<![CDATA[2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix : Grid Girls Blog : Jessebella T]]> http://www.singtelrace.com/ 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix : Grid Girls Blog : Jessebella T Copyright 2009 by SingTelRace.com <![CDATA[How to stay healthy and happy. ]]>
We all know the basics:

1. Eat healthy!

2. Exercise

3. Do things you love


But here are a couple of my own tips I think are super important and are slight variations,  that some people might disagree with, or even find strange, but I believe in wholeheartedly:

1. Always treat yourself. It could be an awesome, calorie-laden meal if you happen to be on a diet (which I don't actually follow, because I really really can't resist food, especially of the unhealthy variety e.g. pasta in cream sauce!) or, it could be a small purchase that you absolutely want, in a month where you've done your expenses and find you can afford to purchase.


here's the pasta from the previous post, if only because it looks so good.


One extra tip: I always believe in the super-oh-my-god-its-worth-it formula for purchases, which is ridiculous and makes me appear like a bimbo, but allow me to explain before you judge.:D

Worth-it-ness =
Cost of purchase /
No. of approx times of possible wear with consideration of quality expectations, and given a certain time frame

i.e. If a pair of leggings cost $20, but, (having taken into consideration how long it will last and how long you'll be interested in wearing it), you expect to wear at least fifty times (because after all, leggings are so versatile), technically the cost of the leggings are (and here's where the ditzy bimbo part comes in), 20/50= 0.4, or 40c per wear.

versus a fantastic printed dress that costs only $50, but you know that it's memorable, hard to match, and requires certain occasions to wear, and might go out of style soon, only thrice, then the technical cost is 50/3=$16.60 per wear. Hence not a good purchase, probably.


It's ridiculous, but if you're of the female species, you've probably, more than once, have had to make that decision of whether you should purchase that item, and found that your mind tends to block out the rational, especially during a sale. haha. hence the forcing of your mind to use the most rational format of thinking ever, the formula.

It's helped me so many times to walk away from a purchase that I later realised was unwise in the first place, and the feeling when you do actually make a purchase makes you happy because you know you've thought it through thoroughly. :)


2. Make up for unhealthy habits by having extra healthy ones.

e.g. I love calorie-laden food, but all the oil and deep-frying is extremely bad for skin. I try to make up for it by being obsessive about drinking juices (which I love anyway), eating more fruits, and making sure I never scrimp or forget my skincare routine after. I also aim to eat a healthy meal in proportion to every unhealthy meal, or at least a healthier one. Soups are good options.


3. Excercise is not limited to the boring stuff.

If you're not into the traditional running and swimming kinds of exercise, take on ones that you enjoy. I love swimming, but I can't run to save my life, and gym routines tend to bore me out with repetition. So I swim when I can, but I also dance and do yoga, which is therepeutic not just for your body but for your mind as well. Somehow all those moments of silence really do relax your mind.

If you're a party-goer, all the better! Dancing isn't limited to a dull class if it's not your thing, head to that party and instead of sitting down guzzling calorie-laden alcoholic drinks, head down to the dance floor and dance it all out. Not shuffle, really dance. If you realise, party-goers tend to to be of the acceptable weight category. Strange, but true.

And at the end of the day, you were working out to something you enjoy, so it makes you happy to do it, rather than miserable.


So that sums up some of my tips for staying healthy and happy. Some of them might work for you, and some of them might not, and some of them might even seem strange to you, but they work for me, so I hope they do for you as well :)



juice out!

xoxo,
j.

]]> Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:57:22 GMT <![CDATA[What is your most sinful favourite food? ]]>
To be exact, pasta overflowing with cream sauce. less pasta, more sauce please! and loads of cheese powder on the side, thank you very much.




Choice of pasta: a mix of

penne, because it scoops up the sauce in the middle so every bite is like a dream!

and



linguine, the "flat spaghetti", because the flat surfaces 'grab' more sauce. it does, i swear.




sigh.


sigh.


sigh, sigh, sigh.


ravioli is awesome too!




no points for guessing what i'll be having for lunch and dinner today -laughs

xoxo,
j.



]]> Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:12:01 GMT <![CDATA[Do you like male chivlary? Does it exist or is dead and gone? ]]> Male chivalry in the sense of the term has evolved so far throughout time. It came about through the medieval ages, whose influence served as the basic tenets of European gentlemanly behavior. In the 1700s, it was then embraced by the forefathers of America, whose leading position disseminated its influence throughout the rest of the world.

But what exactly determines male chivalry? According to the ethical ideals of the medieval times, truth, loyalty, courtesy, honoring of women, justice, and  scandal avoidance are values definitive of the concept.

