Miss Glitzy’s Monologue

Holga felt like a dream

February 9, 2010 at 10:30 am | In Miss G: Photography | Leave a Comment
Tags: holga, Lomography, Photography

My first roll from the Holga 120GCFN is out. I used the 35mm backing and loaded a roll of Agfa Precisa into the camera.

I complained to everyone around me that the Holga was a bitch. Unlike the lomolito which shifts the film with one revolution, I had to do manual estimation on the Holga. I was told that for my 35mm film, it’s about 25 clicks. I lost count of the clicks, wasted film and it didn’t help that the camera was so bulky!

But looking at some of the shots, I think it was worth it.

Shanghai's bus-stop

Shanghai's road

Shanghai's animal

Shanghai's love

Shanghai's house

Shanghai's voice

Hope you love this set! The rest of the pictures are on Flickr.

Technorati Tags: holga+120, 35mm, agfa+precisa, cross+processed, shanghai, lomography, lomo, lomo+life, dream, photography, hobby

Handmade with Love – Fruit Tarts

February 7, 2010 at 11:58 am | In Miss G: Food | 4 Comments
Tags: desserts, Fruit Tarts, recipe

With Valentine’s Day round the corner, maybe it’s time to get busy at the kitchen and bake some sweet desserts for your loverboy!

INGREDIENTS

Pastry

1/4 lb butter, cold, chopped into pieces
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
3 egg yolks

Custard

2 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk (full fat)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Topping

3/4 cup apricot jam
Various fresh fruits (or canned)

PROCEDURES

1. To make pastry: Using fingertips, rub butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in sugar and egg yolks, press mixture together to form a ball and refrigerate in plastic wrap for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Meanwhile, make custard: In medium bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar and flour until the mixture turns thick and pale.

Then, heat the milk in saucepan until it is almost boiling, remove from heat. Slowly dribble in hot milk into egg mixture, whisking continuously, until all of milk has been added. Return custard to pot and cook, over medium-low heat, until custard has thickened and coats the back of a spoon (5-7 minutes). Place piece of plastic wrap directly onto surface of custard (this prevents a ’skin’ from forming) and allow to cool completely.

3. Roll pastry between two sheets of wax paper, making the pastry large enough to cover base and sides of a buttered 9-inch fluted tart pan.

i) Place sheet of foil into pastry and fill with pie weights (we used rice grains). Trim edges of the foil.

ii) Bake for 20-25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and rice grains from the pastry and bake a further 5 minutes.

iii) Allow the pastry to cool.

4. To assemble: Spoon custard into baked pie crust and smooth. Place pieces of fruit attractively over the tart. Heat apricot jam until it is quite liquid and brush this generously over the fresh fruit to set and seal the tart. Refrigerate the tarts.

Voila!

Technorati Tags: Recipe, Fruit+Tarts, Dessert, DIY, Kitchen, Domestic+Goddess, Jam, Pastry, Love, DIY+gifts, Valentines+Day

CA4LA – Can’t get it out of my head

February 4, 2010 at 10:15 am | In Miss G: Fashion | Leave a Comment
Tags: CA4LA, Ear Muffs, Hairband, hats

I got to know of this Japanese brand CA4LA (‘kashira’, which means head in Japanese) recently and it got me a bit clickety-crazy admiring the beautiful hats and hair accessories!

The Tokyo-based brand has over a dozen designers who each put their own personality and style in their designs. Approximately 70% of the merchandises are designed and produced in Japan. This is not strictly a domestic business though, as CA4LA also collaborates with international brands such as adidas and Swarovski!

(from left) Hairband (¥6,300 or SGD98), Knit Cocktail Hat (¥8,610 or SGD134)

(from left) Marietta Ear Muffs (¥5985 or SGD63) , Antique09 (¥9240 or SGD144)

I have a weakness for cute ear muffs… check out other interesting ear muffs here!

Not to forget, the main selling point of this brand is their eclectic collection of hats!

