Did You Know?

Did you know that you can calculate your train fare with the SMRT Interactive Network Map?

I came across this while googling 'SMRT Train Fare', and was just wondering whether SMRT offers an online fare calculator system. Lo and Behold, they do! And it is very user-friendly.

As you can see in the print-screen below, the Network Map allows you to place your cursor on your START and END point. Once you have done so, your train fare is immediately displayed, stating fares for a Standard EZ Link Card, Adult, Children and Senior Citizen fares.

Definitely useful for tourists who are looking to do some research on transport costs in Singapore!

Chinese Laundry Women Shoes

Recently came across this brand of shoes: Chinese Laundry. No, its not a laundry store, nor is it a laundry store open by Chinese people.

I totally love their shoes!!! Their story started way back in 1971, where they were founded as Cels Enterprise, a shoe manufacturer. An excerpt from their online website can be found below:

Cels Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1971 by Robert and Carol Goldman, is a privately held woman's footwear company with headquarters in Los Angeles, California. From its beginnings as a shoe manufacturer selling to mass merchants, Cels Enterprises, Inc. has steadily expanded its influence in the fashion footwear industry. Consumer research and creative insight have led to the development of seven branded divisions within the Chinese Laundry family:

CHINESE LAUNDRY was launched in 1981. With groundbreaking styles season after season, Chinese Laundry lives at the forefront of fashion footwear for young women. Chinese Laundry is the perfect expression of its signature combination of outstanding quality and value with a unique and inspired point of view. From stylish daytime looks in innovative fabrics and leathers to evening collections in eye-catching metallics and satins, Chinese Laundry consistently provides a mix of styles and trends that are ideal for today’s fashion landscape.

These are some of my favorite designs:

Chinese Laundry Danger Zone

Chinese Laundry Join Me

Chinese Laundry Game Show

Chinese Laundry Kristin Cavallari - Celestial

Chinese Laundry Good Girl Pump

Chinese Laundry is available for sale online in US:
http://www.chineselaundry.com/
http://www.zappos.com/chinese-laundry

Retail Stores in US:
Beverly Center8500 Beverly Blvd, Space #6641
Los Angeles, CA 90048 google map yahoo map

Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-9:00pm, Sat. 10:00am-8:00pm, Sun. 11:00am-7:00pm
(310) 854-0826


The Shops at Mission Viejo808 The Shops At Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 google map yahoo map

Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-9:00pm, Sat. 10:00am-7:00pm, Sun. 11:00am-6:00pm
(949) 347-8711

Miracle Mile Shops
3663 Las Vegas Blvd South, Suite 20
Las Vegas, NV 89109 google map yahoo map

Store Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 10:00am-11:00pm, Fri.-Sat. 10:00am-Midnight
(702) 836-9707

Fashion Show Mall
3200 Las Vegas Blvd South, Suite 1780
Las Vegas, NV 89109 google map yahoo map

Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-9:00pm, Sat. 10:00am-9:00pm, Sun. 11:00am-7:00pm
(702) 369-3114

Topanga Westfield Mall
6600 Topanga Cyn Blvd, #99C
(between Victory & Vanowen, Topanga Cyn Blvd and Canoga Ave)
Canoga Park, CA 91303 google map yahoo map

Store Hours: Mon.- Sat. 10:00am-9:00pm,  Sun. 11:00am-7:00pm
(818) 888-1100


CHINESE LAUNDRY footwear can also be found at major department and specialty stores including Macy's and Nordstroms.

Online in Australia: http://www.shopstyle.com.au/browse/womens-shoes/Chinese-Laundry


Sadly, it's currently not available for sale in Singapore, offline or in stores! If you're reading this, Chinese Laundry pls come to Singapore!

Omar Sy in The Intouchables

Hello Sexy Omar Sy!

Based on a true story, The Intouchables describes the journey of how 2 very unlike individuals, become friends for life. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone! Whats there to complain when there's an eye candy like Omar Sy? Who would think that anyone can look sexy dancing to Boogie Wonderland! 

The Intouchables became the highest-grossing foreign language film! 

  

Song: Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire

Entrepreneur Find: G-Paws

If you want an insurance against losing your beloved pet, G-Paws is definitely a worthy investment for pet owners. An innovative GPS pet tracking system in the size of a small thumbdrive. Weighing at merely 15 grams, G-Paws is attachable to most pets, creating minimum disturbance to their movement and mobility. Yhey wouldn't even know it was there! 

Father-of-two Dave Evans came up with the idea because his own silver tabby Yollo was mysteriously disappearing and putting on weight each day. So the idea of a tracking device for animals came to creation. 

