Wednesday, March 7

Monday, March 5

playing hooky


To take my mind off thinking, I've been doing crochet and making these granny squares. Just picked it up over the weekend from a book and a needle H. lent me, and I'm completely hooked. I'm a happy hooker! I work best in bed! And in the still of the night!

But in between doing double crochet double crochet double crochet single chain single chain double crochet double crochet double crochet, I thought:

"Where was his wife when he called me at 6am?"
"What was he thinking when he told me my birthday present was that I get to suck his toes?"
"When would he have told me if I hadn't asked?"
"Who am I to him?"
"Why do I feel that flirting while attached is ok but flirting while married is absolutely wrong?"
"How could he be doing this when he just got married?"

I have no answers. Now, back to my granny squares.

a dog's weekend


On Saturday, the Sng family had an early morning outing to the beach with its latest addition. Everyone took turns to take photos with him. He was bewildered by why we kept calling his name to get him to look at the camera.


On Sunday, he tried to get in bed with me. On my freshly laundered bedsheets. I pushed him off.


He looked at me balefully. I couldn't help it. I relented. How do you resist eyes like that?

Thursday, March 1

the long good night

ME: He got married.
LURVE: Oh dear. Are you ok lurve?
ME: I've been expecting it but still I feel a bit dazed by the news. And he had numerous chances to tell me but he didn't, until I asked him point blank today
LURVE: You mean he didn't tell you he was married until you asked him? Did he say why he didn't tell you? When did he get married?
ME: Ya. I put two and two together when he told me he'd moved. Even then, the fact that he'd moved came out only by accident.
LURVE: Har? He was still flirting with you? Sigh. Please don't feel sad if you do. He's so not worth your time. And please try to cut ties with him completely. He's a true blue asshole. I'm so mad at him!
ME: What I don't get is why he didn't just tell me. We had a long conversation not long ago. And he gave me a morning call when I had to wake up at 6am. And he got drunk last weekend and messaged me. Where the hell was his wife when all this was happening?
LURVE: She was in the dark. And she will continue to be if you don't end this. He wants to have all his cake and eat it, regardless of hurting his wife or you. Cheats are good liars.
ME: We're not exactly doing anything. We just talk. I've stopped flirting. Well, mostly. His reason for not telling me was that he was waiting for me to ask. Har?
LURVE: I guess he didn't tell you cos he didn't want the good feeling to his ego to end. I'm sure he likes you, but not enough to not want to hurt you. He just seems very dishonest. Waiting for you to ask - doesn't that sound like a coward to you?
LURVE: Even though you don't do anything, he knows you have some feelings - he must know. And he's abusing those feelings by keeping you "hanging on" in some small way
ME: Well, I'm glad I just point blank asked him. And there's no point now asking him why he didn't tell me. I'm finding it hard now to even be friendly to him, knowing the extent of his deception.
LURVE: Yes and you shouldn't try to be nice or friends for that matter. He's done enough damage. Don't fuel his ego anymore!
ME: Yes, I know what I should do. But it's always so nice to just talk rubbish with him. And I know it's not one sided. That's what makes it so difficult.
LURVE: I can imagine lurve. But you must try your best.
ME: Why can't I met a normal UNATTACHED man? I'm tired of this shit. It may be easier to just give up. Men. Ptui.
LURVE: Don't give up! Don't let him make you lose faith. It takes time. Life is weird and cruel and I guess it all adds up to make you stronger?
ME: Oh well, I'm not unhappy being single. Thanks for listening to me lurve!
LURVE: No worries lurve. You take care. And if you need to message anyone, message me!! Night night.
ME: Night night lurve!

hatty birthday


I love belated birthday presents! Thanks, Outstanding and Gumption, I love the cap!

[This photo, taken with my new phone, does not do the hat justice. It has little floral prints and is sprinkled with eyelets, how cute is that?]

something

The need for "closure" never bothered me much. I'm more into denial, I guess, rather than resolving my many "issues".

