Sunday, January 22, 2017

Sloth Squad: Save time with V Bot

Hello little one, who are you? You are such a blessing. You are helping me to clean up after myself. 
vbot
They don't call me a sloth for nothing. So for busy adults and lazy students out there, you might want to read on. Yes, I am sure by now the technology is not unheard of - the robot vacuum cleaner. But you know how expensive it can be.
So today, I thought I will share with you an affordable robotic vacuum cleaner - VBot. VBot is not from China but a product of Taiwan (For people who are bias against Chinese goods). The only drawback I felt was that if you can't read Chinese, you may face a little bit of problems fixing the parts.
v-bot
My mandarin is also on the rusting side (I can't read traditional Mandarin too) but the pictures provided in the handbook does work pretty well. The fixing process was pretty effortless. I won't call it 100% intuitive, still I won't consider the task to be "Mission Impossible". The only trouble I had was whether to remove the plastic around the battery. FYI, you are not supposed to remove it!
The family, particularly my brother was very curious about this new friend. So here's a video of us testing it. We decided to experiment it in my brother's room because it is smaller and has less obstacles. My notes are still scattered around my room so it is probably not a good testing ground. (P.S Botty - that's out VBot name by the way, was tangled in some wires while cleaning up. So take note, you still have to clear your scattered papers around the floor. It is not that automated!)


Even though this isn't the latest technology, it is not very noisy. In fact it is like a little pet, it was kinda of cute watching it bump its way around the house. It doesn't really collide into the walls and furniture with a a great force so no worries about any damage to the house. 
Another feature I liked about it was how light it was. I don't have much arm muscles so I am glad Botty is easy to carry around (It can be even shared among your fellow dormers). My only grouse is that when the battery is flat, it can't automatically go home to the charging point. But apart from this, V-Bot brings about GREAT convenience. (Yes, I found it necessary to emphasize the greatness of it.) Compared to traditional cleaning methods, there is really nothing stopping you from growing fond of (and reliant on) it.

before-after
My Mum claimed that my Brother's room was the cleanest only with some flaking skin. (Is he a python or something? Why is he shedding skin?!?) But look how much dirt Botty ate up! I guess we can conclude that even though VBot is cheap, it still does what it is supposed to do :D
Unless you are a high flying executive, VBot is quite a viable option for people who are looking for some cost savings and cash-strapped students. :D Can you imagine how much precious time you can be saving. Though I doubt those saved time will be used on revision, I bet we could spend it rolling in bed :P And it is even light enough for you to bring on exchange :P

Here's a promotional video I found online to let you know the functions of Vbot better. The cheapest Vbot that I found is at AMK Online Store. There is this advert near my house that keeps claiming they are the cheapest at $168 (without warranty). Hello, AMK Online Store sells it only at $129 with ready stock and lots of colour selection. 
I do have my worries that what you pay is what you get, but those worries were pretty much unfounded. Now that it is during Spring Cleaning, I am kinda secretly relieved we have Vbot cos it makes tidying a lot easier. Mum is nagging at me less. And on a daily basis, it dutifully keeps the house spick and span. Vbot: Sloth Squad Approved!

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Bracing for CNY with Pretty Sweet Beads

Since CNY was around the corner, I thought it was pretty apt to talk about accessories and the looks that would go with it.
pretty-sweet-beads
So here are 3 types of bracelets from Pretty Sweet Beads. It came nicely wrapped in those protective layer with a bow and I thought it look really pretty. Better than wrapping paper. I guess a ribbon does makes things look nicer. Hehe.
There are 3 bracelets which i would re-name them separately for easy remembrance. From right, we have: Patriotic Red and White, Candy Colours, Pandora Silver. They are all stretchy bracelets by the way. Fat liao also can wear :D
pretty-sweet-beads
Initially, I felt this could be pretty tacky. OMG red and white, that's totally like our national flag la. But I guess it is because the beads are of very decent quality so the whole look was uplifted. (It's not made of cheap plastic by the way.) When you have overly, solid bold colour, you would be quite worried it might look old and retro. But I think look pretty cute.
This is also my CNY look for this year by the way. I think it looks pretty cute. I am in my Mum's old skirt and a fluffy top (got it at $10 at a sale when I was skinny). I don't think I could have fitted in comfortably last few years, but this time round, I managed to squeeze in. :D #SlimDownSuccess
pretty-sweet-beads
My mum said this looks childish. So I decided to challenge myself to "smarten" it up. I guess a Little Black Dress can naturally make anything classy. When paired with a LBD, the pastel coloured bracelet provided a refreshing pop of colour. Kiddish? I don't think so.
So don't be afraid of pastel colours. Just because you look feminine doesn't make you weaker or less mature in any sense. Haha, but even though I say this, I have barely any pastel work clothes apart from peach. But colourful bracelets, I can live with them. I am after all a My Little Pony Fanatic. Hee-Haw.
pretty-sweet-beads
This piece is definitely a classy piece and I can totally imagine it going very well with my Little Black Dress. But there is no fun matching a look which I am pretty certain it would work. So I wondered if it would look as good if I wore with it my casual going out clothes.
So without even any effort to dress well, I put on my bracelet. Ok leh, even with a simple tee and a normal pair of shorts, I think I don't look too shabby. But I have to say an accessory does make it look that a person put some thought into dressing. Haha. 
(Un)Fortunately, these 3 pieces are still available on Pretty Sweet Beads. I don't really want to be twinning!!! Haha, but there are a lot of other variations. And you can make slight customisations. I think I will do a pastel look next. Very unlike me, but I will try. So keep a look out for it!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Art Stage Singapore 2017

