Excuse me ma'am, but how do you pronounce Loewe?

To own a designer something, let it be shoes, handbag, clothes, jewellery and other fashinonable accessories, is a statement. It is a reflection of your financial status and fashion savvy (since certain designer labels are more expenses and more renown than others!)

According to Kimora Lee, one can never have too many LVs. However, make sure you know how to pronounce your designer correctly. There's nothing more embrassing than ostentatiously flaunting your Hermes Birkin bag and pronouncing it Her-Mes (is should be pronounce as Air-mez, mind you!)

Listed below are some of the common mispronounced designer labels:

(Should you still fail to pronounce it by reading the phonetics, you can always google up "pronouncing designer" for websites containing audio pronounciations)

Anya Hindmarch: Ahn-ya Heind-march

Atelier: ah-tell-ee-ay

Balenciaga: Buh - Lin - See - Ah - Ga
Bally: Bah-li
Balmain: Bahl-Mah
Baume & Mercier: Bom ee Mer-See-yay

Bebe: Bee-bee
Bottega Veneta: Bo-tega Ven-e-ta

Braun Buffel: Brohn Byu-furl
Bruno Magli: Broo-no Mal-yi

Bulgari: Bool-ga-ree

Burberry Prorsum: Bur-bur-ree Pror-some
Carolina Herrera: Caro-leena Hair-era

Chacharel: Ka-sha-rel
Chanel: Sha-Nel

Charriol: Sha-ree-ol
Chloe: Kloh-eh
Chopard: Sho Par

Christian Lacroix: Christian Lah-kwa

Christian Louboutin: Loo-boo-tin

Cartier: Kar-ti-yay
Celine: seh-lyn
Cerruti: Cher-Ru-tee

Dolce & Gabbana: Dol-cheh and Ge-Ba-na

Dries Van Noten: Drees Van Know-ten

Elie Saab: Eh-li Zahb

Emilio Pucci: Ehm-ee-lee-o Poo-chee
Emporio Armani: Em-Pohr-yo Ar-mah-ni

Ermenegildo Zegna: Er-men-a-geel-do Zen-ya

Etienne Aigner: Eight-Yen Ahg-neigh

Givenchy: Jhee-von-shee

Gucci: Jew-chih
Guy Laroche: Gee Lah-Rosh

Hervé Léger: Air-vay Lay-jay
Issey Miyake: Ees-say Mi-Ya-kay

Jaeger-Lecoultre: Yay-ger Leh-Koot

Jean Paul Gaultier: zhan paul Go-tee-Ay

Joeffer Caoc: Joe-fur Kay-ock
Lanvin: lon-Van
Loewe: LO-ee-Vay

Longchamp: Long-shum
Longines: Lohn-jeens

Louis Vuitton: Loo-ee Voo-ee-ton
Manolo Blahnik: Ma-no-low Blah-nick

Marchesa: Mar-kay-sa
Mainbocher: Maynbo-shay
Moschino: Mo-ski-no
Piaget: Pya-jay

Pierre Cardin: Pee-air Car-dain
Ralph Lauren: Ralph Lauren (as in Lauren the girl’s name, not Sophia Loren)
6267: Six-two-six-seven (not Sixty-two-sixty-seven)
Salvatore Ferragamo: Sal-va-Toh-reh Fehr a-Gah-mo

Sonia Rykiel: Sonia Ree-kee-eel
Sophia Kokosalaki: So-fee-a Ko-ko-sah-lah-kee
Swarovski: Swa - Roff - Ski

Thakoon: Ta-koon
Thierry Mugler: Tee-air-ree Moog-lay
Tocca: Toe-ka

Ungaro: Oon-ga-ro
Versace: ver-Sah-chay

So guys, all of you can now head on to Pavillion and shop till you drop.

There'e Gotta Be More to Life...

