I was relaxed, somehow refreshed but not sleepy. I felt like I was floating as I left the shop, and i could work on a thousand worksheets.

unfortch, the bad news is she had to increase prices due to yet another rent revision by her landlord. So it is $60 per hour now instead of $50, but that had stayed the same for at least the 6 years I've been going to her.

So I'm not going to begrudge her a single bit, but in fact welcome it as long as it helps her stay in business. I mean, who would i go to if she ever closes shop? i can hardly survive when she goes on a long holiday, she's practically my physiotherapist for all the kinks and kooks that comes from my job.

Labels: to Shop Buy

ALLrighty! download music with no DRM!

enough of soundbuzz and its SGD1.99 songs.

Most Amazon mp3 at USD0.89 to USD0.99 and their 30sec preview actually works. Plus some free songs too.

but alas, none of those back back catalogue songs that i want

• No Evanescence
• No Midge Ure
• No Tracy chapman
• No Carole King
• No Depeche Mode
• ... and then i lost interest after that, maybe next time

OK, neither does soundbuzz but i kinda expected more from Amazon ya know?

(i dont know whether itunes have them or not. I dont need to know cos i dont have anything mac, if you must know)

Anyways, i found the strangest thing:

The songs i want from the above artists are not available on Amazon, BUT they are available from Amazon in the form of Sound-a-Like by some artist called Studio Group. So they are like, er..., the not-pirated angmoh cover version of the pasar malam CDs we get huh?

Labels: to Shop Buy

Had always wanted a (few) tattoo(s).

With the first idea coming from E more than 10 years ago, way before they started shooting Miami Ink

He wanted identical tats to seal our matrimony on our chests, though i had wanted them on our ring fingers, but all talk.

Here's how beautifully tats can match an evening gown and pearls.



Sigh. I want mine.

Labels: to Shop Buy

i'm officially lusting after a Sony Ericsson P1i

- 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with flash
- wifi
- 3G

too bad about the symbian though

Palm, what ARE you guys doing?

Labels: to Shop Buy

source : SAWF

Labels: to Read Think, to Shop Buy

bike as in the bicycle leg of a triathlon.

did a bit of research and found that:

- i should use my own bike for the triladies triathlon training. If I rent, i may not get the same bike and that will hamper the training.

- a decent no frills bike cost +/-S$1,000.00 MINIMUM

For 1, i dont have that kind of money to spend,

for 2, i dont know if i will continue biking (enough) to justify such a purchase. i mean $5/km or even $1/km is crazy.

for 3, this is money ON TOP of tri registration, bike training, swim training, swimming costume, googles, helmet (free swimming cap courtesy of FL) and thats already almost S$1k... can die.

Alternative is buy a dirt-cheap one like FL told me to try from carefour, or rent from a reputable bike shop like bikehaus but dunno how much IF they have 1 for my XS size. I'll probably need a bike rack for my car too...

Now you know why my favourite exercise is running: You can start with the minimal basics of just a pair of shoes plus any old t-shirt and shorts, socks optional.

And suddenly there is this explosion of bike-related news (Tampines trial on allowing bikes on footpath) and blog posts (Jeff , Mr. Brown)

Triladies triathlon registration now open liao leh!

how how how?

Labels: to Shop Buy, to Sweat

Labels: to Shop Buy, to Work