Family Christmas

Before I show you pics of my holiday, many of you are wondering what GB got me. It was a box of Christmas cookies and chocolates from Royce. :) I opened them before Christmas, because I got impatient. haaa I got him underwear and a hot water bottle with a knit sweater thingy on it which said J'Adore. Very cute. When he first opened his present, (he said) he looked at it for a few minutes wondering if it were a hat. LoL But the best part is, he's using this hotwater bottle in bed at night to keep warm now in the winter. :)

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Desaru over Christmas...

My brother Wesley drove the family up to Desaru on Christmas eve. (It was his first time driving overseas!). We took 2.5 hours to get there from Pasir Ris(Singapore), we got lost quite a bit.

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Why your road signs to fucked up, Malaysia? Like after you go past the damn turn, then the sign for that exit pops up. Kinda mocking you.. like -"Hello There :) Kota Tinggi Was the exit you Just passed 3 seconds ago. Oh, was that the one you were looking out for? Oh well, too bad you stinking Singaporean. Selamat datang ke Malaysia!"

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But once we got familiar with the roads, we sped along and it only took like 1 hour to drive back from Desaru to Woodlands check point! Take THAT Malaysian highway!

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We stayed at the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort. I think it's not bad.. it cost about RM2100... so that's just under 1K Singapore dollars, for 2 nights accomodation. ( And that's for 3 rooms, btw). Plus it included an obligatory Christmas buffet dinner. Good deal for the Christmas season.The food and drinks... as with most resort hotels in Malaysia... was so-so. Like I have it for a few days, but any longer, and it would be torture. There's only so much turkey bacon and chicken sausages I can eat!!!

They had my fav oysters... and sashimi too... but not fresh tasting at all. :( It's a huge resort with 3 pools, and also a water theme park (which I didn't use because it was crowded like hell).

This paint splatter play dress I am wearing is from Linadelee. It's has denim blue splashes of colour and it's so comfy. Me Loves it! They also have more dressy party pieces in their Festive Collection (Click). (Join their FB page too )

We had our Christmas eve dinner together, which was very nice. I missed dinner with my family last Christmas because I was in Phuket with Mark.

Desserts were fabuloussssss.... Christmas pudding.. and all sorts of sweet delights for meeeee.

My toiletries bag...sunglasses... and spectacles...

Despite it being the monsoon season, the weather held up really well. Clear blue skies and cool breezy sunny days.The blue resort pants I am wearing are from Riot Loco. They also have it in other colours (click here). But I like the blue ones best... very relaxed feel to them, I also roll up the cuffs/hem a bit.

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The white over sized t-shirt also from them. They have many unique pieces. Join RiotLoco on FB.

My brother and I coordinated our outfits on Christmas day. haha...

But his was from topshop and cotton on.
Was such a quick, but nice getaway.

Now... for New Year's! I hope 2011 will be a better year for me than 2010. The first 3quarters for 2010 was quite rough. :( And the very last ending bit of 2010.. not fantastic either. Fingers crossed, I will find my way. I hope you will too.

XX

(Happy New Year to you)

Last Updates for the year...

Just curious, what do you think of a party next year... good music... drinks... around Valentine's Day.

Where there'll be nice prizes sponsored for winners (like a V-day dinner for couples, couple photoshoots or matching his-her stuff).

And the party isn't just for Vday couples, but for singles to mingle as well. Perhaps a game where I play cupid...???

Please take a second to do this poll so I know what the interest is like...

Would You Like To Be Invited?

Yes! I want to come as a COUPLE

Yes! I want to come as a SIngle to Mingle/ With Friends

No! But I want to read about it on your blog

No! I hate you

No! I am not in Singapore :(

View results

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You looking for gifts for a loved one? Or have a new baby in the family? Graduation? Just got engaged?

My friends at the Pink Elephant Labs are celebrating it's 1st birthday with a special promo.

When you book a session and purchase the CD of the high res touched up images (up to 100 images, at $350), then you get another $300 worth of gifts. Including a 2011 calendar customised with your pics. Have to book before 11 Jan 2011.

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This week in my revamped GET HER column...

Next post- Christmas weekend pics

Do Smart Girls Turn Men Off?

I don't mean to toot my own horn... but I am a pretty smart girl.


Not Albert Einstein smart, I admit. But definitely straight 'A's in school smart. Jeopardy smart. Laugh at the right points of a stand up comedy routine smart.


Yet when it comes to choosing a partner in life, I have not evolved enough to say, it doesn't matter how smart my man is, it does not change who I am or how smart I am. I am my own person.


