Four words. Hugh Grant in glasses.

Have you seen Four weddings and a Funeral? Four words. Hugh Grant in glasses. Girls usually grow up and leave behind their little girl celebrity crushes, but I had never quite left Hugh behind. I could never get over the droopy blue eyes, clipped English accent, crinkly crows feet, topped with floppy brown hair, no. And he's the only person I know of, who is still irresistible with a slight underbite! (Underbites are so unattractive, sorry!)

And yet you won't believe this! A couple of weekends ago, I met a young man who resembled Hugh Grant, circa 1994! He wore a pair of round horn-rimmed glasses, and he even had those kind droopy eyes! And I saw him twice after that! Who are you, young man? And yet I hate my heart for skipping a beat, because he did look pretty young. Oh, like, 17, 18 young. And I am quite old, like, old-er. So, yeah.

Male Muse: Sang-woo Do

I have a track record of falling for model slash musicians. It's because I have a weak spot for long limbs and muso's. Combine that with a serious sense of vintage 'off-duty' style, and I get the occasional knock-knees. Meet my muse of late - model, actor, muso, with perfect eyebrows, Sang-woo. (I tell you! If you squint, he almost looks like Franciscow Lachowski!)
Sang-woo turns 24 today. Merry Christmas and a Happy birthday to you!

Sources: inapad, google image search, hamiltonhotel.tumblr

Looking back: Top fashion moments in 2011

1. John Galliano's downfall.


2. Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen wedding dress. Remember all the speculations? It was really the most well-kept secret in an age of superfluous information.


3. Alexander McQueen's "Savage Beauty". It was the Metropolitan Museum of Art's most successful fashion exhibit in history.


4. The Carine Roitfeld scandal. Did she get fired? Did she quit? Why?


5. Missoni for Target. And Target's website crashing at the very release of the range.


6. Bill Cunningham New York. The documentary about the street style photographer way before The Sartorialist.


7. Kate Moss's wedding.


8. Marc Jacob's stolen spring 2012 collection en route from Paris.


9. Death of Elizabeth Taylor.


10. Versace for H&M.


11. Christian Dior's sloppy haute couture mess. Granted, I’m observing, much like you, from my laptop thousands of miles away and thus the intricacies of the gowns are lost on me. Still, with haute couture, particularly with Dior Haute Couture,  there should be a brilliance that shines through in spite of the viewer’s distance or technical knowledge!


12. Emma Watson, style icon. 

I'm single and rather read a book than mingle.

Whether you are the smartest, prettiest, wittiest girl out there... we all fall short sometimes. And we all trick ourselves into thinking guys are interested in us when they plainly aren't. Why does this happen? It's weird! I'm just writing from a place that I know of - myself. Today it hit me. I constantly talk about how fine I am to be single, how I'm not one of those girls who reads too deeply into things and gets ahead of myself--but, I really am. Gosh, I'm a self-centred, hypocritical poohead. I know we've heard it thousands of times before: If a guy likes you, you'll know it. Because he'll make it happen. Didn't I learn anything from He's just not that into you? (Thanks Marika for the book! I read it all in one night!) It's frustrating! It sucks even more when you wake up and smell the roses, then realise "What the heck? I'm not special to him at all!"
So ladies, let's stop falling into the trap of convincing ourselves someone thinks we are special. Because, we already are special! And wonderful, and funny, and unique. And if he doesn't think so, then he's probably (actually, definitely!) not worth your time. I think we need to love ourselves enough to know what we are really worth and just enjoy single-ness, and life RIGHT NOW. And, so what if I am a crazy cat lady! Cats have four legs, a cute face, and a body, which makes them easy to pet and love them for their 12 year life spans. The opposite of a cat is a dog, which also has four legs, a face and body, but lacks the ability to be cat-like.

You don't like Harry Potter?

