Of Enhancements and Injections

I haven't penned my thoughts down for awhile now. More often than not, if there isn't anything I particularly feel strongly about, I would refrain from blogging pictures of food that I have consumed or events I have attended. Too predictable. 

That being said, I often get asked about aesthetics and plastic surgery or the treatments that I do for my face. So i thought it quite an appropriate time to share about my experience with Trinity Medical Centre (Marine Parade). Prior to having my treatments done at Trinity, I had also done my fillers at other clinics locally and overseas. So i have had a fair share of experiences before finally settling on one clinic.

How you choose your clinic to begin with is essential in eventually determining how happy you end up with the results. And it is always a long term relationship that has to be built, how comfortable you are with the facilities, the products being used as well as the doctors in question.

I have been very fortunate to have met Dr. Lim and Dr. Kan who not only understand the structure of my face and bones but also continue to advance their knowledge and skill sets by traveling for conferences and seminars. I have also reached a point where when I step into Trinity and Dr. Lim tells me - today you don't have to do anything, your face is fine. I would rather such a doctor, instead of one that oversells to make the extra buck.

I have also taken a liking and familiarity to Restylane for my fillers and Dysport for my jaw areas and also for some areas around my eyes. Dysport is often seen as the competitor to Botox, and works on the format of relaxing muscles to decrease wrinkles or shrink the general area in question. You can google Botox vs Dysport and read more about it and check out http://www.restylane.com/singapore/ for more info!

Dr. Kan and Dr Lim had done fillers for me at my cheek and tear trough areas with Restylane. The effect is natural and it lasted longer than I expected. The injection was comfortable and I am very happy with the overall results.

To me, subtlety and natural are the keywords. Whatever that I do to my face, are done as enhancements that are very hardly noticeable. But more to define the shape of my face and reduce wrinkles.

I also do my Carbon Laser Peel to improve my complexion, to reduce pore size and smoothen my skin. And I love how it always makes my face feel super super clean and less oily after.
  
So all in all, the choice of clinic is crucial and the doctors are even more so important. One piece of advice would to also do your research on the products being used. It doesn't necessarily mean that the cheapest or the most expensive are the best. 

I recently just topped up my Dysport for my jaw area and after 3 weeks when it settles in, I always get comments of how my face is small or that i lost weight. =D I know it's going to last me for at least 6 months. However, according to Dr Lim, individual results may vary depends on the person eating habits (i.e like to eat chewing gum or munch on food) or whether she has teeth grinding in sleep (Bruxism). So if you are keen to have sharper features, my advice is always about minor enhancements for that very subtle differences and not drastic ones for the kill and if unsure, always do your research or speak to the doctors about it.
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I was shocked when I was prepping this post and did a comparison with my pictures. I would like to be as accurate on sharing that this is the results of 2 major things:

1. Exercise and working out 
2. My treatments with Restylane and Dysport over the 1 year duration 

As I have always said, and will repeatedly say that trust in the doctor is key and patience to achieve what you want to. Your face alters itself with each treatment so I always like to space it out, do a little, and never over do it. And of course with the guidance and advice of my doctors.

Time for me to sign off now! Will update again pretty soon, but for now, if anyone wants to ask me anything, shoot away and as best as I can, I would love to help! =)

Zouk- a part of me

I don't even know how to start. 

To finally embrace how this feels like - knowing that a place that means so much to me and I have come to call home, will potentially disappear, forever.

To say I am saddened, does little or practically no justice to how I actually feel. Not because I might potentially lose my job (that really is secondary at this point in time) but that I am essentially losing a part of myself. 

Just like 99% of 18 year olds in Singapore, I lost my virgin clubbing experience at Zouk, specifically at Phuture and Mambo Jambo: the Wednesday rite of passage.

It is where I discovered my love for Tequila shots, refined my taste for single malt whiskeys and celebrated every single birthday and Christmas and New Year's since I was 18. The place I was lost in love and fell in love, lost and found myself and where I have learnt the purest kindness and loyalty and also seen the worst sides of human nature. 

