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2014- A pictorial review of my year

Goodbye 2014! Hello 2015!

On the last day of 2014, I looked through my exploding photo album (5k pictures, I don’t like deleting them 😅) on my trusty iPhone 5 and dug out some pictures that mostly summed up my month of the year 2014. Here is a quick pictorial review of my year ☺

👯  JANUARY 👯

January was spent in Shanghai doing a summer course in Fudan University for my Chinese Major. My return back to China was a fulfilling journey, making new friends, connecting with my old friends and spending quality time with my dearest godsister Jutta! I love her, and thank my lucky stars in meeting her while I worked there almost three years ago! She also recently told me that she is getting married 👰 I cannot wait to be her bridesmaid team! So happy for her, wishing her eternal happiness! Not to mention in China I fell really sick, and thank God for travel insurance and expat medical clinics- I refuse to be on an IV Drip to get well for my very very bad flu. NOT COOL CHINA, NOT COOL 😠.

🎊 FEBRUARY 🎊

Went home back to Singapore to celebrate Chinese New Year, and connecting with some really old Choir mates (& my primary school crush of 6 years😁 LOL). Was really happy we stayed friends! Such a miracle. It was also a painful month with a slipped disc due to the car accident I had back in Shanghai, and I almost, almost had to not go back to school because of my medical condition. Spent Valentines Day at home, with a tub of ice cream and sappy love dramas, my twinnie Lynn decided to come and give me some peanut cakes she made herself. I love her so much and really appreciate all the love she gave me. Bedridden most of my time but what can I say? Resting is to prepare for a longer journey. Good life with all the binge eating!

💔 MARCH 💔

I guess LDR was a bitch, and we were both sick and tired of each other at this point. It resulted in a temporary break up, and with me collapsing and crumbling down. I stayed home for 4 days, skipped school, cried my hearts out, wolfed down desserts and sweet treats. Wailed, wailed and wailed till my neighbors had to scream “hey, stop crying!”. I thank my friend, Joyce for being with me during this tough time, and giving me sweet support. She brought me out the entire day, and ordered me desserts and listened to me. Everyone needs a girl pal like her 👭👭👭

📷 APRIL 📷

April I was back in action, as it was Melbourne Fashion Week! I was kept busy with shows, and photoshoots! A month zoomed by doing things I loved. #achievementunlocked was finally a #legit magazine spread, and getting on runways (big/small) and my first BILLBOARD appearance for AVEDA Australia, Zucci Salon!

🎂 MAY 🎂

#lynnx21

Turned into a legal adult on May 18th, commemorated this special day with a photoshoot (how original, that’s the best thing I can do) with my favorite wedding photographers Guan Hui & Silvia from Bloc Memorie Photography. Also had a mega party on the 17th, held my party at my workplace, Starbucks Bourke Street! I love Starbucks (haters gonna hate hate hate, shake it off, shake it off💃) No alcohol (during the party), just specially made drinks (secret Starbucks recipes revealed) and anything from the bar on the house by Barista Lynn’s closest team of baristas. They are the best work team ever, and I could not have done my party without them. Purple themed for my birthday, and had my pastries made by Maria, who is so talented in everything and made my day perfect. Hair styled with love from Shakira, Zucci Salon and Make up from the place you would never thought of… PRICELINE! I love drugstore make up, some products are seriously underrated! I thank the Fudan gang for coming as well, + Monika, Liam for attending. Raymond, Joyce for spending my actual birthday with me, just with a nice high tea, some shopping, all peace and quiet… Just the way I like it 😚

☕ JUNE ☕

June was finals month, busy with school (as usual) and worked my ass off to save money for my USA exchange! Reconnected with my favorite KUMON instructor Mrs Leong. She gave me so much strength and motivation. Even after I went back home she showered me with love and even let me go back to KUMON to goof around😝 Starbucks Bourke Street also experienced certain incidents that were life threatening, and definitely memorable. Perfected my coffee making skills (and rusty again).

