I have so many thoughts about NUS Sports Camp – it’s probably the best camp in NUS – although I haven’t been attending many camps so far. Well, I’m not a “camp person” – not fond of staying overnight in places I’m unfamiliar with, and my poor psycho-motor skills means that I am quite terrible at those camp games when you sit in a circle and clap and chant etc? I get quite nervous at that! But coming back to the point, at the camp I met alot of people and friends, re-experienced the fun, craziness, team spirit and bonding. It is a wonderful feeling and it makes you forget about yourself as an individual, but for the team, the group as a whole, and you just want to do it together, and win games/competitions together.

Tiao Zui is an amazing OG – everyone’s nice and funny and cooperative – I love the camp because of them and with my fellow councillors Darryl, Adrian, Jiamin and Sherryn…no camp will ever be the same without them and all those precious moments when we went all out for the freshies and stood by them while enjoying ourselves with the games and activities and cheers. It cannot be exchanged for anything in the world. H1N1 didn’t stop us, for SC Part 2 went on for a day with beach games and of course, the Bash itself at Supper Club. Not to mention the OG outings to Zouk, Weiqi and Dwayne’s house, meetups in school for meals etc. The friendship will go on, the memories will live on, for this OG is very special to me, and I thank God for all that has happened….good things and bad (like the cut on my face – it didn’t stop me from going to the actual camp, and I’m really glad I made the perfect decision!)

Thank you guys for everything. I really hope that we can all still meet up and reminisce the exciting camp days and to remember one another, always, for this memorable experience. I LOVE TIAO ZUI!

Our first official meeting @ Wala Wala..the councillors of TZ!

To one of our first group photos with the freshies...

My personal favourite - AKK councillors! United we are ONE!

And I'm thankful that I met these beautiful girls who represent the colourful image of AKK

Amazing race! and stopping by Udders for cool delicious ice-cream...

Pool games! We're all wet and wild!

This is really, really, sweet! Drawn by the boys of TZ, thank you!

And we won at paintball! Success tastes so sweet when you love your group so much!

A very happy memory before H1N1 struck!

And we danced together all night...

A night to remember!

Gathering at Weiqi's place for games and foooood!

babes, ni men zhen de hen SEXY!!!

tz is reunited for SC Pt 2!

"Prize" Presentation! Our heartfelt gifts to exclusive members of TZ!

Beach games bring us close together!

Sports Bash Finale!

Glitz, glamour, all smiles!

The Pimp will always be the PIMP!

Image credits to my.telegraph.co.uk

Image credits to neacinda.com

BROWS – I went to thread my brows last thursday and it really made a difference to touching them up with the brow pencil, it was so much easier defining my brows when the hair is fine and shaped nicely. It really matters too – the colour of the brows since I dyed my hair copper-brown, the eyebrows should match else I’ll look really weird – like blondes having black or dark-coloured brows – it’s a fashion-mistake, no? And it is no secret that perfectly drawn and arched brows do wonders to your appearance, although it really depends on your face/eyes’ shape etc.

See how it really changes your look?

Image credits to hey-dollface.com

We often overlook the significance of how our eyebrow-arch can alter the general appearance – but really the eyebrows are  one of the most expressive features of the face and a great deal of emotion can be conveyed through them.

To form the ideal eyebrow shape, simply follow three imaginary lines. Using an eyebrow pencil or anything long, straight and slender, hold the object vertically in front of your face. Line it up so that it touches the outer edge of your nostril and the inside corner of your eye. This line determines where your eyebrow should start (see Angelina Jolie image right, Line 1). Do the same for the other eyebrow. Any eyebrow hair inside these two marks needs to be plucked out using tweezers or wax. If your eyebrows fail to reach the marks you have made above the inner corners of your eyes, then you will need to fill that part of the eyebrow area in.

