Gin's 2009 Chinese New Year

After reading through what Tiam had to say about his Chinese New Year, I believe I might as well share the summary of my CNY as well since its more or less coming to an end soon or wait..pretty much ended already.

Here we go...

1. I just learned my Fat Dog is scared of fireworks. Tried to hide under the drain but was too fat.


We never ever let dogs enter the house, but we felt pityful for her, we let her in. She was panting so much that we thought at the rate she was going, she was going to get a heart-attack. She stood underneath the table the entire time.


Somehow we just felt that this dog is definitely trained in the past for bomb raids. She did not eat for two days. She definitely has a very interesting personality.

2. Ang Pow's definitely affected by the global economic downturn. Definitely much smaller compared to previous years...



3. Ate Steamboat pretty much nearly every day until last night. I believe this is the first year i've been having so much Steamboat.



4. I told my friends that gambling is against my religious belief at his house. That was after already spending one night at his place playing cards. Religious belief people!!Do you get it??Do you get it??

5. I was so bored the entire day waiting for relatives to drop by, I decided to do something spectacularly interesting like planting a Pineapple tree. Let me say that again,

I PLANTED A PINEAPPLE TREE!!

No guys, its not for prosperity and all that mystical stuff. Just did not know what else to do with the pineapple head. I know guys, I should get an XBOX 360 or something.


That's it guys. Started work on the third day of Chinese New Year.

Dries Van Noten shoes & Zambesi dress

Wore my new Dries Van Noten sandals to get my haircut today, with this black Zambesi lightweight knit tube dress. This dress is seriously the most comfortable dress I own (yes, even comfier than my silk muu muu), it's so light it almost feels like I have nothing on.

Dress: Zambesi
Sandals: Dries Van Noten
Necklace: Peruvian beaded & turquoise neckpiece
Bangles: Miscellaneous Chinese bracelets

I'm so so so excited about the Dries Van Noten Djamilla silk beaded dress I purchased yesterday. The detailing is so incredible, can't wait to wear it when the weather cools down (and even though I don't usually dress top to toe designer, I'd love to wear them with my black/cognac strappy Dries heels):

www.style.com


Close-up pic of the accessories I wore today :

The beautiful pair of Japanese chopsticks were a 'Sweet Fifteen' birthday present from best-friend in Brazil (so many years ago! I still love wearing them in my hair). I'm crazy about this Peruvian neck-piece I bought several years ago from Bauhaus, I'm afraid the bad lighting washed out the vibrant blue of the Turquoise stones...

Recent Buys: via London & Melbourne: Burberry Prorsum, Dries Van Noten & Empire Rose

Burberry Prorsum Military Coat

Last week I spotted this coat in the Elle UK December issue (p.112) (I'm always a month or so behind as I refuse to pay air freight prices), and fell in love. Called my sister (who lives in London), and she tracked it down for me last Friday, and it's now mine! I'm so excited! I have such a love for coats that I'm even eyeing them in summer...crazy seeing it was 110 F/43 C today !!!

It's a Prussian blue military style cocoon shaped quilted trench coat which is double breasted, with buttoned epaulettes, a high collar and two rows of buttons which end at the waist with inverted pleats below.

www.style.com

Dries Van Noten Strappy Sandals

During my visit to Melbourne this weekend for the Australian Open (saw Nadal play, he is incredible), I did manage to squeeze some shopping, and returned to Belinda and purchased a simplified version of the Dries Van Noten multicoloured sandals I missed out on last week (I am still upset over it, see below). Although in no way as stunning as the pair I originally 'purchased', these are a worthy consolation prize (I will still keep an eye out for the blue multicoloured pair), and I love the rich colour of the cognac leather straps (and the fact that they're incredibly comfortable).

(pics via www.style.com)

Empire Rose Militaire Vest Helmut in Chrome

Next to the Belinda store, was Empire Rose, a Western Australian label I have followed/owned/loved since the 90's. This vest was too gorgeous to resist, with its narrowly-cut shoulders and cute pockets, love it!

The car that lasts forever

Whenever recession comes, I always believe its the best time to spend your money and not the other way around of keeping your money under the bed.



When businesses are affected, they tend to either boost sales by lowering the price of their products or services,

or they can just become an ass and ask the government for loan when they're in trouble.



But back in the small town of Kedah called Sungai Petani, where labor is relatively cheap, food is cheap, and girls that look like this,


the only thing not so good is businesses which are badly affected.

Looking at the way how things are going, small businesses who really has a tougher time of obtaining any loan (come on man, survival of the foetus ok?), they have no choice but to even lower their already low price of their products and services.

Its like you can buy an LV bag here for a quarter the original price because people here can't really afford it and well not many swanky people.



