Just.

Later, people!!

I got to know Cheryl in the most goofy way. Her picture on Facebook caught my eye (of course it would, she is drop dead gorgeous) and I added her after finding her familiar but just being unable to place it. And of course, it hit me later, of course, this is Ms Universe Singapore of 1999.

Cheryl is no pretty bimbo, mind you. She wields two Masters and a Phd and is pretty to boot. She has always been one of the women I am inspired by.

Having said that, it pleases me to no end that she has so kindly featured our boutique in her fashion blog!!

Lately I have had the misfortune to witness a most tragic occurrence of a person making a most embarrassing spectacle of himself over his partner. I felt inspired to write about this as I felt grateful that the man in my life has much more confidence and much less arrogance. The incident made its indelible mark on my sub conscious mind simply by leaving me contemptuously amused, ginormously relieved and mostly incredulous.

Let me explain.

The scene was laid as such: this man’s girlfriend engaged in a perfectly socially acceptable and run of the mill conversation with a group of people, men and women included. He almost short circuited and hot fused into Mr Hissy Pissy.

I was contemptuously amused as this man showed such unbridled insecurity and amateurish antagonism simply because his girl is talking to another man in a group setting. Like, get a grip already!

I was ginormously relieved because Big had never embarrassed me in such a crass manner. Don’t be mistaken. He’s not perfect. He simply possess the self assurance, confidence and a healthy dose of self esteem in being totally at ease with his girl talking to other dudes. No primitive neanderthal danger here, thanks God! Of course, it also helps that he trusts me totally and that I am totally deserving of his trust.

I was incredulous because this chap oozes arrogance and cockiness in toxic volumes and you would have thought that someone who thinks so highly of himself and so derisive and “lowly of most people” would at least have the minimal intelligence and good sense not to embarrass himself so deeply? But strangely…. no! Unbelievable.

And thank God that Big doesn’t feel the need to suck my tonsils out to stake his claim on me everytime he feels threatened.

**

So, how possessive is your partner? Big is, of course, but acceptable by my standards. The usual stuff like swinging and involvement with other guys (I am so not the date a village type of girl too, too tired and jaded) are naturally no nos. Yet he is fine with me going out on girls’ nights out, even though it might involve guys hitting on us.

I think it treads a very fine line, this balance between being possessive and being nonchalant. I would throw a ballsy fit if he doesn’t even care when other men are pulling heavy moves on me. Ah well, women are difficult creatures.

We went out to have Teochew porridge for our couple supper date after the kids are fast asleep just now, and when we came back, this darling cat followed us and was so affectionate and trusting. She curled up against our legs and even followed us into the lift.

As you can see, she is spayed from the tipped ear. Cat Welfare people doing a great job.

Big was afraid that she wouldn’t “know” her way back downstairs but she kept following us into the lift even though we tried to gently shoo her out a few times. Heh. So we let her follow us upstairs and what do you know, our cats did not make a pip when she was outside the gate. Big took some food for her and brought her back downstairs. Of course, I had to ask him to take a few pictures of this darling.

I tinkered with the idea of a third cat, but honestly, I really don’t know. Firstly the apartment is not that big. And then, where do I draw the line at being Angelina Jolie of stray cats?

On the topic of stray cats, I would like to state for the record that I absolutely detest (yes in bold) people who insist on asking me the breed of my cats even after we have told them that 1) They are mixed breed strays that we have adopted 2) We do not know the exact mix of the breeds and we don’t really care either. The last I know, we are neither into feline eugenics or affected elitism.

Stupidity is so frightening. Much more so when the afflicted assumes otherwise.

who doesn’t know how to play.

There you have it.

I don’t know how to play. It’s true. I never had Barbies as a child. I preferred doodling on my activity books. And now as a mother, I don’t know how to and don’t like to play. Kiddy games bore me to death and I always encourage the children to play by themselves, entertain themselves.

Yes, bad mum in a way, but I’d rather they have lots of fun on their own, than that I patronize them by zoning off when “playing” or simply tolerate the boredom. Please don’t get me wrong, I really adore and love my kids to pieces, but I have never found the thrill in engaging in baby or cutesy voice games or playing with toys. On the same note, I cannot stomach the thought of running around and chasing each other on the beach under the scotching sun while a nice little picnic under the shade while building sandcastles are so much more enjoyable. I would much rather make something with them; think baking, beading, painting, sculpting etc than to engage in play that leads to no where (to me).