25 Things that keep me up at night

1. Caffeine headache.  
2. Silence.
3. Reading. Getting very emotionally involved with books.
4. Fictional people's problems.
5. English toffee ice-cream calling my name from the kitchen.
6. Regret.
7. Re-committing to the 'tomorrow diet'. Because tomorrow is always a new day, hey!
8. Pistachio nuts. Salted and roasted.
9. Reflecting.
10. Too cold.
11. Too hot.
12. Where's Bearemy? 
13. The future.
14. Anxiety.
15. Praying.
16. Playing with the cats.
17. Anticipation.
18. Planning
19. Bowel movement.
20. Tomorrow's weather.
21. Tomorrow's outfit.
22. Tomorrow's lunch.
23. Excitement.
24. Imagining
25. List making. Just can't stop making mental lists. It’s like an OCD. Like washing hands constantly. Or eating pistachio nuts. I really cant stop eating pistachio nuts right now. Mmmm...

Dear...

Dear celebrity crush,
Please get on Facebook more often. It's hard to stalk someone who doesn't regularly update...


Dear leg hair and arm pit hair,
Please grow as slowly as my head hair. I'm pretty sure I waxed/shave less than a week ago.


Dear person comparing period cramps with diarrhoea cramps,
You're saying it can't be that bad? No uterus? No opinion!!!


Dear People magazine,
You obviously got it all wrong! 2011 was clearly the year of Ryan Gosling! Bradley Cooper is so 2010 and a bore.


Dear Ryan Gosling, 
I can only assume you turned down People's "Sexiest man alive" title and let Bradley Cooper have the honour. That was so noble of you. I know you have better things to do. You have feminist wisdom to spout, an awesome dog to walk, epic movies to make, art fights to stop, tumblrs and blogs to inspire. Props to you Ryan!


Dear boy that I tutor,
Please don't come into my personal space, the invisible bubble that is psychologically mine.

Dear friends who’ve borrowed books from me and haven’t yet returned them,

Just a friendly reminder to return them when you’ve read them. I’m waiting on these: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets, Empire of the Sun,  Pride and Prejudice, Marley and me, Cat and mouse, The Shack, and Perfume: Story of a murderer. Merci!

Dear Lulu,

Thank you for getting fur all over my clothes. Because people need to know I belong to you. Thank you for lying on my covers when I have to make the bed. Because I probs don’t need to anyway. Thank you for watching Ryan-a-thon with me. You’re right. He is quite something, isn’t he? I just wish you were able to open the door for me when I sneak in at 3am in the morning.

Finding Mr. Funny

I'm so attracted to men who can get me into stitches. If you can make me LOL, you have my full attention. And, if you actually, like my laugh (I have an ugly laugh. If my laugh was a person, it'll be a witch with a wart on her crooked nose), and think it's cute, I will marry you! I really cannot say it enough - wit is so attractive, because it requires intelligence and humour, and a little creativity. According to Psychology Today, "people who joke with their spouses in everyday situations tend to be happier in marriage than couples who don't, and marriages tend to last longer." But personally, not just any gag will do. I hate the insulting, narrow-minded, or narcissistic humour. Brattiness and snobbery is never impressive.


Unfortunately, finding Mr. Funny is extremely difficult. I mean, what's up with that, boys? This world needs a million Ryan Goslings to go around. Plus, a million James McAvoys, a million Jon Heders, a million Ryan Higas, a million Hugh Lauries, a million Jim Careys and a million Steve Carells. 

(I'm so so so sorry! I really tried not to make this post about Gorgeous Gosling, and I was doing so well! But I just couldn't help it! He's just one of those people who are funny without trying to be funny! And he always has this mischievous smirk in his eyes. I'm sorry!)

Happy 31st Birthday, Ryan.