Well try halfing the already quarter price and you'd get the picture.

Now, with the Chinese New Year in one days time, we couldn't help but clean things up a little and make sure we look sharp to face the invetible recession threat coming our way.

So guess what guys, with RM500, we decided to give our old faithful ride a new coat of paint. You heard that right, RM500. The kind of money you can't even buy an ipod.


The result...as you can see..simply wonderful..




Can you feel it!!CAN YOU FEEL IT!!

THERE'S A REFLECTION!!THERE'S A REFLECTION!!HOORAY!!HOORAY!!



It may not be surprising to many of you i mean, what the hell, its just a coat of paint right.

I tell you...if you had a freaking rough surface car like mine for 10 years, you'd understand. You would understand when you go out on a date and could see tears flowing down from her face.


The kind of tears of deep sadness of how her future would be threatened if she would continue to have a deep relationship with this guy. Trust me guys, you wouldn't understand.



But all that will change with my new coat of paint when a friend of mine that I met up last night told me my car was a Ferrari. As much as a joke it may be (wait a big joke!), it somehow really made my day.

I feel the money spent was well worth its value. I feel the year of the OX will be a good one for me and I hope it does for you too. Its official guys, the car will lasts another 10 more years.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR EVERYONE!GONG XI FA CAI!

Paris Junior United Loses

Just awhile ago, while many were still recovering from their sleepless nights of night outing such as clubbing



or relationship hiccups that occurs at least three times a week(shared by a friend on the frequency of fights they have within a week) which so terribly happens to be on a friday night(but i guess that saves saturday right or wait...there is another one?, dammit...),


some friends and I who has been playing futsal together for nearly a year now had to wake up at 7 in the morning to go for a competition.


A Futsal Competition. A Competition with lots and lots of "Jaguh Kampung's" that came from as far as Ipoh to Alor Setar.


The only reason that we had to wake up so early was because the competition was over in Butterworth which we had to register before 9am.

Nevermind if we were going to face the biggest traffic jam of the year on Penang Bridge on the way back,


we were all set to go for the competition with "Boleh Menang" spirit in mind.



Before I continue any further, I did not manage to take any pictures since bloggers/blogging and playing football doesn't really go together. I would have definitely wanted to do something like this in the futsal ring


but i figured that would have sent a wrong message to my team members as well as to other teams who were going to play with us if you know what i mean..

and the other thing is...I won't like the idea of my camera in my bag to defend for itself when i'm out there playing the game. You just can't trust anyone nowadays..Simply can't..


Anyway, with much amazement, the futsal competition not only housed Jaguh Kampung's of northern states of Malaysia, but there were international footballers that came from as far as Oman as well.

That's right guys, for those of you who don't know. Oman is umm there....


There were also Nigerian fellars that gave everyone quite a jump since most of them looks like some of the stars in lets say someone popular such as....(since they look about the same)



Back on our side, our team had a jersey which costs us RM 35 which looked like this (not bad aeh)




and our team name was called Paris Junior United.

It is again not surprising why we had a name that really defines romance and little children playing football in kindergarten. Well, everyone was a supporter of different premier league clubs and nobody could agree on a single championship team and so, PJU is rather neutral which was accepted by everyone.


Just as a record, I would have preferred our team to be named Manchester United to give us the spirit to play in a MAN Utd. way rather than some woozy club that I have never heard my entire life!

or better still, to be called Malaysia and having unknown supporters cheering at us "Malaysia Boleh" dressed in the yellow and black striped shirt since our own supporters were busy drinking too much.



Luckilly we did neither of that, and stuck to Paris Junior United because our game did not turn out too well.

After 3 games to prove ourselves as Jaguh Kampung Champions of the northern state, we had to pack our bags and leave because we failed to qualify to go further. Here are the scores: -

First Game: 6 - 0 (I don't know, It definitely felt more than that)

Second Game: 4 - 0 (I don't know, I felt it was definitely more, BALLS kept coming)

Third Game: 2 - 0 (This one very true)

It is not surprising who the Zero belongs to when you see the score. With such a score, i figured, we did improve in every game and with the experience earned, we could definitely try next time, maybe Jaguh Kampung of the south.

oh and wait...if you're wondering what place I was playing, I was playing goal keeper. That's right GOAL KEEPER!That's right the dumb guy who gets punished for saving goals with balls that come at super speed.

Now most people wouldn't want to be a Goalkeeper because of the responsibility of keeping goals out and well, its simply GOD DAMN BORING TO BE JUST STANDING BY THE POST while everyone is out there playing FOOTBALL. Unless of course if you're earning millions of dollars in the premier league championship and of course it is very important that you play for the winning team.



However, I really had fun being a goalkeeper this time. In this time around, my post was very much favourited. How much funner does it get with 10 goals being scored at my goalpost.hmmm....definitely funner!

