Peace.

So in the mist of writing my assignment I thought I'd take a well deserved break and write a post on why I have chosen Yiruma's River Flows in You as my blog music.

I first came across this piece on my friend's YouTube channel and it made me feel - so emotional. The magic of music - it can tap into our subconscious mind and ignite with our souls. I would describe myself as a 'generic' music lover, someone who listens more to the lyrics in a song than the actual music itself. But this piece - this piece really did touch me. 

I don't know whether or not it was how I felt on the day, or maybe the things I was going through at the time. But now every time I replay this song - it makes me feel exactly the same way as it did the first time I heard it. Maybe I should thank my friend Zoe for that - for playing it so beautifully in the above clip.

It's always hard to articulate how you feel - but the flow of the music, the notes of the piece does take you to a peaceful place in your mind. The flow of river - the flow of life. No matter how many ripples that the river has, no matter how many obstacles life can bring, there's always an entity that catches up with us. Almost like a guardian angel... is this just ourselves? - The control we have over how we feel? Or over certain situations? Or is it really - just an entity, a spirit within our souls that lifts us - the human mind can overcome so many different things - over every situation we still live, we still carry on with our everyday lives. So how do we really do it without mentally hitting rock bottom - the bottom of the river. Maybe it is the hope we all have within our souls to just carry on...

See you at the top, cos that's where I'm heading!

So with the exam season fast approaching - I hope the majority of you have your heads in the books, or at least are planning to at some point SOON. I know many of us tend to put our exams as our number one priority (I'm guilty for this too) - but remember to stay healthy and give yourself a break once in a while just to prevent your brain from clogging up.

So here's a checklist on what to remember during the stressful exam season:

• Take regular breaks
• Sleep properly
• Eat properly
• Be happy! Enjoy it! (Or at least try to)

To my fellow asians - 加油 ah!!!

Hot Chocolate + Late Night Studying

Major Prep Work

Let's succeed together!!! :)

A New Life

With the academic year coming to an end - I wanted to do a post for all those that will be joining the world of University life this coming September. A lot of people have asked me - Were you scared? - Did you miss home? - Did you like your flatmates straight away? - How was the process of Student Finance? etc. etc. So I thought I'd create a post on my first year of University. 

So in September 2010 I moved to Oxford to study as a full-time student. As much as I know that this was what I had been aiming for my entire academic life I was nervous... very nervous. I mean who wouldn't be - first time moving away permanently. Having a new life away from home - was everything going to change? Was I walking into a whole new life? What was I in for? How was this city going to change my life?

Oxford in October :)

Oxford in January :)

After 6 months here - this has become my life. I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!... Did I mention I LOVE IT?! ... Moving away from home was daunting - YES! But coming to University hasn't made me lose my old life, but create an extension for a new one. When I go home, I appreciate far more than I do when I was there all the time. My family are always happy to see me when I'm home, and eager to know about all that's happened at Uni. Yes, the workload is heavy but this is my first step to becoming an adult. With conflicting personalities, people you may not necessarily get on with - it has become a training experience. A training experience for our futures. We meet people we may never have if we would have stayed in our hometowns. You have to trust your instincts and use your initiative a lot of time and not be afraid to make your own decisions. 

My Beautiful Best Friend

Coming here - Oxford has just become a part of me. Defining me. I have meet some of the most amazing people. I have a new family here.

I <3 my new family.

Once the initial nerves go away, you'll become a part of something bigger than you could have ever imagined.

My Skin-Care Routine

I've been asked to do a blog about the skincare products that I use. Being a former acne-sufferer I think it's important that I share my secret with the world. A daily skincare routine really has helped revamp my skin.

I used to be self conscious about acne as well as the marks they left behind so I masked my entire face, day in, day out with A LOT of MAC make up. Which does work, but is not always the way forward. As much as make up can help hide our exterior self, it does nothing for our self esteem once the make up removers come out.