In fact, not only does the cavewoman in me want a man who is smarter than me... I also want one who is taller, stronger and older than me as well.


Smart girls think that because they're smarter they have a lot more to offer (than the "dumber" girls) .But you know what smart girls? The joke's on us.

It's been polled/studied/proven for decades that most men want women who are shorter, younger and *palm in face* Dumber than them!

I know I say this a lot... but I'm Not Shitting You. There was a study in Britain done where they tested the IQs of hundreds of 11 year old girls, then decades later, revisited these test subjects. Surprise surprise... it turned out that the ones who were married were the ones who faired less well in the IQ tests.


In my current relationship, GB has on many occasions (we've been together 4 months now) griped, " Shiiit... Honey, you are too sharp." (That's the exact phrase he uses)

These are the times I cringe inside. Like it's a bad thing.

Then, there are also times when I do silly things or say stupid things (sometimes on purpose and with baby voice for additional effect). And GB will smile and say, "Honey... don't be such a Biiimbo...".

And these are the times where I will giggle with glee, look pitifully incompetent and jump into his lap to be cuddled. Somehow it kinda feels quite good.

Is this what dumber girls experience all the time? They may be on to something!


So what? Smart chicks are screwed because no man will want to marry them?!

Well, perhaps, smart girls just have to look for even smarter guys. And there are different kinds of 'smarts' too.

While GB probably wouldn't be able to squeeze the word Zenith into everyday conversation or appreciate dry humour, he would easily be able to explain to me Nuclear Fission and have a crack at the Riemann hypothesis (while standing on his head!). And that sort of intelligence (which I actually don't have), is very very attractive to me.
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Honestly, I'm lucky because GB is a very smart guy, so I don't think he is threatened by me, that way. Otherwise, he would not still be with me now, right? But I think I shall ask him about this one day. Would be interesting to see what he says.

Largest Street Carolling Record

Yay! The Body Shop set the Singapore Record for the largest street carolling!

More than 500 people turned up at Paragon on the 18th of December to sing Joy To The World with the Body Shop.

The event attracted a huge crowd of on-lookers too, everyone shared the joy of the season- even the tourists. :)

A big thank you to everyone who came down to this event and made this record possible. :)(Special Hi to my sweet reader, Annaling! Thank you for sending me a copy of our polaroid taken at the event!)

The President of Singapore Book of Records Marshall Mr Ong Eng Huat presented the certificate for Largest Street Carolling to The Body Shop's General Manager Ms Josephine Chow. If you were there... you can check out the photo gallery HERE to see your pics!

It was an awesome afternoon... definitely one for the memory books of 2010. (I already miss working with my fav Satarinas Jamie and Danielle. Hope u girls had a merry christmas!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I'll be away for the next couple of days... but will update you with pictures asap! I also owe you the 20 Items video... so if you want to see any of my stuff.... just Click Here and add on in the comments section. I will do it once the dust settles, promise.

Warm hugs!

HJ

My Salted Egg Yolk Prawns Recipe

You will need
- Prawns (washed and trimmed)
- an egg (to coat the prawns)
- a little bit of flour (also to coat the prawns)
- salted egg yolks
- chicken stock/seasoning ( granules or powder form)
- Chilli padi ( optional but highly recommended!)
- Curry Leaves (for fragrance)
- butter

I kind of estimate the amounts... but in this video I was making a big serving, so I used 3 salted egg yolks, 1 kg of prawns, one third of a block of butter, a heaped teaspoon of chicken seasoning, a couple of fresh chilli padi and some curry leaves.

Let's Play 20 Items (Plus Many Updates)

Hope you enjoyed getting to know and watching my 20 Questions Video.

In my next one, I'll show you 20 of my favourite items... but you get to choose what stuff you want to see. For instance... would you like to see my favourite pair of socks? Favourite Lipstick? Favourite shoes? Favourite bag? Favourite hair product? Favourite toe? A picture of my first BF perhaps? Doesn't even have to be a favourite (just any possession of mine you want to see).. lol... I don't really know the rules because I'm making this game up! :)

I'll show you the first 20 suggestions (as long as they're reasonably showable.... like.. I can't show you my erm.. favourite kidney or anything like that.) Also... don't ask to see any scars/stitches etc, cos I have none... I think my mom swaddled me in bubble wrap growing up.

*please try to restrict yourself to one suggestion only... so other people get a chance to suggest too.... I can only do about 20 favourites only (maybe I might do more... just keep the suggestions coming.. until I say stop!)

