Which famous people do you want to be friends with?

Ah it's that time to answer  one of my favorite Illustrator Emily Mcdowell 's pressing question again! 
I love this one: "Which famous people do you want to be friends with?". I am with Emily on Falcor (The NeverEnding Story!) and Mindy Kaling. 

Other than those names, I am also dying to be friends with Meryl Streep, for obvious reasons, Keanu Reeves, Zooey Deschanel, Jessica Quirk (fashion blogger), Djenar Maesa Ayu (Indonesian writer) and George Lois. And of course, with Simba and Mufasa from The Lion King.

What about you?

ps: Other questions from Emily. By the way, notice how I mentioned The NeverEnding Story on her pop quiz about Childhood Obsessions? Emily did not mention Falcor there but did on this one. Well... Great minds nerd alike. 

New Obsession: Toast

Oh how pretty!
Have a look on their collections here: Toast- UK. I want this mustard top, this biscuit colored skirt, and of course this striped dress that looks like a match made in fashion heaven with this shoes!

Welcoming the Year of the Goat

My year. But my wishes for wealth, health and prosperity to all of you born in other years too. 

By the way, Sheep, Ram or Goat? Find the article here; just so that we're clear. 

Photo taken when in China, and no, no idea about the cameo dude.

Bintang has arrived

I have posted about this before (read here) but here's an update as the official certificate has arrived. I have also received post cards, fact sheets of all three animals; Sumatran Tiger, Narwhal, and sniffer Labrador... and... a Tiger soft toy I named Bintang!
My eyes lit up like a 5 y.o seeing a birthday cake with flickering candles when a DHL guy walked into my office with a giant WWF bag. A recycled bag, by the way. 

ps: I have been fortunate enough to learn that my blog has become an inspiration to my readers (listed or not). Some have actually started to write their own blog, taking notes on my fashion style, and even swear by my soul baring imperfect wits (why, thank you!).

So I hope, by posting this story, I can encourage any of you to do the same too. Never hurt to act a little kinder/ care more than necessary. This is how to adopt and if you want to know; why Sumatran Tiger?

xoxo,
Mama Tiger

Count Your Blessings

I need to hear this...

"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

Being single on Valentine's day

I am not big on Valentine's Day. I am a Christmas, Halloween (basically just about Twix and Peanut butter Kit Kat) kinda girl. My only real concern with Valentine's Day is that I have to write pitch/blurbs/stories on Valentine's Dinner. It is a good marketing tho. And when I say good, it means that it differentiates it from an "ignorance to animal torture" disguised as "delicacy lovers" (shark fin, foies gras). Oops... let's get back to the topic.

So, truth be told, whether or not I have a man to clutch, for me, this pinky-hearty day is just like any other day.

But, I have a uterus that makes me a girl... And I can understand that if you don’t have someone giving you a sweet kiss and buy you expensive chocolates and over priced roses or scary looking Teddy, Valentine's day can be a bit, well... blah. Despite the fact that you may not celebrate it with your significant other. 

You see happy couples holding hands, capturing PDA as #wefie, and you’re torn between wanting to be them while resisting the urge to push them into the closest available water  bodies. I live and work near the beach, by the way. 

But take heart, my fellow singletons, for although you may not currently have someone to snuggle and be all lovey-dovey with, you do have passion and love in you, and there’s no reason you shouldn't express that on Valentine's Day.

Call an ex.

Not. Really, stop thinking about him/her. Even maybe just for today. There's a reason he's an ex. And reading yesterday's newspaper is not kewl! Call a girlfriend instead, your siblings, or your parents. Tell them how much you love them. For no prince charming would ever love you the way your family do. And as much as you are blinded by the thought that the frog you are kissing is actually a prince, you know your friends will love you no matter what.

Get wet.

Well, that kind of "wet" might be the best. But if that's not the option today, get your legs up for a different reason: Jog, hike. run at the beach (you will be thankful for the sore, really!) . Go for a swim, try gardening (pinterest them). The adrenaline rush and the endorphin you are feeling after an exercise is just as good as ones resulted from you know what. Am being realistic here, so I said almost.

Self Role Play.

Nope. It was not a typo. Want to play Frida? Try painting, or get a self portrait if you have shaky hands (raise hand!). Just experience art. I might head to a "Paint a Pot." gallery and make a fool of myself . I may not be able to play Joan Samuelson but I can try run a 10K this weekend. Visit the local book store to find new books that will feed your mind and soul. Or, a fashion magazine. Re arrange your wardrobe (*self note) and pretend you are a fashion blogger.

I am not sure with the idea of hanging at a hardware store waiting for Mr. Grey tho, but have a try and let me know.

Respond to a booty call.

