Suddenly I’m an Onion

About a month ago, I was chillin’ out at the beach, wearing tank-tops, shorts and flip-flops all day, riding the motorbike and enjoying the life in Bali.

After 3 very long plane rides, and at least two to three weeks of adjustment to my new environment, I’ve now realized that I’ve become an onion. Getting ready in the morning used to be so easy… Now, everything is 3 times as long, cuz I have so many layers. First there’s the Mammy Poko (ok, they’re called Pampers or Huggies here, but I still call them Mammy Poko), then the leggings and long sleeve shirt, then a polar fleece and an extra pair of pants on top of that, then on the feet there are the socks or UGG boots, which my mom wishes were hers!

UGG Boots - Indoors Only...Mom is so jealous!

All this is so that we can stay indoors, can you believe it!

Then when we go out, I have to wear a scarf, a tuque, my winter coat, mittens and let’s not forget the boots! This is when my parents are too lazy to put on my snowpants, on milder days only!!

 

When we come home, it’s time to peel each of these layers off, one by one….Hey, at least I don’t make you cry like an onion would…well, maybe I should I ask mom & dad, what they think about that?

PS. Big Thanks to Aunties Sas & Kaz for the UGGs and keeping me fashionable even while indoors…and don’t worry I won’t wear them outdoors, cuz you told me that is so NOT Cool!. And Thanks to Auntie M for the Snowsuit which keeps me warm and still looking cute, although a bit like an Astronaut from Outer Space…But heck, when it’s that cold outside, you don’t really worry about your looks anymore!

Look of the Day – Classy Girl

Sometimes you just gotta go out with Style, or in my case just find something to wear that is not dirty or that’s already at the laundromat…In this heat, I tend to change clothes 2-3 times a day, so my limited wardrobe gets used up pretty quickly.

As a pick-me-upper, I went for a dress in traditional patterns (don’t know why but it reminds me of Greek or Russian patterns? But I don’t really have a clue, I’m obviously no expert in the matter). Then to boost the Glam-factor, I took out mom’s Jackie O sunglasses. Although still a little too big for me, they instantly bring this outfit up a notch. Now, if only I can get them to stay on my nose…

All dressed up!

If only I could look as chic as Jackie

Oh, and just wait til I’m ready to wear high-heels then I’ll be smokin’. For now, my comfy sandals will have to do!

The other advantage to this dress, besides being all classy & girly, is that with the colourful patterns, I reduce the risk of getting hit by the crazy motorbikers here in Bali!

Look of the day – Hip-Hop Cool

I’m not so much into the girly-girl look, but on occasion I like to dress up and make myself feel ‘Nice’…

Today was NOT one of those days…I felt like being comfy to run around, and not worry about dirtying my clothes. Well I don’t really worry about that cuz I don’t do my own laundry! Besides, I normally change my look about 3 times a day, not just cuz I feel like it but mainly out of necessity! With all my activities, my clothes just get dirty, and since I still haven’t perfected eating with utensils, well meal time is pretty rough on my outfits. Besides, with the crazy heat, it doesn’t take long before my B.O. becomes absorbed in the clothes…Ok, sorry for the ‘nasty’ info, but that’s just a fact a life when you live in a VERY Hot spot such as Bali…

My everyday look is more tom-boyish, sorta like Ami who helps me pick out my outfits. Today, I added a little hip-hop feel with my accessories, the tie-Cami and the Furr-y sandals! You must be asking why would I wear long-sleeves in this heat, but when you’re riding the motorbike under sun, you do need long sleeves to protect your skin. When we first arrived in Bali, we found it absurd to see all the locals with jackets, long pants, gloves and socks but after 20 mins on the bike, we GOT IT…well, my parents got it, and ever since I’ve been riding with long sleeves. It’s a bit hot, but hey when you have a cute Red Cami with a little bling on the side, it just ups the Glam-factor to your look.

I must admit that the furry sandals were a bit hot today, but somtimes you gotta pay to look good and they’re just so fun and cozy!

Please observe the Camouflage shorts – These are a MUST-HAVE in Bali, well if you want to look like a local. They ALL have a pair, young, old, boy or girl – you gotta have a pair. Mine stand out a bit cuz they’re pink.

My Beep-beep Tank top is just nice and comfy, and great for muggy days cuz it’s so light.

