Rule #87: The hearts that give shall receive. You get as much as you give, whether it’s immediate or delayed mercy.

Bralet, Local | Flare Jeans, Perth's Valley Girl | Knitted Cardigan, Forever 21 | Tote, River Island
Thrift shopping is one of my life’s joys. It’s like a “scavenger hunt, you’ll never know what you’re going to find” and if you’re lucky you can find unique clothes that fit you perfectly! You’d be surprised by the well-made clothing of quality brands hiding in thrift shops, just waiting to be found. If you dig, you’re bound to find some treasures that you can mix and match with the outfits that you have at home!

So, last Tuesday, Yuslina and I decided to visit The Salvation Army located at Upper Serangoon Road which we have never been to before! We were lost at first- I blamed the MRT passenger service for giving us the wrong directions, in the end Google helped us- when we reached, I was shocked that the place was huge compared to Bukit Timah’s outlet. At first glance, I thought I would not have the patience to sift through the inventory. We took our time slowly and in the end, I bought an Island Shop’s black dress for $10 and a white classic dress for $15. As I wanted to make my payment, they said they’re having a ‘buy 1 get 1 free’ so I could say that I got the Island Shop dress for free! Whereas my girlfriend, she bought a cropped top and a pair of shades for $5 each. They sell a lot of books, shoes, bags almost everything too! I wasn’t really satisfied that I didn’t find a pair of vintage shades but hey, I got two dresses and the money spent there goes to a good cause! So it’s waaay better than nothing, yes?

Afterwards, she brought me to Chinatown. I had no idea where we were going till she led us to Ann Siang hill. I heard about this place from my guy friend the night before and little did I know I was going to be there. It reminded me a lot of Haji Lane- the shop houses especially- except that there were lesser locals there. The thrift store we wanted to go was unfortunately closed but we did venture the area! There were very pretty shops and their cafés/pubs looked really interesting. Most definitely we’ll come back!

The last time I went to thrift shopping was in Australia where I bought vintage clothes and really cool shoes that can't be found in Singapore. I remember doing it in Cambodia too. They're even cheaper. Very inspiring, indeed. I’m not a good thrifter because I don’t really practise here in this tiny country where there aren’t many thrift stores. They rarely exist! Plus, everything in Singapore is so expensive. I still have to be thankful though because I heard that thrift stores have become so trendy over in the UK that they've become expensive:/

Now I’m just on a look out for warehouse sales! Like last December, Steve Madden's new arrival shoes which were originally $200+ cost only $30 because there were minor defects which weren’t really visible when walking. Too bad I missed it! Do share with me if you know any events like this & we'll go together!:)
 


Skirt, Miss Selfridge | Black tube, Thrifted | Outerwear, sewn by her mother | Wedges, Online | Handbag, Renoma 






















Dinner @ Brekko Cafe, Holland Village








EMAIL | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | TUMBLR

Rule #70: Patience is the key to everything.

This morning I was enjoying my cup of hot milo and pancakes, all by myself, in my neighbourhood McDonald’s. I brought only my iphone, a book to read, my MacBook to write, some cash to eat- nothing else- and I felt complete.

I coincidentally met up with a 24-year old guy friend of mine whom I met in a club two years ago. We became good friends ever since then; we hang out and went riding with his friends till morning. Somewhere along the way, our friendship fell apart- we got into a ridiculously huge argument and my relationship with my ex played a huge factor to this- the next thing I knew, we turned into hi-bye acquaintances.

Alhamdullilah, God brought us to meet again today and we had a very intellectual conversation about life and religion for two hours. He has changed a lot over the years and I can’t describe in words how much I enjoy this kind of topics, unlike gossiping and talking about meaningless things. I was very enlightened. Someone once told me, every person you meet is a blessing. True. People come in and out of our lives; that is inevitable. They might hurt us or make us unhappy, but in the midst of that, it is significant to identify these lessons- in suffering, in happiness, in sadness, etc- everything has underlying connotations.

“May Allah have mercy upon you, bless you and guide you to the truth. May Allah make you worship him fully. Remember that he created you, gave you life, gave you substance and provided everything for you and did not leave you alone, rather he guided you. Worship Allah sincerely and willingly, not for me or anybody but for Allah alone. May Allah reward you with goodness.Insya’Allah I will talk to you again.” – Quoted by my guyfriend in his text message after I left.

