DIY Strassed Shoes

My Wedding Shoes

So this is the first of my DIY projects for my upcoming nuptials. With barely 6 months to go, I seem to be at a lost for what to do- I feel like I have a long list of things to do but on the other hand I feel like what I need to do FOR NOW, is done. Oh well I guess I shall realize much too late that there is indeed lots to do and have a mad rush towards the very last day. Having said this, I shall embrace the fact that I work well under pressure. 

Anyways, enough about me, I'm sure that everyone is curious to know more about the shoes. Few things that I'll clarify first:

1) I bought plain white shoes made with cloth. ( You can opt to use shoes with a suede base too)

2) I hand picked ALL the crystals and glue them on individually. Yes I DID!

3) I used ONLY Swarovski Crystals

Now, everyone who has seen the shoes, thinks I am insane and keep asking why I don't just go out and buy a pair that is already bling-ed out. Reason I didn't want to do so was because I wanted Crystals that were placed with as closely together as possible so as to have more of a WOW effect. In order to be able to minimize the gaps, I used many different sizes of Crystals. Being extremely meticulous, I used ss8 as my base. Other sizes used were ss6 (this is for the really annoying small gaps), ss10, ss12, ss16.

I used approximately:

ss8 (2pkts X 1440pcs) = 2880 (SGD137)

ss10 (1pk X 1440pcs) = 1440 (SGD 68.5)

ss12 (2pkts X 144pcs) = 288 (SGD24)

ss16 (2pkts X 144pcs) = 288 (SGD24)

ss6 (2pkts X 24) = 48 (SGD8) --> which as I mentioned isn't necessary but I am a little OCD. 

Total Crystals: +/- 4920pcs 

Cost of Crystals: +/- SGD261.50

My shoes were from Studio Tangs at Tangs Orchard. I had seen them at Great World City but as my luck would have it, Tangs Orchard was having a 50% sale!!! Yay! I paid about SGD49.90 for them and they are comfortable enough to dance the night away in! What I have done is ultimately taken a $50 pair of shoes and turn them into a $300 pair of shoes. I didn't take too long to complete the pair because once you get your momentum going the strassing becomes very easy to do.

It is definitely a sense of accomplishment and this will mean that I will have the one of a kind pair of shoes that I had originally dreamed of. This is better for me than any pair of Jimmy Choo's or Louboutins because I can say, "Oh yes, I did it myself" and I can be sure NO ONE will have the same pair of shoes! Extra points on that!

There is a guy in the United States who make a living of strassing shoes or specifically Louboutins. Customers send him their shoes, he picks a Crystal that will compliment the shoe and he charges USD1200-1500 for them! Is that insane? If anyone reading this is based in Singapore, and has a pair of Louboutins they want strassed, hit me up here. I'll do them for you and charge you the same in SGD! Hah! (Seriously, I would!)

Anyways, really proud of myself!

And I hope anyone who wishes to DIY strass their shoes will be able to get some ideas from here. 

Back to Basics...

Hoping everyone had as fruitful a weekend as I did! It was a bit depressing to celebrate my anniversary alone but considering that I had mixed up the dates, I guess its ok. His being away has allowed me to prepare a card and also get him a small gift which I think he will love. I will definitely post a picture of the gift once he has opened it because I think its such an awesome gift and its a steal at the price it came at!

Over the weekend, I spent a whole Saturday, doing my groceries and preparing my salad greens and other food for the second week of my healthy eating. I spent a little bit too much at the organic store but it will definitely pay off. I also managed to attend 1 yoga session and one Pilates session. Both of which I am suffering the aftermath of now. 

I was overdue for a change in nail patterns and I really wanted to apply what I had learnt in class on Thursday but then I got kinda tired and lazy and decided to just go back to basics. I had started with a nude colour which I so love but then on the spur of moment decided to add a little bit of glitter because going all nude would just be so boring and plain and not at all me.

So I hope everyone has a fabulous week ahead! I'm counting the days till the return of K and he owes me a fabulous dinner for missing out on our anniversary! Wondering where we shall go...but I am sure it will deserve a small mention here.

PS: I'm 2kgs down and counting! Yay!

Kam Heong, Petaling Jaya

So I think this place is called Restoran (Restaurant) Kam Heong and I'd like to be really sure (and I can't read Chinese) but every time I look it up or check the location, the only thing that seems to be mentioned about the place is the amazing braised duck rice (which I unfortunately did not get to try). However, what brought us (my sister and I) to the place initially was a craving for Sarawak Kolo Mee and the fact that it was literally 5 minutes from my sisters' place made it too good an opportunity to pass up.

So off we went hoping to get a taste of home (within 5minutes?) however that place is like a maze of small lanes. We did eventually find it after doing 2 loops around the area and I am so happy we didn't give up. Also don't be deceived by the word restaurant- it really is more like a coffee shop. We got pretty lucky with getting a seat and a table but sitting there and watching the patrons that came after us, its probably just first time luck that we got one so conveniently. 