But I've been thinking about it, on and off, as the last year drew to an unspectacular end and the first two months of this year zipped past.

I needed something to be returned to me, something that we'd both been a part of, something which was not really a big deal, something which made my insides clench whenever a stray thought about it passed through my head.

I'd asked for this something to be returned, more than once. I asked again, today. Every time I asked, it felt like I shouldn't even be asking.

But still I asked. And still he didn't give it back.

He doesn't know the significance, it's just some thing to him. To me, it's closure.

Saturday, February 24

sibling revelry


My doggie and his brother, as puppies. I admit it, I squealed out loud when I saw the pix.

In a Turn Left, Turn Right plot twist, it turns out that his brother is now just living two streets away.

And in other sibling-related news, my sissy is coming soon to relieve my boredom and bringing Mushroom Swiss from Burger King for my dinner.

made to measure


How slow a day is it in the shop today? So slow that I could make my own measuring tape, all 17 inches of it.

The fine print reads "MADE WITH LOVE BY SWIRL". The devil is in the details. The devil makes work for idle thumbs. The devil made me do it.

Thursday, February 8

meet mrs browner

lady in red update

Remember the lady in red incident?

Our curses must have worked and a zip must have burst to remind her of her debt of gratitude [as well as debt of actual money].

She finally turned up last week. Without asking how much the emergency alteration cost, she willingly paid $50.

Tuesday, February 6

vivocity vivacity



I had never been to VivoCity until last week, when I made up for lost time and went twice in a week.

It may be huge and rather soulless, but it does have Tangs and Daiso, even if I didn't care that much for any of the other shops.

And by the way, the service at Tangs was impeccable, even when all we wanted to purchase was an el cheapo $15.90 wallet. Plus, none of the salesgirls stopped me or laughed when I posed on their giant pouf.

Like my new helmet head?

Friday, February 2

happy birthday to me

Thanks for all the birthday wishes and gifts!

I have no idea what I've been doing that should leave me so tired at the end of my four days of leave, because I've been nothing if not self-indulgent:

- Dinner on Sunday night with the family at Crystal Jade [seems like everyone has their own fave dish at Crystal Jade. Mine's the red oil dumplings. What's yours?]
- Facial for the first time in a year, followed by pedicure, followed by dinner at Prego, followed by dessert at Mennotti
- Chicken wings at Ikea and then shoe shopping at Queensway [bought two pairs of shoes, including a pair of Crocs. Don't call the fashion police. They were really comfortable!]
- Haircut [in which Timen showed me a shampoo girl with a mushroom haircut and then proceeded to cut my hair into something totally unlike it. But I still look cute. Ha!]
- Bought chocolates for Randolph [Yes, I know dogs will die if they eat chocolate, but this is to fulfill the Dog Law, according to his ex-owner. In return for the doggie, I had to give him something sweet. So I gave him Royce chocolates.]
- Randolph's former friends came over to play and there was a huge barking session along my street, and I got to play with more than 10 dogs in a day. Happiness!
- Dinner at Waraku. Shabu shabu = lurve
- Massage at Haach, in which the masseuse freaked out over the bruises all over my thigh, courtesy of Randolph's welcome home pouncing.
- Lunch and shopping with the auntie brigade at VivoCity for the first time [Bought another two pairs of shoes and a wallet]
- Huge load of laundry
- Bath time for the smelly doggie

I also fed the doggie meds and walked him twice a day. In fact, I'm so obsessed with walking him now that when I fell asleep during my facial, I woke up with a start and thought, "It's time to walk Randolph."

In between all that eating and pampering and dog-walking, I also found time to finish watching 24 episodes of 24 Season 5.

I need another few more days off to recover.