Progression, however, has taken its course, and in my opinion, chivalry has developed to go with the times, having undergone time, feminism, and media influence. Today, I would say that it does exist, but in a modern form and to varying degrees with each man. Some men maintain certain ideals and forget the others, others have chivalry ingrained in them by habit and training but have been swayed by pop culture and various other influences. A man who is faithful to his wife may not be in the habit of giving up their seat to others, and likewise one who offers to help an elderly carry bags may be abusive to his wife. One never knows.
 
But looking at the big picture, I'd stand with that it exists but in varying degrees.


Personally, I enjoy a certain amount of male chivalry (i.e. the male chivalry directed towards women), if done with sincerity or if ingrained of habitual courtesy and upbringing. I say a certain amount, because I appreciate the helping with the opening of doors, or the carrying of groceries, or volunteering to fix a laptop, for example, but there are certain things I enjoy doing myself as well such as the carrying of my own purse, and I also believe that when one comes into contact with too much chivalry, one takes it for granted. I like the surprise of a date showing an unexpected act of chivalry, which I appreciate and enjoy.

:)

xoxo,
j.

p.s. If you're dating someone or married, take some time out of your day to show her an act of male chivalry, no matter how small, that you don't usually do. You'll be surprised at how much she'll enjoy it :)]]> Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:45:57 GMT <![CDATA[Which celebrities possess the qualities you'd like to find in your dream partner? ]]>


For this question I'd just have to pick Johnny Depp. I like that he's committed to his work and always strives for perfection, daring enough to take on work most actors would shun, artistic, creative, carries himself well, and also happens to be family-oriented.

I wouldn't necessarily say that these are all qualities I'd like to find in my dream partner. There are of course qualities I'd add, or wouldn't need in these so-called 'ideal traits'. But what I would acknowledge are that the traits Depp have are traits that I respect and admire.

xoxo,
j.
]]> Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:18:37 GMT <![CDATA[10 things you'd be surprised to know about me]]>
So I haven't been blogging here for quite a bit, and I feel awful about it. To everyone who's been waiting for me to update my grid girls blog, please accept my sincere apologies! I hope it's not too late to start, and to show my sincerity I'm going to catch up on every post, and what better way that to start with 10 things you'd be surprised to know about me. :) here goes!



I wish I could say I've spent the whole time baking, but well. haha

10) I wouldn't consider myself an overachiever, but I used to want to do absolutely everything. I have a ABRSM Grade 7 in piano, an SYF Gold playing the violin with the string orchestra, danced for five years as a cheerleader, put my finger into the pot of ballet, modern jazz, and hiphop, and was invited for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) in 05. I also took the SATS, and went to India twice to do community work, but more on that later. :D

9) I have OCD, which is the term for obsessive compulsive disorder. It's one of my strangest traits, and I've learnt to control it, but my obsession is balance, which means if you hit/pinch/poke/tap me on one side of my body like say my arm, I'll feel lopsided and need you to do the exact same thing to my other arm. It's completely ridiculous, often hilarious, and drives me and everyone else insane.

8) My family and friends are super important people to me. I've been through the ridiculous, the sober, the emotional, and all the other ups and downs with them, so it's been a pretty long journey. Here some of them are in full 356-bit colour, and one of my brother rocking it out on the flyer to the tune of, well, the audio guide. haha.  :D


b


h


k


m and k


e


betty b


d, h, m, yours truly, e, and k


the tamtams! my favourite crazy girls. I'd love to upload individual photos of all of them, but they're way too insane, haha.
from left, lov, eileen, sab, dawn, jilly, summer, myself, and kar



bbg mich!





at zouk wardrobe 09


the brother


7) My favourite colour is black. Hence the name of my personal site, jaiyeinblack, where jaiye (pronounced as j) is what one of my best friends calls me, and black is what i wear almost all of the time. some people may think it's boring, others link it to goth, but really its just an awesome colour and when you mix black of different textures it often comes out amazing.

6) I am deathly obsessed with shoes, especially skyscrapers. Some of my favourites:



5) I enjoy reading philosophy, sometimes with psychology thrown in. My favourites are Nietzsche, Aristotle, and Bertrand Russell. Currently reading: Plato not Prozac by Lou Marinoff.

4) One of my guilty pleasures is reading xiaxue's blog. I love seeing Singapore through the eyes of others, both local and foreign, and she just puts in in one of the most direct, honest, and entertaining ways. And if you've read her alternative blogs, you'll know that she's way more intelligent than she gives herself credit for, so I respect that. :)

3) I secretly want to pursue fashion design after I finish my business degree, preferably at Parsons or St Martin's. My favourite obsession ever is Maison Martin Margiela.