(top from left) ART (¥12,348 or SGD192), no. 5 newsboy cap (¥12,600 or SGD196)

(bottom from left) Miss&Mr (¥10,500 or SGD163), jou jou x CA4LA W beret (¥8925 or SGD139)

While the prices are on the high side, I couldn’t help but marvel at the wide variety of headgear available at the website. And, I seriously love the ear muffs!

Technorati Tags: ca4la, kashira, japanese, fashion, hat, headgear, hairband, ear+muffs, designer, andy+warhol, collaboration, cult+fashion

Lady Capelet Jacket

February 2, 2010 at 10:20 am | In Miss G: Outfits | 3 Comments
Tags: Capelet Jacket, Corporate Lady, Office wear

The first month of the new year has whizzed past and for me, it has been spent largely as a “Corporate Lady“. This picture was taken at home after a long day at work and I looked a bit tired. Work can drive people crazy sometimes but I try to keep my mood high by thinking of what to wear!

Forever 21 Capelet Jacket, ASOS turn-lock belt, VS pencil skirt

I love the Forever 21 Capelet Jacket for its versatility. The pleated details at the hem gives you the option not to tuck in.

This piece is also good for cooler weather where you can layer over a black long-sleeve top. Isn’t it great to have a versatile and unique piece in the wardrobe?

Technorati Tags: forever+21, lady+capelet+jacket, top, corporate+lady, office+wear, work+ladies, outfit, professional, versatile, wardrobe

Zac Posen for Target

January 30, 2010 at 8:21 pm | In Miss G: Fashion | 7 Comments
Tags: Collaboration, Fashion, target, Zac Posen

I was terribly excited when I heard of Anna Sui for Target. And I was once again excited when I read about Rodarte for Target. Nonetheless, I did not feel compelled to get anything from both collections eventually.

I felt the familiar flutter in my heart when I scanned through looks after looks of the Zac Posen for Target collection. I think I might really for once, get myself to checkout my shopping cart at Target when the collection is released on 25th April.

The collection is quirky, feminine and sexy all-in-one. Dresses range from US$39.99 to US$79.99.

While I think this Target collection is less edgy and unique than Zac Posen’s regular designs (really love his Pre-Fall 2010 collection), the pieces retain his usual elements of practicality, wearability and trendiness. I just hope the quality will match up to my standards – getting a piece of Zac Posen at less than US$100 is a steal but the quality of the fabric really matters!

For the entire lookbook, please visit my Facebook album.

Technorati Tags: Zac+Posen, Target, Collaboration, Dress, Polka+Dot, Swim+suit, designer, April, edgy, unique, fashion, fashionista

A Tale of Two Top Sellers: Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Gold Ultra Lift Eye Capsules and Pure Finish Mineral Foundation

January 28, 2010 at 10:30 am | In Miss G: Beauty | 3 Comments
Tags: Elizabeth Arden, Eye Capsules, Mineral Foundation, Skincare

Elizabeth Arden provided me with 2 of their top sellers to sample and review! I opted for the Ceramide Gold Ultra Lift and Strengthening Eye Capsules, as well as the Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 20 PA++.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Lift and Strengthening Eye Capsules (S$98)

This pot of gold capsules is supposed to restore your eye area and remove wrinkles! I have serious eye bags and was hoping that the capsules would help me manage this problem better.

I used 1 capsule for both eyes every night. I had no clue how to open the capsules initially but I eventually figured out that I just had to keep twisting till the plastic breaks off.

(i) The serum is quite oily, so this is a product I would use before I go to bed. The skin around the eye area felt really smooth in the morning. After 1 week of usage, I found that the product reduced puffiness and my eye bags was reduced and felt “firmer”.

(ii) This product seems non-intrusive although it claims to be very potent. There was no breakout or rashes after I applied the serum.

