I am starting a little letter project with the help of tiny letter!
It may be a little old fashion but with the help of email, we can get to know each other more thru letter writing! There is no restriction as to where you are from! As long as you are a human being with a keen interest in hearing my slice of life or to know me better, you can subscribe and I guarantee that you will receive a letter from me!
Now, are you curious enough? Hop over to my tiny letter page and subscribe!
herphotoblog is having a Mother’s Day Photo contest!
If you do not know when is Mother’s Day, shame on you! BOOO!! Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, 12 May 2013.
Why not take a photo of your mom and yourself and submit to herphotoblog for the contest and stand to win some really cool prizes!
Lemme lay out the contest details so you know what you have to do to take part!
- Email a favourite photo of mum+self to herphotoblog@gmail.com by Tuesday, 30 April 2013.
- This contest is open to international entries too.
- Photos will be uploaded to herphotoblog Facebook page! Like the page HERE!
- Voting will commence on Wednesday, 1 May 2013. Photo with the highest likes will win a pair of earrings and ring.
- Winner will be announced on Sunday, 12 May 2013.
See, it is that simple!! So start snapping photos with your mother or start digging that one particular photo that you love the most and submit now!
Uber - your on-demand private driver has finally landed in Singapore establishing their first foothold in Asia. Now, you can simply request a swanky ride in a black car with the tap of an app!
If you have not heard of Uber, it’s a San Francisco based on-demand limousine service and their services are all over in US, London, Paris, Berlin and Stockholm to name a few.
Fares wise, there is a base fare of SG$7.00 and a minimum of SG$12.00. Rates per kilometer is SG$2.25 when driving over 18km/h and SG$0.85 per minute if the speed is at or below 18km/h.
Sample fares from Clarke Quay to Marina Bay Sands is around SG$16, or Sentosa to ION Orchard is SG$32 thereabout.
Their app are iPhone and Android friendly so go download it if you are interested but meantime, let me take you thru my process of getting my first Uber ride!
I had to be in the office earlier this morning by 7:45am but god knows what happened to me, I totally miscalculated my timing to leave the house, which resulted in me requesting for a Uber ride at 6:26am!
[Black out certain information for privacy purpose]
So as you can see from above, you are able to pin your exact location and they will inform you of the approximate pickup time based on the available cars in the area. Besides that, you can do an estimate of the fare using their ‘Fare Estimate’ to gauge the price you have to fork out for it.
Also noticed that there is my credit card details? The best part about Uber is that you do not need to have sufficient cash on hand to get a ride! Everything will be deducted through your debit/credit card which you have to key in upon signing up.
When there is an available driver, they will text you to inform you of it! You will know the name of the driver, the model of the ride and the ratings that the driver has received thus far.
So the driver for my ride is Gerrard with a ratings of 4.8 and he is driving a Mercedes S Class.
And when your ride is just around the corner, you get another text! This is good as you know you can make your way to the pickup location!
Like I have mentioned earlier, my destination is the office building that I am working at which is along Robinson Road. Once you have reached your location, you can launch the Uber app and it will inform you the total amount for the ride and how much was charged to your debit/credit card. On top of that, you can also rate your driver!
An email of the breakdown on the charges will also arrive in your inbox slightly later.
I gave a five star rating for Gerrard and left a feedback.
That is how easy it is to get a swanky ride with just the tap of the Uber app! This will come in handy when you have meetings to attend with your boss(es), or if you have friends/relatives/guests in town and you want to make an impression.
Speaking of making an impression, Uber will also be awesome for that date night with that special someone! Oh, great for wedding dinners, birthdays, parties and much more that I am sure you can think of!
Wait, did I mention that they have 30 cars covering island wide at the moment and amongst the fleet, there are models like BMW, Audi, Jaguar and Ben…wait for it…tley! Yes, BENTLEY!! The first ever Bentley they have in the Uber fleet GLOBALLY!! I am hoping to ride in the Bentley one day! LOL!
Overall my first Uber ride left me feeling like a boss! Gerrard was standing next to the ride at the pickup location when I arrived at the ground floor of my block. Personally, the major plus points for me was the fact that he opened the passenger door for me which you will NEVER get when it comes to the normal taxis on the road.
Yes, it may be a pricey fare for most of us but you are paying for an awesome service and comfortable ride to your destination. Trust me, the experience is well worth it!
@Uber_SING had a contest which ended earlier this afternoon which is #SnapmyUber! Basically, snap a photo when you are in the Uber ride and stand to win SG$100 worth of Uber credits and I took part with these three photos below!
Believe it or not, I actually won the contest with the last photo out of the three shown above! I was so stoked and the news had made my day much better!
So, if you are still very much interested in getting a swanky ride around Singapore with Uber, you might not wanna miss what I am going to tell you!