By your next birthday, I'm going to move to Studio City (right in your hood!), and frequent Disneyland, and Maison 140, where your band plays. Maybe I'll get a waitressing job at your favourite Moroccan restaurant. One way or another, you'll show up, because you're Ryan-omnipresent-Gosling. I will adopt a irresistible-oh-so-impossible-to-resist puppy and take a hike. Hopefully I'll bump into you and my cute, clever puppy will do the leash tangle with your dog, George (like in 101 Dalmatians). If Eva is with you, I'll just "accidentally" push her off the mountain. I kid, I kid! I'm not a horrible person, Ryan.
Thank you for existing! Happy belated birthday.

Ryan-a-thon

"You know how sometimes department stores have these things where, if you win, you get 10 minutes and go in and take anything you want from the store? That's basically what I'm doing. I'm running in and just trying to grab as many characters as possible before they pull the plug on me." - Ryan Gosling

I've been talking about a "RyGos movie marathon" since the beginning of the year, but hadn't got around to it, due to his amazing extensive filmography. But! I am finally well into it, one film after another. I kicked started off with Crazy, Stupid, Love then Drive in the cinemas, followed by the rest in the comfort of my bed. (I am currently up to Blue Valentine. The "Ryan-athon" will end with Ryan, and George Clooney at the cinemas.) I tell ya, RyGos is one of the most talented young actors of our time.  He's tackled challenging roles racking up credibility as a serious young actor in indie features. He sort of reminds me of Edward Norton (I'm a huge fan of), because he's so good at playing intense, conflicted young man in a natural, effortless style. Participate with me in the Ryan-athon. He won't disappoint!


Crazy, stupid, love (2011)



Drive (2011)



The Believer (2001)



Half Nelson (2006)



Lars and the Real girl (2007)



Murder by Numbers (2002)



The Notebook (2004)



Blue Valentine (2010)



Remember the Titans (2000)



Stay (2005)



Fracture (2007)



The slaughter rule (2002)

All good things (2010)

The United States of Leland (2002)



The Ides of March (2011)

Culling and Curating

I am moving, from a 5 bedroom house to a little 2 bedroom unit. That's a huge leap of a downsize. I'm currently going through the daunting task of culling my wardrobe. (I have already 3 garbage bags full of clothes ready to go to the Salvation Army bin.)


I'm so glad society has moved on. Those with massive wardrobes with every potential shoe and shirt combination, used to belong to the fashionistas, and be the envy of others. Not anymore. With fast fashion today (thanks to ZARA and H&M), anyone can have an overflowing wardrobe, and do it cheaply too. A small wardrobe is the now the hallmark of the modern fashionista. You see, to have a small wardrobe and still look stylish, requires you to actually have a sense of style. It requires you to really understand fashion, i.e. you have to be able to pull out of your butt several looks from one button-up shirt or a pencil skirt. A real fashionable wardrobe is about high-quality foundation pieces and versatile staples that work, often together, effortlessly.


I'm at the (if I may say so, mature, because I'm turning 23 in a few days) stage where I'm ready to indulge in 'the new luxury' of a refined and curated wardrobe. And once I have it organised, it'll make me contemplate and consider every single future purchases. No more compulsive-shopping! No more being broke because I splurged on something I'll only wear once! Yay, to my new mature, curated wardrobe!

"This is the philosophy I’ve chosen to apply to my own wardrobe. I find it fulfilling to define my style through the careful discernment with which I choose each piece. 
I am able to pull from mainstream contemporary and indie designers, vintage resale shops and all of the inspiration that comes from international travel (I make it a point to buy from at least one boutique in each city when I’m traveling) and interaction with others in the art community. It’s not only honing a wardrobe, but working toward a more refined presentation of self." - Style.com

Musical songs I adore.

I'm going to shout out from these internet rooftops: I love musicals and movies with singing and dancing! Last night, a bunch of us girls broke out into songs from Broadway musicals on the ride home. I voiced that I'd love to marry someone who'd do this with me - anytime things were going boring or bad, we'd bust into a song and dance and completely turn everything around. Then to my disappointment, my friends tell me 'he would be gay' (Is this true?) I must prove them wrong. If my man has trouble expressing his feelings (which is completely normal, I guess), no problemo! He can sing it! And when I have children, I'll discipline them with songs, and they'll sing me goodnight. So here is my list of musical numbers I adore. What are your favourites?


