the home-tv saga

i always get annoyed when my brother invites friends over to watch soccer on weekends, especially during the "golden hours" in the evening after dinner - when i usually love to just chill out on the sofa, sip some hot tea while idly watching some tv serial or movie. it felt like an invasion of my personal/private stay-home moments.

there are 2 tvs at home, one in the common living room area, the other in my parents' bedroom. my brother pays for the subscription of the starhub cable channels - linked only to the living room tv set (because he wanted to watch ESPN and the soccer/sports channels), so that naturally gives him the "authority" to expect me to move aside as and when he wants to watch his soccer matches. that seriously irritates me (to an extent the thought of moving out always comes up whenever that happens) cuz i think it's very unfair given that the living room is a common space and the tv there is supposed to be a family-shared property.. but i always gave in anyway, since i didn't want to kick up a big fuss when his friends or gf is over at our place.

but i guess everyone has their limits.

last weekend, i was couching on the sofa watching "armageddon" on channel 5 (10pm show) after dinner. about 1.5 hours into the show (near show-climax), my brother and his gf suddenly appeared at the door, and said they had to watch a soccer match right away. it was not a question, not a request, just a statement. it's like they knew i have no choice but to give way and retreat into my bedroom. to tell the truth, i had watched "armageddon" years ago, so it wasn't really a big deal having to miss the show ending. but the annoyance from always having to give up the living room (which is a common entertainment area for everyone in the family) and tv to them just made my blood boil - maybe i'm a petty sister, but i just didn't like the fact that i'm subject to all that just because my brother decided to pay for the cable channels subscription. anyway, i gave them a very very annoyed look, held my silence, picked up my tea and retreated to my bedroom to read a novel instead. my parents were already asleep in their bedroom, and i wasn't desperate enough to sneak in to disturb them by switching on their tv. the week passed by the grudge didn't evaporate.

this weekend, history repeated itself.

i was watching the saturday night movie "the cheetah girls" on channel 5 last evening, when my brother and his gf came home. i was still halfway through dinner in front of the tv, when he came over and said, "erh sis, we are going to switch the channel to watch soccer now." this was all too familiar, only this time i flared up and responded in a slightly raised tone, "all you know is to come home and ask me to go away. that's all you do and everytime i just have to do your bidding." i knew that would make his gf feel uncomfortable, but i didn't care (plus i think PMS made it harder to control my temper). i spitefully picked up my unfinished food, retreated to my bedroom and SLAMMED the door - making my dismay very obvious. for the rest of the night, i didn't speak a word to either of them... and i ended up staying up the entire night finishing off the 392-page novel i had been reading. by the time i was done and ready to turn in, it was already 8am in the morning. and when i woke up in the afternoon, brother and gf had already left.

things were quiet and peaceful (i got to enjoy the living room again) until brother and gf showed up just now at 6:00pm... with a new mini television! i instantly knew what that meant (and it made me feel guilty for losing my temper last night), but stubborn me just refused to act a bit excited or apologetic. it isn't an expensive brand, but i certainly didn't expect him to go out and buy home a tv for me. it is actually a very nice thing to do, especially coming from him. i had also been contemplating getting myself a real cool flat-screen tv for my own bedroom (complete with DVD player etc.) but given the current economic situation, i felt that could wait. now that he's gotten one for me, i don't have to worry about that anymore.

it is still a big surprise.

now i feel like a big baddy for acting the way i did last night.
but then again, maybe if i hadn't shown my dismay so obviously, perhaps i would still have been taken for granted? :P

pretty soon it'll be dangerous to eat or drink anything at all...

following the recent milk scam (melamine poisoning) from China... more scary news about what we put into our mouths.

Japan's Nissin recalls 500,000 noodles over insecticide fears

bad news for instant noodles lovers.

tokidoki - 'til death do us part'

hehehehe.. too cute.
just had to share this short little clip starring Adios and Ciao Ciao ;)

juicy loves sephora

juicy couture always makes the cutest stuff - from handbags, to clothes, pouches, jewellery charms, trinkets, fragrances etc. so when they tied-up with sephora to offer limited edition "juicy loves sephora" items, you can imagine how i almost suffered a heart-attack just browsing the pages!

motives of cute cuddly terriers, royal crown, pink, gold and brown (all my favourites)... it's no wonder i fall for them time after time. well, i guess the adrenaline rush will do my heart some good.. hehe. it's a good thing they're not readily available here in singapore, saves my pocket some damage.

not counting the juicy couture-"inspired" camera case i got from bangkok earlier this year, the only item i have from this label is the travel-size EDP fragrance i got from seattle recently :) love it to bits... comes with a cute little charm too - mine's the "terrier" charm version, the one shown on sephora.com features the new "cupcake" edition.

it's a story book.. it's a box.. it's.. it's a camera?

fredflare has some of the quirkiest merchandise on their website. i like that.
you know me, those cool-looking, sometimes not-very-useful but prettily packaged stuff :P

now, check out this super-cool camera. it looks like a story book or some toy box.. but flip it open, it's actually a real camera in disguise! how interesting!
i even like the pastel green colour, deers and bunnies prints on it :) not exactly expensive at USD55 but i don't think i'd be running to get it (unless i see it in person at a retail store and just have the sudden urge to spend). certainly fun and a definite conversation-piece, just not very practical. works with 110 film.

while you're on the site, don't miss this ikimono mini keychain 110 camera (USD22) too *lol*..
the japanese are just so creative and the king of kawaii-ness! very cute!

other very original "camera" items on fredflare.com.

oh wow! fantastic deal - too faced collection!