There's gotta be more to life...
Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me
Cause the more that I'm...
Trippin' out thinkin' there must be more to life
Well it's life, but I'm sure... There's gotta be more
(More to life - Stacie Orrico)

Was listening to old tunes from my ever faithful IPod (where would I be without it?) and this song played on. There is some truth in it. Besides trying to be happily married, having an extremely patient and understanding spouse, wishing there are kids along the way, 4 adorable god-children, generous parents in-law, having the greatest boss on earth (trust me, where to find a boss where you can do what you like eg come to work at 9.30 am and leaving the office at 6pm), having a decent income so that I can at least splurge on a monthly basis, a wardrobe full of Nike stuff, I still wish that I have more that what I have now.

Like it or not, sometimes we DO compare ourselves with others, let it be career wise, family wise or even the way we potray ourselves compared to others. And when we start comparing, we normally ended up thinking "is this as good as it gets?" "If only I have more money to buy a Chanel suit, I'll look good" "How did he/she end up with so much money" "It's not fair, no matter how much she eats, she's still slim" etc... etc...

I'm not ashamed to admit that I use to be in this boat (or maybe I still am?). During my earlier career days, I used to get jealous when I see another person wearing a better suit than mine, carries an expensive, luxurious handbag, wear designer shoes. And what do I? I hit the store and bought myself all these, making sure they are more expensive than my rival. At that point in time, being seen in designer labels is all I care about, regardless of how big a hole my pocket is. Now, I am still paying for my lifestyle back then and wishing that I didn't bother competing with the Jones.

I've learned a lot and obviously, the hard way. I shouldn't spend money that I don't have (but I must have the limited edition Nike Shox!). If someone really loves you, they don't really care how you look, it's what in you heart (but it wouldn't kill if you try to dress like JLo or have a bootylicious body like Beyonce or Kylie Minogue). The ones that stay when the shit hits the fan are your true friends. Driving like a maniac DOES NOT get you there faster. And many other painful lessons.

Nonetheless, the very one thing I realise is that if we have faith in God and seek His guidance in times of needs, than life is not as bad as it seems.

All out of love...

Another one of my beloved friend has started blogging. Kudos Mak Itam! Keep up the good work. Finally, today, I got the opportunity to drop by his blog. His latest topic is about falling and being in love, which I was inspired to pen down my own views and experiences.

The first memory that I can recall, which I thought I actually fell in love with a guy, was when I was 17. Well, at least I thought I was in love. Then, I furthered my studies and we broke off. However, I don't recall being sad or upset about the break up. I went on with college life and uni life, meeting new guys and dating. When I was in my first year of Uni, again, I thought I had fallen in love. He was a senior in Uni. I spent two years of my life with him. Sort of devoted to him. I stopped going clubbing with friends and instead, I spent my many2 evenings and weekend with him. When I was in my final year, he was already back in Malaysia (he was my senior, remember?). Somehow the long distance relationship was not working for us and we decided to call it quit. Again, the whole breaking up thing didn't hit me. Luckily enough, six months after that I found someone else. Again, I fell in love. And this time, I knew it was real. I spent 8 years of my life with him and most of friends knew about his existence (I was proud of him, thus paraded him everywhere, even without his consent!).

During this 8 year - relationship, we fight, make-up, call each other nasty names when we are fighting and come up with cute names when we are feeling romantic etc. As both of us are now working in different industries (I was an auditor, he was a merchant banker), both of us never really had "us" time. I got frustrated and he kept working. To mend the relationship, I decided to change job and be in the same industry as he is. It was a good move, career wise. But again, both of us just got very busy with work. We never really paid attention to each other and we began to live separate life. I started going to the gym and hang out more with friends so that I wouldn't feel so lonely. At that point in time, I thought that whatever love both of us had was lost. There was no more passion.

To cut a long story short, I decided to end the relationship. However, this time it was different. I was really sad and taken aback by my action. This changed me into someone that I am not. I started clubbing and drinking again. I started going out with other guys too. But it was never the same. During this period, I had what I called "3 months contract" relationships with the guys I was going out with. I was a wild child. Thank god for the good friends who pulled me back from the path I was taking and made me realise that my life was worth more than just a Hermes handbag or a 1 carat De Beers ring from Habib.

I started my long journey of getting to know myself. During this time, I met Hootie and we decided to walk down the aisle. But like I said, this time it was different. Yes, I do love Hootie but the reason I married him was more than just love.