I look around me and I see plenty of people walking past. Some look familiar, some are just…wayfaring strangers. I ponder a lot about them whenever I sit alone. What are these people feeling? Are they happy being at where they are now with the statuses and reputation that they hold? What is their purpose in life? Thoughts are often labelled to be nothing more than a moment of deliberation; however I personally feel like it is something beautiful. All it takes is a moment of reflection, and it can change the way you see the world and the people in it. xx


Black Top, Zara | Bag, Roxy | Printed pencil skirt, River Island | Wedges, Raoul
Have i mentioned i have a thing for pencil skirts? Hehe!

Rule #66: Trust is like a mirror. You can fix it if it’s broken but you can still see the crack in it.

Oversized knitted jumper, Thrifted | Wedges, Perth local store | Bag, TOD'S

I feel the nostalgia run through my veins these few nights; it’s been keeping me from sleep. I know I have been unsuccessful in fully expressing how much of a difference he has made in my life- the fear of telling my true and deep feelings still remains a challenge- at the same time, there is this awfully strong urge to extirpate the memories I had with him. Although we had our good times together, which I wished I had a backward button to replay them again, I am still- oh I hate to admit this- emotionally crushed.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, the fear of losing him engulfs me. Big time.

He's the thorn in my flesh that I can't take out. He's stealing my breath when you're around. You could be my hero, If only I could let go, but his love has still hit me, like a broken arrow. This song by Pixie Lott has been stuck in my head all week. I guess, there are still some missing glass pieces of my fragile heart that have yet to be glued together. I’m just muddled because he said he would take this pain away but we are drifting apart day by day…....

Words are just words after all. They’re cheap, aren’t they darling?

No one really knows what lies beneath the façade that I put up of being a strong and carefree lady. I always try so hard to hide my vulnerability as I am afraid they would be made as weapons against who I am like how it happened before. I believe everybody has their own sad stories to share but being the secretive me, I prefer listening. And you know what, I just realized I have almost mastered the art of pretending.

Well, tonight is just another night of thinking too much and losing sleep. The stirrings of past disappointment; echoes of him. Sigh. It’s three in the morning already. I’m missing you.xx


"Time is a great healer but Allah is the greatest healer." Quoted by someone.

Rule #44: Fashion knows not of comfort, all that matters is the face you show the world.

I feel so out of control, I feel like I’m on the outside looking in and someone else is at the steering wheel. This is my attempt to chronicle my quest to being in charge of my life and to be the woman I have always wanted to be….But, am I going to reach my full potential? How? What scares me is that the future I’m trying to build for myself can easily be changed. Well at least I know I am doing the right thing: fighting for what I believe in!

Anyway, I finally got a job @ Steve Madden last week, one of my favourite shoe designer stores! I had a lot of shocking reactions and remarks from my friends about me having a part-time job especially Hidayah who went like, “NADIAH? Working? Are you seriously kidding me?!” I really don’t get what’s the whole issue about me being a part-timer and whenever I asked, I always get this reply: “You’re like so fucking princess and now you’re working?” Shrugs. I need money too like everybody else! I can’t always rely on my parents, can i?

The uniform is absolutely hideous with the blue/red tights, but hey I get paid for it so I should not mind! Time passes so quickly since this job often keeps me moving, plus, I get to look at pretty shoes every day and see them being worn by beautiful people which gives me happiness! Working @ Ion outlet is so much better than Isetan as there are more customers which means more commission for me. I can't deny that I hate Isetan’s storeroom! Can you just imagine? Me. Climbing up the huge shelves. From right to left all the way up to reach for the boxes. Without any ladder! Jeez, I hope I don’t die from falling off the shelves and hitting the back of my head. They were a few times I almost fell because the shoes are so heavy that I couldn’t balance myself. Right now, I just need a massage!!!

One of my customers, in her late 20s, had a quote tattooed at the back of her body, “Life would be better if unicorns exist.” I giggled straightaway thinking how ridiculous it was! ‘What can a goddamn unicorn do?’ I had the urge to ask but I didn’t want her to take it the wrong way since I’m not a believer of this non-existence/fairy-tale creature called Unicorns. It’s like trending in social networking sites these days, isn't it? Seriously can somebody enlighten me, unicorn lovers, what can these creatures really do to make life better?


White Collar Shirt, Zara | Knit Pullover, Bershka | Hot Pants, Forever21 | Flat Top Sunglasses, Ebay Clubmaster | Flats, Topshop | Handbag, Kate Spade




Ben & Jerry's icecream;)



Iced Tea, Ice Chocolate, Cheesecake @ Spinelli Heeren where i visited my girlfriend Erin who was working :p

And of course we did a little drawing here and there. Shoes!!!