Last summer, I went on a complete detox (from make up) and let my skin breathe for the first time. Take in some sun rays and changed my entire skincare range. I used to think it was perfectly fine to just use a make up wipes and remove all the make up from my face! Believe me that's not the case at all, maybe we can't see it but the make up is still there.

However I am guilty for not drinking enough water. But I compensate with overdose on sleep. Sleep naturally helps regenerate our skin so make sure you do get plenty of it. But also a day to day reliable skincare range is important. My secret - Dermalogica. It really did help save my skin!

Dermalogica Microfoliant 

Dermalogica microfoliant - I use this in the morning as soon as I wake up. It's in a powder form which you blend with water and massage over your face for about a minute. It helped brighten my skin, and evenmy skin tone from all those dark marks created from acne.

Dermalogica Active Moisturiser

Because I still wear make up I need to make sure that the make up comes off fully before I go to bed and that I've cleansed, toned and used the right products to prevent my break outs.

Dermalogica Precleanse

Dermalogica Precleanse - to remove all the make up from my face. Just put some of this onto a cotton pad and wipe all the make up from your face before cleansing.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel - I <3 this stuff! I have the biggest bottle in my bathroom & it has lasted me for ages. Just squeeze some onto your hand and massage it onto your face then rinse with warm water.

Dermalogica Multi Active Toner

Then just tone and moisturise again.

Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel

Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel - Because I'm prone to break outs. A small dose of this on my spots or spots that are about to appear just prevents/helps get rid of it that much quicker :) it's a miracle! 

I hope you guys enjoy this. Test it. Have a go. :) Let me know how you get on.

With and Without :)

Welcome to the 20s.

 So I recently entered my 20s, and yes I was nervous to begin with - where did the last 2 decades go?! But I celebrated with 2 quiet events and managed to see the majority of the faces that I wanted to.

Vivenne Westwood Melissa Shoes 

Chocolate Galore!

Swarovski Watch

 But perhaps my favourite present of them all was the one made by my sisters Zoe Lee, Mel Zhao & Jess Yeung. Value doesn't have to be represented by money value - I <3 you guys!

The Consistency of Change

Being a new blogger I thought I'd share something that I haven;'t with many others. Whenever I'm down and out, I like to read a little poetry, listen to music, or watch films that make me cry.

Today - I came across a poem by Percy Shelley - 'Mutability'. So my parents have always told me that I cannot buy time, once it's over it's over - things change, people change, situations change - can we really control it? Or is it something we have to learn to accept? 

After reading this poem, analysing it, thinking about it - I realise how scared I am of change. Throughout my life I've always hated losing control - which explains why I don't drink - but I cannot control change. I look back through childhood photos, see myself smiling, laughing, carefree... years I will never get back. Friends I may never see again. I miss it - we all do I guess. I miss the friends I had, and even the friends I still have... the amount everyone has changed - do they ever think about those times? Or remember who they used to be? Do we remember who we used to be? We may never know what went wrong, what went right - but all I know is that life is what we make of it ... if we miss someone, we reach out, if we miss the way we were, it's never too late ... Just be happy and everything will gradually just become another element of our lives.

People have changed. But my heart hasn't... I still have faith in you. I still miss you. & even when you believe that I hate you - when you're in trouble I will drop the world just to be right where you are - I promise you. But promise me, that no matter how situations get crazy, no matter how little you believe ... you won;t lose sight of what really matters. Because you are the family I chose.

My First Post

So here we go ....

I guess the main reason why I created this blog was because I feel the importance of documenting certain events, certain moments and maybe even certain elements in my life that I don't really want to forget. I know maybe the easier option is to keep a diary - but with my schedule and lack of patience it's close to an impossibility for that to become a sustainable part of my life. So I figured - the safest way is publish it in the virtual world.

I promise to all my current followers, future followers & everybody else who reads this blog - that I will share every part of myself with you.