new additions to my family..

My family abandoned me over the December Christmas season to go to Taipei and Hong Kong, while I slave away at work. I guess, they almost, but not really all that close, made up for it by getting me TWO tiffany and co. jewellery.

A tiffany and co. key with their signature, Tiffany blue coloured heart on the handle of the key and a bracelet - a very dainty one because, I really despise the thick chunky bracelets - it's a beaded bracelet with a mini and very cute "return to tiffany" heart.

I have yet to take photos of the actual jewellery, so you just have to be contented with the website photos.

 

It's sooo cute!

 

 

I just adore this. It's feminine, dainty, cute and sweet. Nothing like those chain bracelets - i really don't like those - so chunky!!

vintage raybans = hearts

I love my parents a lot (equally). Except, sometimes, mummy produces such gems...
 

 this uber cool VINTAGE RAYBANS -- she wore it when she was younger and it's been through a few countries...of course, the gold-nose piece is fading and i probably have to get the sunnies nose pads realigned but other than that it's pure perfection.

I'm in love.

Looks I'm Loving..

Did I tell you I love Autumn and Winter??!! I love the weather - the rain - the cold, the FASHION. I love how classy, elegant, sophisticated fashion can be in the colder months. You can even go for the casual, rugged up look, which will still make you look cute, keep you warm and still create a level of elegance that summer wear can't. After all, A girl should always be classy and fabulous.

Alas, I have a love affair with coats, jackets, leggings, stockings, scarves, and of course, boots. and unfortunately, this year is the first year (2009/2010) I have not experienced two winters, and I'm dying. I just want to play dress-ups. So hurry up cold weather and come quickly. Maybe, Lulu is right, maybe I should move to Melbourne.

But I love these looks at the moment, they what I'm into, minimalism, comfort, and yet sleek and stylish looks, with a slight hint of vintage and old-worldly-ness. If that even makes any sense.

Stylish, simple, a little rock-chick, and totally comfortable

 

This look is just so relaxed, casual and comfortable - it's for one of your "I'm not really bothered about how I look" but you still like fantanbulous!

I don't know if I like the dress - but it is a vintage-styled dress, but I wouldn't suit the high neckline, because i'm already so short! But I don't know I like the mix of the sweetness of the dress with the military edge of the jacket.

I can soooooooo see myself wearing this on a trip/holiday where it's simple, casual, comfortable and you don't look too shabby - I would change the style of the hat though..

 

This is everything I love and more. It's totally for work and play!

Another one of my favourite. I love how this look and the top one can easily be translated for work and for play

I know this is simple and really nothing strange, but I love that bag and the doc martin boots!!

All photos are from Lookbook Nu 

I wish upon the interlocking C's

This is what I want right now... only thing is I feel that if I have it I'm too young. After all, as much as I love the brand, I don't see how I can spend a minimum of $4500 (for a small, dodgey looking one) which I can use for a tour in Europe. It just seems ridiculous at the moment. But maybe, when I'm rich (*cough* like that's going to happen*cough*) I'll get it. For now, I'll continue dreaming.

Plus, I don't think I have the "elegance of a woman" just yet, after all I'm nowhere near being mature or worldly.

In the words of Coco Chanel, "Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future."

Please please please, somebody get me a Classic Flag Bag In Chevron Quilted Jersey Chanel Bag!!! IN RED! I very muchly love you for always. ^_^

*hearts*

Shopping trip!!

I want on a shopping spree - sort off - well, i spent about $450, because everything was 30% off at Cue (including their already reduced stuff - which was already 50% off!!) and I'm really really loving their designs this season and last season - BIG improvements, NOTHING boring, just plain stylish for both work and off hours!! And in some cases you can wear to both!!

I also spent part of the $450 at Alannah Hill, because everything was 50% off and I felt like spending my money so I got this gorgeous playsuit - which made me think of roaming in some English countryside (or at Kings Park, I guess), playing with wild flowers, having a picnic and just being cheeky and sweet.

I show you photos later.

Oh, and I'm thinking I need to study, or at least seriously think about getting a job or book that holiday I've been craving. Something other than being unproductive - although I have been exercising. But i guess that doesn't really count.

quarter life crisis

Somebody needs to shake me hard and tell me to get out of my self-pities. Seriously! I should be happy with my life, I have a good, stable career, have numerous job offers, which for some strange reason I turned ALL of them down (and they pay me well.. 45$+ an hour FULLTIME and I just got registered!).

