Ew

Some products that were meant to improve our well- being and health can actually have the opposite effect if used incorrectly. We buy these products with the best intentions: antibacterial soap to kill germs, toothpaste to prevent cavities, a humidifier to relieve sinus congestion. However, everyday items like these can trigger your allergies, leave our skin with a skin infection or cause other problems if used incorrectly. Don't panic yet. The fixes are resoundingly simple, quick and keep us safe.

1. The blender

You know to wash your blender every time you make one of your yummy berry smoothies, but you're most likely to skip one of the crucial parts: the blender gasket. In a 2013 report by NSF International, am independent organisation that tests the health and safety of consumer products, the blender gasket was found to be the third most filthy item in an average kitchen. The blender gasket might harbour harmful microorganisms like Salmonella, E.coli ans mould. When researches asked people what they thought were the top sources of grime in their kitchen, the blender did not even make their list. So reduce the risks of getting food poisoning, we should always disassemble the blender, pull out the blade and gasket for a thorough washing after every use.

2. Your Chair

The risks of sitting keep piling up such as an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and mortality. Unfortunately, research also shows that even if you're a regular exerciser, it's not enough to offset sitting all day during your commute, at work and then at night in front of the television. Unless you get a stand-up desk, you probably cannot change the fact you have to sit at your desk. You can move just a bit more. Get up and walk, be it to the kitchen or to freshen up in the restroom after a certain amount of time. Studies showed that light walking for two minutes out of every hour reduced mortality risks by 23% compared to spending long hours perched on your chair.

3. Rubber spatula

Sure, you may clean it every time after you use it, but you should consider adding an important step: puling the spatula head off the handle before you wash, Forgetting to do so is one of the reasons the NSF declared the rubber spatula the second dirtiest item in the kitchen. It was found to contain E.coli, yeast and mold - not the thing you would want to mix into your batter. To be safe, wash both the spatula and the handle separately. If it's a one-piece, take extra precautions in every cranny and joint as these microorganisms tend to thrive there.

Hawaii

Being an ardent Disney fan, you can expect me to spend a considerable amount of time watching Lilo & Stitch. The show has undoubtedly sparked my intentions to vacation in hawaii since young. I would pretend that I'm drinking some fancy pink-coloured drink while fiddling with the mini umbrella. Also, don't forget the infamous line from the show, 'Ohana means family'. I'm sure I've annoyed every one of my family and friends trying to impersonate Stitch's tone. Thankfully, no one dared to lift a finger at me at that time because I was still at a 'very tender' age. As the years passed, my enthusiasm to visit Hawaii was buried deep in the back of my head. But recently when my friend did a terrific impersonation of Stitch uttering that line, it was like my all the neurons in my brain had a sporadic power search and dug out the dusty old memory of me being so excited to visit Hawaii. I looked up travel tips and advices when travelling to Hawaii, just to reminisce my childhood fantasies. Here's what I got: 

You land at Honolulu International Airport, and you're starving. What do you do first? Well, you can start off by not taking an unmarked tax. Find local transportation in clearly marked, designated areas. Well-versed travelers and police will tell you stories of how unknowing visitors get lured away and mugged - or worse.

Poke is a popular Hawaiian appetizer. It is a raw salad usually made of sliced tuna. For your poke cravings, there are two routes you can take. Either hit up Foodland (even Sam's Club) for a variety of seafood for cheap, or find the best in town. Those are located at Ono Seafood (not to be confused with Ono Hawaiian). The Shoyu/#1 and Spicy/#7 are most sought-after. Afterwards, head a few blocks up and to the right for some Wailoa Shave Ice.

Just like the local pasar malam, the food truck scene is alive and well in Waikiki over at Pau Hana Market. Offering a consistent fleet of restaurants, you'll find a variety of reasonably priced menus from shrimp to loco moco. You'll discover both ample parking and seating. The fact that they're open everyday is a huge perk for tourists.

Craving for some Japanese food? Matsugen's soba noodles is the answer to your cravings. Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin is known for making some of the most mouth-watering, flavourful and tender pork tonkatsu you;ll ever have. You can also get your cravings satisfied at Marukame Udon. They have two locations serving house made, cafeteria-style udon at a great value. What is visiting Hawaii without a drink or two? For a wallet-friendly happy hour, head on over to Izakaya Torae Torae.

An Important Event That Happened SPM 2010

Based on the novel Step By Wicked Step authored by Anne Fine, one important event that happened in the novel is the discovery of the green album which is Richard’s journal. The journal was found in a hidden room by five sudents, Colin, Pixie, Claudia, Robbo and Ralph. The journal titled, Read and Weep was read by Pixie which brought many realization to the five students, the sharing of their stories and also brought them closer together. Here are the elaborations on why the discovery of the journal was an important event in the novel.

The first and foremost reason is that it brought the five students closer together. It made them realize their similarities together that they never once knew. “ I’ve done it. Pixie’s done it. So has Claudia. You heard their stories.” They all realized that they were from dysfunctional families and each had their own stories and problems. The journal also made them sympathize with each other, they realized they all had problems and started to have an understanding of each other, they were no longer cold to each other and their friendship started heating up. “..Ralph thrust the precious little wooden cow and its small leg deep into Colin’s bag.” Ralph had done this in hopes of Colin realizing that leaving his house will not solve the problem and will only make matters worse. This incident shows that they started to console each other after hearing each other’s stories, and these all happened because the reading of the journal had made them open up, which leads to the next reason.

Other than that, after reading Richard's diary, the children learned about the hardships Richard and his family faced. This has prompt them to share their personal experience with their stepparent and step siblings. In the novel, each character was put into situations where they had to face adjustments in their lives. The children do not feel helpless or lonely because they realise that they are not facing their problems alone. They are able to seek solace and support from each other as they have an idea of being in each other's shoes. Each of them took turns to voice out their troubles and the rest of them discussed the problems together. For example, they understood the feeling of missing someone dear when Colin told them his story. Claudia sympathises with Colin and is shaken by his sad story. "'I pretend like that sometimes." Claudia confronted him.' The group also tried to help Colin understand that his plans to run away to look for his father will only add salt to the wound. '"Because,like Richard Harwick said, you'd just be piling one wrong on to another..."