👋 JULY 👋

Mr Kangeroo bidding me goodbye! As I leave Melbourne with a very reluctant heart. One year already?! My last day was epic, as my girlfriend Monika and I went to Oriental Tea House, had a drink too many, HALF SOBER and went home to continue packing my luggage and prepare for my flight back home IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS😂😂😂. It was an epic journey, but looking back. I lost two friends that was very dear to me as they decided to cut ties with me. Although I don’t know why, I guess they don’t treasure me as much as I treasure them! I wish them all the best though. If they ever want to connect with me again, I am here. July is also the last month where I had great quality Aussie coffee, awesome brunches and the best raw produce. I MISS MELBOURNE AND QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET AND WORKING WITH THE BEST STARBUCKS TEAM EVER!!!!!!! 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 x 100000 Can’t wait to go back for graduation in 2015!

🙋 August 🙋

Hello GWU! George Washington University, is my exchange University in Washington DC, USA🇺🇸. School is amazing, and although momentum is different, I finally got to live my American “dream”! Finally came to the USA and met up with my LDR boy-friend of two years. We were in a really complicated stage, and I guess he regretted the breakup, I couldn’t bear to really just cut ties with him, after all… It’s been two years and coming to America was influenced by him, and this whole journey of coming to America is a tough one too. Sigh, another blogpost maybe 😢 All that heart wrenching stories… I was also really amazed with school stuff and was really interested in sorarities and fraternities. ITS LIKE GOSSIP GIRL, GLEE AND ALL MY USA DRAMAS COMING TO LIFE! Not to mention I actually got to go to NYC and it was a dream come true. Awesome!

😎 September 😎

Roomie Love! Meet my UK roomie, Ellie! She is pretty awesome. Although I don’t call myself extremely clean and have organized clutter, I suspect I am OCD because I like to put things in my way and like certain areas clean (bathrooms, kitchen especially). Till the extent my dorm room’s name sticker was vandalized by some really creative people: my name Lynn was spoofed and became Clynn (Clean) HAHAHAHAHAHA very very innovative guys, very innovative 😑😑😑 We spent a lot of time together, and I did learn new recipes from her as well! She is a great cook too, which is awesome! Spent most of this month trying to adapt to school, and to hang around DC finding great food and spending time with the boyfriend (yes somewhere in September we decided to give it a go again… *warm fuzzy feeling*)

🎃 OCTOBER 🎃

MY FIRST TIME CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!

I LOVED IT! We went to Embassy Row, which has Embassies from all around the world and for the first time in my life i went trick or treating. It was a very sweet experience I must say- the sweet treats I got lasted me a long time!

😞 NOVEMBER 😞

November was bittersweet. First weekend was a relaxation trip from school to NYC again with the boy. We discovered new brands, and some really cool fashion finds, and eateries. Stuffed ourselves with authentic Asian food. New York, no words can express my love for you. Next weekend I was back in Shanghai, China and that sunday was dreadful. My paternal grandma passed away and I literally rushed back home to see her. Got news at 9pm, and I caught the next flight out of DC at 8am. I went back to see her for the last time. The flight was an emotional journey for me as well, as I was crippled with grief. I finally saw my dad and youngest sister too, it felt great to see family again, but definitely not in such occasions. Going home is never the same again. No more nagging, no more grandma’s dishes. Its all memories now. The photo was taken when I last saw her in January. This really told me not to take somebody for granted, and cherish your old folks… You never know when they will leave you. Leaving my apartment in China was different too, she used to stand at the balcony and see me leave and wave goodbye. Not anymore, as I said my final goodbye… I miss you Nainai, I really do.