Is this the pragmatic Singaporean in me wrecking its havoc or is it simply just me?

**

Being totally incapable of playing with the PSP/ PS3/ X Box 3/ arcade games etc, I make it a point of dating Germaine on “Germaine dates”. That is, we leave Gean with my parents and take only Ger out with us. The last date was a movie outing and we went for The Spiderwick Chronicles. As a child, I was enthralled by The Never Ending Story and I wanted to share the magic of a fantasy adventure and make believe with her. The Spiderwick Chronicles was pleasant for the adults and the children alike, but honestly a far cry from the The Never Ending Story. It really lacked the magical fantasy, far flung imaginations and mythical flight of the The Never Ending Story.

But we did enjoy ourselves. It’s the company that matters. We also did have a personal joke about watching the “Pork Chop goes to Town” (!!) instead and had a few good giggles about it. OK there is no such movie title and don’t ask how the hell it came about and left us in stitches. I don’t know where to start the explanations. All I can say is, I am absolutely evil.

**

Speaking of evil, I swear kids these days can be such miniature Cruellas. The whole cliquish and Gossip Girls situation in primary schools these days? Vicious. Or so I hear from from Ger in our own Gossip Girls sessions. Do you remember as a child, there is always this uber cool and exclusive group of kids, the one that had their own code names/ special words and rituals? I do, and I listen to my child talk about her friends with a mixed sense of relief (that she is not ostracized or an outcast), a weird sense of aversion and fear (I do remember that I was never part of cliques and indeed, still as anti social today) and a strange feeling of having my little girl grow up into this streetsmart smartypants little mouthpiece who actually knows about snarky rebuttals, turning one’s back on manipulation and being being different and yet being comfortable in being her own self.

My girl is growing up so fast that it feels very spacey and oddball for me.I laughed hard at her anecdotes and I teared a little when I thought about the time when she shared so poignantly that she felt different and that she didn’t have many friends.

Yes, we have come a long way, baby.

Dear people

I have feedback from some of you that some of the stocks are moving too quickly for you to be able to order. Sorry about that, as I bring in low quantities of each design to ensure exclusivity for the customers.

In order to ensure that you get updates the minute we update the stocks in the boutique, you might want to sign up for the mailing list (located on the lower right bottom)?

Thanks so much for your overwhelming support!

XXOO

Rachel 

A friend asked me the other day if I would be having a “lifestyle adjustment”. After all, the first few months of a new venture would be a rough ride and she was worried about my financial status quo.

I asked myself the same question before I started too. Sure, I was apprehensive about it not working out. Yes, I do have a few dollars to fall back on during rainy days, but really that’s not the main issue here.

The real deal is, can I relinquish control? As you all might know, I place a lot of pride in my independence and indeed, my whole sense of security and achievement was in my job, my salary, bonuses, competency, approval of my boss. I took a lot of pride in how far I have come and how I have “survived”. It was not easy for me to leave my last job, but at least I knew that if I need to, I can get another job fairly easily. Good credentials, references and working attitude do go a long way. It was extremely difficult to lose the security of a good paying job in a good sounding company. I do know it sounds very shallow, but bear with me, I am my parents’ good little girl. Their pride in me is addictive. I cannot bear it if they are disappointed with me in any way now. Of course I did a whole load of shit in the past when I was a teenager and gave them lots of grief but that’s water under the bridge. Ahem, moving on.

So, it’s good if my business works out well. It would be disastrous in more ways than one if it doesn’t.

Well, I could always work in ChXXl if it doesn’t work out. 2.55 bag at 30% discount, how tempting is that.

**

Speaking of designer bags, I have imposed a personal ban on myself for the next few months while I take a very conservative view on the business. Overheads and expenses have to be kept low and there is no business for me flinging money on more bags when really, I have no more room to store my existing bags. Thankfully Big doesn’t ever nag me about my bags being stored in all the upper wardrobes, the shelves and on the floor. But still. Even though I am planning proper storage in our new house when we move, for now, enough is enough.