Moving on to the next point, from the discovery of Richard's diary has made the children realise their roles in the family. With hindsight, Richard realises that he should not have ran away from his family as it will only pile one wrong to another. His disappearance only caused more problems and heartbreak for his mother and sister. In the end, when Ricard came home, he was welcomed with the cold silence of his empty home. His mother died of heartbreak over the absence of him His sister died during childbirth as she got married to Charles Devere at a young age so that she could keep up the search for him. "On my sixteenth birthday, I married Charles Devere... he has promised to keep up the search.' We can also see that the children understands that everyone is responsible to ensure a happy family. Pixie realises that by compromising with her stepsisters and stepmother, her life would be less miserable. After having a huge row with her stepmother, she finally agrees to let her stepsister, Hetty share a room with her. 'She can stay with me if she wants.' Her relationship with her stepsisters have improved tremendously. 'Each bedtime she creeps in and perches on the end of my downie.' Claudia who once despised her stepmother as loyalty to her mother, realised that giving her stepmother the cold shoulder will not improve the outcome of things. She saw that the dinner guests were being rude and stood up for Stella. Claudia showed up at the dinner table wearing the green pyjamas Stella bought her and complimented her. 'These are the green pyjamas you bought me. Aren't they beautiful?' This has made an impact on the guests' impression of Stella.

In conclusion, it is clear that the discovery of Richard’s journal was the core of the novel and made them open up to finally make their own stories known to mankind. They no longer had to face their problems alone and had someone to sympathize and connect with. The journal also made them realize their roles in the family, especially in Colin’s case and hopefully make him realize that running away is not going to help his situation.

A Character That Changed

The spectacular novel, 'Step by Wicked Step' authored by Anne Fine, tells the story about 5 schoolchildren, namely Claudia, Robbo, Ralph, Colin and Pixie who all come from dysfunctional families were separated from their friends while on a school trip and finds themselves in an old mansion on a stormy night. They discovered an old diary belonging to a boy named Richard Harwick. Learning about Richard's family's hardships from the diary has prompted them to share their personal experience with their dysfunctional families. In the novel, each character was put into situations where they had to face adjustments in their lives. This has allowed the children to find care and support from each other as they have a taste of each other's problems. Some of these children will have a change in their character to adapt to the adjustments in their lives.

I find that Colin's character has changed due to a certain event that has taken place in his life. Colin used to be a cheerful and outgoing boy. He used to go to parks with his father, Jack and he would call him the bluebird of happiness. When Colin's mother left his father and took him along with her, his cheerful character left Colin as well. He became an unhappy and lonely boy. After moving out from their old home, he had to enroll in a new school. 'I had to start at another school where everyone had friends already.' In school, he has to go through unpleasant experiences like being ignored as his schoolmates already have their own circle of friends. They only laughed at him whenever he did not understand what they were doing. 'Nobody bothered with me, except to only snigger when i didn't understand all the stuff they'd been doing.' To add salt to the wound, he had nobody to confide to as his father left. His mother did not give him the attention he deserved as she was busy with her work at the canten as well as household chores. '...when she comes home she is always too busy doing things to listen to anything I said.'

Secondly,  Colin clearly had a closer relationship with his father compared to his mother. His relationship with his mother was rather distant as she paid more attention to her work. When Colin's dad left, he was left with a hole in his life. Colin then became a dreamy boy which causes him to have less focus in class. This took a toll on his studies and he did badly in school. 'I started getting into trouble for being half asleep...' He misses his dad dearly. He confessed that he would take out the tobacco tin belonging to his dad to reminisce the time spent with him. 'Each night I took out the tobacco tin out of the toe of my boot, where I kept it hidden, under my pillow.' He pretends that he is still with him and hum their favourite song. 'I'd pretend that he was there with me.'

The emotional challenges that Colin faces also brought out some good traits in him. The sudden absence of a fatherly figure has molded Colin to become more resourceful. It has been 5 years, 8 months and 7 days since he was separated from his dad. His oblivious mother thinks that he has forgotten about his father, but Colin secretly still writes his father's name and old address on school forms. '... I always secretly sneak his name and our old address on all the form that Mum's filled in for school...' Colin is hopeful that he will find his father again someday. His resourceful attitude can be seen when he saves every penny and does three paper rounds so that when he is old enough, he can set off to find his father. 'I keep practically every coin that comes my way. I even do three paper rounds.'

In a nutshell, Colin responded negatively initially to the adjustments in his life. He was depressed, sad and dreamy in school. Finally, he realises that being sad and wallowing in the past will not change the outcome of things. He finally found the motivation to turn over a new leaf. Colin is now optimistic, resourceful and motivated to achieve his dreams : to find his father.

Compare two characters (Colin & Richard)

I choose the novel 'Step by Wicked Step", authored by Anne Fine. The novel tells the story about 5 schoolchildren, namely Claudia, Pixie, Colin, Robbo and Ralph who came from dysfunctional families were separated from their friends while on a schooltrip and find themselves in an old house on a stormy night. They discovered an old diary which belonged to a boy named Richard Harwick. After reading Richard's diary about his broken family, the children share their stories about their family too. I am going to compare and contrast Richard and Colin. There are similarities and differences which can be observed clearly throughout the novel.

Firstly, Richard and Colin displayed their affections for their father. They miss their father very much and the loss of a fatherly figure at a tender age has made them deeply upset. The difference is, Richard lost his father forever because he passed away due to a sickness. 'I sit by my father's grave and run my fingers over the letters of his name cut deep in stone.' His father's place was quickly replaced by Reverend Coldstone and Richard's life became miserable. '...I will go mad and scramble to my feet and tell him all the things that have gone wrong since he was taken away from us.' Meanwhile, Colin might still have the chance of seeing his father again and he is determined to do so. The boy remembered the exact date when he left. 'Five years, eight months and seven days." Colin lost his father because his mother moved away without his father's knowledge. "It took me ages to realise he wan't following... He couldn't. Mum Hadn't left him any clues.'

Next, Colin and Richard were both ignored by their mothers. Their mothers were too distracted to pay any attention to their cries. Neither of them received the tender, love and care they deserved while they were still emotional over the absence of their fathers. '...sometimes I (Colin) get the feeling that Mum thinks things that are happening to both of us are only really happening to her. As if how I feel doesn't matter quite so much.' Richard's mother Lilith did not defend him when Reverend Coldstone ill-treated him. She did not defend her children against Coldstone's insults and turned a blind eye when Coldstone sent Richard to Mordanger School where he was bullied. 'All that my mother did was lower her eyes, or look away...' In Colin's case, his mother did not bother to know how much he missed his father because she was too busy working at the canteen and doing household chores. 'She was always too busy to listen to anything I said.'