I even bought Bakerzia's macaroons for her since she never tried one before!;)


Before I forget, Steve Madden is having a private sale for those with VIP Membership Card. 30% off for all the shoes!!! If you buy two or more, you’ll get 40% off. AND NO, don’t come to me for staff discount because sadly I can’t have any. I gotta wait for the next season and then I’ll get 50% discount for maximum 5 pairs. AAAAH I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!! Those who have not been there, do drop by and check out all the gorgeous shoes! xx

Rule #41: Perfectionism kills creativity.

The other day I went to school in flip flops and my friend went, “Seriously babe? This is not a market you know? RP is like a fashion show here!” I raised one of my eyebrows and I took a few seconds to digest what she said. I was already giggling at heart as she continued, “You’re so daring!” Though I didn’t quite understand what exactly she meant by that adjective. Definitely she was not referring to me going against the school rules. It’s more like looking very slacky than everybody else- That kind of daring.

Fashion plays a major role in my life but I don’t find it important to dress up for school. Although it is a boost of confidence, I believe that you don’t have to try so hard to consistently keep up to your friends’ standards. I’m not afraid of looking cheap in terms of the quality of clothes that I wear. I don’t feel demoralised when I look less beautiful than most girls in school. I don’t need to wear the trendiest clothes to impress my schoolmates so that they want to be friends. Because to me, dressing up is not about looking better than the rest and I don’t need to stand out to feel good about myself ;)

--
Last Sunday I decided to spend my time with Hidayah (Click to go to her personal blog!) since my whole family was not free. We had been planning to go out together to practise our sketching outdoor so I thought it would be lovely to chill at one of my favourite places @ Boat quay. Furthermore the scenery there's just magnificent and the weather was so cooling. It's nice to have a friend with the similar interest, right? While some girls find it difficult as they tend to outshine each other, I'm not going to treat her like another competition. I'm going to do my part as a friend by supporting her until she gets to the place she wants to be. It's the least i can do.


Skater Dress, MNG | Bag, Local | Heels, New Look






I drew the shisha! Just the top of it because it's too huge to fit the whole A4. Shading needs a lot of improvement!

Hidayah's attempt for 3D shapes! It was a really good try.






I realised as I attempt to add more art to my life, more passion, more beauty, I butt heads with my perfectionist self. Whenever I draw, I kept thinking “it’s not good enough,” and I aim for the accurate lines and shades. (Fyi, I spent lot of hours to do this blog layout. I even calculated the dimensions of each box and how big my photos should be so that everything will be neat and aligned proportionately. lol) It opened my eyes when somebody told me- Perfectionism can be a stifling force, that stops you before you’ve even begun, stops you mid way when things are in that ‘not come together phase’ of creativity, and it can stop you from accepting that what you did today is still good, even if it’s not the best thing you’ve done. Perfectionism has no place in art. What we can do is create art that’s uniquely ours and perfect in its imperfection.

December is almost here already. Isn’t it mind boggling that 2011 is coming to an end? xx

Rule #35: I would rather be insulted than insult others because when I am insulted, good things will come to me.

Blazer, Thrifted | Sequined flats, Thrifted | Bag, Topshop | High waist short, New look | Singlet, Guess
I always try to remind people not to sweat the small stuffs. Every time I do, they think I don’t know how to take things seriously or I’m too laid back. You can say I’m still young, just a 17 year old who has never gone through real hardship which I can't deny. But being young doesn’t mean I'm stupid or dumb as I do believe that I have brains and heart to know the beautiful things in life. Everybody might think I’m blinded by all the materialistic possessions and wants that I have but deep down? Nobody really knows my true intentions that i have in life. True, i don't really like to explain because i can't and i don't know how. I'm always searching for the people who can see through me without having to convince them. I'm not so sure if you get my drift but i hope you do.

The thing about life, ladies and gentlemen, there are a lot of things to be happy about but the question is, why do we choose to make a big deal about the little things especially to our loved ones when there’s really a lot to laugh and be grateful about? It’s a matter of perspective. The other thing I learned is, you can only be happy if you become who you are and what you want to be. Definitely you should think of others too but do remember; you don’t live people’s life by trying to meet their expectations. People may expect you to have certain job or certain way of living but don’t be intimidated by them. Find who you are and be yourself. And, happiness? It is how willing you are to enjoy simple pleasures, even if things aren’t perfect…

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to count your blessings! xo

P.S: The title above is quoted by a friend of mine, Fahim. Thank you.

