Maxi dresses are an instant fix to embodying what Kimmora Lee Simmons call as “fabulousity”. Whenever i’m hit with the notion of Oh-god-what-to-wear, i simply 1. Resort to my ‘gown section’ 2. Grab something in there 3. Pop on a pair of BIG sunglasses 4. Slip into a trusty pair of wedges / sandals then usually, significantly comes 5. (Un)intentionally ‘cheat’ people into believing i’m some kinda superstar. lol~ Trust me, it’s kinda fun. There is something about maxi dresses that never fails to make you feel the term “timeless femininity”. It automatically changes the way you carry yourself; even when you’re alone. i wore this new all-white dress from TOPSHOP to a pool party past weekend, and i must say it is LOVE. The silk-like material that swiftly sweeps the ground every now and then with a touch of ‘royalty’ with it’s lacy bare back feature gives it just the right amount of sexciness. Not to forget its thoughtful side slits that make it a simply irresistible gorgeous masterpiece.

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Wanna be a princess for a day? i myself find this hard to believe, but Tesco (yes Tesco) has some really glamorous dresses at reasonable prices that are suitable to wear during the day and even after it fades to night! These are my Top 3 Favorites of all-time. Which one is your favorite? (:

Limited Edition Floral Halter Neck Dress £40.00 – “Exuding 70s inspired goddess style, you are sure to glide effortlessly into the room and wow audiences. Floaty and feminine, this maxi is finished with a cut-out back, bold floral print and plaited waist belt. Now all you need is for the sun to shine and a wide brimmed hat to finish off the retro feel.”

Ice Blossom Floral Print Dipped Hem Dress £35.00 – “This maxi dress brings you the dipped cut of the moment in a bright chiffon. Finished with a scoop neckline the sleeveless dress is detailed by a gathered band at the waist, self-tie sash and a flattering dipped hem. Worn with gladiator sandals or your highest heels this a is key piece for your holiday wardrobe.” 

 

F&F Dipped Hem Chiffon Maxi Dress £20.00 - ”Roses are red, violets are blue, flowers are in season and so are you. Wear this sumptuous floral dress from Ice Blossom to your next social gathering, and you are sure to get noticed for being on trend. Finished in a floral print chiffon the fully lined dress features a bandeau neckline, gathered panel under the bust, flowing skirt with frilly trim and dipped hem at the reverse.”

To view a wider range through their online shopping website, click here. Happy maxi dress shopping!

 

Part of my trip to Australia was about cinfully indulging in wine and cheese tasting adventures. When i came back, i was inspired to cook a hearty dinner for my family with a cheese platter as hors d’oeuvre, accompanied by a bottle of award winning red wine from the Cedar Creek Estate. You’ve read about the 2 main dishes, so here is a simple guide on How to Prepare a (Basic yet Complete) Cheese Platter:

1. How Much Cheese

• Before meal: 1 – 2 ounces of each cheese per person
• After meal: 1 – 1.5 ounces of each cheese per person
• As main: 3 – 4 ounces of cheeses in total per person

*1 ounce = approx. 28g

2. Cheese Selection

Try to include a variety of textures and flavors. Most cheese belongs to one of four basic categories:

• Firm – Emmental / Manchego
• Soft – Camembert / Brie
• Aged – Cheddar / Gouda
• Blue – Danablu / Stilton

Your best bet will be to use one from each of the groups listed above. If you want to be more adventurous, try mixing a variety of the type of milk used - cow / goat / sheep. Just keep in mind to serve at least one familiar cheese. Take your guests on a ‘journey’ by arranging your cheeses from mild to sharp.

3. Condiments:

• Breads - sliced baguette / bread sticks / crackers
• Jarred condiments & / or Fruits - chutneys / caramelized onions / grapes
• Sweet & salty items - cured meats / (candied) nuts

4. Serving Tips:

• Don’t clutter the platter - give space to cut cheeses
• Serve cheese at room temperature – take them out of the fridge at least one hour before serving
• Prepare a separate knife for each cheese – because they come in different textures and sharpness; unless you want them to start tasting like each other
• Label each cheese – so you won’t need to explain their names all evening like WikiCheese

Now you know how to prepare your own winning cheese platter the next time you have a party! Once you know the tricks, it is relatively easy to prepare. My platter turned out to become a fun conversation piece as my family and i had a great time together figuring out which cheese is our personal favorite. If you missed out my previous posts, below are the 2 (Spanish) dishes that i cooked and served along as mains:

{Butifarra con setas – Catalan pork sausage with mushrooms}

{Marmitako – traditional Basque stew of tuna, potatoes, pepper, and onions}

{traditional Spanish dinner + the perfect Cheese platter + Seduction, sweet red wine from Australia + my untitled masterpiece from class Painting 101}

[AD]

On a (totally) separate note, here is how you can be the 1ST to experience Samsung GALAXY S III thanks to Celcom; who is unleashing the all-new smartphone at 3 locations from 31 May – 3 June 2012.

