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Passport photos through the years

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:01:00 +0000

I collected my NEW digital passport today. I think it was really time that I change my passport photo because the custom officers usually stare long and hard at my old passport photo.

Let's take a short walk down memory lane to see how my passport photos have changed over the years.

Black and white vintage passport photo.

Circa 1996.

My hair may look very obiang, but didn't Katie Holmes sport a similar one a few years back? Just that she had bangs. Oh, and THIS was my old passport photo.

Circa 2001.

I think I look better with bangs.

Circa 2006.

Part time job: Receptionist at MNC

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:48:00 +0000

Working at a MNC as a receptionist for the past few days has been rather interesting.

While in Australia I couldn't hear the difference between the Aussie accent and the American accent. But now i know the difference. If I understand what you are talking about in your fast conversational speech, you are most probably speaking with the Aussie accent. Thank god for subtitles in DVDs of Hollywood movies.

I think if I weren't doing Speech Pathology, I'd like to work in an MNC because I will be able to get to meet lots of people from all around the world. And there is even the chance of being posted overseas for a few years!

Part time job: Sales Assistant

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:57:00 +0000

I will be helping out my aunt in her shop at Far East Plaza (#01-94) regularly in this holiday. Do pop in if you happen to be there and say 'Hi' to me!

I finally moved my big, fat arse

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Then again, I wasn't exactly moving it.

I was sitting on a bicycle.

Gosh, cycling can be a real pain in the ass. Literally.

It's magic... it's POLYSHRINK!

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Finally! The package is here! All the way from America, thanks to my friend who kindly helped me to buy it along with all his other shipment.

THIS IS IT. Well, ok, not the real Shrinky Dink, but it's technically the same thing!

Ok, before I start talking about my very exciting first experience with shrink plastic, I need to complain a little. You see, I have known shrink plastic for a long long time. But unfortunately, it seems quite difficult to find shrink plastics in Singapore. I've tried looking for it in Spotlight and other lesser-known craft shops that I have chance upon, but to no avail.

Then one day, during my one-day bazaar stall stint at a particular, I saw a stall making personalised keychains for sale. And I saw an oven. And I was like, "OH MY GOD ARE THOSE SHRINKY DINKS!?!??!!?"

It's the stall set up by my friend's CCA group who was also in charge of the entire bazaar/event thingy. I asked them where did they get those shrink plastics and they answered, half jokingly, "I'm sorry but this is the secret of our business. But we will tell you if you buy a keychain from us."

Stupid hard sell tactic. My friend indeed bought a keychain from them. She wanted to support her own CCA anyway. So after she has paid the money, I asked them again, "so where did you guys get the shrink plastic?"

To my horror and disgust, they all ignored me and still wasn't very willing to disclose the information. The only girl who answered me wasn't very helpful, "erm... I can't really remember... I think it was in Bras Basah... but I am not sure."

WHAT THE HELL. It's such a silly and childish thing to do. I was totally disgusted by these university students. It's almost like conning people into buying their things. What idiots. I can still remember the incident to this day, so you know how angry I was about it. Friggin' stupid.

***

Ok and now back to the happier stuff. My very first shrink plastic project! I've seen this project via the Craftzine blog a while back and it has been on my mind ever since. I kept telling myself, "one day when I get my shrink plastic, I will definitely be making this!!!"

And that day finally did come. *tear

So!

This is the way it shrinks!!! :):):)

That was the very first charm that I shrunk! I used my hole puncher for paper to punch a big hole in the plastic. It shrunk to be size that will be just right for the rings that will be used to hang them on a bracelet!

Then comes the colouring. I tried using Faber Castell Connecter pens for colouring but they didn't work. (T_T)

I tried so many other coloured markers that was lying around in my room and they didn't stain the plastic well enough too. And finally, just when I thought all hope was lost (and that I had to spend money to buy some permanent marker recommended by the manufacturer), I tried my Staedtler colour pencil. And it worked!