art-stage-singapore
I was pretty lucky and received Media Invites to the Art Stage Singapore. So this is basically like a consolidated art exhibition consisting of pieces of up and coming artists across the world, but mostly Asia. I am really not into the art scene so I am really unfamiliar with all the names. I hope I didn't offend any Art Masters.
I am just there to appreciate art a little more and hopefully trigger some artistic cells in my brain. Haha. In fact, I got a headache after walking round and round the hall. The BF commented "But you are only just looking, how is it possible you overwork your right brain already?!?"
art-stage
There are like bizillion pieces of art work. It was literally a maze, but a very beautiful one. Here are some pieces that caught my eye. I was looking though the photos I took that day and I realised I like either geometrical shapes or an absolute colourful mess.
I also prefer artists with recurring style/theme then diversification. I am not particular about the art medium but I personally don't find much investment value in prints. It just seems so easily replicable. This sounds like a very boring reflection, but I do feel that I seemed have gain a deeper understanding of myself, my own likes and dislikes.
art-stage-2016
I won't say I am much of a person who place a lot of value in art. However my view is slowly moving towards the fact art does have a place in the society. I don't usually take too much notice of the little details because who really has time for it right? But I guess sometimes I miss the intricate little details that form the big picture. They may not mean much but at least we should still acknowledge the fact that they have a contribution to the overall beauty of the art. 
Did sound a little bit I was going to make it an analogy of people management. I could but I won't. For a person who was rather loss in all the creativity, I was in awe even by the littlest thing. Carvings and even like new art textures just fascinated me.
art-stage
To show you the magnitude of the exhibition, these are the photos of the other art pieces I took. There are basically all form of art mediums and you can even see serious art buyers. There was this guy whom like bought 2 from a gallery and even asked for more of the artist work.
And one surprising thing was that a lot of the art investors dress in the simplest attire. Haha, look like the uncle at the coffee shop but probably a lot more loaded. But, they are very meticulous about their investment. I saw one making the curators walk up and down the galleries to find the perfect lighting. Like LOL?!? But of course, considering it is a few thousand dollars at stake, it is best to be prudent.
Instagram Art
On a more light-hearted note, you will be happy to know there are lots of instagram-worthy installation. Some of you may feel that it is disrespectful to the artist, but my take is that for the value of a piece to go up, there must be demand. And for this demand to exist, there need to be at least some basic awareness of its existence.
So share them all, baby. I am sure the artists would thank us when he has more funds to work on more pieces. I didn't take many selfies, but I saw people around me doing it. I guess everyone just wanna have a piece of the art or be a piece with the art. Haha. 
this-is-art
Just to clarify, not all art pieces are sophisticated there. There were those that made you scratch your head and go "Please, even I can do this" "Walao, is this even considered an art deserving exhibition space!!!" "I am pretty sure a 3 year kid can do better than this." 
And oops as a budding art appreciator, I accidentally contempt the exhibition with 3 exhausted yawns. Really quite a lot of art for the day. Hehe. Even my feet was tired from all the brisk walking. We arrived pretty late so we only had less than 2 hours to finish the whole convention hall!
art-stage-2016
This also brings me to the point that beauty truly lies in the eyes of the beholder. These are my BF favourite pieces which have quite a lot variations from mine.  Haha, the BF taste is more plain and simple. He also seems to have a thing for symbolic art.
We do share a few likes cos geometrical shapes are pretty simple in design. And so, I am trying to tell myself not to cast judging eyes on the pieces because somebody out there probably loves what I hate or dislike.
img_3081
Plus art is to evoke reactions and strong emotions. And pieces like this are probably trying to bring out erections too. Maybe it is just me, I don't seem to like art which contains nudity or sexual innuendo. "I am like why bring sex into holy art, it is a taboo don't you know?!?"
For someone who prides on her open-mindedness, I am still rather unaccepting on this. Hmm.... I also found out that I didn't like eerie art. We caught sight of a sculptures of 2 new-borns which many people were gushing over because it was so realistic. You could even see its veins. But I just found it really creepy. :(
art-stage
Here are some pieces that we might see in the streets of Singapore. I think we have already seen similar pieces scattering around our tiny island already. The men in poses look a little like those I saw in Buona Vista. Maybe, we are truly becoming a (Sm)Art Nation. Haha. Clap to myself for bad punny jokes.
But yea, I love the pumpkins. I mean I wouldn't mine seeing more art pieces around. Art is usually one of the symbols boasting of a country's affluence. And I do like seeing beauty everywhere. :D
eyes-closed-eyes-opened
This has been a very heavy and long post. Shall not overwhelm you lest you contempt me with yawns too. Just one last short story before I end. I went back to the exhibition which the man that I spoke earlier bought 2 pieces from. And so I wondered what is so special. And I targeted this unassuming rock to prove my point that the man must have been blinded.
In my heart, I was like thinking this could totally blend in my garden and no one would have any clue it is worth S$8,000. I bet my Dad would even slap me silly if I bought anything like this home. And so, I peeped into the hole and was surprised to see myself staring right back at me. The piece is named "Eyes Closed. Eyes Opened" by the way. And true to its name, I have been enlightened. New price awarded: Priceless.