(iii) The capsules is supposed to help to remove crow’s feet and fine lines. I do not have wrinkles at the eye area but it was evident that the skin was smoother and firmer after use.

(iv) I was hoping that the eye bag area would look less dark. After 1 week, I couldn’t really tell if there was any improvement in dark circles.

Verdict: This is a good product, although results could vary across different individuals. The up-side for me was that I could survive long days at work and still look wide-eyed enough for movies or dinners at night. While $98 for 60 capsules (2 month’s supply) is quite reasonable, I would still recommend you to grab a sample and make sure that this works for you before you make the purchase decision!

Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Power Foundation SPF 20 PA++ (S$58)

I am a newbie to mineral foundation. I have heard of its advantages such as how it is less harsh to the skin and doesn’t clog the pores as much as normal liquid or compact foundation. Most mineral foundation can be messy to use because the powder is loose and light.

(i) EA’s mineral foundation comes with an inbuilt grinder, which “grinds on-demand”. When you need to put on the foundation, just turn the rim slightly in a clockwise manner and it will release some powder. Therefore, the amount of powder released is controlled and you would not create a mess!

(ii) I do not have a mineral brush but I found the powder puff provided in the box good enough for application.

(iii) The coverage is perfect! Just one dust from the powder puff and my skin looked smooth and flawless. Of course, I had to add concealer above my blemishes before I apply the foundation. But I really love the silky finish that the powder provided.

(iv) In addition, the foundation gives a matte look with good oil-control. I did not have to touch-up or blot often because my face did not turn oily towards the end of the day.

(v) There are 9 shades available for different skin tones. I was using 03, which worked well for me.

<< Verdict: This product gets a strong BUY rating from me. I have no idea how else to prove that I love the foundation besides showing a smiley self-portrait – that’s me covered with the Pure Finish Mineral foundation (and no photoshop)!

Technorati Tags: Elizabeth+Arden, Ceramide, Gold+Ultra+Lift, Eye+Capsules, Pure+Finish+Mineral+Foundation, Top+sellers, review, makeup, beauty, skincare, eye+care,

Poll: Fur in Singapore?

January 25, 2010 at 11:07 am | In Miss G: Fashion | 5 Comments
Tags: faux fur, poll, singapore

I am referring to Faux Fur, of course.

I have been quite intrigued by the variety of fur offerings this season and some of the fur pieces seems great for our weather. But with fur, it can be a tad tricky. You either look cool and contemporary in it, or people might pass you off as a tai-tai (rich man’s wife) wannabe.

(from left) Joie Dreamer Faux Fur Jacket – US$388, Members Only Faux Fur Vest (OOS), Graham and Spencer Fur Collar Vest US$407

(from left) Vero Moda Shaggy Yarn Waistcoat US$42.49, AX Faux Fur Shrug US$39

I think faux fur vests are suitable for Singapore’s weather, but I am undecided about this trend. Moreover, fur pieces are a challenge to store at home.

What about you? Cast a vote!

Technorati Tags: faux+fur, fur+outfits, poll, fur+in+singapore, asia+fashion, should+i+wear+fur, rock+faux+fur, taitai+wannabe

Shanghai Cafe #3 – hoF (House of Flour)

January 22, 2010 at 11:17 am | In Miss G: Food, The T Spot | 7 Comments
Tags: brunch, cafe, chocolate, hoF, Shanghai

In the final post of my Shanghai series, I am going to introduce you to a cafe/bar that is set up by a Malaysian chef. hoF (House of Flour) is set up by Brian Tan, spreading its food(foot)prints in Shanghai with 3 outlets and is popular for the chocolate desserts and cocktails!

I visited the cafe at Sinan Road, which was really near the H&M flagship store on Huai Hai Middle Road. You can take a break there after all the crazy H&M shopping!

And I was there for brunch…

I started off with hot chocolate that came with a shot of Bailey’s. I am a fan of Hot Chocolates and this is a good cup of Hot Chocolate – thick consistency, pleasant aroma and sweet, but not too sweet.