A gastronomic one. We all have this “someday” restaurant/bar/bistro list; a new Crab shack, new Mexican canteen, new coffee shop that we "must try". So, do it. Book a table for lunch, when the place is likely more quiet. So you and your friends can laugh till your gut hurt without having to worry about being hushed by other people.Try new ice cream flavor, tease your palate with new dishes. Make that beach picnic happen (yes, with grilled cheese sandwich and cold tonic water all packed up). For "There is no sincerer love than the love of food."- George Bernard Shaw.

But this below is my honest imperfect wit...

Stand in front of the mirror.

No, not to do squats. Ask yourself how much you know about that person standing in front of you. More than just about your body mass index. Try to get to know yourself better. So much better you will realize there's so much potential in you. What are you made of? What twist your spirit, what elevates you? Ask and explore to the point that you would look in the mirror again and see nothing but contentment in an imperfection. Enjoy yourself, date yourself. It is not about "The right person will come along." it is about when you think of whether or not it will work, you know you will be alright.

Happy Valentine's Day.

ps: Thank you Runi for the gastronomical idea.

But when all fails, surrender to Jose, Jack, or Bud!

Three's a Charm: On Panties, Make up, and PMS

A reader emailed me suggesting lighter and more feminine, personal topics for my posts. I thought about it for a while and let my draft hanging before discussing it with a dear friend. 

Loving the discussion, I then come up with the three topics below. 

Let's talk girly!

On Panties:

I love... ahem... lingerie shopping. When I am dating someone, the pleasure might kick up a notch but the main reason is simply because wearing cute, pretty, matching underwear makes me feel sexy, feminine and playful. Yes, funny for me saying this for I have renowned as a straight-face-b*tch. Thongs by far is my fave, as VPL is a no-no for ladies. And they make you look really good from... well, behind. Lacey is pretty too, especially if you wear matching bra, or bralette. And no, you do not have to have Alessandra Ambrosio's bod to rock that pink leopard g-string.

I have no personal memory with any of my collections but having heard of my friends' experience, most of them will throw away any lingerie that holds memory of one particular man the second they broke up. 

On a less sexier note, there's this one type of panties that most ladies would try to avoid (but maybe secretly swear by its comfort). That is... the cursed-you-better-not-be-seen-by-your-man-wearing-them period (a.k.a grandma) panties! Yes, the cotton made ,very supportive panties that gives such comfort to your bloated belly by hugging them just right during that time of the month.

I do not have any advice on what to do to historic underwear. But, here's a solution to avoid feeling horribly not sexy when you have to wear period panties: get cute prints!

What's your yay and nay on underwear? Any lingerie that's so memorable for you because of its conquest with someone? Do you talk about this with your partner?

On Make up:

Because I am nothing like any cover girl that looks adorable in their #Iwokeuplikethis instagram post, I wear make up everyday. The must items are just the basic moisturized and light BB cream by L'OCCITANE (note: always go one tone darker), dark brown eye liner, eye brow pencil, and lipstick; this pop pink peony for day time and two ton tomato red for evening wear. I only apply blush on and mascara when I feel the need to dress up, which explains why my Tarte cheek -Amazonian clay (only 26USD!) and mascara can last for about a year... bad or good?! I barely put eye-shadow as I always feel like my face is a painter's palette when I do. Any advice?

For daily routine, I just wash my face with soap. And by soap, I mean any kind of soap. And even though I keep trying to discipline myself to apply night cream before going to bed... I keep forgetting the ritual. This, is the reason why I have 3 jars of night cream in my dresser. But I drink tons of water everyday, and I do not smoke as I can see how much it will add years to your skin. So I think I am not that bad anyway.

Will I ever respond to the calling of botox when I get older? Well I hope not, but maybe I would try putting some neck cream every now and then from now on. 

On PMS.

Oh boy. How many times have you heard someone saying "Oh, it must be that time of the month." when you snap, or putting on a long face or when you're unleashing the inner monster in you. Period is just a sign of women' s body doing its function, and it involves hormones talking (sometimes raging). But girlfriends, let us stop making this as an excuse. "I am PMSing, so do not mess with me." or "I am in shark mode, so understand if I am rude."

There are certain diets and or exercise that we can practice to minimize the pain, and to make us feel less cranky, bloated and shark-like. I praise on painkillers when the cramp is unbearably bad. But let's face it, women from many generations before us did not make this as an excuse to not discover radium, or to not becoming a legendary writer (think Harper Lee who just announced her 2nd book at the age of 88). I also doubt that female astronauts whine about period cramps. And let us not mention Margaret Thatcher. 

The only time that we can make PMS as an excuse is when we want to order two desserts *wink.

It may be a wishful thinking to hope that one day no one will ever say that annoying line, but at least, for me... If I am being a b*tch to you, it's because I do not like you. Does not matter if I am shedding blood down there or not. 
Period.

Read this 7 years ago and will re read this year.

It is well with my soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,


It is well, it is well with my soul.

ps: This is why :)