SPRING on the shopping!

It's sad that Singapore doesn't have any other season besides Summer. Oh what I would give to have just Spring and Fall exist! However, the lack of seasons on this lil' island doesn't stop me from "seasonal" shopping. In my case, it means cutting down shopping to a quarterly affair *fingers crossed.

Recently developed a new-found love for H&M and its affordable basics/classics. From now onwards, I'm going to use my H&M gift card to shop since every $20 reloaded into the card will help someone gain access to clean water. Read more about it here! I'm in love with quite a few pieces of the latest #HMConscious collection and managed to purchase a couple of items already. Go check them out in stores while sizes are still available!

Great news for the planet and bad news for the economy: I've incorporated the Lean Closet Movement into my life. What I like about this campaign, that I feel sets it apart from others, is how it doesn't restrict a person to only have 5 staples in their closet. Instead, it encourages consumers to think very carefully about each and every addition to their closet and how well it would work with an individual's current lifestyle and existing wardrobe. I believe that in this manner, wastage would be brought down to a minimal which means that everyone can be better for the environment.

Pledge to live a life with fewer, better things.

That said, I've filmed a Feb/Mar haul that's been split into two parts. The first one includes my awesome order from Forever21.com, and several items from H&M that I foresee will be worn to death by yours truly. The second part consists of items from local online stores (AforArcade, AllWouldEnvy, Missypixie) that I'm in love with. Realized that most people do pictorial reviews of items from online stores so hopefully an actual video would show you the movement of the piece along with other details, so keep watching and enjoy!

♥ Fox-Out ♥

Whenever I encounter something too good, I've a love/hate relationship with it. I hate that I love it so much and in this case, I'm referring to Fox-Out.

Here's a list explaining the love, just because everyone loves lists.

1. After payment of my first order, I found out they were launching some cute sling bags the coming weekend. I've been searching for the perfect (and affordable) sling bag for the longest time and asked if they could hold my order till the launch of the bags, so I could merge the two orders together. Yixin, only the best Customer Relationship Executive ever, helped me with that. On top of that, she threw in an upgrade to express shipping because I'd already paid for registered postage. Pretty sure I was the happiest squirrel that weekend.

2. My combined orders arrived the very next day. Compared to other stores which take 3 working days just to mail items out, this is indeed very much appreciated. And also, let's not go into how efficient Singpost is.

3. One of my sling bags was unfortunately defected, so I immediately contacted Yixin with photographic evidence to ask what could be done. She promptly replied and offered an exchange. I sent the defected item back to them via registered postage and was reimbursed for it. Correct me if I'm wrong but most online stores don't usually offer reimbursement for exchanges. It's at your own expense and time plus they take the longest time to answer your queries such that in the end, the best option is to give up and deal with the defected item yourself, like it's your fault for buying it in the first place. I sent Yixin a big virtual hug to Fox-Out for being so efficient like an established online store should! They really live up to their mission.

4. Here's evidence of the level of efficiency Fox-Out has showed:

We are happy to inform you that the order with Order ID - **** which you ordered on 17 Apr 2013 has been shipped out. It was shipped out on 17 Apr 2013 

It is estimated that your order will reach you on the 17 Apr 2013 

Here're the items I've bought so far and believe me, I want all more.

Spring Fling Dress in Green
A bright pop of color to add to your Spring/Summer wardrobe!

Orient Express Top in Peach
Classy and subtly sexy basic blouse, I want it in all colors!

Vintage Crossbody Sling Bag in Oxblood
Perfect.

Vintage Crossbody Sling Bag in Black
Perfect.

Cat Eye Sunglasses in Black
Love the cat-eye that makes this pair of shades so unique!

Go Low Bandage Maxi Dress
I love EVERYTHING about this. Fox-Out please have this in more colors!

Floral Embroidery Romper in Mint
Mint AND embroidered flowers? I am sold.

Spellbinder Knitted Throwover
Brings out the bohemian in me. Major love here.