Finally, to bring a little feminine touch to this look, my hair was tied in two little side buns…and it helps keep me fresh so that my hair doesn’t stick to my sticky neck. Now, as I practice my dance moves, I’m just about ready to perform to a NappyTab’s choreography on “So You Think You Can Dance”….If only were taller so I could dance with Twitch, I wish!

Hip Hop Look!

Please don't stop the music!

On Location: Dancing to Lady Ga Ga Tunes at home – Rah Rah Ah Ah Ah

How to get the Look:
Beep-Beep Tank Top: Local Brand (Hypermart – Galleria Mall)
Camo Shorts: Zacasha (Jl. Kunti, Seminyak)
Tie-Camisole: Guess (Batik Boutique in Denpasar)
Sandals: Unknown brand bought at Local market (Negara)
Hair: Two side buns à la princess Leia

Look of the day – Wrap dress

When packing for a nice beach vacation, be sure to include a simple Wrap Dress. Ideally, opt for wrinkle-free fabric and vibrant colors to celebrate the sunny days. For a more feminine hour glass silhouette, tie the belt ribbon a little tighter and for a more dressed-up look, add a nice glittery belt. I went for a looser look to keep my Sumo belly well hidden…

Wrap Dress for easy summer days

Hassle-free in the morning as you get ready to head to the beach, and easily removed to hit the waves. If you want to minimize the water marks from your wet bikini after playing in the waves, then choose a fast-drying material and darker fabric!

Getting ready to hit the waves

On Location: Legian Beach, Bali

How to get the Look:
Pink Wrap Dress: Mexx (Imported from Canada)
Sandals: Unknown brand bought at Local market (Pasar Taman Sari – Kerobokan)
Hair: Wind swept at the beach!

Look of the Day

Despite the heat in Bali, a girl’s always gotta look good, whether it be at the beach making sand-castles, chillin’ out at home or just riding on the motorbike, with the cool wind in my hair 🙂

For those who’ve never been to Bali, I would like to introduce you to the infamous ‘Bintang’ tank-top! The vacationing Aussies are the ones that sport these popular Singlets the most, and we’re not just talking about the boys. The girls wear them too…

How can you blame them – They’re comfy, they’re available in many different colours and they can be worn in several ways to create a special look, depending on your mood of the day. And of course, they promote the local beer, which apparently is the most ‘affordable’ drink here. I wouldn’t really know since I am quite content to stick to my milk and the occasional smoothie! However, with the crazy amounts of empty Bintang bottles and cans I see, I wonder if it wouldn’t just come up to the same or even cheaper to take 2-3 ‘fancier’ drinks…but then, it may not be as fun? Maybe one day, I’ll understand…

Although, the Bintang tanks have been associated to a slightly ‘un-cool’ factor (just imagine a bunch of 10 loud Bintang tank-top-clad dudes and dudettes, who have just finished an equivalent amount of Bintang beers EACH and who are ready to PART-Y, and to cause some trouble!) Let’s just say, you wouldn’t automatically stack this piece with the fashion-chic items in your wardrobe…

I love my Bintang tank-tops and here are two simple ways to Up the ‘Cool’ factor to make them more Stylish:
1- Get a longer version and wear it as a dress – It’s best when it hits mid-thigh for a mini-dress to show off those sun-tanned legs…I’m still growing into mine. I would also recommend a thin belt to accentuate the waist (for those who don’t have a Sumo-belly like me)

2- Get a loose version (like the one that can be worn as a dress), and tie it at the hip, and wear over some ‘tight’ shorts – Makes the look a bit girly with the knot on the hip, but still tom boy cool to be able to run to the beach and brings back a bit of the 80s.
Note: the locals also wear Bintang tank-tops (mostly the boys) over Camo-shorts…Camo seems to be very popular here!

How to get the Look:
Bintang TankTop: Sold at souvenir shops in Legian & Kuta or Oleh-Oleh’s on Jl. Sunset Road
Camo Shorts: Zacasha on Jl. Kunti, Seminyak
Hair: Natural – ‘Just went Surfing look’

Shopping – Cool Clothes at Dandelion :)

So we’re heading to Perth soon, and it is the middle of winter there. The surfer girl in me has gotten so used to the sun and waves in Bali that I really don’t know how I will adapt to the ‘cool’ climate of West Australia…Brrrrr! Just the thought gives me shivers.