G-Paws tracks your pet's movement and location through a chip embedded in the device. When the animal returns home the information is downloaded via a USB cable direct to a website which reveals its secret life on Google Earth satellite images.

This is definitely a great innovation for pet owners who never want to risk the thought of losing their pets! 

Map outline of one of Yollo's expedition 

G-Paw is now available for sale in the UK. 

Visit them at their Facebook Page for latest updates on G-Paws and Yollo! 

Yollo with the G-Paws device attached to his collar

Monday Wish: Popo Nostalgia

A bit of nostalgia time with Popo :) 

Blackberry Q10 & Z10

For all you Blackberry fans out there, the Canadian phone company has recently launched in Jan 2013 some sexy new models. These are definitely out to steal the limelight of Apple (Iphone), Samsung (Galaxy) and Android phones. 

Some interesting changes: 

1. No Physical Qwerty Keyboard with Z10: Blackberry (or previously RIM) has attempted to create an iconic Blackberry without the physical keyboard. For example, Model Storm. Having been an experienced user of Storm, I must say that it was a nice attempt but total flop. The model Storm was poorly deviced, with  poor user-capability.  

2. Blackberry data plan versus normal data plan: These 2 phone models allow you to use a NORMAL data plan, without the need to apply for a special Blackberry Data plan 

3. Blackberry Messenger Video Chat: Yes, you can now launch video chats with your Blackberry Messenger Contacts. On top of that, you can share screen with your contacts during chat!

Blackberry Z10

Blackberry Q10

The Blackberry Z10 is now available for pre-order/order with the major telecommunication providers in Singapore. Stay tuned to find out about future availability of the Blackberry Q10. 

Visit the following links to find out how you can make your order: 

1. Starhub 

2. M1 

3. Singtel 

Monday Wish: An Environmentally Friendly Bumble Bee

Created by Mai Sudjai @ Kreatworks Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand. Created entirely out of scrap metals from cars.

How would you like a larger-than-life-size Bumble Bee in your living room?

Brunch in Jakarta

Birdcage 

Birdcage 
Jl. Wijaya IX No. 23 Melawai Kebayoran Baru Jakarta Selatan DKI Jakarta  Indonesia
+62 21 7392430


Souly Butter Kitchen 

Souly Butter Kitchen is a small cafe located opposite KFC in Kemang. Over the past 2 years, the owner has expanded her cafe into a 2nd space, located just next to each other. Hence, there is Souly Butter Kitchen and Souly Butter Kitchen 2. The earlier is a smoking area while the latter is non-smoking premise. 

Souly Butter Kitchen offers fresh cakes on a daily basis, where they are displayed to you in the most tempting and decadent manner possible! Do try their bestsellers, red-velvet cake. You can feel the soft sponge cake and cream just melting in your mouth.  

Address: Jl. Kemang Raya No. 15, Kemang, Jakarta

Monologue 

If you're looking for one of the best cups of coffee in the city, look no further than at Monologue. The restaurant/cafe takes pride in serving the best coffee, they even roast the beans by themselves! 

 Plaza Senayan, P1 Fl Palm Gate Entrance Unit CP 101 B, Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8, Jakarta

Union 

Located on the 1st level of Plaza Senayan, Union is one of the most popular resto/bar in Jakarta. On Friday-Sunday nights, be sure to make a reservation before to avoid long waiting! And of course, their bakery has an array of cakes to die-for! 

JL. Asia Afrika No. 8 - Central Jakarta Plaza Senayan, 1st Floor Unit Sogo  10270, Indonesia
Phone +62 21 57905861

Monday Wish: A bit of Oscars Fashion

Doesn't Khloe Kardashian look fantastic AND classy?

Entrepreneur Find: Villa-Bali.com

Founded by my ex-boss, David Chambat, Villa-Bali.com is an online portal offering villa rental in Bali (Indonesia).

Unlike other accommodation booking websites, Villa-Bali.com fill the gap in providing

What I like about their website:
1. Colorful, Large Font and Cheerful Interface: There is something about the large font (or maybe a few other features) that entice me to go on clicking onto more pages! Study has done that fonts & font size play a very large role in click-through-rates on a website. On top of it, they have used very captivating and high res images on their header slideshow. 

2. Multi-Currency: Villa-Bali.com offers up to 8 International currencies, including SGD, KRW, USD, JPY, EUP etc.

3. Large Selection of Quality Luxury/Boutique Villas: Villa-Bali.com states to provide over 300 villas for you to choose from.

3. No Booking Fee: I bet that is something that every traveler will appreciate! 

Do check out their Blog for daily updates about travelling and living in Bali.