If you signup using my promo code, you will be able to get a $10 credit which you can use towards your first Uber ride!! That’s not all! Because I was taught that all good things must share, if you enter ‘firstuber’, you get an additional $20 credit which means you get a total of $30 credit!
Now now, as for my promo code [90eq8], you can simply follow the instructions below or simply click on the image to signup!
Let me know about your first Uber ride! I know I am gonna be spoilt by the limousine services that Uber is providing!
Do follow @Uber_SING for latest news!
Every first Friday of the month at Red Dot Museum, from 7:30pm onwards till midnight, there will always be a group of people at the extreme end of Market of Artist And Designers (MAAD), seated down with their sketch book, pencils/pen/paintbrush/marker in hand, looking up and back at their sketch book, composing the image in front of them.
These group of people are from the Organisation of Illustrators Council (OIC).
Many who are at MAAD, are often curious by these group of talented human beings. If the Merlion is the icon of Singapore, then OIC is the icon of MAAD.
Kym and I were at MAAD on Friday, 1 February 2013. We were there to support Herphotoblog and to check out the other stalls. However, we were pretty much stuck hanging around the area where the artist from OIC where, checking out their drawings and making note of which pieces we personally like.
So, I asked Kym if she wanted to sit down and be drawn. She was rather shy and nervous about it. I mean, you have so many pairs of eyes looking at you but you have to keep your composure so that these artists can do their magic. But I managed to convinced her and we finally sat down to get drawn. Well, it was not my first time sitting down and be drawn by OIC so I kinda knew what was in stall for us!
We were told to look at a spot of your choice and try to stay that way for 20 to 30 minutes which is the duration of the session. As both of us sat together and looking at the spot of our choice, we realised that it was really hard to keep still! And then our contact lens starts to dry up on us so we have to blink our eyes several times every few minutes!
When the session ended, we were like excited little kids choosing candies at the window display trying to make up our minds on which we like! I think between us two, we bought like eight pieces of drawings!
The best part about OIC that we both love is that we are showing our support for these talented group of people! Each artwork that we bought cost us $10 and this money goes to the artist of the artwork that you choose.
If you are interested in getting your portraits drawn by these talented artists, be sure to check out the link here. You can make an appointment for the next session which is happening this Friday, 1 March 2013. The last I checked, only 10pm was taken up. However, you can always register on the spot but it will depends on their schedule to fit you in but it’s better if you register thru that link first to secure a place!
While you are at MAAD this Friday, be sure to check out Herphotoblog!!
Support local artist!
I was looking through Luxola website earlier this week and saw that they were carrying lip balms from Rosebud Perfume Company and I cannot resist not getting my hands on them.
So I ordered the Minted Rose Lip Balm after much contemplating on which to buy. I like minty stuff so that helped me greatly in deciding!
And on Friday, my purchase was delivered to me!
I tried on the Minted Rose Lip Balm and within seconds, I was head over heels in love with it. The cool “zing” of peppermint was so refreshing! As you can see from the second photo shown above, there is a rosy gloss to it which gives a nice healthy color to the lips! Major love!
After I finish using this Minted Rose Lip Balm, I am going to try the others that Luxola has to offer - Mocha Rose, Strawberry and Rosebud Salve. And when I am done trying out all the other flavors, I will tell you which I prefer most!
In the meantime, these are all available in a tin or tube form from Luxola but personally, I would prefer the tube form as I find it more hygienic! Also, if you are interested in getting the lip balm, you can simply click the image below because it will link you straight to the product page on Luxola and use the promo code for 15% discount!
Black Box
- In science and engineering, it is a device, system or object which can be viewed solely in terms of its input, output and transfer of characteristics without any knowledge of its internal workings, that is, its implementation is “opaque” (black).
Well, that’s just in science and engineering but here in Singapore, BLACK BOX is a mysterious and sleek package that uncovers a curated selection of sought-after products from independent labels. Every bi-monthly, you can expect at least five exciting gifts!
The people from BLACK BOX believe that small surprises add up to huge savings and that is why BLACK BOX is delivered bi-monthly and get this, without costing you a cent! All you have to do is simply subscribe to BLACK BOX and that is all! Simple and easy!
So anyways, my first BLACK BOX was delivered to my house earlier this evening and I was super excited on my way back from work because I cannot wait to uncover what goodies were in stall for me!
And… *drumroll please*
I simply LOVE that the box is black. I mean, hello! of course it is called BLACK BOX for a reason! But being a black color lover myself, I just love almost everything in black! And “Curiosity Satisfied”? Whoever thought of that is a GENIUS!
Now now, let me introduce to you what I have received in my BLACK BOX for February 2013~
I. DARLIE EXPERT WHITE (120g for $5.90)
The new Darlie Expert White is scientifically proven to have three times whitening effect that is enhanced with Prophylaxis Silica-mirco particles, an ingredient similar to what dentists use.