Thirdly, the emotional impact on Richard and Colin made them believe that running away can solve their problems. Both of them decided that running away will make things work. '...you just have to keep going to reach the happy ending.' The difference between the two characters begins with thier reason for running away. Richard, who thinks that he is the black sheep in the family ran away from home with the hope that he would make life more pleasant for everyone. 'Perhaps you would all live out your fairy tale more happily without the black clouds I bring!' With hindsight, Richard realises that he should not have ran away from home. His absence only made his family problems worse. On the other hand, Colin plans to run away to find his father. 'As soon as I'm tall enough, I'm off.' Colin does three paper rounds to save money to search for his father. 'You see, I'm saving up now. I even do three paper rounds.'

As a conclusion, the two characters suffered much pain and sorrow when their fathers disappeard from their lives. No one cares about them or knows how they felt. Both of them were deprived of people who could advise and comfort them, thus prompting their decision to leave home. From their actions, we can see that running away does not solve any problems, in fact it can affect the people around us. So, we need to think wisely before making a serious decision in life.

Baking Conundrums

Baking is one of my least-hated thing to do. The act of adding in dry ingredients and mixing is oddly therapeutic and satisfying. From ensuring my utensils are grease-free to not over-mixing the batter, baking can be rather challenging. Despite being one of my mum's hobby too, she always asks me why don't I buy straight from the bakery. Maybe its because the way that I put the baking ingredients together appalls her. Apparently, I get flour and butter on every surface possible when I bake. In my defense, our mixing bowl is not big enough for me to work with. Or maybe I am truly a klutz.

Waiting for the oven to ding is also a torturous task, especially when the recipe requires varying baking time or when the batter needs to spend an hour or so in the oven. However, when I first open the door after the oven dings and the waft of delicious smelling food rapidly fills my nostrils, the effort of waiting is well paid-off. That is, if the baking was successful. Lop-sided cakes does not confound me anymore. I am also convinced that removing the baked goods from the tray requires a certain amount of Newton's knowledge because it took me a number of tries to get my cakes out in one piece. Or like the time when I thought it was a good idea to bake meringues on tracing paper. Alterations of the amount of ingredients like flour, sugar and water are also a problem to me because I tend to go overboard or add too little. THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN. After much 'research' and 'interviews' conducted, I have gathered some baking tips If you are like me, hopefully these tips can help to minimise our chances of ruining our baking.

1. Lining of tray/tin/pans

My  enthusiasm nosedives when I find out that my decent-looking cake remains stuck in the cake tin. For smooth, easy removal, tins must be prepped properly. When a recipe calls for buttering and flouring, place a piece of parchment or wax paper on the bottom of a pan. You can accurately cut the right size of paper to fit the bottom of your tin by tracing the sides of the tin before cutting it.

Coat the sides and bottom with softened butter and then dust with flour, turning the pan on its side to get a full coverage and tapping out the excess. Usually, paper will not be needed if cakes are baked in springform pans. Just butter the pan with a pastry brush to ensure every crevice is coated with butter. Then, dust with flour. However, there are a few exceptions. Angel, chiffon and sponge cakes should be baked in clean, untreated pans as they need to adhere to the sides to rise properly. As for cupcakes and muffins, foil or decorative preformed liners are indispensable. 

2. Bringing ingredients to temperature

The temperature and consistency of ingredients can make or break the texture of a cake. Usually, cake recipes call for softened butter. It is important to use softened butter especially during creaming. This part may be tricky when you forget that your butter has been out of the fridge for too long, or when you have sporadic bursts of motivation for baking that you can't wait for your butter to soften. When butter is softened, it is pliable enough to beat but can maintain its structure so it can trap and hold air, which is the secret to a fluffy cake. When a butter is too cold and firm or warm and sloppy, it will result in a flat or dense cake. So, how does one acquire the correct temperature for their butter? Take butter out from the fridge roughly 45 minutes to an hour before using. The time may vary depending on the weather. Also, don't forget to set a timer. Cutting the butter into smaller pieces speeds up the time. If you are feeling impatient and cannot wait to start mixing, you will just have to challenge yourself and play the waiting game. When the butter is soft enough to hold a light thumbprint, you are ready to go. Warming up the butter in the microwave is not advisable as it can cause uneven melting and burn easily. Other than that, eggs should be at room temperature as well.

3. Creaming and beating eggs

Cake recipes often call for beating or creaming, butter with sugar for several minutes- sometimes up to 10. It is important to follow the stated time, although it can be tempting for most people to cut this step short, particularly when you are using a hand mixer. As for me, my paranoia often causes me to over beat the batter, resulting in a lumpy batter and then a tough cake. The beating process greatly affects the texture and structure of a cake as it incorporates air into the batter. As you beat, the butter will lighten in colour and you should see it increase in volume in the bowl. Eggs should also be beaten until light and fluffy. They should lighten in colour and fall into a thick ribbon when the beater is lifted out of the bowl. If the recipe calls for adding one egg at a time, make sure each one is well-incorporated before adding the next. As for meringues, it is crucial that your equipment is grease-free and the egg whites are yolk-free. Meringues are demanding and mean.  If you fail to meet the two important criteria, don't even bother to continue. The egg whites will not peak and will fall flat just like your hopes of baking crisps meringues. 

Hopefully my efforts in trying to improve my baking will be not be futile. And hopefully the praises I get from my family will not be out of courtesy anymore.

Don't Judge?

Unlike looking for Waldo on a page, hash tags can be easily spotted on webpages, especially on social media. Hash tagging is a good way of promoting events through social media. The initial use of hash tag was to simplify our lives when sorting posts or searching for a particular keyword. However, as time passed and social media platforms evolved, hash tagging is become a habit for most people. Some overdo it until it becomes annoying. I wish I could tell you why people do that, but I can't because I don't know and I don't have that habit. 

When a hashtag results in a trend, the trend will most likely flood major social medias. Not so long ago, there was a trend called the Don't Judge Challenge accompanied by the hashtag, #dontjudgechallenge . While the origins of the trend remains unclear, the trend was created initially as an anti-body shaming campaign. However, in my opinion, people who partook in this challenge totally defeated the purpose of this challenge. Thousands of teens (and adults) filmed a short video displaying their faces covered in painted on uni brows and acne as well as coloured their teeth while pulling a strange face. Once they've harnessed the insecurities most people have to deal with for many years, they can now officially show the 'ugly' side of them. After that, the footage will be cut and then resumed to reveal a fresh, flawless face. The males will usually follow up with a classic shirt-lift to reveal their toned abdomen. As for the females, they will then show the 'real' side of them, smothered in make up.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against good physique or the choice of wearing make up. I believe that make up is a way for one to express themselves. It's just that the defeated purpose of this trend is the finest form of narcissism today and the amount of people who took part in this 'challenge' baffles me. This trend became viral because these videos are entertaining to watch to most people. As for me, I can't help but cringe and goosebumps will sprout all over my body. The act of painting on 'imperfections' on your face to contrast your 'natural' beauty makes me confused. Are you trying to imply that people with acne, uni brow or crooked teeth are ugly? Acne, uni brows or crooked teeth that have been eating away many people's confidence does not 'wash away' just like that. Sure, you may be celebrating your imperfect visages, however you are highlighting and making fun of other people's insecurities at the same time. 

