Work hard, Play harder.

Oh Singapore.

That's all I really have to say...

Just kidding, as if that was all I ever have to say. But it really does sum it up quite nicely. My first two weeks in Singapore have been quite insane. I can easily and quite comfortably say I am madly in love with this place.

It's clean, it's beautiful and I've met amazing people.

Really what more could you need?

Work is slowly picking up and hopefully will continue to do so. 

Other than that I really don't have many complaints.

Okay so living with 13 people is a bit much.. (talk about dishes) but thankfully so far no one has drove me insane.

Then again, it has only been two weeks. 

Check back with me in a month about that one...

Hopefully things just continue to go upwards and onwards. 

I can already tell this is going to be a hell of a 2 months. 

Oh Singapore.

Ky.xo

"My skin is a fence just holding me in"

Thanks to the pollution in China my skin seemed have the hardest time adapting. I had experienced a similar problem when traveling to Tokyo. the extreme heat and air quality that is so different compared to BC took quite a toll. Not to mention the contaminated water in Shanghai didn't help. 

Even when you showered you still felt dirty. And you were to never ever drink it. 

That being said I don't understand why it was then okay to bath and wash with it, your skin is the largest organ, and it soaks everything you put on it into your body. So if we shouldn't directly drink it, why should we let it into your bodies in any other form?

Anyways with the combination of those things my skin took a hard toll, looking dull, red and broken out. Once I got to Singapore one of my biggest goals was to get my skin back on track. I knew the clean air and water would help but I didn't feel like waiting for that to kick in. So along with clean healthy eating I have now started to use an organic skin care brand called Sukin.

I believe in using organic products because as I said earlier our skin is our largest organ. What we put on it we put in our body. So harsh chemicals that are in so many skin care products are brought directly into our systems. Often taxing on our livers that then have to work to get them out. 

Sukin is a brand created in Australia that is dedicated to using natural organic elements that will help rejuvenate and refresh the look of your skin.

The foaming cleanser works great to clean my skin and get rid of the excess oil that builds up from the the make-up I wear all day combine with the heat that often leaves me lightly dewy. It uses Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, Green tea with Macadamia and Evening Primrose Oils to purify and even your skin tone. And that's it. No added chemicals or ingredients that you need a chemistry degree to understand. 

I love the Hydrating Mist Toner because you can use it at any point. After cleansing or over make-up for a refreshing and hydrating boost. It uses Chamomile and Rose-water for a gentle yet refreshing way to wake-up your skin.

The moisturizer is to die for. It makes my skin look and feel incredible. And works wonderfully as a base before make-up. I find I use less of my tinted moisturizer if I put this on first for it helps to even my skin tone. I could go on forever about all the good things in here but I'll list the best and most important, it contains: Aloe Vera, Rosehip Oil, Jojoba, Avocado Oil, Shea, Lavender, Vitamin E, Cocoa butter and so on. Not to mention is smells amazing. 

At night I tend to use a more heavy duty moisturizer for I have incredibly dry skin. Instead I use pure Rosehip Oil. And it works WONDERS. Known for its ability to combat wrinkles and mend acne scars, Rosehip is something I suggest to everyone. Sukin offers an incredible rosehip oil though I already had it before trying these products. When I use the rosehip oil at night I wake up with my skin glowing. It will forever be a permanent part of my beauty regime.

The facial scrub is a must have, for we should always exfoliate 2-3 times a week. If not more. In order for me to get rid of this pesky red acne build up I exfoliate almost every other day. I love that this in gentle and doesn't irritate my skin but still gets rid of the dead skin cells. It uses Aloe Vera, Bamboo, Jojoba, Rosehip Oil, Walnut shell and Chamomile. And also smells amazing.

And as an added bonus they also have a natural deodorant which has become a lifesaver in this extreme climate I'm in. It has a light sent that doesn't over power and works to eliminate bacteria. The best part is you can spray it anywhere that may need refreshing (like the back of my neck when my hair has been down) unlike your typical stick deodorant. Plus no white marks on your black t-shirt, Score!

My skin is still far from where I would like it to be, but with it only being 4 days of using these products I am already thrilled with the results and can't wait to see their long term effects.

 Be sure to check out their website for a full list of products and yes it is available in Duncan and Vancouver! The site has a list of distributors available. 

http://www.sukinorganics.com/

Ky.xo

Feel the tide turning.

One chapter has come and drawn to a close. 

My time in Shanghai will be one I shall never forget. 

The lessons I learnt there have helped to pave the path I plan to take forward. It helped me realize things I want, and things I sure don't.

If anything I am most thankful for the people I met there. Some, I hope will continue to be life long friends.

 I try and take something away from every person I meet. Everyone has something to share. And being surrounded by such a diverse group of people I really feel like I've learnt so much from them. And with every piece I take away, I feel as though it helps secure me into who I really am and where I want to go. 

And if nothing else, I hope the people I have met have gained something from me. Whether it be knowledge I have passed on, even about the most mundane of things, or simply a new friend. 

Shanghai came with many ups and downs. And some surprising twists. 

I was shocked at how little home sickness I felt. For when most people go to China, they get a bad case of the home bug. But I think the fact I was just so happy to finally have a contract and be around good people, I just wouldn't let myself go there. I knew this is what I wanted. I wasn't going to let missing home ruin it. 

As I said before I was incredibly pleased with the people I met and the many adventures I got to go on in our spare time. Those moments will be the ones I shall never forget.

But the lows of Shanghai were definitely the filth, the stench and the rude behavior that no matter how long I lived there I would never get used to. Nor should one want to. We really are spoiled in Canada. And you can't truly appreciate it until you have been somewhere that is such a high contrast. 