🎅 DECEMBER 🎅

SEMESTER 1 ENDED! & All I do now is to work for my new personal shopper job which I love, do product reviews, blog and spend time with my boyfriend as he embarks on a new journey with his new company soon (on break too yay)! Good times never last though, and school will be resuming shortly but hey, 2014… You had your ups and downs. I said hello, I waved goodbye, heartbroken a couple of times, but sweet moments most of the times. A year older, a year wiser.

Have a happy new year guys! How you gonna spend New Year’s Eve? Its just me and the boy for a classy dinner tomorrow, and a celebratory drink 🍸🍸to usher in the New Year at a restaurant near home… If your interested! Follow me @lynnesther on INSTAGRAM 🎥 for #ootd #liveaction and more prompt updates 🎆 + more glitzy beautiful stuff! *please please*

& Hopefully, next year when I write this post again welcoming 2016, I hope to have more fruitful stuff to share with you all! 💝 2015 is also my graduation from university, moving back home to Singapore and starting to work like an adult! Milestones to be achieved, and I hope you readers will continue this journey with me 👣👣👣My New Year resolution is to eat more good food, shop more, learn Korean properly, get my degree and find my dream full time job. Also also to have a nice happily ever after with my boyfriend, and hopefully work something out on the distance issue🙍

Have a lovely New Year’s Eve everybody, stay safe! Giving hugs (I have Chanel Chance on), kisses (Gucci Lipstick) to wish you all in having the prettiest, most beautiful NEW YEAR! 2015, BRING IT ON!

xoxo, Love Lynn

New Directions

Resounding hello!

As I am just half a semester away from my impending doom of graduating from University, I apologize for the lack of updates on this little space of mine. Moving to the USA has been a big leap of faith for me, and not to mention I faced a lot of struggles academically as everything is different, and I had to adapt to everything again. Not your perfect A student here, never was. Had to study more than usual to get the grades.

Modelling for me came to a halt, as I was busy studying and getting on with my personal relationships more. Spending time at home writing essays, or preparing for work plans is what I normally do on a weekdays, and on weekends I would venture out to go see DC, eat food or go have some quality time with the boyfriend. Also would want to save up money and go see different parts of the US! Been dying to go to Disneyland & Harry Potter theme park but all I hear from the boy is a resounding no. Sheesh.

Yes after two years of physically detached from each other, we finally get to spend some couple time together. *CONFETTI* 🎉 I do treasure all these tiny moments, it means a lot to me!

Also went to NYC for a couple of times, and I love love love that place. The fashion, the scenes, the busy streets, and the smelly drains. Ah, NYC.🗽🚖🇺🇸

Recently started this online job of mine which is like a dream come true. I am now an official shopaholic! Will be blogging about that separately with a post on Online Shopping: What Can I get from USA?

I basically shop for other people, and get a commission out of this for my time, effort. I guess after being a model for almost 4 years now, my fashion sense honed up. I wonder how much clothes am I going to throw out, or toss when I get back to my full wardrobe. I wear a totally different wardrobe now! I go for quality, designer, unique or just really really basic now. I rely more on accessories or make up. Love make up, and hauling in the US is so much more affordable than in Singapore or Australia. TIP: Get items during Christmas and just buy a year’s supply of make up. Its so much more value for money!

I am finally also placing my deal busting, auntie-ness, coupon cutting, budget sniffing, price matching and sales section radar-ing to good use. Shoppers (my clients) really appreciate these talents of mine and it does feel really extremely good and shiok(ie, 很爽） to shop without burning a hole in my pocket! I treat every shopper with love and care, so far I garnered pretty good responses/ feedback which motivates me more to do even better! The only negative thing about this job is that most customers are from Asia Pacific, which means I grew eye bags, and also dark eye circles. Thus being a sloth now is my favorite job. Sleep eat K dramas USA dramas shop pack box x repeat😩😩😩

“Come come, let me tell you where to get deals! Boxer Lynn knows best!”

No regrets though, the perks motivate me. Window shopping brightens my mood anytime, anyday. Bargain hunting makes me alive.

