Author: Anne-Maria Kho

In celebration of World Emoji Day on 17 July 2019, 65 new emojis will be released later this year. This release comes together with the launch of Android Q which is slated for an August release. What stands out about this new set of emojis are that they are incredibly inclusive. The new emojis represent differently-abled people, as well as LGBTQ couples. In total, there are 71 couples with different skin tones. The new animal emojis include a skunk, orang-utan, sloth, flamingo, service dog and a guide dog. We’ve had Christmas and Thanksgiving emojis for awhile. Now there’s even a…

It was announced on @spongebob’s official Instagram account (yes, Spongebob Squarepants) that Nike’s ambassador Kyrie Irving will be collaborating with Spongebob for a new drop. This Kyrie Irving X Spongebob collaboration is rumoured to drop around August 2019. The collection has five colourways, representing the five main characters of the classic Nickelodeon cartoon – Spongebob Squarepants, Patrick Star, Squidward Tentacles, Mr. Krabs and Sandy Cheeks. The shoes reflect each character perfectly and are very distinctively coloured accordingly. On top of that, the Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Star shoes have “hand-drawn” character names behind the tongue. Interestingly, Spongebob shoes have an…

Acrylic lava lamp nail designs are sweeping social media feeds, especially on Instagram. Are they the new in-thing? This latest nail trend is definitely one that I can get on board with; Lava lamp nails. The nail technician/genius behind this creation is Instagram user Liam Peter aka @liampeternails. The lava lamp nails feature a metallic silver base from the base of the nail then a long crystal-clear nail with neon accents to represent the ‘lava’ and a silver cap on the tip to finish the lamp. To achieve this innovative nail art, the nail technician had to combine two different types…

If you know me, you’d know I hate the thought of looking old. Yeah, growing old is inevitable but I just pretend like it’s not. Right now, there’s a new mobile phone filter trend going around where you can transform yourself into an older you called FaceApp. All you have to do is download FaceApp from your app store or Play store. The app has a free trial period of three days. From there, you can choose which photo you wanna use to virtually age yourself. Other free filters include giving you a toothy smile and switching genders. I asked…

If you’re tired of spending Ladies Night at a Singapore club, why not check out this Popcorn Pop-Up cinema? On 30 July, Bar Canary is hosting a pop-up movie screening of the modern cult-classic “Mean Girls”. Each ticket costs S$10, and right now they’re having a promotion- buy 3, get 1 free! You and your friends can chill at this uber-chic poolside bar at Bar Canary while watching Regina George scream her lungs out. Let’s face it, we’ve all pretty much watched Mean Girls too many times to count. But c’mon, that movie never gets old. Watching it in a…

Step into an ethereal wonderland this August at the annual Singapore Night Festival, from 23 to 31 August 2019. The Singapore Night Fest promises an exciting line-up of arts experiences, music performances and cultural exhibitions for people of all ages. This massive street party will be held at the Bras Basah.Bugis arts and heritage district from 7:30pm to 12am during the festival running dates. Catch a performance by the internationally renowned Argentinean troupe, Fuerza Bruta. This 360-degree sensory theatre spectacle is performed over and around a standing audience. On festival nights the National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum and…

One thing that all audience members of the Singapore National Day Parade always look forward to is the NDP funpacks. Our team were sent some preview funpacks in advance and we’re sharing the find with our readers on what to expect. The NDP 2019 funpacks are more versatile than ever, with adjustable straps so you can choose to carry em’ as backpacks or as tote bags. The  NDP 2019 funpacks bear some resemblance to Herschel Supply backpacks with only one huge bucket opening to contain everything. The bags come in red or white and have a water-resistant lining. Here’s what you…

Bucket hats are making another comeback- with KFC. I know, first the IKEA bucket hat and now this? Fans of bucket hats must be going nuts. KFC Russia has released their very own bucket hats, with streetwear brand Mam Cupy. The bucket hat’s design mirrors KFC’s classic chicken bucket with its bright red and white stripes. It has an upside down Colonel Sanders logo on the front and “MAMCUPY” on the back. You’re probably wondering what sets this apart from regular bucket hats. Well, this bucket hat can hold your fried chicken too, that’s why the KFC logo is “upside down”…