Tuesday, January 30

let me count the ways

Ten things you can't tell from looking at Randolph's photo:

1. He was named Randolph, not Rudolph, because his nose is pink, not red.
2. I've decided that since no one knows when he was born, he would share my birthday. Happy 2nd birthday, sweetie!
3. He smells very, how should I put it delicately, doggie. But his skin condition -- due to a diet of fried rice by his previous owner -- is now improving and so is the smell. Either that, or I'm getting used to it. Or worse, I'm starting to smell like him.
4. He not only looks intelligent, he is intelligent. He knows how to open doors to come inside the house, he knows how to avoid the antibiotic pills I try to sneak into his food, he knows to hold his pee and poo when he is indoors.
5. He has an unbecoming girly bark.
6. He has awfully visible nipples.
7. His fur is kinda scruffy, but at least he doesn't shed much.
8. He doesn't like water, but stands obediently still when you bathe him.
9. He totally ignores the rubber ball I bought for him unless I stuff some doggie treats inside it.
10. He isn't one of those slobbering, over-enthusiastic licker types.
11. He whimpers when I leave home and jumps all over me when I get back.

Okay, so I can't count.

Friday, January 26

CNY bomb

Last CNY, Ms C had the bright idea that she was going to compose a generic ching chong CNY song that will be played to death every year and live off the royalties, not unlike the Hugh Grant character in About A Boy.

This year, my grand plan is to make all-in-one CNY goodies. It will be one giant CNY bomb.

Nibble through the crisp outer layer made of love letters, and you will reach the har bee hiam. Continue through the various layers -- bak kwa studded with melon seeds, kueh bangkit embedded with Van Houten chocolates and White Rabbit sweets, and finally, a layer of pineapple tarts. And when you reach the inner core, there will be a Yeo's packet drink, chrysanthemum flavour, waiting to quench your thirst.

Bread Talk had better not steal my idea.

stoned



As you can tell from the numerous posts, it's a s-l-o-w day at the shop. But these "livingstones" are cute, no? From Smarin.

time waster

This jigsaw game is dedicated to my twin, even though she probably has no need for such time wasters now. After all, she has no need to wait for stories to be cleared, photos to be scanned or proofs to be read.

Me, on the other hand, I'm bored to death. And this is an addictive game, so be forewarned.

3x3


For those who grew up with Rubik's Cube. I remember being so frustrated by it that I flung it out of my window. We lived on the 19th floor.

* Spoiler alert: You can learn to do it too. Just go to YouTube for the solution.

Thursday, January 25

truly madly deeply

Just when I'd been disappointed yet again, a new guy has come into my life, almost by accident. I'd rather call it fate.

He has an old man name -- Randolph -- but he is young at heart and in body. No one calls him Randy.

I spend all my waking moments, except when I'm forced to go to work, with him.

Right now, I'm looking at his photos and stroking the computer screen while making cooing noises.

I wake up early in the morning just so I can see him. And I whisper good night before going to bed.

I make endless lists of things that we can do together and how I can to pamper him.

We have long conversations about everything and nothing, and he listens with the most understanding eyes in the world.



Thursday, January 18

porn again

I had a pix* of my doppelganger a.k.a. Cynthia Lee Mcquarrie a.k.a. Ah Girl on my page yesterday. She had the coolest sleekest bob**, the smokiest smokey eyes and was posing most seductively in lingerie, as she was appearing in a play about Annabel Chong.

In a straw poll among my colleagues, it was agreed that I did resemble her. Not that that was a bad thing, of course.

The same photo, only blown up much bigger, appeared in The New Paper today.

* I can't seem to find the pix online, so can't steal the image.
** He hated my hair when I got the bob, calling it a helmet. He hasn't seen me since it grew out into the current unruly mop. And I've almost forgotten how he looks and sounds.