Image credits to glamouredited.com

Take the eyebrow pencil and hold it to the outer edge of your nostril again. This time, swing the pencil towards your pupil. Stop when the eyebrow pencil crosses the center of your pupil. Mark the spot where the line meets your eyebrow. This is where you arch should begin. Continue swinging the eyebrow pencil past your pupil to the outer edge of the iris (the colored portion) of the eye. Where the line intersects your eyebrow is where your eyebrow arch should be at its peak, or highest (see Angelina Jolie image Line 2). Mark this spot with an eyebrow pencil. Repeat this process for the other eyebrow. During this step make sure that you are looking straight ahead; both your face and your eyes should be looking directly forward into the mirror. To create the arch, remove hairs from the bottom of the brow bone, not the top. The only time you should pluck hair from above the brow line is when you are removing any stray hairs that occur above the brow. After the peak, the arch should begin descending immediately.

Taking the eyebrow pencil from the outer edge of your nostril once more, line it up so that it passes along the outermost corner of your eye (not your eyelashes) to your brow area (see Angelina Jolie image Line 3). This is where your eyebrow should end. Mark this point with an eyebrow pencil and repeat for the other side. Remove any hairs that fall beyond these points. Ideally, the inside portion of the eyebrow should be thickest and should taper towards the outer edge.

In summary, the eyebrow should begin along a line from the outer edge of the nostril to the inside corner of your eye, reach its peak (or highest point) at the line from the outer edge of the nostril to the outer edge of the colored portion of the eye (the iris) and extend to just beyond the outer corner of the eye (the side of the nostril and end of the eyebrow should form a line that intersects the outer corner of the eye). Remember these easy steps and you’ll know how to shape your eyebrow arch to always achieve the ideal eyebrow shape.

- content credits to http://www.glamouredited.com/howtos/how_to_shape_your_eyebrow_arch.html

HAIR – This is perhaps too broad a topic to elaborate about, but we all know the countless ways we can style, cut, dye, trim, tie our hair. Just look at Robert Pattinson! Like I’ve mentioned in my previous post, this is probably the most important part of our body that really “contributes to” or “detriments” our looks. So, both ladies and gentlemen, please take good care of them and do take the occasional adventure to explore your locks!

Image credits to sodahead.com

Image credits to emilyroop.com

My next hairstyle will probably be curls – and a more reddish shade than the one I’m having now

Image credits to celebrityhaircut.blogspot.com

FACIAL HAIR is so wrong on women it’s practically a taboo. The upper lip, chin and sides of the face. Hair growth on these areas can be hormonal, but if there’re abnormal amounts or if the hair is very thick, perhaps looking for the doctor to determine some underlying causes would be better before you embark on a removal regime.

Tweezers are a no-no for facial hair because repeated plucking can cause irritation in the hair follicle and, on darker-skinned women, can also result in scarring. Unless you have just a few stray hairs that occasionally pop up, no tweezers please!

Depilatory creams dissolve the hair at the base of the follicle. They are ideal for widespread areas (like the legs), but can be problematic when used on the face because they irritate the skin and usually don’t remove all of the hairs. On the plus side, depilatory creams are a relatively inexpensive option. On average, results will last for one to two weeks.

Waxing

Waxing is one of the most popular solutions. Generally, it is an effective method to remove hair on the upper lip and fine hair on the side of the face, but it is not recommended for the chin area, where hair tends to be more coarse. Depending on the type of hair you have, waxing results should last from two to six weeks.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis uses low-level electricity to kill the hair follicles. On the positive side, results last longer than with waxing and depilatories – but the process can be time consuming and costly. Electrolysis is generally recommended for women with white or very blonde hair and for women who have areas with isolated hairs.

Laser hair removal is the newest weapon in the hair-removal arsenal. The ‘perfect’ candidate for laser work has fair skin and dark hair, but good results can be achieved by an experienced laser practitioner on darker-skinned women. Overall, laser hair removal is not very effective on light blonde or white hair.

- content credits to http://www.ivillage.co.uk/beauty/bodybasics/remove/articles/0,,548157_579331-1,00.html

LASHES – falsies, eyelash extensions, mascara and other lash enhancing technologies including topical serums and creams all mean one thing – how the lashes mean everything to us. Well, almost. That’s because lashes beautify the eyes in no ways makeup can do the trick. The pictures below tell the story!

Image credits to bunnycakes.blogspot.com

They define, sharpen, enhance, brighten and draw attention to the eyes in an amazing way. As compared to short, thin lashes – you get the drift.