What the hell is wrong with me? I swear it's the quarter life crisis. I want adventure. I want a holiday. I want to see and explore the world, more than just what Perth has to offer. I want to find my way out of this wilderness that I've stumbled upon and find my oasis. But I just can't seem to choose which path to take, because I'm not sure which one would lead me to where I want to be. In fact, I'm not even sure where I want to be.

That was why I wanted to go to Burma and volunteer at my uncle's missionary (he's a priest), but no, dad refused because he doesn't want to be responsible for what happens. Bloody hell, I can stay at their Hotel. It was rather nice last time I went there (which was about 5 years ago..) I was hoping if I did that I would at least know which direction I want to head towards, and if not that, at least know what I'm capable of, and will definately open up a whole new chapter in my life.

Alas, I'm stuck in this runt. Going nowhere, because I'm scared that if I took on any of the job offers I have, I be stuck and I end up in a career, which is stable, but something I'm NOT 100%, COMPLETELY satisfied with. To top it all off, 2009, really tested what I wanted, and I started questioning the direction I'm heading towards, which is go to school, get a degree, work in that field, find someone, settle down, work in that career for the next 40 years then what? What did I do with my life? What was significant? Did I really improve anyone else's life like I wanted to? because hey that's the only reason I got into the health field!

I asked those questions in 2009 and I knew the answer, I wasn't happy to settle with what I have, because I know I have so much more to offer to this world, and I am not one to settle because it's convinenent, I don't like to become complacent and not care like so many pharmacists are. I am not going to be one of those.

So I really need 2010 off to discover what I want. BUT I'm shit scared. I'm scared that when I do come back I won't have a job. I'm scared, because what happens if I really don't want to come back at all, then what would I do? I'm scared to leave the comfortable lifestyle that I have, where I get to fine-dine, wear Tiffany, pay with the cc, and travel anywhere I like because my bank account allows me to.

And yet, I want to explore, I want to see and help the people that are going through hardship, I want to get out of the routine and discover what my worth and my capabilities and my reignite my passion for everything, including my career and make a change in the way from having to sell detergents to actually giving out health advice and consultation, like England does. After all I didn't spend 5 years of hard work, sacrifice and study to sell detergents!!

Because quiet frankly, I'm going through a quarter life crisis and have completely lost my passion for all the things I do, including shopping. And you know when that happens that I'm in trouble.

West End Deli

West End Deli is situated on Carr st in a cornershop in the middle of a quiet neighbourhood. When I first walked through the doors, my first reaction "oo the kitchen is right there" - i like open kitchens...and "omg there are chairs hanging on the wall!". Yes, the decor is charmingly mismatched with a rustic feel and total comfort. In fact it was so comforting that we recognised one of the waiters, who happened to have served us at Cantina 663.

As soon as we sat down, he served us two large glasses of water, followed by a drinks order. I settled for their fiori coffee - mocha, which tasted like it had a little bit of spices through it - like maybe chocolate chilli powder? I'm not sure. Maybe, I was tasting something weird in the coffee. S on the other hand, had a freshly squeezed orange juice, as she was unable to have any "iced" drinks due to not having any ice left, or something rather.

Although, we got there at 11:30am on a Wednesday, so much of their freshly baked goods were already consumed by the hungry early morning crowds, so the last bits of the famous West End Deli's banana bread and portuguese tart was gobbled up by S. I on the other hand, settled for one of their menu items, the morcilla croquettes with scrambled eggs. It was just fantastic and continued to fill me well into dinner time.

 

freshly squeezed orange juice with banna bread and portuguese tart

 

 

My personel salt and pepper - oo and the cultery came in a mental bucket! <3

 

the morcilla croquettes with scrambled eggs

It's definately worth a bite to eat at West End Deli, especially if it's for a branch meal, or just to stare at their interesting deco. I definately be back for another round of their menu.

To our dear politicians..

One of the biggest issues facing our poor dear politicians (apart from global warming, 'boat people', destorying the health system, making up sex scandals or covering them up, the big GFC, extended trading hours, oil spills, "building" sport stadiums or "revamping" the foreshore etc. etc. etc.) is how to deal with the drunken idiots that plague the streeets of Perth.

Well, it really isn't any surprise why people stupidly get drunk, destory their livers and end up in hospital because of a bloody brawl - it's because - there is absolutely nothing to do in Perth. As soon as the little hand on the clock reaches 5 and the big hand reaches 12, the choice of "what to do" in Perth is pretty damn slim. There is really only one choice - hit the pub - get shit faced, forget what happened and start again the next night.

This stupid culture unfortunately stems from the fact that you, dear politicians are being ridiculously and stupidly conservative (and when one tires to change - you argue and debate over it because hey that's what the opposition is suppose to do - when in reality - you agree to the change - or - are you really what stupid and backward?)

