Style Issue: Fifty

Fifty years old. That’s how old a certain American icon is. And while I was browsing through the photos somehow I had in my mind the image of the Vogue editor in Sex and the City going “Our Style Issue: Barbie. Barbie is 50″.

Yes, Barbie the action figure doll. And so here, we present, great style at any age. (Made easier if you’re a timeless piece of plastic)

Donna Karen (together with the big brown bag).

Versace! I’ve seen the original before… I just don’t remember where.

WAH LAU EH. This is why Barbie is so unrealistic. Who comes off an airplane looking like that? Even more, who goes flying in HEELS?

Burberry! I can see the Tardis behind!

No no, it’s just a phone booth.

Man lands on the moon for the first time in 1969 but astronaut Barbie could have done it when she came out in 1965.

HAHAHAHAHA. She looks like she came out from an Austin Powers movie.

Is it me or does the one on the right really look like Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame?

This one’s called Rapper Barbie. HAHA. I think she resembles Beyonce more.

Retro rapunzel-barbie.

Wah lau the smoky eyes damn scary.

Shinyeeeee.

Barbie for president (2004) was black? Foreshadowing the future? She looks a tiny bit like Condolezza Rice.

18 Faces of Linkin Park

Inspired by “30 Days of Disney”, I want to do 18 faces of Linkin Park, because they are my most favourite band ever! Why 18? Because there are 6 members in LP, and it wouldn’t do justice to have 10 or 20, so I did 18. I hope LP fans will reblog this so I can see their choices and opinions and who they love.

1. Favourite band member

That would be Mike Shinoda.Who else could it be? He raps, he sings, he produces, he designs the album covers, he mixes the songs, then proceeds to remix them… it has to be Mike. He’s the best!

2. Who you want to be (while this may seem similar to #1, the first one is who you like, this is who you would consider to be)

Either Mike (for above reasons and because duh, Mike is the best!), or maybe Chester. I still can’t believe his screaming vocals, and how he does them, and how he still has a voice after all these years. They even sound awesome live.

3. Favourite band/singer (other than LP)

Tough call, because I like some other singers and bands, but don’t love them. I’d say Stan Walker, the Australian Idol. Actually he’s only released 2 official songs so far, but I’ve been listening to both songs to death.

4. Favourite song

No Roads Left! (B-side on Minutes to Midnight)

5. 2^nd favourite song

New Divide (official song in Transformers 2)

6. Least favourite song

Probably Runaway or something? The ones I don’t listen to much.

7. Favourite album

Tough call. Probably Minutes to Midnight, because that’s the one album where I listened to and found them awesome.

8. Least favourite album

Ehh… Meteora? Don’t listen to it. But I liked Breaking the Habit last time, that used to be my favourite song cause I’d scream to it all the time.

9. Who should collaborate with them

Me!

Seriously, I love Eminem so maybe him, though I don’t know if their styles would clash.

10. Favourite pic of band

They look so young!

11. Fave pic of Chester

Damn Aww and LOL at the same time.

12. Fave pic of Mike

13. Fave pic of Brad

Wah! I like sia!

14. Fave pic of Phoenix

15. Fave pic of Joe

Gotta love his humour.

16. Fave pic of Rob

17. Favourite LP-member’s spouse/other half

Talinda Bennington!

18. Fave Linkin Park LPTV episode

Be not afraid! For he sings for you and me! It cracks me up everytime I watch.
“Dave, are you ready to go to the stage? There are millions of fans awaiting your… veeeeest!”
Le Mew, that’s french for Meow. Le purr…

Do it!

Top 10 Disney songs

Disney has enjoyed an undeniably huge market share, capturing the hearts of many children who have grown up under Western influences, both boys and girls alike. And although the children grow up to become adults, we still feel the tugs of nostalgia whenever we remember our childhood that is (or was) dominated by stories of princesses and talking animals and talking objects too. This list was compiled with great nostalgia, as I recall the great songs I grew up with, and enjoyed each and every one.

10. Colours of the Wind – Pocahontas

Sung by Christina Williams, the same actress who played Wilhemina Slater in Ugly Betty, Colours of the Wind (I never knew Wilhemina Slater was a singer before I googled Pocahontas) Having never watched the music video of Williams singing this before watching Ugly Betty, I now cannot watch it because I’m just reminded so much of Wilhemina Slater. It’s a very native American song which talks about connecting with the earth and respecting it. Natives are extremely proud of their land, they don’t see it the same way we do. We think it’s just land, you build stuff like railroads and houses on it, but they feel an insult if you so much as attempt to claim their land as your own.

Pocahontas: the first SPG?