Am also finally going to start writing proper blog posts to have more writing samples, and a proper writing portfolio about product reviews, make up, beauty, fashion and also some really cool events I go too! I recently got my make up done by a Regional Trainer of Christian Dior USA for the East Coast (all thanks to my VIB Rouge status by Sephora, my favorite place on Earth) and she gave me such good service, tips and debunked a few important myths about skincare, ageing! All of those information are really useful + I learnt new make up skills which to me was really important!

Please do follow me on @lynnesther for my pictures. I treat them really seriously. Friends always say I make sure I edit the photos till I get an A plus in those lol. After Instagram raided those spammy accounts I left 500+ odd people from the 700+ I used to have. I will strive to have better results and followers!!!

I lined the next post with my DIOR experience, and after… I was thinking of doing lipstick reviews from drugstore brands to high end brands. Collected so much lipsticks till I have almost every shade and color now, oh dear! Not to mention the money flying away, missing in action💸 and credit card always in action… Don’t worry though, I shop within my means!👌

Till then, goodnight people! Oh boy, the vicious cycle of sleeping so late… No amount of eye serums will help.

Ta!

first impressions do change.

So over dinner someone told me that he heard many things about me and first impressions of me. I pushed for an answer, but all that person said was “you don’t have to know” and “I’m still here (regardless).”
Honestly, I knew first impressions of me were 95% negative.
Snobbish, arrogant, tall (really), egoistic, loud, speaks Singlish (wtf).
I HAD ENOUGH.
SERIOUSLY. for all my life. I got this. Honestly. I am not going to the dark side, mope, be sad and bitch about it. I know, your entitled to your opinion. I am to mine too, but do note. KARMA IS A FUCKING BITCH.
I somehow give off that I am a biggest bitch aura (I am not) , but I am who I am and my close friends know that. I was affected, really affected. People always have to comment about you despite you trying to be nice. It’s never enough.

And then I ranted to the man asking if my first impression was really bad.
The more I think about it, the worst I felt.
He said, “hey to make you feel better, I don’t like you.”
I WAS LIKE, WHAT, YOU TOO? *NO* *cries*

…
“I love you.”

to the best man ever.
You still give me butterflies after two years, I love you too.

Last day for a year

Tomorrow I leave for the USA.
Tomorrow is the day I start on my final year exchange. It’s the last lap of my tertiary education (for now).
Cheers to never ending packing.
& also.
In exactly less than 56 hours time.
I’ll be seeing the soul mate again.
How would that be?
I seriously can’t wait.
But for now, I need my bed.
Goodnight Singapore for the last time in a long while.

RICEWORKSHOP REVIEW: NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK IN CHINATOWN MELBOURNE

RICEWORKSHOP REVIEW: NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK IN CHINATOWN MELBOURNE

 

New Kids on the block in Chinatown, Melbourne

 

Chinatown in Melbourne just got a little bit more exciting.

The next time you visit Chinatown, you won’t have to settle for expensive, barely passable authentic Chinese restaurants. Meet the new kids on the block of Little Bourke Street, a taste of Japan from Rice WorkShop and authentic Yunnan Cross-Bridge Rice Noodle from Scholar (NEXT POST).

 

1.) Rice WorkShop, Chinatown

238 Little Bourke Street , Melbourne, VIC 3000, http://riceworkshop.com.au/

 

Food: ★★★ ½/★★★★★ Price: ★★★★/★★★★★ Overall Dining Experience : ★★★★/★★★★★

 

A taste of Japan has arrived in Chinatown, but it’s strictly a sushi-free zone.

Rice WorkShop is a Japanese rice bar, which specializes in fuss-free, quick, affordable donburi (Rice Bowls). Choose from a wide array of toppings, ingredients and sauces for your quick rice fix in this hip, compact, hygienic eatery. The whole Japanese experience is complete at Rice WorkShop, from the initial step in to the store with a kawaii (Cute) looking waitstaff chirpily greeting you with a Konnichiwa (Hello), to the unique details such as the imported rice vending machine that dispenses your donburi’s rice portion and the translated food menu upon request for that authentic feel, your taste buds and sensory senses will be overloaded with glee as the only Japanese rice bar in town continues to impress you.

