Friday, December 31, 2010

Gmarket Haul

Happy New Years Eve everyone! I hope this year has been kind to you and if not, I hope the next will be better.

Well, my gmarket order arrived early this morning in record speed - the order was placed on Sunday and it took less than a week to arrive!

The main motive for this order was to get some bags for the next uni semester <3



Though they came out flat at first, tightening the straps that went through the holes near the top, it gave the bags a better shape.





The following two items are bags from FNB. My first bag, fresh out of plastic wrapping:



I wanted the white version but it was sold out, contemplated the light grey version but I settled with the tan colour.

Comparison with the stock image:



My second bag is a black one. I initially wanted the "purple beige" color but unluckily for me, it was sold out! Black was the only colour left! (no light coloured bags this time, so my next bag purchase will have to be something light!) Apologies for the dark photo.



Comaprison with stock image:



There is a strong plastic smell to the bags, but after airing them out for a while, it should disappear.

Next up, simple black 6cm heels from this store. The height is not too high so it's perfect for me to wear casually. I wear a size 6 and a half or 7 here in Aus, and I bought size 235. It's a bit tight. Next time I order shoes, I'll make sure to get size 240 instead.





Comparison:



Not the best, but the quality is decent, you get what you paid for.

Next up is the polaroid album:



The plastic case the album came with was cracked.



The inside of the album was a little bit damaged as well. I'm not too sure how it got damaged, but it's still usable so I'll deal with it. I'm a little unhappy though.



Next, Miffy pens to draw on polaroid photos!






Testing the pen out on a dead photo, it works successfully!



And finally, my brother's shirts:



And thats it! Another happy Gmarket order! I don't know how I afford to buy things on a student budget (it helps that the stuff is so cheap though) OTL Gotta start saving again!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

30/12/2010

It's the end and almost the beginning of a new year and this decade!

Anyhow, I made banana and white choc chip muffins yesterday using this recipe.



My best muffins so far, if I do say so myself ♪

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Recent Buys

Blog post of my recent buys this time!

Post-Xmas shopping at Parra and Livo:



Simple white tunic blouse from CottonOn. Had to get size M because there was no S left. $10


Cute lacey Elwood skirt from City Beach. $29


Lovisa necklace. Adorable and I'm glad I nabbed it since it was so cheap


Pins with rose motif from Equip. Kinda regretting this purchase since the pins with unrounded ends hurt when I put them in my hair! I think I was getting a little too rose-obsessed that day...


Nail polish from Sportsgirl. Top: Lace (a lilac, pale lavender sort of colour) bought at Liverpool $7.95, bottom: Bikini Babe (clear) bought at Parra $3.64.


Such a cute colour that I'll be whereing for a while this summer! Lace with (imperfect) white polka dots on my nails. I suck at applying nail polish as you can see... Still working on that ><


Shirt from CottonOn that I bought at Liverpool. $10

Pre-Xmas purchases:


Saw this during my shift in Fairfield. Adorable, so I bought it. $10


Khaki skirt from Chicabooti, Galleries Victoria, $8-ish. One of my purchases when my friends and I went shopping in the City and at Birkenhead Point the Saturday before Christmas. Was surprised by how good the discounts were there, but was also disappointed that there weren't too many shops. I also nabbed a pair of Levi black skinny jeans for $50!


My brother bought this for me when he was in Melbourne. I don't look good in t-shirts because my body shape is weirdly proportioned but I was surprised when I tried this on because it looked half decent on me. Cute design and great quality by the Japanese T-shirt store Aoi. $40 (Check out their site: http://www.aoi-t.com/news/ or store if you're in Melbourne!)


I like my sales ♪


Tuesday, December 28, 2010

28/12/2010

It looks like I did another disappearing act! I hope everyone had a great christmas feasting with their families!

I changed the layout again because the old one was really buggy. This new layout by bituwin is classic and cute. I changed the banner though, to a design by Shinzi Katoh. I am planning to change it soon because I know I'm probably not allowed to use it due to copyright or something like that >< I find Katoh really inspirational as he draws on simple and childish themes which appeal to us because of the nostalgic feeling it creates. The characters he uses in his designs remind us of our childhood and add a cute yet sophisticated flavour to simple products used in the household. Those Japanese designers for you! They're just one of a kind!

I want to design a new banner soon, inspired by Shinzi Katoh and the theme of fairy tales, while adding a cute and classic and vintage touch to it to project the image I have in mind for my blog site.

Blog related thoughts aside, I had a mini BBQ (not really a BBQ, but a small gathering in the spirits of that) on Christmas day in the evening and then went to my relatives the next evening for a family BBQ.

The day after that I went to the boxing day sales at Parra, to which I was a little disappointed. I could not find the tunic I wanted from City Beach, but I bought a cute lace skirt instead. I might buy the shirt I want online, if I get the money. Found an amazingly adorable and vintage-esque rusted "gold" necklace with an oversized key and a pink rose. I also grabbed a wallet for my mum at Strandbags and a few other things, which I may post later if I can gather the strength to!