Why is acne considered as an imperfection? Why is someone with a uni brow judged like they're an abomination? As we all know, beauty standards are ephemeral. So, why can't we just accept people for how they look and focus on things that are more worthwhile our time? Its time for us to learn that beauty is more than skin-deep. C'mon, gen Z, are we that shallow? Can't we do better than that?

A Marathon

I watched Frozen about one and a half year ago. It rekindled my love for Disney, which has been frozen for many years due to the restricted time I had for entertainment and movies. The release of Frozen in Malaysia was so timely as Christmas was just around the corner and children did not have to go to school. After returning home from the cinema, the adrenaline rush that pumped through my veins made me zoom into my store room to dig out some Disney films. Thankfully after all these years, my mother did not throw them away and the DVDs still worked fine although they were covered in dust. I grabbed some Pringles, got cozy on the couch, fixated my eyes on the television screen and I stayed in that position for the next few days.

Movie marathons are the only kind of marathon I would partake in willingly. I started off my Disney movie marathon with Beauty and The Beast, produced in 1991. This movie focuses on the relationship between the Beast, a prince who was magically transformed into a monster as a punishment for his arrogance by a witch, and Belle, a young damsel who is imprisoned in the Beast's castle in exchange for her father. To become a prince again, Beast must win her love or else he remains a monster forever. In the movie, Belle had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and an insatiable desire to read. Even up to this day, how often do we see a female portrayed as as an intelligent learner in films?  The appearance of a person does not influence Belle's opinion as well. She did not want to be Gaston's wife despite other female villagers throw themselves at his feet. Despite being scared off by the Beast several times due to his behavior, she approached him and eventually changed him.

A person's biggest enemy is themselves. The biggest obstacle to achieve a dream is self-doubt. The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as king. However, after Simba's uncle Scar murders Mufasa, Simba is manipulated into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile in shame and despair. With some help from his friend and shaman, Simba conquered his fear to become the leader that he was meant to be. He challenged Scar to end his tyranny. That is the kind of bravery that both children and adults should be exposed to more frequently. This Disney classic can build up children's confidence and be ready to take on challenges in life.

Pocahontas is a film inspired by the known history and folklore surrounding the Native American woman Pocahontas and portrays a fictionalized account of her historical encounter with an Englishman named John Smith. Pocahontas who was proud of her roots cherished the nature that birthed and raised her. We should develop environmental awareness and actually practice "Go Green" activities because the Earth has given us everything we ever need. If we continue with our ignorance towards the destruction of the environment, our children will have to suffer the consequences due to our irresponsibility.

Mulan's plot takes place during the Han Dynasty, where Fa Mulan, daughter of aged warrior Fa Zhou, impersonates a man to take her father's place during a general conscription to counter a Hun invasion. Mulan's love for her father as a filial daughter which made her chose to fight in her father's place is truly admirable. She respected her father and decided to protect him for a change. Mulan also did not want to conform to society's idea of being a 'normal' female. She wanted to be comfortable being herself. Children should be comfortable in their own skin and allowed to represent themselves the way they want.

I ended my marathon with Tangled. The film tells the story of a lost, young princess named Rapunzel who had long magical hair who was captured by a witch, who identifies herself as her 'mother' when she was still an infant. She yearns to leave her secluded tower. Against her mother's wishes, she accepts the aid of a handsome intruder to take her out into the world which she has never seen. Rapunzel left her abusive mother who abused her magical powers for good and searched for a better life outside her tower and eventually found herself a new identity. We should always try to look for positive light and not settle for any less.

Disney movies played a huge role in our childhood. This marathon made me walk down memory lane and left me feeling very nostalgic of my childhood. Carefully crafted, it gave us memorable moments to laugh, cry and rejoice, but most importantly, they gave us unforgettable lessons that cannot be learned through textbooks. For that, I commend all filmmakers and animators for giving their all in producing these masterpieces that will continue to inspire future generations.

When Marnie Was There

Holidays are a good time for us to rest and relax as well as do something productive that we usually cannot do. However, holidays are the opposite for me. During the holidays, I will reduce myself into a vegetative state and not do any vigorous physical activities. Bear in mind that ascending the stairs is a vigorous activity to me. This picture of Honey Boo Boo will give you an accurate picture of me during the holidays.

 

As I was about to take my third nap on the same day, my friend recommended me this show. It is called 'When Marnie Was There' and I was very pleased that my time was well spent watching it instead of sleeping. It also reduced me to a crying mess. 

When Marnie Was There tells a mysterious and fantastic story of two little girls. Anna, a girl who is sick with asthma and sick of the life she has been living, is sent to Kushiro, a rural area where the air is clean. There, she meets Marnie, the title character of this movie, who has beautiful blue eyes and long blonde hair. Anna is intrigued by Marnie’s appearance and how she seemingly disappears and appears as she wishes. 

Throughout the first half of the movie, we get to see Anna and Marnie bond through attending exquisite parties and having deep, heart-to-heart talks. Never have I seen a movie with characters that have as strong a connection as Anna and Marnie. In between the magical times of being together, Anna seems to lose Marnie again and again. Marnie remains a mystery to both Anna and the audience. As Anna starts losing her mind, she discovers that Marnie is none other than the young ghost of her grandmother, bringing the movie to a silent climax. The movie, however, ends on a hopeful note as Anna leaves the little village, bringing the positive spirit of Marnie along to go on living.

Such an emotional film does not appeal to all audience, but it does appeal to people who turn to art for connection with their own lives. Anna is portrayed as a girl who hates her life due to her sickness and the fact that she was abandoned by her biological parents. She is a young girl who lost her will to live positively because she feels disconnected from reality and abandoned by the world. Youngsters and adults alike who grew up unhappy can put themselves in Anna’s shoes and live the story as if it were their own, and eventually learn that to embrace the past is a necessary path for one to move forward.