Being Asian, I am doubtful of ethnic cuisines that claim to be authentic and original when the first bite, tastes absolutely nothing like the real deal. However, Rice WorkShop left an incredible first impression, and all I could say was Oishi (Delicious)! The toppings, ingredients and sauces transported me straight to a Tokyo roadside food stall, and it felt just like the real deal. Must-tries includes the original beef bowl ($6.90) for the oddly familiar taste of Yoshinoya (Japan’s leading beef rice bowl store) and the nicely balanced Green Tea Matcha flavoured Soft Serve ($2) after your donburi to complete your authentic Japanese experience. Rice WorkShop serves in regular and large portions, and for those that are just looking for a quick bite, head over to the grab and go bar that serves finger food in both sweet and savory flavors. Spanning two floors, Rice WorkShop’s décor closely resembles Japan’s famous Shibuya district, with its futuristic mix of street elements and origami sprinkled with a hint of Street Fighter. The next time you check in at Chinatown and are clueless as to what you want to eat, before you UrbanSpoon, check out the not to be missed Rice WorkShop. The next thing you know, you’re in Japan enjoying another meal. Itadakimasu (Let’s eat)!

FREEDOM. F.R.E….

FREEDOM.
F.R.E.E.D.O.M

#endoffinals

Truly PVG, 1.

Only in Shanghai. #throwback

“Click”.  From the corner of my eye, I saw a young giggling Chinese teenager hastily keeping her mobile phone away. Well, it isn’t everyday you see a tall white lanky,devilishly handsome Caucasian guy in the Shanghai subway. In the Chinese girl’s eyes, this guy is that god from that CK (Calvin Klein) underwear advertisement.

Nano-seconds later,  I saw her whipping out her mobile again, pressed a few buttons and gave a sheepish grin. This bodes ill. I joked with my Caucasian friend that her gleeful face told me my friend is having his five seconds of fame on Weibo (Chinese Version of Twitter). After searching a few hashtags, my friend was petrified. His picture was labeled the chinese hashtags equivalent of  #handsome, #whiteguy, #spottedwhitehunk and #malewhitegoddess.

Only in Shanghai, where raging hormones of girls openly go cray.

Finals Studying Tips ✌️

I know you look horrible.
Gruesome.
Tired.
Stressed.
Mindblowned.
Mindfucked
Zero, zero social life.
It’s that time of the year. Can’t be help.
You will survive, survivor.
Here is a list of survival tips I can give off the head. Mind you, I’m not a A star student, but these proved to work to get those A star grades.
*proud*
*flicks hair*

1.) utilize the library. for the people who just cannot study alone, or at home. The library is there to help you. Be no stranger to the extended hours of the library. Dead pan silence here, even walking past people or playing with your mobile will get scoffed at in this serious serious study environment.
this forces you to not lose your focus, concentrate on your own screen, do work but no play. 5 minute toilet breaks are fine.
2.) eat healthy. Research actually shown by eating healthy your one step in becoming that genius. Fast food should be distanced.
3.) library camp in comfortable clothes. Don’t say hi to me. For as I am make up less, in almost Jammies and only in socks. Please make sure you don’t smell though. Be considerate. We are trying to study here.
4.) eat at the library, pack food to save time. You control what you eat. You eat good food and still be on budget. Be considerate, clean up after you eat though. And try not to get those nice strong smelling food. It distracts! Thermo flask is your best friend.
5.) ample sleep. I’m a night owl so I work till closing times of the library. Walk home late in brightly lit places. Works for me. I have at least 8 hours of sleep to ensure a good function clear minded brain.
6.) plan your work schedule, procrastination kills.
7.) guilt foods are pleasure foods. I comprehend and understand. But don’t overdo it. Dark chocolate instead of dairy milk bars?
8.) I find myself to work best with all the multi color pens, actual paper and writing down notes instead of going all digitalized. Maybe because I’m just a visual learner😒
9.) Spotify is my good pal. I get distracted by walking noises, so this is really good with those noise canceling earphones I have. music therapy is always good. 😌
10.) reward yourself aptly. My reward is three drama episodes everyday after a solid 8 hour productive work schedule. And every hour I reward myself with some daily dose of social media!
11.) compress your timing. The more tight you are for time, the more you handle time better. I still work during this period. Just lessen the shifts!
12.) if your camping at the library, bring a small cushion or pillow for the back. Do stretching exercises often to keep those muscles less tensed.