Today, I headed to Liverpool to grab the nail polish I wanted from Sportsgirl. The previous day, I bought the wrong nail polish at the Parra Sportsgirl, mistaking the "Jelly shade" "Bikini Babe" for the cute Lilac colour named "Lace" that I had tried on my nails. Very disappointed that Lace was not discounted to the $3.64 that I had bought the jelly/clear for, instead it was full priced at $7.95. I bought it anyway. I couldn't resist, it was an insanely cute pastel colour! I am also looking to add a mint green and a baby blue to my small, almost non existent nail polish collection.

My bro and I also put an order in for Gmarket, it's been almost a year! I bought two bags, heels, a polaroid album and pens while my brother bought two shirts. Will blog it when the package arrives.

I also ordered City of Flowers from the Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman from the book depository a week ago. Gotta love the low prices and free international shipping the site offers! I started the series in high school and I've been waiting years to read the third book! I am also hoping to get Blossoms and Shadows by Lian Hearn. I'm still waiting for it to go on sale in the book stores, and if not, I'll grab it online.

I am so broke now OTL

Monday, December 6, 2010

6/12/2010I

Tokyo Kawaii TV! This episode seems interesting (albeit being a few months old): Australia's Top Model 2010 top 4 contestants on the show! In the likely chance the embed video doesn't work here is the link: http://channel.pandora.tv/channel/video.ptv?ch_userid=861xm861xm#prgid=39337495&categid=all&page=1



In other news, I had my first driving lesson today :E

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

1/12/2010

Oh joy - summer has arrived (although to an un-summery start with rain!)

The last month of the year has finally arrived also!

Well, yesterday I had my first shift at work. It was okay, could've been better. I like working and having my time occupied - I detest having to be idle. I probably came off a bit of a ditz or annoying to the store manager because I forgot some things she had told me relating to the job and I always asked her what I had to do next once I finished my task (like I said - I hate having nothing to do. I believe one should work hard at the job because we're not being paid to be idle =3=)...

I have a feeling she doesn't really like me since she always gives me a 'wtf' or 'lowest scum on earth'-esque stares (the other worker was nice and tried her best to help me, though I had a feeling she got annoyed at me pestering her and asking what to do next). Not my problem.

The attitude of this store manager makes me miss my old part time job since everyone there were really nice to me (even if I was made to work harder than them and do the 'dirty work' ie. cleaning, but hey I can't complain, oddly enough, I like cleaning and keeping occupied). Maybe it's because my current store manager at my xmas casual gig is female and also younger (early or mid-twenties?). I guess bitchiness really does sort appear more imminently in women heh. On the other hand, my managers at the old part time job were male, older and had children, and were Asian which sorta gave off a more "paternal" feeling - the workplace itself was nice since it felt more like a huge family.

Oh - and I didn't end up going to that General Pants interview. Oh well.

Though, after much reflection these past few days, I've realised that I would like a job that did not require so much human interaction (with customers). I don't think I'm particularly bad with people though. I think I'm a rather nice and polite person (or at least, I try to be), but I don't know if others perceive me that way.

I just don't have that "spark" that other people have when talking to customers, able to easily connect to them (and their often young children!) and create conversation like they're friends. I know I'm not awfully sociable - maybe it's because of my personality or the fact that I don't have too many close friends, but that does not mean I am not a social person at all. I just like being with people who I am comfortable and myself with - my close friends. I am not going to act too friendly with a customer I do not know. I will simply try to treat them as a customer by greeting them, treating them politely (rude sales people create contempt!), and assist them in their shopping experience when needed. That is what I feel my job is. I know many people will not agree with that, but that is just purely what I feel.

I don't think I'd mind a desk or office job now that I think about, even though it would be quite dull and boring. At least I'd have a computer in front of me and plenty of work to occupy my time. I need orders - a list of things I must complete. I would be awfully lost if I was just left at the job with no instructions.

The thought of becoming a language teacher also occurred to me yesterday while I tried to go to sleep yesterday night. Interacting with those younger than oneself and teaching them does not sound as daunting. I have respect for good teachers and I think students, no matter how nasty some can be, need access to such and good role models to be influence by. I'm still not sure whether or not I should consider it seriously though - but what other jobs can I really get out of the degree I am studying. I would love to go overseas and teach English since that just requires a Bachelors degree but my mum would have none of that (even though I am legally an adult)! I am majoring in languages and I'm pathetic at seriously studying. I have no ambition to be a translator or interpreter. I can blame my environment (family/house) and I do, but I know that the root of it all is my lack of motivation, determination, laziness and... just myself.

I hate not knowing what to do with my life. Sometimes I wish I had done mathematics in High School and chose to do Engineering in University. Hah, perhaps I can even do Graduate Medicine - but then again, there is no motivation. I do however, believe I'm smart enough - especially with enough study and a goal to look forward to. I also kind of not want to do Journalism anymore after the epiphany of my (lack of) relation to other human beings and shyness - I'm just not cut out of Journalism now that I think about it. I think what I need to focus on at the moment is finding something I adore doing, things I love, consider all the options I have and then set a goal.

Well... That was a deeper than usual post... I guess I've been pretty dispirited lately (for many other reasons that I don't have the heart to post here - many that will probably be perceived as stupid or selfish or both, but hey, it's not like anyone reads this thing anyway!).

Okay - now lets get it together and do something productive during the holidays!