2) I just had my birthday recently, but unfortunately postponed my celebration for two months because I dedicated all my weekends to work. It's actually quite sad, haha.

1) In 05', as aforementioned, I went to India twice. Once was with a team of teachers and one other student to recee over 50 villages hit by the tsunami damage to determine which would be ideal for the end of the year OCIP trip, and the other was the actual trip itself. I taught at the De LaSalle School in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, and my experiences there changed my life and my perception of things. Even till today, I am grounded by the lessons that the students I taught ended up teaching me.

I'm also an avid supporter of the anti-aids movement. I know technically I ran out of points, haha, but here's leaving with a picture of me at last year's world aids day concert. Obviously it's not limited to just checking out concerts, but I try to do my part where I can, like taking part in the  StompAIDS competition, where my team were finalists and we got the chance to share a couple of pointers with other people and  some kooky posters that I designed.



one of the instances where i'm not wearing too much black.haha.

So there you have it! Some may have been surprising to you, and others expected, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless, and that it gives you a better idea of who i am. :)

xoxo,
j. ]]> Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:07:45 GMT <![CDATA[For fame, riches, or power.]]> Fame, Riches or Power? Which would you choose?"

Which would you? To be honest this is the second time I'm doing up this post, the first time I was almost done and was just uploading photos when I was sent back to the login page (yes, haha I have an account too!) and when I came back, my entire entry wasn't saved, not even the draft I was working on the day before. But, because I have an undying love for you, my dear reader, (see how I insert flattery here in the aim of softening you up for my next sentence, haha) I'm redo-ing my entire post for the second, painstaking time, so login now and click on the little cutesy red heart button that says "like it!" so I'll feel like my effort was completely worth it haha. In case you've zheng-ed your system such that a trail of little red hearts and glitter follows your cursor around and you're now confused, this is what it looks like.


obviously, don't click this one, click the mini one up there! haha.

If you don't have an account, you should sign up because you can win points that you can exchange for the great and fantastically overpriced but totally worth it F1 tickets, and random memorabilia that you can bring to the races, get signed, and then sell on ebay for a quick windfall, at certain times of the day.

So back to the point. click!





Here is some excessive space with no text at all whilst you scroll down so you'll get so bored you'll click it.






Haha okay I'm really just being annoying, but I'll appreciate if you do. If you already did, thank you! Back to the main point. Fame, riches, or power.

Obviously, according to the unstated rules of the game, you can't pick all three, and technically it'll be cheating if you say oh, I pick A because if I have A i can get B and C or vice versa, because you still wind up with all three. (I know, you were thinking that, weren't you? Haha.) I've already made my choice, and I picked power, but the thought process was deep, intellectual, and complicated. So, well, I made a list. haha. I love lists! I love lists. Can you sense my obsession yet.


Here is a random and absolutely unnecessary photo of the friend and I who love making lists. Love making lists at cafes on cafe serviettes, to be exact. Haha. As you can see, we don't appear here as the most sensible of people, and in those instances lists help make sense of the world.


Fame

So you're superfamous, Marilyn Monroe level famous where you just have to take a shot over an air vent and the whole world will go gaga over it. Unfortunately, you're absolutely broke, and have sixty thousand installments to pay for your thirty-four room mansion with the guitar-shaped swimming pool and your Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, because, of course, you have to keep up appearances. Also, you have absolutely no say in what you do, and people are constantly ordering you around.

Pros:

1. Publicity power! You could actually make a difference with what you advocate.


Nicole Kidman for the UN.
(credits to www.monstersandcritics.com)

Cons:

1. Depending on how you got your fame, it'll affect the amount of influence you have. let's put it this way.

Ran a marathon for charity around the world = excellent
Attained fame through magnanimosity of fairy godmother = good
Joined Singtel Grid Girls = Very good (haha, you know I just had to include this)

However,

Went on a one-man vandalising spree across the nation = bad
Danced in yellow undies on national television accompanied by bad singing and floppy belly, simultaneously inducing skin-crawling shock and to the unanimous chorus of "oh my god" = very, very, very bad.

See?

2. You'll have to endure a massive load of criticism and general speculation of every inch and crevice of you and your life on magazines, websites, forums, and the like. Comments could possibly include, in varying levels of bad spelling and grammer, "Har, why she got eyebags one! Tot she famous wat."


(Credits to Star Magazine)


Riches

Techinically, with a certain modicum of riches comes a certain level of power, because you could change circumstances with a charitable donation, or by placing money in the wrong hands.