That’s all I have for you guys, what’s your study tips? Share and tell me!
And.
All the best!

May the odds be in your favor.
And may the force be with you!🙌🙏

3 years and still going on.

The above is a sneak peak from one of the recent shoots I did for a magazine!

Friends and family know my all time inspiration is Audrey Hepburn. She, partially made me into who I am today. So I was really excited to finally  do something in tribute to my all time favorite goddess Audrey Hepburn.
She is such a classy lady, an icon.  It is hard not to just immaculate her moves or actions, or to refrain from copying her a 100%. Instead, I chose to have that Audrey  “spirit” instilled within me. Turned out it worked and that inner diva was unleashed. The pictures turned out to be refreshing and different, but still very Audrey.

Time literally just flies.
It’s been 3 years ever since I started to model commercially, and this modelling journey was definitely not a smooth sailing journey.
From dashed hopes to countless castings to trips, falls and pains, I grew up bit by bit. Each experience left me a bit more immune to nasty stuff, and I became stronger.
Then to countless of times I had make up on and off, flirting with the camera(only) , my growing obsession of 8inch high heels shoes despite my height, beautiful fashion pieces, meeting the models of the world, I gleamed and shrieked, because this opportunities were more than just precious.

I know some stereotype models, and also have certain prejudice towards us.

So, I am here to burst some myths or legends of what we all do.
No, I don’t sleep with photographers and no, I do not do porn. I do not do “hotel room” castings
No I am not anoerexic. I cannot deny that this has affected my jobs a bit, but I weighed the pros and cons carefully, and know I will love my body as it is, and will follow the right path given to me. I still grumble every single day that I am fat. Because I am really not stick thin skinny. I eat normal food just like you/

So what exactly are we?
Normal people, just any other person.
We all have our love, passion and hobbies. Jobs too!
Okay maybe not that normal when we make heads turn, or when we do our stuff. Or when we walk on the streets because we are generally taller. Maybe we are different by the way we walk cause we can pose, and maybe we look at fashion advertisements a bit more carefully then others so we can learn.
I remember reading another fellow model’s blog and she said we are all just clothing hangers.
There, we are just clothing hangers.
And also, most importantly…
We cannot deny that this industry is far more than just being saturated, tad dark, and a dash of complicated, but which industry in the society isn’t?
I thank my parents and those close friends that were proud of me, and I made sure I am not ashamed by what I do myself.
I thank my booker, all teams I worked with and my agency for the opportunities, regardless whether it was for something big or counted small, it adds up.
I thank the industry for giving me the fashion fast forward experience, and hey. Model tricks and secrets of make up anybody?
I thank everyone who has contributed to the photographs I have compiled over the years in my book, and ages down the road, when I look at it, I will embrace the spare loose meat on me and my transformation into that hag(okay this is least likely to happen) because YO MAMA WAS ONCE HAWT. Bloody kids don’t trample over me.

To end, let’s have a virtual champagne glass 🍸 *clink*
With a quote from the lady that inspired me and is my role model in life…

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.
Audrey Hepburn

Love,
Lynn X