In May 2006, at the age of 23, fresh out of school, I joined the Zouk family. I have spent 8 years growing, learning, living and breathing Zouk. I am truly blessed, to not only enjoy what I do, but know that everyday I am inspired to take the brand to new heights. And I'm not saying this because it sounds great on a blog post dedicated to how i feel about Zouk or our pending expiring lease, but because if you know me, you know this is the truth. 

Zouk is possibly one of the most intriguing brands that exists today. Catered to the masses, yet still having a unique identity of its own. A club in itself, having world class DJs and musicians grace our decks and take on our stage, yet also having developed into a sub culture of its own. Part of the local fashion, design and creative communities, Zouk has taken music as the binding factor to bring together people and inspirations.

A home grown Singapore local brand, yet internationally known. 9 time award winner of the Singapore Tourism Board- Best Nightspot Experience Awards and top 7th club in the DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs in the World Poll. It isn't even about the accolades anymore, as I write this, I realize it is about how Zouk has touched each of our hearts and our lives.

Break ups, engagements, weddings, birthdays- how many of us have raised our glasses in each of these occasions at Zouk? Drowned our sorrows, laughed our joys and danced till our feet ached and our hearts rejoiced, all at Zouk? Let's not even start talking about ZoukOut- where below that one sky, we have danced under the stars and watched sunrise together with friends and loved ones and wished it was all a dream that we never had to wake up from. It's not even an exaggeration. And you know I am right.

I have always believed that in life, I was meant to inspire and that the people I meet know they matter, no matter at what level it might be- a friend, a working partner, a colleague. Zouk has enabled me to do just that. To share the music, the dance floor, the ideas and that many bottles of whisky over never ending conversations, life long partnerships and simple moments. 

I write this with a heart that is truly hurting. For a place that means so much to me. For the Zouk family that have become my very own family. Surely this can't be the end? Everyone says Jiak Kim Street is Zouk and Zouk is Jiak Kim Street. It's like peanut butter and jelly- it can't possibly be peanut butter and kaya right? It's just not right. 

If you had your first sour plum shot at Zouk or shared a jug of long island tea with your army mates in Phuture or downed the glass of Velvet Rope at Velvet with your girlfriends or cried in the corner at Wine Bar over a break up or danced on the TGIW console on a Wednesday dreading Thursday's work, then what next? 

We aren't just a club. That's the difference. Zouk belongs to everyone of us. 

www.save-zouk.com

#SaveZouk 

The Party Invaders

This post is dedicated to a bunch of the most dynamic & diverse, extremely special and uniquely awesome people who have changed my life since we crossed paths 6 months ago. It has been a hell of an insane, crazy yet life-changing 6 months for me. Thus, this post comes in timely.

It was also a time for me to reflect on how this all came about, how each individual contributed to what we are together, now today. I have always believed that people cross paths for a reason. Some stay a little longer to hang out, some just to say hi and scoot off and some to stay forever. But no matter what, each of us are here to inspire each other, to care for each other and to ultimately play a part in each others' lives, so that we become better people, we survive a little stronger and love a little more.
 
Hence, my deepest and most sincere thoughts to The Party Invaders.

Dearest TPI,

If I could, I would write each of you letters. For each of you share private and very precious moments with me. Our experiences intertwined have led us to today. So when you read this, remember our moments that make up the memories.

I cannot be more grateful for each of you. That from the beginning, it was for me that all 30 odd of you traveled to Bangkok to celebrate my turning 30. I have pondered this often over the course of the months since we've met and questioned why but instead now, I am simply happy because it is truly my blessing. For this, I thank you.