HE: I have to confess. I saw today's TNP Show centre spread and thought of you.
ME: I have to confess too. I had to go buy TNP after reading your text...
HE: So? Hoho.
ME: Should I be flattered or insulted that a porn star made you think of me?
HE: The picture la, the picture...
ME: I've been mistaken for her more than once... Cynthia Lee I mean, not Annabel Chong...
HE: So actually the question is, do you want me to associate you with a porn star?
ME: That's a naughty question. And the simple answer is no...
HE: The complicated answer being...?
ME: Too complicated to explain in mere words...Hiaks!
HE: How would you explain it then?
ME: Some things are best left to the imagination, don't you think?
HE: You're stalling la. I hope your hair stays the way it is...
ME: I'm tempted now to get a porn star haircut just to spite you. Bleah.
HE: And what is a porn star haircut, pray tell?
ME: My lips are sealed. Haha yes, I'm stalling again...
HE: Bad enough that you're stalling, bad enough that I can tell you're stalling, now you tell me you're stalling...
ME: At least I'm honest about my stalling! Heh...and you'd stall too if faced with questions about porn stars!
HE: Thankfully no one's asked so far, and no, now you can't ask either
ME: I demand an answer! So what kind of hair does a porn star have? And no stalling!
HE: No hair. Work it out
ME: Ugh! I hate that I got it, and worse, I actually laughed! You win...
HE: Haha. So you now know what haircut to get if you really want attention...
ME: I don't want to look like an army recruit! I'll stick with my helmet. It's cute and also protects me from insults.
HE: Somehow I'm not entirely sure you got my teeko remark
ME: Oh I got it alright. I'm just playing innocent. wink
HE: Haha. wink

Despite our best attempts at restraint, we can't help flirting. I think the word to describe us is "incorrigible".

Sunday, January 14

i spy


While browsing the ever-excellent The Sartorialist, my heart stopped at this photo. The Stam bag, the object of my desire, in mortal peril! How could she just so nonchalantly balance it on a ledge of a bridge? Is sending a text message such a life and death situation? Gasp!

Friday, January 12

parade of wanted things III

I heart Urban Outfitters. If money were no object, these would be in my room right now.


I need a new bedside table.


This would work too. And it'll be able to hold more of my junk.


Hand-drawn birdcages!


Japanese-y rug. There's also a quilt in the same print.


This is a wall decal.


So is this. More than US$100 for each -- ridiculous!


We almost bought the floating shelves for our shop, but decided they were too pricey. I did buy the little candle holder on it though.


The print and the colours are gorgeous. Is US$100 too much to pay for a quilt?


I'm now thinking of spraying my lamp base powder blue.


I've been looking for a clock for more than a year. At only US$32, there is nothing holding me back.

More wonderful stuff at Urban Outfitters.

visitor #7


We've been counting the number of walk-in customers at the shop since last month. Not sure yet if the data collection will yield any trends.

It's a slow day today due to the heavy endless incessant rain, but check out who came to visit. Her name is Miranda Priestly, by the way.

book 'em

This is not a hoax. Follow this link to print out a 40% Borders voucher.

Thursday, January 11

sweet swell swish

With the second Swirl Swap Swop coming up this Sunday, I'm in a mood for swapping/swopping [these two words can be swapped/swopped around, depending if you're British/American], and stumbled upon this site. I like the idea of sending something out into the wild to brighten someone's day -- who doesn't like receiving a package in the mail?

Tuesday, January 9

going... going...

Holiday destination for my leave at the end of the month has been narrowed down to three choices:

1. Koh Samui for some up-your-butt treatment
2. Ho Chi Minh because my sis knows the city well
3. Brooklyn (but this is a distant third, in every sense of the word)

dropping names


It all started with the Marc Jacobs Stam bag -- named after model Jessica Stam -- which I coveted when I first saw the knock-offs at a street stall in New York last year. "You know this designer? Marc Jacobs?" the obliging black man asked me.

I'm so not one who goes for the IT bag of the season. Heck, I only own one designer item and it was purchased at 90% off the original price [which was precisely why I could afford it].

But I really do love the Stam. So, idly surfing just now at the online mother of all designer goods, I saw the object of my desire again. In the prettiest powder blue. At £714.89 a pop, that's about a couple of hundreds more than the rent for my entire place for a month.

Never mind.

So I decided to make myself feel better -- or should it be worse? -- by browsing the dresses. And then I saw this red polka dotted Diane von Furstenberg Betty wrap dress. If I can buy one of her classic wraps, this would be the one. It's a steal at £231.44, slashed from £330.63. [Can you tell that I'm becoming immune to all these figures at this point in time? It doesn't seem like real money anymore, when a Fendi dress costs over £2,000.]