soooo wish this collection was already available when i was in seattle last month... i would have snapped this up in a heartbeat! what a FANTASTIC deal.. 8 x too faced quickie chronicles minis for less than USD60??!! WOW.

not to mention, i have always loved too faced quickie chronicles palettes (original size or minis)... they're soooo adorable and retro. plus, the fact that the palettes come with pre-matched eyeshadows and cheek colour, it's a no-brainer compact makeup on-the-go.

i really really love this collection! what's more, at this incredible price, these mini palettes would make perfect stocking stuffers for christmas.. ooh.. *sigh* what a pity.

limited edition sephora-exclusive offer, in celebration of its 10th year anniversary.
see more coveted deals here.

fit for a princess ;)

one advantage of having your own single-girl´s bedroom, is not having to worry or justify to your significant other why you chose a certain bed linen or having to fight over it ;)

i know some friends may frown or feel faint at the sight of this.. hehehe.. but i guess every girl must have dreamt of being a princess at some point in time. i don´t think i´m too old for this - yet :P maybe a little childish, a little too girly.. but i like the princessy-fairytale-ness of it, and since it´s in the privacy of my own bedroom, i went ahead and got this for myself :)

at a discounted price, from aussino.

my cakes galore!

it´s a cakes galore for my birthday this year :)
i´ve got not one, not two... but TEN cakes for my birthday today *lol* (tiny ones)

i´ve already had my advanced birthday celebration lunch (our tradition) with my colleagues last thursday - a joint-celebration with my boss (he´s also an early-October born) - at the penang place buffet. since we were having a buffet, we didn´t get a cake as we´d be stuffed after lunch anyway. so no cake that day.

today, it was regular lunch at the foodcourt near our office... surprise came after lunch. boss and his wife bought a variety of mini cakes from canele, stuck a candle in one of them, and everyone sang me a birthday song.

it was a nice simple celebration... and everyone´s happy to share the tiny cakes too (mix of tiramisu, green tea, strawberry, lemon meringue, chocolate brownie, creme brulee etc.). they were pretty and yummy, not too sweet, not too rich, just-right size. i even had some extras to bring home to my family.

then when i got home, mom had one more mini cake from bengawan solo waiting for me... hehe... sweet of her.

so that´s my perfect 10.
10 mini birthday cakes for this year.

there goes my waistline :P

shop anya hindmarch at Target

london designer label - anya hindmarch - which pioneered the photo-bags trend (be-a-bag) years ago and more recently created the "i'm not a plastic bag" eco-tote craze, is now going mass market by offering a limited range of handbags to be sold at Target stores in the USA... with prices supposedly starting from £11.50!

"Anya Hindmarch has partnered with the US retailer Target to launch a limited edition low priced handbag collection (from £11.50). This collection has already received rave reviews in US press and will be on sale in Target stores from mid October. We have a sneak preview of this collection available for you to buy before it hits Target stores exclusively at anyahindmarch.com from 8th – 14th October." (abstract from anyahindmarch.com)

catch a glimpse of the collection before the actual launch.
interesting move from the renown designer label - unbelievable prices.

harajuku lovers - solid perfume coffret

i got this solid perfume coffret set from Macy's during my recent seattle vacation.
they're so SUPER UBER DUPER CUTE!! i just couldn't resist :P not to mention they each have a great sweet girly scent too, and would just be so adorable being tote-around in your handbag/purse.

too cute. love them to bits! :D

the EDT mini sprays (full-size-dolls) are actually cuter - but pricier too (USD25 - 10ml; USD45 - 30ml). would be oh-so-lovely to collect them all!

"Harajuku (hara•joo•koo) n. 1. A style and attitude of Japanese girls from Harajuku, Tokyo. n. 2. Anything goes: outrageous, layered, and eye-catching.

Harajuku Lovers Fragrance: n. 1. A fatal attraction to cuteness.

Inspired by the electric street scene of the Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo, the Harajuku Lovers fragrance collection captures the lyrics and iconography from Gwen Stefani's albums. These unique fragrances, in their adorable doll-decanters, will appeal to anyone with a "fatal attraction to cuteness." Choose the girl that best fits your personality, but (trust us!) after meeting one, you'll have to have them all!"
(abstract from sephora.com)

check out the full range at sephora or macy's.
more about gwen stefani and the world of harajuku lovers.

happy news :)

today is a happy day for me.

i had my practical driving test at bukit batok driving centre this afternoon - my first attempt. as much as i tried to stay calm and relaxed, i just couldn't help feeling nervous during the 30 min. test. i fumbled a little, made some silly mistakes when starting off... fortunately, things eventually turned out well, i was able to stay composed, and i think i got lucky with a kind instructor... so...

I PASSED!!!

yay! *celebrations* i am so happy! (didn't know it could feel this exhilarating, but i sure was thrilled when i got my results!) so now i'm an official P-plate (probation plate) driver... hehehe :D yoohoo!!

many thanks to all the well-wishes and support from friends, colleagues and family... it really helped boost my confidence :) at least my 6-month training and money was well worth it.

PS: looking back, i guess it's all a good sign from the beginning... my test date: 10 sep 2008 = 080910 (nice running numbers). and guess what is the car plate number on my test car today? 8910 - nice coincidence, isn't it? ;)

new browser - google chrome

the new google chrome browser is here - have you tried it?

i would love to try, but my laptop has symantec endpoint protection running on it (which apparently has an incompatibility issue with chrome). after downloading the installation file, the browser just wouldn't load properly. *tsk tsk*

for more information on the issue, check out these discussion threads/sites:
google group discussion (google login required)
symantec SNT forum

guess we shall wait and see then...