the True Silver and Fashion

Small Taste of SF

2011-04-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

I went to San Francisco at the end of March using the round-trip ticket I won from Virgin America Airlines during the Virgin Provocateur contest. (Thanks VA!)

I went with one friend and was joined by another. Here are some of the things we did: tour of the google headquarters, visited the Golden Gate Bridge, walked into changing transvestites in our not very secure hotel room (Travelodge Golden Gate),Twin Peaks, went house shopping, Alkatraz, Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, Clubbing at Holy Cow, Exploritorium, Palace of Fine Arts, EAT EAT EAT, Crown and Crumpet, Ghirardelli Square, Coit Tower, Chestnut and Steiner, Financial District, Westfield mall, Full house house, Alamo Square, Adjustment Bureau, Raw oysters...

...but the best part was that I went with friends and met a lot of new and amazing friends as the trip would not have been the same without them. San Francisco is such a beautiful place and I can see myself moving there in the future. The weather and geography reminds me of Vancity, another city that I hope to visit again.

At Crown and Crumpet in Ghirardelli Square.

View from the Twin Peaks.

Google donut!

Google phonebooth!

Stuffing my face.

John and Marriot

Haight-Ashbury

Pier 39, where we ate at Fog Harbor

Twin Peaks

Modrian Imitation Cake.

Dreyer's Icecream.

Yosho

Coit Tower

Trust Your Instincts

2011-03-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

When times are hard and confusing, the only thing to do is look forward. Live through instinct and trust your snap judgements.

Canon 5d w/ 16-35mm f/2.8

2011-03-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Playing with the wide angle f2.8 lens, thanks to some awesome friends.

Happiness

2011-03-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

We live and we learn. I always ask myself, 30 years from now, will I regret what I am doing, or what I have not done?

WIth every important decision, I ask myself this question, and I find that once I find the answer -a simple yes or no- everything becomes clear.

Living life means to hurt and be hurt, but it also means to search for happiness. Sometimes, situations are out of our control, but that's okay, because tomorrow will always be a brighter and better day, and if not, the day after that will most certainly be.

Shopping in Thailand

2011-02-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

Recently came back from a one month trip to Hong Kong. It was shopping heaven. I took a hiatus from shopping in Hong Kong, only to travel to Thailand and do more shopping, amongst other things for example underwater walking, going to DreamLand Theme Park and eating my heart out!

I miss Hong Kong.

Photoshoot: Chung's Martial Arts Academy

2010-12-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

Earlier on this month, I did a photoshoot for Chung's Martial Arts Academy. The photos were to be used on the Women's Self Defense and Street Survival seminar promotions. In shoots where the subject is constantly moving forward and back, I find that using a larger depth of field (stopping down) gave me one less thing to mind. I found it difficult to operate a reflecting device without a stand and boom arm, but I made do by placing an umbrella on the ground at an angle to give just enough fill light.

All in all, it was a great learning experience and I think I will be more prepared for such a shoot next time (especially now that I have a new light stand).

We proceeded to have a little bit of fun after all the main work was done.

The previous photo was photoshopped from this one:

Bird Kingdom

2010-12-24T20:40:00.001-08:00

A visit to Bird Kingdom located at Niagara falls Ontario was extremely refreshing and fun. The aviaries were open concept, so the birds would fly past you while you watch them, and as they become increasingly curious, they would fly closer and closer. I particularly found the golden bird with black stripe markings across the cheek a fascinating specimen. It was attempting to court a brown coloured female of its kind and on occasion, would flare its cheek feathers to cover its beak.

How remove Oil Stains from Suede and Silk

2010-12-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

How remove Oil Stains from Suede and Silk

1. Cover the stained area with baby powder (talcum powder) until the spot does not show. Leave for 3 days.

2. Check the spot by brushing off the powder using a densely bristled shoe brush (a toothbrush can also substitute).

3. If the blot is still there, pat some more baby powder on, and leave for a few days again, repeat until stain is removed.

This method really works! I tried it out myself one day when I accidentally spilled oily dipping sauce all over my charcoal suede boots. Immediately, I went to the washroom to pat it off, but it was already too late. The suede, being an extremely absorbent material, had already accepted the oil with welcoming arms.

I researched how to remove the splotchy oil stains from the material, and finally explored this method. It worked like a charm!

The World is Doomed

2010-12-09T23:11:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, enthusiasm, persistence and handwork is all you need to succeed in life. Especially since we're entering the workforce full of Gen Ys'. Born roughly from 1980s and after, these Millennials are smart, incredible resourceful, yet lazy, impulsive and focused on enjoying life rather than working. Ideas, ambitions and goals flitter through and change quickly, and they will probably bounce through one, two or even three careers in their lifetime, never spending enough time in one spot to truly learn a craft.

While the workforce will soon see a wave of retiring Boomers, Millenials will be taking filling up these leftover positions, but there will be a lack of guidance for them, as the Boomers leave centre stage. Or will they? Perhaps Boomers will enjoy taking up a mentoring role for these newbies, or perhaps they will sail off to the sunset in the new yacht they have purchased.

I'm looking forward to what the future brings.

Disclaimer: the above was an overly simplified and biased piece of writing, without any support other than everyday observation and wikipedia.

Ducks + Wind

2010-12-03T22:17:00.001-08:00

I cannot get over how adorable this is...

Dragon Pearl

2010-11-28T22:17:00.001-08:00

I went to a buffet style restaurant called dragon pearl today which served fusion Asian cuisine (more Asian than not). It was beautifully decorated. They a crispy delicacy called the dragon pearl, which was a thin sweet hollow ball of batter larger than my head.

