Current status: Sunburned

Restless and on holiday, I gave my local tanning saloon a brief (8 minutes to be exact) visit today. So there is still no cure for skin cancer, no antidoke; there's no way that I'll be pale this Spring/Summer. Blame it on the D&G models, blame it on the Dsquared catalog - but I have to have my tan!

There are reasons behind every action, and I have my reason for wanting to be tanned. The popular connotation of narcissim is appealing and I intend to adopt it as the basis of my argument. With an easy to tan but also easy to overtan skin, I've decidde on a tan that doesn't spell Donatella Versace. A warm medium brown tinted skin that projects an illusion of a male version of Gisele is ideal.

Aneroxia, comestic surgery and the ilk - fashion trends have never been kind. But I know sunburn doesn't last forever.

Devil Wears Prada

Photo from Rottentomatoes. Last night, my friends and I went to watch the advanced screening of the new long-awaited comedy, "Devil Wears Prada". This movie is an adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's best-seller book. Meryl Streep is brilliantly devilish in her performance as an icy, self-centred editor. It is definitely a must-see movie for all comedy lovers and the fashion-conscious.

In the movie, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the montrous Editor-in-Chief of the Runaway magazine, hires Andrea (Andy) Sachs (Anne Hathaway) as a second assistant. Andy's desperate need for acknowledgement and approval from the cruel editor forces her to become 'one of them'. Soon, she transforms from a smart, size 6 journalism graduate to an obedient, size 4 assistant who wear Chanel and Jimmy Choo. Her changes of style and make-up even gain her praises from Gisele Bundchen. Despite all unreasonable demands by the 'Devil' - such as, two copies of the new Harry Potter manuscripts, Andy is able to prove that she belongs in a fashion magazine firm. However, in doing so, Andy jeopardises her personal values and her relationship with her friends and boyfriend.

Favourite line: 'There's a new diet where you don't eat anything,' Emily Blunt.
Score: 8 out of 10

Ps. Kate Moss has elevated herself from being just a supermodel to a superwoman. Note how she's able to walk without touching the ground.

Photo from Celebworld.

Pps. On top of being the face of 14 different fashion houses and earned more than £40 million since her 'flour cutting' scandal, Kate has just signed a deal to design for UK fashion chain, TopShop.

Ppps. 'flour cutting' scandal - Your Honour, there is no evidence to suggest that the alleged illicit drug was cocaine. My client has recently being interested in making cupcakes and she likes her flour super-fine.

Pppps. Your Honour, my client would like to claim Pretty Supermodel Immunity.

My new obsession with Regina Spektor

The quirky voice of this anti-folk singer is addictive. Colour up your black and white life with this single - 'Fidelity'.



(Shake it up)

I never loved nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds
I hear in my mind
All these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
I hear in my mind all this music

And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
It breaks my heart

And suppose I never met you
Suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never ever let you kiss me so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never ever saw you
Suppose we never ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs just to break my own fall
Just to break my fall
Just to break my fall
Break my fall
Break my fall

All my friends say that of course its gonna get better
Gonna get better
Better better better better
Better better better

I never love nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting by heart truly
I got lost
In the sounds
I hear in my mind
All these voices
I hear in my mind all these words
I hear in my mind
All this music
And it breaks my heart
It breaks my heart
Breaks my
Heart
Breaks my heart

A day of over-exercising

I'm exhausted! After an hour and a half of gym, I went to play 2 hours of tennis with Darren, Wilson and Jia. The last time I played tennis was about 5 months ago so it was good to have a hit again. Jia was playing for the first time and I think it won't be long before she starts blazing powerful groundstrokes off both sides. All she needs is a knowledgable coach, like ~ ahem, me me me and me!

This is Wilson, preparing his favourite slide backhand.

And this is Darren, Dazza, Biatch, Seles...

I need to remember to add more spins on the groundstrokes, slow down my swing and play with controlled power next time. I think I was trying to hit a flat, off-forehand in this picture .

Yep, bend your knees and accelerate your racket head from under the ball to put topspin on your shot. I have the tendency to speed up my racket head too much and too early and thus, loses control of my shot.

Ahh I also need to remember to take baby steps and then 'step in' when I hit my backhand.

