Working at a female magazine has its pros. One of them, a big one in fact is the great exposure to beauty and makeup products. Although fashion and beauty factor almost equal parts in the magazine, beauty clients are more “generous” and of course, the best way to get your product featured in the pages is to send it to the beauty editor – if she can try it and like it, then it’s almost a definite shoo-in.

I’ve learnt so much more than I ever thought I would know and care about beauty and makeup. Unfortunately, I haven’t translated my new knowledge to practice much. My skincare routine has been buffed up and I’ve recently discovered how marvellous sheet masks are but as for makeup, I’m still pretty much the same lacklustre about makeup. But I do like pretty nails and DIY my manicures, I’m pretty happy with nice-from-far nails. My nail polish collection has been pretty buffed up – Topshop is a firm favourite.

But removing the varnish is a pain, plus the bits from the cotton pads stuck on the fingers are annoying so this, Sephora’s Express Nail Polish Remover is the BOMB. OK, so I bought this from Sephora (Belle has a rule – we don’t ever buy any beauty or makeup product when we can get it for free) but this will be the exception. I saw it on my colleague’s table and made Geri use it one night we were trying on nail polish from the stash. Inside this is foam with a hole for you to stick your finger in. I spilled some (not sure how much) of the liquid when transporting it home but tonight when I tried it for the very first time, it worked like a charm. It says to leave your finger in for a minute but as usual I was impatient so I just stuck it in and turned it round and my nails came out clean as a whistle, even the edges. Although the polish I had on was the pale pale pink, Essie’s classic – Ballet Slipper – so I have to wait to find out whether it removes my dark purple that’s almost black so effectively. And with all fabulous things, it’s not cheap though. I think it was more than $20.

I have a sickness and my sickness is bags. I have Bambi (Prada) and Lampchop (Balenciaga), Edith joined the stable last November from the Chloe outlet store in New York. Various Kate Spades, Furlas … OK make that many Kate Spades. Longchamps from Paris (where they are affordable and not overpriced like they are here). I have a Cath Kidston I stalked Tokyo for and another Cath Kidston from ASOS and a Orly Kiely from some random online website. And a Whole Collection of environmental bags from various supermarkets around the world, Hong Kong’s City Super, New York’s Whole Foods (which made up for the disappointment of the lack of environmental bags at Dean and Deluca, I should have just got them in Tokyo, every girl and her dog was toting one). Bags from Japanese emooks (buy mag get bag), so you see, I never met a bag I never liked and I also have maybe 100 bags. I’ll take that back, I really don’t care about Louis Vuitton or Gucci … monograms don’t work for me (OK maybe Goyard and maybe the Louis Vuitton Coppola collection that doesn’t have LV splashed all over it.)

I’ve tried to limit myself on wallets. Right now, I’m still using my Comme Des Garcon purple polka dotted embossed one I got last year in Jakarta (I know, go all the way there to buy CDG) but I digress. According to Lucky’s December 2010 issue, CDG wallets do not die no matter how much you want them to so you can buy another one.

I like all sorts of bags. Boat totes are my weaknesses though I haven’t acquired a LL Bean monogrammed one, the classic, but I have sling bags, ladylike totes, purses, gym bags of all sizes (one that even fits my yoga mat), sporty bags and backpacks. Though my last backpack purchase was off some Taiwanese website and it cost $20 or something but when I saw this The North Face Purple Label Day Pack, I fell in love again. (Though I talked myself out of a Baggu backpack because of the obvious – pit stains)

I saw it in Fudge (a Japanese magazine, it says its a New Type Fashion Magazine for Girls – that’s my type of magazine) and I did a little Google. Turns out, as with every freaking thing I need in my life (as Belle would call it) it’s only exclusively available in JAPAN. Thank god for the internet.
Picture from Hypebeast.com

It would be perfect for my next trip to god knows where. For some reason, I always convince myself that things are perfect for travelling as though I am a frequent globetrotter. If only it didn’t cost $224 before shipping. Damn the Japanese.

I always find something so fabulous that I tell myself that I should blog about, then I never do. At the end of the day, catching up with the blogroll (still have yet to figure out how to use googlereader) or just aimless surfing seems more agreeable than punching out an entry. I don’t know whether it’s the job hazard of mandatory work blogging once a week that killed a part of the urge to blog that puts me off blogging. But then again, I haven’t been reading or even buying any magazines lately (my last English magazine purchased is Aussie Vogue May 2011) and it’s not as though I read alot of other magazines at work.