The Sound of Music, 1965

The lonely goat herd

Edelweiss

Do-re-mi

A few of my favourite things

So long, farewell

Phantom of the Opera, 1986 (Broadway)

Think of me
All I ask of you
Angel of Music
Music of the night
Lion King, 1994
The circle of life
Can you feel the love tonight
Wicked, 2003 (Broadway) 
For good
Defying gravity
No good deed
Dancing through life
Once, 2006
Falling slowly
Anastasia, 1997 
At the beginning
Journey to the past
Once a december
Cats, 1982 (Broadway)
Memory
Sweeney Todd: Demon Barbar of Fleet Street, 2007
A little priest
By the sea
Johanna
Miracle Pirelli's elixer
Enchanted, 2007
How does she know
So close
Hairspray, 1988 (Broadway)
You can't stop the beat
Welcome to the sixties
Without love


Mary Poppins, 1964
Spoonful of sugar
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Practically perfect


Peter Pan, 1953
You can fly
I won't grow up
Following the leader
Never smile at a crocodile


Billy Elliot, 2005 (Broadway)
Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher


Grease, 1978
Summer nights


Avenue Q, 2003 (Broadway)
There's a fine fine line
Shodenfreude
Everyone's a little bit racist
The internet is for porn
Wizard of Oz, 1939
Over the rainbow
The Muppets, 1969
Rainbow connection
The Muppets, 2011
Life's a happy song
Cinderella, 1950
A dream is a wish your heart makes
Cinderelly, Cinderelly
So this is love
South Park: Uncut, 1999
Blame Canada
Tarzan, 1999
You'll be in my heart
Two worlds
Singin' in the rain, 1952
Singin' in the rain
Prince of Egypt, 1998
When you believe
Rock around the clock, 1956
(We're gonna) Rock around the clock
Beauty and the Beast, 1991
Belle
Beauty and the Beast (Tale as old as time)
Something there
Oklahoma!, 1943 (Broadway)
Oklahoma Ok
Emperor's New Groove, 2000
My funny friend and me
Sunset Boulevard, 1993 (Broadway) 
Sunset boulevard
Chicago, 1975 (Broadway)
Funny honey
All that jazz
Mr Cellophane
Hercules, 1997
Go the distance
The gospel truth
I won't say I'm in love
Pinocchio, 1940
When you wish upon a star
42nd Street, 1980 (Broadway)
Shuffle Off To Buffalo
Dance of the Vampires, 2002 (Broadway)
Total eclipse of the heart

In His glorious presence.

 "At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer."
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)

Muse: Luna Lovegood

"Luna did not seem perturbed by Ron's rudeness; on the contrary, she simply watched him for a while as though he were a mildly interesting television program." (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

I can go as far as say that Luna Lovegood is sort of my role-model. She may be a really uniquely odd individual, and have out-there wacky beliefs, but she has wisdom and compassion and I can never imagine her to say "that's impossible" because she's so open to every possibility. I think Luna knows, by placing expectations on people, you are attempting to force them to exist on your terms.  This mindset causes nothing but disappointment. That's why she's so accepting of others, humans and creatures. 
Luna  teaches me "You are weird and wonderful in your own special way and its important to embrace these eccentricities. Let your quirks shine! And be authentic."
She is such a quirky, whimsical, lovely character and we all need Luna 'Loony' Lovegood's loveliness in all of us.

Twenty-freakin-three.

It has come to my attention that I turn 23 in 10 days. I've been told, my age rounded up to "mid-twenties", as opposed to the now "early-twenties" which sounds like so much fun, carefree! And young. I remember, when I was in high school, people in their twenties seemed ancient! "He's really really old. Oh, like 23." This mid-twenties idea is uncomfortable to me, mostly because I'm not prepared! (I may have a bit of a Peter Pan complex too.) 