When Anna met Marnie, the girl who appeared in her dreams, foreshadowing Marnie to be Anna’s savior, it all changed. Although Marnie seems to be cold and distant at times, she manages to create a deep connection with Anna, which Anna has never experienced before in her life. Anna then becomes emotionally attached to Marnie, but slowly turns frustrated when she realizes that Marnie is not always there for her. We do not see much from Marnie’s perspective, but her story is finally revealed in simple narrative the way a grandmother tells a tale to her granddaughter. Her story acts as the revelation and turning point for Anna, bringing their relationship to a full circle.

When Marnie Was There is not a film for pastime or entertainment. With the company of the classic Ghibli animation style, every frame and every sound seems to be exploding with the heartbeats of all filmmakers involved. The story is executed delicately with each scene so carefully crafted and filled with symbolisms, it makes you wonder if the rising of lake water and the pouring of rain each has a purpose behind them. Accompanied by the voice of Priscilla Ahn and the strumming of guitar in “Fine On the Outside”, everything feels rather soft and simple, even the hardest things in life seem to disappear just for a while.

Announced to be Studio Ghibli’s final feature film, When Marnie Was There might disappoint long-time fans, but nonetheless satisfies their need for the usual emotions-packed gem that Ghibli offers. This film leaves a huge impact on everyone who experiences it, leaves a bittersweet aftertaste, and eventually soothes the broken hearts.

I Don't Know

If you have gone out with me before, you will know that mealtimes are a conundrum. My first answer will always be 'I don't know' when someone asks me what I want to eat. ALWAYS.  My relatives who live  in the UK commented that my habit is irresponsible and annoying. 

It's not that I'm irresponsible. Since young, I've tried to accept people's choices even though I didn't like them at first. Over time, I don't know what i dislike anymore. Most of the time I don't have a certain preference, so I try to accommodate to everyone's likes. Nothing makes me more uncomfortable than knowing someone is feeling sour because of my choices. Could this be an Asian thing? Maybe not. 

Other than mealtimes, social group activities are a conundrum too. During camps, I often find myself running out of ideas when it comes to ice breaking activities because I don't know what I like and dislike. My palms will soon become sweaty and I will panic when it's my turn to describe myself. I will then chant 'What do I say... What do I say' mentally as a mantra and hope for the best. 

On a more serious note, my indecisiveness is affecting my decisions for further studies. Admiration is my first feeling when my friends tell me about their plans for the future. I can't help but ask myself "How do they decide? How does one distinguish their preferences? What about me?" The fact that I have to decide on a pre-U course in a few months time terrifies me. Of course I have had sporadic ambitions, but they are often ephemeral. Education fairs confuse me too due to the copious amounts of courses offered. And of course, my friends have suggested me to take online personality quizzes. Typical personality or career quizzes ask questions like your ideal working environment and whether you like to solitarily or with a group. These quizzes do not provide much help because I'm uncertain of most of my answers. For example, for some work I like to do it on my own, some I like to complete it as a group. It would be so much easier if I had more knowledge of what people from different careers do on a daily basis.

I hope that I can decide what my preferences are soon. Hmm... If only I had a dollar every time I said 'I don't know'. 

One year

One year. (If you were expecting a deep and thoughtful blog post after looking at the title, sorry to let you down. This is the emotional whirlwind experienced by a 'fangirl' put into words.) It has been a year since i met the person I adore the most.  I don't use the word 'most' lightly. Taylor Swift's songs have the power to connect to me emotionally and it makes me understand every situation that she faces even though I've never been in that situation. I've actually learned a lot of things from her and sought solace in her songs. Plus, from what i can see for the past seven years being her fan, she is truly passionate about the people around her and is assiduous to her huge fan base, not forgetting to mention that she is very charitable. 

This time last year, I was so ecstatic about going to The Red tour that I couldn't sleep for several nights. Actually, the word 'ecstatic' is an understatement. Now, before you give me that weird look, understand that I've waited for YEARS for this moment. I remember the feeling of sheer disappointment and sadness when she went to Singapore and skipped Malaysia in her previous tour. However, that's not the worst part. The worst part was when I almost didn't get my concert tickets after queuing for hours. Right when it was my turn to purchase the ticket, the cashier told me that the tickets were sold out. I was stunned for a moment and tears clouded my vision. It felt like my dreams crumbled right in front my eyes. Finally, after pleading the cashier to try again he managed to get a ticket for me. 

Since it was my first concert, I prepared for The Day before hand so that im ready emotionally. I even made a placard (which I didn't even hold it up during the concert). Taylor's is known for sending her team out on a hunt for concert-goers that captures people's attention. Concert-goers that got selected will get to meet her. Naturally, I wanted to get picked, so I went all out planning my outfit. I tried to imitate her signature style, satisfied with my choices but clearly the outcome was just mediocre. At the stadium, there were fans who truly redefine the term 'all out'. Extraordinary costumes and placards with flashing lights and tons of glitter instantly captured gazes. Oh well, another round of letdown.

The perpetual wait finally came to an end. When the doors opened, I couldn't contain my excitement and ran to my seat. After the opening band finished playing their set list, the iconic red cloth flashed in sync with heartbeat-like sounds. I could hear my heartbeat clearly, as if they were amplified by the sounds. And there it was, the silhouette of Taylor formed on the red cloth. And at that moment my 'fangirl' heart felt complete. She started the show with the first song off Red, which is State of Grace. Halfway through the show, I managed to squeeze to the front row. The fans there were too kind to allow me and my friend to squeeze in with them. First concert with front row view, not bad eh? Taylor gave her hat to the guy next to me. I died. 

Anyway, here are some photos I took during the show to help you understand my situation better.  

The atmosphere in the stadium was indescribable. Everyone was danced like there was no tomorrow. Taylor smiled when most of the us in the front row held up a sign that read 'long live Taylor'. I thought one of her outfits that read 'I ❤️ KL' was very adorable and thoughtful. Overall, the concert was amazing. Taylor looked flawless, as usual. It is truly an eye opener and dream come true for me. Hands down, best night of my life. 

Even up till now these images still come back in vivid flashes. Being a fairly capricious person, these pictures inundate me easily and I will break down in 0.5 seconds. Thank you for reading and remember, Taylor Swift is love, Taylor Swift is life. 

Just kidding. 

Fear is an emotion induced by a threat perceived by living entities, which causes a change in brain and organ function and ultimately a change in behavior, such as running away, hiding or freezing from traumatic events. Fear may occur in response to a specific stimulus happening in the present, or to a future situation, which is perceived as risk to health or life, status, power, security, or, in the case of humans, wealth or anything held valuable. It's almost impossible to go through life without experiencing some kind of failure. People who do so probably live so cautiously that they go nowhere. Put simply, they're not really living at all.

