O Battery, Where Art Thou

I always feel that the battery to my gadgets die at the most inappropriate times. For example, my first time at the Great Wall, my camera decided it was time to take a break. I, on the other hand, did not think so and resorted to using my bottom to warm up the battery pack. The result was a photo of the camel that resides at the top of the Wall that apparently "keeps away the rabbits".

Another moment when my battery died was at the Beyonce concert and Katie Holmes, accompanied by the adorable Suri Cruise was only several meters away! So with the ailing Nikon, I captured this...

Where's Katie?

(White beret, striped dress, black jacket)

Don't even ask where Suri is. I was not happy my little pocket camera did not live up to it's duties.

So then came Britney and I made sure that the battery was fully charged and here is what I got... 

Gone are the days when an 8 megapixel camera was "Oh so cool". Unless you have a fat fat machine hanging off your neck, it's hard to photograph anything amazing. The SLRs make the little ones look like camera phones now *sigh*.

Take me to the circus...

I am expecting lip-syncing but still looking forward to a great performance :)

I was listening to songs from her first album and I had an instant flashback to my teenage years - can't deny how old I feel at the moment.

I love a bargain!

I love the idea of getting a bargain, but I must say I don't have a track record of getting too many. I started last Sunday flipping through the Melbourne magazine and saw an advertisement for jewellery on show the a Uniting Church in Hawthorn. I didn't think I'd find much there but I just had to see what was out and about so we gave ourselves half an hour but boy were we surprised...

Except for this gorgeous bangle, everything else was priced at $2, $5 or $10! Im constantly on the search for gorgeous gold chains and it's not an easy task. Chain in the shops can cost up to $18 a meter and are nowhere as lovely as what I found.

I love the horseshoe on the bangle and it comes in a vintage cushioned box with an intricate clasp. 

All proceeds from the jewellery sold went to towards the work nuns were doing to help women suffering from domestic violence. Keep a look out in the local papers for great opportunities like this!

An Education

I guess I've heard it many times before - an education is something that no one can take away from you. But it was nice to be reminded to put into perspective exactly where I am...

I don't want to ruin the story but I think most girls (well me at least) will find an important answer to many big questions after watching this.

Now showing in Melbourne :)

Jersey Boys

You'll know the songs and you'll love this show!

(Now playing in Melbourne) xo

After Hours

As much as I love Melbourne, I don't like how there isn't too much to do after hours. If you're not in the drinking scene, there is no shopping to do, spas to visit or good 24 hour restaurants to go to. 

But this might tickle your fancy if you struggle to catch a shut eye...

NGV's exhibition of Dali's Liquid Desire

The NGV is open 24 hours this Saturday before it closes this weekend. Might have to jump on this rare opportunity!

A true n00b

I didn't have an Aussie childhood so local libraries don't mean much to me. In an effort to find somewhere to study without distractions like the t.v, the couch and jewellery, a friend and I decided to make our way down to the council library. 

Over excited about the prospects of being in a new place, we arrived at the library too early in the pouring rain. Seeing us in strife huddling under one umbrella and peering anxiously through the glass doors, the librarian kindly opened up and welcomed us in.

I was very nervous worried about the coffee and drinks we had brought in with us - apparently that is allowed!

Then I thought we needed evidence to prove that we were from the area to obtain a library card - apparently that is not required.

Then I thought we had to pay a fee to borrow books - that is not required either! So this is why we pay council rates! Complete n00b!

The library is nice and clean - I like! And now I am contemplating actually borrowing books and returning on my way home from work. If you're in the Stonnington area, there is a new library up and running in Prahran...

Prahran Library - might make a trip to this newly refurbished library

Maybe this n00b will find out more interesting facts about local libraries today :)

Crazy In Love...

I am crazily in love with Beyonce! 24 hours earlier, she was in the U.S attending the MTV awards where Kanye stole Taylor Swift's moment claiming the award belonged to Beyonce. The rather diplomatic bombshell later returned Taylor her moment by inviting her on stage when she won an award to allow her to finish what she had started. Twitter was immediately filled with Kanye/Taylor related tweets.

24 hours later Beyonce was shaking her booty at Rod Laver. She was hot hot hot! Need I say more?

Photo from www.theage.com

Her opening acts (Jess Mabuoy and Flo-Rider) were the best opening acts I'd seen here in Australia.

Just moments before the stunner strutted out on stage, we spotted Kate and Suri Cruise entering the VIP section behind the mixing desk. Suri, as expected, was super adorable and Kate was a friendly, laid-back celebrity waving and takin

g photos with fans. 

I have moments where I wonder how Beyonce does it. I know she is a celebrity with lots of money and lots of helpers but to have the natural talent she does and run around on stage with high high heels then jet of to another city for the next show amazes me. I get tired sitting in the office for a day.

Photo from www.theage.com

I blogged about a dance competition Beyonce held for her hit single "Single Ladies" and last night prior to doing the crazy dance routine, she featured some of the entrants to this competition and they included clips from Justin Timberlake and even Obama.

She closed with an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson with "Halo" and fans were screaming and applauding. She showed a home video of when she was a little girl saying she wanted to grow up to be like Michael Jackson. Beyonce embodies "the perfect woman" according to Big Bear and I am sure many young girls are wanting to grow up to be like her.