There was a mix of roast beef, sushi, Hong Kong style cuisine and cakes. The quality of food was excellent, especially the seared ahi tuna. However, it was a bit overpriced with not much selection.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Photo Editing Services

2010-11-25T22:03:00.000-08:00

As an aspiring photographer, I am constantly seeking to provide quality photo editing skills.

Some photo manipulation services I offer are: removing objects, recreating background, cropping item out of image, skin retouching, colour swapping etc.

Take a look at some of these afters and before.

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

To see some of my other work, visit franceslam.ca and browse through my portfolio!

phone camera retrocam

2010-11-24T23:03:00.001-08:00

Playing around with the retrocam app on Android.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

DIY external Hard Drive

2010-11-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

My first experience with creating my own external hard drive was super easy.

It consisted of three items:

- screwdriver
- 1 hard drive: Western Digital 1TB Caviar Blue hard drive
- 1 enclosure (a shell for the harddrive): 3.5" SATA Firewire 400 and USB 2.0

I enlisted the help of a few friends to decide on what I would need internally and externally, for example I wanted firewire and I wanted a faster hard drive. From this I learned that Western Digital has three different speeds : Caviar Black (fastest), Caviar Blue (Normal), Caviar Green (slowest and energy efficient).

I decided that I wanted the normal speed and I went to buy the internal parts.

After that, it was smooth sailing.

1. I disassembled the enclosure by unscrewing the two screws holding the side together. Then I pulled out the shelf that the drive is meant to sit in.

2. I matched up the areas that were intended to interlock. Then I placed the drive in the slot and pushed it into the enclosure pins.

3. I place the shelf holding the drive back into the casing and slid it in. Then I tightened the screws and my external hard drive was good to go.

Super easy! I'm glad I decided to look more into creating my own drive!

stop the spread

2010-11-22T21:40:00.000-08:00

Some simple and effective tips to stop acne from spreading.

1. Replace your pillowcase every night with a fresh one.

2. Stop bad habits such as touching your face, even though you have washed your hands.

3. Drink lots of water to hydrate your body and flush toxins out of your system.

4. Sleep early to give your liver a well deserved break.

5. Relax.

Those Boots Will Last Long

2010-11-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

Ideally, I'd like to believe that I am realistically optimistic.

We can only do our best to let the negative comments of others slide off of our shiny new waterproof leather boots.

The Sun Indoors

2010-11-18T21:54:00.000-08:00

My my, doesn't today seem to be bright.

Playing with a cardboard made snoot.

Headshots

2010-11-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

A week or two ago, I spent a a day doing headshots with Jeff Yung. Made a lot of mistakes, learned a lot of tricks.

Habit under Study

2010-11-14T22:23:00.000-08:00

In a frugal asian family, this is usually how things happen: Anything that is excess and can be saved, will be saved.

For example: You cook two instant noodles and one packet of flavouring is enough, so you save one up in a tofu container. For my family, we don't use the sesame oil often, so that also goes into the the tofu container. Any flavouring you do not need this time, may come into handy in the future, so everything builds up.

This is my at home collection. From this photo, I can deduce that someone in the family dislikes spicy flavouring, nor do they like the beef flavoured sesame oil. There is a common practice to go to McDonalds and overestimate the amount of peppers, salts, and ketchups needed (just like napkins) and sushi seems to be a staple diet, deduced from the excess soya sauce packages. There seems to be an abundance of chicken flavoured packages, and I have yet to figure out why, as it is a family favourite.

All in all, it was interesting to see how years of saving can build up. I hope I can apply this to my financial practices.

Blog Creds to JeffTDS who cooked, helped with the photography and inspired this interesting topic.

Slow Down

2010-11-11T22:11:00.000-08:00

There's a time and place for everything.

1)Take a breath before completing any task and ask , "What's the worse that can happen if I don't finish this right now?" I think that I will be able to carry out tasks much better if I adopt that attitude.

2) Find the right balance between work and social life and understand that I don't have as much energy as I would like to have.

3)Realize that when my body screams for me to take a break, I should listen. It's better to give 100% on a few things rather than 50% on everything.

4) These days, I feel like I'm so focused on me me me, that I have neglected others around me. Perhaps it's time to take on less extra curriculars and slow myself down.

No regrets

2010-11-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

No regrets.

It's important to remind ourselves from time to time that we should grasp every opportunity at hand. If a chance comes and we become too scared to take it, telling ourselves that we may look foolish or we may fail spectacularly, then we may regret for years to come.

This applies not only in career but in relationships. So take a leap, and go for it. Opportunities don't appear often, so it is important we view things positively and recognize them as they come.

Photocreds to the lovely Jessica Chan.

Tiger to Leopard

2010-11-04T22:17:00.000-07:00

I took a leap to Snow Leopard operating system from Tiger yesterday night and it feels as if my whole world has changed. As a graphic designer and aspiring photographer, the quick preview option available through tapping the space bar, is an extremely useful tool, because it saves me time and opens up my file format storage options.

On a less technical note, I've been eating a variety of foods lately.

1) Tofu Cheesecake

2) Raw Oysters

3) Korean Barbeque

The BearKid Launch

2010-11-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

I am in love with this amazing new clothing line found exclusively at BearKid.com. With it's launch on Oct. 31, shipping will be free to Canada and the United States until 2011! What a great deal!

Also, thanks to BearKid for the mention in this blog post! Don't forget to visit their goodies section to see some more creative iphone and desktop goodies!

Tick Tock

2010-10-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

Saving money is not easy. It gives me time to focus on other things in life, such as acquiring knowledge and designing.