The wonderful thing about failure is that it's entirely up to us to decide how to look at it.

We can choose to see failure as "the end of the world," or as proof of just how inadequate we are. Or, we can look at failure as the incredible learning experience that it often is. Every time we fail at something, we can choose to look for the lesson we're meant to learn. These lessons are very important; they're how we grow, and how we keep from making that same mistake again. Failures stop us only if we let them. Most of us will stumble and fall in life. Doors will get slammed in our faces, and we might make some bad decisions. But imagine if Michael Jordan had given up on his dream to play basketball when he was cut from that team. Imagine if Richard Branson had listened to the people who told him he'd never do anything worthwhile without a high school diploma.

Think of the opportunities you'll miss if you let your failures stop you.

Failure can also teach us things about ourselves that we would never have learned otherwise. For instance, failure can help you discover how strong a person you are. Failing at something can help you discover your truest friends, or help you find unexpected motivation to succeed.

Often, valuable insights come only after a failure. Accepting and learning from those insights is key to succeeding in life.

China: "Through the Looking Glass"

Snapchat is an awfully wonderful app that not only allows people to send a plethora of  self portraits and convey their message across in 40 words or less, it allows users to have an idea of what is happening around the world daily. For example, users are able to see other snapchat users' life from around the world. In other words, snapchat provides a 'live' coverage on the daily happenings around the world as well as special events like the recent election in the UK and and the infamous music festival, Coachella.

Apart from attending tuition classes right returning home from school, I always check my snapchat app to see what will be in store for me to discover that day. Last tuesday, I checked my snapchat as usual and there it was, the live coverage from this year's Met Gala. Excited would be an understatement to describe my feelings at that moment. Pieces and pieces of beautifully designed outfits worn by influential people flashed before my eyes and at that moment, after waiting for so long, I was satisfied.

Okay, so what is a Met Gala? 

The Met Gala is fomerly known as the Costume Institute Gala aka the Met Ball. It is a annual fundraising gala for the benefit of Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City that serves as an opening celebration for the Institute's annual fashion exhibit. The Gala is widely regarded as one of the most exclusive social events in New York and one of the biggest fundraising nights in the city with nine million dollars raised in 2013 and a record of 12 million dollars the following year. The Met has been held since 1946 and is attended by personalities from the arts, fashion, high-society, film and music. It is considered to be the fashion industry's premier annual red carpet event and the outfits there are widely photographed, reviewed, critiqued and emulated. I admire the people who show up at such events because it must take a lot of effort to prep yourself physically and mentally to show up at an event only to be judged.

This year's Met Gala's theme is China: Through the Looking Glass. However, in my opinion, most designers misinterpreted the the theme wrongly. Most of the guests who showed up at the event did not match with this years theme. I felt rather shocked and disappointed (Beyonce and Miley ya). For example, have a look at Lady Gaga's dress. Yes, it is a kimono. Kimonos are from JAPAN, not China.  As a designer of a major label, shouldn't you research more on what China, one of the world's top leading country's culture is like?

Anyway, here are some of the outfits that I think matched the theme.

H&M

Erdem

Giuseppe Zanotti

Roberto Cavalli

Valentino

Balmain

And of course the winner of the night, THE iconic yellow dress worn by Rihanna which took 20 months to construct.

Guo Pei

5' 7

One of my childhood goals is to reach a height of at least 170cm. I would be able to see the world better at 170cm, or at concerts at least. People often say short people or fun-sized people have more fun. To them, short people appear to be more 'adorable' and more outgoing because of their short stature. I beg to differ. Not sure if blondes have more fun, but being short is definitely not fun, for me at least. At a height of barely 5''2, I'm at a disadvantage. I cannot reach the top of shelves, I can't see the concert act properly and I cannot sit on some of the rides in theme parks.

Ok, I know that we should all love our body for the way it is, no matter how big or small. I've read countless body positive posts/articles, telling me that I should accept my body and that I should not compare my body with other people because this body is MINE. If I had a dollar for every time i come across a post like that, I would have been able to pay for my college fees on my own. Don't get me wrong, I don't despise my body and I certainly do not conform to the unrealistic expectations of society that every lady must have a pretty face, bodacious body, long legs and a slim waist. I just wish that I did more things like jumping or swimming to increase my height to make my life slightly easier before my lateral growth stops permanently.

In my opinion, tall people look better in most clothes compared to short people. Maybe its their long legs that enhance their body silhouette. For example, tall men look much leaner in slacks compared to shorter men. Midi skirts can make a tall person's legs appear much longer, but it can make a person with short legs appear much shorter. Fashion talk aside, I find that people usually take tall people more seriously. Unless you're short but you're vocal and are able to captivate someone. Maybe it's because a short body frame resemble a child in the adult world.  Maybe it's because a person's tall stature appears to have more authority or appear to be more intimidating. Women wear high-heels for many reasons, one of them might be to look taller and more powerful, especially in an office environment dominated by men. Maybe I'm wrong. 

So here I am, stuck in 5''2, wishing that there are miracle leg lengthening pills that can elongate my legs. I can only rely on high-heels to compensate for my lack-of height. Please don't take this post seriously. I apologise if I've offended or hurt you. We all have to learn to accept our body because if we don't, we will never be happy, including me. I don't want to live my life unhappily. Do you want to live your life unhappily?

I'm A Mess Right Now

PCD also known as Post-Concert-Depression. The name itself is pretty self explanatory. I have PCD and its eating me alive. Thank you, Ed Sheeran.

Ed Sheeran, otherwise known as ginger Jesus, is the way to most girls' heart. You want to express your undying love to her and make her heart melt? Serenade her with Ed's songs. You want her to marry you? Sing Ed's songs. Its something in the lyrics of his songs and the way he sings it that makes everyone have a soft spot for him (I'm talking about his sweet mushy songs like 'Autumn Leaves' and 'Photograph') On the other hand, when he unleashes his rapper side, his songs will get you really pumped up and make you want to dance, for me at least. 

Ed is on tour for his second album, X (read as multiply). Recently, he performed in places like Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Singapore. His last stop for the tour's Asian leg is Kuala Lumpur. When I knew that he was coming to KL, I was beyond ecstatic, so much so that I couldn't sleep. If I'm not mistaken, the tickets were sold out last December. I feel so fortunate to have bought them in time, thanks to my friend who kept bugging me to buy them quickly. After getting our hands on the tickets, we played the waiting game.

