Took off my polish on my fingers (OPI Nantucket Mist) and toes (Essie Sew Psyched). So much for adding the bling on my thumbs to make the mani last longer. I did leave the polish on both thumbs though. Figured I might as well not waste them! Gonna let my nails breathe for the night then paint my digits with OPI Parlez Vous OPI? and my toes with Essie Smokin' Hot. Clearly, I'm going with the smokey purple theme for New Year!

Having a neighbourhood New Years Eve party tomorrow! It's only a few families but I hope it'll be fun. I think it beats staying home and watching the countdown by myself, which it sad, I know. I saw Dad thawing a huge chunk of beef so I'm hoping he's gonna make his beef stew for the pot luck! :D

I'm itching to spree polishes. Sigh. And because I'm not buying any till next year, I have now reverted to buying clothes! Found the oversized knitwear I missed on TSR so I'm thinking of buying it! My bank account had suffered a huge blow this December because I was in such a holiday mood. I guess I'll have to save more during my internship stint next year (if that's possible)! And of course, buy less polish too!

As for New Year's resolutions, I've made so many over the past few years and I probably never got down to keeping them so for 2011, I'm gonna keep things simple. Just two simple things. Firstly, to be happy and secondly, to be healthy. That's all. Probably the two hardest things to keep to even though they sound so simple, but I guess it's time to find my bliss, whatever that entails. Of course, what's happiness if you don't have your health to enjoy it?

Here's wishing all you guys a fabulous 2011! May the start of the new year signify new beginnings and bold new adventures! Happy New Year and cheers!

Here, I have OPI Nantucket Mist on my pinkie and ring finger, the Rubi colour on my middle finger, and China Glaze IV on my index finger! Weird how the polish looks so different on the nail than in the bottle!

Another picture, this one with flash so you can get a better view of the colours!

I know I said I wouldn't shop anymore but how could I resist? I got my Gallagher shades from Rubi today! Went down to City Hall and I only saw them at that branch so I grabbed one pair in black! They're not actually called Gallagher shades, I just named them that because I look like a long lost Gallagher cousin when I wear them! Also got some bangles for $5! And and and, hahaha, my Achilles heel, 2 bottles of polish. But no, I didn't get the taupe one okay! I got one coral-ish one and one green one! Will swatch them for comparisons when I'm free! Sleep time!

The amazing duochrome shimmer of Paradoxal in its full glory!

This is one coat of Smokin' Hot on my ring finger and one coat of Paradoxal on my pinkie. Clearly, you can already see how much darker Smokin' Hot is!

This is two coats. Both went totally opaque in 2 coats and sadly, after painting the second coat on, I knicked the two nails on the edge of my laptop which resulted in dents. I couldn't bother to re-swatch the colour because you can still see them pretty well even with the knicks.

This was with flash to bring out Paradoxal's beautiful shimmer!

With flash

This is 2 coats of Grey Suede on my pointer and 3 coats of Tickle My France-y on my middle finger! The difference in the 2 colours is definitely more obvious on the nail than in the bottles.


Coat number one of Grey Suede and you can immediately see its beautiful shimmer!

Coat number two goes one and it becomes opaque enough for me! The colour on my middle finger is Chanel Jade Rose btw. I swatched it on for fun but I'm slowly falling in love with it!

Somehow, when the manicurist painted on the Seche top coat, it caused a lot of bubbling on the surface! See below!

This is after 4 days of wear! Only that chip on my middle finger. This was in the day.

However, at night, the chipped worsened and it peeled! I'm not kidding.

So I took off the polish for the first 2 fingers and painted them with China Glaze IV, which I heard was a dupe. This picture was taken on the first day of my mani and hence, all fingers were still painted with Nantucket Mist. I'm holding the CG IV bottle for comparison though.


Right, here we go, pinkie and ring finger are painted with Nantucket Mist while middle and index fingers have CG IV on. Clearly, IV is much pinker. It also went on soooooo much sheerer. It took almost 4 coats to get it opaque and even so, it still went on a little streaky.

I've been cut off from the internet and any computer since last Tuesday and I must say, it was a good experience! I managed to read The Five Greatest Warriors and The Lost Symbol. The latter was a little disappointing though! I didn't see any Dan Brown twist in the story unless it was that the tattoo dude (spoiler alert! cover your eyes!) was Peter's son. Was that the twist? Because I kinda knew that half way into the book. Or at least I had my suspicions! Five Greatest Warriors was (at least to me) more fast paced and I couldn't put the book down at all. I finished reading it in less than a day and as predictable as it was, I really liked the action it provided me with. I felt as if I was running along with Jack West Jr through all the mazes!

Oh, and I accumulated A LOT of books to read last week! Went book shopping with my brother and we (mostly me) spent like CRAZY. I bought Stig Larsson's Millenium Trilogy, Joseph Heller's Catch 22, Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol (for my Dad's Christmas Present), Matthew Reilly's The Five Greatest Warriors, Firgerald's The Great Gatsby (For Brandon's Christmas present), Lewis Carol's Alice in Wonderland and The Little Prince. Brandon bought Kafta on the Shore and Norwegian Wood. So my reading list has expanded!

