Godspeed,

New year, new beginnings, new dreams - time for another adventure.

Colour splash,

I walked into art class the other day wearing a mint dress with matching feather earrings (currently having a penchant for those) and my Burmese friend couldn't be more quick to sprout: "You're finally wearing some colours on yourself!"while my other classmate raised her canvas to show how colour-coordinated I was with her artwork - good times. I have to admit, I'm a fan of brown neutrals and nude palettes, and of course the classical monochrome ensemble...but I'm starting to crawl back into the recesses of my wardrobe to dig up some colour splash into my everyday wear. Especially with R miles away, these colours can really help brighten up my day ♥ On a side note, it puzzles me to no end why some people think fashion is extremely inaccessible or expensive, it's not all about the haute couture labels but being able to improvise and rock that look even if it means you just ripped up half your shirt into a fringe or your bag is a 3 pound thrift store vintage find. 

Oops, I think I'm guilty of both. 

Im(ex)ploding,

Radical explosions/

Untainted yearnings/

Never too late to seek/

&

Being a still hummingbird/

Endlessly in a mirage, I go/

Wandering about thrills/

I won't let go for/

Longing is/

Dainty like falling petals

Flower power,

The days are getting much warmer, for Spring has finally arrived! The peeks of sun rays are enough to make me sufficiently happy through the day, but I'm glad that the long winter is finally over ♥

Headed down to Portobello market today, as I'm having a short break in between my papers during exam season. Scored a few bargains as well as fresh vegetable shopping along Westbourne grove (such a dream). Gallivanting in Notting Hill was such a feast for the eyes, because the rows of terrace houses are simply gorgeous and there are plenty of retro vintage shops around to source out treasures. Riding on my Vitamin D high, I also brought home a pot of Begonia and she now sits happily on my window sill - love how her bright primrose pink petals matches my curtains! She also caught the eyes of tons of passer-bys enroute back to my apartment which sparked off a few interesting conversations on gardening, such a charmer for a plant really.

Snippets of life III,

4 days till I leave for London, and it's been a pretty blessed time catching up with friends and meeting up with everyone before I leave ♥ And of course, soaking up the essence of Singapore (especially the good food!) This Christmas season has also been yet another time to spend with my loved ones, and for that I'm truly thankful. And of course, for His miracles throughout the season, reminding me that He is in control of everything - something we often forget in the hustle of our lives. And of course, a shoutout to my special someone who has been constantly there for me throughout :)

 Flying off for 6 months can indeed be very apprehensive, but I'm really very excited for the great adventures ahead...say hello to Europe in my backyard! I've been hearing so much about my friends' epic exchange stories - hello Alvin's naked man skydiving and mugging ninja incident stories, and it's finally my turn to embark on them ^^

Alvin back from exchange with lovely maple cookies!

Seeing Delvin off at the airport

Finally played squash after being dormant in the sport for at least 4 years, how refreshing! And negated all the exercise with Singaporean food feasts @ Old airport road which Jeanie has been raving about. (Do try the Whitney road prawn noodles, it's worth the wait and really good)

Been meaning to try the main courses @ Marmalade pantry, and went down on a fine Sunday afternoon with Xiner before our shopping trip! The pancakes and sticky date pudding were awesome, but the eggs benedict felt like they were missing something. And of course, singing Christmas carols at R's homely family gathering.

Met up with the classies towards the end of our school term to Celebrate David's birthday, NYDC desserts never go wrong!

Gorgeous french lavender straight from London, love it when the breeze comes by my window and my room smells so sweet ♥ 

 

Also, I'm slowly learning how to master the art of baking swiss rolls! It's really tricky, especially since the cream melts very easily and if the batter is too cold, it doesn't roll as neatly. Made them for 2 Christmas gatherings, Will share recipe soon, made a lot of healthy adjustments to call it my own :)

And I couldn't fly off without meeting up with my dearest Carren, love how we always end up laughing till we almost cry hahaha so much nostalgia really ♥ 

Christmas feast with the classies! And the hugest pizza I have ever seen from Pepperoni's hahaha

Met up with dearest Karen who flew back to Chicago before my term started, love how we had Mu parlour to ourselves and as usual, almost cried whilst recollecting good ole times hahahaha miss you ♥ 

View from Rochester park avenue - Star vista! And lunch with my fellow tutors from the social enterprise I work for :)

So touched by what my students wrote for me on my last day :')

Sonia, my soci paper buddy! Thanks for being such a great partner, and us rushing online at 2am in the morning frantically referencing our paper and meeting the next day in starbucks for intense editing :) We deserve our A! ♥ Hope you enjoyed your stay in Singapore, if I do go up to the States I'll definitely contact you!