Bearkid

2010-10-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

Creds to Chris Cheong

Lately, I've been quite busy with work and what not. I did a photo-shoot with the Bearkid Apparel line yesterday. It was incredibly fun and an amazing learning experience. Thanks so much to Ryan Lau, Chris Cheong, and Jeff Yung who made everything come together.

Here are some behind the scenes shots that resulted. Used the Canon 5dmarkII.

Creds to Ryan Lau

The Greater Garter

2010-10-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

I am frustrated with the uncomfortable manner that tights squeeze my waist and hips and I've decided that a garter belt and stockings would be the way to go.

Take a look at this excellent article here about the advantages of a good garter belt.

Therefore, I am looking for a durable garter belt that is around 3-5 inches in height with six wide adjustable straps and preferably with a waist size that sits from 22-26" and hip 30-34". I need it for everyday use, so it should be made of cotton and not lace.

Help! Does anyone know where I can find a garter belt in such a petite size?

Cotton Candy Pink

2010-09-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

Photoshoot with the lovely Jessica Chan as photographer. This time I'm wearing my pink wig that I bought from Cosplay DNA on ebay.

Nude Lips and Smokey Eyes

2010-09-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

A while back I modeled for a friend's portfolio photoshoot.

I've finally acquired a copy of those photos. This is the first outfit I modeled. I wore nude lipstick and the summer heat was melting it right off.

Photographer: Jessica Chan

H&M Silver Lace dress, black leopard tights, cognac brown Donald J. Pliner heels.

Where did you go?

2010-09-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I was putting together a graduation photobook for my grandmother located in Hong Kong. Comparing my photos from June to now, September, my cheekbones are way more pronounced and the babyfat seems to have disappeared. My mom fears that my face will never fill out again.

Can't Hide

2010-09-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

It seems the higher in a company you move, the more you must deal with politics. Politics are, oftentimes, what urges me to be my own boss. Having said this, I have an unending fascination with social interaction and the use of words to manipulate a situation.

On days like today, waking up to a flattened fly with body parts strewn under me, I just want to hide.

Faces.

2010-09-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

I love to stare at strong faces. Each contour, dip and wrinkle fascinates me to no end. There is something about a strong face that causes my hands to involuntarily twitch for my camera, flash and all those tools that will help me further define and capture that face.

Retail

2010-09-07T22:27:00.001-07:00

Today, a customer walked into the store and picked up a camera. He began shaking the camera back and forth, all the while attempting to take a photo. His girlfriend asked him, "What are you doing? Take the damn photo!"

He replied, "It's supposed to have image stabilization!"

Sad thing is, this is not the first time I've seen a customer do something like that.

Car Totaled

2010-09-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

The day began with an observation that one of my birds were sick. His eyes were puffy, he was acting in an unusual manner and overall, he lacked energy. The last time I had seen one of my birds like this, it had died the night of.

Still, there was nothing I could do but to feed him and go on with my day.

In the evening, when I was relaxing with the boyfriend next to me while my dad was preparing dinner. The phone rang and I picked up.

"Frances?"
"Mom?"
In a shaky voice she said, "I was in a car accident, put your father on the phone."
"Oh no, are you alright!?"
"I'm not sure... put your father on the phone."

At that moment, my heart stopped. I realized that just because she was able to pick up a phone and call, it could still mean something was terribly wrong. Adrenaline had the ability to keep the body from realizing damage, but once it was gone, it would be a whole different story.

Together we drove to the car crash, a police car with their siren switched on had ridden ahead of us, which escalated the fear of my mother being terribly injured.

When we arrived at the scene, a firetruck was moving out of the way, exposing one of the cars involved in the crash; the road was closed. I quickly jumped out of the car and ran towards the family camry.

It looked really bad. The entire front had collapsed in on itself, the metal was twisted and scratched. The airbags were fully released and my mom was sitting in the driver's seat, surrounded by three firemen. She looked pale, shaken and small.

A fireman quickly intercepted me as I was about to approach my mother. He briefed us on how to act, specifically telling me to stay calm. He informed us that she was shaken, but otherwise okay, which only relieved me slightly because he wasn't a paramedic and couldn't fully assess her condition.

When the paramedics did arrive, I felt better, they moved her onto the stretcher and into the ambulance. I told my dad to ride in the ambulance with my mother, so we were left to interact with the police, the totaled car and tow truck officials. Come to think of it, it wasn't incredibly hectic, but in that moment, it is incredibly difficult to keep a clear head. Luckily I had the boyfriend and an amazing neighbor who knew exactly what to do in a situation like this.

My boyfriend took care of all the little details, packed dinner and water for everyone and looked up the location of the hospital, while I calmed myself down.

My neighbour took care of everything regarding the tow trucks, he actually drove to the car crash site and waited for assistance with me. I was incredibly grateful that he was there.

Next I called my aunt and uncle, who also waited at the hospital with us, and helped sooth my mother. The hospital wait was surprisingly fast, within 3.5 hours we were in and out. My mother got all the necessary tests and was determined a little roughed up, but otherwise fine.

When we returned home, I remember she made a comment,

"Wasn't your bird ill just this morning?"

He most definitely was, but he was completely fine at that moment. I couldn't help but relate my bird's amazing recovery to my mother's luck that night.

Overall, I am incredibly grateful for all the passersby that stopped to stay with my mother and dial 911. I am also impressed by the speedy arrival of the firemen, police and paramedics. Props to the Canadian emergency assistance crews, you really did an outstanding job.

It's times like these you truly know who are close to you, who you can count on, and who you should treasure in your life. That is why we must build a good rapport and strong relationship with others everyday, so that we can can be around when they need our help, and hopefully, they will do the same for us.

Photoshoot with DMC-GF1

2010-08-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I brought the Panasonic DMC-GF1 home to try out with the 20mm f/1.7 lens; it was a beauty. I did an impromptu night shoot with it as well as two speedlites (Yongnuo 460 II and Canon 430 ex).

