Let me illustrate with my experience of simply buying a book. Usually normal people step into a bookstore, pick up a book, read the blurb and maybe a chapter or two to decide if they want a book. For me, it’s a crazy affair involving opening at least 3 tabs on my browser.

First I browse my favourite ebook store. I see a book I may be interested in. I read the Opener and/or free chapter. Then I go to my favourite book review website. I look at the general rating, the expanded introduction and other information about the book.

You’d think I stop there and make the purchase already.

I’m not even half done.

What I do next is to go to the NLB Searchplus catalogue to see if it’s available in the library, or Overdrive. If it is, I’d borrow it. If not, I go on to another search engine – an ebook price comparison site. After comparing prices, I then decide if I want it. Then I browse Bookdepository to see if there is a cheaper paper version, as well as AbeBooks to see if there are reasonable quality used books (especially when it comes to pricey non-fiction). So buying a book requires me to trawl through 6 websites.

Now, that happens when I’m at home. If I’m already in a bookstore – I do every of those step on my iPhone. I usually wind up not buying the physical copy, opting for a library copy or an ebook. This is also why I can spend such long time in a bookstore. Not only do I comb the physical shelves, I comb virtual shelves and library shelves on my portable device.

In the words of plebs, FML.

Received an EMS package from Japan, no need to guess whom it’s from. This birthday present is nearly two mores in the making; my BFF told me she bought me my birthday present, but refused to tell me what it is. I kept asking for clues, and only knew it’s utilitarian, and bigger than a fist but smaller than a chair (I am horrible at siphoning clues). So to a certain extent, this is indeed a surprise birthday present (that came late but nonetheless came)!

The Japanese store is great at wrapping gifts.

With my present is the cutest birthday card ever. It’s small but so funny. It basically is about a cat going to spa and relaxing.

So I unwrapped my present, the shape momentarily confusing me…

It’s a folded bag! For those not familiar with this, this is the Longchamp Le Pliage foldable nylon tote. It’s a staple in many Singaporean girls’ wardrobe (methinks). I know a few people with one, I have, on many occasion, expressed my desire to buy one but never really got around to doing it … you get the idea.

Unfolded. It’s pretty big and roomy, great for stashing all the stuff I love to carry with me when I go out. Like a water bottle, umbrella, iPad, little pouches of random items, shawl… The bag is very light and portable, perfect for stashing into luggages when I go travelling, I suppose.

In any case I am very delighted with my present! So to my BFF of 14 years – thank you so so much! :D

P.S.: Believe it or not, this is the first real non-angbao birthday present I got this year, almost a week after my birthday. Not complaining, just stating a fact.

Look at this awesome silver packaging! What can be inside? Where is it from?

Tada! It’s a chainmail bracelet from Mphosis.

I think chainmail is going to be big this coming year. Take my word for it. I have this arcane knack of coveting things that ultimately become utterly sought after (and then mass-produced to the point it makes me want to retch). For example a couple of months ago last year I really really wanted a vintage tapestry kiss-lock clutch. I looked high and low for it, even turning to the Internet, but I just couldn’t find one that blows my mind. Somehow on my recent shopping trips I’ve been seeing more and more of it being made and sold, but they are fugly. And I’ve since stopped coveting it. Oh well, I digress.

I dig my chainmail bracelet. And guess what? It’s inexpensive at only $9.90. :D

This is my first time buying shoes from Pazzion. I used to scoff at their name. I still do. But I happened to spot a pair of amazing shoes when I passed by their Wisma Atria outlet and I feel in love.

This is not the coup de grâce pair but it is absolutely gorgeous. I have a thing for croc-imprinted leather (just like how I have a thing for leopard prints). I got this pair in black, it’s understated yet still has a little personality.

Now, the deathblow. The pair of shoes that had my heart palpitate and my feet tingling in joy.

A pair of stilettos with a platform front. I adore the rubber grip at the bottom of the shoe. You know how I am very particular with non-slippery shoes. This pair fits the bill twice over. I love stilettos, but recently I’ve come to realize regular stilettos don’t seem to be very stable nor nice to walk in. That is until I discovered platform front stilettos. These shoes, for me, are incredible stable and easy to walk in. When I try on such shoes I feel like I was born to be in heels.

These shoes can give me the height without compromising stability and comfort. Love, love, love.

I went to get the Svajs hanging storage thingy, which hangs from a wardrobe rail and creates vertical space. And then I bought other items. I bought a can of pear cider, storage cubes (the rectangular white items at the top of the picture), oven-safe casserole dish, tea infuser, hanging toiletry bag (the black bag) and a tiered pants hanger.

The most interesting item, I suppose, is the tea infuser. Here’s a closeup:

The point is to put tea leaves into the mesh ball and infuse the apparatus into hot water. This comes with a handle, so it acts as a stirrer as well. The best part? This is cheap at $2.50. I have seen tea balls in Isetan go for $9 apiece. So this is a good buy. The problem? I don’t drink tea made from loose tea leaves. But now I can!

Also, the cider.

I have had apple cider, but never pear cider. So I bought this to try. This 500ml can costs $5.90, standard cider pricing I suppose. While I am writing this post I am drinking the cider. It tastes … different. I’m not sure if it’s pear (I’m not a fan of pear, and I have no idea what pear they use). It’s a refreshing drink, consider it a spiked soft drink. It certainly does not have the icky beer bitter aftertaste. I like this, but I don’t think I’ll be crazy enough to go all the way to Ikea to buy this.

TUCH for iPhone.

This is a minimalist product made by TUCH, which is based in the US. This iPhone pouch is made out of one continuous piece of leather, without any stitching or glue. It’s all based on some slot system – very nifty. I got mine in black, or as they term it, obsidian.