I guess, as we grow wiser, our view towards life changes. I used to think that love is the most important thing in making it in a relationship. The reality is that, once the passion is gone, we need more than just love to make it. A person changes throughout the years hence there is no way their feelings will remain the same. I learned this the hard way. Nonetheless, I am proud to say that I've had true love (or "cinta agung" as some puts it), even though it had a sad ending.

Regrets

Do you ever have days where you wake up and thought "why is my life the way it is?" "Is there something that I am doing wrong?" "Is there anything I should have done or shouldn't do, so much so that I am stuck with what I have?"

Yes, people, I have regrets. And sadly, of late, I kept thinking of my regrets. When I was younger, I never stopped to think about my actions. My alter ego always gets the best of me. Fed up of my audit work, I looked for a new job. Tired of certain friends/group of people, I just stopped seeing them. Men giving me headache, dumped them.

I am not regretting about moving job. It was probably the best decision that I made so far. My regrets are of losing friends and love ones. If only I took a step back and not be soooooo arrogant and stubborn, I could have save a few friendships along the way. Maybe I would not feel so melancholic.

Well, as they say, it is now bridge under the water. But how do one deal with regrets? Forget it? Act on it? Talk about it until one gets tired and eventually forget about it? Make up for it? Sometimes I wish that there is such thing as "Total Recall". Or the Haitian guy from Heroes exist so that I can erase certain memories.

Living in regret hurts but I guess it is what makes me a person.

Riding in the Rain

Hmmm... was on leave last Friday, hence a long weekend for moi. It was a much needed rest. But as usual, work piles up (how can work piles up so much over one day?) and spent the whole day clearing inbox, in-tray and other nick-nacks in the office.

Managed to read some of my friends blogs and the hot topic at the mo seems to be work rant. I mean, I can totally relate when some of my friends are complaining about work. It seems like the Bosses are united in making "execkulis's" (like moi) life a living hell. Take last week for instance, I nearly fell sick because I had to ride a motorbike in order to deliver a document before the deadline. It has been raining lately and driving around KL when it rains is NOT an option (unless one enjoys being stuck in flash floods and massive traffic jam). My boss knew damn well that the document has to be in the hands of the client by 5pm but still decided to change a few things at the very last minute. She finally signed the damn thing at 4pm and I have to rush out to deliver it. Almost had a heart attack when I saw the massive jam outside office. But in the spirit of not letting the client down and to save the Boss's "water face", I borrowed the Office Boys's motorbike and rode it all the way to the client's place. It's not far and I can actually walk, but it was faster to just ride (and also, thinking that the rain has subsided, so what the heck!). In less than 10 minutes I was there. After passing and explaining the necessary to the client, I rode back. And of course, Murphy's Law applied, it just had to rain while I was riding back. And I was so near office!!! Feeling upset, I instantly applied for leave. Luckily, the Boss approved it.

Today, the work load is not so bad, but I am willing to bet any money that it will be hell soon as the IB team has landed a job for me to execute and 2 IPOs coming. So, I guess I need to stock up on my midnight oil.

Einstein's Riddle

Another one of the many2 chain mails that I get in my mail box, which I feel is better off being posted here compared to "clogging" my friend's mailbox. Enjoy! I managed to solve it (within a couple of days). Alternatively, can always Google the answer!

There are 5 houses in 5 different colors. In each house lives a person with a different nationality. The 5 owners drink a certain type of beverage, smoke a certain brand of cigar, and keep a certain pet. No owners have the same pet, smoke the same brand of cigar, or drink the same beverage.

The question is: Who owns the fish?

Hints:
The Brit lives in the red house.
The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
The Dane drinks tea.
The green house is on the left of the white house.
The green homeowner drinks coffee.
The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.
The man living in the center house drinks milk.
The Norwegian lives in the first house.
The man who smokes Blend lives next to the one who keeps cats.
The man who keeps the horse lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.
The owner who smokes Bluemaster drinks beer.
The German smokes prince.
The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
The man who smokes Blend has a neighbor who drinks water.

Einstein wrote this riddle early during the 19th century. He said 98% of the world could not solve it. Its not hard, you just need to pay attention and be patient.