Butofcos, the model had to be carrying the Stam bag. Such good taste.

It was then that I noticed her shoes. They were the exact Christian Louboutin blood red shoes I would put on and never take off -- if only I had nice feet. Oh and some spare change lying around after getting the rest of the outfit.

Bah.

Sunday, January 7

smokey gets in your eyes


In other non-numerological news, I have sort of succeeded in my quest for smokey eyes.

the time is 11:11

At the peak of my SMS fever, whenever I had to fight the urge to send a text, I would look at the digital clock on my mobile phone to help me decide. If it were 12:34, 3:33, 5:55, 3:45, or some nice number, then I'd think, well, the time is right and I'd give in and text him.

A couple of days ago, I was talking to the elf from the shop next door, who happened to be wearing a really cool jacket she had designed herself. It had 11 sleeves, all functional.

Turns out that she kept seeing 11 when she was designing her collection, like the time, the receipt numbers, etc. And she would keep waking up at 11:11.

So she went to look on-line, and found that there was actually a 11:11 phenomenon. I was a bit creeped out, because I recall seeing 11:11 before too, and more crucially, using the numbers to guide my decisions.

And then this morning, as I was lying half comatose in bed, waiting for the maid to finish cleaning, I glanced at my mobile phone for no reason. And it was exactly 11:11.

Then, I had to turn my mircowave oven off -- every single of one of the China maids who came are afraid of putting their hands inside to clean it if it were turned on -- and when I turned it back on, the time that flashed wasn't 00:00 as you would suppose. It was 1:01 instead.

This is what this website says:

How often have you noticed the numbers 11:11, 12:12, 10:10, 22:22, 12:34, 2:22, 3:33, 4:44 or 5:55 popping up all over the place? These number sequences are not necessarily only time prompts. They can also be number sequences, like 333, 1111 etc. To your mind, is this a coincidence, or are they too frequent to be random? Perhaps you are puzzled or amused by this phenomenon? Possibly even a little bit nervous? The question everyone is asking is "What does 11:11 mean?" and "Is there a reason for this?" And there certainly is.

Millions of folks all around the world are now seeing these amazing 11:11 prompts. They are folks of all colours, all religions, all beliefs. It's spreading, and becoming far more common; it's become a major phenomenon. Someone or something is causing all these folks to look at clocks, number plates, phone numbers or any source of numbers even when they make no effort themselves to look for these things. You can even change your clocks in the house, and you will still be prompted, at the "wrong" time. You can't stop it, because YOU aren't doing it. Sometimes you will even see these numbers flashing after a power outage, even though digital clocks are supposed to reset to 12:00, not 11:11 or 12:12!

These 11:11 Wake-Up Calls on your digital clocks, mobile phones, VCR’s and microwaves are the "trademark" prompts of a group of just 1,111 fun-loving Spirit Guardians, or Angels. Once they have your attention, they will use other digits, like 12:34, or 2:22 to remind you of their presence. Invisible to our eyes, they are very real.

I'm not sure if there is an actual phenomenon or just a case of seeing what you want to see or even just coincidence. I mean, I looked at my computer time just now and it was 9:26, and it sure as hell doesn't mean anything.

More importantly, I didn't feel any otherworldly force beckoning me to text anyone, even when the time was 11:11.

Friday, December 29

sub zero


I know, I know, it's ridiculous that I'm wearing a trenchcoat AND a scarf in Singapore AND indoors. But I'm cold cold cold.

Sunday, December 24

doggone it


I'd set my heart on Dipsy after seeing him on the SPCA website yesterday.

So bright and early this morning, we set off excitedly to get him, with blankets and newspapers and all. But alas, being too cute for words, he'd already been adopted the day before.

I'm sad. I was looking forward to bonding with my doggy over Christmas, a rare day without any work whatsoever. Instead, I'm spending it watching Ugly Betty in bed.

