139 When You Realize It's Been a Full Year Already...

One more post before this and I would've been writing my 140th! For 2014! Damn.

This image is mine. Do not take without crediting.

I'll be heading overseas to visit some relatives for the New Year tomorrow, and hence won't have my laptop with me when 2014 knocks to do my quintessential "let's look back at the old year" post. Thus, here I am, doing it two days early! I'll be looking back at last year's post, to review how I've fared on my challenges and resolutions, and set some new ones for the year ahead.

(I apologize if the image above is super contrived. But I've never known a year ahead so void of schedule or certainty, so I'll need all the contrived luck I can get!)

Looking back at last year's post:

1. "Things I'm worried about for 2013: A levels. That's just it, actually." And I was right to be worried! Not so much about the exams but its preparations. The papers flew by really quickly, and though of course there were days when studying was really unfruitful and laborious, one month on I'm quite prepared to say I'm proud of the effort I put in, and there aren't any regrets that come to mind right now. (I suppose I'll say differently when the results come out.)
2. "I want to be content." I must say I actually failed on this one. What I have learnt is to deal with the discontented feelings as they come with a calm and rational mindset. That to be emotionally affected by heavy blows is perfectly alright, but letting them weigh you down is not. Also, that it is definitely not okay to carry others' crosses. 
3. "...to continue wearing that red asymmetrical skirt." 'Smatter of fact, I sold it off yesterday. But I must say it has earned back its two years' worth of wardrobe place: most memorably, at Nanyang Homecoming two years ago! Also, oxblood (or 'wine', as it is now called) seems to be a perpetually stylish colour, though oddly enough not predominant in my wardrobe. 

Looking back at 2013:

Things I'm grateful for

1. My family. For being the perfect sounding board for all my crazy ideas and emotions, for bearing through dinners when I was alternatively surly or unnaturally hyperactive, for not commenting as I consistently overdressed every Sunday (especially during A levels period), and for not saying anything when my shower playlist turned emotional. To put it lightly.
2. Friends from every corner. I may not talk to each of you all the time but you have each of you been a crucial pillar of support for me at different times. For my 409 friends, for reminding me how to laugh at the silliest times; for my A14 friends, for going through our newest and strangest struggles together; for my ballet friends, for giving me a telescope to the world outside my school; for everyone else who has some way or another reminded me that life is a jigsaw puzzle and it's best not to get too caught up by one piece.
3. The church. The heavily allegorical architecture of St. Mary's has lent me to my subconscious resolution for 2013: to find, in every Mass, something to reflect on. This has ranged from the day's Reading to even the words that are repeated every Sunday but fail to sink in: for example, the previously quoted "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life", and even "Peace be with you." Finding these pockets of peace has been immensely helpful to get me through each week.

Things I've learnt

1. You are never too good for anyone, or anything. Open your mind to make friends from every quarter, however much you may have written them off before. Same goes for pursuing interests.
2. You're always going to know more now than you knew then, to rephrase Taylor Swift. In other words, there is no place for regrets, only new lessons learnt.
3. Patience is a virtue. In lessons, in relationships. And hard work is always more fulfilling than none.
4. You can't regret it if you were being true to yourself. You may be sad about the consequences but you can't truly regret them if they didn't arise from your actions. If someone else's beliefs and thought processes are responsible for landing you in your bad position, then don't be bitter, but don't cut yourself up about it either. Just move on. 
5. You'll never know everything: about anyone, or anything. 

Looking ahead at 2014:

Things I'm worried about:

1. Primarily, my A level results, and that of my university and scholarship applications. I only pray my hardest that this time next year will land me somewhere I am happy to be. But then again, that is one of the things I have learnt about myself: I am "stronger than I think", and that ultimately what is more important than where I end up, is what I make of it. 
2. Where am I going?!

Things I want to learn:

1. Don't compare yourself to the 2%.
2. Stop being so harsh on yourself. Which is related to #1. This is my key personal goal for 2014. 
3. Stop being so harsh on others.  Auntiedom can come at the cost of being hurtful to others, and that's something I want to avoid in 2014. 

(I don't know why but my descriptions all got shorter and shorter)
(Maybe because it's already midnight now)
(Or because I'm running away from the fact that my second 2013 resolution was to 'get fitter')
-I'll try to sleep earlier in 2014.

138 How To Tackle Flea Markets, Warehouse Sales, and Bargains of Any Kind

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Photo credit: Pinterest

I haven't had the best history with sales.

When it comes to warehouse sales, my first experience was Love, Bonito's last year. It was something that I really wanted to go to but hadn't made up my mind on, especially since it was on a school night, but when my shopping buddy turned out to be free that evening, we embarked on a madcap journey, which consisted us taking a bus to my house after school, me lending her a dress to wear since she hadn't come prepared, and us taking a cab all the way to the business district where the sale was being held. We arrived about half an hour (or less) before they were due to close on the last day, and consequently shopped around like a pair of hassled chickens till they told the shoppers to wrap up. 