In case you're wondering about that fabulous elephant tee, its from an up-and-coming clothing line called Bearkid (this is just a teaser to get your mouth watering, more details will be supplied later). The jeans are from the 1969 Gap line.

These photos were done without softboxes or diffusers, hence the harsher lighting. Doing this shoot helped me realized that as a photographer with a limited budget, I don't necessarily need a studio with a high ceiling to accomplish shots like these. Nor do I need a incredibly large sheet of black muslin to use as my background for half body shots needing a black background.

Model: Jeff Yung

Photography

2010-08-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Some favourites I've chosen out of the recent bunch of photos I've done.

I decided to share the first one because it reminds me of a regretful wedding day. When I look at it, I reflect on my past relationships, and remind myself to never settle because of any circumstance. It is important to be with a person because you want to be, and not because you think you'll never find someone better.

Never underestimate your own worth. It is more fulfilling to be single and happy rather than to settle and be mediocre. It may not be easier, but in the long run, don't give in.

I chose the second one because the location was a unexpected find, and these finds are what give me passion and drive to continue with photography.

1.

2.

Sometimes I feel like Designing

2010-08-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I see a photo I've taken and I feel like designing something. Results as shown.

Humour in my Life

2010-08-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

Funny photo of my wisdom teeth extraction results.

After: I swear if the corner of my mouth scars due to the dentist's carelessness, I won't be a happy camper.

Before:

Spoils of the Day

2010-08-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

A beautiful cross necklace I purchased at Forever 21 the other day.

A passport photo I had taken when learning the passport guidelines at my new job.

Pulling Teeth

2010-08-24T08:28:00.001-07:00

I had four wisdom teeth pulled out yesterday by a dentist name Paul Au located in Unionville Ontario. It was local anesthetic, and a very painful process.

The corner of my mouth is all scratched up. He spent two hours on one tooth, and we ran out of anesthetic, he did not believe that the pain I was feeling was sharp pains until I started crying. I told him it really hurts, and he kept saying, it's almost done.

By the time the fourth tooth came he said, "I think you need more anesthetic than the normal person." No shit sherlock. Finally I was administered enough anesthetic and I did not feel a single thing, which is what it should have been like the whole procedure.

On the lighter note, I grew out my eyebrows, and they now look like isosceles triangles on my forehead.

Impromptu Shoot: Jeff Yung

2010-08-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

A sudden impromptu shoot in my basement against a dry wall. I used two speedlites without diffusers and a reflector. Model is Jeff Yung.

Shopping

2010-08-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

I went on an unintentional shopping spree today. I acquired three pairs of pants at random.

1. Joe Fresh Drop Crotch Pants 19.99 CDN
2. Kid's size 14 jeans 16.99 CDN
3. H&M black pants 29.99 CDN

Also bought a pair of new flats two days ago.

Scouted by American Apparel

2010-08-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

I was approached by an American Apparel scout two days ago.

Initially, she said, "Excuse me, are you from Toronto?" I thought she was asking for directions, so I said yes. And then she introduced herself and said that she was from Montreal. She said that she was scouting for American Apparel and they were looking to hire fashionable people.

She asked if I would be interested in looking for a job there. When I said yes, she asked for my contact information and took a head-shot and full-body shot of me.

In case you're curious as to what I was wearing, I don't have a photo but, I was wearing a black loose crop top, beige dress shorts, and my urban planet sandals.

I don't know if I'll actually get a job at American Apparel, but there's no harm in taking opportunities in stride!

Hired.

2010-07-30T20:12:00.001-07:00

Was waiting for an important call for the past three days regarding a job interview I went to last friday. I got the job. Hopefully going to be a lot busier now, surrounding myself with all that photography equipment/accessories/customers.

Wireless Flash Trigger: YongNuo CTR-301P

2010-07-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

Modeling Adventures

2010-07-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to model for a photoshoot to help a friend build her portfolio.

The setup was a flash triggered beauty dish to the diagonal right of me and a fill light to the diagonal left. It would have been nice to have a higher ceiling and more space and wider backdrop to work with, but nonetheless it was a great learning experience!

This is on of the shots I sampled from my cam, I guess it would be considered behind the scenes. I will post up the portfolio worthy photos once the photographer passes them onto me.

Credits to J. Yung.

Happiness, generosity & gratitude

2010-07-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

Life should be lived with happiness, generosity and gratitude. By this I mean, not only should you focus on your own happiness, but you should be generous about spreading happiness when you can. Finally, if you receive happiness from others, you should feel and express your own gratitude.

I have a lot to learn from the people around me.

Beauty Rec's

2010-07-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Here are several beauty products that I swear by and would recommend to anyone.

Number one is the super waterproof GOSH liquid liner. I find it a bit more viscous than liquid, which is perfect for application control. What's so wonderful about this liner is that the color is intense and it lasts through rain and shine.

I went to Cancun, Mexico with this baby and put it on in the morning, alternating between dipping in the water and sunbathing in sweltering 95 fahrenheit/35 celsius temperatures. By the end of the day, the eyeliner stay put.

I've tried many serious waterproof eyeliners including Makeup Forever, MAC gel liners, Clinique, and Revlon; and I keep going back to this one.

Second on the list is Lancome's Bi-Facil eye waterproof makeup remover. I've stuck with this makeup remover for over 5 years now and it never fails me. It's gentle enough so that it pampers the skin but the formula is just right for removing the toughest of makeup including GOSH super waterproof eyeliner. Despite the price (its around $32 CDN) its worth it!