Hmmm, updates, polish wise, I did my first manicure! Went to Far East with H and I did an express mani while she did an express pedi! I chose OPI Nantucket Mist and I'm in love with it! The polish chipped yesterday so it lasted a a good 4 days! And only 2 fingers chipped. The rest are still perfectly fine so kudos. I'm going to get seche vite for the next spree because of how it made the polish last longer than poshe, which I normally use! I took pictures of Nantucket Mist so they'll be up soon! I also purchased Chanel Paradoxal! FINALLY! I'm still considering Rose Confidentiel and Jade Rose though!

And, I started counting calories! Yesterday was my first day although I may have sinned. Lunch was a good 233 kcals but I ate Carls Junior for dinner! Oooooops! Haha! Better luck today I hope! (:

What is this? My forth entry for today? I guess this shows how bored I am. I spent the entire evening and night watching youtube. I probably watched 5 different versions of Losing My Religion (which I'm hooked on right now) and I watched various Rockstar Supernova performances.

I also took out my lyrics book. Not the one I write my lyrics in because I don't write lyrics in a book. I write them on random sheets of paper. It's the book I write my favourite songs on. I haven't written in it in over a year. I'm very careful as to what lyrics I write in that book because I don't want to add in some lame ass spur of the moment song. The lyrics in these are good lyrics. Songs like Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, Goo Goo Dolls' Iris, REM's Losing My Religion (needless to say, but I actually wrote that song in years ago) and John Mayer's Gravity. I added in Runaway Train by Soul Asylum just now. I really like that song a lot. Planning to add in a couple more songs later, like She Talks To Angels (it has become one of my favourite songs over the years), Time of Your Life, Long As I Can See the Light, Desire and You Can't Always Get What You Want. And maybe a Beatles song or two, and hmmm, Guns N Roses' Patience maybe?

Anyways, watching all the acoustic / unplugged versions of the songs on youtube has made me wanna jam all of a sudden. I wish I had friend who knows how and would willingly play the guitar for me while I sing. I don't mind learning the guitar, which is why I'm going to look for one soon but I'm afraid I won't be able to sing and strum. I'm horrible with coordinating body parts. I'd love to sing Losing My Religion, Interstate Love Song, She Talks to Angels, or One More Moment. Raw songs with so much potential to be open and vulnerable. Those are the songs that make great acoustic covers. Plus I've taken a liking to Kings of Leon's Sex on Fire. I love the sound of his voice on the song.

And I like how Michael Stipe has the whole hat style going on, Scott Weiland has the shades, I'd like to rock the star hat and shades with oversized tops and shorts. And please, please, please, don't talk about Jason Mraz and his hat. Michael did the whole hat trend long before Jason Mraz did it. I think it's cool when someone finds his/her niche style. Like Vanessa Hudgens and her boho-chic, Mary-Kate and Ashley who are truly in a league of their own, Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, you know, these people. I'm really starting to think I'm gonna stick to my oversized tops so I probably should add some statement pieces to my blah clothes. Gonna shop for necklaces/rings and hats and shades. How fun!

Okay, I have no idea what I'm rambling anymore. Taking a shower then going back to writing lyrics!

This was how I first came to know about this amazing song.

In the song, Michael Stipe sings the lines "That's me in the corner/That's me in the spotlight/Losing my religion". The phrase "losing my religion" is an expression from the southern region of the United States that means losing one's temper or civility, or "being at the end of one's rope." Stipe told The New York Times the song was about romantic expression. He told Q that "Losing My Religion" is about "someone who pines for someone else. It's unrequited love, what have you." Stipe compared the song's theme to "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, saying, "It's just a classic obsession pop song. I've always felt the best kinds of songs are the ones where anybody can listen to it, put themselves in it and say, 'Yeah, that's me.'


- Wikipedia

Just reached home from my Tampines trip! I ended up buying Revlon Grey Suede (only, didn't get Minted in the end), Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover and 2 bottles of Body Shop Tea Tree Oil (2 for $19.90 only! Usual price was $16.90 each!!!) Not bad, I spent less than $50 today! Can't say much about tomorrow though!

Called HP this morning and they'll be collecting my laptop tomorrow night so no updates from me till probably after Christmas! Or at least no polish updates because I'm lazy to transfer the pictures from my camera to the desktop. Guess I'll have a chance to start on my reading list since there will be no computer for me! Jane Eyre, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Things Your Mother Never Told You, Brida, The Chronicles of Narnia, Animal Farm and 1984! Plus I've yet to buy The Five Greatest Warriors! The books should keep me occupied till my laptop returns! Gonna sync my iPod tonight to make sure I have all my news songs to listen to!

PS: Grey Suede isn't a dupe for OPI Tickle My France-y! I'll post pics once mycurrent mani dies and when my laptop's back! Grey Suede has more yellow to it and it's more opaque than Tickle. It needed only 2 coats whereas Tickle My France-y needed 3 and of course, Grey Suede has a slight shimmer to it!

