Let's Open Doors!

Dear 2009,
Thank you for having summarized for me a marvelous year!

At the threshold of yet another beginning,
I'm recalling my previous contemplation at the exact time last year.
My resolution was
"I want to feel everything there is to feel, in this world."
And looking back, I think I really am leaving 2009 with great accomplishments. I've gone through a lot, it's far from a boring year.

2009 was about discovering myself.
Who I really am, what I want, where I'm heading.
Now, I'm fully loaded to surf through 2010.

Of course, I had my shares of failures and disappointments, heart-breaks and pains... But I'm not letting them stand on my way...

2010 is the year of transforming life!
Resolution: Open every door you come across, one after another.
Never stop.

So, let's get excited to flounce into the new year, with style of course (read: fashionable outfits)! Welcome 2010.

Cocoa Cravings

What holiday sweets can be more delicious than this...?

Dip into the devilish delights of chocolate and experience the notorious deadly spell it has on us.
Chocolate is my latest superfood!!!
(It's especially a good cure for monday-stress)

FYI, coco lovers:
Chocolate is actually good for health?

YES! It is true that cocoa plant is packed with antioxidants including flavanols, which have been shown to have an aspirin-like effect on the blood. BUT, don't get all too excited. It is fine if we just eat raw cocoa, but as it's pretty bitter and unpalatable, fat and sugar is mixed in to make it something we actually enjoy eating. Gotcha!

So, though chocolate is the only food that melts at body temperature, thus gives an appealing "mouth feel" as it delivers that delicious sugary taste. Stop at the 3rd pick, I suggest. Sounds like a sweet deal?

But of course, there's always this excuse... What is a few calories if you can be this happy? After all, how could a girl survive an awful day without yet another bar of chocolate?

GAP's festive season

Gossip Girl here...
Your one and only source to the scandalous life of Manhattan's elite...
Let's take a tour back to two years ago!

Spotted: B, C, L, P and E crammed into the GAP Tidings Truck for a fun GAP photo shoot on Friday. The Gossip Girl cast made the trip out to Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens for the good times.

Translation: Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley and Ed Westwick posed together in GAP accessories, looking like they fit right into the Gap Holiday 2007 Ad Campaign. It’s too bad these aren’t official GAP ads–they look perfect together!

Aren't you feeling the holiday season is in the air?

Freedom:

The world defines freedom as a life without any restraint:
Do anything I want to do;
Say anything I want to say,
without anybody telling me 'Yes' or 'No.'

Like the song "My Way":
Everybody got burned by me, but I did it my way!
I had my freedom!
Is it really true?

I recently discover that real freedom is
freedom from fears:

Where you're truly free from worry,
because you've done your best today
and you believe tomorrow holds hopeful future.

Where you're truly free from bitterness,
because you've accepted all the pains hurting your heart
and forgiven all those responsible

Where you're free to quit pretending,
because you're free to be yourself...

{Balmainia!}

Balmainia! Christophe Decarnin's a/w collection for Balmain was one of the best of the season. And it translates perfectly to the high street.

KeY piEceS:
A big-shouldered jacket with a three-quarter skinny sleeve, a drapey T-shirt, stone-washed super-skinny jeans and some studded ankle boots.

AcCeSoRiEs:
Layered low-slung skinny studded belt, big boots with stacks of buckles, little tough leather bags with lots of studs and sparkle and go for plenty of ruching.

StyLe:
Think hard versus soft. Team a soft, slouchy T-shirt with a masculine tuxedo jacket. And wear it all with a bit of attitude.

When times are tough, you need clothes that make you feel good about yourself. Balmain makes clothes for super-sexy, confident women. It's rock-chic bling with layers of attitude.

Edge of Innocence

Powder pinks and sweet rose take on edgier personas on your face! Go for pink cheeks and lips to enhance the glow of happiness with a flush of pretty pink.

Just hold out on the white shirt for now - it's your glowing face that deserves all the attention. Pastel make-up has never looked sexier.

Happy Holidays...

Dawn arises on the eastern sky...
The pale pink saturation enlightens the vast horizon.
It's Christmas everybody!
Let our hearts be filled with love and joy.

"Have the merriest Christmas!"