A shoutout to my French homies for making French class so terribly entertaining with the Frenglish, and the singing during our LAF1201 oral -  we are so amazing. Beer and saucisson next year at the French alps!

The face of whom who woke me up at 3am in the dead of the night because she was afraid of the thunderstorm, such a qtpie. She will be dearly missed when I'm overseas, especially bombarding her with many hugs and kisses hahaha.

Beer, live music and great company can never go wrong. And especially when we broadcasted silly messages on Timbre's TV dedication channel, happy birthday to the arabian name aka us!

And not forgetting a meetup with one of my favourite colleagues during my summer stint, partner-in-crime for underground office chats! Love the hair dude, many Anthony live forever.

New Year wishes @ Orchard road!

Played taboo with the classies, and you know it's awkward when your self-volunteered to download Taboo iPhone app stops the game because it ran out of trial cards.

East coast cycling, the azure blue sea and fine skies captured just half an hour before it started pouring and we sought shelter at Burger King with fries, what a classic no-no to negate all the exercise.

Nav's 21st @ Avalon at Marina bay sands after a short trip down to Gardens by the bay, amazing night for him and the others with the Santarina,....and let's leave it as that hahaha.

Merry Christmas everyone ♥ Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas this 

season with your family, friends and loved ones!

Nous avons notre amour ♥

                                                                                                                                              Kodak gold film 35mm ISO200

Song of the moment: You and I - Ingrid Michaelson

Cher journal,

 Aujourd'hui il fait chaud, et beau. (Okay not really, it rained for a while but I don't know how to express that) C'est ma première fois écrit dans ce journal en français, c'est intéressant et intrigant. Je travaille toute la journée, l'école n'est pas amusant. Mais, j'apprends le français qui est différent de la psychologie. Je cherche des personnes pour communiquer français a l'école, mais je ne parle pas très bien francais. J'ai à practique beaucoup plus. J'aime mon des camarades de classe parce que ils es décontracté et amusant, mon bon amis de class. Je suis impatiente d'aller Londres pour ma échange, j'adore photographier les belles rues de Paris et Europe - c'est romantique et pittoresque! Avec ma copain....parce que comme moi il adore la culture et la photographie. Ma relation à longue distance est va bien, je suis contente et cinquante-neuf jours plus ♥ Je suis très excité pour next year.

 À bientôt, avec ma photos!

Bises et embrasse,
Yanting

A sprinkle of mnemonic charm please,

It's 11:11, and I make a silly wish for a sprinkle of mnemonic charm for the the (albeit mundane) day - nearly the advent of a new afternoon means I have to start scampering through my pile of research papers (Reading week started on 15 April) but right now I'm still on Fashion toast for my daily dose of breakfast ♥ Some new additions to my stash from weeks ago, particularly pleased about the mint nail polish which I've been raving about which goes perfect with the turquoise school satchel (houses my Mac snugly for presentation days) Grab and go books from the book sale @ NUS Central Forum - short stories because I can't really afford time for leisure reading nowadays and Jodi Picoult in a feeble attempt to entice my sister to read more.

In (not so recent) times, I've also jumped from Team pencil to Team liquid eyeliner, I know the bottle spots noir intense but it's not very harsh and so manageable to sweep across, just irks me when it gets into my waterline. But it stays on longer than pencil eyeliners, although the latter has a softer touch. Halfway through the bottle, and I'm lovin' and not leaving the house without it thus far!

New eyecandies on the list:

1. NYX Black label lipstick in Summer in Hampton, Girly pink or Shell

2. Gorgeous Bulova vintage watch piece

It's time for lunch, time to hit the kitchen for homecooked green tea Soba (closest thing I have to my Wakame Udon craving). Oh how I long for summer, I can feel it in my blood. Ciao!