It is also a blessing that I seem to be getting weary of designer bags (fashion fans out there must be screaming blue murder). The thrill of getting a designer bag seem to have evaded me and indeed, I look at all the latest offerings from the brand with boredom. With the exception of one functional practical tote from Hogan this season, nothing excites me at all. (And no, you are so not getting that Hogan tote, Rachel!) I told a girl friend that this might be designer fatigue (if there is indeed such a term!) and my tastes seem to be veering towards vintage finds. Perhaps it is not so strange after all. I have never liked It Bags because I don’t like a legion of clones. I never wore Ferragamo shoes when it was all the craze with fashionistas. I love vintage bags for the nostalgia and exclusivity they invoke. So with the business focusing on vintage inspired fashion, it does work out well for me after all.

**

On the work front, I am my worst critic. Whereas previously, when I did my best and was showered with praise and appreciation from the ex boss, now, I do my best but still, I am displeased with a million things. Press releases not going to print fast enough, not enough stock and not fast enough, the site looks fine now but still not looking its best (I started the business on a blog platform and after one day, threw a fit at how amateurish and unprofessional it looked). Not enough time to do research on fashion sites, business sites, reading up about business strategies, promotional techniques etc etc. I get really furious with myself and I need more time in a day. I need to be like Paddy, who gets a million things done in day and runs on 4 hours of sleep.

I get very inspired and yet humbled by Cobalt Paladin and Paddy’s blogs as these guys who talk the talk and walk the walk. The more I read materials pertaining to business and start ups, the more I realize I have a whole lot to learn about. Strangely, I feel only adrenaline and not fear or dread when the challenges and obstacles come on, especially when it is related to techie and accounting stuff (which my brain and eyes will auto glaze over. LOL) My pet phrase these days seem to be, “this is getting really fun” and “isn’t this fun?!” LOL. Bring it on!!

I should probably also mention that I am a total noob when it comes to business initiatives and strategies and I run on pure instinct. Eg. I shamelessly asked everyone and their grandma to plug for me on their blogs, websites, word of mouth whatever and I did not even know this is strategized as “social media strategy”.

I am totally hopeless.

Viva Woman has just featured us in an article! I am utterly pleased as they have great credibility on the fashion and beauty front and I personally enjoy the site immensely.

It’s a real pleasure and honor.

Germaine, upon learning that I am running my own business now, has volunteered to “work” for me after school.

How cute is that? Heh.

On a more sombre note, I had not been spending a lot of time with the children and that is going to change very soon. They are having their school hols next week and we will be going to Sentosa and Bollywood Veggies Farm for some major chilling out. We will also be painting in the studio and making customized pencil cases..

Now that the set up and groundwork are all in place, and work documentations (press releases, promotional blurbs etc) to be updated as and when, the only time I need would be:

• fashion buying
• the inventory photography
• styling for photo shoot
• photo-editing
• measurements
• inventory branding and listing
• customer data mining and record management
• sales management
• accounts receivables
• back end coordination like packing and mailing
• profit reports
• product variance reports
• ad hoc marketing communications

A fair mishmash of brand management, marcom and operations.

**

We went to buy a printer for the business (never had to have a printer at home before, there simply wasn’t a need..) and print some name cards at the same time. I was in a knot over the title besides the obvious of business name, address and contacts.. I rejected CEO (!), CMO, business owner and boss (! again!!) Hahahaha!! Nothing wrong with these titles of course, it’s simply me who cannot get it over with.. I finally decided on “Brand Manager” who seems befitting of the above job scope.

Perhaps one day, when I can read a set of Monthly Accounts without a glazed over look on my face, then… I might consider the title of CEO.

Bwahahaahahahhaa!!!!

After days of hard work on the new interface, it is finally out.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the new shop!!! There are new stocks featured so please visit to take a look.

So now at 6.26am, I am still up working away like a little beaver on my new shop interface, the copy and the formatting.

I swear I have never worked so hard, even during the times I swore I would die working in the previous job..

What a hard tough bitchy boss I have now

Firstly, I need to thank everybody who had plugged for me, sent out emails to their friends and family, did word of mouth marketing for me etc. I am humbly speechless with gratitude and what can I say except THANK YOU again. I feel the lurrrvvveee.