Saturday, December 23

cool yule


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Mr Brown, Mr Browner, Mr Brownest and me.

Thursday, December 21

where

Suddenly, unexpectedly, unintendedly, I found myself applying for leave next January.

And equally surprisingly, I realised I'd somehow accumulated enough frequent flyer miles this year to go almost anywhere [or rather, as far as Australia].

I want to just fly away. Question now is, where?

Wednesday, December 20

au naturel

Read this from the perspective of someone who needs half an hour of primping before she can leave the house. Kinda reminds me of the Brazillian millionaire plastic surgeon who devotes one day a week to "charity" work in the slums because, to paraphrase him, even the poor deserve to look beautiful.


The Natural Beauty Myth

Garance Franke-Ruta

The Wall Street Journal
December 15, 2006

What the critics of the beauty industry fail to recognize is that the doctrine of “natural beauty” and the desire it breeds in women to be accepted as they are or to be seen as beautiful without any effort, is a ruthless and anti-egalitarian ideal. It is far more punishing than the one that says any woman can be beautiful if she merely treats beauty as a form of discipline
.

Only in America do we think that beauty is a purely natural attribute rather than a type of artistry requiring effort. Look at the French: They are no more beautiful as a people than we as Americans, but they understand that every woman can be attractive – if not beautiful – if she chooses to be.

Yes, we are given forms by nature, but how we choose to present them is a matter of our own discretion.

Few people are blessed by nature and circumstance with the Golden Mean proportions that seem to be universally appreciated. Thus, in the end, it is more democratic to think of beauty or attractiveness as an attribute that one can acquire, like speaking a foreign language or cooking well.

Full story here.

Monday, December 18

the eyes have it


Posting this belatedly. Stole my current hair style from The Sartorialist.

Have been trying to achieve the same chunky, swept-aside bangs, with little success. And even less success with my smokey eyeliner effect. To date, I've tried two different brands of liquid eyeliner, one pencil eyeliner and one brow pencil, and only managed to look like a panda/racoon hybrid.

Sunday, December 17

eggstraordinary



Do I really need to buy this or will squeezing a hard-boiled egg into any cube shaped container do the trick?

what are you doing new year's eve

For the past three days, for almost nine of my waking hours daily, every 30 minutes or so, the divine Miss M croons with gentle yearning on repeat mode.

When the bells all ring
And the horns all blow
And the coubles we know
Are fondly kissing
Will I be with you
Or will I be amoung the missing?

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Oh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same.
What are you doing New Year's... New Year's eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night?
Welcoming in the New Year... New Year's eve

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose...
Out of the thousand invitations you'll received?
But in case I stand one little chance,
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
What are you doing New Year's... New Year's Eve?

Out of the thousand invitations you'll received?
Oh, but in case I stand one little chance,
Here comes the jackpot question in advance...
What are you doing New Year's... New Year's Eve?
What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Friday, December 15

stupendous sartorial success

Fashion shoot from Swirl Swap Swop, which lends itself to all sorts of superlative alliterations.

{For the sake of my loyal readers and any potential stalkers out there, I tried to upload the photos here, but failed. So please click on the link above.}

Thursday, December 14

alliterative girl and rhyme man

ME: I was thinking as I showered about this question posed to so-called celebs in Urban: What's the nicest thing you did this year? I couldn't think of anything!
HE: Remember helping that Australian girl with her groceries?
ME: That can't be the NICEST thing I've done all year... And yes, I remember...
HE: Well that's a start. How about not yelling at clowns who browse your brooches but make no purchase?
ME: What's the nicest thing you did this year? I thought it was an inane question until I couldn't answer it... Heh.
HE: I'm a meanie
ME: I think you're just a big softie at heart, but trying to act tough on the outside...
HE: What rubbish. Where on earth did you get that?
ME: Don't worry, your secret's safe with me... Hee
HE: Bah. Go away.
ME: *Slinks away with tail between legs*
HE: Huh not getting any sympathy here. Spank
ME: Kitty is hurt. Meow.
HE: *Grabs kitty by tail, finds small room, starts swinging*
ME: *Kitty bounces off the ceiling and walls* Wheee!