NOSTRILS – I guess most girls don’t have this problem of super-duper long nasal hair, and even if you do, just use the nostril scissors (with a rounded tip and sharp cutting edge) so you can save yourself from possible cuts and accidents. It’s a no-brainer right?!

CHEST HAIR – Assuming, again, that fellow girls don’t have hairy problems on the chest, my preference of chest hair on men is – minimal. Unless you have Ryan Reynolds’ chest (so drool-worthy!), of course – does it even matter whether you have hair?

Image credits to gamercenteronline.net

UNDERARMS! – Yes I’m just getting here, the most unsightly area to have hair if you love sleeveless clothing! Well, how not to in sunny and humid Singapore?

Best ways to remove underarm hair – shaving and epilation!

Shaving: Some tools you definitely need are a sharp razor and the way you prepare your skin for shaving (that means skin is dampened at least 3 minutes before you start shaving). Pull skin taut and shave against the growth of the hair.

• shave on clean skin after a warm shower
• for a closer shave, exfoliate first to get rid of dead skin cells
• always apply a shaving cream or gel for a smoother glide
• after shaving, apply moisturiser to soothe and smooth the skin
• shaving at night helps to allow your skin time to recover its suppleness
• change blades on a regular basis as a dull one can lead to nicks

Epilation – This is what I really what to trying after all these years of shaving! Best for legs and underarms, epilators use rotating discs to catch hair and pull it out. And it actually lasts a few weeks, like waxing!

• epilate after shower, when the pores are open
• skin must be dried thoroughly first

Waxing – Many areas like lips, bikini line and legs. Relatively slow regrowth, but can be painful (yes!!) especially the week before and during your period.

• stick to cold wax if you have sensitive skin, because it causes less irritation than hot wax
• avoid wearing tight clothing over freshly waxed areas to reduce irritation and exfoliate 2 days later to slough off dead skin that could lead to ingrown hair

ARMS/LEGS - see above for solutions! Shave/wax/epilate your way to fantastic, smooth and silky gams!

PUBIC HAIR – sometimes it’s such a bother to bother about this area but when you just need to get rid of some unwanted hair, the best way is to do a brazilian. I have done it before and the way I describe it is that “each strip of wax removed is like a slap in the face”. At the end of it all I felt like I was perspiring (or rather, cold sweat) and deeply traumatized. I went to Fabulous Wax. Maybe they didn’t do such a good job afterall in making me feel less painful, but the result is pretty good. Very clean.

• hair needs to be a quarter-inch if it’s fine, a half-inch if it’s coarse. You’ll be sent home if hair isn’t long enough.
• The downside of a Brazilian wax… while it lasts 3-6 weeks, the hair will grow back — albeit finer and lighter — and you’ll have to do it again.

This marks the end of my ‘hairy’ account. Up next: Something personal, something called a Reflection.

Image credits to pinkvilla.com

If only we could choose, at the time of birth, where we want our hair to grow from!

Brows – YES. And shaping them could do wonders to your appearance!

Head – YES. Unless you want to be part of the monastery/nunnery? And admit it, without hair we probably wouldn’t look half as good!

Face – Facial hair is such a crime! I just threaded off my upper lip hair, however little it was, and boy it felt great to be ‘naked’ there!

Lashes – Uh-huh. The longer, thicker, bushier, blacker the BETTER.

Nostrils – I ticked my brother off because nose hair was sticking out – he didn’t think it was a problem, how weird is that?! Imagine talking to someone with visible nostril hair, doesn’t that speak of poor grooming and pure ignorance? Tsk tsk.

Chest – Ooooh YES. But in minimal proportions thank you very much, and only if you are a guy/man.

Armpits – This area irks me the most!! But relax girls, there’re plenty of solutions out there, it’s not the end of the world.

Arms and Legs – More hair = more horny/higher sex drive? I’ve never advocated hair on those areas but I don’t mind a little hair on the arms. Legs are a no-no because smooth, hairless legs give off a sexy, healthy sheen that we all want!

Pubic – Does it matter? Of course! Not just to your (potential) partner but it’s plain personal hygiene to keep it clean and preferably hairless, I suppose? But brazilian’s such a slap in the face – frowns*!

All problems have solutions – including hairy ones – so stay tuned to some of the most life-saving inventions that technology has created, up next!