Apologies to my friends who had to endure super late replies on the sms or email front since the start of this week, as I handle the marcoms, IT, sales, customer service, photography, back end of the business while cramming time to learn more about shop fronts, interfaces, different shop formats etc. It’s very exhilarating yet slightly frightening at the same time.

I purposely chose a simple blog style format (in the vintage design style to stay true to the merchandise) as I am sure you all know, I am a true IT idiot and things like <aref=whatever></a> already makes me very proud of myself. (LOL!) I did not (and still do not actually) know how to use a shop face and although I definitely planned to, I thought a blogging style that I am comfortable with might be ideal for work flow purpose.

So we did a soft launch on Monday to test out the market, you know, sort of a “beta” stage. I thought I had it all down pat.

• Soft launch.. ask for friends’ suggestions on improvements/ criticisms/ ideas and then tweak the site design as we move along..
• I had many ideas about the shop face design and layout, but I hate waiting and procrastinating, and if I had to wait till the perfect shop front I want is read, it might be a month more before I can start the business going and I cannot wait that long.
• And full of ideas I certainly am. Poor Big had it quite tough on the IT support. And I am quite thankful that he is strong in the area I am weak. At least we complement each other this way.
• The plan was to tweak everything on the site as we move along: the copy, the layout, the format, the design etc. I honestly thought that the transition from beta to full launch ie. customers actively coming in, the stocks starting to move and the final shop face launch will take about two weeks. OK, so I have a slightly pessimistic and conservative take on the business front.. It was not two weeks, also thanks to everyone who was so supportive.
• I suddenly have the feeling of being teleported to the supposed “second week” and where are the press releases, marketing articles, blurbs, advertisements that were planned to happen over the honeymoon period of two weeks? COMING UP NOW BOSS!! I am grateful for the “training” I had in my previous job where everything is wanted like, yesterday, and so it should be ready NOW NOW NOW!!! And I can’t even bitch about my boss, because essentially, that is myself. Hahahahaa!!!
• Poor Big. He had to handle a very stressed me (strangely more so than working at the previous job!) who, in the typical perfectionist manner, needed to do everything properly, quickly and just so; a very frustrated me (who wept tears of frustration and anger at my limitations) and a simultaneously exhilarated and thrilled me when the stocks started clearing at exhilaratingly and thrillingly lightning rate. By the second day, I only had 5% of stock left and I am panicking now. But it’s a good thing to panic about I guess.

Thank you for all the emails of encouragement, the kind words for my styling sense and direction and most importantly, the action that spoke so much louder than words in the stock situation.

Thank you thank you thank you.

And to Big who had to put up with a maniac for the last three days, in the words of Fitti, he is

“Seriously the bestest bestest boyfriend ever okie?!! Never seen someone as supportive..”

I know there had been many hiccups along the way but we learn, don’t we?

And… we are getting ready to launch the new shop front! That is, along side with the million others things that have to be done.

Some friends who have started to plug for my humble little business.. MUAKZ!!

I LUB you all very very much!!!!!!!

*touched*

Thank you all so much!

Remember I mentioned earlier that I will be starting the online boutique very soon?

Well, here it is!!

Friends and fellow bloggers, please help me plug on your blogs and spread the news to your friends? Orders will be very welcome too!!

Thanks so much everybody!!

OK so I like nostalgia. Sue me.

But I like Sam Hui and his easy-on-the-ear songs about life (just as much as I like Fergie and Coldplay). So how could I miss this when he is coming to town for only ONE night???

Big bought me a ticket with a very nice seat. Oh, I got my long awaited Amazon purchase of fashion books by Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia etc.

*happy*

So much had happened over the last few days that I don’t know where to and how to begin.

But I shall.

Monday I flew to BKK and embarked on a frenzied buying and sourcing mission for Xtralicious Shop. On Tuesday I was swimming with the sharks (think scammers) and played them at their own game. Shall not talk too much about this lest Big gives me the jaundiced eye again… He was quite upset with me after I finished narrating my tale to him..

I flew back on Wednesday after two very lonely nights in a quiet little boutique hotel room..

Only $40 a night! Am very proud of myself for getting a room that is clean, cheap and near the malls I want to go to.. Breakfast included too!! (more…)