I’m sorry my blog has been quiet of late. Reality has hit – J has only two weeks left in Singapore before he moves back to the US for good. I’m visiting in the summer, of course, but suddenly, I’m a basketcase of emotions, a lot of which I can’t seem to handle.

I’m scared of a lot of things, mostly, of how unbearable it’ll be to miss him. Everything I love, I’ve shared with him; with him not being here, the memory of him will haunt the places, the routes, everything that I find dear. Everything will remind me of him. Everything – how much he loves a certain dress on me, or an annoying remark about my accessories. Every time I was one of the many TV shows I watch, I’ll hear his comments in my head. Every time I say something I always say, I’ll hear his head in my voice imitating me. Everything.

For now, I’m sad, I’m scared, and I’m just staying afloat to breathe.

You know in old American TV shows, people talk about checking out the latest Sears catalogue because their house is too far in surburbia that there isn’t a Sears within reach? I’ve turned into one of those people – except instead of being in surburbia, I’m in Bedok; instead of being a farmer in America, I’m a media mogul-wannabe whipping up social media campaigns and travel articles from the sweet comforts of my bed, and instead of catalogues, it’s the internet and instead of Sears, it’s ASOS, Victoria’s Secret, Gilt Groupe, Agent Provocateur, Reebonz, and most recently – Kwerkee.

Kwerkee, as its name suggests, brings you quirky products at a discounted price for a limited amount of time only. Think of it as your source to aesthetics-driven products from watches to furniture and even to whimsical brollys, a sale they actually have going on right now!

Membership is free, and they offer daily design sauce for products that are hard to get and at a wicked discount, some up to 70 percent!

The good people at Kwerkee sent me [to my mother's delight] a bright lime green KitchenAid’s Porcelain Enamel Tea Kettle, which is a sale that’s coming up really soon! Their packaging brings a grin on your face instantly:

Get hooked on Kwerkee via their various web and social media channels: Web / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest.

P.S.: The Pinocchio Glass Holder they have on sale right now cracks me up!

P.P.S: It gets better – they ship to Singapore, Malaysia, Australia & Hongkong for free!

J graduated yesterday with a Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. I’m so, so proud of him.

Here’s to the next chapter of our lives.

[Look at me! I'm starting to wear heels again, even though it's my shitty 3-inch Nine West heels!]

Zoie’s mommy went all out this year for her birthday with kickass cake and pizza at Picotin, complimented with pony rides for the kiddos and Prosecco for the adults minding the kiddos. I arrived about two hours late, after a meeting that was unnecessarily long [I can't stand when meetings don't have agendas - I'm not there to socialise!]  with my brother and the biggest balloon I’ve ever bought. Let my Instagram photos do the talkin’. Look me up on Instagram via my username: fazabdulgaffa

For more Zoie-related shenanigans, look up the #stuffzoiesays hashtag on Twitter. The kid is funny!

Mom and me, in the late 80s.

My mother doesn’t go to the doctor when she’s ill. She’s terrified of doctors. She panics when she knows I’m trying to smuggle gum through the Causeway into Singapore. She gets terrified every single time I board a plane for a trip alone, and heaven only knows how many times I’ve travelled by myself. She fears for my and my brother’s safety when we decide to jump off cliffs, jump off planes, and the many ridiculous things we do that we never tell her what we do until after it’s all over.

My mother is probably one of the meekest people I know. She’s the complete opposite of what I am. She’s patient, she’s quiet and she’d rather kick back and turn the other way instead of proving herself right.

And yet, five years ago when my father was told his kidneys had failed, my mother, without a second thought, donated hers. And for that reason, and the many other reasons that I discover on a daily basis [including being brave enough to still be my mom], my mother is the most fearless person I know. And I would be so blessed to even be half the woman she is.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. Love you heaps.

It was near-impossible for me to get up this morning. The lower-than-usual temperature and the soft winds lulled me to sleep every time I tried to fight it, and when time came for me to submit to reality, I wasn’t really looking forward to picking an outfit out of the abyss that is my wardrobe.