The third product is Bio-Oil, which I use all over my skin after showering. It has a light lavender scent which I find extremely relaxing, and after using this product I have seen great improvements in my skin, any scarring and slight fading of stretch marks.

So ladies, what are some products you swear by?

Virgin America's Toronto Provocateur

2010-07-12T11:15:00.001-07:00

Here's a quick and fun little video I did for the Virgin America's Toronto Provocateur contest. RIGHT AFTER you watch my friend's video and vote for her!

My video and vote link:
http://www.virginamericaprovocateur.com/view/?id=382146

Wearing: F21 Dress

Bijules Rings

2010-07-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

Saw these Bijules nail rings on hypebeast and I absolutely adore them!

photocred: hypebeast

Sans Makeup

2010-06-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

On most days I am without makeup. My skin isn't perfect, and I am prone to acne like any other girl out there. It's important to understand that in the long run, your personality outshines your appearance. Love yourself and you will be radiant.

Welcome to the family

2010-06-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

A new edition to the family from Urban Planet which gets their stock from gojane.com.

Vintage white tee, H&M shorts, vintage purse.

Job Search

2010-06-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, I had my convocation. I am currently editing and updating my resume to look for a job. Ideally I would like to work as a flight attendant at an international airline, however, when money is tight, beggers can't be choosers.

Anyone want to offer me a job?

I'm tech saavy, courteous, responsible, self-motivated and professional. I am fluent in English and conversational Cantonese. Throw me a line!

You may have noticed that my skin has become several shades darker; this is because I recently came back from Cancun, Mexico. I had a blast at the Riu Carribe resort with a few of my fellow gradmates. Went repelling, zip lining, para-sailing, snorkeling and swimming in an underground river. I thoroughly enjoyed laying on the beautiful beach and tanning away my worries.

I will post up photos soon.

Things I like

2010-05-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

Things I like at the moment. Credits to style.com.

Editorial: Cosplay Magazine

2010-05-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Its been a long time since I publicly updated. Now that graduation show is all done and I feel a bit more free, I'm posting up long promised photos of my magazine cover! I was cosplaying Luka from the Vocaloid Magnet edition. It was a lot of fun and special thanks to Terry Ting, Peter Chow, Katy and Christina for helping out!

For the anime loving North American girl, Cosplay magazine, is the secret potion that will bring her anime character to life. This magazine portrays an imaginative, playful and creative approach to cosplay craft.

In the North American hobbyist industry, there is a lack of cosplay focused sources, forcing English speaking fans to peruse Japanese materials which they have difficulty understanding. Seeing this need, Cosplay was created.

Camera, memory card and leopard tights.

2010-03-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Credits to me:

Danby Choi

2010-03-19T20:16:00.001-07:00

I'm a fan of Danby Choi on lookbook: http://lookbook.nu/user/131911-Danby-C.

Although I have no idea who he is, I think he's super cute and I love his style!

Of elephants and faces.

2010-03-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

Hi there, it's been a long time since my last update. Thing have been hectic both in my personal life and school life. But now I'm back, and I'm continuing to keep a positive mentality. The sun will always rise tomorrow!

New rings, that recently arrived in the mail. Bought them off of an etsy seller. Aren't they absolutely fabulous?

If you like this look, be sure to hype me on lookbook.nu here:

http://lookbook.nu/look/543317-Of-elephants-and-faces

YongNuo

2010-02-20T14:19:00.000-08:00

Recently came into possession of a flash trigger and two receivers by YongNuo. I'm having so much fun with them! Of course none of this would be possible without my external flash, also by YongNuo.

Now if you're thinking I'm rich, I am not. These items are a steal deal compared to many of the nikon/canon flashes out there, about 1/4 of the price. The limitations towards flexibility in terms of controlling the flash are increased, but it is enough for me at the moment. I will write a full review of the flash and triggers after using them for a bit longer.

This photo was taken with the flash lighting pointed downwards from above. The lighting was diffused by a white towel laid over the bird cage, and located about half a foot away from the towel.

... Now Flex!

2010-02-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

I want to wear the green tights today.

H&M tights, GoJane Yellow Heels, F21 beaded top, Danier leather jacket.

Test Shot

2010-02-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Years! Was doing a test shot here, with the strobe lights I rented.

H&M boyfriend blazer, Ruffle Scarf, DIY shredded tee.

lost Glove

2010-02-12T14:22:00.001-08:00

I'm very upset. I lost one glove of a pair that were my mother's. She purchased them over twenty years ago, and I've been wearing them for over two years. They're the most perfect pair of gloves i will probably have the pleasure of wearing. They were navy in colour made with lamb skin material, decorated with a small gold buckle on the wrist latch. They were a perfect match for any outfit. It feels so silly to shed tears over a pair of lost gloves, but I find myself doing this.

I'm upset because I was so disoriented and disappointed when i woke up on the bus, walked out and patted down my pockets to find one of them gone. I entered the bus again to look, but I did not see any gloves.

I guess nothing can last forever. Happy times from now on, no more crying :).

Made Her Think

2010-02-03T23:36:00.000-08:00

How beautiful is this purse? Unfortunately, I have no funding. From the Made Her Think collection here.

BRITT BAG-BLACK

PRICE: $559.00
MADE OF WASHED BLACK LAMBSKIN LEATHER. MEASURES 8W X 8H WITH A 46" CHAIN STRAP. BRASS HARDWARE AND MAGNETIC CLOSURE WITH 100% BLACK COTTON LINING. THIS ITEM BEGINS SHIPPING ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2010.

Secret Santa

2010-01-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

I apologise for the lack of updates! I have been extremely busy with work and life recently in a good way.

