Exploring Singapore? Part 1 - Haji Lane

Recently, someone asked me where are some nice places in Singapore. As a Singaporean, i took sometime to think through and since SG50 is coming.. I decided to do some short introduction to Singapore for the all the friends out there who would want to make a trip to this small little island filled with many surprises!

I will first start with the place closest to me! HAJI LANE! This lane has the name of being the hipster street! A few years back, when i first came to this lane, it's where local designers started out their own small boutiques and the things are really cool but expensive in those days.

Today, Haji Lane still kept to it's name for being Singapore hipster street! The colourful units sticks close to one another, and every shop has their own unique features! I love this street because... If you ask me... where can i find unique clothes? unique accessories? This is definitely the place! Many photographers like to take photos here too! because of the colors, the hippy and liveliness of this lane.

Personally, i am a lover of unique things! I buy unique things from all over the world whenever i travel and bring them back to this small island of mine! And of course, i am a cafe hopper too! Sitting down for a nice coffee of coffee or tea, with a magazine or iPad :x will make my afternoon!

2 months back, i decided to share my collections and bring these unique things i find together, i opened my retail shop here @ 21 Haji Lane!

Combining apparels, accessories, cafe and even beauty together all in one place!

If you follow my blog, present this post to my staff to receive 5% off apparels and accessories! You can also follow us on Facebook @thelastpiece and Instagram @thelastpiecesg for our latest promotion! We are also having weekly giveaways that you can take part in!

We open at 11am everyday and closes at 8pm. We close later on Fridays and Saturdays, at 9pm. If you are looking to have lunch or dinner around the area when you come by, do not worry! You will receive 10% off total bill at "I am" cafe, where they sells really really nice western food! when you purchase anything in my shop, and present the receipts upon ordering!

We have new stocks replenished every Mondays. Every piece is unique and only one piece available. Looking for dresses for events or parties where you don't wish to see another person wearing the same dress as you? We are confident to say that we only carry 1 piece of each design and per color. You will not find the same dress in the same color in our shop. We do not restock the same item :) So if you like something, grab them before they are gone! ;)

Facials are available too! come on down to see what are the promotions every month. We can also work around your budget so do not worry about having to pay what you are told to. We do our best to bring comfort and satisfaction to meet your needs. 

There are other shops around that sells cool things too. You can walk down the lane from where we are, and find interesting finds too!

The weather can sometimes be really warm. Wear light clothes, bring along an umbrella if you have to. As the weather may change and you will not want to be caught in the rain ;)

Planning a trip to Singapore? stay tuned for more introduction to other nice things in Singapore! <3 <3 <3

Looking beyond

Looking beyond what meets the eye...

Today is the 9th day of my Europe trip... The past few days traveling through Barcelona to Madrid and now in Paris, cause me to think a lot..

The rich culture and art from the places inspire me to start designing again and motivated to make my designs appear when I visit Paris again next year!

Being on this trip with a combination of interesting people cause me to think... What do I want in life? And what is it that I'm trying to achieve...?

On this trip, there are the rich who do not flash their wealth; there's the rich whom I don't know if they are really rich cause they hang their riches on their lips..

There was a lady whom I thought she was quite indifferent and do not want to talk to anyone, but to discover that she is very warm and friendly but was sensitive to people calling them mainland china Chinese..

A group whom I knew of before the trip but never had the chance to really know them.. Thought they are bossy people but to realize how friend and sincere they are..

There's also one whom I always thought was a really nice person even before the trip, and got to know her better during the trip.. And realize the pride that is subtle but yet sharp...

I haven't been perfect either.. I tried my best and prayed really hard that I will not end up judging.. But just simply observing people.. Throughout the trip, I prayed that I will be a good testimony and not judge anyone for their actions or words.. And that God will open up doors for me to know them in a different way...

Most of them are quite well off and like any other Europe trip... Combing the brands are like a ritual that cannot be missed.. Then the comparing begins as they see who could afford a more expensive branded item.. The comparison kinda irritates but I choose not to be affected nor to be part of this rat race.. It is inevitable for them to compare but I just don't care.. Not that I don't have, but I choose not to depend on these branded items to define my self worth and value.. Though I admit, thoughts do run through my mind, on where will I be in 5 years time...

Today we went on a business dinner on cruise. It was suppose to be a very class and fine dining experience where we got dressed up for.. Then a group started singing and talking and laughing loudly... Then another loud roar of laughter from another table.... And then people start getting drunk from yet another table... At the beginning the embarrassment was overwhelming.. But then I saw the sorrows in their laughter and smile.. And I realized.. They may have everything they need or want but they are not truly happy.. They have wealth and riches but they do not have true joy and peace.. Their pacing up and down with more cigarettes and more alcohol only reveals their deepest sorrows.. Speaking very much of the opposite of what they are going through...

Sitting there... I understand that yes they may seems to have all that they want and could afford anything.. But true joy and peace only comes from above...