I threw on myspringfling’s latest piece, The Winds Will Carry You Pussybow Dress. It’s a bit boho, and a bit prissy princessy, with the pussybow details. It’s my favourite to-go dress since the lovely folks at myspringfling sent it to me, and I’m not just saying it – I love the incredibly comfy lining, I love that it makes me feel less fat on ultra fat days, and most of all, I’m surprised at how much I’m loving how the shade of brick red looks on me!

If there’s one thing you can count on on thedramadiaries, you know I will never write about something I don’t like. I’ve sold out enough for my job, I don’t need to when it comes to my blog. ;o)

The Winds Will Carry You Dress may be sold out on myspringfling, but get on their Facebook to find out what’s coming.

Keep Your Friends Close…

I am a strong believer of surrounding yourself with people who have a positive influence on you, and because of this belief [and probably because of the self-fulfilling prophecy], I like to believe that the most important people in my life now are individuals who have, and will help me be my best self.

If you count yourself just as lucky and blessed as I am, then good for you! It would come as no surprise though, that someone who may have been a good friend before, has turned into a less-than-positive influence on your life; whether she’s been influenced with another group of friends that has turned her into a designer whore so much so that she’s racking up credit card debt, or she’s putting you down for how you look, or generally, making you feel crummy when that’s not what friends are supposed to do.

Sometimes, even though you want to hold on, you need to get rid of the toxic people in your life.

But how do you quit a “friendship” gracefully?

There are two ways, and it depends on how much respect you have for the person and how close you have been. The simplest way is just to turn down invitations whenever the person offers. Don’t offer an explanation to why you can’t attend, and wish them the best of time. Don’t agree to rescheduling if you’re never going to.

If you have more respect for the person and you think she or he deserves an explanation, you should talk to ‘em, as intimidating as it might sound. Tell them that you care about them, but because of where you are in your life, your belief system, or their treatment of you, you think it’s best they give you some space. If she or he is someone who respects you, even if they can’t comprehend the situation at the moment, she or he would respect your decision and let you be.

You should also know that…

when you’re about to start any relationship, it’s important how you present yourself, whether it is to current friends, or people who might be potential friends. Even if you’re unsure of yourself around this person or group of people, you should not morph into someone you’re not.

Don’t agree to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Don’t state an opinion that will gain your friend’s support if it really isn’t something you believe it.

Standing behind your words and what you believe in makes it clear who you are, right from the very beginning, so it makes it easier for you to suss out which ones will accept you for you are, and those who you’d you bid farewell to at the party and never see again.

I have so much love for this skirt. It’s all the ridiculous awesomeness in the world [next to my Pepito, of course. Pepito is awesomely ridiculous] mushed into one skirt: black on white polka dots, white on black polka dots and bananas. Bananas! All around on my booty too.

Blue pinstriped shirt by Uniqlo; Bananas and polka dots skirt by Fairground off ASOS; Neon tassel earrings by H&M. Neon yellow bra, in case you noticed, by Victoria’s Secret.

While I’ve known of many local designers for a while now, a lot of them either don’t make clothes that’ll fit me, or they don’t make practical clothes [by that I mean drapey-drapey, don't-know-where-anything-goes fashion students or art directors wear] or they’re way over my budget.

The last couple of weeks, I’ve picked up five pieces from local labels: a pair of earrings from Saught off ERIIN, a pair of earrings and a dress from Hansel, and two dresses from ELOHIM BY SABRINAGOH. This season, Sabrina Goh has launched a diffusion line, Light by SabrinaGoh which features highly wearable jersey casual wear that retails from $39 to $99.

Andrea actually told me about the line, and I popped by the store over the weekend, and to my delight, they had gorgeous pops of colour all over the place!

Wearing: LIGHT by SABRINAGOH dress, Zara bag, Icecreamcandy sandals.

These have got to be my second favourite jewellery purchase all year, after my Valentine’s Arty ring. Kueh Lapis earrings by Hansel! Isn’t it adorable?!

Who are your favourite local designers?