Work Couture
A conversation with the MD of XXX company, who is offering me a great job in Hong Kong with unparalleled exposure, frequent travel and extremely irresistible pay.
“So, Anna. Why are you rejecting this job?”
“Well, being a buy-side investment analyst is my dream job and I will like to pursue it when I am still young.”
“But we give you exposure, travel, awesome benefits and money that will fund your MBA.”
“True but the experience and kindness that my CIO gave me is irreplaceable, I can’t be an ingrate. “
“So you won”t change your mind at all? Tell me, what is the one thing that you dislike about your job?”
I thought hard for a minute.
“I suppose, having to wear stuffy suits and being in a prim and proper attire all the time for credibility.”
“What??? “
“Well, the point of me working hard is to earn more money to buy nicer clothes, cute dresses and fashionable items like sky-high stilettos that probably won’t be fully utilised but are utterly gorgeous to look at. Work hard = more money = nice clothes. But being in research, I have to maintain a decorum of respectability by wearing boring, conservative office wear which… defeats the purpose of earning money and working hard. “
” …….”
It was one of those comments that I blurted as a wise-cracking joke to get out of a sticky question. Then I hear myself and think about it and get really embarrassed at how close to the truth it was. Hahaha!
xxx
Afterthought// Guess maybe, the job he is offering is worth its mantle. I can network, get wined and dined, travel to places on company’s expense and… most important consideration of all, dress in pretty frocks.
I’ve major envy for friends who work in PR/Marketing/Corp. Comms jobs that basically allow them to wear anything they want. Sneakers, jumpsuits, berms, flats to work! Lucky them!
Entertainment.
Sleep Debt : Can sleeping more on weekends make up for the lost time during the weekdays?
All you gamers. This is a video about a Noob Boyfriend!
I love how Thandie Newton is styled here. The dress itself is not something I’d get excited about. But the hair, scarlet lip and the dress, yes yes and another yes, please!
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This dress is amazing. I’ve blogged about this before, I love Marchesa. I love Georgina Chapman. They claim that every girl wants to get married in a Vera Wang. Me? In a Marchesa, please.
The dress is crazily beautiful and usually Lily Cole looks fierce. In this occasion, her hair looks unkempt and she has a weird expression going on. Seriously. I HATE celebrities who look sullen in a red carpet. Hello, you are wearing an expensive gown, with photographers dying to take your pictures and they will be splashed everywhere. Can’t you manage a little smile a?! I am so tired of the whole I’m-too-cool-for-this look. It’s dated, we want beautiful, genetically-blessed stars to be smiling and gracious and accepts their gifts from Heaven.
(Image credit : Red Carpet Fashion Awards)
S. O. S
Constant defeat and failures that life dealt me are just inviting back doubts which I’ve tried so hard to eradicate. Escapism rescues me from the quandary that I’ve created, let’s spill blood in the moonlight.
Give me the words that tell me everything and yet, nothing. I’m burning like an angel who has heaven in reprieve. How did love, in silence, becomes reprimand?
Friendship Dynamics
I’m a little miffed. I think it’s better if your friends are not involved with each other, makes things easier, less complicated and no one gets irritated/upset/angry/hurt.
On another note, people often do/say things and not realize how it can impact others. And more often that not, I’ve to smile, brush it off and joke about it.
I think there’s a lot of pent-up aggression in me. Need to find an avenue to release them before I 1) blow up/lose my control , 2) be a hermit and go into recluse or 3) start going on a mad rampage.
update// My ASOS parcel arrived, the one I ordered last. ASOS forgot to write my unit number but somewhat, the parcel miraculously find its way to my house! Wheee! Now I am worried about my other 2 parcels. Le sigh.
Saturday Night.
What’s with today? Why is everything happening today? I was invited to … (by different groups of friends!)
1. Dinner + Drinks
2. House party (Wii, spanking new PS3 and board games!)
3. Movie + Drinks
4. Clubbing (A girl senior’s friend’s thingy!)
5. A birthday bar party (A good friend’s boyfriend’s birthday!)
Wish I can attend all of them to be with all my friends. 
But I am old and all I want to do is chill at home by myself. Loner or what?
update// Very angsty and emo today. Not sure why. I am usually pensive and morose in writing but not in person. If you know me, I’m a livewire in person. But today is different, I felt… lousy. One of those days, uh?