A few days back, our tour guide shared with us a story:
There was once he was at the hospital waiting for his turn to visit the doctor with one of his cilent. On his left was a Aunty scolding and shouting at the top of her voice in Spanish.. Not understanding what she is saying, he just assumed she was scolding the husband, who walked passed her and patiently went to the public phone to make a phone call.. Everyone was looking at her but no one went up to her.. A policeman nearby just gently say "Aunty be patient".. Feeling annoyed like everyone, he just continued using his phone.. Suddenly when he looked up, the Aunty was sitting right in front of him and he realized that she was actually blind.. She is shouting because she could not see the husband..

Sometimes things may seems like one thing from the back and a completely different thing from the front..

Everything?

Money is not everything but yet you cannot do anything without it.

Dressing up and looking good is not everything, but yet it reveals all that is within!
I am not someone who will make up everyday. In fact, I only do when I goes to church because I believe that we need to look good when we come before our king. 

My recent trip to shanghai, I met a friend and stayed with her for a few days. Everyday I see her diligence in putting make up and looking her best, till the very moment she goes to bed. On the last night, I had the chance to chat with her. Talking about the importance of working on marriage, I realized looking good is also a constant effort in making the marriage work!

Whatever is true on the outside reflects the truth on the inside. Very much like the saying that goes, there are no ugly woman, only lazy ones. When you dress simple, life will also be simple and boring. Using "not a make up everyday kinda person" as an excuse of my laziness was greatly revealed.
When you just wear whatever comes to you without thinking, is really because you are too lazy to stand in front of the mirror to take a look at yourself a bit more to see if it all matches!

Does it cost to look pretty and dress up? Of course it does. I am not going to lie to you and say that it does not cost money. But does it have to cost thousands of dollars for plastic surgery and branded? NO.
Dressing up is about how you can put various things together and give a completely different style each time. With the same pieces of clothing but yet wear out a completely different you, for different events. Fashion is not always about the new and the expensive.

It's never about the brand, it's about the design. It's never about the trend, it's about my style! - Jamie Lin 

Lovers Bridge!

Photographer: One of the princesses

The Lovers bridge! it was raining and freezing cold! with 5 layers of clothes on, i hardly make it to the bridge for just this shot! And after that, i am happily sitting in the subway nearby enjoying my hot coffee, waiting for the princesses to finish playing and having fun on the bridge!

This is my first trip with my 3 princesses: Arabelle, Kezia and Magdelene in January 2013. 

The nerds family! HAHA! Completely looking forward to the next holiday trip in August 2014!

Photographer: Ivan Yeo (Husband)

This photo is taken in a chinese restaurant near shi da night market. A completely oriental feel!

New adventures!

As i plan for the months ahead and all the things that we are going to do in 2013, i am so excited! All the new adventures ahead, the things we are going to do together, courses that i am going to take up etc! it's gonna be lots of fun!

Photographer: Me!

The adventure has only begun!

First up, 5D4N Taipei trip!

Beach of Phuket, Part 1

Photographer: Blushed Photography

Thanks to my friend Eileen and her husband Narmit, who went with us to Phuket for a holiday and took such wonderful photos for us! And my beloved girlfriends who came along on the trip! <3

Busy with what matters!

Sorry have been really really busy since i got back from my trip from Surabaya! It was the trip of the year for me!

Compared to all my other trips to various places, this is really the best trip in many years. This is not a shopping trip for me, it is a mission trip. It has been almost 2-3 years since i last went on a mission trip before this.

Busy but yet fulfilling. This trip reminded me alot of the things that are important to me and therefore since i was back, i have been really busy with them.

1) The top priority was my commitment to God again
Have been on a cruising season for awhile and it is time to get back on my feet! Have been going from meetings to meetings but yet only feeling even more energetic than ever! Cell group meetings, prayer meetings, leaders meetings, services to services... City Harvest Church, My Church My Life!

2) Friends
i am not a person who lives in my own fish tank behind this computer screen. I believe that God put everyone into our lives for a purpose even if they are just 'passing by' a season of our lives. From these trip, i got to know 20 awesome people and though some of them i met never get to meet again, the 2 weeks with them was the most well spent ever. even though i maybe very 'saving up' but yet when it comes to them, i know i will spend and i will sow into their lives. Thank God for 'Whatsapp' that still allows us to stay connected even though many of them are back in their own countries at the extreme parts of this world. I know that someday, we will meet again!

So happy that one of them are visiting next weekend! it's gonna be a girls night out!

3) Something greater
i don't know how to explain this and neither am i there yet. But i know God had began this work already and it will be done according to His time!

Was reminded of the 70, 12, and 3... something i always say last time. who is the 3 in my life and who are the 12? i think i know who are my 2 but can't really identify the 3rd one yet. At the same time, i wish i am one of the 3 that will be able to be close too.

Everything is made beautiful in His time!