Thanks :)

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Some Updates for you:

Remember the Dream Jobs contest I blogged about last month ? These are the lucky winners of the $388 prize of their choice. :) The result was out on the jobsdb page a while ago... but I forgot to update u !!!

Tony Tan, Sally Tan, Cheong Ai Lian, Fara Zean Bte Suati, Marilyn Huang, Werner Chai, Koh Xian Hui , Sharon Poi , Caroline Chua , Chern Soo Win.

Congrats!

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Oh.. I think some of you may have already noticed.. but a week plus ago.. I got sick of trying to grow out my fringe. It never fell across nicely in a side swept way. So I too a small pair of scissors and chopped it straight across. I'm just most comfortable with my straight across bangs... force of habit I guess. :)
The candy cane tank dress I am wearing in the pic is from theblogshop.sg

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Quick Shout Out for ChannelNewsAsia.

Like their FB page and check out the Behind the scenes clips and bloopers. haaaaaaa

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I won't be writing the Love & Sex column for MyFatPocket next year. I have a couple more articles scheduled to be up on their site in January, so do check them out. It's been a great year plus with them, and I'm pleased with my archive of Sex and Love articles I've built up there.

I'm looking to start something new... (yes yes.. I will get started on my clothes label too... Just had no time this month... was sooo busy).

Stay tuned to find out what's brewing!

Btw, I've fixed the FB link and it now appears below each post on my blog. So anytime you would like to share the content with your friends on Facebook, you just have to click the "like" button below each post.

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(ok.. don't forget to leave your comments about what you would Like to see... in my 20 Fav Items Video!... and please subscribe to my youtubechannel!)

Confusing Loving & Loving Confusing

So many of my friends are going through a tough time when it comes to relationships. Very tough. :(



I've had my own share of pain when it comes to love. But at least, I broke away from it all without baggage (emotional or otherwise)... the only thing I feel robbed of, perhaps, is my time.

But it's better to lose time on someone, and realise he's not the one for me and just pick up the pieces, move on to start again, rather than be stuck in a rut you cannot undo.

You have no idea what some of my friends are going through now. :( It makes me selfishly fear... will my life take that path too? But there are no guarantees, are there? Did my friends see it (the bad stuff) coming but they chose to ignore it until it was too late to turn back? Or were they completely blindsided?



I don't want to be with someone who will make me miserable. I've not come this far, and gone through this much, only to settle for less than what is good for me. :(



GB flew home late last week... so I'm not going to see him until next year (he's back on the 5th).


It's already been 4 days since he left, but I'm not feeling it yet. I think mainly because I've been so busy over the weekend, working.



He's always made it a point to say that he doesn't buy presents for anyone... family, girlfriend, friends. Never. He's not the romatic sort. And based on being with him for 3 months, and having him constantly mention that he's not the mushy romantic sort of guy and that he never thinks of sweet gestures for his girlfriend... and that I should not expect that from him.

(one of my guy friends who has known me a while even commented- Holly, u know how delicate you are. Will you be happy with a guy like that? - and his comment worried me slightly)




But despite that, there's so many things I love and enjoy about GB. So I was 100% psyched and prepared not to get a Christmas present from him, and not feel sad about it.

I prepared myself to not be disappointed that he's away from me for Christmas AND New Year, plus I wouldn't have any surprise pressie on Christmas morning (well, at least not from my own BF).



I got him a present, knowing that he might very well not appreciate it (he keeps saying he hates presents) and might even tell me off for wasting money...



But I think life has a way of being gentle on you when the going gets a bit tough, and life has a funny way of dropping little signs to tell you hold on to this one, he's special.


Before GB left for the airport, as he was packing his bag, I droppped his present in his luggage. Shocker number one - He wasn't mad at me for buying him a gift!!! He thanked me, and even bothered to ask if it was fragile and whether it required special packing.


Then, to my honest surprise, shocker number two- He opened the SHOE CABINET... and there was a box, wrapped so neatly in paper with pink hearts. :)

It's sitting on my make up table now. I don't care what is inside. I don't care if it's something that suits me or not. I just am so happy that he bothered to do something so sweet... and even bothered hide it (in the shoe cabinet... haha!! He even was clever enough to hide it in the cabinet which I never open cos all his office shoes... while the other cabinet has some of my shoes).

Plus, I know he wrapped it himself, he even proudly showed me the bits of wrapper left over from the roll! (makes me feel a bit guilty for doing a botch job wrapping his present!!)

When I look at this pink box full of hearts, I feel such a burst of happiness inside. And then I wonder, why am I so scared of this thing called love?