To pick myself up from the dumps, (I have a personal belief that one shouldn’t indulge in self-pity and be down for long) I ran. I just ran and ran with all my might, not caring about speed, stability, breathing or posture. It was intense but good. I feel a lot better now with endorphins running through my system. Let’s hope I don’t crash later.
So, guess which one I am going tonight? *winks*
CFA Woes!
Studying CFA is killing me slowly, but surely. Sorry for whining but I really can’t get over how I still need to do this for (at least!) 2 more years.
I’m the only analyst in my firm that’s pursuing it and my boss is very encouraging. I (will like to) believe that he thinks highly of me because of the huge commitment on my part. He said that it’s an extremely commendable effort and that he’ll make sure the firm supports me in whatever way it can. (Yeaaaa, like paying for it!)
Yes, I know, I know it’s for my own good and my job/industry needs it. I really should quit complaining. But blogging about it is probably my only way to vent my frustrations. Sighs.
My friend said I should think positive and imagine my bio to be – Anna, CFA, an investment analyst at XX Asset Management has X years of experience analyzing ________. Happy thoughts, Anna, happy thoughts.
Facebook & Google Offices
Facebook Headquarters in California. Cool office, very we-have-crazy-money-dot-com venture yet beautiful homely aesthetics. It has a good balance of homely chic and nerdy glamour.
Reminds me of the youtube video of Google’s office. You have to see it. It has a fireman’s pole and a slide! And you can have coffee, cars and laundry for free! Extreme perks indeed!
Come, run away with me.
I danced all night and sold my soul;
I sang a song and killed everyone.
I realized space and abandoned love;
I bought blood and hid my tears.
Actress on a stage.
Just because I appear smiley/happy/crazy and not show my emotions doesn’t mean that I am not pained/devastated/crushed. Just shows that I’m really good at internalizing my feelings because I believe, hurting need not be visible or broadcasted to the world.
update// People are too afraid to say what really want.
(within 10 minutes, 5 people asked me what do I want. haha.)
update 2// Someone said that although my strength lies in numbers and mathematics, my interest lies in arts and writing. Agreed?
update 3// Sashimi and desserts overdose! 
Dinner was delicious but sitting beside a man who is frickin’ irritating is such a downer. Constantly bragging about himself, making funny noises and telling stories which urm… is dumb. Makes me wanna slap him with a trout. His companion, a meek girl who is blah, laughs at everything he says and sounds like she worships him. Effing annoying.
Dozo & Osvaldo (Forlino)
Restaurants I want/need to try! (Pssst, guys, these are great date places, methinks!)
1) Dozo
Has pretty good ratings on Hungry Go Where and AsiaOne. $58.80++ for a 7-course dinner, that’s very reasonable. The luxurious decor is a plus point too! Too bad it’s quite far.
2) Osvaldo Ristorante Italiano
The new family-run restaurant is quite the antithesis of the formal Forlino; a cheery, rustic, lace-curtained space filled with antique wooden furniture flown in from the Forlinos’ home in Piedmont. ‘Those are from Italy, that is from Italy and this is from Italy too,’ says Mr Forlino, gesturing to some early arrivals: a couple of hand-made copper pots that will contain fresh flowers; old-fashioned bicycles belonging to him and his wife; and a tall wardrobe covered in a protective plastic sheet – a 500-year-old heirloom that’s been in the family for generations. ‘I want a piece of Italy here.’
Food looks amazing. Meat platter looks abso-friggin’-lutely delectable! Need. to. try. it. out. How wrong can you go from a former chef of Forlino. Yes, that’s his namesake.
(image credit: AsiaOne and girl on the ave – amazing blog, recommended!)
THIS JUST IN!
MY DAD DRESSED UP AS THE INCREDIBLE HULK FOR HALLOWEEN BEFORE!!!
How cool is he? 
Shopping, Green Day, Bloomberg
I think I lost interest in shopping.
- collective gasp of shock-
I know, I know. Quite impossible but nothing excites me anymore. Nothing seems… interesting or lust-worthy. Trends are either done to death or clothes are over-manufactured. Mehhh. Or maybe, I just don’t go out anymore, no reason to dress up. Ha! (*ahem* My 3 ASOS packages reached Singapore! Yayy to that!)