My friends and I recently had our secret Santa exchange (yes a month after Christmas!). This is what I received:

A lovely Umbra, makeup brush holder, which was on my wishlist.

A soap holder, which was not on my wishlist, but very very useful because I do use a bar of soap!

Take Care, until next time!

Findings

2010-01-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

Came across these fantastic photos today.

Selling: Purse!

2010-01-05T18:37:00.000-08:00

PURSE SOLD

Measurements: 24cm x 35cm x 13cm (adjustable shoulder strap)
Condition: Like New (bought it one month ago, have no money, must sell)
Price: $18 USD shipped (I accept concealed cash and paypal)

Other Views One | Two | Three | Four | Proof of Possession

Eyebrows

2010-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Eyebrows have always been a touchy subject for me. As a child, I went through some terror years of elementary school when this one kid in my class would make fun of my eyebrows because they were similar to the eyebrows of Vegeta from the anime Dragonball Z.

By this I mean, my eyebrows go up, they don't come back down, and they are very very thick (as well as short). I have my dad's eyebrows, which is a shame because my mother's eyebrows are absolutely beautiful.

As the years went on, I realized there was nothing I could do about them, other than shape them to the best of any professional's ability. Even professionals fear my eyebrows because my eyebrow hair has a tendency to grow in circular directions.

One professional suggested I use a new method of tattooing them (to give them a nicer shape) and I almost agreed (because I had seen some pretty natural looking outcomes) and stopped myself when I heard it was $500 CDN. That is entirely too much to pay for beauty.

Now, I am quite content with how I look, and I realize this is not because of how I look, but because of how I feel about myself. If you feel at peace, and you have learned to disregard other people's negative comments, you will be beautiful from the inside out! This sounds cliche but it is true! Just be happy, be yourself, and you will find that there is so much to live for!

Just Dandy...

2010-01-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

First day of school today, really tired.

On the other hand, things like my luvshoes rope lace boots and floral dress made me happy.

welcoming 2010

2009-12-31T13:00:00.001-08:00

Happy New Years. I wish you all the best for 2010. I can see an optimistic year ahead, I've changed and learned so much, I cannot wait to learn some more.

Today's dress crush.

2009-12-31T11:31:00.000-08:00

My dress crush for today.

http://www.karmaloop.com/products.aspx?ProductID=86875&VendorCode=BLQ

A Family Heirloom

2009-12-27T18:40:00.001-08:00

F21 Vest, H&M skirt, H&M black tights, My grandfather's ring which was frequently used as a family signature stamp back in the day,

If you like this look, hype me on lookbook here! http://lookbook.nu/look/382231-A-Family-Heirloom

Corporate ID case study: cathay pacific airlines

2009-12-05T14:57:00.001-08:00

I helped a friend do a photoshoot by modeling for her corporate ID design project. She chose cathay pacific, and our assignment was a rebranding of the company and creating a logo, a basic stationery set (letterhead, business card, envelope) and several applications (such as plane design, uniform etc.)

So this test shot was taken while we were doing the uniform photos. She did a really really really amazing job.

I on the other hand did porter airlines, which is a shorthaul toronto based airline. Love love love their current branding, and really enjoyed rebranding it despite the fact that their current branding is awesome (and their uniforms were designed by pink tartan for all you fashionistas out there).

I loved it simply because I really enjoy doing corporate ID more than package design, editorial, and web etc.. I guess corp id is comprised of all these other fields, but.... I just get a kick from doing a clean simple, very suitable, recognizable visual identity. It gives me the tingles.

On the other hand, what is the grammar rule for have etc. at the end of a sentence? Do we do double periods?

Troglodytic Tendencies Suppressed.... tonight

2009-11-27T19:13:00.000-08:00

I've been working.. literally nonstop for the past three weeks. I no longer feel connected with the world, I am a troglodyte! On a random note, what really bugs me is when you save a cs4 file, but you find you only have cs3 programs on your computer which can't read cs4 files. ARG.

Clearing out Closet!

2009-11-05T20:24:00.000-08:00

Check out my shop here for more items!

Zipia Vintage style beige grey strap shoes (Pong brand)

price: $35 USD shipped to USA $33 USD shipped Canada

size: US 6.5 - 7, korean 240

condition: worn once indoor for a photoshoot, completely new

Measurements: heel is 3.5 inches, 1/2 inch platform on the front

photo 1, photo 2, photo 3

Zipia black leather classy quilted purse (tHER brand)

price: $32 USD to USA, $30 USD shipped to Canada

notes: Can be held along the short strap or long chain.

Material: synthetic leather

Measurements: 13" x 4.5" x 5.5", chain is 26" (a perfect length)

QT jean shorts

price: $10 USD shipped

size: 26" waist, length unrolled- 12.5", leg opening-18" circumference, waist-26"

condition: new

notes: Some very durable and chic denim you're dealing with here. Can be rolled up or let down.

Poladroid

2009-10-30T00:18:00.000-07:00

My friend told me about Poladroid! It's a software that digital converts photos to look like they came from a polaroid camera. Speaking of which, I've recently acquired a vintage polaroid camera for $5 CDN at the salvation army. The film is around $30 USD per pack of 10 instant develop photos (very expensive). I can't wait for the polaroid relaunch, does anyone know when it will be?

Photo of me from last year.

When my dad has a camera, he's like the paparazzi, you never know when he's taking a photo. Hence, photo of me while I'm doing laundry.

Leadership

2009-10-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

Nerves are being rubbed raw. It is always expected to have disagreements and incongruent ideas within meetings and organizing events as large as the gradshow I am taking part in.

Everyone has their own opinions and often time, not voicing these thoughts is the main cause of distress and unhappiness towards leadership. On the other hand, leadership must be prepared to diplomatically assuage any fears and doubts of their guidance. Must be prepared to make transparent their intentions, logic, and methodology.