TUCH for iPhone requires the phone to be naked. Apart from screen protectors and other sticker-like protection, the phone must not be encased in any plastic or metal cases to fit into the pouch. When new, it’d be a tight fit. However, the leather, being leather, will stretch over time to fit just-nice. As of now, the leather pouch really fits like a glove. (And yes, I have a cute wallpaper on my phone.) The leather used is real smooth, not as pebbled as it looks. The interior is the original suede of the leather, very luxe. The suede incidentally is good for wiping, somewhat, fingerprints off the back of the phone.

So you think, its just a normal leather pouch, why do I have to order it all the way from the States. Let me tell you, this is no normal pouch.

As exhibited above, at the bottom of the pouch are speaker holes and a hole for the iPhone dock. I found the speaker holes to be the deal-sealer when I was considering whether to buy this. The point is, I am positively deaf when it comes to hearing my phone ring. Regardless what ringtone I use, I always find it really hard to hear my phone ring in my bag. These speaker holes will help, or at least, not hinder my ring-hearing abilities as other pouches would. Also, the hole for the iPhone dock really means I can charge my phone or connect it to the computer without removing it from the pouch.

Another cool feature is the card holder as shown below. I inserted my Spongebob laminated EZlink into the card holder slot at the front. The official product information says that it will hold up to 3 cards (given time for the leather to stretch a little).

So, it really is never just about the iPhone.

To order your own, you can go to their official website at http://www.tuchmade.com/ (they make iPad and Macbook holders as well), or their Etsy site at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TuchMade.

(NOTE: Of course I bought and paid for my item, I’m just plugging this wonderful product!)

Pair #1 – Mitju slip-on heels with basket woven platform, S$29.90

These are quite feminine — I can imagine them on a Japanese housewife with rolled-up jeans, a flowy floral top and a straw hat.

Pair #2 – Tracce faux seude round toebox pumps with hidden heel detai, S$49.90 (look out for 20% discounts!)

It seems patchy in the picture; it’s not so serious in real life. It’s very comfortable and the toe box has enough room for my wide feet so I really like shoes from this brand. This is my fifth pair of shoes from Tracce. So far, I’d say this brand produce good shoes.

Pair #3 – Replay leather ballet flats with sneaker laces, S$109 (got it with giftcards, won’t pay real money for these)

I had giftcards to spend, so I bought this pair of expensive shoes. It seems that Replay is a brand from Italy. These flats are made of leather and suede and they have the cutest soles:

The words read – “I’ll trade this button for a kiss”. Not sure what it’s supposed to mean, but isn’t it adorable? The pastel purple shoes look so young too.

To rationalize my purchase – I have two pairs of shoes to retire because they are in poor condition already. One is torn, the other has its sole coming out, which I have already stuck back on with glue once. So this justifies its retirement. Yes. In essence I’m replacing my retiring shoes plus one more pair. In essence.

But who cares, if the shoe fits, buy it.

I bought 4 colours at one go through a bulk purchase scheme. I’m not sure how much China Glaze in Singapore retails for (IF it’s sold here, that is), but I simply can’t resist their sparkle collection looking at what netizens are wearing.

From left: Gold Digger, Ruby Pumps, Emerald Sparkle, Cosmic

Of course they are bold colours. I don’t do understated, I hope you know that by now.

A swatch:

From left: Emerald Sparkle, Ruby Pumps, Gold Digger, Cosmic

Emerald Sparkle: A very nice green that did not turn out well in the picture. The lighting failed to capture the emerald glitter but I really really dig this colour.

Ruby Pumps: It’s not as garish a red as I expected, which is really good. It’s more a chilli red than Chinese New Year red if you get what I mean. But this will rock for Chinese New Year. There are red sparkles in there are divine.

Gold Digger: Hell, can I wear this EVERYDAY? I love the chunky gold glitter that makes it so rich and pimp. It’s not classy if that’s what you’re wonder. It’s gaudy, glittery but fabulous. One of those colours that can perk me up.

Cosmic: Black with multitone glitter that look different in different light. Must shake well to mix it all up. But it jazzes up the black to make it less dreary. You know how I’m not a big fan of plain black. I feel awful if I have to wear a plain black top, let along plain black nails.

All in all I really love my haul of nail polishes. A tip for buying nail polishes online — always Google pictures of people wearing those colours to see how the colours look in real life in different lighting. Never trust swatches on the product website, those usually suck.

:D I have to reiterate- I love China Glaze! Much more than OPI for some reason. :D

Last year I got my Kate products from the Sasa outlet in City Square. This time, I got it from Watsons. Yes, Kate is a drugstore label in Japan. I was excited to find many interesting products, so I snagged two.

I got a Diamond Cut Eyes palette in shade GN-1 and a Dual Carat in shade PU-1. The Dual Carat is one of Kate’s most popular product because it is very shiny, like a diamond. Unfortunately, I heard news that the line for the Dual Carat has been discontinued. So this is my first, and most probably last Dual Carat unless I go back for more some time soon.

The Diamond Cut Eyes palette is sold for RM49.90, which is about SGD20. The Dual Carat was on 10% sale at Watsons and costs RM40.50, which is about SGD16. Interestingly, when I refered to the price printed in Japanese Yen at the back of the packaging, I realised that they cost 1600 yen and 1300 yen respectively. Given the current exchange rate, that is about SGD25 and SGD20 respectively. This meant that I got both products cheaper than I would have in Japan. What a bargain!

I will post up a review and close-up shots when I start to use them. Watch this blog for reviews!