It looked suspicious in the beginning because it only leaves a very faint mark on the plastic and I wasn't sure if it would give a desirable effect after baking. Nevertheless, I gave it a shot. And Viola! It worked! :) The colour became more saturated after baking and shrinking! (n_n)

And these are my Polyshrink charms! <3

There seems to be a bug with Blogger. This picture just cannot be oriented the right way. And it's just for THIS picture. (-_-)

P.S.: I drew my own '7' for the charm, it was not in the pattern given by Sublime Stitching.

Cute (and cheap) ear studs

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Bought these cute plastic charms at Mix & Match. They only cost 4 for S$1! Glued them to metal ear studs and tadaa!

Kawaii ear studs in less than a min! <3

I'm sorry if I looked like I wasn't listening, it's just that I can't help staring at my pretty nails

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

This is the day I had to clean away these pretty nail polish.

Because they have been on my nails for 3 days and were starting to show signs of chipping.

A Small Scoop of Ice Cream (T_T)

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:58:00 +0000

FINALLY got to meet up with Geokhan.

And we ate at Nihon Mura at the Cathay. This is my second time (the first being the time that I ate with Angela) eating at Nihon Mura and I simply cannot get enough of it! (>_<)

I can forsee myself eating there again .. and again... and again...

Dessert was Andersen's ice cream! But I had such a small scoop of ice cream. (T_T)

And I expected it. Well, when I announced the flavour that I have chosen to the scooper tending the store, I found that he was having real difficulty scooping the ice cream out. It seemed that the ice cream was really hard, not soft and creamy at all. At that point of time I really felt like changing my choice of flavour and even told Geokhan, "oh my god I'm going to get a small scoop of ice cream."

I've worked in a gelato shop before and I know how it's like. Personally I'm either too lazy or do not have enough strength to scoop ice cold, hard gelato to the appropriate scoope size for the customer. :(

Right: Geokhan's Mango, Left: My Yoghurt

You can see the difference in scoop size even though Geokhan has started eating hers first.

So my advice to people is, if you find that the scooper is having difficulty scooping your flavour, CHANGE your flavour! That is also if you are extremely picky and the kind of person who wants to get your money worth in everything and anything. And because I am not, so I simply stick to the flavour I chose initially - YOGHURT. (n_n)

I never really liked Mango,especially the sorbet kind, but I know a couple of people who really likes Mango flavoured ice cream.

But I have to say that Mango ice cream from Andersen's in indeed not too bad. It's very creamy and smooth.

This season's must-have: Fedora Hats

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Worked as a receptionist at an international MNC for a day today. It's quite interesting to sort out international mails and to transfer international calls. But it can also be quite boring. Upon my arrival to work, the girl who showed me around actually asked me, "did you bring a book to read?"

Really good pay. But I feel guilty because I am definitely being overpaid.

Bought a plain black Fedora for S$15 at AMK Hub.

Discovered this cool photo website that allows you to take photos using your webcam with vintage French photo booth effects.

Having fun with my new Fedora Hat, which my brother calls a 'prop'.

Because you don't have to pay to try the clothes

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Today is officially my first time shopping at ION Orchard. Ok, it wasn't exactly a shopping trip because we didn't really intend to buy anything from Topshop/Zara/Mango or whatsoever. But we still tried the many 'interesting' clothes with their equally 'interesting' price tags nevertheless because you don't have to pay to try them on.

Those sales assistant probably hates customers like us the most. But who cares!

Dessert at Gustimo was 4 scoops of ice cream, a treat from Kelly! From top-left clockwise: Yoghurt, green tea yoghurt, mixed berry yoghurt, chocolate hazelnut.

And then I saw some lovely looking macaroons from TWG, which only tasted so-so. =.=

We had great fun hopping all around town, eating, trying clothes, taking pictures and talking.
^_^

Manhattan Fish Market is better than Sydney Fish Market

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:57:00 +0000

The first bite was heavenly. The mushroom burst out with juicy goodness, the calamari was crispy and not too chewy, the prawn was delightful and the rice was creamy and absolutely tasty.