Most importantly, they must listen to the larger body of thoughts and be able to harness the general vibe that is being unconsciously displayed. That in itself, is a very tricky skill that is not easily adopted; some people are born to lead and understand the wants of others, but many times, this skill is achieved through practice.

One could probably use this analogy: designers are like cats, organizing a collective design show is like herding cats.

I am happy to say that I have assumed a position that I am currently quite satisfied with. In the promotions team, the energy level so far, is enormous and motivating. Marketing, is a topic I am very interested in, the filtering of ideas and shaping of an image that must be portrayed to the intended audience.

It requires an understanding of the wants and needs of (graphic) design industry officials, whom are our intended audience. A psych that I would gladly delve into, despite the fact that I may not successfully understand it.

I guess it would be wise to remember this. Signs of disagreement, are signs of movement, for better or for worse, it is better than not moving at all.

Spock vs. Albatross

2009-10-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

The resemblance is uncanny.

Rare Parrot Humps Photographers Head

2009-10-04T18:22:00.001-07:00

For those who don't know, I absolutely love the bird species, I have two budgies myself. This video, made me laugh so hard, I hope I get to be one of those brave photographers one day!

Vid description: There are only 19 of these parrots left in the wild, but in 9 months it'll be 19 and one half-parrot. half-human beast.

DIY Korean Cuisine

2009-10-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

My fellow bloggers, Check out this link on how to cook Korean food. I shall attempt some of the recipes in the not-so-near future and let you know the result. I'm looking forward to trying the 36 different banchan recipes (banchans are the many side dishes that are served prior to the main meal).

http://korean-cuisine.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

Making Toast

2009-09-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

My attempt to make toast with the new toaster oven. The old one which was around 13 years old, was replaced when I was in Vancouver. This new one, doesn't really have a good timer on it, hence the result

April 18 - 21, 2010 Graduation Show

2009-09-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Posted Post School: Sitting here in class right now, already had 4 hours of class this morning, and ready to go for another 4 hours. Right now, all the graduating students in my year in the York Sheridan Bachelor of Design Program are gathered to get our stuff together for the graduation show.

I am under the promotions team, working with people I have never worked with before, some I have not even met, which I am quite excited about. Like any experience with teamwork, I do expect some clashing and disagreements, but hopefully, the friendships that I will make can overcome that.

In 232 days, the gradshow will be upon us, I know we'll be ready for it, and put on a killer show. So mark your calendars and fly to Ontario, my fellow bloggers, hopefully I'll see you April 18 - 21, 2010 at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto.

Photo taken right after I had my ponytail cut off to donate.

D&G 2010

2009-09-26T13:34:00.001-07:00

Love these D&G pieces for spring 2010 collection! Credits to style.com.

Lazy Tuesday

2009-09-23T22:14:00.000-07:00

I greatly appreciate my lazy tuesdays at the moment, when it gets busy, or when I get out into the work force, I will no longer have them.

H&M studded tank, urban planet striped navy shorts, zipia boots, translucent tights, white sparkle cardigan

Modcloth | Zipper Heels | La Canadienne

2009-09-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

I bought this pair of La Canadienne boots on sale at canada.zappos.com. They are called Dorina, in Charcoal colour. It is quite difficult to find a pair of boots that are classically fashionable, short, comfortable, and snow proof, but I think I found the one.

I think these heels are quite cliche, but creative. I wouldn't mind owning them is the heel was chunky. Although I can imagine that the zipper will be really uncomfortable if it comes in contact with my foot.

Zipper Heels

First Vlog | Tights

2009-09-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever....

2009-09-20T18:09:00.001-07:00

Have you ever met someone, gotten to know them, and then all of a sudden realized that the job they will excel at, the one job that you think will be perfect for them, the one job that they seem to be looking for unconsciously, is... a gay, male, pornstar?

I knew I wasn't the only one with this type of experience out there.

Before Hair Donation

2009-09-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

My hair was super long before I donated it, I don't miss it much. I've been blessed with hair that grows super fast, it'll be back before I know it.

20090704 | Granville Island | Sandbar

2009-09-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Today (2009 july 4) I went with a friend to Granville Island to explore and eat, I would say it wasn't a full day exploration trip unless you're thinking of scouring each inch thoroughly, so if you are planning to go to Granville, plan to do something afterwards (of before).

At first we walked around, and visited different shops and buildings, including taking photos in front of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. It was quite a beautiful place, the market was similar to the st. Lawrence Market in Toronto. The seafood is definitely fresher in Vancouver when you search in the markets.

Granville Island is indeed very colourful.

Looking out from one of the many bridges.

The Granville Island market, with cakes!
Fish?

We were decidedly starving by the time we were done our tour, and we ate at Sandbar, which is a seafood restaurant. I later found out that the branding for Sandbar was done by the firm that I Interned at; Cowie and Fox (pleasantly surprised!)

Inside Sandbar

We started with raw oysters. It was my first time trying raw oysters, suffice to say, I fell in love!! We used a bit of sauce and freshly squeezed lemon to accompany the natural flavors. They were not the best raw oysters I had from vancouver, but they were the first I tried.

I ordered a snapper with jamaican sauce and my friend ordered Black Cod. The Snapper wasn't exceptionally great, it was only alright, I would give it 2.5 stars out of 5. The cod however, was pretty great! I'd give it 4/5. There is always a really distinctive taste that black cod carries, along with it's flaky texture.

