I know, I know. I’ve been bad at updating and keeping you in the loop. But if it’s any excuse, I’ve had a pretty busy schedule since the turn of 2012 (where on earth did January go to?!) and you can see it first hand on my Twitter or Facebook page. From interviews to meeting people of all sorts, I finally took a break just last week and what do you know? I come back to see the final edited product of the video interview I did with mrbrown on Yahoo SG!
The interview was done about 3 weeks ago and it was nothing but fun. I do, however, have to admit that the first thing that crossed my mind when mrbrown contacted me was, “Oh goodness, am I in trouble?” Known as the blogfather of the blogsphere, and also synoymous for making those hilarious podcasts, I didnt want to be fodder for the next big podcast that would go viral.
Despite the fear, upon meeting mrbrown at Aquanova at Clarke Quay, it was clear this man knew his stuff and was a professional at what he does. Whether it was recording equipment, naval ships or quick quips, my fear was most certainly unwarranted and I had a blast picking his brain (or was it the other way round?) and the lively banter was effortless as I relaxed.
To make things more interesting, a whole bunch of marine boys from the US happened to be in town and they were chilling the afternoon away at Aquanova. It wasnt long before the cat came out of the bag about my secret identity and I was soon swarmed by a whole bunch of boys (YAY!) for a photo. Hahaha. To be honest, it was hilarious because they had caught us in between takes and it was hard to say ‘No’ when they showed such enthusiasm with the photos!
The boys werent the only ones who showed enthusiasm when it came to photo-taking. mrbrown himself was as spontaneous as a combustion when it came to impromptu acts of learning how to catwalk and blowing a kiss! Hahaha. Watch the HD video and you’ll see! A big thank you to mrbrown for an awesome afternoon and interview!
The spirit of giving and sharing has aways been an important element in my life. Whether I share beauty tips, makeup tutorials on my blog or just parts of my life with each and every one of you here or on Twitter, it’s all part and parcel of gving back.
This Christmas, I want thank everyone, and yes that means you reading this, for being part of my life and blog.
Christmas is about celebrating what has been given to us and remembering the people who matter. In making me Singapore Beauty Blog dweam.com and Miss Universe Singapore 2011, that is every single person who has lent their support in one way or another. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you all a blessed Christmas.
Looking back, I cant believe it’s been FOUR YEARS since I last joined Nuffnang Singapore. Going through my old posts, my first cheque was in 2007! Since then, not only have the cheques gotten bigger and better, more importantly, the relationship has grown and we both have changed over the years and achieved so much more. Like an old married couple, you eventually come to a point where it just hits you: some things money just cant buy.
We’ve had our moments. I’ve gone to places and done things I’ve never thought I would. When you enter a relationship, a good other half will turn you into the person you never thought you were, could be or should be. But turn me into someone else Nuffnang did over the years.
For the first Nuffnang Pajama Party in 2008, also their first birthday bash, I turned into Chipster girl for them. It was also the awesome Pajama Party that my mommy’s hand sewn Chipster pillows won me an all expenses paid trip to KL on top of an iPod Touch.
Normally you dont shed blood for your other half, but I shed blood I did for this fledgling relationship. Thank goodness it was for a good cause… for Singapore’s First Blogger Blood Drive!
Later in the year, I did my very first advertorial for Dove shower foam! Someone actually wanted me to write for them! Bearing it all, I sang about fresh hydrated skin in the shower.
On top of that, I took up soccer for them so I could meet Malaysian bloggers like fourfeetnine and Cindy from the Malaysia Dream Girl contest at the vPost Christmas party! I’m sure the bloggers were thoroughly impressed by my skills. But all that hardwork didnt go to waste seeing how many Santarinas there were at the event. I can safely say I was definitely good that year!
In 2009, things got more intense in the relationship. There were casual dinner outings with the entire (blogger) family. Even the head of the household turned up at these dinners and demonstrated his super fast speed when it comes to food.