[Later]
HE: Hey pussycat
ME: Meow... I need a cat nap

[Still later]
ME: Kitty sold five brooches to one customer *grins like cheshire cat*
HE: Crazy customer cherishes cringe-worthy collectibles?
ME: How long did it take for you to come up with that alliteration?
HE: About 3 min. Wasn't very good huh?
ME: It was fantastic. I couldn't have come up with anything better myself. Heh, can you sense my sarcasm?
HE: Subtle sucky sarcasm shouldn't show significant signs of scolding
ME: Girl grudgingly giggles. Guy gleefully gloats.

[A few days later]
ME: Alliterative girl strikes again. I'm holding an event today called Swirl Swap Swop!
HE: Shouldn't it be something like Swirl's sumptious super swap swoop?
ME: Swirl Swap Swop a stunning success. Suzanne supremely satisfied.

[A few more days later]
HE: Hi, apologies for the silence. You kept catching me in non playful moods
ME: Sokay. I never expected you to reply to every single inane message... especially those with bad alliterations! But why so glum?
HE: Glum? Who's glum, chum?
ME: I'm glum, chum.
HE: Sup? Pup?
ME: Moody and broody
HE: Truly? Suzy?
ME: Suzy sleepy
HE: Coffee maybe?
ME: Bunny's nose is runny. And why isn't it sunny?
HE: Poor bunny, want some hunny?
ME: Rhyme time is over for me. Can't come up with any more! You win! Heh
HE: was fun, hun. Same game getting tame?
ME: Stop it stop it or I might erm vomit!
HE: Fine fine. Don't whine.

So. What's the nicest thing you did this year? I still haven't come up with anything.

Monday, December 11

parade of wanted things III


H&M is having one super cheap item (as if they aren't all super cheap already!) every day till Christmas. This is my current object of desire. Not that I have any balls to attend, but it's still desparately coveted.

Sunday, December 10

feeling grey

No Grey's Anatomy until January 4 next year. How am I supposed to survive the rest of December without McDreamy?

Thursday, December 7

lady in red update

We saved the lady in red from a fashion disaster. She offered profuse thanks and said she'd return in a couple of days to pay for the emergency surgery on her zip.

It's been four days and still no sign of her. May all her zips spontaneously explode the moment she sits down from now on.

swirl uniform

Is it a coincidence that the only dress I sold so far happens to be the very same one I'm wearing as the Swirl "uniform" today? I think not.

Now to figure out a way to wear multiple outfits a day as shameless self promotion. Oh wait, that's what Aubrey, Heidi and Su Mei are for. They're our mannequins, always standing tireless with their best posture in the shop window.

P.S. Why are they called mannequins when they are of the female form? Shouldn't they be womannequins?

Wednesday, December 6

a body in motion





It was the last pantry break I'd be having with my twin for a while. A very long while. We spent it complaining of being sleepy and "men men men" -- meaning bored, not referring to the male species -- and snapping idiotic fake Lomo photos.

And now, for a commercial break.



Fancy this pink and brown wrap dress in the Swirl colours? You know now where to get it. Also available in blue and black. Grey version sold out, sorry!



A customer came to the shop and immediately spotted the Sheryl top on the racks. She told my elf: "I saw a girl crossing the road just now in this top and I really liked it." That girl crossing the road was me. Butofcos she bought it.




I was swishing around the shop in this skirt when a customer came in and asked to try it. As she was admiring herself in the mirror, a second customer saw the two of us looking so good in the skirt, she also wanted to try it. I sold two champagne gold ones and a black one within an hour.

Shameless self promotion is the way to boost sales.

Sunday, December 3

hello & goodbye



It was a 2D1N trip back home for my sissy, due to some visa issues. It was so rushed that the only way we could eat ice cream together was in the car on the way to the airport. And we could only Photo Booth at the airport minutes before her flight.

