Post no. 8: This one’s about why tattoos are not only for hooligans

Tattoos – aye or nay? Get it off your chest here.

The Voice, America’s Next Top Model, Master Chef, blah blah blah and the list goes on, but Best Ink – Huh? Ok, call me suah koo but I never knew that there’s a reality series in search of the best Tattoo artist.

I think that the concept is really cool. After all, it is in search of awesome artists who would leave a permanent mark in history. Or more specifically, on the flesh of perfect strangers. I mean, I didn’t realise there’d be volunteers to get tattooed for a TV show. To get a haircut, I get. To have your house remodelled, sure, why not? But a tattoo? Wow. Ok, to be fair, the contestants are experienced professionals. But it still would not give ME any comfort to get inked under such circumstances. It’s part of what makes it good TV to me though.

Sure, I love watching Kat von d in LA Ink because she “speaks-like-a-dude-but-she’s-hot-so-it-makes-her-cool” way, but seeing host Pete Wentz and his team of judges put these Contestants through these challenges + reactions of some picky/pain-intolerant volunteers (aka “Skin”); awesome! Watch what may be future Picasso, Monet and van Goghs compete against each other in modern day  – it’d be like watching paint dry for me. Meh. But tattoo artists at work? Oh yeahhh! 🙂

So while watching Best Ink, I was inspired to do some tattoo-related research. Nah, none of those hardcore types for me. Big no no to tribal too – I really hate those, or least the ones I’ve seen before. They don’t look good and seem really meaningless. (sorry if you have one.) And if you have a tattoo which you just picked out from a catalogue flippantly or just because it’s “cool”; all I can say is, REALLY? why would you do that to your body?

Ok, anyhoos, here are some images that really caught my eye. Sure, they don’t resemble nuns, but they sure don’t look like hooligans to me either! ❤

The colours on her sleeve are so pretty. (source: tumblr.com)

 

She carries off the old school designs really well. And I love the typography of the one on her body. (source: tumblr.com)

 

 

The flowers are so pretty, the waves are a nice contrast (source: 3tattoosforgirls.org.uk)

 

Hawt. (source: pinterest)

 

Look! Lovebirds!

 

I’d really like one something like this with me styled like a pin-up girl. And instead of roses, perhaps peonies or proteas. Will figure out what to replace the skull and bird with. 🙂 (source: tumblr.com)

 

This glow-in-the-dark one is really cool – I’d seriously consider something in pink (source: creativefan.com)

 

Why????? (source: kittyhell.com)

I have to say though, that my mum is hugely disapproving of tattoos. (As most mums are) She feels that God made us in a particular way and if we alter our body with tattoo(s), “next time when you die and go to Heaven, God will not be able to recognise you and you will be turned away.” … … I don’t even know where to start, because I find it really cute and funny. I think I once asked her if tattoo-ed eyebrows count. Because she’s done it – twice. =)

Thanks for reading!

xxx – ms wee

 

“Someday I want to get a tattoo. That’s the first thing I’m going to do after I realize my biggest ambition in life: going to prison.” 
― Bauvard

Post no. 7: This one’s about what I’d do if I weren’t afraid of failing

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a lot of things. A cashier (because I love punching buttons), a pianist, a doctor, lawyer, singer, and then finally, an actress – in that order. In school, my favourite extra-curricular activity was Drama. During my teens and early 20s, I’d cherish every acting/hosting gig that came my way (there was even one time when I was signed on to a contract with the local tv station). Then, I made a different turn and pursued Advertising as a career. But even then, making a presentation, especially during a pitch to a roomful of strangers, somewhat scares, but mostly excites me.

Today, I watched life imitate art during the Jimmy Kimmel taping in Hollywood, as part of its live studio audience. While I didn’t exactly enjoy bring wrangled to laugh harder and clap louder than I normally do, I enjoyed everything else about it. The scripts, the set, lighting, cameras, the band, the energy!

Seeing Jimmy deliver his lines, chat with guests Ed Helms and Jewel made me wish I had my own show. Where I could dish out jokes, info and interesting content to anybody who’d appreciate it. Watching Jewel and 30 Seconds to Mars perform made me even more wistful. Yes, I love to entertain and perform. 😉

Guess that explains a lot about why I love being in advertising. It’s as close as I can get to creating, meeting new people and performing. Or is it? Hmm.. Will ponder on that.

So. What would YOU do if you weren’t afraid of failing? (Thank you @rhyanlotto for inspiring this theme)

P.S: photography wasn’t allowed during the taping of the indoor show hence no pix of Jimmy, Ed Helms and Jewel here. Sorry.

xxx – ms wee

Post no. 6: This one’s about Rodeo Drive, baby!

Yeehaw!