But then there comes a point when we realised that the entire platter was too much for us to finish and it got a bit sick. :(

(The part where Xiuwei was supposed to finish if he didn't abandon us at the last minute)

And then I told Frederick that the plate of seafood is a lot like love. The first taste of it is heavenly, but then there comes a point where you get start to get sick of it and can't take it anymore. That is the point that one should stop eating before one indeed get sick from all of it.

But one thing is for sure, it tastes better than Sydney Fish Market!

I'm always searching for you, always searching for your figure

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:34:00 +0000

I am not getting enough of soppy Japanese love stories.

First it was Koizora, and now it's 5 centimeters per second.

It hurts so bad that I can even describe my thoughts about this movie.

And I am listening to the same song for the millionth time and still not getting enough of it.

Warning! Spoiler alert for the following paragraph!

I hated Akari for moving on so easily and getting married with another guy when Takaki has been missing her all these while!

At the railway crossing, Takaki and Akari both turned around to see each other. As the trains passes, Takaki waited until the train has passed to see if the girl was really Akari. But by then, the girl was already gone and Takaki finally left with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

But after watching the ending of the movie with all the flashbacks (and the touching song) for the ten thousandth time, I finally understood. Some things are just not meant to be. Time moves on, and people has to move along with time too. Those who struggle with too much regrets and longing for the past will only end up as miserable as Takaki.

Takaki waited for the trains to pass to see if the girl he saw was indeed Akari. But by then the girl was gone. Takaki hangs on too much to the past, while Akari (whom I assume the girl at the railway crossing to be) is always able to move on without any difficulty.

It is my hope that Akari will always have a place for Takaki in her heart and that Takaki finally got the strength to move on in his life even though he still misses Akari terribly.

Movie: Koizora

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:04:00 +0000

A soppy Japanese love story with a classic plot.

Predictable at times and without any climax throughout the whole lengthy movie of 2 hours.

But I absolutely love the chemistry between the sweet Yui Aragaki and the charming Haruma Miura (with his dashing bleached hair). The plot of an innocent high school love story that seems to transcend the beauty of the heaven and the sky never fails to leave me smitten.

Get ready to fall in love with the sky.

4.5/5 stars!

The first week of summer

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:40:00 +0000

221109

Stayed at home to unpack and clean up

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Jet lag

Lazy to get up from my bed

Visited relatives who came back from Dubai for a short holiday

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Went Tuberculosis Control Unit near Tan Tock Seng Hospital for Mantoux Skin test which will be required for my clinicals placement next year.

Shopped around Novena

Went to Plaza Singapura to check out Daiso and the brand new Spotlight

Begin to find Singapore little boring

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Went to Kitty Lab with Jasmine

Give 3.5/5 stars for it. If you have better things to spend on with $35, then I would advise you NOT to go

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Went back to Tuberculosis Control Unit to check the result of my Mantoux Skin test

There was no reaction in my skin at all

Met up with friends from KKH for dinner and some shopping at Raffles City

271109

Had meet up with Angela

Ate great lunch at a Japanese Restaurant at the basement of The Cathay

Encouraged by Angela to write down all the things I did for the summer :) (and so here I am)

Watched Gokusen the movie, give 3.5/5 stars

Will not start to watch Gokusen the drama because I think the plot will be very similar and I am not interested in the guys in the movies

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Finally in the mood to craft/sew

Cut out a large plain black top that my mum was going to give away and transformed it into a cardigan (^_^)

Will blog about it in my craft blog soon

Did not run/cycle as I have planned

Need A LOT more motivation before I start

Watched Koizora (a Japanese movie) and am totally smitten by it right now

(n) days of summer

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:57:00 +0000

So I've been back in Sinagpore for almost a week. And I didn't even blog about it.