I still slip into mum and dad's bed when I'm scared.
I waste too much time on youtube.
I still don’t prime before painting my face.
"Anti-aging" isn't yet part of my beauty regime.
I only have one savings account, that sometimes hits minus.
I still want to marry Simba, the lion king. He's so handsome!
I still jump on beds.
I'm more concerned about Mufasa's death and Pottermore emails than paying bills and cleaning my room.
I'm flakey.
I'm messy, almost sloppy actually.
I'm sleepy.
I like bed.

I have just a few days to get focused. I need to prepare. I need to vacuum more often and dust the dresser table and wash my sheets. I should get another towel and regularly brush my hair. I should also learn to cook something that requires a vegetable. Those are the keys to adulthood.

I am ready for this challenge. Twenty-three, come at me, bro!

tweet me @K_NaomiLee

I want to marry Simba

When I was 8 years old, I wanted to marry Simba. That love was reinforced when I watched The Lion King 3D at the theatres recently (it was glorious and beautiful!), and The Lion King 2 in bed last night. Adult Simba is very sexy and incredibly cute. He has that sexy I've-got-a-complicated-past vibe. When he discovers the truth about Mufasa's death, that red-hot passionate anger (in the right context), is quite attractive. In the sequel, you see Simba become a wise and handsome King, and a loving dad. What's not to find hot?
Even young Simba was pretty much the whole package - adorable, fun-loving, scrappy, and brave.

Dear...

Dear high school girls who yelled "hipster" at me,
I may study design, buy imported fashion magazines, wear lipstick, get drugged on coffee and possess apple products, but I don't really identify with the hipster lifestyle, alright? The term is so broad I just happened to make the cut!


Dear Ryan Gosling,
How did you suddenly gain man-god status? You're everywhere now (in the virtual world). You've become Ryan-omnipresent-Gosling. Anywho, so I watched Drive today. I loved the movie, though I was initially horrified at the violence. You just didn't seem to be the type of guy to violently lash out and stamp on people's heads. And that bathroom scene where you're face is covered in blood, and you just stood there, in character, slowly backing out? I just died.

 

Dear all bloggers blogging about bumping into Ryan Gosling in the street, riding the subway with Ryan Gosling,  petting Ryan Gosling's dog, shaking Ryan Gosling's hand,  
I am extremely envious! (I don't even think the word 'envious' is strong enough!) When I read about your stories, I vicariously imagine myself as you, and squeal and squirm, and squeal and squirm again. Squirming to get outta here and move to NEW YORK CITY, BABY!


Dear Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire,
How do I meet/bump into you? Where do you hang out when not on set?


Dear Steve Jobs,
Nobody mourns you loss more than coffee lovers. Without MacBooks, cafes would be empty and have to close down! There wouldn't be a cafe every 100m full of thick-framed, tattoo-ed, skinny jean wearing 20's-30's lounging for hours, toting their Apple products. More cafes to choose from! The coffee world salutes you!


Dear future husband,
I was wondering if you'd leave the naming of our kids up to moi? Merci.


Dear God,
I need you, I need you more. More today.

Reminder to get creative.

"Go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. For heaven's sake, sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."

Kurt Vonnegurt (A Man without a Country, 2006) 

That week

You know that week?

That hectic last week of the semester where it's like a real-life Project Runway, and you don't even have time to wear make-up or eat proper meals, and you keep you head down, eyes on the footpath when you walk, because you don't want to be recognised. 

That week, when your diet only consists of beans. That's right, beans!!! Coffee beans, cocoa beans and baked beans. And you gain 4kg by the weekend.

That week where you have zero to four hours sleep a night. Waking up to find yourself upright in bed with the lights on and your Macbook open. Falling asleep in the shower and on public commutes. Just being so physically tired and drained.

