Labels: ash brown, asian, black hair, colours, dye

I didn't have much ingredients at home so I experimented with what I had. You know, it's just how it is as a student. You don't always have a fridge packed with meat, vegs, and fruits. (read: coke, chips, take-away, and beer?)

1. Wash rice and while you wait for it to cook, prepare other ingredients.
2. Dice onions into small cubes. If you notice in the picture, I used diced carrots as well, but after eating I don't think carrots suit the overall taste so I think just leave that out.
3. Dice garlic finely.
4. Beat the egg.
5. Cut the cheese into smaller slices.
6. When rice is cooked, let it cool so it isn't too sticky.
7. Turn on the stove, throw in some cooking oil, wait for it to heat, then start with the onion.
8. When garlic turns yellow-ish, insert onions.
9. When onions begin to soften, insert mushrooms.
10. Stir fry everything for some time, and pour in 1/3 or 1/2 of the tomato paste. Add salt and pepper.
11. Push everything to one side, then put in the cooked rice.
12. Mix everything, then add the remaining tomato paste.
13. After all is evenly mixed, push everything to one side, then throw in the egg. Let it cook for a few seconds, (do not let it harden) then quickly mix everything together. This will make the rice sticky, korean-style.
14. Next, add in the slices of cheese. Stir everything so the cheese melts.
15. When you are about to finish, don't forget one tablespoon of mayonnaise. I recommend Kewpie mayo, it's from Japan and tastes awesome. Don't stir it in flame for too long, and transfer everything to a big bowl.

Labels: cooking, ingredients, recipe

Hello everyone! I'm so happy to announce that my new website is up and running.

*cuts the ribbon*

So happy to finally have a website of my own (that is not under free hosting)! It took me days to decide on which web host, and days for me to decide on my domain name (I really did want http://vina-k.co or http://vina-k.jp but they were for Colombia and Japan so…). But in the end I resorted to my full name up there.

I’m aware that I have two blogs to maintain now, the old one being my very personal blog back from high school. This one is more tailored to my design process, projects, inspiration, so on and so forth. Of course I plan to have my portfolio up online as well, but perhaps not now, since I’m not looking for freelance jobs just yet.

Also, I shamefully confess that I did not design this web layout. However, I promise to design it when I get the hang of web design (hopefully soon). Right now, I’m still a lost lamb so give it some time : D

Do give it a visit often, at www.vinakosasih.com
Simple! And for design students with portfolio/design blog websites (strictly NOT personal blog), e-mail me at me@vinakosasih.com for a link exchange. Let's network :)

Labels: blog, design, portfolio, vina kosasih, vinakosasih, website

Labels: alex turvey

I have a lecturer. He told me something inspiring the other day as I spoke to him.

He was praising my work, and told me enthusiastically which direction I should take it forward to. I listened to him, and suddenly noticed that his suggestions did not follow the guidelines of the project. I asked him if that would be a problem. He looked at me (with truly the clearest eyes I've ever seen in my life!) and said, "Sometimes when you have something wonderful in your hands, and you know it, you have to give it the glory it deserves. Not change it into something that is what everybody else is doing."

I was really inspired by his words. This is so far from what I've often been told. Follow the guidelines, the rules. He told me that what I was doing was "wonderful", and for a young student, that word really meant a lot to me, regardless of the possibility that he might have thrown the word in casually as foreigners often do.

I know how it feels to have something in you that you love, only to be told by many that it is ugly, told to change to what they think is better. I know these things cannot be avoided in life. There are too many people in the world and too many different opinions. I asked my brother what he would do if he created something he loved and people told him it wasn't good. His answer was, "If you are going to listen to everyone of them, then you will be like everyone. You need to believe in what you feel is right, because then that will be your personal style. And people will see it."

To be honest I admit I have been taking what people say about me to heart. It has hurt me, confused me and my identity. I will use this post to define some things which say a lot about me, because for me writing/typing always helps put things straight.



1.

 3.



5.

 7.

Labels: design, identity

If you are a parent, I guess you'd understand. Things that you try to teach your children just don't seem to get through them.

I realize today that I have been wrong. And in my mind I recall my parents and their teachings, but mostly their grace. I am ever so grateful to have the most beautiful mother, and the strongest father, who both worked hard to ensure I grow up well. I'm so touched that they feed me, they keep watch of my diet, they took care of me in my sickness, they put up with my tantrums and selfishness. It's the most basic things that are truly wonderful. I only need to recall these things to realize my mistake, and to be educated. And they never even spoke a word. I only need to remember them. I don't know if they know how much they exist in my day-to-day life, even if we don't communicate as much. I think they are everywhere, both physically and mentally. They give me motivation, reassurance, they send me money from home so I can eat, sleep in a nice room, even buy myself items I want. When I think about this I tell myself that I must respect, love, and take care of myself, because they made me.