After that, since we were already acquainted, we didnt bother to be shy. We took to the streets to show the world what we had. We took our clothes off… in a pajama flash mob!
Thereafter, things got really serious. To officiate our presence, we had the FIRST Asia-Pacific Blog Awards held in Singapore! All that glitz and glamour at Pan Pacific to celebrate the best in the blogosphere. Anyone who’s anyone was there! Bloggers from Australia, Malaysia and Philippines were flown in and treated to yummy-licious food and a tour of our power-packed island.
Bloggers were all dressed up for the night! With a red carpet on the floor, it was like Hollywood here in our little island. There was no colour theme but it seemed that everyone was dressed in standard black. I aim to go in a different colour this year. Haha.
As luck would have it, I sat next to the very adorable VioletLeBeaux from Australia whom I eventually went on to do Sneaker Sundays with!
This is the most hilarious photo. Boss Ming was on the phone that night when I wanted to take a photo. It looks like he’s just posing with it, but he’s really in the middle of a call! LOL!
From there, the first Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards, friendship blossomed. An impromptu Christmas gift through 2009′s Christmas that taught me what true friendship encompasses.
In 2010, Nuffnang pushed me to greater heights and we did bigger things together. We championed for a cleaner and greener environment without lighting up at the HPB’s Live It Up Without Lighting Up campaign. Yay to a smoke-free environment! Yay to saving money! Yay to being fit! Yay for smelling nice and looking young!
Like a good other half, Nuffnang also encouraged me to make my very first make up tutorial video by giving me a spanking new camera! The Olympus EP1! A camera I still use till this day.
At this juncture, it was with Nuffnang’s help that I made the decision to convert dweam.com to a full-fledged beauty blog. With a brand new blog skin from Ripplewerkz, valuable input from the Nuffnang team and we were good to go. dweam.com, a Singapore Beauty Blog, was born.
Once the video wave started, more video tutorials for established brands like Liese and Olay Regenerist followed.
I also decided to try out a new look. Without Nuffnang’s introduction, I might not have had the chance to learn from the vintage expert herself, gorgeous SuperKawaiiMama. We worked on a collaboration vintage make up tutorial during the time she was here in Singapore. It remains one of my favourite make up tutorial videos because it was so much fun to do!
But trying one look was not enough, I also tried out a Disney Princess look ala Rapunzel.
I’m proud to say that despite all the exposure it got in the media both local and overseas, my Nuffnang has always had a heart and a great community spirit. When the Japan earthquake struck, bloggers were rallied to use our presence in the blogosphere for a good cause. Nuffnang brought me and Esther together in the fund-raising event Ganbatte Japan! Not only did we make over the people who came to our booth, with whatever money we collected, we were making over the lives of the tragedy-struck Japanese.
Ganbatte Japan! was also the first time I met new bloggers like Miyake, Eric and Yutakis in person alongside old friends. And when bloggers get together, we cam-whore and have tonnes of fun. Now, that’s what you call a get-together.
2011 came around and I was pushed to even greater heights, fronting the brand of Whisper as one of the Digital Ambassadors alongside other prominent bloggers such as sixpegs, belluspuera, nicolethen and nadnut.
Continuing with Olay after the first video project, I went on to do a video web series called the Olay Project 360 to improve my skin condition. We got to cosy up with awesome bloggers like Xiaxue and Qiuqiu (who photoshopped me so nicely in the photo below). After 6 weeks (and despite coming back from Brazil), I eventually won the Olay White Radiance category!
If you thought fronting the brands was all for 2011, Nuffnang also brought me backstage at the National Day Parade 2011 to fully experience the Singapore Spirit.
In a nutshell, Ive watched Nuffnang and dweam.com grow so much through these years. The coupling has been a beautiful one and I can safely say that things are only going to move forward from here. Thank you Nuffnang for all the beautiful memories, for taking me places, letting me experience some really amazing things. See, what did I tell you about a good partner bringing you to places and turning you into the person you never thought you could be?