And so with China at a close I can down take out a fresh sheet, dab my pen and start a new journey here in Singapore.

The difference here is like night and day. It's clean, quiet, safe and respectful. The people are friendly, the air smells sweet. Oh and you can drink the tap water (hallelujah!) 

I can already tell I'm really going to enjoy it here. I can't wait to get out there, get lost and get cultured. 

I hope you're ready for me Singapore!

Ky.xo

Nuvole Bianche

Decisions have never been my strong suit. Either I don't care enough to have a strong opinion, or I'm too scared to make the wrong choice that I just shut down and wait for someone to tell me what's right. 

Learning to listen to my gut has taken some time but I have learnt it is always right.

Originally, as I had posted on Facebook,etc that I was hoping to travel until December.

Going to Singapore after Shanghai and then back to Tokyo. 

I was thrilled but something wasn't sitting quite right. I wasn't all too pleased with the agency wanting me in Tokyo. 2 years ago I had been there with a small agency and as much as I made money and worked a ton, I like to know that I have grown, and that I've taken a step up since then. 

I didn't want to go back unless I knew I was doing better. 

And in this case, I didn't feel this agency was. 

I was hoping to hear from other agencies but the timing was tight and we didn't have much options. 

It was basically down to me saying yes or no. 

My head flew back and forth, "I don't want to go home and sit, I want to travel" , "But I want to push myself, this is taking the easy way out " , "I loved Tokyo, maybe it will be ok." , "But it's not just about making money!"

This internal conflict went on for a few days until I decided 

"No."

It wasn't right. It didn't feel right. Every time I got an email about it my stomach turned. I am in Shanghai with the best agency, going to Singapore with one of the best, I didn't want to take a step down now. Yes, it does mean I will have to work a heck of a lot harder. But I'd rather say no, and push myself to get where I need to go than say yes and settle, simply for the sake of somewhere else to go. 

So with that being said I will now be returning to Canada in October.

It may only be for a week and then I could be off again

It may be for another six months.

It may be in Duncan 

Or possibly Vancouver.

I haven't quite gotten that far. That's the thing with this industry, it changes everyday. You can never look too far ahead. 

For now, I have 2 days left in Shanghai until I head out to the fabulous location of Singapore. 

Change is good.

Ky.xo

Ps. What really helped me sit and make my decision was this incredible piece by one of my favorite composers Ludovico Einaudi

If this doesn't sit and boil inspiration in your soul I don't know what will. Please, take a moment, close your eyes and listen.

Heatseeker

I've always been big on goal setting. 

I can't even count the amount of times I have written out my bucket list, adding absurd number after another. But it helps put my head back in perspective of what I really want. 

I decided to write one out for Shanghai. 

Among that list was:

Do a Runway show  - Check .. x many.

Do a magazine - Check, which was super exciting because it's so rare here.

After doing the casting for Elle, get that job  - Check, despite the complications...

Get a TVC - with two weeks left to spare I can finally say, CHECK!

TV commercials are the golden standard everyone aims for here in Shanghai, simply due to the fact they pay the best. The castings aren't half as common and are usually cattle calls. But I set a goal to get at least one while being here. And when I found out I got one I was over the moon. Finally the last goal for Shanghai could be crossed off. 

It turned out to be one of the best jobs I have ever done. I arrived on set in the early morning and was immediately treated like royalty. Turns out I was the only person there being paid TVC rate, the others were just extras. Not only that, but when I did the audition we tried out for 2 roles; The Bride and The Cafe Girl.

The director liked me so much he cast me as both.

SCORE!

We did the bride scene first which consisted of me running with my Italian "groom" through a line of people throwing rose pedals and doves (which I managed to kick several times...sorry birdy) as we got into our Fiat and drove off.

It was hot, I was in a massive dress and I was in heels running back and forth several times. 

But I was having so much fun I could have cared less.

Then we moved on to basically the same scene only it was coming out of the church and this time they included rice.

Note to self, do not run with mouth open when rice is being thrown at you... 

I then proceeded to throw my bouquet into the crowd and run off.

Still running in 37 degree weather..

After that we had lunch, changed my hair and make-up and went to the adorable cafe for the next scene.

Apparently I'm a terrible wife because I was now with a French guy, rather than my Italian husband only moments later... 

I'll take the French..

All we had to do was talk and laugh, drink amazing coffee and eat cookies.

Literally.

And they just shot around us saying, 

"Mmm, coffe, coffecoffeecoffe, drink it, yum, ooh cookie, yummy cookie, oh he's so funny ah haha!"

So that's what we did. Not complaints there!

Talk about the life.

Not only that but you would have thought I was a celebrity. They would escort me around and be like "We've got Kyla on set! Kyla is on set!" 

Who me?

All the extras seemed to buy into it too because they did nothing but compliment me all day. 

I mean I could get used to that. 

It was amazing and I actually met some incredible people amongst the group too. If I could do that job everyday I would. And not just due to the special treatment or the high rate, that was just the icing. If anything it was just the atmosphere on set. The amazing directors and the dedication behind everyone working. It was inspiring and totally gave me that boost of, 

"Man, I love my job." 

And even after ending up with a killer sunburn, I can still say it was by far my favorite job ever. 

And with one week left to go in Shanghai, I can say I feel so incredibly grateful for the lessons I have learnt here. I have tackled my list, including some things I could have never imagined. 

Up next: to tackle one from the "Before I turn 20 list"... "Travel to 2 new countries"

Ky.xo