Photo Diary: Universal Studios Japan

 Osaka, Japan
A day spent in the picturesque town of Universal Studios Japan - what could be any better? I have not actually been to USS before, so this was definitely an eye-opener for me. The Second-Hand Rose was by far my favourite shop signboard in the entire theme park, and I couldn't resist inserting a photo of it. I gather that making frequent visits to amusement parks must be an integral part of Japanese culture, because both DisneySea and USJ had these amazing popcorn buckets (you got that right, that ingenious little Sesame Street hot-air balloon is actually a popcorn bucket) that you could bring back every trip, so that you could just refill the popcorn and not have to pay for the additional paper bucket (which makes it a pretty environmentally-friendly device too). I'd originally thought that few would buy these pricey buckets, but it was so common to see people of all ages, toting these popcorn buckets in all shapes and colours. Even my sister succumbed to the temptation of carrying one around.  
Dinner on this day was settled by ourselves, since my family opted not to partake in the Hokkaido crab feast that the tour guide offered to arrange for the tour group. We trawled the streets around our hotel after the shops had closed (eateries stay open way later than normal shops), and chanced upon a Mister Donut, where we bought and stuffed ourselves silly with the sweet pastries. What made the day even better was discovering a Mister Donut x Mos Burger collaboration, which had me in an absolute frenzy. Unfortunately, the burger, though delicious, did not photograph well, which leaves me the task of describing it instead - think fluffy cream puff pastry instead of normal hamburger buns, encasing a patty made of a disc of almond-studded chocolate, topped off with preserved peaches and berries that are surrounded with a wall of strawberry cream and drizzled with sweet berry sauce. You're welcome.  xx 

Orange You Tangerine

(dress, Topshop / shoes, Doctor Martens / bag, Burberry / spiked cuff, Bangkok, arrow bangle, Claire's / index ring, Stroberi, pinky ring, Claire's) (photos by Cheryl)
It's always a good idea to be traipsing around clad in a dress that makes you stand out in the crowd. I'm talking about bright tangerine here, in the form of stretchy lyrca, shaped into a flattering skater dress. Perhaps a little unforgiving on the figure after a good meal at Lola's Cafe, but too irresistible anyway. In any case, I need to find some kind of occasion to wear this beauty out again-- perhaps with a parka thrown over to tone down the brightness of it a little, so that my friends will not spot me from a mile away in the school campus. 
Editing photos for blog posts never fails to make me hungry, especially since most of my editing work is done at night. The brunch I had at Lola's was just the right amount of goodness to satisfy my craving for scrambled eggs and sausages, and I'll be sure to go back soon. Having the holidays around is always simultaneously a joy and a hassle, because planning for a gazillion outings every week is mentally draining, not to mention the tempting lure of shopping. I know, we've all been there. Still, nothing can quite quell my excitement for the holidays and new ootds-- I've got a bunch of new clothes that I cannot wait to wear out, and with Christmas coming around the corner, I smell new clothes in the near future. I can't wait. (I'm sorry, have I said I was excited yet?)  xx

No Rules

(top, Monki / jeans, Topshop, shoes, Topshop, tote bag, Japan)

(photos by Vivian)

The dreaded final exams are over at last, and I finally have time to get back on my posting schedule, though goodness knows when I can get back on track. These photos were taken somewhere around the start of the school term, as a rough gauge. I do feel like making a return visit, because the S'mores Pie and Grasshopper Pie were a fantasy for sweet-lovers like me, and the smoked duck with berry compote we had was equally as good, though pricey. Now, if only I could resist the temptation of my bed and the fact that I no longer need to set an alarm clock. 

When it comes to jeans, I generally shy away, unless it's a pair of high-waisted mom jeans that sit snugly around the waist and are basically a dream to wear, cuffed up with a pair of blue gingham plimsolls. There has to be something about plimsolls that makes them extremely appealing to me-- I just want to sweep them off the shelves in stores. Is anybody else a staunch lover of all plimsolls or is it just me? My armcandy is a birthday present from my resident photographer Siu Farn, and are not my usual type of go-to arm party, but hey, in fashion, there are no rules. 

I can't wait to kick start my holidays with cafe-hopping and more blog posts, how are you spending yours? 

xx 

Photo Diary: Osaka

 Osaka, Japan

In the midst of preparing for my final exams this semester (which sort of explains my absence again, but is not really an excuse), I thought I would take a short break to go through some of my old backdated Japan photos. I needed a break-- we all do. 

There's nothing quite like a double chocolate coffee jelly frappucino at a rest stop to perk you up for a day trip around Osaka. I'm not even normally a fan of matcha, but in Japan, somehow, anything goes, and I eagerly pounce on every matcha food item I can get my hands on, though I barely take more than a few bites before relegating it to my sister, who likes matcha more than I do. And I'm not so sure why Singapore has not adopted that adorable kindergarten school uniform yet? 

On this particular day, I also had the first-time experience of sitting on a bullet train. And it's always nice to see little bits of your home country overseas. Also, sushi, anyone? I'm craving it right now. I thought I would abstain from all sushi when I got back from Japan, but it turns out to be the exact opposite. I crave sushi even more intensely now, if that's even possible.

Shopping at Shinsaibashi was delightful and awkward at the same time -- delightful because there were just so many shops, and awkward because there was simply not enough time to visit them all, and my family ended up being the last to arrive at the restaurant for dinner. As a matter of fact, we were most often last during this trip; I'm sure our punctuality was not helped by the fact that we had two teenage females who were eager to visit every single shop in the shopping district. And it was overwhelming. This post is ended off with a photo I randomly snapped of the bustling Shinsaibashi -- I'll be back. 

xx

Florals & Oxblood

{top, Bangkok / shoes, Doctor Martens / bag, Burberry / cuff, Claire's / ring, Stroberi}

(photos by my dad)

Because who wouldn't be happy on their 19th birthday, clad in the easiest combination of florals and oxblood, and sporting a pale-pink lip? The pale-pink lips are a rarity, because I have an obsession with buying the brightest, reddest lipsticks I can find, and then chickening out and never wearing them. Still, the occasion somehow called for pale-pink despite my natural aversion to it, and so pink it was. 

Looking at cake when you're sick should be outlawed. I'm currently down with a terrible sore throat and flu (the third sore throat in three months, I really need to be more careful), and... moist chocolate cake with caramel, pecans, and the occasional chunk of surprise brownie? Looking on it is almost bordering on painful (and not just literally). Apparently my 19th birthday was spent gallivanting around town filling myself with sweet treats, including trying the strangely popular yogurt store that seems to be the yogurt store to visit lately. (I thought it was fine, but the long queues turn me off from a second visit.)

In any case, stay healthy, all of you-- the flu bug seems to be making its rounds again. Til the next time!

xx