All of you are a blessing given generously to my life.
I really thank God for having you.
Though we're miles apart,
I will still be celebrating a Merry Christmas with the thought of your presence.
More blessings to you...

Yours sincerest,
Fe

Do you believe in Fate?

Sometimes fate throws two lovers together,
only to rip them apart.
Sometimes a hero finally makes the right decision,
but the timing is wrong.
And timing is everything.
-Gossip Girl

I am not at all a superstitious girl. I judge current events upon solid facts and make careful considerations for every decision I'm about to make. But somehow, sometimes I find myself believing in fate. There are several matters in life in which no matter how hard you try, you'll just end up banging the wall over and over again.

Fate is "If something's not meant for you, it'll slip away from you anyway...". So, let go of what's not yours, the best would come in time?

Pictures via People Magazine

Sanctuary. Serenity.

I think it is human sometimes, to want to run away from everything and simply hide in your own secret world... Where you can acquire quiet time to examine your life openly and honestly...

Where you can be yourself,
Where you can do horrendous mistakes,
Where you can fail miserably,
Where you can forgive yourself,
Where you can accept yourself thoroughly,

Where you can shut all the noise of the world,
Where you can find true serenity,
Where there's your sanctuary.

This Charming Man

Just what is it about Rob Pattinson that makes us forgive his terrible-look trademark, sloppy clothes and a bit of anti-social attitude?
Here's one good reason...

Excerpted from his interview with Vanity Fair:

Q: What has this past year been like for you? How are you dealing with fame? Are you more comfortable with everything now?

Rob: I guess it's inevitable that you become more comfortable. You still fight against some things... I don't know how it's really changed. I still feel like I'm pretty much exactly the same, which is maybe not a good thing?

Pictures via Vanity Fair

Happy Thought

There were the evenings when moonlight shimmers,

How sweet and lovely to renew and trust the happy hopes that glimmer":

That someone is thinking of you..

But then again, you'll never know...

Wondering whether I was deeply missed...

Lucky, I'm in Love...

Song Title Lucky
Singer Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat
Songwriters Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, James Timothy
Album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

Do you hear me? I'm talking to you...
Across the water, across the deep blue ocean, under the open sky.
Oh my, baby I'm trying...

Boy, I hear you in my dreams.
I feel your whisper across the sea.
I keep you with me in my heart.
You make it easier when life gets hard.

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend.
Lucky to have been where I have been.
Lucky to be coming home again.

They don't know how long it takes, waiting for a love like this.
Every time we say goodbye, I wish we had one more kiss.
I'll wait for you, I promise you I will.

Lucky we're in love in every way.
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed.
Lucky to be coming home someday.

And so I'm sailing through the sea, to an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air.
I'll put a flower in your hair.

Through the breezes through the trees, move so pretty,
you're all I see.
As the world keeps spinning round,
You hold me right here right now.

Picture via Le Love

Hi, I'm Violet!

I visited a friend's website the other day and found this interesting aura color test. In need to kill time, I took it just for fun but got shocked by the prevailing result. I was busted... The test unveiled my inner-self.

My Aura Color is VIOLET.
Violets are the inspirational visionaries, leaders who are here to help save the planet. Most Violets feel drawn to inspire higher ideals or to improve the quality of life on the planet, or to help save people and the environment.

All Violets have an inner sense that they are here to do something important, that their destiny is greater than that of the average person. As children, many Violets imagined becoming famous, or traveling the planet, possibly joining humanitarian causes such the Peace Corp. Many of these charismatic personalities take on roles as leaders, while others prefer to reach people through music, film or other art form.

Because this era is currently the "Violet Age," any Violets who are not accomplishing what they came here to do are experiencing an inner “push” — that shakes them up and pushing them to move into action, to fulfill their life purpose. Violets know they are here to do something significant, though they aren't always sure what that something is or how to accomplish it.

It's important for Violets to reconnect with their life purpose and vision, and to take action. Otherwise they will always feel unfulfilled, sensing something is missing from their lives. Violets need to learn to slow down long enough to listen to their inner voice and to connect with their higher vision.

Give it a shot, probably you'll find your alter-ego or a-long-forgotten part of you...

Picture via Design Lovely

By Sydney's Harbor Bridge

Sydney
One of my favorite cities in the world.
Harbor Bridge and Bondi Beach.
So many exciting things you can do...