Thakoon Peony Petal Blouse & Toni Maticevski

Top: Thakoon silk petal blouse
Skirt: Toni Maticevski silk tulle tea-stained layered skirt
Shoes: Chanel ballet pump stiletto heels
Belt: Anna Sui rhinestone gold belt

Top: Thakoon petal silk blouse
Pants: Sass & Bide Harem pants
Belt: Alannah Hill floral silk belt
Shoes: Mauve-pink suede perspex wedge sandals I bought in Brazil 8 years ago
Bracelet: Tom Binns Faux Real cuff

This Thakoon silk top has been sitting in my wardrobe since last year and has never been used. Everytime I would try it on, I felt 'too girly' in it. If only I lived in Alix's (The Cherry Blossom Girl) magical world, I would wear it with a flower tiara and the outfit pictured here.

Instead, I have decided to bite the bullet, and bring it with me to Melbourne this weekend (I am off first thing tomorrow morning). I will wear it in my not-so-girly outfit with my trusty (& comfy) S&B Harem pants. Even though I am going there to attend the Australian Open (tennis), I will try to squeeze some shopping in if possible.

(www.firstview.com)

I love this silk tulle skirt by Australian designer Toni Maticevski, this being from my favourite (and earlier) collection of his. I love the tea-stained colouring, the multi-layer light-as-air silk, and delicate pleating.

Also, I have been a fan of Thakoon Panichgul (Thai-born American designer) since seeing his first collection in 2004, in particular his jackets. In this Spring 2007 collection, featuring this peony-inspired blouse, the collection displayed simple shapes but with incredible ruffles & pleating, which I just loved.

For those in Australia, hope you have a great long weekend, hip hip hooray for Australia Day!

It's getting hot in here...

The weather has been in the high 30's and sometimes 40's (ie. around 100 Fahrenheit) since I returned from my South American holiday, which means I've been trying to chill by the pool or at the beach, or indoors whenever possible...

Wore this to my friends' 3-year old's birthday party (which was great fun!):

T-shirt: Sass & Bide 'A little peace' Jagger tee
Shorts: Stella McCartney
Belt: Alice McCall silk crystal bow belt
Bag: Burberry patent clutch
Shoes: Stella McCartney black pumps (shown below)
Jewellery: Crystal bracelet from Bauhaus

Burberry patent clutch:



As a large-bag fan, I've always resisted clutches as I can barely fit anything in them, but I thought it was time for my first 'proper' clutch, and got it last December.

Please excuse the terrible hair day

Out for drinks at a local pub with friends, was in a 'Resort' mood:

Top: Tigerlily white&red striped with lace straps halterneck worn under
Blouse: Vanessa Bruno cotton-voile top (better pic here)
Shorts: Stella McCartney
Belt: Dries Van Noten
Bag: Burberry Manor
Shoes: White buckle shoes with red heel (purchased 5 years ago in Brazil, still love these, and had to buy them twice, as they were stolen the first time, minutes after I bought it!)

Sunday drinks with friends (was happy chilling at home, but had my arm 'twisted' to come out to a nearby bar for way too much French bubbly...I had 5 minutes, so added some accessories to my comfy 'lounge at home' outfit)

Top: Sportsgirl beaded silk camisole (used to be a dress, but I didn't like the asymmetrical hem and so 'altered' it)
Dress: Ilana Moses silk dress (it's actually a gorgeous deep purple colour)
Belt: Calibre (men's) belt
Shoes: Dior Extreme Pythons
Jewellery: Tom Binns Faux Real cuff & large stone ring from Buenos Aires
Bag: Chloe large brown leather bracelet bag

I am blue...

I am blue, for in the past week I have 'purchased' two separate items from two different online stores, only to be told a few days later that the item was sold out, and hence unable to purchase them. Funnily enough, both items were 'blue'.

First item was a beautiful and elegant Tom Binns cuff I 'purchased' from Browns as a 30th birthday present for my sister E. It's her birthday today (Feliz Aniversario E!!!). I was so sad to hear I couldn't give her this present, as I was so excited about it, and was already picturing it with the gorgeous Vera Wang dress she'll be wearing at her masquerade party this Saturday:

(www.brownsfashion.com)

The second item, I 'purchased' on Thursday, checked my credit card on the weekend and saw that the amount was deducted from my account, so thought it was smooth sailing this time. 4 days later, and I have just read my email, telling me they have sold out of these multicoloured Dries Van Noten sandals in my size, and whether I would like to purchase them in 2 sizes bigger (uhm...thanks, but...no thanks):

(via www.tfs.com)

Oh well, I suppose it wasn't meant to be (but am still upset/angry/sad/frustrated)...