I’ve recently discover Into The Gloss, a beauty website run by Emily Weiss (if you did watch The Hills, she was the perfect Teen Vogue intern that Lauren and Whitney were wary of). Now, everyone who knows me knows that I couldn’t give half a hoot about beauty and makeup. But the good and bad thing about subbing is I’m forced to read, interpret, research and re-write beauty. Which basically is not my favourite thing to do and do you know how many words can be used to describe a skincare product or lipstick, blusher and I could go on …

So this article about Jean Godfrey-June, Lucky’s Beauty Editor, deeply struck a chord with me. First off, Lucky is the magazine about shopping and hence, my first true magazine love. As much as I adore Teen Vogue, I appreciate a magazine that cuts through all what I consider fluff and goes straight to the important things like clothes. I never used to read stories about love or sex, much less beauty. But what she wrote here resonated with me. ““My life with beauty … let’s see. I mean, the thing I would say is that I just always wanted to be a writer. I wasn’t particularly interested in beauty. What I discovered as I became a writer is that everyone relates to beauty.” And I realised what she said was true. I’m just like her, I just always wanted to be a writer. I may have been particularly interested in fashion but since interning and being exposed to fashion, realised that I may not have a gift in it.

Right now, I’m subbing and hopefully learning how to be a better writer. Before the book closes, I sometimes curse myself especially when I’m in office at 3am. But I know this is what I want to do, even if the going gets tougher and I hope I will be able to do this for a long long time just like Jean Godfrey-June.

It’s been a struggle to get the workouts done, especially with the first issue that I’m fully subbing. In fact, it has been simply impossible to go to a yoga class or even a run around the block after work. So I started dragging my ass to 7 freaking am yoga class last last week. Yes, that means I got to wake up at freaking 6 am so that I can be in class 10 minutes before 7am looking bewildered at all the crazies who are religious about attending early morning yoga.

Yes, I’m freaking tired by the time even 10am rolls around and completely spent at 3pm but I’ve made it to yoga three times this week so despite everything, I’ll try to hang on. Though next week is going to be a complete nightmare.

They say I’m a pessimist. Yes, I’m not bubbly and an eternal optimist like some of my colleagues. But I try. I moan and groan. But I get up and make things change. As much as I can.

Today, I ran the maybe 2.5km or more to yoga at Ngee Ann City for the 9am Hot Vinyasa. It was a surreal run. Apparently, no one but some crazy ang mohs running and poor construction workers being dropped off for work is awake at 8 something. Yes, I was huffing like mad by the first 400 metres and considered walking the entire way. But I managed to jog like a snail towards my destination. Thankfully, the yoga class wasn’t a killer. It felt great. For like 2 hours after, until I pigged out on Maccas breakfast and had to go to work.

But it’s been alright and I will try to keep at it. Times have changed and I’ve to change my exercise routine.

Last Friday, March 18 was the finale of the biggest project of my life. I think I’ll have this date ingrained in my head for a long time to come since it is going to be my first and last EB. I’ve never been involved in an event of such a large scale. From the beginning, making cold calls to random males like a telemarketer (I’ve a new found respect for them but still however will continue rude to them, sorry guys), searching for the 50 guys, organising the Saturday photoshoots, asking the same 7 questions 50 times. That entire process spanned from last October to the first week of January this year.

Then it came to the various performances and mollycoddling of the boys. I’ve to admit, I never met so polite boys in my life or such good lookers. Not all 50 are but when you’ve been through hell and high water to secure them, you feel like a proud mother when almost all are standing right in front of you. Especially when you get to know them better and you see some of them (or in my case 5 boys) every week and some would pop in occasionally to rehearse and truly perk our days up. Especially when they are so sporting during the events, they truly are the boys you want to take home. Some perfect for bringing home to Mum, a great example would be the Best Boy On Earth and some, you just want to bring home and tear off their shirts. Heh.

The finals party at Zouk was just crazy. It was a blur of screaming at the guys, treating them like kids. Individually, they are perfect well behaved adults but together, they are a bunch of rascals sneaking out to take a smoke break or just be assholes (in the most good natured manner). Backstage wasn’t that fun. I couldn’t watch the band performance or my boys do the striptease up close. But it was worth it.