In preparation for the trip, mom brought me on a shopping spree to get equipped with some long sleeves and pants at Dandelion. It’s a cool kids clothing store with great designs and quaity fabrics. A girl’s still gotta look good while staying warm…

Unfortunately, in terms of footwear I’m quite limited so my look will not exactly be complete. Normally, I’m not the type who goes for the sock with sandals look (for me it’s a fashion faux-pas!). But, I’ve been told that it’s dipping down close to 0 degree celsius in Perth recently, so I’ll have no choice to sacrifice my style for function – gotta keep my tiny feet warm! Especially if I want to feel the sand between my toes when I get back to Bali…

Perhaps, mom will bring me shoe shopping before the trip!! If that happens, then I’m definitely going to try on a pair of high-heel booties so I can get more height. But also, it’ll probably be more comfortable than walking on my tippy-toes, as I have been doing for the last few weeks…

http://dandelionkid.com/

Jl. Raya Basangkasa no.28, Seminyak Bali
Tel: +62 361 730 375

Galeria Matahari – WooHoo! Finally some shopping

February 9th – Finally, time to go shopping! I am a girl afterall, so it was time for me to check out the fashion seen here in Bali. It was also becoming a necessity as my clothes are starting to get a little snug. I’m growing pretty much in every which way. Although I thought that the tight-fitting, belly-bearing Britney Spears looks was still in, Mom, and especially Dad, do not approve of my sexy look!

So, off to Galeria Matahari we went for some shopping. The timing was perfect, cuz I got to skip morning nap-time…hee hee 🙂 Mom was fooling herself when she thought that I would actually fall asleep in my stroller at the mall!

It took us a while to find a ‘Blue Bird’ taxi. Gotta swear by this taxi group, cuz they have a fixed rate that they advertise. Look out for the Blue Bird logo when hailing a cab. Beware there are other taxi groups out there that have blue birds as their logos, but they’re not the ‘real’ ones. The legit Blue Bird vehicles are generally blue as well…

The taxi ride was fun, but we quickly got stuck in traffic. There are motorbikes everywhere, and they ride without fear. They just zig zag between the cars, as they please…even when there’s only a few centimeters between their toes and the car beside them. Crazy!

When we arrived, I saw a whole row of my favourite Chinese Lanterns…We have one at home, but there were hundreds of them here – Wow! Probably to celebrate Chinese New Year which just passed on Feb 3rd.

The Bali Galeria Shopping Mall is quite big, and looks quite luxurious from the outside. There are many brand name shops, a duty free shop, a Planet Holywood and the Matahari department store, which was our first stop.

Mom searched through a whole slew of girly clothes and found some cute outfits – Nothing too fancy. I needed long-sleeves and long pants for bedtime cuz it gets kinda cool with the A/C. Then, mom fell on the ‘Frog Pants’!! They’re like weird ‘Diaper Shorts’ which, translated literally from Bahasa are ‘Frog Pants’. Mom was rolling on the floor of laughter when she saw these, but apparently they’re quite common here. Thank god, mom has better fashion sense than to buy me a pair of these…Phew! I’m sure if Baby-Vogue magazine existed, this would definitely not make the hot trends list…but what do I really know about fashion anyways! Besides, my sumo-thighs would never fit into these!

To top off my look, we picked up a few barrettes and elastics for my ever-growing hair (red and pink, of course!)

The cashier thought mom was Indonesian and spoke to her in Bahasa. Looks like we’re settling in quite well, since more and more people think we’re Indo.

We didn’t get the chance to go through even half the mall and it was already time to leave. It was almost lunch time so we had to head back home. We were lucky to spend that hot muggy morning at the air-conditioned mall, cuz we later learned that there was no electricity at home (seems to be a problem we face about once or twice a week around here).

The escalators have no steps. Whoever is holding my stroller better have a good grasp, otherwise I’ll go rolling down…

Looks like I’ll have to come back to the Bali Galeria mall to check out the other cool stores and see what the latest trends in Bali are…I have a feeling it won’t be too long. One of my new outfits is already too snug and it’s the first time I’m wearing it. Mom seems to be under-estimating the speed at which I’m growing, or perhaps she’s looking for an excuse to come back to the mall 🙂

For more info on Bali Galeria Shopping World, check out their website:

http://baliwww.com/bsg/bali_galeria.htm