Sometimes I see no point in blogging. But sometimes I feel responsible for this blog that I have created. It seems wrong of me to let it just stay stagnant like this.

Because if I weren't even updating it, I don't see the point in keeping it. But I can't bear to delete the entire blog away. So here I am, blogging without zest.

But still blogging.

See you later

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Hey everybody!

This blog will no longer be in use for I am leaving for Sydney for college.

Do wish me all the best and hopefully my life Down Under will be interesting enough for me to start a blog on my new life.

UPDATED: My new blog on my life Down Under

Goodbye is never enough

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:44:00 +0000

210109

210109

310109

310109

020209

030209

New Hair

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Because we are only young once!

Don't We All Love Sunny Days?

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:25:00 +0000

The Long Wait

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Sorry for not blogging for such a long long time.

Well, there isn't much buzz in my life nowadays. I spend my days working, reading, learning, knitting and other crafting. It is definitely not the kind of life that I dreamed of a year ago, but I'm happy with it for now.

I still get to meet up with my friends who have already been busy with university life. Perhaps less frequent gatherings make the time that we get to meet more meaningful and memorable. Absence truly makes the heart grows fonder.

Also, I've recently embarked on a quest to explore several quaint areas of Singapore that I have never been or have rarely gone to. Fort Canning Park, Arab Street, Marina South, Hort Park, Henderson Waves, etc. It's really funny how I've been here for the larger part of my life yet I've not gone to all these places.

My love for crafting and making all things cute and funky has been rekindled recently. Now I'm all ready to cut, sew, glue, draw and even bake! This explains the reason why I'm updating my hobby blog so frequently.

Last not but least, I've been preparing and planning my move to the great Oz for my study. The Singhealth scholars are a bunch of cool, friendly people with open hearts. Right now it's mostly just the wait before I get my "normal" life back when I return back to the books.

Yes, life has been good and I'm happy. :)

The need to keep my life organised

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:46:00 +0000

I think I need to get my life more organised.

Yeah, I'm the kind of person who likes to write down the nitty gritty details of all the things that are to be done everyday. Most of the time I plan my days way ahead, with the hope of spending my days with great satisfaction and simply living my life the way I wanted it to be. But lately I've realised that I have not been updating my personal organiser or checking it as frequent as I should. I've been keeping tasks unchecked and forgetting about all the plans that I had.

Perhaps it's the dull and unappealing notebook that I am using this year. Plans that should have started from the beginning of June have been put on hold or simply forgotten just because I stopped checking my book and stopped checking off the the lists.

I need to get my life organised. I need to clear the clutter in my brain and on my table that has accumulated with neglect. I need to start planning again.

Life is short, plan ahead to live with no regrets.

Here comes the rain

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:37:00 +0000

Lately I've started to hate the sun.

The hot, scorching weather and the unwanted tan are all thanks to the unforgiving sun, not forgetting the harmful UV rays penetrating my skin that can cause premature aging and ugly spots. No doubt that the sun gives life to all living things, but I really hope that it’ll be a little more bashful and perform its duty behind the obscurity of the clouds rather than to present its bright, full glory to all beings. What a big show-off.

So, I have been secretly wishing that the monsoon season will arrive earlier. Now, the dark clouds gather almost every other day, sending rolling thunders and heavy downpours. Hey, I thought I asked for a cooling shower? Maybe I should have been more careful of what I wish for. This dark and dank weather isn’t exactly very pleasing either.

Let there be hope...

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:57:00 +0000

because this is such a cruel joke.

The Rise of the Idiotic Spammers

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Thu, 29 May 2008 03:57:00 +0000

My blog is getting ridiculous spams under the comments section and I am truly annoyed.

They thought I'd be stupid enough to believe them when I don't even know them.

But I've deleted them and is appeased - for now.

How to spend those hot, sunny Saturday afternoon when you are stuck at home

noreply@blogger.com (qi*) — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:10:00 +0000

You sleep.