I want to go for Green Day concert though. Need some good rockin’ by those American punk kids. Not that big a fan but good to y’know, let loose a little.
This is random but Bloomberg Internet rocks. It’s a god-sent for anyone looking to do work at home. The commands are on the stickers and the pretty colours add life to my otherwise boring Dell Inspiron. I love Bloomberg, I think the more I use it, the more I can’t live without it. Pathetic, I know. Oh yes, that’s my graduation picture with my parents. A constant inspiration to work hard. =)
Londres, Oh, Londres!
I’ve a recurring unadulterated romantic feelings for London. The thought of it conjures a warm, fuzzy longing for a city that can I never have in entirety. I’ve been to many beautiful places – New York, Sydney, Paris, Shanghai and more – but nothing captured my heart quite like London did. A place of juxtaposition, a melting pot of creative exuberance and quiet solitude, often (wrongly!) marred by the city’s horrid, wet weather and sad grey skyline.
And for the most impractical reason, that I have an inexplicable fondness for London, I want this necklace. A Mirrored London Skyline statement necklace. Pity about the size, it looks quite hideous worn. (see picture on the right)
Creative Namecards
How creative are these namecards? I want some creative namecards too! Too bad, mine’s gonna be a boring Finance type. Boohoo! Check the other crazy ones here!
Reflections.
Been thinking about my life for the past few hours and what I wanna do with it. Mom’s herbal soup helps a lot, really yummy and heartwarming. Some thoughts:
1. I always believed I am made for corporate world but I’m increasingly thinking of doing my own thing. A small business or something. Hmm. I need a frickin’ good idea.
2. On that note, it’s always nice to have someone who believes in you. So far, I’ve met 2 who helped me along the way and I’m thankful and will eternally remember it, even though their gestures aren’t nothing spectacular.
3. It’s nice to have friends who are encouraging of what you want to do in life, even if that does not make me a traditional “success” in life.
4. My parents are always encouraging and supportive and I thank God everyday for that.
MADtv – Teens and STDs
One in 10 teens tested positive for an STD. That means sexually transmitted diseases. I have asked 9 other people, including myself,and none of us has it. I’m not saying you absolutely have it, but statistically speaking, you probably do.
From Dottie of Fashion Nation!
My friend is selling a pair of SQ tickets to Taiwan for $878, with insurance included. I feel like getting them, mehhh.
Spooktacular Part 1!
“Anna, you look super scary!”
That line sums up my Halloween. But yayyy! I succeeded in my mission to be … terrifying. Unlike past Halloweens, I wanted to be scary this year. A dead cop, hence the makeup. Enjoy the pics : )
Randoms.
1. Remember the nude corset dress I bought from Asos? Well, it was too big and I had to alter it and after collecting today, it looks weird. I’d rather it be big than weird. Sighs. Very expensive somemore, super depressing. Lesson learnt – Don’t buy tight/fitted clothes online.
2. The blood that I made for Halloween contains red dye and… it’s still staining my neck and arm. I look like a weirdo with red stains on half of her body.
3. I don’t like it when people says “you got me there“. It just gets me. Ha ha ha.
4. I don’t like crying babies/kids. But what I dislike more… is mothers who don’t care about their crying babies. Hello? 1) You’re their mothers, you have a responsibility for them. 2) You’re disrupting public commute. Bah.
5. “There is no elevator to success. You need to take the stairs.” Urm, this is so NOT true. Some people have all the luck. Bitch.
6. The thing about relinquishing control… you never know when you are going to lose it.
7.With Finance, it’s a constant paper chase and upping your academic qualifications. A little disgruntled at CFA-studying.
8. If you read until here, you must be very interested in me.
Swollen Eye
Before I post pictures of Halloween, let me show you something potentially more scary than urm… the night itself. MY EYES ARE SWOLLEN! Damnit.
Rawrrrs.
Discombobulated.
I’m getting increasingly irritated and unhappy at certain matters. Pissing me off badly but yet I can’t do or say anything. I’m like a fuse waiting to snap; a volcano of mishmash negativity slowly building up towards a violent eruption. I’m getting crazy and I can feel it.