“The last thing the world needs is another beauty brand. But that’s too bad.” Lady Gaga has thrown us yet another surprise, a full range of beauty products under Parisian Haus Laboratories. The Oscar-winning songwriter has announced that she will be releasing her very own beauty brand, Haus Laboratories, exclusively on Amazon. Starting from September 2019, fans can buy kits containing lip gloss, lip liner and all-over colour. Products that are cruelty-free. Starting from September, Haus Laboratories’ products will be available for purchase on Amazon. Pre-orders are also available 15 July onwards. In a promotional video, she says “We want you…

Hello Kitty is collaborating with Herschel Supply to give us another adorable collection this July 2019. This limited edition bag collection celebrates Hello Kitty’s 45th birthday and is available now in Sanrio’s boutique stores and its online store, as well as Herschel Supply online store. The Hello Kitty x Herschel collection includes fanny packs, cross-body bags, backpacks and duffel bags! Each of these pieces shares a similar design, adorned with a huge decorative Hello Kitty red bow and a glossy Hello Kitty patch embroidery that’s exclusive to the anniversary collection. Cruz Crossbody The Cruz Crossbody bags come in four colours,…

Banyan Tree Bintan is launching its newest villa addition, the Kelong Villa. This first-ever floating sanctuary in Bintan is located about 250 metres from the Laguna Bintan integrated resort in Indonesia and just an hour from Singapore. Starting 15 July 2019, guest can book a stay at this eco-friendly accommodation that overlooks the South China Sea. The Kelong Villa was built and named as a tribute to the offshore stilted platforms and homes used by local fishermen. Here’s what to expect. Guests will need to board a pokchai (motorized wooden boat) at the beachfront in order to reach Kelong Villa. The…

Mario Kart is FINALLY going to be available on smartphones! Specially for smartphones, Mario Kart Tour is rumoured to be released in the third quarter of 2019 since its development announcement in 2018. Nintendo hasn’t officially shared much other than hinting at a summer 2019 release, but as with good games, development delays are a real possibility. Fortunately, Mario Kart Tour has been released in Closed Beta on Android since mid-2019 and there have been user-contributed screenshots of the gameplay you can expect. Here’s what we can tell from the Closed Beta gameplay: The game is played vertically Kart acceleration…

Bucket hats have been trending for a while now, and so has upcycling. IKEA has upcycled their FRAKTA shopping bags to bring us IKEA KNORVA fisherman-style bucket hats. These KNORVA bucket hats are made out of IKEA’s classic blue plastic FRAKTA carrier shopping bags. Each bucket hat is 3.5 inches tall and about 6 inches in diameter, along with the prominent ‘IKEA’ store logo across the front in bright yellow block letters. From what I know, the KNORVA bucket hats were available in most of IKEA’s stores- retailing at US$3.99 (approx S$5.40). Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Singapore’s IKEA stocks…

Jewel @Changi Airport recently opened and its shocking how many stores the retail complex has. Besides restaurants, cafés and the newly opened canopy park, Jewel also houses YotelAir Changi – a hotel inspired by first-class aircraft cabins. YotelAir Changi is a short-stay hotel that is perfect for international travellers and transit passengers. Unlike other hotels, YotelAir allows guests to book a room for a minimum of only 4 hours- perfect if you are waiting for a transit flight, or if your flight is delayed. YotelAir Changi has a total of 130 rooms that range from Premium Queen Cabins to Family Cabins.…

Starbucks always kills it with their collections- many of which are cute and aesthetically pleasing. This latest Valentine’s day collection doesn’t disappoint as well. With the Qixi Festival 七夕情人節 aka Chinese Valentine’s Day approaching on 7 August 2019, Starbucks Taiwan has released a series of unicorn and rainbow-themed mugs to gift your romantic interest. The exclusive unicorn mugs come in white, and pastel pink. Both designs have a lil’ unicorn horn sticking out, and the sides of the mugs have that added sparkle with stars and rainbow illustrations. The white Rainbow Unicorn Mug with rainbow details will retail at NT$750…