As promised...

Sorry, the photos are in the wrong order but there is still a whole lot of yumminess contained in this post...

Let us rock the pool

My after work hours has been filled with food food and more food since the arrival of my Daddy...and boy does my belly have to show for it!  

Tonight, it was an early dinner at Rockpool. As most of you would know, this restaurant originated from Sydney and is owned by Aussie chef Neil Perry. On this note, I'll take the time to share with you a work event involving a Neil Perry. I'm part of the committee which has been trying to raise funds to take a class of 25 kids to attend a show at the Melbourne Theatre Company. As a group, one of the ways we came up with was to conduct an auction at a work event of items donated by the committee and/or Partners of our firm. A few pieces of jewellery from U-Fhern.com were sold but a last minute entrant was a Neil Perry inspired Asian meal for five couples, cooked by one of the Partners himself. 

This item drew a great deal of attention with a group of grads battling against the PAs for the highest bid to enjoy a night with one known to a few as the BFG (a big guy with a great heart). As the bidding drew to a close, the bidding sheet was surrounded by a dozen people. The exclusive night out went for over $500.  

After tonight's meal at Rockpool, it was no wonder the dinner attracted bids from across the firm.  

Firstly, the waitress was absolutely wonderful. She looked rather spunky with short hair and a mega long fringe like in Japanese Anime but she knew her stuff. She described the different types of beef with the emotion and detail as if you were to describe your idol. She pulled out napkins depending on the colour of your outfit. She said "This black napkin is for you since you're wearing black". I thought it was just a joke and another thought that the pattern of black and white napkins was to represent the spots on a cow - if you haven't been in, the place and the menus are decorated with cows, so it was a possible explanation. But then I overheard the waitress explaining the reason for the black and white napkins and it was to ensure that if you were wearing black, you wouldn't have white lint after your meal, and vice versa. So on that note - terrific service!  

Secondly, the food was amazing! Everyone was happy :) everything from starters to desert was lovely...the menu tonight seemed to have expanded and the decision was so hard to make. A few outstanding dishes: 

~ Oysters (can't vouch this myself as I'm allergic, but Big Bear and two other friend spent $800 on them + drinks, so they must be pretty damn good!)

~ Meat platter (you get to taste a variety and I can't remember which one, but because there was one where the animal was fed acorns and the sweetness penetrated through to the meat)

~ All the different types of beef (depends what type of taste/texture you're looking for - ask the waitress for a low down, but all were well received)

~ Desserts were yummy yum yum - we restrained ourselves to share a few amongst us, and the list was again, extensive (personal favourite was the strawberry macaroon)  

Now with a big and content belly...I'm off to slumber :)

Yummy photos will follow shortly! xo

Teeney weeney cupcakes

I had pretty pretty cupcakes to celebrate my twenty first. They were very in at the time after Carrie Bradshaw's book launch party. But on a more practical level, I thought you couldn't really go wrong with one cupcake each because you won't have guests saying, "I'll just have half that slice" which just results in messy leftovers.

These cupcake were ordered from a stall at Prahran Market. They were packed extremely well to reach their destination and the colours were perfect for my party.

But as with most other things, bigger better developments happen (well in this case, smaller)...

Little Cupcakes - Too cute to resist.

Little Cupcakes have now opened near my work. I must say they're not a cheap treat but I see many colleagues making a trip downstairs to satisfy a sweet craving (or two...maybe even three). Late Friday night, I returned to work (sad I know) to pick up a few things and I noticed the lights on and chef hats bopping around by the window. I walked down the alley a little and noticed two Chinese youngsters working the Kitchen Aid and piping the icing to freshly baked cupcakes. It felt like being a child discovering the elves who worked for Santa. Though this kitchen of two would have been on a much much smaller scale.

Check Little Cupcakes out...now also at Goldsbrough Lane (Its the building on the corner of Bourke and Williams Streets - where Nine West is). And you can also pay me a visit at work too :) Enjoy! xo

Melbourne Op-Shop Tours

A friend introduced this site to me...and its perfect ladies who want to stay chic and within their budget!

Too good to be true? Check out Melbourne Op Shop Tours.

Most definitely cheap and chic :) I like!

Please share the word xo

Melbourne Calling

It has been an extremely windy leadup to the weekend with warnings to stay indoors and pictures flooding news websites of havoc on the streets. My team and I set off to grab lunch and this truly embodies how we were feeling...

UP - Expression is much like that of the old man less the balloons.

On the topic of Melbourne, Big Bear and I were walking around the city after work. I hadn't done that in quite a while for various reasons but I felt like a kampung girl coming out into the city for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the number of people on the streets! No wonder they need more police patrol out at night. It felt like every corner in the city was Chinatown. We even went to watch a HK movie at Hoyts in Melbourne Central and the Cinema was packed! Being somewhat an International student myself, I can't really complain but it really feels as though Australia has let too many in too quickly. You can hardly see an Aussie face as you walk down Swanston and over the Summer, when most students return home, the city is relatively quiet. Are we relying too much on the International students to eat out, shop and spend?

Having said that, Australia has been criticized of late, for mistreating foreign students. Indian kids have been bashed and robbed, others living in poor conditions. It has been reported that there will be much more stringent rules in relation to student visas. About time!