Contagious Nail Color sans Savings Worries

Piggy smiles after being fed some coins

I think I would have to admit that being a yuppie and saving up is a very difficult situation to be in.

Why?

Let me describe my situation: I long to pursue further studies. I won't say that I was an excellent student. I'm a wise ass student, (unfortunately) and I'm depending on myself to be able to achieve this. I was planning on enrolling next month, and my ambitious goal was to have it this year. But due to some unavoidable circumstances, it's just probably not happening.

I've been saving since last year, and let me tell you, not that you already know it, but our economy is very challenging. I've been supporting my ambition through taking freelance jobs and somehow, for whatever small amount I have saved up, it's still not enough to pay even half a semester. Now I know what it feels like to be a parent.

I've tried saving up as much as I can. I guess I need more patience.

So here I am, and probably will just share some crazy nail colors to lighten up the mood! This is such a crazy thing for me to doing right now, but nail colors like these are just so cheeky and bright, it's a contagious mood lifter!

Looky looky! =p

Pinks for the dainty femme

Some glitters for the posh femme

For the vintagey femme, some purple and lilacs 

Greens for the nature loving femme

Sorbet shades for the playful femme 

Got your eyes on any of these? Hahaha

Read and Currently Reading

I'm actually being pressured this week, with deadline of writing outputs nearing.

Just a quick update then on my reading list, I have finished this: 

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (1989)

And started on this:

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994)

Its first few chapters have already shocked and surprised me, because I wasn't expecting such an incident like that strange call to happen, it had an eerie feel to it. But then, I'm not even near a quarter of the book yet. 

What are you reading this week? Let me know down in the comment box! =p 

Weekend Fun with Little Cousins and Plastic Toys

Alright, I'm doing this on a Tuesday. But having photos with kids over the weekend is a quick reminder that they will start school soon, so my little cousins headed back to town. The house is a little quiet now. No more running around, screaming, crying, fighting, kite-flying, afternoon naps, spilled watercolor on white monobloc table, no more. But they will be back for the next school break, that's for certain.

We assembled styrofoam buildings and plastic robots on the dining table, we got those from the goodie bags which were distributed in last Friday's party the kids attended...

...And displayed them on one of the potted plants outdoors..

[The robots are taking over the city! The styrofoam buildings are The Empire State Building, two Burj Al Arab, and the structure behind the yellow plastic robot is The Eiffel Tower]

And a giant boy is taking a photo op while the robots siege the city in a pot! 

And here come the plastic soldiers to defend the styrofoam and earth city! Forward march!

"Men, take over the gray evil robot, the rest of you defend the LEANING Eiffel Tower, while we distract the orange robot-creature!"

"Copy, Commander!"

And this time there are two more giant kids checking in on the action

, 

For team effort, we awarded ourselves with kids' temporary tattoos on our hands. 

Gaiman Addresses the University of Arts Class 2012

To all Neil Gaiman fans out there, you have to Listen to this!

I know that the die-hard Gaiman fans will be clicking on that link above. Lend an ear!

Gaiman, master storyteller, inspires University of Arts Class 2012

Peach in Pearls

Peach pearls 

I think I was about nine when I came across a section in my books of how pearls are formed. In some of my story books, there are stories about divers, children helping out in pearl farms, and how it takes years to form pearls.

Pearls are created inside a living creature: oysters, and pearls are the by-product of a process which oysters use to protect themselves. Pearls can both be found in fresh water and saltwater, and some pearls have also been found inside clams and mollusks.

Pearl in oyster 

Pearl formation begins when a foreign substance enters the oyster, and this irritates the oyster. The natural reaction is for the oyster to cover up that object with a substance called nacre. Thus begins the formation of a pearl.

Matching peach pearls with round beads

Some pearls do not come out as perfectly rounded ones, and some "disfigured"  pearls are called baroque pearls, with layers and excess nacre still attached to the foreign substance. There are so many shades of pearls these days, from black (which is quite pricey), to white, gray, pink and peach, and so on.

Cultured pearls are the result of irritants implanted by pearl farmers. The whole process takes at least 3 years. And of course, there is the issue of garbage and pollution, and uncontrolled oil spills which can damage oysters and this amazing natural process.

Wonder how many oysters were "harvested" to produce these necklaces 

Tiny elongated ones are called rice pearls

Peach and gold

Pearls being worn by aristocrats and the royalty have dated back as long as Cleopatra's time. In Stacy Schiff's book about the empress, Cleopatra: A Life, which will soon hit the movie screens, with Angelina Jolie playing Cleopatra, she reflected the wealth of the empress through her choice of hair accessories.

Angelina as Cleopatra based on the book written by Stacy Schiff

In Cleopatra's time, pearls were the diamonds of her days. And it is said that she wore pearls on her hair. This is the book cover depicting Cleopatra.

For interested book worms, Cleopatra: A Life is a biography and the writing style is quite scholarly. Although it has many interesting, exotic stories. Stacy Schiff is a Pulitzer Prize recipient.

Cleopatra: A Life (2010) by Stacy Schiff

Pulitzer Prize Author Stacy Schiff