1) Who’s That Chick? - Rihanna

2) Psychobabble - Frou Frou

3) Art House Director - Broken Social Scene

4) Science of Fear - Temper Trap

5) Marry the Night - Lady Gaga (I’M A WARRIOR QUEEN LIVE PASSIONATELY TONIGHTTTT)

6) Black Coffee - All Saints

7) Don’t Blame Yourself - Andrew Belle (a possible nod to Aaron *cough*)

8) Pity and Fear - Death Cab for Cutie

9) Love on Top - Beyonce

10) Porcelain Heart - Nicola Roberts

Sorry assignments (and new tv shows) had me trapped last week!

Evidently since my parents are paying an obscene amount of money for me to go to school here, they think it’s important and I’ve been brought up in a culture where it’s necessary to share the same sentiment; to be on a paper chase since entering primary school; to be constantly reminded that, despite what the self-help books in the shoddy part of the library say, a degree is the most crucial asset if you want to survive in the non-design industries of Singapore. I say this with a tinge of bitterness because I actually do really want this degree (or I won’t have bothered coming here at all) but I hate that it’s a standard requirement back home.

Also one last thing I hate about Singapore education: everyone says it’s okay to get a B or a C but you know they’re lying to your face because they’re relieved you didn’t get the A. People want As all the time and I know this since I will never settle for less than an A. I know it’s a very Singaporean mindset and it’s one that might eventually kill me ._. Still, it is the most glorious feeling to get your grades back and see an A scribbled on the edge of the paper. So AZN lor but w/e, bitches better recognize there is a brilliant mind underneath all these oppressive layers of hijab LOL

Boo, this is no fun to do during Ramadhan because I often eat very little.

But anyway:

• A plate of fried macaroni
• Grilled Lebanese sausage (no sex jokes plx) with Turkish bread
• 2 spoonfuls of Nutella
• 1 scoop Cadbury Crunchie ice cream (best honeycomb ice cream ever)

What I really wished I ate:

1. HAIR ON THE BATHROOM TILES. HAIR ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. HAIR ON MY FRICKIN’ CARPET. I guess this only applies to _______. I love her but girl just has terrible, terrible hair that drops everywhere. And she doesn’t bother to pick them up and throw em in the bin. I have to do it for her.

If you’re thinking “For f-’s sake Ilyana, it’s just HAIR, stop whining and sweep it away”, then you must be a guy or a very bald girl. Honey, a thousand strands of hair on your bathroom floor is the most disgusting sight (even if they’re your own). It’s almost like a horror movie’s come to life; you have to step on it while you brush your teeth and some of it coils around your toes. I don’t need to tell you how great that feels.

2. When non-designers tell me, “Why does your website look so simple?”. Do you know how much time and pixels went into making this website? Do you know how many forking layers of beautifully balanced and manipulated graphics went into this simple background? Of course not, you aren’t anal. Therefore, you can never be a designer (I think 3 years of design school hell has entitled me to a certain level of arrogance to say this so psht).

3. “OMG! You take great photos, what camera do you use?!?!” I don’t hate people who ask me this question but I’m just waiting for someone to ask me instead, “Can you give me some tips on how to improve on my photography?”. People need to understand that getting an expensive camera doesn’t guarantee a good photo. If you don’t understand the (breakable) laws and basics of good photography, then not even a $2,500 DSLR can help you.

4. Being late. I’m usually tolerant of friends who can’t help being late e.g. missed a tram, woke up late bla bla - just as long as they give me a head’s up they’re going to be x minutes late. But for god’s sake, don’t do it all the time.

5. People who feel completely helpless when not in a relationship. Please grow a spine. Or read my blog for self-empowerment.

Dude, half of my shiz is mainstream LOL. I don’t understand why people get so anti-mainstream music sometimes. HELLO, all your indie bands will eventually become mainstream k so shut up and admit you cried listening to Adele.

Cos everyday I’m shufflin’

Dear Ex-boyfriend,

Our break-up has given me immeasurable joy and happiness. My only wish is that I didn’t have to go through 5 months of hell, crying and wondering if I hadn’t done this or said that, that we would still be together. But I suppose there is no shortcut to getting over someone you thought you’d spend your entire life with. I’m glad we made the mistake thinking we were right for each other; I was yours at 14, you were mine at 17 but time is not always a gentle river and by 20, you probably noticed I wasn’t the same person anymore. I didn’t apologise for changing then and I still won’t now. But if I could go back to the measure of time where you loved me once, I’d like to say I did love you too.

After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn…
That even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn,

With every good-bye you learn.

- Jorge Luis Borges