I still remember my first visit to Rodeo Drive. It was back in 1997; with my mum – and a tour bus full of other families and newly-weds that we were travelling with for the next fortnight. We were on a 14-day guided tour of the West Coast (an awesome Christmas present from my eldest brother), which meant that we were EVERYWHERE together. There must have been like 20 – 25 of us, who flew together, adhered to a hectic schedule together, ate every meal together, trailing behind the waving flag as if the Pied Piper was leading the way – you get the drift. It didn’t help that my mum and I share a 4 decade age gap, and I was a passive aggressive teenager who was too young/cool (at least in my head) to enjoy the company of the other adults, underaged to get stoned drunk, and too old to be wailing like an ambulance so that I could be carried around. Not that any of that ever stopped me from having a great time. I still managed to have a great time, but that experience 16 years ago was just relived in a completely different way today.

For starters, we drove to Rodeo Drive today. I was behind the wheel, and I felt so excited and free while we were zipping down the freeway. Driving here makes me feel like a kid because it’s on the “other” side of the road, on the “other” side of the car compared to back home. But I love it! I love driving, so it really doesn’t matter which side it is – I’m just going for it! First stop: Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills.

Who said only Singaporeans love to queue?

The line for the shop with the white facade was longer – it’s for the new thing: ice cream. But we weren’t in the mood for cold cream. We wanted the baked stuff that we could sink our teeth into (literally) and not feel lightning shot through our gums (think: corny toothpaste TVCs that feature random “dentists” (ie. C grade actors/models in lab coats) hovering outside shopping malls, asking “random passers-by” if they experience the effects of sensitive teeth).

The only thing that preserves my good behaviour; had it not been for this glass screen, I’d have been like that girl in Charlie and the Chocolate factory – face down all over those iced morsels of heaven

Clockwise: Cuocake monster (me), red velvet, salted caramel x 2, dark chocolate

Foreground: red velvet cupcake. Background: maserati. Both are a sight for sore eyes. To make it perfect, all I need are the keys to the car. *drool*

Sprinkles 24 hour cupcake ATM: Money can’t buy you happiness, so why not withdraw a cupcake instead? 🙂

So after our sugar cravings were satisfied, it was off to Rodeo Drive proper. It’s changed a lot since I was there 16 years ago, and definitely looks so different from my first memory of it, from my all-time favourite movie, “Pretty Woman” (cue the theme song.. *derng-derng-derng-derng-derng-derng-derng*). Remember this scene?

A daily exercise routine for the well-heeled, but a dream for many girls who have to work our asses off for the moolah

Anyhoos, it all looks super modern, and no longer 80s.

Why, hello Harry. An oldy, but a goody.

Ro-Dior Drive, baby!

The Beverley Wilshire – where Richard Gere’s character had that dirty weekend in Pretty Woman. Aww.. I’ve always found it so romantic! Like a modern day Cinderella story – except that she was cleaning other types of chimneys.

One of these kids is doing his own thing…

Overheard one tourist asking someone: Why is everyone taking picture of this sign?
Response: Uh.. because it’s kinda famous
Tourist 1: Ohh…
Me: ???

Alas, I didn’t do the Pretty Woman walk with all the shopping bags. But Mr G. promised me that one day we’d return and shoot a spoof of it. Ideas are most welcome. 🙂

xxx,

ms wee

“In Beverly Hills… they don’t throw their garbage away. They make it into television shows.” – Woody Allen

Post no. 5: This one’s about apartments and cars

Thanks to Mr Sweetheart’s employers, we are slumming it in a new serviced apartment while we take time to find a place to call home. The location is great, very close to the beach and Third Street Promenade, which means I have Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Apple and Pinkberry at my doorstep – read: dangerous for the wallet. But it lacks a local vibe, so we will most definitely move once we find a place in an area that’s more “us”.

This is what we call home for now:

The Kitchen

Living/Dining areas and the Balcony

Bed and Bathrooms

It’s really comfortable and has its own washer/dryer as well – which is a huge plus.

So… while I’ve been exploring Santa Monica and Venice on foot the past 2 days (Nike Fuel tells me I did about 20,000 steps in 2 days. Yippeee!!) to suss out the neighbourhoods, I often found myself distracted by another necessity item that I’m EVEN MORE excited for us to get: yep, a car! (I miss my Kimmy K. so much right now – she’s back home in my brother’s care while she’s being sold off :<)

My left brain tells me we should get a Prius as it’s good for the world and our wallet. It appeals to my vanity that celebs drive it too, so even if we don’t rake in the billions like celebs, we can drive a car like one – for cheap. On the other hand, I’d really like a huge thing that will give me the power trip akin to driving a cement mixer but at a much higher speed – think: Jeep, Range Rover, G Class, M Class… the list goes on. And of course… the topless beauties…gahhhh!!!

Anyhoos, these were just some of the muscle marys that I spotted while gallivanting about the streets for the past 48 hours:

I’d like to ride in this with James Dean, and I’ll be wearing gingham pants, a white vest top with tie fronts, and a scarf tied around my head.

Topless Mint Beauty

 

This below looks like it needs some love. Pronto!

Jag 4 SALE – not sure if it comes with the engine?

 

This bad boy looks like trouble. I quickly snapped a few pix and tiptoed away!

Mean ol’ Chrysler

 

But this made me smile… from the ton of junk that I could see sitting in it, I believe it belongs to a homeless person. But a hobo with VERY good taste in my books.