Rule #34: Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

I feel too zinged up to go to sleep even though my boyfriend’s already snoring away. Time always used to be a scarce commodity. Now there’s too much of it; it sprawls out everywhere, threatening loneliness and boredom.

A sense of wonder fills me. Why does life always do this? If we could only get things when we desire them, all would be well. But too often, we yearn and yearn and yearn and nothing happens the way we want it to be. And then, just when you don’t want it any more, life says “Here we are – just what you ordered. Sorry if it’s a little too late. Sorry if it’s gone cold and past its sell-by-date. You did ask for it.” I’m convinced that the gap between desire and fulfilment causes most of the pain in the world.
Sometimes I find myself stuck in a disaster of my own making and other times I struggle through the trials that I was not expecting or, at the very least, trials that seem unfair. I'm sure I take much longer than the normal person does to climb each mountain put before me, but I take more pride in continuing to climb than I think I would if I were like the many others who quickly run all the way to the top.

Anyway, I've been slowly but steadily getting my reading habit back and have been amassing books to read during the next few weeks. Golly jee! When was the last time I actually completed a whole story book? Like a year ago or...more? That was not even a story book. It was a book of facts, just scientific facts about human behaviour. Have I mentioned I was interested in psychology? I still do, though. Besides that, I've started picking up my pencils and sketchbook to draw again. I'm a little rusty, but boy, does it feel Great with a capital G! I am a self-proclaimed artist. And before i forget, a thousand appologies for changing my url but i promise this will be my last. Toodles xx

Rule #22: We can’t change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

I'm at a strange point at school. I'm not burning out as I recognise those signs well. It’s still as if I have come to a point where I need to make a decision. Shall I stay or shall I go??? It might be mentally unhealthy to be asking that kind of question when it’s only the second week but studying in RP in a course which doesn’t interest me much, makes me think about life issues. I think about my own age and future. Family and career. You know the minute you feel as though you have it all figured out, something or someone changes all that. Get what I mean? Tomorrow there's a University Fair which will be held @ RP. I'm looking forward to it and hoping the talks will answer all my doubts!

I’m kind of short on cash right now, so in order to satisfy my fashion needs, I went WINDOW shopping after school last Tuesday. Okay, I gotta admit… Usually when I say I’m going “window shopping”, it doesn’t really exist because I will still end up buying something (unless there’s nothing that catches my eye, but that rarely happens.) This time I ended up not purchasing anything! The reason was not that I couldn’t find anything of my choice but there was just somebody who was my 'BARRIER'. Hidayah was literally dragging me away whenever I wanted to go to the shoes' section. “You have enough shoes, you don’t need anymore!” and there she went pulling me away as I was about to put on a pair of stilettos. She even ran across the store just to stop me from touching any of them because “We’re here to see clothes! Not shoes!” Hahaha.

I was certainly in utter frustration. Not only I was not allowed to check out the shoes, the one and only pair that she was okay with (surprisingly?) had only 1 size left which was size 10 (I’m a 7). An electric blue T-strap flats with pointed tip and cute details on it. It was so heart breaking because it was the colour that I’ve been searching for!!! (I’m in love with electric blue for this season. Burgundy is definitely second.) I think I need more shoes for school ):

“Damn gurrrrl, I really think you have issues!” Hidayah exclaimed.

Well I don’t really bother though because the good news is…. My brother bought me shoes from Australia! I’ve not seen them yet because he has not returned to Singapore but I’m ecstatic!!! I would get calls in the middle of class from him asking me if this colour’s okay or the design is alright etc.! I told him to buy me a pair of creepers too unfortunately he could not find any ):

Anyway this was yesterday’s studio shoot. There were a lot of emotions going on that point of time but everything turned out fine at the end of the day.


Printed Sleeveless Dress, Thrifted | Knitted Cardigan, F21 | Shoulder bag, Roxy | Cat-eye Sunglasses, Ebay | Ankle boots, Topshop | Beanie hat, H&M

Madly in love with cat eye sunglasses for this fall!


Soooo, when we opened the drawers, we found this squarish packets of little something.....

....At first glance we thought they were condoms!:/

We also found this and hidayah went, "What the hell is this a vibrator?" LOL




Can't wait for my brother's return tomorrow night;) Weekends are almost here. Hang in there! xx