The efforts for all of us to stay in the same hotel, each meal we had together, the details for everything including having a cake specially made for me. Honestly, I doubt even super stars get this kind of treatment. Ok maybe they do, but they pay for it, for us, it's about rock solid genuine friendships. Special shout out to Cheryl here <3

 

To my 2 brothers who are also part of us, I must have done something right being the eldest sister. And honestly it wouldn't be the same without you guys. I've also come to realize that our friendships with each other since some of us only knew each other after meeting in March grew stronger over the months, our parties being the basis of it all.

But gradually, from party nights, it became suppers, sunday lunches, KTVs and birthdays. We all made it to everyone's birthdays. We were there at Zouk no matter what. And for my TGIW nights, every week without fail, TPI, though not in full force, were there to show support, to have a good time and to just be around. I never take such nights for granted, or the dedication as friends that each of you have shown. And I am deeply appreciative.

Some of the things we love the most and I have the fondest memories of- Curry Peng, Sake Jelly, Tequila shots, our videos... the list will keep growing. If you really think about it, we each have our favourite TPI moments. Hence, our youtube channel.

It is also true that no one parties like we do, no other group of friends. We are crazy, we are really the true party people. To the oldies, we started Tuesday sake nights and Thursday chill drinks, Sunday and Monday thai discos. Guys, we have seriously set the bar high. hahaha. Now when I think back on the intensity of it all, I am amazed at how we have pulled through with not having our livers failing.

 

Then something very strange happened. I realized that we became friends that could rely on each other. Remember the time when the kids started having exams, my house became a tuition house. That was the moment it hit me. The Party Invaders are legit. We aren't just superficial friends that drink, get fucked and the next day live our own lives. We are actually part of each others' lives.

Think about it. We have seen each other at our worst and our best. Just look at Dawn. How many times mabok. Joe- how many times cannot stand. Daryl, Joey, all toh before in Lounge on the sofa. Min- carried out from Zouk KL. Kalyn. Karl. Sophia. Vick scratching the dog. Judith. Karei. Tammy. Gwen. Sophia. Amanda (never really toh). Eric (does the work it dance). Trey, Chui, Ju-Anne & Eugene (never toh before) hahahahahah the list just goes on and on. YET, we always take care of each other and make sure that our group chat is us checking on each other.

What binds us together is more than just the endless party nights or the countless events we go for or the hundreds of pictures we take together, it is more than all these things. It's generosity and kindness. With Terry opening up his house to us, and I guess Joe getting us into Fenix when we need help, though I very much rather not write this here. It's also been about embracing differences. We all come from very different backgrounds, each with our own stories, pains and pasts, yet when we come together, it is varying levels of energies and experiences all mashed together and this is what makes us stand apart from other people.

We have been through an ice party, our very own Party Invaders Face-Off, Avicii, a KL trip and one more Bangkok trip together. And the many events we have gone together. And for me, being able to share each experience with all of you has been my honor. It's funny how things end up the way they are, but I'm glad that I have been able to give back to each of you in some way or another. I am thankful that the kids come to me for advice on life, school, love, etc. At least I know that I have am doing right by you guys. Thank you for the respect and the trust. You know who you are.

Sorry this is really lengthy. But it has been 6 months of love, drunkard nights and indulgence that I'm trying to squeeze into one post. We must also do another TPI Face Off really soon, since most of you guys weren't around the last time. Let it be more of a celebration of our friendships since most of you won't last if we really did a drinking face-off. HAHA.

So thank you for the memories. For being a constant reminder to me that we can party hard, and live life like to the fullest, that being 30 has only been a blessing with each of you around. That The Party Invaders is really about friendship, love and generosity. And that we never forget what we are about, no matter how drunk we get, no matter how far we drift from each other.


We will always be a groupchat away. Always looking out for each other.

Love mak mak. xoxo

This is what The Party Invaders is about. Good times and good friends. No special formula, just honesty, a lot of love, some tequila shots, occasional nice lunches and big hearts drizzled with Tuesday sake sessions and TGIW mayhem nights.

In life, that's all that we really need. Good food. Good drinks. Good friends.

Till the next time,
xx
Sof