When i was in school, my favourite presents from my dad were my watches. (Ok i loved my Katarina Witt Ultrawheels to death too but today we’ll talk about the watches!)
I had a classic Mickey Mouse one.
A grey and purple Casio.
Before i got upgraded to a couple of Guess ones.
I may throw away many things while cleaning out my room…
but one thing i can’t bring myself to chuck are those watches.
Having worn and stared at them every day during my childhood,
just holding it in my hand and looking down at it now,
gives me glimpses into what it felt back then.
What i felt back then.
As i grew fonder of fashion,
my appreciation for watches grew as well.
For me, accessories are highly taken into consideration when dressing up – shoes, bag, watch, jewelry.
These are things i’d splurge more on (i’d have to say ‘more’ cos i pretty much splurge on everything else too -_-)
as they’re items i use daily.
I think a watch shows a lot about one’s personality.
Whether you’re classic and timeless,
or glitzy and attention-grabbing.
Unconventional and contemporary,
or luxurious and flashy.
A month ago, watch distributor Crystal Time were in touch with me,
on the possibility of giving out watches to KinkyBlueFairy readers. (They distribute watches from BCBG, Kenneth Cole, Cosmopolitan, and other brands to stores in Malaysia.)
Of course i said yes
I’ve recently taken to the idea of giving out prizes to my readers…
and what better than to start this for 2011!
This month, i’ll be giving away 1x Kenneth Cole watch.
Sleek and chic, Kenneth Cole’s digital watches are always functional and fashionable.
Featuring large digital displays attached to durable waterproof PVC straps,
they are the essential functional time-telling fashion accessories in your daily or weekly routine.
The men’s digital watch is also available in stainless steel strap against stark white for an added cool factor and greater versatality in complementing daily wear.
(Besides watches, Kenneth Cole also sell footwear, handbags, apparel and accessories)
Here are a few designs from Kenneth Cole i thought i’d post up:
And below is the watch i’m giving away!
To enter the contest, just tell me a fond memory of a watch you had/have.
It could be something from your childhood,
or a piece you currently wear.
You can either comment on this post,
or email your entry to joycethefairy@gmail.com with the email title – Kenneth Cole Watch.
Don’t forget your full name, email and valid address.
Deadline: 31st January 2011
Open to Malaysian residents only.
I must say i’m a bit sad 2010 is over…
it was probably the BEST year in my life yet…
which i hope is a sign that the future ones are going to be even better and BETTER.
*hello optimism!*
This year was the one i traveled the MOST as well.
Hmm which may be why i deem it my best year yet.
So moral of the year = TRAVEL MORE
In Jan, i traveled all over Spain and fell in love with Barcelona.
Feb: Deep and i went for Antares’ Celebration of Life party in KKB
March: Bali with Clem’s bunch of French friends. I want another holiday with Olivia and Thom!
April: Krabi with SarChan where we (meaning, i) got so drunk we sat in the ocean in the rain, drinking :p
May: Invited by the Singapore Tourism Board to attend Audi Fashion Week,
and was sponsored by HP to attend the SATC 2 premier in New York. BEST EVA. I love New York!
Was definitely the best holiday of my LIFE only because i went to so many cities in 2 months!
In London i went to the museums, opera, drank Guinness in the sunshine, salivated over scores of food at Borough Market, walked down Columbia Road, and ate some of the best food.
I also experienced the most beautiful and awesome music festival in my life – the Isle of Wight Festival.
I can never forget how the music made me feel there… and i was pretty sober too!
Never have i had so much fun dancing in the sunshine with thousands of people,
and watching The Courteeners, Friendly Fires, Vampire Weekend, the legendary Paul McCartney and all these amazing acts over one weekend before!
Going to that music festival has made me ache and ache to return to Europe in the summer JUST FOR THE FESTIVALS.
In July, i flew back to London, just in time for the Kings of Leon concert at Hyde Park.
Managed to do lots of stuff in London, like watch Wicked,
and attend Wireless and Lovebox music festivals with MadcapperSa and Nadia,
where we tumbled about having the best time!
I even had a ‘farewell’ dinner party before i left London for France…
Where Yishyene and i sailed on Nir’s catamaran for a week from St. Tropez to Rome.
On the way we stopped by Monaco, Corsica, San Remo, Port Macinaggio, Elba…
It was really a trip of a lifetime and i’m so thankful to have experienced it…
After France, i flew back to KL and vowed never to leave Clem for that long again.
I’d planned to take that trip before we got together, so didn’t want to back out of it then.
And i’m glad i didn’t.
I always told myself that when i saved enough money, i’d take a big Euro trip when i’m in my 20s.
And i think if i’d just saved the money to put a down payment for an apartment,
WHAT IF I DIED the next year?! (ok morbid but that’s what i thought)
Then the apartment would mean nothing.
I met and spoke to SO many different people,
and learnt so much about them.
Einat (who’s on the cruise with me) said to me once, “Traveling is life’s best university.”
And i do agree.
Without all that travel, i couldn’t possibly soak up all the culture and art and music and food that’s buzzing in my blood right now.
