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(L): Pantone mugs, (R): Penguin Classic mug

If you have any designer or writer friends, these mugs from Pantone and Penguin Classics will probably make them very happy. I just love the bright colours, and think they'd be the perfect office mug to keep me happy at work.

Not interested in shopping? Pfft

All images from American Apparel. Colours pictured are Orchid, Pomegranate and Royal Blue.

Remember when I said I wasn't interested in shopping? It seems the drought is over. I happened to poke around the American Apparel site recently and found the Le Sac dress, which can be worn multiple ways. The only limit? Your creativity, and I suppose, the ability to swathe yourself in fabric without it looking like a sack.

Methinks a visit to my local AA shop is in order this weekend. This would be the perfect dress to wear this spring/summer. Now the only decision: which colour to get?

Ve-ry quiet

Wow, where did all that time go?

I've been out and about: visit back home to Singapore in April, going for Singapore Day at Hampton Court Palace, quick weekend trip to York this last bank holiday weekend, and just generally going out and having fun. I've resolved to go out, explore and do more in England more this year so that the next time I go back for a visit and I'm asked what I normally get up to, I actually have something interesting to say beyond "Oh, going to the gym and eating dim sum."

Excuse the quietness while I'm out there in the real world. I'll be back soon enough.

I can't hear you

I've had to turn off comments for the time being as I'm being hit by stupid spam comments by a certain 'ed'. I've reported the user profile, so hopefully that should get fixed soon.

Fashion takes a backseat

You’re probably noticing the severe lack of fashion posts around here lately. For some strange reason, I don’t seem to be as fashion-crazy as I used to be. Whether it’s a combination of my personal situation not allowing me to shop as much, or I’m just not really digging what’s being offered out there at the moment (80’s style strong shoulders? Seriously? Sky-high shoes that are impossible to walk in? Honey, have you seen the cobblestones in Europe? Hell on a girl’s feet), or the fact that I’m in an environment where it’s completely ok to not recognise labels, I’m not feeling the urge to rush out and buy whatever the latest ‘it’ items are. I will admit that I’ve recently started a love affair with underwear, and have dropped some serious ££ on pretty but structurally sound undergarments. Right now, it’s all about ‘shopping my closet’ (a phrase that seems to be as ick-inducing as ‘troubling economic times’) and downsizing my skincare collection by finishing whatever’s sitting on my shelf, and trying out pharmacy brands. Surprising things I’ve learnt:

• Caudalie’s Vinoperfect serum is fantastic, but as we’re entering Spring and Summer, the Boots No. 7 serum seems to be working just as well
• I don’t need Kiehl’s Rosewater Toner. The Boots Damask Rose toner from its Original Range smells just as lovely and has a beautiful vintage packaging to boot
• Neal’s Yard Lavender body lotion smells wonderful and feels satiny-soft on the skin, but the Body Shop Moroccan Rose body butter does a pretty good job too. (However, I’m totally in love with the Jurlique Rose body lotion, and am seriously considering re-buying once the body butter runs out)

Having said that, I did walk into House of Fraser last week and tew-tally fell in love with a pink Mulberry bag. Also, this 'no shopping' thing might change entirely when I go back home for a visit next month.

This March, I am into...

Perfect for lounging around in the bedroom. Picture from ASOS.

Eating (or not): staying on a diet plan (saying no to cakes, ice cream, cheese, cookies, and carbs at night), healthy snacks from graze.com, Activia fat-free cherry yogurt, pears, newly discovered lunch spot Giuliano’s in Richmond

Wearing: Calvin Klein robe (pictured), pretty underwear from Elle MacPherson, Lepel, Chantelle and Wacoal (whee!), less layers as we enter Spring-like conditions

Beautifying: Nivea Natural Beauty scrub, Boots Original lemon body wash, Boots Original damask rose skin tonic, Original Source Bitter Orange and Almond body scrub

Watching: Season 2 of Gossip Girl, Heston’s Feasts, American Idol (sporadically), 10 Years Younger, Coleen's Real Women

Trying: at least 3 days a week at the gym, online dating websites (seriously, there’s a reason for this)

Planning: what to do, what to eat and what to buy during my visit home to Singapore in April (double whee!)