Is it because so many of my friends who are seemingly ahead of me (in terms of marriage, family, pregnancy, owning their own homes etc) are beginning to obviously falter? And I look at them and ask myself.. wtf? Is THAT what I've been striving for?


Or am I just different from everyone else, and I will find my own way to what I deem as happily ever after.... slowly... but surely (?).

I never used to be like this. I used to be the girl that fell madly in love in three seconds flat. Instead I have become the girl who sits here...slightly frightened at the prospect of what could be a great relationship, and possibly, my happily ever after.



Jesus, Holly.... ramble much?


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Meanwhile on SheShops, I've been receiving weekly newsletters through email. Every week, they feature the most hearted item, stylist's picks (my black chunky Forever 21 LOVE bangle was picked!) as well as links to articles on fashion, trends and SALES.

Sign up as a SheShops member and receive the Weekly Newsletter too.

Pick Your Party Dress

I just received my ClubCouture party dresses for this season. It came via express delivery (you can opt for express delivery at $10, and it's super speedy like speedpost!), great when you do last minute shopping and need the outfit pronto!

I picked a strapless teal belted dress. It's feminine, flowy, I love the colour. The belt is a thick braided one of the same teal material...

(Click to view this dress)

Every girl must have a little red dress. Red is Instant sexy. Did you know that studies have shown that men find women more attractive when they wear red? I'm not shitting you, I came across the article a week ago. (Interestingly, the color red didn't affect how women rated other women in the study. Source: Wearing Red is Sexy NBC San Diego )

I've never had a red dress... so my next party dress is this slashed bodycon dress.

(Click to view this dress)

I've picked out 5 different styles of party dresses for you from ClubCouture...

Each party dress has a different vibe to it so, just for the fun of it, I matched each look with some of my all time favourite party drinks (but my most fav drink is the Lychee Martini btw)!

Just click the picture to view more details about each dress.

This is a great time to buy your party pieces because you can use the code SAVE20 at the checkout to get a $20 discount for every $100 you spend!
And since it's not just party season, but also the season for giving... ClubCouture is giving stuff away on Facebook!

No purchase is necessary for this. All you need to do is LIKE their page, and comment on this photo with the link of ONE ClubCouture product you would love to own.

There's 3 lucky winners each week!
Plus, they're also granting wishes this Christmas! Subscribe to their Fashion Fash (it's a mailer) and then share your wishlists (just list all your fav stuff from ClubCouture, up to SG$100) and one lucky winner each week will get their wishlist granted.

Don't you just LOVE Christmas and the New Year?!

It's the last couple of weeks of this decade, people! I wish GB was around this season (he's not in Singapore until 1st week of Jan)... but I'm looking forward to having a great time with my family and friends!

Live for the nights you'll remember with the people you'll never forget!
Enjoy yourself. These are the good old times you're going to miss in the years ahead.

XOXO

HJ

P/s- Don't forget, ClubCouture ships INTERNATIONALLY, so you don't have to miss out, where ever you are. :)

Sweet Dear Hand

oh oh... this is toooooo cute!

It's the new Sweet Dear Hand which is a moisturising hand cream from ettusais, packed with natural moisturising ingredients. (SGD$18)

There are 3 flavours to choose from, each one smells like Grapes, Strawberry or pear. By the way, my nail polish is ettusais vacance nail number 13... which is a gold glitter, and I put like 4 coats on and then the Gel Top Coat (also from ettusais)... and the end result is like the glitter gel nails you get at the salon! Yay!

Sweet Dear Hand has ingredients like Macadamia nut oil, refined honey which moisturises skin naturally and Hyaluronic acid which retains moisture. My skin feels so soft after the first application. You only need a small amount as it's a rich cream which spreads so easily. It also doesn't have a sticky feel to it as it gets absorbed quickly by my skin.

The best part about this hand cream compared to the ones I've used in the past is that it has bright up pearls. It has soft pink pearl ingredient which reflects light to cover dullness and rough skin. And also gold pearl which makes skin glow. I like how this gives my skin a healthy dewy type look.

And it smells sooo sweet too... like grapes! But it's not too strong a smell that makes you feel sick! It's more of a soft sweet smell. (You can head down to any ettusais counter to test it out)

This would make a Sweet Christmas stocking filler for your Girlfriends! :)

Available in Limited Quantities starting December 2010.

Ettusais ALT the heeren shops 67375669
Ettusais BHG Bugis 63347188, Bishan 62588698
Ettusais Isetan Orchard 67351809, Scotts 68361281, Tampines 67891139
Ettusais Metro Woodlands 68911127, Paragon 67352236