New Divide – Linkin Park

I remembered black skies, the lightning all around me
I remembered each flash as time began to blur
Like a startling sign that fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard that I get what I deserve

So give me reason to prove me wrong, to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes
Give me reason to fill this hole, connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies across this new divide

There was nothing in sight but memories left abandoned
There was nowhere to hide, the ashes fell like snow
And the ground caved in between where we were standing
And your voice was all I heard that I get what I deserve

So give me reason to prove me wrong, to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes across this new divide

In every loss, in every lie, in every truth that you’d deny
And each regret and each goodbye was a mistake too great to hide
And your voice was all I heard that I get what I deserve

So give me reason to prove me wrong, to wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes
Give me reason to fill this hole, connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies across this new divide
Across this new divide, across this new divide

Image credits to dailymail.co.uk

Facebook is screwed up or what! It fails to load after too many unbearable minutes of waiting, fails to launch the photo uploader, birthday alert fails, applications fail to function, fails to please some people who are very concerned about privacy, like my Mum (hence she deleted her a/c, although technically it’s still available for viewing I think). It doesn’t help that it is facing lawsuits, or other potential ones due to privacy and authorization issues (of users).

And this is what I found on huffingtonpost.com:

eSarcasm has learned of several other completely braindead lawsuits against social networks that may be winding their way thorugh the courts. To wit:

• A class of completely worthless Twitter users are suing the microblog, claiming that Twitter’s arbitrary limit of 140-characters per tweet is simply not enough space to get their pointlessness across (I totally agree! *

80 Percent of Twitter Studies ‘Pointless Babble,’ Researchers Find -
A new report suggests most Twitter studies are made up of “pointless babble.”
The studies appear to exist “only for the sake of discussion,” researchers say.)

• The Los Angeles Association of Professional Pole Dancers and Prostitutes (LAAPPDAP) is suing MySpace for breach of promise, saying the social network is still not skanky enough for them, despite News Corp’s vow to turn it into a complete sluthaven.
• A group of teen Bebo users are suing AOL for buying the service in March 2008. According to papers filed with the complaint, the teens are suing because “using Bebo used to be, like, hella awesome, and now it feels like going to Wal-Greens with Gramps to buy suppositories.”

Legal experts contacted by eSarcasm predict the number of such lawsuits will continue to rise until God stops making attorneys and/or stupid people, which is not expected before the Great Idiot Purge of 2033.

Image credits to huffingtonpost.com

Facebook News Update: Job hunting? Take those wild party pics off Facebook (22 August 2009), taken from msn news.

http://news.sg.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3540519

‘Nearly half of US employers research the online profiles of job candidates on social networks such as Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn, according to a new survey.

Thirty-five percent of those surveyed said they have found content on a social network that caused them not to hire a candidate, CareerBuilder said.

Examples included “provocative or inappropriate photographs or information” or content about drinking or using drugs.

Other reasons cited were badmouthing a previous employer, co-workers or clients, poor communication skills, making discriminatory comments, lying about qualifications or sharing confidential information from a previous employer.

Information found on social networking profiles was not always a negative factor in finding a job.

Eighteen percent of employers said they have found content on social networking sites that caused them to hire the candidate, CareerBuilder said.

Some profiles “provided a good feel for the candidates personality” or supported their professional qualifications while others demonstrated creativity or solid communication skills.

Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, recommended that candidates “clean up digital dirt” before beginning a job search by removing photos, content and links which could hurt their chances.’

People, be really careful what you post on social networking sites or they may just work against you!

Had a good laugh?

On a more serious note, I found this excerpt really meaningful, it’s from one of my Sociology of Lifecourse and Ageing readings.

“Life reviews tend to be fragmentary…Like a continent viewed from an airplane, the distant past tends to be a patchwork largely obscured by clouds that represent dimmed memories, but it is illuminated and brought into focus here and there by shafts of sunlight through breaks in the clouds, where events or special circumstances have left indelible imprints. It seems impossible to trace a continuous development thread through the intervening shadows unless one has maintained a diary or log of the life journey.” – Life Reviews and Life Stories by John A. Clausen

I’m lusting after…

A River Island bag that’s good for school! Found many beauties on the website but those arm-candies just can’t be right clicked upon. Pfft!