Has anyone noticed how hilarious these quotes on their tags are? Usually after reading them I just smile to myself like a looney. Wish I'd kept all of them!

Tag #fox_out on Instagram to get your reward points!

No pretty make-up on to match the romper due to too much excitement

Just received it in the mail and was so happy (look at that grin?!) so I snapped a shot and sent it to Darren immediately while raving. Evidence that Fox-Out can make anyone feel good.

When this was launched, I was still out getting a massage with Darren and I started hyperventilating because there was only one piece left for this and the Navy one. Have never rushed home so fast in my life. Whipped my laptop and card out the minute I got home and placed an order for this. This was the only time Darren was supportive in my decision to buy more clothes. He said I could buy all 3 colors if I wanted to but my closet is kinda bursting at its seams. I'm never one who only buys clothes based on a boyfriend's opinion but if he says it's nice, it means it's really nice.

Actually come to think of it, every time I browse Fox-Out, he seems to approve of my selections which is very very rare. As rare as a flying pink unicorn. Sidetrack: I always thought unicorns were real till about three years ago when someone told me they aren't.

So there you have it. My thoughts on where your next online shopping destination should be.

Shopping with Fox-Out is like shopping with a trustworthy best friend. The Fox-Out team is always there when you need them and it feels like they're available the full 24 hours a day ready to answer any questions or pack orders. For a period of time, I was ready to swear off online shopping locally because of the kind of service I was getting. Established stores were taking days to reply enquiries, mail out parcels, and generally just being too busy for their customers. Shouldn't customers be the priority of these businesses?

Anyway, shopping at Fox-Out was the best decision I've ever made. The team makes me feel important and appreciated as a customer and let's make that customer for life.

Days of Christmas '12

I've one last essay due next week but instead of working on it, I would prefer to update this space with Christmas photos. I seriously dislike festive seasons because it just means crowds of people being out and about all at once and it's not a fun time. But Christmas is different because it's that time of the year you can go crazy shopping and show your loved ones just how much you love them. You get to shower them with gifts and see how happy they are to receive them. And of course the amount of food you get to eat.

Usually my parents host Christmas parties every year for the entire clan. There would be roasted lamb, beef, ham, meat, meat, meat. I miss my parents! Well because they're not around this year, I just had Christmas dinner with my sister and Skyped with my parents so it's like we were eating together.

Mommy wouldn't allow us to do this last time hohoho

Christmas Steamie with Friends

Just like last year, I had a Christmas steamie dinner with dear friends. This time round there were more people. Yay!

Love love

After dinner, we decided to find somewhere to play Left 4 Dead. Seriously hate 'spawning' which means playing the ugly zombies, so I took photos of the intense gaming that was going on.

Christmas Date

It's very seldom Darren and I go on dates because he's so busy, so I really appreciate it when we're able to even just have dinner together. Though it's after work and he's still in workout gear and carrying that annoyingly huge backpack.

I love Massimo so so so so so much

That red paper bag contained all the new clothes I bought in the span of a few days. I know I need to stop. And the rest of the bags were Christmas gifts all wrapped up. I love Christmas!!!

LOVE this gift I bought myself

Christmas Day

Darren and I had a quick bite before dinner time. He was having dinner with his family and I had to go home to cook. Settled on Swensen's because it was crowded everywhere and I seriously hate Swensen's. Anna and I actually met up for a Christmas meal there as well (for convenience) and the food was rubbish. They also removed hazelnut ice-cream off the menu. Why?!

Sweater: F21
Shorts: TheClosetLover.com
Bag: Taobao
Wedges: Soeurs at Cineleisure

YUMMY RAW MEAT

Random photo Mommy Whatsapped us

Look at that PERFECT medium rare

Sisters 4 Life

Ending this post with more gifts. Look at the amount of sweaters I bought! Probably went crazy during a period of time the weather was actually cold here.