Traveling reminds me that there is SO much more in the world out there.
God i hope i never stop traveling as much as i can till the day i die.
And of course, i just got back from France where we spent 2 and a half weeks there for Christmas.
PHEW.
I can only hope i’ll travel as much in 2011…
truth be told it’s kinda hard cos i miss you-know-who a lot when i’m away,
so it doesn’t make sense to put myself in a situation where my heart isn’t at ease either.
Leftblock is not just to design clothes, but to do anything with fashion we feel like doing.
Sometimes i sit and daydream about Leftblock doing this and that… to the point it escalates to us throwing a fashion party in NYC or something.
Then i stop myself and go, “Woah. I really went off on a mental rollercoaster there!”
But i think daydreaming is good for you.
If i don’t visualise it for myself, then who will?
Work has been great this year… and i hope MORE opportunities will arise the next.
I have no clue what will happen.
That’s the thing with freelancing… you just don’t know whether luck will be up or down,
but i’m crossing my fingers and trying to visualise all the good energy and work flowing to me.
Work was a bit slow when i got back from Europe,
so i threw myself into learning new things… i started cooking and adore it.
Am hoping to upgrade myself to making much more complicated dishes soon.
And i started taking French classes at the Alliance Francais.
Reason being i was thinking what if Clem and i had children,
and they know French, then all of them will be talking without me understanding anything!
Yeah, i know it sounds like i’m jumping the gun,
but i figure if i’m serious about this relationship,
then i have to do my part to be serious about it as well i.e. learn French, not have kids.
2010 was so great… i didn’t worry as much as i did in 2009.
And i heard worry is the one thing that kills your soul.
Cos it’s negativity being repeated over and over again.
So i’ve been trying really hard not to worry.
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Here’s to a worry-less 2011, filled with more love going around.
Before the big ultra-extended family dinner on the 24th,
we had a small family dinner at Clem’s grandparents’ house,
where his dad Didier prepared most of the food by himself.
Funny owl that i fancied
Big slabs of foie gras – ready to be pan fried
My favourite way to eat it! Followed by raw
We opened pressies before dinner.
I got a lovely silver necklace from Clem’s mum,
a bunch of French kids’ storybooks from France,
a top from Flore,
and a scarf from his grandparents
Pastries to start off our night, teamed with champagne
Clem’s grannie and me
I gave Didier some reindeer ears for fun
Oystersssss
me + Flore
Clem’s grannie laughing at him for wearing her glasses
Didier + Dom
Foie gras pan-fried with grapes
Dom, Serge, me with my mouth hanging open
France, Didier
Clem’s grandpa
Lots of cheese after our turkey (which i forgot to take pictures of )
Dessert
Dancing off the food after dinner!
I think that was the night i ate the MOST here in France. (The occasion i ate the most was when i threw up in my own mouth afterward :p) At one point i physically couldn’t swallow anymore.
You know? When you’re so full that you’re chewing and chewing but you just can’t seem to make yourself swallow.
Clem saw my face and said, “If you can’t finish it, leave it!”
But i’m Chinese yo.
And Chinese people don’t usually leave food on the plate…
it’d be rude!
I think his family are astonished at my appetite,
and he told me his grannie and dad wondered where i put it all.
>.<
I was just allowing myself to pig out,
and then religiously start gym and yoga in January.
Since i landed in Paris,
i’d been waiting to see snow.
I didn’t want a thin layer that counts as snow for its first few hours,
before turning into ice or melting into slush.
I wanted Christmas card-worthy snow.
Not being impatient as the weather forecasts reported plenty of snow to come,
it came on the 23rd while we were in Le Mee.
For hours and more than a day,
it snowed non stop.
Swirling down from the sky in pretty patterns,
the white dots darted maniacally during its course,
as if unable to decide where to land.
I felt like a child again!
Deja vu jiggly wiggly feelings of boots crunching in the whiteness,
making soft squeaky sounds.
Admiring the scenery from the warmth of the car,
it looked like a big giant up above had accidentally spilled sugar frosting on the world.
Layering everything it could – cars, curbs, bushes, faux presents on Christmas trees outside, railings, rooftops, chairs left in the garden.
The world’s new look suddenly seemed to go hand in hand with the cream apartment we were staying in at the time.
Belonging to Clem’s aunt, it looked like something that wouldn’t look out of place in Vogue Living.
Catherine greeted us with pink wine, caviar and shrimps,
wearing a dusky pink sweater and leather pants.
We sat in her cream living room with its cream carpets and eggshell curtains;
the latter, hung gallantly at the floor to ceiling windows,
as if to nonchanlantly show off its view right in front of the River Seine.
Joyce likes the apartment, Clem told his dad. “Of course she likes the apartment ,” he replied in French, “Look at it!”
+ + + + + +
view from the living room of the River Seine
nature’s miniature ladles of ice
playing with grannie’s scottish terrier
wilson’s first time in the snow!
clem’s gazillionth time in the snow… and he still managed to fail making me a giant snowball
)