That week of doom when nothing goes to plan or the way you want. USB breaks, files are lost, computer crashes, printer jams, library is closed, internet disconnects, Macbook trackpad acting up... all this did happen.

That week when your bestie cheers you on, and even offers on cooking dinner for you. Reminding me that I have amazing friends.

That crazy last week of semester where you spend most of the time switching from panic to procrastination. And every third cycle, a holiday mode (dreaming of lazy days reading books in my underwear).

That week when you're starting a new assignment at 2am in the morning, after leaving the half-finished assignment on the back burner because you have "designer's block".

Yeah, that week.
Hallelujah, I survived that week.

Male Hairspiration

Some hair-spiration for the gentlemen.

20 Confessions

1. I can never understand people who don't see the point in travelling. The common reason is that traveling is a waste of time and money. I’ve heard some are scared to travel too far away. I can’t help but feel sorry particularly for those who perceive the experience of seeing a new place as a negative one. Telling them stories about cool new encounters results with an unexpected ‘Why would you wanna go there!?’ It makes me sad. 
2. I love in-flight turbulence! Just thinking about it is getting me excited. I actually feel cheated if I don't get at least a little turbulence on my flight! I've been on a couple of flights with severe turbulence, and one with a nice 4,000 ft drop with every unbuckled body flying out of their seats. I might've been the only passenger grinning from ear to ear.
3. Every time I exit a store with a security guard or that thing that detects stolen things in your bag, I am convinced I have stolen something.
4. I've never checked a voicemail my entire life. It's a dead art.
5. Before or after watching a movie, I always check its freshness on tomato-meter, and if it's very far from what I expected, I get disturbed. Makes me think, maybe I didn't watch it with the right mindset, or my reaction is incorrect, or I misunderstood the plot.
6. Do you ever wonder where certain things originated, or how they came to be? No? Well, I do ALL THE TIME and I can’t just sit back and pretend that the thought never crossed my mind. So what do I do? I turn to my trusty old Google. Or I ask the people around me. I'm never afraid to say "I don't know what that is. Can you tell me?"
7. I used to eat kleenex tissues. Unbleached, unscented. It was a symptom of nutrient deficiency. A condition called Pica, common among pregnant women.
8. When I tell people that I've never smoked a cigarette before, it's usually met with shock. I didn't crumble under peer pressure and said no to something that everyone else has said yes to. So I have bragging rights.
9. I have inside jokes with myself. In my head.
10. I won't pass up a chance for a good discussion on bodily functions. From gas to boogers.
11. Whenever I am watching TV alone, I will start to pick at my face, just to create new problems on my face when there is none. So never leave me alone watching TV. It can lead to craters in my face.
12. I am never able to realise my stories are lame until I am far past the point of no return. Sad.
13. I still talk to and sleep with my teddy-bear, Bearemy every night. This could continue into my married life.
14. I dreamed about being the first woman F1 driver. 
15. I like chewing on hair. Try it, it's crunchy!
16. When somebody talks about food or Harry Potter or a film I recently watched or maybe Ryan Gosling, or mention anything that I like, I will get overly excited and probably bug you about it the entire night.
17. I love jumping on beds. Jumped on my brothers bed until the spring poked through the mattress. Jumped on my bed until the leg broke. Oops.
18. I had a major crush on Aaron Carter during junior years at high school. I've memorised the lyrics to his whole album. It's A to the A to the R O N. I'm all grown up now, run and tell your friends. Listen up everybody, have you seen Aaron's Party? Part two I'm older now, come and show me body. Girl, watcha gonna do, come and talk. To me in the  backseat, baby backstreet... Okay I'll shut up now.
19. I want to marry someone who will look at me and daily think "you're too good to be true". I want to be his unicorn!
20. I make incessant lists to make myself feel productive or creative, and I’m listening to Weezer while doing it.