I take pride in my work and this certainly was a long and exhilarating trip. I get far too attached when it comes to having people involved. This was the first week the strip boys haven’t tumbled into our office at 8pm to practice the dance. They laugh when I said there’s a sense of loss. Well, it is my first EB ever. I don’t think the boys will remember me this time next year. That being said. I’m still glad it’s over.

But to all the boys I’ve nanny-ed before, thanks for the memories.

I want to do yoga outdoors in the sunlight on a wooden floor. Or in a studio with full length windows and with the sunlight spilling in. I love yoga clothes more than normal clothes. Afterall, Lululemon costs a bundle more. The only time I wish I had long hair is so I can scoop it up and make a top knot to do my sun salutations. Or like some nun in those swordfighting shows.

Oh my, where did the year go? One minute it was still 2010 and the next, it’s already 2011. As you’ve noticed, I’ve been gone for awhile. Where to? Nowhere.

Do you really want me to do a recap of the year? Would it be awfully self indulgent? Oh well, what the hell, it so happens to be my blog.

In 2010, I found out that if you put your mind and heart to achieving your goal, you actually have a pretty good chance of making it. I still can’t believe that I made it. To be part of an editorial team of a magazine. Of course it’s not everything it’s cut out to be. It’s really much tougher than I thought it would be. Or maybe I’m just getting older and lazier. One thing that I’ve found are friends that actually stood by me, I didn’t think these people existed anymore. I’ve learnt that when you want something so badly and when you get it, somehow it’s the hardest thing that you will do in the end. Somehow it’s easily to just whine and moan about how shitty things are than go about doing something about it and end up whinging and moaning again. That’s just life ain’t it?

On a less emotional note, I visited Jakarta (Hi Denise!), Bali (Hi Ivan and Richard!) for the first times and New York again. I’m still not as endeared to air travel but as long as it gets me to places and to buy things, like my first (and only) Chloe bag. It’s an Edith. At 60% off, this is reason why people get trampled on during Black Friday (or whatever day after Thanksgiving) sales.

For this year, 2011, I guess I would have to make Chinese New Year resolutions now since it is February.
1. The usual gym and yoga resolution. I’ve not been going. It’s always a tough choice between home, yoga, a run round the neighbourhood or a spinning class. But something’s got to give.
2. Moisturise. It’s really superficial but I’ve always spent time lathering after my shower, except lately. In fact, I’ve been misplacing my countless lip balms so in addition to dry skin, I’ve got dry lips too.
3. Work my ass off at work.
4. Remember Karma and be kinder.
5. Get the wedding over and done with.
6. Remember to be frugal and remember that I’m not earning as much as I used to.

Ok, I think the only way I can do proper posts for my blog now is to do it Twitter style.

I’m back from New York. It was awfully cold but there were days when I could just layer and wear my dress and shorts. I have a new bag, her name is Edith (real name) and I only could afford her because of Thanksgiving sales. I also am the proud owner of an Elizabeth and James flannel shirt. (Yes, the Olsen twins.) I also made my first Anthropologie purchase.

Also SOHO is totally different but as fabulous as I remembered it. It snowed a little on the first day. Plus I didn’t get lost on the subway. Thanks to Fatty. I sort of watched the lighting of the Christmas Tree lighting at Rockefeller.

I just wish it was summer.

I have a new haircut. It’s the key to my joining the next Kpop boy band or to be the token tomboy in a girl band. I think this is one of my favourite haircuts. The boy who cut it spent a long time on the back with a shaver and his scissors to form a V. I don’t do the girly dressing with my boy’s haircut. I feel that it’s my license to go all the way androgynous.

I’m leaving for New York on Friday evening. Today is Monday night so I have less than four days to go. Typically I would be excited and hyper bunny at this moment. However, it’s not easy to hand in all my stories before I go in such a short time. I wish I could hurry up too but between Miss KC having to review my work and I having to puke it out one more time and waiting for all the PR and agencies to get back to me.

How come I’m more stressed than I was at the ex beehive? Sigh.

Well, I am stubborn and wondering how to not wear pants and jeans but just layer and tights and legwarmers with dresses and shorts. I guess I’m asking for it.

Suddenly I wish for that.

Out of the blue, I felt the urge tuck myself under a blanket and have a bowl full of popcorn on my lap. I wanted to have all my hall friends around me watching some stupid Bachelor show or American Idol. Maybe that’s what my birthday should be like this year.