Saturday, December 2

it's an emergency

As we were winding down business for the week today at about 7pm, a statuesque woman in a floor-length gown in deep red swept into the shop, with a worried looking make-up artist from the studio next door.

"Do you think you can fix the zip?" the make-up artist asked tentatively, pointing to the woman in red.

It was then that we noticed that the bustier part of her gown was gaping open on the left side. The zip had burst. Yet, she couldn't take off the dress because, under her armpit, the top part of the zip was still stuck fast.

While she stood still, imprisoned in her clothes, three pairs of hands tried to tug the zip down, but the teeth refused to release their grip.

I suddenly had a brainwave: The seamstress who does alterations for me across the road happened to be working late. So I lent her a jacket, for modesty's sake, and we rushed over.

There, she kicked off her Christina Louboutin killer heels -- absolutely the most beautifullest shoes I'd ever seen -- while my seamstress snipped apart the zip. Then, she sat in the fitting room in her strapless bra and knickers -- shivering, I imagined -- while emergency surgery was carried out.

The entire zip had to be taken out and a new one fitted in under the lining. No mean feat, and it was accomplished in less than 15 minutes.

The dress was still too tight, though, and it took three pairs of hands to zip her back in to go for her cocktail-dinner thingy.

She said she was not going to eat anything that night. Or even sit down. I think she might spend the whole evening sucking in her tummy.

Oh, she also said it was the first time she was wearing the gown and that it was "frigging expensive". In case anyone is interested in labels, it was a Karen Millen.

drive me crazy

HE: Drove past Stamford House and thought of you.

Wish I had the resolve to reply, "Don't drive past my place anymore."

What's the point of thinking about me, when he does nothing besides that? Either stop it or do something about it. Or just think about me without telling me.

But I guess I'm guilty of the same.

ME: Had a dream in which we got hot and sweaty. We were having Korean BBQ.

It was a perfect dream, totally innocent, easy conversation, endless laughter, unlimited yummy beef. I could have kept it to myself, but when I woke up, I just had to tell him.

Friday, December 1

swirl swap swop

Ladies, are your wardrobes close to bursting point? Are you discovering long-lost clothes that you will never again wear in this lifetime? And would you like to swop them for something pretty -- without spending a cent?

Then the Swirl Swap Swop is perfect for you.

This is how it goes:

-- Spring clean your wardrobe. Be ruthless.
-- Stuff a shopping bag full of clothes you no longer fit into, fashion disasters and impulse buys. Someone else will love them, we promise.
-- Come by the Swirl boutique on the day of the Swirl Swap Swop.
-- Empty your bags into a giant pile with the cast-offs from other swoppers, who, needless to say, have extraordinarily good taste since they are Swirl Girls.
-- Rummage through the pile and grab those items you fancy. No cat fights, please.
-- Return home with fabulous finds. Mission accomplished.

Swirl Swap Swop
Venue: Swirl boutique at 02-05 Stamford House
Date: Sunday, 10 December
Time: 2pm
* Registration required as the event is limited to the first 30 respondents due to space constraints.

Sounds like a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Get your girlfriends all excited too and sign up together. Just drop us an email at shop@ilovetoswirl.com to let us know how many of you are coming, and we will send you more details.

Remember, waste not want not. A penny saved is a penny earned. One woman's cast-offs is another woman's treasure -- or something like that.

Happy shopping and happy swopping!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
S W I R L
stamford house 02-05
39 stamford road
tel: 6338 5020
monday ~ saturday
12pm ~ 830pm
www.ilovetoswirl.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

parade of wanted things II





Contain yourself! How much do I covet these useless kitchen doodads from The Container Store. No more resting spoons while cooking and dirtying the countertop. And no more guessing if that frozen piece of mystery meat is worth thawing.

i scream

When three pints of Ben & Jerry's -- Magic Brownie, Chubby Hubby and Fossil Fuel -- in as many days still don't work, you know it's serious.