Day after day, the number of days our countdown app displayed got lesser and lesser. It was a tough game to play. Finally, March 16, the day of the concert came. The concert, held in KLCC was a free standing concert, so whoever lines up first will be closer to the stage. Based on my past concert experience, I suggested to my friend to make our way there before noon. We took the LRT and managed to reach there at noon. Upon reaching the lobby, our jaws dropped when we saw the queue outside the hall gates. The queue extended from one end of the lobby to the other end. We were one of the last ones who managed to wait in the air- conditioned lobby. Latecomers had to sit outside in the sun. I heard that some avid fans who are in front of the queue came at 6 a.m. And we thought we came way too early!

The doors will only open at 6.30 p.m, so we had a lot of time to spare. Denise Chan, former Hitz.fm announcer kept us entertained with games and giveaways. I would show you a picture of the long queue but I was trying to preserve my phone's battery. Sorry! Also, we struck up an acquaintance with a girl who was patiently waiting in line as well. It was so sweet of her to reserve our spot while we went out to buy lunch. We learned that she, too, was a SPM candidate. 

Security opened the doors at the designated time and everyone filed in quickly in hopes to get the closest to the stage as possible. In no time at all, the audience were all packed like sardines in a poorly air-conditioned can, especially the audience in the front row. The smell of sweat wafting through the air made me feel suffocated. I cannot imagine how the audience in the front row breathe when I'm struggling for a gasp of less pungent-smelling air even though I'm standing approximately 3 rows of people behind them. Lazy country/blues music bled out from the speakers while we wait for the clock to strike 8.30 p.m. I wish they played more upbeat music to keep our spirits up while we wait for 2 hours till Ed comes out. Not gonna lie, the slow music made me a little drowsy. Thankfully, halfway through the 2-hour wait, Faizal Tahir, a talented local singer sang some songs including one of his hits, 'Assalamualaikum'. His delightful presence lit up the hall and brought back our spirits.

Finally, the moment we've been waiting for came. A mop of ginger hair came around the corner of the stage and the strum of guitar rang throughout the hall. And there he was, my inspiration standing right before my eyes. Ed started the show with one of my favourites in X, which is 'I'm A Mess'. The atmosphere in the hall and the rush of adrenaline as Ed performed was indescribable.We were all so enthralled by his singing and by the the way he played his guitar.When he sang less upbeat songs like "Thinking Out Loud'  and 'Tenerife Sea', it was truly a sight to see. Firstly, he calmed the crowd and asked the crowd to sing the songs softly as the song progressed. With his eyes closed, he played the songs. Verse by verse, my heart turned to mush. Ed also took a picture of the crowd halfway through the show and posted it on Instagram later on.

Personally, my favourite performance was when he sang a mashup/medley of 'Dont', 'No Diggity' and 'Loyal'. I'm so astonished that Ed does not need any backup singers, dancers or fancy props to put on a good show. It's truly amazing how he only needs his voice, his trusty guitars and his pedal to wow everyone in the room. Its the raw factor in his performances that makes his shows more intimate. Enough talk now, you probably won't even read this far, but if you did, thank you for reading my Ed Sheeran concert experience. Here are some pictures I took that night. Enjoy!

Tenerife Sea ; now you know what I mean

Photograph

Ed posted this on his Instagram

Love is in the air, so is the smell of CNY food

Valentines day and Chinese New Year. The two days that people either look forward to or dread. Personally, I am still quite ambivalent on the idea of V-day (okay, maybe I do dislike it a little), but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Chinese New Year.

Let’s start with Valentines Day.  Ah, a where men have to fork out their savings to please their partner/person of interest. A day where florist, chocolate stores and little stores which sells stuff like teddy bears have profits flying off the wall. Ah, valentines day what a lovely day.

First things first, I want to dispel the notion that everyone who dislikes Valentine’s Day is just bitter or jealous or single. I am not one of them.  One of the many reasons why I am not so fond of this day is because of pathetic singles who won't stop whining about not having a valentine. What's so great about having a valentine? So what if your friends all have valentines and so what if practically every store is decorated with pink and red hearts? Life is too short for pesky little things like this put you in a bad mood. In fact, to me, having a valentine is a liability. In modern day society, it has become mandatory for couples, especially men to buy extravagant gifts like chocolates or a candlelit dinner for their valentine. So, during V-Day season, both partners will have to spend more on unnecessary gifts. Other than that, most restaurants will be packed. Your overpriced candlelight dinner might not even taste as good as you thought it will be. In the end, both partners will end up staring at their bank statement or wallet with furrowed eyebrows whereas the retail shop and restaurant owners will be counting their profit happily.

Next reason is the mere fact that we have made it a point that just one day we have to express our love for the person. Why do we have to prove how much we love a person based off how many teddy bears or roses they get? Why do we have to prove to people that we love them from little novelty gifts? Are gifts supposed to make up for lost times in an unfaithful relationship? We have 365 days a year and it is yet set by us that we have just one day to shower them with materialised 'love'. That is ridiculous.  Love should be celebrated everyday not just with your love interest, but with your family and friends as well. Simple gestures like listening to them, helping out with house chores or making them laugh is equally, if not more valuable than lavish gifts like a Tiffany & Co. necklace. 

Valentine's day has strayed away from its true purpose and has risen expectations for women and men. People will be anxious on what gifts to buy for their partners because if they do not impress the other half, the other half will be let down and be angry and as time passes, expectations have risen. The media adds fuel to this fire. People will compare and measure their self-worth based on what they got as a gift and what the rich and famous got from their partners. People do not think cards/flowers are amazing anymore, it has risen to jewelry, expensive electronics, expensive gift cards etc. Isn't Valentine's day a day for us to appreciate each other's presence and love? Where is the sense of appreciation in modern society? Without appreciation and gratitude, we will never be happy. You will never know the true value of something until it becomes a memory.

Moving on to Chinese New Year. Have I mentioned before that I LOVE CNY? I mean, the food, the atmosphere, and the deafening sound of the firecrackers? What's not to love about this festivity? Well, its okay if you're not on the same page with me, I am Chinese after all and its no surprise that I'm so pumped up about it. Chinese new year is a lovely time for families to reunite and celebrate togetherness. As for youngsters, it is an occasion to receive money and eat our face off. As they say, every rose has its thorns. I feel like the reasons that I'm about to delve into on what are the things I dislike about Chinese new year are kind of absurd and vapid, but I have to cough up something for this assignment so please bear with me.