And for the record, we were supposed to drink from the tip of the cup.

My Croque Monsieur was delicious and surprisingly filling. Things never go wrong with ham, cheese and bread although I was slightly disappointed that it left me with no space for desserts.

Some photos of what I had missed. hoF also serves cocktails, so you can actually pair your desserts with their special concoctions for the best experience.

Verdict:

Great food, great location and good ambience. This is the place where I can go to at any time – start the day with brunch, take a short mid-day break with afternoon tea or head down for a good dinner or just chill at night with their desserts and drinks.

hoF (House of Flour)
30 Sinan Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu (思南路30号, 近淮海中路)
+86 21 6093 2058

Other posts in the Shanghai series:

Technorati Tags: hof, house+of+flour, shanghai, cafe, chocolate, brunch, sinan+lu, mei+mei, desserts, croque+monsieur, hot+chocolate, brian+tan

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Shanghai

January 19, 2010 at 11:36 am | In Miss G: Outfits, The T Spot | 10 Comments
Tags: MOCA， Shanghai, Modern Art, The T Spot

MOCA was a must-go place in my itinerary for Shanghai. I have never visited a modern art exhibition in China and was eager to experience that.

This picture was taken at People’s Park (人民公园). Love the brown hues of the trees. I was wearing my S$60+ dollars houndstooth coat from Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten label. Ebay rocks!

Inside MOCA. The exhibition was titled “Animamix Biennial 2009-10: Metaphors of Un/Real”.

With one of my favourite exhibits, “Shanghai Garden” by Jun T. Lai. Made from acrylic.

Yummy! This is by Osamu Watanab, untitled.

I think I hear you… “We can be heroes, just for one day” by Cao Hao.

The exhibition ends on 31st January this year. Entrance fee is 20RMB. It was a pity that some of the exhibits, including that of Singapore’s Phunk Studio, were not on display yet when I visited.

MOCA Shanghai
People’s Park, 231 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai (上海南京西路231号人民公园)

Other posts in the Shanghai series:

Technorati Tags: museum+of+contemporary+art, shanghai, animamix+biennal, sjp+bitten, houndstooh+coat, monochrome, people’s+square, art+exhibition, art+museum, modern+art, travel

Shanghai Cafes #2 – Song Fang 宋芳茶馆

January 16, 2010 at 12:07 pm | In Miss G: Food, The T Spot | 9 Comments
Tags: Shanghai, Song Fang, Tea House

If you were to ask me which is my favourite cafe in Shanghai, I would introduce you to “Song Fang” without hesitation.

Located in a 3-storey shophouse, a sea of bright blue tins printed with a cartoon of male and female farmers welcomes you at the first floor. You may be under the impression that this place is a retro Chinese tea house, but Song Fang actually sells both Chinese and French tea!

Photo credit: Song Fang

The three-storey tea house was adorned with very quirky and stylish decor.

Like our local TWG, there was a very wide selection (more than 60 types) of tea to choose from. All of us had french tea which was presented to us in Western tea pots.

The table opposite us was having Chinese tea which was served with the traditional Chinese tea preparation set.

The floral pouches were supposed to cover the tea pot to keep the tea warm.

The tea house serves Western tea cakes too. We had a homemade apple cake which was warm, soft and pretty yummy! Apparently, the desserts are prepared by a celebrated French Patissier based in China.

Verdict:

A quirky place with an interesting mix of Chinese and French culture. Soak into the relaxed ambience, enjoy the tea and do bring a good book to spend a day there.

Song Fang 宋芳茶馆
227 Yongjia Road (near Shaanxi Nan Road) 上海永嘉路２２７号甲（近陕西南路）
Tel: +86 021 64338283

Other posts in the Shanghai series:

Technorati Tags: Song+Fang, Maison+de+The, Tea+House, Shanghai, French+tea, desserts, Chinese+tea, Cafe, The+T+Spot