Eye Spy A Stye

My right eye is currently swollen and painful because the dreaded stye is back again. Haven't had it in ages so I guess it missed me and decided to make a painful comeback to make sure it hasn't been forgotten. It's a weird kind of pain that makes me feel like crying when I'm washing my face and that is really annoying!

So much work due this and next week that I have no extra energy to worry about my current horrid appearance with this swollen eye. I could go on and on complaining.

Tornado Taobao

Instead of shopping lesser after my Taobao shipment came in, I shopped even more. My email account is so full of invoices that I've lost track of what I've ordered and how much I've paid for everything. It's been crazy but I think I only go this crazy once/twice a year and that's towards the end of it. I don't even shop for new clothes when it comes to Chinese New Year!

Instant gratification seems to be my aim when I shop. Many friends/family have said this to me actually. When I see something I like, I just have to own it. It's like a compulsion to either buy something I already have and love it so much I need to have it in all colors, or buying something because it looks nice at that point in time and vowing to switch out my entire wardrobe to match that one item. This is why online shopping doesn't really work for me. I don't get to feel the item and hold it in my hands immediately after paying for it, so there isn't that instant gratification. Therefore, I shop more.

I hope not many people are like that because that's a sure-fire way to empty your bank account. Especially when you're subscribed to 81724632648 e-mailers from stores.

Inner conflict aside, I finally got to go for a pedicure session for my severely neglected feet. Was so excited to see they had the new OPI Skyfall collection which is extremely extremely pretty. I was spoiled for choice! (I haven't even watched the movie hahaha)

I don't have a pretty photo of my pretty toes yet but I chose Skyfall (which is a dark red) as a base and The Living Daylights (the festive glitter) as a top coat. My toes are so ready for Christmas!

Awwww

Usual conversations between Darren and I...

He was referring to his Kinokuniya membership card, which I had custody over. Or more like stole and forgot to return for weeks now.

Hamster's bloated face is baaack

On a particular day I went shopping at F21 and saw some cute boots!

After Whatsapping Mel frantically asking if it looked nice on me, if it would match this and that and was it worth the money... I found out that the zippers at the side of one boot was broken. She said it was a sign to not get it. I was pretty sad.

Well thankfully I didn't because this past weekend while I was out with my cousin, I found my ideal heeled oxfords from Seours located at Cineleisure! I've a pair of wedges from them which I love but don't get many chances to wear, so I was very happy to find a pair of oxfords that I could incorporate into my daily outfits. Will take photos for another entry :)

Pretty good ramen at the food basement of Ion

Under my best friend's recommendation (budding food connoisseur), I tried this Tu-Tu Kueh from a stall at the food basement of Ion and was quite impressed. It's unlike any TTK you get from night markets. The flour is so fragrant and doesn't disintegrate due to condensation. The coconut filling is so moist and doesn't get stuck to your teeth or in your throat. This picture was taken about 4-5hours after it was made because I brought it home for dessert. Do you see how intact it looks? I got my helper to steam it for 5mins so it would be warm and it was still good. 5 for $3.50 I think, but worth it! You won't miss the stall.

Napping

Her wet nose on my sheets ugh

My cousin brought me to try out this tiny Japanese eating place in Far East Plaza. I felt so claustrophobic eating there but I can see why there's always a long queue for the food according to her. Funny thing is when we reached, there was no one outside. Once we sat down, a long queue started forming outside. Lucky for us!

Bad service overall

Beef set meal

Although the quality of the beef I had was good, it was way too oily for me. I paid S$20 in total. There's a rule that S$2 would be charged per seat and we can each choose a drink. So it's a mandatory S$2 plus each seat has to order a dish. You're seriously bound by rules when you dine there.

Been trying to eat healthily recently for the sake of my digestive system. If I want it to continue working for the next couple of years.

Going to rest my eyes now before it rots further. I hope y'all are having a better start to the week compared to me (looking like a gargoyle). Have a lovely day and stay warm and dry and cute if it rains!