9. Circle of Life – The Lion King

It’s catchy, even though you don’t even know the words. In fact, the words don’t even seem quite right. But you can substitute the lyrics with any words and it still makes sense. Try it!  It’s the most noticeable opening song, starting with the big boom. I remember always having to turn down the volume first, otherwise the whole house will hear a big BOOM when the song begins. This was the first movie I ever watched, and easily became my favourite when I was a child. And fast forward 15 years, I’m still angry that Mufasa died.

8. The Bear Necessities – The Jungle Book

A highly addictive song, the Bear/Bare Necessities ranks high on the list of top Disney songs. Who didn’t want to be a jungle kid and have a singing Baloo to run around a jungle with?

7. I Won’t Say I’m In Love – Hercules

Sometimes I forget Hercules is a Disney movie, because it doesn’t even look like the other conventional cutesy cartoons Disney constantly pumps out. An anti-feminist belting out a song against the romantic notions of love, with background vocals provided by five talking statues. When I first heard it, I thought it was going to be a boring song. But I quickly caught on to this catchy song.

6. Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast have the most catchy songs, including Be Our Guest, sung by a talking candlestick. The things Disney animates. But I really enjoyed this song because of how over-the-top it was. Especially the silverware dancing!

5. I’ll Make a Man Out of You – Mulan

One of the most macho songs Disney could possibly pump out, this is just like the Disney version of Eye Of The Tiger. The kind of music that gets you pumped up, and increases your adrenaline. Next time I gym I shall download this along with Eye of the Tiger.

4. Strangers like Me – Tarzan

By Phil Collins, the man who helmed all the songs for Tarzan. Phil Collins releases some of the nicest songs.

3. Tale as Old as Time – Beauty and the Beast

Who would have thought a song sung by a teapot, and danced by a girl and an animal could be so beautiful? And so romantic. I love how the video is so 3D, even though that technology didn’t exist at that time, especially the part where it zooms from the chandelier to the duo dancing. I still don’t know how they did that. Beauty and the Beast was released during a period hailed as the “Disney Renaissance”, and it’s clear to see the justification in that.

2. Under The Sea – The Little Mermaid

The Caribbean-style music has to make the top few on this list. I was wrestling between this and the romantic Tale as Old as Time, but I like this for it’s upbeat notes and cold (a.k.a. abrupt) ending. Very good to use while doing Radio Studio Production because the song immediately ends then the DJ can start talking, no overlapping-headache required. Did you know this song was once hailed as being racially-insensitive? They compared underwater creatures as ‘black’ people who did nothing ‘under the sea’, because underwater, you don’t have to get a job. Get it? With Sebastian providing black-sounding vocals? How about the part when the blackfish appears? Hmm.

1. A Whole New World – Aladdin

A duet between Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. It was not just a love song but also a song that defined Jasmine’s want that she could not have: freedom. And the fact that the magic carpet could bring her to the dizzying heights and distances she previously could not reach.

Weirdest Contact Lenses

Green contact lens, bought together with purple contact lens (check out my tulan face). While I like purple, seems like many people think it looks more greyish. What’s the point of buying a certain colour when everyone just thinks it’s another colour?

I like this pair. Always wanted to get this. I had no idea they were actually inspired by some anime character though. It just looks nice to me. They have them at online sprees all the time.

If you hate it, or think it’s completely weird, then you oughta check these out.

Weirdest Contact Lenses of all Time

Blackout.

Fancy looking like The Source from Charmed, or Sauron from The Lord of the Rings? Wonder what’s the round thing in the middle.

Glow-in-the-Dark.

Best used in dark settings like clubbing. Imagine you follow your friend inside a club/pub, and from the outside he looks normal, but when inside his eyeballs look like this. Creepy! I think it’s super funkay. But I’d never wear that.Think I’d creep everyone else out.

Hello Kitty Lenses

Are you really surprised? There’s a Hello Kitty everything, from stationery, to clothes, to cooking items, to tech gadgets. What else but contact lens?

Accessorizing your lenses.

(link)

What the heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell! I cannot emphasize how ugly this is! Isn’t it painful?

Dior-eyed.

Not satisfied with clothes, shoes and accessories, Christian Dior has gone one step further to create Dior  contact lenses. They are kinda funky though. Nice 3D effect. I wouldn’t mind wearing gold contact lens. By Dior somemore!

Swarovski Crystals.

(link)

The only pair of contact lenses I will pass (other than CD), Swarovski Contact lenses. Swarovski crystals added into the contact lenses to give your eyes extra shine. Won’t they hurt though?

List of 2009

Merry Christmas!

Yeah, I know, kinda late for that.