It looks like a full plate for 2011 but the cherry on the cake for this year will come 16 December 2011. On that day, 500 bloggers from around the Asia-Pacific region will flock to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011 in Putrajaya Marriott. The Awards aims to not only honour the region’s best bloggers, but also to bring together blogger communities from across Asia-Pacific. The Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards is brought to you by Volkswagen Malaysia and Putrajaya Marriott.
If Nuffnang’s track record is anything to go by, from their first birthday bash to the very first Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog awards in 2009, these guys sure know how to throw a party. With sporting bloggers, this time from all over Asia-Pacific, I’ll bet you there wont be a dull moment during the award ceremony. Everyone will be dressed up to the nines and cameras will be flashing. This, is the Oscars of blogging. Now, I want that invite!
It’s been a week since we’ve been here at the Hilton in Sao Paulo Brasil. After a week of shoots, us girls got to go out this week and party it up. We’ve done cooking classes, met the govenor of Sao Paulo and experienced the spirit of Brasil by getting Samba lessons! Samba is waaaayyy harder than it looks but it’s sooooo much fun. I can see where all the Samba dancers get their fit and toned bodies from. I’m so jealous that I want to stay longer and get good at it!
Everyone’s gorgeous and it is a surreal feeling having so many stunning girls in one place together. Most of us are mind-boggled at this fact. This is honestly what dreams are made of! Updates are gonna be a little bit slow on the blog because we’re always on the go. But you can always follow my Facebook page for photos and Twitter account for updates on the go. If you’ve been voting on the Miss Universe website, thank you very much. If not, please do because you’re voting for a semi-finalist this year!
See yall on the 12th of September Eastern Time for the finals telecast of Miss Universe 2011!
Every 9th of August, our beautiful Garden City celebrates its independence with a National Day Parade. This much awaited and island wide celebration has a party attendance sought after by many. This year’s theme the Singapore Spirit is an apt one because it encapsulates our National Day very well.
Having attended several previous years’ National Day Parades and this year’s, I can safely say that no other moment in time brings out the Singapore Spirit in us better. Whether you’re sitting in the bleachers or backstage waiting for your turn to perform, there is a strong bond that brings us together as Singaporeans and unites us as one on this very special day. I got to tour the back stage of this year’s National Day Parade and was delighted to see that this highly unique Singapore Spirit was very much present in all the participants of the National Day Parade regardless of age, race, language or religion.
Of course as a Singapore beauty blogger, it was my first instinct to marvel at the elaborate costumes and make up of the National Day Parade participants.
But nothing can beat the moment when the entire performance comes together and you’re witnessing it live. You feel a lump in your throat as you belt out the National Anthem and say the Singapore Pledge. That I say is experiencing the Singapore Spirit firsthand.
On our Nation’s birthday, whether you’ll be backstage preparing for your performance, on the bleachers waiting for the magnificent mass display, waiting for the brilliant fireworks display with your loved ones or at home watching the National Day Parade with friends and family alike, stand proud and stand tall and invoke the Singapore Spirit because we are Singaporeans.
When you’ve lived overseas or have had some glimpses of the world, you’ll come to understand the beauty of Singapore. In about 2 weeks I’ll be stationed far away from this island I call home. No beauty is perfect, but it’s the little imperfections that make our little nation perfect. As we celebrate another year and blow out the 46 candles on our cake this National Day, dweam.com as a Singapore Beauty Blog captures several moments showcasing the beautiful spirit of Singaporeans. Regardless of race, language or religion we’ve all got a little bit of Singaporean in us; united because of a universal brotherhood.
Whether you fancy red lipstick, red nails or are adventurous enough to try red eyeliner, we embrace the beautiful Singapore Spirit and the fact that we’re all truly Singaporeans with every little bit of red we adorn ourselves with. No one can escape the vibrancy, energy and confidence associated with red; a colour most certainly representative of our young but ever-growing state. How do you wear your red? Do you wear it like our fellow Singaporeans or do you have a fresh new way of showing your Singapore Spirit? Show us your most beautiful Singapore Spirit!