Got the title quote from watching The Spin Crowd. It's my new favourite reality show now! HAHA! Besides Fashion Police! I actually watched TV yesterday from 6.30 to 12.30pm! Pearl Habour was on and how could I say no to Ben Affleck and Josh Harnett? Never had any liking for Josh but ohhh, he looked so cute in Pearl Habour and it was so sad when he died. And also, I realised than Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner actually worked together on Pearl Habour before they went on to do Daredevil! zNow, those two, I love so much as a couple and I wish they'd stay together forever (unlike Ryan Renolds and Scarlett Johansson).

And after I went to my room, I continued watching my shows. Watched Two and a Half Men until 4am this morning! I haven't watched back to back episodes of Two and a Half Men for quite a while now but since all the shows I'm up to date with are taking a hiatus and I have 2 seasons of Two and a Half Men left unwatched, spam time. I think after I finish that series I'll start Cougar Town. I've been watching it off and on, on Star World but never in the correct order.

My nails are painted in Snowcone btw, although they're experiencing major tipwear and many tiny chips. It got so bad I actually had to repaint my index finger nail. I took pictures but they don't really look anything like the real thing so you're probably better one googling for swatches from other blogs!

Yay, I'm heading to Tampines later to drop by Watsons! I hope Grey Suede and Minted are still on the shelves. And I told myself if Rimmel is having a sale too, I'll get Beige Babe (which ironically, is a taupe, not a beige colour)! Ooooh, and I'll be heading to BHG for Mavala too!

(:

I'm thinking of printing some photos of me and my good friends and placing them on a string with clothes pegs and taping the string of photos across my board (though right now I'm loving how it's filled with motivational messages I wrote to push myself). Maybe I'll tape the string across my wall? I think my mum will faint especially since we just repainted the house! Regardless, I want to print photos so girls, we need to take nice photos soon when we go out okay? :D

PS: I've painted Orly Snowcone on four of my nails already! I'm somehow not feeling it and I'm thinking whether I should remove it and paint it in another colour though I have no idea what colour to paint on! Oh wells, maybe I'll just leave Snowcone on till Tuesday! Let S see it in person then remove it so we can do our nails on Wednesday!

I'm loving my holidays! I've been napping in the afternoon without the need to set an alarm! Just wake up whenever I want to! So shiok! Haha! And I finally have time to listen to my crazy backlog of music. (Absolutely loving The Band Perry right now! They're entire album is solid! Listened to it twice already! And I know how the chorus of If I Die Young goes even though I've only heard it twice so far!) Not to mention, start on photoshopping my pictures! Maybe I'll start later!

Today, I set out on a mission that I have been delaying for months now. Today, I took out all my new clothes from their plastic packaging to decide which pieces to keep and which pieces to sell. Not surprising though was that all 5 pieces were from Bonito and there were only 2 different designs, which means I bought 3 different colours of design one and 2 colours of design 2. Haha, classic Melissa disorder. And you know what? After half an hour of trying each piece and consulting 3 different people, I'm keeping ALL of them! HAHA! Such a sucker, I know. Shhhhh.

Right now, I'm contemplating whether to order polish from Estella. I haven't spreed from her in a while now and if I miss this spree, I would have gone through December without spreeing. Which is some sort of record because I have been spreeing from her rather consistently. I already wrote out my list of what colours I'll be getting if I join the spree. So now, it's whether I join it or not. Either way, spree now or spree later, I'd still buy the same number of polish in the end right?

Oh, and today, I popped by Novena's Cotton On, and oh my fudge, they have (gasp) nail polish and stationery! It's like their marketing director knows my weakness for the two and said, let's launch them because I'm sure girls all over the world will go weak in their knees when they see these awesome products and we'll be rich and get our year-end bonuses! And they have a taupe polish which I'm dragging S to go see it with me on Tuesday. I should be getting it because, hey, $5 only! And they're notebooks, wah lau, I brought my dad in and even he was interested in some of the designs!

I need to win money at the upcoming mahjong session with the girls to fund my spending mannn! I also just bought an oversized (what's new eh?) bohemian cream throwover from thegorgeouslook yesterday! Plus the coming week is packed to the brim with hanging out/shopping sessions with various friends whom I haven't seen in yonks! So I need mooooolah. And and and, I'm gonna look at guitars with Dani the next week! Die larhhhh. Lucky I haven't been spending much the last two weeks. One good thing about exams!

Okay, gonna think of what colour to paint my nails! Bye!

So, coat number one! On the left, we have Khaki Brun and on the right, Khaki Vert. With the first coat on, it was clear that Brun was much much much more opaque than Vert.

This is without flash. The picture's blur, I'm sorry, but the colour's pretty accurate here! It's a really smokey purple-grey!

Next to OPI Parlez-Vous OPI? and you can see Smokin' Hot is so much darker than Parlez-Vous.

Smokin Hot on the left with OPI You Don't Know Jacques on the right! YDKJ is obviously so much browner so no dupes here!

With flash so you can see the difference in different lighting and know I'm not fooling you with my pictures!