This made me green with envy!

 

Alrighty, that’s me for now. Nightnight!

xx,
ms wee

 

“Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You’ll find what you need to furnish it – memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey.” – Tad Williams

Post no. 4: This one’s about why Kanye West inspires me more than Angelina Jolie

So despite Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy news being on constant repeat on the telly yesterday, the one that really got my attention was about Kanye West hitting his head into a road sign.

Of course it’s nothing compared to Angelina’s big brave decision that once again inspires millions of people and changes lives, but Kanye’s little accident left me chuckling for the day, and inspired me to tinker around with iMovie for the first time in my life. And this is important to me because a large and important goal during my time here in LA is to learn new things and up-skill.

And so I proudly present my first little iMovie project, feat. Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Ace of Base (I know.. wtf right?)

It’s not perfect, but I had fun doing it.

Enjoy!

xxx,

ms wee

Post no. 3: This one’s about my date with Jewel, Jimmy Kimmel and Chelsea Lately

Woohoo!!! Free tickets! ’nuff said.

Still trying to get signed up for tickets to the Ellen Show.

Also, I applied for an Intern position at E! Entertainment. Finger crossed.

Anyone has any other suggestion(s) about other live tapings to watch in LA? Will do the NYC ones when I visit next time.

xx,

Ms Wee aka temp/freelance LA taitai

Post no. 2: This one’s about about our very 1st weekend in LA

It’s Sunday night as I type this in the living room of our temporary apartment (which, by the way, is really lovely – but more on that and the area we’re in another time).

As you may have guessed already, it’s been a weekend of many firsts:

1. chilled at Malibu beach;
2. bought gluten/soy/dairy-free sausages whose filling can be traced to its origin via the manufacturer’s website (random, I know! But I love knowing where my food comes from);
3. drove on the ride side of the road (To my friends in Singapore: do you know we are amongst only ~25% of the world’s population who still drive on the left side of the road?? See here for facts and history: http://tinyurl.com/whydriveontheright);
4. tried alkaline O2 water that’s been “blessed”;
5. stumbled upon a hair salon that practices a karma-based concept, i.e. “set your own price”;
6. checked out Venice Beach – and amongst other things, witnessed a woman taking her pet Iguana for a walk;
7. Last but not least, we met made new friends as well as had chats with random strangers who gave us very warm welcomes to the City:

• Alexia (Stylist extraordinaire who has worked with the likes of Pink, Robbie Williams and Rachel Weisz – check out alexiasomerville.com) and her man (thanks to Bastien)
• Dwayne from Rudy’s Barbershop (a Barbershop concept chain with a personality – very cool. Check out rudysbarbershop.com)
• Zoe from Yogaworks
• Fi from BeyondO2Water (more on this to come in a future post)
• Martin from Trastevere who has awesome, beautifully turned out tattoos. He told us to look up his tattoo artist in Venice and mention that he sent us there. Methinks it’s time for another one… heehee!
• And finally, Kate, whom I met while waiting for to use the public washroom at Whole Foods, who is married to a Film Director who directed a movie we’ve never heard of but are now super keen to watch – Burzynski (it’s a documentary centred around a controversial form of cancer treatment). Did I also mention that Kate is currently Guy Ritchie’s chef? (Funny how we also met Madonna’s ex-nanny at a friend’s wedding back in Feb)

PHEW!!! Anyhoos, that’s just stuff from just one weekend – and excerpts only at that! I shudder to think about what other interesting stuff would come up next! Exxxciting!

Tomorrow is Mr Sweetheart’s first day at work. Friends, please say a silent prayer and wish him all the best – I know he’s gonna rock it but it’d be great to send lots of love, light and lotsa positive energy his way! : )

Later gator!

xx – Ms Wee

Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. – Nido Qubein

Post no. 1: This one’s for me and you

Our new hood

I love to live, laugh and love like everyday’s my last,

You are reading this because you care; of course it’s a pleasure to share my adventures with you.

I am ageless because I’ll forever be young at heart,

You must be prepared for some narcissistic, camwhoring/ditzy material.
And the odd violent rants on bad service/rude behaviour.

I am an idealist by nature but nurtured to be a realist,

So you will taste the best of what I love about life, style, and everything in between.
Or sometimes what I plainly detest.

I’ve paused my advertising career, packed my life into 3 suitcases, flown 8,774miles to join the Love of my life in LA,

Journey to the West

But you have the right to slap me if I post about stuff that’s not fun, insightful, creative and entertaining.

I am fearless and excited, but of course a little bit scared sometimes,

You must send me words of encouragement if you hear a voice inside your head telling you to.

This is the beginning of a new Chapter in my journey, and I would like to continue to contribute and grow in the areas of relationships, creativity, technology and social – and see where that takes me next.

You can sit, back, relax and grab some popcorn. But I’d suggest that you buckle up, because we’re going for a ride!

xxx,

me

“I’ll lift you and you lift me, and we’ll both ascend together.“
– John Greenleaf Whittier