Perth is a beautiful city, there is a lot to offer.

We have the stunning beaches - which I think should have lights around the area, a closer and more decent walkway and lookouts so after sunset people can still enjoy a dip in the ocean if they wanted to (and which I'm sure many do on summer nights!). OH don't forget to open a few more restaurants, cafes, and shops in the area too - allow more commercial area. ALL OF which have extended trading hours. So let them open late in the morning (and I'm saying like 10-11am) and then close late (9-10pm) - it works for places all over the world, just look at the big cities, New York, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney, Taipei.

In fact you should CHANGE the trading hours to apply to all metropolitan areas in Western Australia. If there are more restaurants, cafes and shops (who are open longer) - we might - to a degree - get rid of this stupid notion that there is nothing to do apart from getting drunk and we might actually have a proper culture, and perhaps people would be less stupid.

WE also have the foreshore - it's beautiful, but really just staring at it can get rather boring. You need to promote more competition for the use of the foreshore - more transperth services across to both the south and north of perth and perhaps turn the foreshore into something like the darling harbour - where there are shops, restaurants, clubs and bars, as well as water activities like speed boating, jet skiing, catamarane etc. So I do give you props for trying to re-vamp the foreshore line, but really you need to get your act together and actually do something about it apart from just talk.

WE also just need more activities, more innovation, bigger things, not some tiny little wheel, where the views are no more than stepping into the Exchange Building in Perth (in fact I think there is better views in the Exchange building!!). The wheel and the bell tower are suppose to give great views of Perth right? but tell me what is there to really see? We only have 2 tall buildings, no actual skyline and then at night - when you see the view of the city skyline at the South Perth foreshore, there are no lights??!!! What the? The city actually looks quite nice when it is lit up, but what's with the no lights? OH like shutting a few lights is going to save massive energy and OMG it's going to stop global warming. Please - EVEN SYDNEY skyline has all it's lights shone up. Get a grip. Just light it up, then maybe we might have something decent to look at, instead of a tiny little tower and wheel.

OH you also need to improve the transportation system - more accessible transport system if you can't do that privatise it! At least that way we might actually have more railway tracks that actually connects all that urban sprawl you politicians created, because you stupidly forgot to look at the future and other parts of urban development. But i'm sure you already know that. Not only trains, theres the buses, then the taxi service (which YOU already have so much crap about) .. NEEDS TO BE BETTER, BIGGER and A LOT MORE OF trains, buses and taxis. AND HEY, IF THIS IS IMPROVED you might actually cut back on carbon emission from cars - because that way EVERYBODY might not need to have a car!! Again just look at all the major cities around the world - not everybody there owns a car, because their transport system is so good they don't need to - take an example from Japan - tokyo, Taiwan - Taipei (GOD THEY used to be really bad, before they implemented the MTR!), New York, England... YOU REALLY NEED TO LEARN! perhaps go visit those countries.

I'm sure I can go on, but the point of the matter is you need to give the people of Perth and of Western Australia something to do other than to drink. Maybe that way there be less stupid drunken idiots - at least save the next generation (that's growing up and reaching their teens) from absolute bordem.

Perth's Deregulating Shopping Hours..what's going on??

So people are a little confused over whether or not the extended shopping hours are applied to all areas of Perth's Tourist District yet. But I guess the most important thing is knowing what the Perth's tourist districts are.
Firstly, Perth's tourist districts (according to our government) is as follows:
Perth
Leederville
Subiaco
Victoria Park
The Beaufort street strip of Mount Lawley
South Perth

they were to be implemented on the 1st of January. However, not every business is doing it. Firstly, Myers in the city isn't which I found rather annoying, and I'm wondering when they would start!

Having said that, do go and visit Enex 100, the new shopping arcade on Hay St. Mall/St. George's Terrace as they are opened every day until 9pm (and 10pm at night on a Friday!!), well at least their Hay st/St George's Terrace connecting stores are.

 As far as I'm concerned every store needs to get their act together and extend their hours! NOT just enex 100 or Coles (in Subiaco), or Officeworks (in East Perth), because it's causing a lot of confusion and personally when I need something after work, I really need the shops to be opened (or just for my retail therapy!!)! So get your act together!!

STUPID PERTH SUMMER

I LAUGH at the Japanese people that say that 25 DEGREE is hot... (I saw that in an article, whilst I was in Osaka)..

BLOODY HELL try surviving in...

43 DEGREE C

that is equivalent to..

