DB Christmas Wishes

Sharing an image of the company "This is Me" Christmas tree.

The tree is "fuller" since this picture was taken - but it gives you an idea of what this awesomeness looks like.  Everyone was asked to design a frame that represented "me". It was really interesting to see how people saw themselves and expressed it through this frame.

We were supposed to get a real tree but this never happened for some reason. lol.

Sharing as well the electronic Christmas card we sent out to clients. An animation of the ever-growing DB tree, updated for our 25th anniversary this year! Click here por favor!

DB Naughty or Nice Christmas Shenanigans

About 1.5 months ago, management asked myself and 3 others to take ownership of the company Christmas party. 

It was a bit of a daunting task to put this together ontop of regular "end-of-the-year-mad-rush-to-finish-everything" work. We started out with grander plans - but due to time, commitment and budget, we trimmed it down and focused on making what we had the best it could possibly be. Why bother if it would come out half-assed right?

This project was really team-work with a capital T, and an awesome team at that!:

• 4 email teasers and printed invitation accomplished (throw back to my "copywriting" days, lol)
• SGD 900 raised for a charity (in lieu of usual Secret Santa)
• Lucky draw prizes collected (from rice cooker to travel vouchers to an ipod touch - none of which I won, hehe) & mechanics ironed out
• Theme approved that everyone seemed content with (ie: can be interpreted in which ever way to appease the "game" and the "not so game")
• Food and booze tested  (food was AMAZING)
• Venue secured (very much suited our company's quirk vibe - check it out here)
• Photo loop sorted
• Special cocktail concocted 
• Hosting hat dusted and shined 

Party was yesterday and I'm happy to share that the event was a smashing success! A huge sigh of relief & and accomplishment as all tastes and personalties were satisfied. 

Sharing an invite, our menu and snapshots of the night care of KC. 

FR w/ HI - our Xmas Elf!

Queen of Tarts  Hearts & Black Swan

Badboy BS & Angelic SJ

KC with TG (aka Jack Sparrow)

Minnie Mouse in the house

Boys from "The Hangover"

Immortalizing my outfit - as goodness knows when I'll ever wear it again!

AL - our glamour lump of coal

Bright coloured peeps

Ashton & Demi

DVD for Dummies!

Because I don't have cable, my recent obsession has been renting movies from my neighborhood DVD rental.

I remember thinking to myself every single time I had to remove a DVD from it's case: "why is this so hard to bloody remove from it's case".

I FINALLY figured it out when I saw "PUSH" in the center locking device of a DVD case. You don't yank out the DVD, you push the clamp so it loosens up and then you can pull it out! A total AHA moment. lol

Jusko. It couldn't be more obvious that my knowledge of DVDs (if any at all) is via bootleg copies. IE - CD inserted in crinkly plastic and paper sleeves!

On another note, neighborhood DVD rental. Retro huh? Reminds me of the time I was renting VCRs when I was dorming in college. Or when I would flip through laser disc rentals when going to the supermarket with my mom growing up.

Gingerbread Man

Tangled wires have always bugged me. Case in point? Earphones. 

Thought I solved my problem a few months ago when I started using velcro fasters. You know those things that come with Nokia phone chargers? Anyway, it was great at the start but it got old (and annoying) fast. For a number of reasons but mainly because I became too lazy to properly fold my earphones into a bundle. 

I've found a lovely alternative that will hopefully be both more effective and quicker. Found it in a bookstore filled with other wonderfully "essential" knick-knacks

Meet my gingerbread man. He looks dashing wrapped in earphone don't you think?

Nothing But Bokeh

We did an evening shoot to put into context the lesson about long exposures.

I couldn't leave the class without asking how to create an image with bokeh.

According to advancedphotography.net, bokeh: "is the photographing technique of aesthetically blurring the background; to exaggerate the effect of the lights shinning in the background/foreground."


As per my last work stint before moving though, bokeh is an effective tool for creating dynamic and contemporary visuals. Also known to drive work-mates so mad that random shreiking of "BOKEH!" can be expected.

Unfortunately, due to the lens limitations, I really can't do anything BUT an image full of bokeh (ie: hanggang wall paper lang ang dating) - but it's cool nonetheless ya?

Bokeh (and then some) images below! Dedicated to my bokeh buddies :)

Erasers

Immaculate, white, seemingly crisp edges.. yet.. bouncy! Getting the first few rubs out of these erasers are always so thrilling - I kid you not. I love Staedtler erasers!