I bought a lavender dress that day that I still haven't worn till this day. It fits alright, but I should've known I wouldn't be too comfortable with anything with spaghetti straps. I distinctly remember my mindset being, "I don't care if I don't particularly like it-- I've come this far-- I can't leave empty-handed!" It's an easy mindset to slip into, given the frazzled nature of the experience, the time limit, and the very enticing 'sales' signs everywhere. (That, and seeing LB's owners like celebrities at the entrance. Consider me starstruck.)

Today I went for my second: Her Velvet Vase's. I was tempted by the tastefully done adverts (which, by the way, promised a "spring garden sale"), the posh venue (Marriott Hotel! in Orchard Road!), and the fact that though I had mysteriously never purchased from them before, I did have my eye on a few items online that I hoped would be at the sale. 

I went with my mum, and as we neared the entrance (and passed by more and more girls with happy faces and full fabric bags with the brand logo printed on the front), I became more and more excited. It's like Confessions of a Shopaholic says: shopping is like visiting a volcano. You'll get more and more signs as you reach the core.

However, the sale turned out to be rather disappointing. I suppose being a few hours late cost us the best designs, and so we left without buying anything, sadly enough. We then went on to Far East Plaza (where four dresses in different shops tempted me profusely, but ended up being tossed into the "nice, but not wow" category), Topshop Knightsbridge (also with tempting "50% SALES" signs, only with the small caveat discovered later, "for members"), and 313 Somerset. My Christmas ang bao money ended up being spent in my last stop: Forever 21, where I hadn't expected to find anything other than pretty-from-far clothes made of crepe chiffon. 

a navy button-up of sturdy cotton, and burnished gold dress shorts in what feels like Thai silk- for $15 apiece!

Which brings me to the subject of my post: how to tackle flea markets, warehouse sales, and bargains of any kind! I decided after my last How To post that all this time spent perusing racks and magazines alike must be put to good use, so here are my best tips:

1. What you wear to the sales is as important as what you'll be leaving it with. If you're going to a get-down-and-dirty sale like HVV's (or like any warehouse sale, for that matter), do as the Romans and wear as body-hugging and unobtrusive clothes as you can without being skanky. I noticed several girls wearing tank tops and denim shorts (with, perhaps, a layer over that could be peeled off easily, like a flannel shirt) to the warehouse sale, then shimmying gowns over it. This's a useful plan of attack for places with no fitting rooms.
   For places that do have fitting rooms, however, consider things with: no layers, no belts, no buttons, and basically something that can be zipped on and off, like a dress. (Dresses, however, are tricky if you're shopping with someone else and want to come out of the fitting room to show them a top you have on, because then half your dress will be hanging around your hips and that is hardly flattering for anyone. Bring a full set to try on, even if you don't want to buy half of it, if so.)
   And, most importantly, be comfortable. Nothing zaps a shopping trip faster than you clumping along in heels you should've broken in or left in the house in the first place, or you slouching because your clothes don't sit well. 
2. Consider each piece as if it wasn't on sale. Now, what I normally read is "ask yourself if you'd buy it at the original price", but we all know the sales price plays a huge part of the decision, particularly if the original price is way out of your range. My edited tip: "ask yourself if you'd buy it at the sales price, but without knowing it was on sale". For example, a dress may seem like a huge bargain if the price tag reads it was $50 slashed to $15, but consider that the material is cheap and will likely snag soon and it isn't even worth paying the fifteen dollars.
   Pay attention to cut, material, design, and whether it fits your style and your existing wardrobe, whether or not the item is discounted.
3. Discard anything that does not 'wow' you immediately. For places with no fitting rooms, this is particularly true unless you are looking for basics. If you hang on to things with only a 'meh' impression on you, chances are you're under the "BUT IT'S A SALE" mentality. If you are shopping for basics, again, take note of cut, material, design, and fit. For places with fitting rooms, this allows you a bit more time to model in front of the mirror and think about it, but be warned: the more you stare, the more you may be inclined to just go "ahh, let's just pay already". Take note of your gut instinct, things that say, "but I don't quite like this neckline", or "this colour looks a little dull on my skin tone". It's like a relationship: it may look good on paper, but if it doesn't fit in real life, discard it. Trust the photos, not the paper!
4. That being said, take time to walk around. This is to (a) find the best deals, particularly if an item looks like it may be sold elsewhere (very common with blogshop items); (b) think about items you love, but are costly (like this $56 cheongsam I tried on today-- lovely, but way out of the budget!); and (c) consider what you really need in your closet anyway. Shops leverage on the time of the year very heavily during festive periods. You need to really consider if the item you're buying will last beyond whatever period you're buying it in/from. (Partly why I didn't buy the cheongsam- when else am I going to wear it?!)
5. Don't be afraid to walk away empty-handed. If it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. Que sera sera!

Hope this helps. If anyone has any more tips, please let me know! :)

137 Merry Christmas!

Have yourself a very Merry Christmas! by adaydreamer featuring christmas jumpers

Early, I know.

Also, I edited the template! Finally! I was inspired by K is for Kani's new template, which is minimalist, clean, and beautiful, but I love my green owls too much to let them go. Instead, I played with fonts, colours, and borders: and gave myself a new profile on the right.

Photo credit: ReactionGIFs.com

Enjoy!