109.4 DEGREE F

it's absolutely unbearable.... It's like living in an oven.. you sweat by just sitting.. and then have like sweat marks on your chair.. T_T

THANK THE LORD FOR AIR-CONDITIONERS!!!

kawaii..^_^..... NOT... >,<""

I've forgotten how much it makes me smile when I read the short cartoon strips on Kawaii NOT.. they are just so cute. And believe it or not, I found a kawaii not book at Biffons. That book store has EVERYTHING i tell you!! Pity it's just not as cheap (but more accessible) than Page ONE in Taipei 101 - now that's an awesome book store!!

aww the life of a bubble wrap - it protects things but what protects it??!

Matsuri

One of my favourite japanese places in Perth. It's quick, large portions, great ambience all at a great price and right in the centre of the city - what more do you want?

I come here again, again, again, for their soft shell crab and their tempura udon! OH GOD i love their udon, especially on a cold winter's day/night!! Actually, come to think of it, I haven't been there in a while, at least a few months, but that's the best thing about this place, the taste doesn't change, nor the portions, thus it's a popular venue and a favourite of many, so I recommend YOU BOOK on Friday and the weekend!

So I leave you with the photos I've taken on one of the many occasions I've been to this place - it's just a snippet of what you can have! and it doesn't even contain my udon!

Tempura Set

Unagi!! ^_^

Soft Shell Crab *drool*

and the best... SESAME ICE CREAM!!!!! if there are two awesome "japanese" ice cream flavours it is MACHA GREEN TEA ICE CREAM (from NINE FINE FOOD IS THE BEST SO FAR) and SESAME ICE CREAM from MATSURI!

Oh ok.. I'm really really hungry now... T_T .. and craving Matsuri (any of their dishes!) with their japanese macha (green) tea! I'm so dragging someone there for lunch or dinner. Any takers? CALL ME!

Banzai Sushi & Noodle Bar

When you feel like good, tummy-pleasing, reasonably priced sushi, ramen, udon, teppanyaki and nicely Japanese, then this is the right place to be. You can even surf the net as you enjoy your food! The staff are friendly, providing excellent service and the servings are pretty large (although, I still think it's not as big as Matsuri).

The restaurant is small, but it's decorated with astro and japanese anime. It's very cafe like - minus the coffee and I simple love staring at the anime photos. But truth be told, it's trying to resemble the noodle bars of Japan, except there is no "bar" in the middle, like they do back in the land of the rising sun!

I've been here twice, I think their ramen noodles, although the portion is big, the noodle itself felt like they were the two minute noodles, but then again I maybe comparing it to what I've had in Japan, and it's just not the same. Their Teppanyaki on the other hand is excellent - so definately have that!!

Chicken Ramen - it looks and faintly smells like laksa??!

Chicken Teppanyaki.. *yummies*!!

K's tempura and his side of salmon sushi

Their gyoza is quite a good start to the meal (unfortunately I have no photos!), or their tataki (also no photos!) seeing as it does take a while for the mains to arrive so if you are hungry, getting an entree is recommended. I'm not a fan of their japanese tea - only because it's not macha, instead it's rice tea - but if you like rice tea then that's fine, I'm just being fussy.

Having said all that, I do like Banzai (hence I've been there twice!), it's a good place for a casual catch up, as the food is nice, portion size a large, the atmosphere relaxed and the price is resonable. It's like better than your fast food japanese, like taka, but not as great as Matsuri. It's the perfect middle, for a quick (tasty) bite to eat.

Little Caesar's Pizzeria - Mundaring

I've been slack, I admit, there are still so many restaurants, cafes, etc. that I haven't talked about. I've just been a lazy sod. So this little place up in the hills - Mundaring to be exact - way too far for my liking. I've been dying to go there for ages to try their dessert pizza but alas it took me almost 4 years to be bothered enough to drive 40minutes up a hill where it becomes pitch black and hey thank GOD it'd be the last time I be doing that, because *drum roll* Little Caesar's is now in LEEDERVILLE! YES YES YES!!

It was one of those really really really HOT days - perfect beach weather (in fact I came up from Scarborough - to make this trip - thus was about 1 hour to get there.. *grumbles*) and my first thought was ... "OMG it's sooooooooooo FAR this has better be worth it!!" OK so I get there and it's somewhat hard to find in the dark, but at least we have some friendly people in Perth so they pointed us to the right direction (we just happened to be right behind the shop! - there is massive parking behind civic video store!).