Also they are both amazing individuals. Genuinely good, honest people, both I am so proud of. They are my role model. Even from my primary school days I looked up to my Mom and told her I wished I could write as beautifully as she. I realize that never changed. Hope one day I can be as awe-inspiring as both of them. Love them both so much

I'm drifting in air
Blossoms of sunlight
scatter across this skin of mine
Her voice kisses me gently
brings the breeze in to cool
what a love, what a magic
what an angel




oh my god Joss Stone
did God bless you with the voice of angels
bless you

Labels: for the love of you, joss tone, music

• Zara dark blue dress
• Copper necklace with key-shaped pendant
• Two scarves: one pink worn inside, another bigger one wrapped outside (Juen's)

Hair and make-up:

• Hair is backcombed and swept slightly sideways in most shots. But this is random because I kept throwing my hair around and messing it up.
• Pat on MAC concealer on lips because I didn't have a true nude lippie :( should really get one soon
• Swept purple eyeshadow from MAC (present from Susan :)) over eyelids and a little under the eyes. Unfortunately we can hardly see the purple in the shots at all...
• And contouring the face with bronzer and orangey blush. Foundation and concealer, I don't need to talk about how I applied that. Concealer is the same one from MAC, my shade is NC-20, and the foundation is a very sheer compact powder foundation from KOSE (Korean) called Sonia Two Way Foundation Case. I have liquid foundation but I hate using it because it cracks on my dry skin even after prior moisturizing...
• Dark brown eyeliner from CEZANNE (Japanese brand). no cat-eye, just very little lining for a bit more definition. This eyeliner doesn't smudge on me so I love it.
• Black mascara, K-Palette 'Real Lasting Volume' - I love this K-Palette brand. It's a Japanese drugstore brand, extremely cheap and fabulous products. Great quality~ Buy their Real Lasting Eyeliner as well if you plan to.
• And the eyebrows, the highlight of my whole look! For eyebrows personally I think you can use anything at all, in this case I used my brown eyeliner as well. Then to make it a bit textured, I used the sponge end of my other Estee Lauder eyeliner. Or... you could use your fingers but that probably won't work as well. Some of the make-up will stick to your finger. 

Big thank you my photographer Juen!! :)
Hope to do this again with you some other time~

Labels: 1983, bold, brows, CEZANNE, eyebrows, fashion, K-Palette, Kenzo, KOSE, MAC, make-up, natural, photo shoot, photoshoot, thick, trend

I was admiring the skies all day, it is a grand masterpiece. An art that is for everyone, of all races, rich and poor. The sky is definitely one of the most wonderful gift God has given me personally. It transcends any other object I can obtain. I can't explain precisely what I feel towards the sky with words. I do know that it is one of the most inspiring things you can see. When you look at a city landscape and your eyes scour over the man-made buildings, bring your eyes up and it feels like the sky and the clouds that tread across it is all some kind of magic that cannot be understood. I look at it every day and I never question it. I never question its function, its science, its design. The whole earth is under the sky's reign. And the sun. And the moon. And the stars. And what do we live on? We stand upon the earth, breathe the air, drink the water, feed from what's made possible by the earth. Then we rob these resources, we destroyed many things. We destroy what was generously given to us. Well yes, we were born into this Earth to live off it. We are indeed supposed to use it to live. But could we not have taken better care of the Earth? We have mothers and fathers who fed us, financed us, took care of us. We return the favour do we not? We take care of them as well. Do we?

I want to share with you what I feel about nature. To be honest, I'm not the kind of person who would be overjoyed to be left to live in a jungle. No, I love the city. I love the lights, the design, the art. I love humans. But some things make me feel liberated. Some things make me feel like the air is rushing into my lungs and my heart is pumping, blood is rushing. Moments like when you open your windows and the wind rushes in, dances in your hair. Things like waking up at 3 then not being able to go back to sleep and then end up watching the sunrise. Sometimes being in touch with nature makes you realise how powerful it is. You know what I want to do? I want to strip naked, hop on a hot air balloon, and journey across the sky. Why naked you ask? Because it's nature, and it's liberating. Most people can't understand this feeling I'm speaking of. Can you?

Labels: nature, sky

She looks a bit like Zhou Xun doesn't she? I love this kind of asian look :)

Moving on, is Jarah Mariano whom I've posted on before. Not a high-fashion model, more to commercial shoots. But STUNNING photos! She is devilishly sexy.

Labels: asian, beach, bikini, du juan, jarah mariano, sexy, sports illustration, supermodel