We went with the intention of having Kolo Mee but I got sidetracked by the yummy looking Char Kueh Tiaw and decided to go with that seeing as good Kueh Tiaw is hard to find here in Singapore. I do NOT like the mix of Char Kueh Tiaw and Mee. I prefer my dishes savory and the yellow noodles just make it sweet and takes away from the actual flavor that I like. The noodles were not swimming in a plate of grease and had cockles and Chinese lap-cheong in it- PERFECT!!! It made my day. 

My sister ordered the Hainanese Chicken Curry Bee Hoon which was also really good. The broth was rich without being too thick. A nice surprise was the generous amount of cockles they served with the dish. 

In the end we decided to try the Kolo Mee if only for the sake of killing the craving. It was only average sad to say but I am trying to justify that maybe it's because I was full and happy.

I would definitely go back to try it again. I hope I can stick to the game plan! 

Kam Heong Restaurant 

8 Jalan Tengah 

(Off Jalan Yong Shook Lin, beside UOB Bank)

47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 

Breakfast at Nassim Hill

It was nice to have an old friend visit and to be able to brainstorm and have chats with her about what our potential options are for future mischief. Last night it seems like I was coerced into starting my diet a little bit earlier than I would have liked. Bummer! Thank God all around Singapore, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to making the healthier choice. So as all the ladies int he office have decided to do a salad week, I too have started my first week of the Scarsdale Diet. In the end, what I hope to achieve is a change of lifestyle more than anything else. All this yo-yo weight is wrecking havoc with my booty.

I have to say it was hard to say no to the bread basket served up at Nassim Hill Bakery as they have one of the yummiest bread in Singapore (and I am not such a big bread fan). Brunch was a lovely quiet affair reminisce of our times in Melbourne.

~Sharing the moment~

Beauty Asia 2014

Beauty Asia 2014 is currently running at Suntec City Convention Centre from the 17th-19th February. Even though the trade show is for distributors and trade professionals only, I guess that I somewhat qualify considering that I work in skincare and I have a fetish for nails. Hah!

Check out the haul I got from there: 

1 set of nails, way too many products!

It was like putting an alcoholic in a liquor store. I felt like my head was going to explode with all the amazing deals as well as all the products that were on display. Whilst it does not compare to the Beauty Expo that I attended a few year back in Dusseldorf, Germany which was massive and had everything to do with beauty, this would have to suffice for now. My head is reeling with ideas.

Good thing I had a friend visiting and here is what we did with the stickers:

I crazy love it!!!

And so did she!

Stay tuned to see what I come up with!

Weighty decisions

So here I am, tipping the scales at the heaviest I have ever been since I was born. The 65kgs post college weight now seems like a "lighter" me. 

For a person who is very much aware of the highs and lows of her yo-yo weight, the recent remarks of an overly concerned friend is the straw that broke the camels back. 

I understand that with barely 6months to go till my wedding, I'm pressed for time but with I do believe that I can be the me I want to be by then. Not everyone can be born Chinese (stick thin and not having to wear a sign that says "curves ahead"-meant in the best way possible, I am half Chinese but just lacking any Chinese physical attributes) or with a high metabolism. I have been receiving grief for my weight since I sprouted boobs. It's not even funny anymore. 

I guess in this day and age, it's no longer enough to be happy and have good skin, I need to worry about my weight too. Fine, challenge accepted. I'm also going into hiding until March 15! Just saying. 

Also if in the future, anyone needs to tell a friend she is fat. A simple "How are you?" may just open the conversation. Then you would know that she does indeed feel bad and her self esteem is taking a severe blow day by day. AND you won't need to resort to "foot in mouth syndrome". At this point, maybe you could even be the Samaritan that is trying to help. 

So for now, 70kgs and going into hiding. 6months to the wedding and I am giving up food. Alcohol shall be my sworn enemy!!! Follow ups shall be made every week here. 

Happy V-day everyone!!!

As happy as I am about meeting my group of girly friends in KL to bid adieu to one more single lady, I'm a bit bummed about the chosen date. As everyone prepares for dinners and fun nights, I'm boarding a plane right about now. 

I'm not one to be sentimental about stuff especially Valentine's (I detest it) but to be on a plane? Ok on a positive note I get to meet my sister and her friends for some good food and catch up tonight. Tomorrow it's girly time...

So in line with Valentine's Day, I've decided to have Valentine's themed nails to cheer me up a little. This is my first set of self done gel nails in 2years! Pat on the back, I've still got it. 

~HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!~

Back Again...

Back again and maybe 3rd time's the charm? I just realized that my last post was January 2013. And then my resolve to be diligent with posting just flew out the window along with time and peace of mind. I read recently that you are a master of your own time, but I reckon its hard to master your own time when there are many external forces to be reckoned with.

Well, I have been thinking in blog posts lately and there are so many things that I need to vent. I think and "speak" better on paper and so it has come to this- I realized that my posts don't always have to be lyrical and funny, they don't always have to be long and they most certainly don't need to be time consuming. So a little heads-up that anything written here are my thoughts and my thoughts alone. They are not meant to insult/hurt anyone although with the pen being mightier than the sword, a little collateral damage may be expected along the way. 

This little domain that I can call my own shall be used to share my artistic inspirations for nails, my upcoming wedding and anything else that makes me think in blog posts. Looking forward to being a little bit more active here as my life gets a little more hectic and I need venting space. 

XoXo