Saturday Class

Recently started the intensive "photography for beginners" course I signed up for a few months ago.

It was highly recommended by D,  who said it was the best way to learn how to make the most of my camera's functions. Admittedly, photos shot on a DSLR's automatic mode still make the purchase worth it. But I'd only be cheating myself if I don't learn the1-2-3's of manual shooting, and allow myself more control over the outcome of my photos.

I still have to stop and have a real long think about what to do to what functions. This is especially annoying when you're immersed in an environment with so many great pictures to take and you can't take any of them yet! But fiddling around with settings is one of those things that can only get better the more you do it. I'm just glad that I'm finally getting it. I think. lol.

I have an obvious style that I'm comfortable with. Seeing the work of my classmates though, and chatting with my instructor has gotten me excited about pushing skill and how I see things through the camera.

Photos below are from our first guided shoot in Little India.

Itchy (Career) Feet

My ready and recent declaration to anyone who asked, was that I was sticking to this career path until I was sure I wanted to do something else.

Why you ask?

Well...

1. It's a good company; I enjoy the people and the environment
2. I like the work ENOUGH; it's challenging and I can see how I could grow in my field 
3. Admittedly, I feel I need to build knowledge and skills in an industry

I've spent enough time faffing about in a business which I know I want nothing to do with anymore. This industry that I'm in... has potential. The current focus of this particular company? Definitely not something for me in the long run (famous last words?), but yes, perhaps something in the industry. 

Maybe it's my upbringing, a mix of personality and school environment growing up. Heck, it could also be seasonal. But, I've been having one of those "out-of-body-I-want-world-peace" moments when I ask myself "what am I doing with my life /career to make this world a better place?". 

Yes yes, very Ms. Universe of me - but seriously, it's a question thats always simmering at the back of my mind. For sure the "right" answer hits me at different scales of grandness. One day I'm content thinking that being the best "sister/daughter/friend/"insert current career role" " is enough. Other days I feel it's not - that I need to be extending myself beyond my current circles of influence and making a bigger dent in this world. 

Given my current career climb plus the practical need to finally earn decently and fulfill financial obligations I've personally committed too - what the heck do I do with myself now?!

I know I know, I JUST got here. But life's too short right? For all I know, I'll stay put where I am. But hey, just thought I'd throw it out there.

In the meantime, sharing a photo taken downtown 2 weeks ago. The area was flooded with kids in blue and yellow handing out flower for "World Kindness Day". It was lovely seeing these flowers eagerly being passed out. Almost as lovely as seeing smiley happy people walking around with these yellow blooms sticking out from their bags, hands.. or even behind the ears.

Odd that sometimes the most obvious of things need to be commemorated. But hey, who am I kidding. I am all about celebrating the simplest of joys. 

A Silver Anniversary

DB celebrates it's 25th year this year.

With a "food & drinks trail" theme - each of the offices took a few days off to celebrate. London went to Padstow, Amsterdam went to Maastricht and Singapore went to Siem Reap.

From our invitations, to the beautiful itineraries created, to thought and care that went into every single detail of the trip- the 3day affair was truly at par with the "standard" we practice at work.

Thursday

• Flight to Siem Reap
• Check in at Tara Angkor
• Lunch at NEST
• Temple time (as we ran through the temples, I was grateful that I had the opportunity to see these beautiful complexes the year before) 
• Free time (which was massage time for me at the hotel)
• Anniversary dinner at FCC

Friday

• Cooking competition! (Market run to buy ingredients then make 3 Cambodian dishes)
• Lunch at Tara Angkor (eat what you made.. in fairness, not bad. hahaha), and announcement of winners (we lost, lol)
• Free time (K & I rolled around our room)
• Closing dinner (which I had the "honour" of hosting)
• Dance dance dance all night & drink cheap drinks (at least compared to SG) in a seedy bar with the rest of DB. lol

Saturday

• Check out from Tara Angkor
• Check in at FCC (K & I extended for a day more)
• Final lunch at Champey 
• Said byebye to DB while K & I stayed on 
• Thanks to floods everywhere - we rolled around our hotel room.. again
• Lovely lovely dinner & quiet evening with K, Z & S. The name of the restaurant escapes me but it was damn good and for quality of food we were eating, damn cheap!

Sunday

• Check out & fly home