• Go over to South Court Mid Valley Megamall KL, North Court, AEON Station 18 Ipoh or Centre Court and Sutera Mall Johor Bahru to enjoy unbelievable deals
• Go dressed in blue and you will get to spin the wheel for a chance to grab the Samsung GALAXY S III at a crazy low price of RM888 and walk away with other freebies

With Celcom, you can get this one-of-a-kind phone from as low as RM1438!

For more information, click here. :)

1. This leopard framed sunnies

{because this new pair of beauty has a structure so perfect that i could otherwise call my second bone}

2. This version of the famous Great Gatsby from Australia

{because there are facial sketches at the front cover that makes it easier for character identification}

3. This ‘book bar’ arrangement

{because picking up a book shelf with design somehow comes with a touch of delightfulness}

4. This Chinese-inspired fan bag

{simply because i’ve been looking for the gold glitter clutch for 2 years}

5. This fresh juicy pomegranate

{because basically i’ve never tried one in my life – and it turned out schweeet!}

One of the hardest things to achieve when packing for trips is to find a pair of shoes that fits all dresses (and vice versa). i’ve seen girls who fly with them an extra baggage of lucky shoes! Honestly, i would like to be in their shoes. Dresses usually look best with something that gives you a lil’ bit of height but with this flowy floral maxi number, i managed to pair it with my trusty Havaianas without looking underdressed. Such simple yet great invention definitely deserves a ranking in every lady’s shoe rack. i highly recommend this model in beige slim as its nude tone with subtle gold wash can simply pass with anything you wear when towering heels betray your feet. Not to forget, it also gives that dash of ‘touristy feel’ when walking about 9 wats at sunny Thailand. The verdict: No foot massages needed that night!

{happy face : at the airport before jetting-off}

My travelogue of the miraculous city to Bangkok, Thailand begins here.

{with my best friend / soul mate, Ai Rene}

{Ai’s lovely cousins : Sze Ni + Sze Yi}

{here is an essential tip learned from my traveling trips : the FIRST thing to do when you reach a new country, is to get a local SIM card from its airport. trust me Murphy’s Law. you can never find something a telco shop when you need one, then you see them everywhere when you don’t need it anymore. on top of that, be careful when choosing the right package! i’m a foursquare freak but my chosen service doesn’t offer such ‘luxury’. that could be pretty frustrating}

{if it is your first trip to Bangkok, this is what you do after setting up your phone : find the airport rail link (located IN the airport – name shown on chip above) / taxi if you wish, to your hotel}

{picking your accommodation : we decided on one that is just right opposite one of the sky train (BTS) stops. the hassles we managed to avoid : hailing a cab with our heavy luggages, explaining to the cab driver an address we can hardly pronounce, missing the flight on the way back. always choose a strategic location, wisely!}

{the reason why i mentioned wisely is because our hotel, namely Nasa Vegas (super affordable – i think we ended up paying only RM60 per night per person) was located at the perfect location, but way too antique. it was like sleeping in a museum on your ancestor’s bed! picture to follow : }

{… thus monochrom-ing these pictures is necessary}

{one should see Ai Rene’s super shocked facial reaction when she found these under the TV. let’s just say it was epic}

{the forlorn railway in front of our lodge}

{after freshening up, now it’s time to hop into a cab and explore the city. watch out for kids wiping your windows asking for money! it’s okay to donate but never loose sight of your own handbag}

{vintage guitar shop}

{we requested the cab driver to suggest us a place to dine and he took us to a square where no locals would go even for a drink. so here comes the next tip : when in Rome Thai, do as the Romans Thais do! get your carbon and diarrhea meds ready, and hit the roadside stalls!}

{dinner : street tom yum with lotsa lotsa chili. tummy status : OK!}

{as night approached we found ourselves opposite Platinum mall, Thailand’s biggest wholesale for clothes}

{luminous city lights}

{perhaps why their tourism slogan is “Amazing Thailand“}

{personally, i believe it is most ideal to discover a city by worming through its heart during your very first day at a new country. breathing in the air they breathe, tasting the food that feeds the people, seeing how the locals live their daily routine, listening to the queerness of a new language, and feeling what fills you inside as you activate your 5 senses at an exotic land}

{fish + fruits = coffee}

{barbecue eggs}

{my accessories from H&M Spain}

{last but not least, the one thing i never fail to do when at a new country is to get my hands on what’s special at their Mc Donalds! as for Thailand, it is non other than their pork burger : }

{basically, i was the only one eating (again)}

{fake Elvis}

{a heaven of cheap massages promising expensive experiences}