Still, ignoring this loophole that's big enough for all of China's 1.3 billion people and their LV bags, and assuming you're rich enough to snap your fingers to make unicorns out of horses and expensive acrylic painted with O.P.I polish and reinforced with diamonds and white gold, with safety precautions to satisfy the demands of PETA, but are relatively unknown except for within your little circle of douchebag friends who possibly (likely) mooch off your money, and not to mention you have absolutely no say in real world issues, like law and rights and humanitarian causes, let's look at pros and cons.


Possibly PETA approved unicorn.

Pros:

1. Instant Gratification! All the money in the world to get every car, watch every F1 race in every city, travel, and recklessly spend on fashion, that you could ever dream of, except before you have time to dream of it, you'd have already bought it.

2. Your friends will love you! Although possibly or likely because of reason #1.

Cons:

1. See above point #2.

2. One day when you get sick of all your mediocre purchases and want to actually do something significant so you won't wind up just another speck of insignificant dust, you won't be able to because your lady gaga godmother granted you a choice of only one and you picked riches. Tough luck.


Which, of course, brings us to power. Hooray.


Power

Pros:

1. Power actually means you can make a difference. Your influence could change laws, help certain minority groups attain rights, raise awareness for charitable groups, and change the lives of individuals. Power means you have influence over the rich and famous. So you don't actually have to be rich and famous, but you can use the publicity of the famous and the money of the rich for your causes. Awesome.

Cons:

1. If you're actually an evil warlock in disguise and you'd rather use your power to take over the world, that would be tres horrible for everyone else.

2. You don't actually get to enjoy the benefits of the rich and famous. You could probably actually exercise your influence to get the F1 to build a circuit in your backyard, only you wouldn't have the money to fund it, or you probably wouldn't have a backyard big enough to fund it anyways. The recent Istanbul circuit is already a whopping 5,378m long with an average width of 15m.

3. If you're a douchebag with a huge load of power and mess it up, you'll screw up the lives of millions of people, without probably even knowing it.


absolutely random photo. not a hint at anything at all.
(www.artbygrant.com)


So in considering power, obviously since I'm quite aware that I'm not an evil warlock in disguise, nor is there a likelihood that anyone could screw up so much power to such an extent, and although i would so love to have a couple of Ferrari, Mercedes, and BMW cars to go along with the craziest Balmain designs, I honestly would give them up to at least change the lives of a few people, and be able to make a difference. I would hate to know that at the end of the day I lived a mediocre life, so if really the choice came down to fame, money, or power, I'd pick power any day.

What would you pick? It's worth thinking about. And making a list about. :)



xoxo,
j.


P.s. If you enjoyed my post please click the like it button all the way at the top of the post! :) see, don't i look so exhausted from writing this post, twice, no less! I know, my bid for votes is so shameless, haha. Love you all.

 ]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:23:17 GMT <![CDATA[Hello, world. ]]>


Shaky photo taken after a Singtel photoshoot, courtesy of a violently swaying bus.

I'm Jessebella, 20 as of this precise second, and currently a business undergraduate and a freelance model in my spare time. I like fast cars, creamy pasta, lions in the wild, museums, girls with weird eyes, boys who know Nietzsche, lemons straight up, and over accessorizing.

If you haven't yet noticed, fast cars are right up there at the top of my list, which is exactly why I'm here in the first place. I've always loved speed, adrenaline, and cars-- my dad's a huge fan and, with no boys in the family until eight years later, treated me like one and passed on the passion. Not being able to join last year nor get tickets of my own due to external commitments, my experience with the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix involved balancing on one five-inch stilletto heel on a Marina Square ledge packed amongst throngs of sweaty people equally bent on keeping their balance on their (obviously much more sensible) track shoes, hell bent on catching more than just a glipse of V8 engine-powered monsters whizzing past in a blur of speed and hell on earth. This year, I wanted in on the action.

When I signed up to be a Singtel Grid Girl this year, I wanted to be able to experience the F1 Race closeup, but simultaneously also to hopefully get the chance to represent Singapore and Singtel as an F1 Grid Girl, because it's an honour, and a chance to play a part in Singapore's history. Sure, my face isn't going to be on a two dollar bill anytime soon, but I like to think that I was involved in contributing to Singapore in a way that I was passionate about.


at the yatch profile shoot, dress from mango

Anyways, all I can say is that since I found out that I managed to get into the top 21, it's been an absolutely insane ride! I feel really fortunate and super excited for what's already happened and what's to come. I've also learnt a million and one things from all the workshops held and so far it's really been an experience worth joining for, and I haven't even been to any of the races yet!

So in the meantime, stay awesome, and I'll post soon.


xoxo,
j.
]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:36:14 GMT