Project Photo #3

Business type: Restaurant
Name: Satay Bar
Location: Manchester La
Interior: Narrow, small, two levels, tables on the left and, cashier and kitchen on the right
Atmosphere: Quiet, clean, bright
Music: Pop
No. of staff(s): 3 (1 table and washing, 1 table and cashier, 1 kitchen)
Menu: Meal Packages - Large (3 skewers w/rice, salad and crackers) and Small (2 skewers w/ rice, salad and crackers). Skewer = chargrilled chicken, tofu, spicy beef, lamb and etc...
Eat in/take away: Both
My favourites: NIL
Busy hour: Lunch
Price range: $8.80 for large and $6.60 for small. $2 for each addtitional skewer
Copyable ideas: Meal packages - same side dishes w/ choice of mains, tables on rollers

Timmy's Birthday

I went to Timmy's birthday party on Friday and I have finally recovered to write about it.

Around 20 or so of us gathered in an office around 9pm. The radio was blazing tunes from The Perpetrator to Oakenfold. Well, who cares about music when you've got unlimited supply of alcohol anyway? I don't know what happened to me. I have to stop spending my Saturday sleeping and recovering. That night, I limited myself to 5 drinks (plus 2 shots and 2 spirits) but I still woke up with a bad hangover. At least I didn't embarrass myself by running around like a wild dog or wash the carpet with vodka this time. My friend told me that I should take two shots of vodka to help ease the hangover. I didn't try, because I don't want to die... yet.

Talk about inhibition when one gets drunk, do you know of anyone who can swear non-stop for 2 hours in different languages? The person - who He-Shall-Not-Be-Named, freaked me out! I'm not afraid of ghost, but I'm afraid of him. So, who was it?

I better not name any names before I get myself a restraining order against that person! Haha? Don't laugh! You weren't the one who got verbally and physically abused by him!

Project Photo #2

Business type: Clothing
Name: T Bar
Location: Under the escalators, Ground flr, Melbourne Central
Interior: Compact, L-shaped, racks, two changing rooms
Atmosphere: Clean, bright
Music: Pop, RnB, Classic
No. of staff(s): 2
What's in store: Shop's own design-printed tees
Sizes: W - XS-L, M - S-XL
My favourites: Rocking horse, Kiss My Ass and Kate Moss tees
Busy hour: There are constantly around 2-3 people in the shop.
Price range: $40 per tee/singlet or $65 for two
Copyable ideas: Get two and pay less = people who initially wanted to just get one tee will get two thinking it's a better deal but actually they are paying more than they budgeted, shop's own print = can't it get anywhere else.

Project Photo #1

A few months ago I gave myself a small, simple project of compiling information and ideas about small businesses which I may have an interest in in Melbourne. The point? To assist me in my own small business endeavour later on. Here's Project Photo #1:

Business type: Japanese Restaurant
Name: Don Don
Location: Corner of Swanston and Lt Lonsdale Streets
Interior: Simple, worn, postered walls, orange paint.
Atmosphere: Rush, noisy, friendly staffs
Music: Alternative, funk
No. of staff(s): approx. 6 (incl. kitchen staffs)
Menu: 7 main dishes, sushi, miso soup, 3-4 different variety of beverages, free tea
Eat in/take away: Mostly takeaways
My favourites: Sashi Don, Dondon box and Chicken Curry Don
Busy hour: Lunch and sometimes dinner
Price range: AUD5.40 - 7.70
Copyable ideas: Limited menu selection = easy to manage, less preparation. Small shop size: easy to manage, cheap rent. Fast and cheap = Japanese fastfood.

Darkus' 20th Birthday

A couple of us decided to have a few drinks before going to Darkus' 20th birthday party last night. Bad idea! I was so trashed after god knows how many glasses of alcohol, I missed out on singing the birthday song and birthday cake, and had to stayed in the car while everyone else went clubbing. We are the Original Queens of Clubbing. Darkus is the one in pink, Happy Birthday boy!

Aaron, a white guy, Quan and I. Note how I either bite my lower lip or stick my tongue out. It is soooo not fierce and edgy. Alcohol makes people do strange things.

You see what I mean?

Timmy, Tommy and Jonny.

Note to self: When you start taking photos with strangers, it's time to stop drinking. You can see how I was about to stick my tongue out, but just didn't make it in time.

I need self-control. I need to promise myself not to ever drink more than 5 glasses of any alcoholic beverages when I go out next time.