2010 is coming real soon. That was quick. I barely even noticed. How was 2009? (in no particular order now,)

1. I graduated!

Woo hoo! It was so bittersweet. Funnily enough I enjoyed the last few days of school the most though. You didn’t know what you got till it’s nearly gone. Or maybe it was just the release of submitting all your projects, and realizing there were no more obligations to fulfill.

When we say candid, we really mean candid.

2. I inspired myself to climb my own Everest.
I have a lot of respect for the NATAS SWET team. In May 2009, they reached the top of the world. And in January 2009, we went up the top of Singapore to interview and film these ladies. It’s not easy to handle climbing mountains, with the difficult terrain, breathing problems, strenuous physical climbing, living in Singapore is just a piece of cake. Why are we moaning about living in our own creature comforts then?

Stupid video still won’t load. Youtube, cannot, vimeo cannot, facebook cannot, every other video-sharing website also cannot.

3. I bought my first branded bag.

Heh! I really thought long and hard about what to get! I didn’t want something that was commonly seen, and yet I wanted something that is really very nice that I loved very much.

Coach may not be one of the most ‘prestigious’ brands in Singaporean society, but who here has an Amanda satin bag/pouch? It’s one of the best designs from Coach, I feel.

4. I embarked on a university path.

And met new friends. And kept telling the people who’ve graduated:

“You know we’re a RECORD!”

(Why?)

“What’s the first 3 letters of record?”

(R E C…)

“That’s me! What’s the last 3 letters?”

(O R D?)

“That’s you!”

5. My first foray into modeling

It began with a friendship to Candice, an opportunity to make up and have some photographs for keepsakes.

It somehow evolved, and I went on to more and more projects.

6. I moved.

From blogger to wordpress, that is. I finally left springintosummer and embraced FoxyLove, by fariwu. Blogger was great for just a blog, but I wanted more, I wanted a full website with pages of content. Moving was inevitable.

7. I worked for a hundred thousand jobs

Or at least, what felt like it. I worked for various different companies, for various different jobs scopes, and met various different people. There were times when I worked just a couple of days, and there were times when I worked for months, to the point of working 13 hour shifts. All part of life’s journey, rich or shitty, you decide.

8. I lost a shitload of money.

True, you’re always gaining and losing money here and there, but this was the first time I lost a few thousand… on paper and in person. Ouch. Now that’s pain.

9. I shot an embalmer

Not literally with a gun, but with a video camera. I witnessed first hand how an embalmer does his work of cutting up people, taking out their innards, pumping in the chemicals, sewing up the body, and the final steps of putting it to a casket. It was a humbling experience, and it was rather painful to witness. We learnt to respect him and what he had to tolerate everyday of his life: putting himself in a situation that no one would ordinarily ever dare to do. In the days that followed, the images and the smell of the chemicals dominated my mind.

I smell death now, everywhere. The smell of death, and the smell of chemicals. My Christmas wishlist comprises of perfume. Or anything that gets this smell away. You know you’re going crazy when you begin to smell the stench of death everywhere you go.

Wrote this about a year ago, days after the shoot. In the days after that, the smell was kind of plaguing everything. Thankfully, I don’t smell it anymore.

And now… it’s almost 2010! I have no resolutions, and never thought of making any. Just live life as per normal, and move on to bigger and better things. After all, a new year is a fresh new clean start.

See you next year!

List of the Most Beautiful Eyes

Whose eyes are the most beautiful in the world? Male or female, eyes are the ‘windows to the soul’, the thing that most people look at while talking. The eyes determine a smile, a laugh, anger, the whole range of emotions.

The list, as is many other things, can be personal and subjective. This list contains only celebrities, although undoubtedly, there are men and women on the street with eyes that are just as beautiful and piercing.

10. Paul Walker

Most famous films include The Fast and The Furious, and 2 Fast 2 Furious. Other projects that he undertook include Eight Below and Into the Blue.

9. Penelope Cruz

Gained critical acclaim in many Spanish films, Penelope speaks 4 languages (English, Spanish, French and Italian). She designed a collection for Mango, and modelled for Loreal’s Telescopic Mascara. Loreal’s ad gained criticism, as the company turned out to have added a few individual false lashes on the actress while filming.

8. Jared Leto

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS JARED LETO? He looks so different without his long hair! He is the singer of the band 30 Seconds to Mars (alongside drummer and brother Shannon Leto), Jared is also an American actor. A vegetarian, his favourite foods include popcorn and vegetables.

7. Thomas Kretschmann

Best known in movies such as Wanted, King Kong and The Pianist. Born in Germany, he trekked to West Germany at age 19, to escape from East Germany and Communism. He is now the face of Hugo Boss perfume.