Absurd reason number one: spring cleaning
Spring cleaning is a must every Chinese household before the new year comes. I'm not too sure about the real reason why we must do it before the new year, but I think its because by cleaning our house, we will get rid of the bad luck from the previous year. I'm sorry I let you down, ancestors for I have not been a good descendant. I'm not too fond of cleaning nor am I good at it. Ironically, I like my house to be clean and tidy. I know some people do like to clean, but cleaning is not my forte.

Absurd reason number two: scorching sun and unforgiving weather
Here in Malaysia when CNY approaches, the weather becomes extremely hot. The sun will continuously fry you for at least a month before it decides to let you cool down. In this crazy weather, you don't even need to turn on the water heater to take a shower. As the water beats down on your body, it feels like Satan is giving you a seductive lick on the back. The temptation to eat of CNY cookies makes the worse. Typically, festive cookies and delicacies are 'heaty' in nature. When consumed at a slight excessive amount, you WILL fall sick. So, hot weather + heaty food = recipe for disaster.

Now, I know most youngsters' complain that their relatives are being too nosy or try to pry into their life. I beg to differ. When my relatives ask me about my life, or even the most unnecessary things, I know that they are trying to look out for me. Sometimes, their advice may seem too blunt or even insulting but I know their critiques may act as a guide for me so that I don't have to learn life the hard way like them. I try to filter out their criticism and use what I think is their form of constructive criticism as a guide for me to be a better person. 

Time is a precious thing. I hope to learn and create as much memories as possible on my roller coaster ride of life.I try to savour and live every moment to the fullest because you never know how much time you have left until your roller coaster ride comes to an end. 

'We never go out of style'

If you have been keeping up with the latest fashion news, you most probably know that New York, London and Milan, some of the major current fashion capitals held their iconic fashion week. Major designer labels like Pucci, Fendi, Moschino and Prada exhibited their new clothing collections to audiences around the world. Usually, I don’t keep up with the latest fashion news. I only got to know about it when I stumbled across Snapchat’s live feed from the event.

Fashion is a popular style or practice, especially in clothing, footwear, accessories, makeup, or furniture. It is a distinctive and often habitual trend in the style in which a person dresses. Although aspects of fashion can be feminine or masculine, some trends are androgynous. Fashion is an industry that generates good profit (British fashion industry is worth £21bn a year as of 2009) but it is highly competitive. What comes into my mind when I see the word 'fashion'? Something that makes modern-day society judge a person based on their clothing choices or style and completely disregard a person's personality. *cough TV show Fashion Police cough* Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be pessimistic. I enjoy watching fashion shows and I do get excited when a certain label launches a new collection. It’s just that I get quite agitated when people, especially fashion critiques condemn one's 'bad fashion sense', but if a designer label were to do so, their perspective changes and suddenly that style becomes 'high-fashion'. In my opinion, fashion paves a pathway for the media to create a highly materialistic society and instills the idea that one can fit well into society or rise above the rest if they have the latest fashionable goods. It’s no surprise that fashion; a powerful hand in society has caused many to become a victim of it. Fashion victims are often flooded with unsettled bank statements but a closetful of unnecessary items. I have to admit that fashion is not that bad either. It promotes change and distinguishes different times or era. For example, kitten heels were popularised by Audrey Hepburn in the 50's whereas bold colours/prints were a fashion staple during the 80's. As we all know, first impressions are crucial in the corporate world. As the saying goes ‘you never get a second chance to make a good first impression’, fashion acts as a guide for people to dress appropriately so that he/she can present themselves well.

Believe it or not, much of our most iconic fashion was developed in times such as early man and medieval times. Thanks to the evolution of the human brain, we have been able to change and tweak some of the earliest fashion items into trends that have found eternal popularity. Here are some facts mind-boggling facts about fashion.

1. Heels

Ah, something that most women drool over, especially the ones with the iconic red sole. Women have a love hate relationship with it as it enhances one’s posture and figure but also causes one to cry ‘ouch’ after wearing them for a long time. High-heels actually has roots in early Renaissance times, but they were worn by men! Why? By elevating themselves with a heel, they could show off their social status. Heels were also seen as functional when it came to horseback riding because it locked the shoe into the stirrup. Women started to don heels in the 16th century, when a rather short noblewoman named Catherine de Medici started wearing heels to compensate her short stature. In the 1950s, Roger-Henri Vivier re-popularised the high heel with the invention of the stiletto.

Audrey Hepburn in dons a pair of kitten heels.

2. Bikini

On July 5, 1946, Louis Reard unveiled a daring two-piece swimsuit at the Piscine Molitor, a popular swimming pool in Paris. The bikini was the first of its kind to show off a woman’s midriff along with her butt and cleavage. Western countries immediately ban the bikini from beaches and pools. The Vatican even publicly declared it sinful. Marilyn Monroe immediately took advantage of the controversy associated with the bikini and decided to pose in photos wearing it. By the end of the century, the bikini had become one of the trendiest beachwear worldwide.

3. Sunglasses

Sunglasses have early roots dating back through centuries as the Inuit wore glasses made out of walrus ivory to help block out the sun! Today, sunglasses have multiple uses from protecting our eyes from the harmful UV rays to being a trendy fashion item. Designers have made their millions from sunglasses, such as Ray-Ban, when they developed glasses exclusively for the military that eventually turned into a hot fashion trend. Pair your aviators with a leather jackets and you’re the coolest kid in town!

4. Air Jordans

Since its introduction into the sports market in the 80s, the Air Jordan evolved from being basketball shoes to high end footwear. Michael Jordan created a buzz when he wore his signature shoes to NBA games, which was against the rules at the time. However, Nike was happy to pay the $5000 fine he racked up every game. The jumpman logo is now an iconic symbol in popular culture.

5. Miniskirt

The miniskirt, one of the most poignant fashion items found its birth in the mid-twentieth century. Mary Quant created the miniskirt in 1965 and named her design after her favourite car: The Mini Cooper. She wanted to create something practical and liberating. However, when the mini skirt came out, women protested the garment because it was believed that it made a woman more vulnerable to rape. The miniskirt became a symbol for women’s freedom of expression in the late 60’s.

6. Leather jackets

In the early 1900’s leather jackets were worn by aviators and members of the military. In the later-half of the 20^th century, it gained its popularity as it became a trend in Hollywood films. A leather jacket was used to shape a character, providing an important ingredient used to define the very essence of ‘cool’. Many famous characters like James Dean and John Travolta will always be remembered sporting a leather jacket.

James Dean

With so much that has happened with fashion items of the past, there’s no telling what is ahead of us for the future.