Eating lunch at Sydney's famous Doyle's restaurant in Watson's bay. A quiet walk along the water towards Camp Cove. Standing on a secluded rock, admiring the view of the entire city. And of course, watching a spectacular fireworks show over the Syney Opera house if you're lucky enough to be there on New Year's Eve. Surreal experiences!

Happy Birthday, Lanvin!

The French luxury house is celebrating its impressive 120-years in business and has launched a limited-edition line of porcelain figurines.

Since first teaming with Taiwanese ceramics company Franz a couple years ago, designer Alber Elbaz's porcelain pieces have become something of a collector's item. Now on its third collaboration, this year's special anniversary designs are an ode to mothers and daughters in honor of the luxury brand's founder, Jeanne Lanvin. Jeanne dedicated all her collections to her daughter Marguerite.

With only 800 editions of each porcelain figurine available worldwide, expect some stiff holiday shopping competition

Make a Wish.

Make a wish and place it in your heart.
Anything you want, everything you want.
Do you have it?

Good.
Now believe it can come true.

You never know where the next miracle is gonna come from, the next smile, the next wish come true. But if you believe that it's right around the corner, and you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it, to the certainty of it. You just might get the thing you're wishing for.

The world is full of magic.
You just have to believe in it.
So make your wish.

Do you have it? Good.
Now believe in it. With all your heart.

*500 Days of Summer

When was the last time you saw a young couple fall in love on the big screen? And no, of course High School Musical 3 doesn't count. If you're looking for that kind of love-stuff, please look the other way, because this one is not a typical chic-flick.

500 Days of Summer is an intriguingly original take on falling in love. Every emotion involved with a relationship seems to be relayed; from the strange and quirky aspects of new love to the tragedy of heartbreak.

The boy,

Tom Hansen of Margate, New Jersey, grew up believing that he'd never truly be happy until the day he met the one. This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British pop music and a total mis-reading of the movie 'The Graduate'.

The girl,

Summer Finn of Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share this belief. Since the disintegration of her parent's marriage she'd only love two things. The first was her long dark hair. The second was how easily she could cut it off and not feel a thing.

Tom meets Summer on January 8th. He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for. This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story. This is a story about love.

500 Days of Summer portrays a relationship that is more realistic and less clichéd than most others in it's woefully unoriginal and formulaic genre. In doing so, the film never feels anything less than completely innovative and incredibly fun. The film's story is told in a refreshingly non-linear fashion that strives for and often reaches perfection with each and every scene.

Balmain Makes You Sexy

Balmain! Balmain! Balmain!
The clothes are straight from the closet of a post-apocalyptic party girl; they’re equal parts grunge and glam...

This season was another one filled with military jackets, glitter, epaulets, and deconstruction to the point of near-demolition. The glittering tanks that looked a bit like ultrafine chain mail were a standout under the types of jackets that have come to be a Balmain classic under Decarnin.

Lots of embellishment on top of statement shoulders and a militaristic aesthetic, smart shrunken leather blazers, and a vague marching band vibe here and there. And it sounds ridiculous, and it was, but also incredibly brilliant.

Balmain has quickly become my favorite label! I love the rock chic/bling, glitz and glamour side to his collection. It is definitely a "stand out from the crowd" line - which I love to do whenever I go out casually or dressed up!

The Big Question

If what I'm doing doesn't make me come alive, but killing me instead.

Should I quit, regardless of any other considerations?

Please give me some suggestions...

# Li Lo

Now, this is what you call a statement from a real woman. I may not always approve LL's lifestyle and endless gossips surrounding her... But I'm completely on her side for these words:

{I've heard that guys are intimidated by me,
even though I'm not an intimidating person.
I'm straightforward and people aren't used to that.}

Candy Land

It takes an iron will to eat right -fruits and veggies, water, not too much fast food, as we all are surrounded by delicious but potentially deadly foods full of sugar, fats and empty calories. And there's a lot more riding on sticking to a sensible diet than how good you'll look in fall's skinny jeans.

Weight gain is partially the fault of our junk food society, where fattening-less-than-nutritious fare is as nearby as your reach. While this maybe true, it's important to remember that you have the power to control your own health.

Treat your beautiful body well and it will take care of you, too.