6. Tupac Shakur

Known by his stage name 2Pac, he was a rapper, an actor and a social activist. Most of his songs feature violence, conflict, hardship and racism. On 7 Sept 1996, he was shot 4 times in a drive-by shooting. 6 days later, he died from cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. However, some believe that he is still alive.

5. Kristin Kreuk

Best known for her portrayal as Lana Lang in Smallville, Kristin Kreuk is also known for other lead roles such as Chun Li in Street Fighters: The Legend of Chun-Li, and Snow White in Snow White: The Fairest of Them All, a made-for-television movie.

4. Evangeline Lilly

Discovered by a modelling agent and signed on to Ford. She also worked in other odd jobs on top of modelling to help pay for her university fees. Eventually she was cast in Lost,

3. Angelina Jolie

Love her or hate her, she is undoubtedly one of the most famous celebrities of the 21st century. Her personal life as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, and mother to adopted children has garnered more attention from the press than her films.  She received fame from her role as Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and is currently one of the highest paid and most well-known actresses.

2. Sharbat Gula

Known as the “Afghan Girl”who was photographed by Steve McCurry while at a refugee camp in 1984. The photo was voted as the most recognizable photo from the National Geographic magazine. However, her identity was not revealed until 17 years later, when McCurry returned to Afghanistan to search for the elusive lady. Gula, who was then 30, remembered being photographed as “it was the first and only time she had ever had her picture taken”. In the photo, her eyes truly capture a haunting image of pain and resilience.

1. Ashwarya Rai

Won the title of Miss World in 1994, she is an Indian actress and model. She began pursuing her studies in architecture, but abandoned it after she won the title of Miss India World and Miss World, as she fulfilled her duties for a year then turned to professional modelling and acting. She married Abhishek Bachchan, the son of actor Amitabh Bachchan.

What I like

The things that I like:

1) My bathrobe!

Well actually the one I bought is baby blue, not pink. But they’re both nice. And thick and fluffy. I could go on and on.

2) Making new friends.

Yes, we did do that. Don’t ask why. But it was lots of fun, and I made loads of new friends.

3) Freebies. Lots and lots of freebies.

A Radox competition. Consists of a while towel, 3 different flavours of Radox shower gel, wipes and some kind of fresh moisture thing to put on the shoe. I really don’t know what it is, and I haven’t tried it yet.

The Follow Me products was thanks to their competition. I thought they’re quite generous cause they gave me the whole series which easily totals to about $150-$200, including 2 boxes of the O2 Bubble Mask (not in picture). And there were at least 10 other girls in the competition. How much they spend sia. That’s what people do to get advertisements.

4) Shooting (being in front of and behind the camera)

Ina Fiarah Handen: “Fari! You are on 8 Days page  21!”

Dunno leh. I’m pretty sure I didn’t write that. *shrugs*

Yes, I was shot for Avalon ads too! Basically they liked my review for them, and asked me to come down and shoot for them, twice. I feel a bit nervous about how it’s going to turn out. On the bright side, I got lots of Avalon ginseng. Anyone wants to try?

Damn, September was actually a really good month.

5) Pretty hair!

I was really sad cause I knew once I showered, there goes my fabulous hair. Sigh. I think the makeup artist that day was really very professional.

6) Pretty nails!

(Credits: NailArtBar)

I plan to do this for my next birthday. Just haven’t decided on the design yet. No to flowers, but yes to bling bling. Sure the parents will complain one.

7) Chocolate! And other snacks.

Yum yum!

8) Seeing funny little things while out on the street.

Moo! Cows are overtaking the world. Kambing (Coming) soon in a field near you. Everytime I see these cows I miss doing Journalism in the Maclab with Selvan going “dog bites man, man bites dog” again and again.

9) Going out shooting.

What could be better than going to exotic locations with the brothers adjusting aperture, shutter speed and exposure settings and with me prancing around going “Tonight’s gonna be a good, good night!”?

Especially when you have these 2 jokers around.

Aaaaaand finally -

10) Awesome friends to disturb and who will tolerate my nonsense. HAHA. I’m very grateful to have a group of friends who can be as crazy as I am, and love to talk non-stop. My only grouse is they’re all guys so touching them is so weird. See! Just saying that sounds weird already! I always only hold their shoulder. I don’t want any of them to freak out or take it the wrong way. hahahahaha.

Ok well this picture doesn’t have them. But they all stopped so I could take this picture. HAHAHA wth right! Presentation this friday, boys bring your cameras/camera phones and we shall take stupid photos!

Flying off to KL very soon. Better go sleep. Need to take down what I’m bringing so when I repack to go home, I won’t miss out on anything or leave anything behind. Am bringing my mobile phone in the hopes that I can surf broadband on mobile there. Should I bring my hamster soft toy? HAHA.

See ya’ll when I get back! Take care all!