You can find Villa-Bali.com:

Facebook
Email: contact@Villa-Bali.com
Office
35b Pagoda street
Singapore 

Heels with Socks

Finally, I'm able to write about this blog post, which I've been meaning to do so in the longest time ever!

Dressing heels with socks can look quirky or classy, depending on the type of heels and socks.
I have always been a fan of pairing socks/stockings (Black Opaque) with heels. Ever since I saw Rory in Gilmore Girls, dressed in a classic black cocktail dress, black opaque stockings, and black heels, I have a fad towards stockings and socks. Sadly, weather in Singapore doesn't exactly allow you to play around with these accessories in your wardrobe.

This is the best picture I could find of her in stockings and heels.

These are some of my favourite Heels with Socks pairings:



 Who would have though that white socks can accentuate a look beyond the schoolgirl image!

 Create a flirty and romantic look with these Red Patent Mary Jane Heels, Floral Ankle Socks and a black lace skirt.

 Military chic in High Lace-up Boots and Above the knee Black Socks.

 This reminds me of floral mints!

The perfect strategy to lengthen your body by creating a multi-layer look.

I hope you like these looks!

Monday Wish: Dog Hugs

 

Pregnant Kim Kardashian: Fab to Drab

Yes, I am writing about Kim Kardashian's Fab to Drab. How a day makes a difference!

FAB (22nd Feb 2013)



The red lips, sleek hair, monochromatic dress, white pointed heels. Need we say more? Classy, classy classy!

DRAB (23rd Feb 2013)

 

I think she intended for the frills to cover her baby bump, but she neglected the fact that her tight fitting cropped top revealed more flesh than she hoped for. And seriously, snake-skin prints pants?! Kim Kardashian, what is going through that pregnant mind?!

Revamped Kinokuniya.com.sg

With all the advents of e-Book as facilitated by gadgets such as the Ipad, Iphone, Kindle, Galaxy Tab etc, I am still a fan of the good old paper books. The feel of holding onto a book, the sound of a flipped page, and the smell of the fresh new paper is definitely part of the book-reading experience.

 

I was pleasantly suprised to see that Kinoukinya has been doing their homework over the past year or so with a new and revamped website. Well, judging from the design of it, I wouldn't term it as a revamp. But they have definitely added some new and interesting e-commerce features!

 

It probably has something to do with the fact that Borders is now out of the picture, and they realize that they need to step it up!

 

Some new features that I am

 

1. Free Local Delivery with S$50 Spent: Good job there! The most important perk an 'online book buyer' would want is complimentary local delivery. This is definitely a push buyer to increase online revenue and increasing customer satisfaction.

 

2. BookWeb Price: I'm assuming that they are offering a reduced online price, as compared to the Retail Price. Again, another push factor for the consumer to click 'Add to Cart'.

 

3. Description: Informative for consumer purchasing decision.  

 

4. Business Book of the Month: I am not so sure whether this is a fixed category each month, but let me check again in March 2013. It is nice to see recommended books at a discounted price on the sidebar. At the end of the day, pricing is one of the highest and most sensitive issue for the online buyer!

 

From a fellow consumer point of view, you may want to check out Book Depository. Although they have recently been bought over by Amazon, and I have been hearing much negative comments about this buyover Book Depository pretty much looks the same to me. They offer free delivery (NO MINIMUM PURCHASE), and a much wider selection of books (or so I think). However, you may want to compare prices as they may vary from each item. 

 

Kinokuniya is available at 3 locations in Singapore:

Singapore Main Store

391 Orchard Road
#03-09/10/15 Ngee Ann City
Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6737-5021
Fax: +65 6738-0487

(Opening hours: Sun to Fri - 10am to 9.30pm & Sat - 10am to 10pm)

Liang Court Store

177 River Valley Road
#03-50 Liang Court
Singapore 179036
Tel: +65 6337-1300
Fax: +65 6338-1278                        

(Opening hours: Daily - 10.30am to 9.30pm)

 

Bugis Junction Store

200 Victoria Street
#03-09/12 Bugis Junction Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 6339-1790
Fax: +65 6339-1792                                                 

(Opening hours: Daily - 10.30am to 10.00pm)

Entrepreneur Find: ExpatAuction

I found this interesting business at the top of my Facebook sidebar advertisement.

Curious me clicked on the advert and was interesting to find more about this business. Started in 2011, ExpatAuction helps expats (or alikes) to sell off furniture when they need to relocate, return home or maybe do some spring cleaning.  The name suggests that it is an exclusive group for Expats in Singapore, but I would like to assume that this is not an exclusive club for expats and foreigners.