Black cod is definitely fresher and more tasteful in Vancouver compared to Toronto. Given, I've only tried black cod once or twice in Toronto. I had tried it at Ki, a modern japanese bar/restuarant located at the BCE Place downtown (a week or two back) and I would not recommend it. Definitely overpriced and overrated for the quality of food they serve, the sushi is not the best either. I would not mind paying money for quality food (haha, just like my take on shoes), however, Ki was not worth it.

Overall, I enjoyed the visit, it's a nice place to explore and very colorful (which I like).

Thrill of Prediction

2009-09-12T12:42:00.001-07:00

Right now, there is an hour left of my auction of my item. I'm just watching the numbers go up, and the three remaining bidders going at it. It is quite exciting.

This thrill is all consuming and quite addicting. It is not the thrill of making money, although that could be one part of it. It is mainly, the satisfying sensation of being able to predict that there is a market for something, and being right about that prediction.

Simply awesome.

In case anyone is wondering what I am selling, and wants in on the thrill here's the link.

DBSK Limited Edition Korean boxset: Bonjour Paris

Twitter

2009-09-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

So after much careful deliberation of the pros and cons of twitter, I decided to signup for an account and start using it. However, I feel twitter is more geared to people who have internet on the go, most specifically iphone and blackberry people. Unfortunately, I do not have this luxury, nor do I think it is necessary for me.

I really don't want to become a phone person. A phone person can be defined as a person that whips out their phone, mid conversation within another individual or a group of individuals, and starts checking their emails or typing a text. It's rude and kills the socializing. Yes I am guilty of it on occasion, and I know a lot of you are extremely guilty of this!

Follow me on twitter here! Can't promise it will be intellectual, but I can promise that it will be entertaining!

http://twitter.com/thetruesilver

At Crossroads

2009-09-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Honestly, it is quite difficult to keep a blog about just one particular thing, when you write about everything. When I first began this blog, I really had a one track mind of keeping all the updates just about fashion and I had a xanga blog to write about everything else. But as time went on, I came to understand that fashion is not just about clothes, makeup and jewelry; it's a lifestyle.

It's about influencing your surroundings to portray your personality and going about it in a consistent manner. In many ways, my definition of fashion has evolved to be called design.

I am not surprised it has turned out to be like this, because I am a graphic design student, and it really is hard to separate design from everything else. I design my outfit, I design my layouts, I design my cooking, and I basically try to design everything I touch in small or large ways.

So now I am at crossroads, I feel as if I should decisively give this blog a direction, but another part of me just tells me to flow with the waters.

These really cute and creative X studs for the cartilage. I modeled the stud with my piercing which is not quite on the edge, but I can imagine that they'll be uber awesome looking on the cartilage. They can also be worn on the lobe to complement a larger earring (if you have two earholes).

A pair of these studs are $4 USD shipped anywhere in North America, and $6.50 shipped to anywhere else in the world. I take paypal payments and concealed cash. They are rhodium plated.

selling s mag & Bonjour Paris!

2009-09-10T15:30:00.001-07:00

SOLD

selling bonjour paris and s mag! click youtube vid for extra info!

Selling Heels!

2009-09-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

I am selling my costa Blanca Brown heels (never used and still in box valued at $65 retail) on ebay for a starting bid of $ 8.99 USD, please take a look!

Costa Blanca Brown Heels (size 6 - 6.5)

Also, cut and donated 8 inches of my hair (cut off 12 inches) to Pantene Beautiful Lengths Program. Only 8 of those 12 inches were useable because of my layers. This organization uses the hair they receive to make wigs for women who have cancer and are, or were undergoing therapy. It takes 6 ponytails of hair to make one wig! Please, if you have some extra hair and are going to cut it anyways, consider this program! They have specific instructions for hair handling and what they take etc.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths

Rangoli

2009-08-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

It seems I have not updated in a long time. Hopefully, I will find some time to do some photography soon. For now:

Vintage pink shorts, DIY ripped white tee, Zipia leather tote, foleria wedges

Wings to Carry this Burden

2009-06-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

H&M skirt, Garage White tank, Foleria Wedges.

Under the Apple Tree

2009-04-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

Zipia black boots, H&M red tights, Winner's black dress, Danier black leather jacket, Aldo's necklace used as belt.

It's spring, but why is it so chilly? And why was it snowing? Just had sushi today. Tried Tokibo sushi with raw egg yolk on top, it was perfection in one bite.

Defy Mag

2009-04-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a few spreads of the magazine completed for editorial by one of my dear friends, Melissa Zeta. Her magazine is called DEFY and discusses how creativity, design, and arts can change the world.

She asked me to be the model for some of her spreads and it turned out to be amazing, and was a really fun experience.

I've been away lately due to insane amounts of work. Things are more calm now, and I'm learning lots about graphic design, business, and social psychology. Soon, I will post up photos of a vest I altered from size 8 to size 2. Until then!!

lalala love song

2009-03-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

urban planet white top, guess black lace skirt, gojane black heels, studded black belt, H&M necklace

Had fun with this one!!

Be beautiful on the inside.

2009-03-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

Life is so beautiful at the moment. I 'm exhausted, but I feel like there is so much to live for. Take a moment to yourself right now, and think of all the things you can be thankful for; throw away your negative emotions, all that jealousy, hate, anger, and get back on track to making your thoughts more of your own than what other people tell you.

Just be beautiful from the inside, and you'll discover that your personality will outshine everything. Have a great day.

custom made jeans

2009-03-18T15:49:00.001-07:00

Could this be it?
custom made jeans? You can specify your height, your figure type, your preference for colour and even if you want to initial them!

order them online at :

http://www.indidenim.com/oo/navigation/landing

I can't wait to get my money in hand to try this out.

Photoshoot

2009-03-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Photoshoot with my friends for a school course. FUN FUN...post more later