The shop is tiny, open pizza kitchen so you can observe their pizza making skills, a huge billboard with all the pizzas (which is the same in Leederville - except for the fact that there are so many billboards, compared to just the one Mundaring - I'm actually yet to eat at the leedy one, but I've walked past it). The restaurant only sits very few people so either get take-away or prepare to fight out for seats. Mundaring shop also doesn't open until 4pm. It also does NOT have ventilation so I strongly recommend sitting outside on a hot summer's day/night because it's literally like an oven inside the restaurant - I even had a thought about how the girls there can work in such heat!

cam-whoring while waiting for our pizzas

J getting re-fills of our drinks. EVERYTHING comes in glass bottles - i likey. It just makes the soft-drinks so retro.

The Smashing Pumpkin - from the vegetarin range

Mediterranean Squid - from their seafood collection

The Siesta Pizza - for the carnivours who likes a little spice in their life

The Max (The LOT) - for the Carnivours with a health conscious!

All arriving at our table in different sized tiers.

The Apple Strudle - Dessert Collection

As for their world best pizza? it's good, especially the pumpkin pizza, and possibly their dessert pizzas, which unfortunately I only had the chance to try one. I really didn't see the difference between their savoury pizzas and any other's wood-fired pizzas (like woodpecker's wood-fired pizzas in subiaco is pretty good!) - except for the pumpkin pizza that was just smashing! The Apple Strudle Dessert Pizza wasn't the best, in fact I really didn't like it. I should have tried the upside down cheesecake dessert pizza or the mudhoney dessert pizza or the eskimo joe dessert pizza, oh wells,  but that just means that I have to go back and this time I will NOT be going up the hill but heading to leederville. YAY!

Perth Zoo

Today was a lovely COOL summer day - the breeze that blew perfectly complemented the beaming sun. Actually it was the perfect weather for a Catamarane adventure, but it was also a good day to be at the zoo - not too hot.

We rode the Red Cat from Golden Hay Supermarket (Hay street), where we got our supplies of drinks, before heading to barrack street, walking down to the foreshore - waited for the ferry, which there was none due to something or rather happening/happened - so we had a free bus shuttle instead (not complaining!).

Perth's Wheel on the foreshore - *SIGH* so short T_T

The Bell Tower - which SHOULD have been taller, larger and grander.. but then some stupid people said it was too big and now it's tiny and short! (hmm.. I'm seeing a theme here??)

My cousin G laughing her head off whilst waiting for the bus hehe ^_^

The two girls sitting on the swans near the Swan River.

So having crossed the Swan River (via Narrows Bridge), walked straight down pretty Mead st ( I find this street pretty.. there's this certain charm about it!), crossed Mill Point Road, passed an art-concepted tree statue thing and there was the zoo.

Ok - Perth's Zoo is no Torango in terms of size but it has it's share of interesting animals - granted the variety isn't as great as some others, but hey it's pretty good for us. I LOVED the elephants and the Sun Bears (sooo cute!!). Happy watching. ^_^

G and her obsession with the coin stamps @ the enterance of the zoo.

FLUFFY penguins!!! ^_________^

A crocodile - which I thought was really not real - it just didn't move!! No wander why people and animals have mistake it for logs! (JUST THINK OF ALL THOSE MOVIES!)

Then we got really tired after all that walking to the foreshore then walking to the zoo and seeing the wetlands and birds we decided we needed our morning tea - bananas and apples! Totally healthy - we all need to lose weight.. except G! ^_^

The magpie was also having its tea - was digging around for worms..

Being all posey - because we can!

hehe I LOVE this photo that I took of my bro - he looks like a comic character - the one from Betty and Veronica comics - so funny

Time to continue exploring..

Posing in the bamboos - which had all these carvings of people's names and whatever on it.

G posing outside the Galapagos Tortoise compound

Orangatuns!! <3

Turtles having their lunch - whiles are tummy grumble..

Meerkets!! - So cute.

Lazing Rhinos - they were BIG and fat!

Us slowly trudging to the main cafe area for LUNCH! - seeing us there were hardly any animals on display - I guess they were also too busy eating!!

G wanted to write on the 90 year old carousel but then we all were against it so we went to the AUSSIE carousel instead.

Posers - I think it runs in the family...

FINALLY THE ELEPHANTS!!

All Girls Photo!

Sun Bears!! ^_^

After making our way seeing the big cats - we got really tired so decided to make our way out of the zoo and back to North-side of Perth. And thank God this time around the ferry was in service - because although the bus didn't take long to get to the zoo - it's always more fun to try different types of transportation (and I wanted to go on a ferry! hahaha XD~~~)

On the Ferry way home.

Thus ends our day at the Zoo and my present/outing for my bro - seeing as it is his birthday too!

* All photos were taken by Chiro & C or J and totally unedited because I'm yet to learn to use photoshop properly! hahha - so it's all naturale!