From the surface looks of it, this is definitely a large target market for ExpatAuction. According to the 'Key Demographic Trends 2010', Statistics Singapore, there has been a steady increase of 8-10% of Permanent Residents/Non-Residents from 2008 - 2010 (Source: ). As of 2010, there is a record number of 541,000 Permanent Residents and 1,305,000 Non-Residents respectively in Singapore.

Their business model is derived from an 'Auction' model, where sellers consign their furniture to ExpatAuction for sale through auction. On the other side, ExpatAuction markets to buyers who are interested to purchase these furnitures, in an auction style. At the end of a sale, ExpatAuction receives 25% off the final auction price from the seller. You will find that their furniture inventory cater to Expat/Foreigners taste, from large wooden furniture with an Asian/European taste, to Balinese rattan furniture. If you take time to browse through, you may find some rare finds at very affordable pricing.

Some of my favourite pieces as seen on their Facebook page:


Lot 2 was this Hollywood Stage Lamp (140 tall unextended) won for $400 by an absentee bidder

This French antique wild cherry wood sideboard. Comes in 2 pieces. Upper cabinet (122x35x104) lower (126x54x104) was Lot 37 and won for $650

After all, Auction Purchasing is not simply for the rich (or wealthy) art-buying collectors. You can now get a taste of Auction Buying without burning a hole in your wallet!

You can find ExpatAuction at:

Warehouse: Citilink Warehouse, 102F Pasir Panjang Road
 
Email: admin@expatauctions.com.sg

Disclaimer: This is not an advert or any sorts for ExpatAuction, but simply my thoughts about them and the business.

Introvert or Extrovert?

Have you ever wondered whether you're an introvert or extrovert? Or have you found people commenting that you are either one? These terms have been used to brand people so frequently, it seems to give the earlier a negative annotation. In today's society, it seems to have become a crime to be an introvert; while being an extrovert earns you brownie points.

It was all peaceful at home, until my mum came home, and started talking about everything and nothing. I started to Google 'People Who Hate Noise' (aka me), and the search results came up with the topic of Introvert. What does it mean to be an introvert? Often, they are stereotyped to be 'shy' and 'quiet'. I like how Carl wrote in his blog post, 10 Myths About Introverts. He gave a personal take (I guess he's an introvert?), even including a personal FAQ.

I find the following myths particularly relevant for me. So people who (remotely) know me, I guess this answers you as to some of my less-than-norm behaviour at times!

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk. This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people. On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird. Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Through his blog post, I found a psychotherapist, Marti Olsen Laney, who authored the book 'The Introvert Advantage'. You can read a synopsis of her book at Amazon.

A self-professed introvert herself, Marti Olsen Laney debunks the Introvert Stereotype through her book. By titling it 'The Introvert Advantage', she is definitely challenging society's mainstream view about the typical introvert. I will definitely be getting my hands on this book!

All you introverts out there, don't lose heart. You are not weird, you are just special, and can only be found 1 in 4 people!

Victoria Beckham Fashion Line 2013

Victoria Beckham has recently launched her fashion line at the New York Fashion Week 2013, and it has been received with much positive reviews and raves.

My favourite Victoria Beckham 2013 Outfit:

I'm no fashion guru, but just to give my average retail consumer point of view about her latest 2013 fashion line:
1. Front-Middle Skirt Slits: Notice how her skirts are slit right in the middle at the front. I wonder whether this is meant to give a sexy appeal to the lady's legs. However, if matched wrongly, it can look like an oversized school girl's skirt.

2. Dark Cobalt Blue: I don't know if there is a such a color scheme, but you will notice that her fashion line has a strong effect of the color 'Dark Cobalt Blue'.

3. Turtleneck Dickey Collar: If you don't know what a dickey is (in fashion terms), you must be unfamiliar with the American comedy series 'Big Bang Theory'. The dickey is a common piece of clothing wear by Howard Wolowitz. In the Victoria Beckham Fashion Line, you will realize quite that they are often pieced together dresses and tops, in creating different layers.

Overall, the range has very strong lines, with a strong taste of masculinity with large, oversized blazers. The only piece of accessory used to accentuate the female figure, was a thin belt cinched at the waist. Otherwise, the pieces created a strong image portrayal of the 'Victoria Beckham Woman': having a gorgeous husband (David Beckham), 3 mini David Beckham sons, a new baby girl, the epic Spice Girls accolades, a fashion line and looking poised/polished at all times! That is definitely a lot of undertaking to be a 'Victoria Beckham Woman'.

If you would like to find some inspiration to be the next Victoria Beckham Woman, maybe you can start by splurging on 1 or 2 pieces from her fashion line. Victoria Beckham (Fashion) is now available for sale on NET - A - PORTER