II. DETTOL NATURAL NOURISHING BODY WASH (250ml for $3.20 | 625ml for $7.20 | 950ml for $9.90 | 550ml refill pouch for $5.20)
New Dettol Natural Nourishing Body Wash gives you the trusted Dettol protection plus nature’s best for naturally, healthy skin. It has the goodness of Natural Olive and Almond to make your skin feel restored and moisturized. Daily use of Dettol Natural Nourishing Body Wash will leave your skin protected from germs and have it looking and feeling healthy.
III. ÉST.LAB SUNSHIELD SPF 50 (30ml for $70.62 [after GST])
ést.lab SunShield SPF 50 utilizes the latest SmartVector® UV technology, an intelligent solar protection system that activates the defensive power of ést.lab SunShield SPF 50 only under UV exposure. With broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, it provides long-lasting protection against sun burn and photo aging.
ést.lab SunShield SPF 50 is also a tinted sunscreen that can be used as moisturizing make-up base to conceal blemishes and provide sheer coverage. The use of mild emulsifiers and the choice of very light, non-comedogenic oils make this sunscreen gentle enough for everyday use.
IV. L’ORÉAL PARIS DERMO-EXPERTISE YOUTH CODE BOOSTING ESSENCE (30ml for $39.90)
Absorption is key when it comes to skincare. For skincare to be truly effective, your skin has to be able to fully absorb active ingredients. L’oréal Laboratories found compelling evidence that the ‘recovery gene’ in our skin is responsible for the proper absorption of active ingredients. Much like how our metabolic rate decreases with age, this ‘recovery gene’ also becomes less efficient.
Youth Code Boosting Essence is able to ensure that the expression of this gene is amplified so that active ingredients are absorbed effectively, allowing your skin to fully enjoy the benefits of your skincare.
V. L’ORÉAL TOTAL REPAIR 5 DEEP REPAIRING MASK (200ml for $14.90)
The first total reparation of the 5 signs of damaged hair with Cement-Ceramide, L’oréal’s exclusive active ingredient, that works similarly to natural hair cement, Ceramide. It keeps hair strong and healthy by filling in cracks for strengthened and resilient hair and sealing hair scales for replenished moisture and ultra-smooth and ultra-shiny hair surface.
VI. NATURE VALLEY OATS ‘N HONEY (box of 6 pouches; 2 bars per pouch for $6.30)
Real honey combined with rolled oats to produce a sweet, wholesome snack.
VII. DR JART V7 VITALASER (30ml for $59)
Seven kinds of vitamins, A, B3, B5, C, E, F and H, are capsulated using nano liposome technology for safer delivery of nutrition. Highly saturated formula-like ointment delivers nutrition deep into the skin transforming dry and rough skin texture into soft and smooth. New raw material, AA2G, with powerful whitening function is used to care freckles, blemishes and darkened areas for brighter and clearer skin. Strong anti-oxidation effect protects the skin from harmful environmental conditions and returns trouble traces back to original, flawless state.
Love what you see in February’s BLACK BOX and want to get your hands on the next BLACK BOX in April? Subscribe to it right!!
I told myself that I will not post about my feelings but here I am, typing it away.
No, I am not gonna bore with you what I am thinking and feeling because there is this one song that will just express it all for me.
I was listening to my playlist one day and this song came on. As I listened to the lyrics of the song, my heart just wrapped itself up tightly because I totally feel the song. And what more, it was sang by one of my favourite female singer - Adele. Her voice is so beautiful and with the music, I got kinda emotional.
Here’s a video of her singing Chasing Pavements at Royal Albert Hall.
And the lyrics if you care to read…
I’ve made up my mind,
Don’t need to think it over
If I’m wrong, I am right
Don’t need to look no further,
This ain’t lust
I know this is love
But, if I tell the world
I’ll never say enough
‘cause it was not said to you
And that’s exactly what I need to do
If I end up with you
[Chorus]
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasin’ pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasin’ pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
I build myself up
And fly around in circles
Waitin’ as my heart drops
And my back begins to tingle
Finally, could this be it
[Chorus]
Or should I give up
Or should I just keep chasin’ pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there
Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasin’ pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place should I leave it there
Should I give up
Or should I just keep on chasin’ pavements
Should I just keep on chasin’ pavements
Ohh oh
[Chorus x 2]
You have to agree with me that time really do fly past so fast that a brand new year has already started! And as a new year begins, the digit on our age increase by one which really sucks.
Looking back on 2012, I realised that I have been sick very often and it is usually the cough and flu. Only just few days before Christmas, I was down with fever for a good three days which was followed by a visit to the Accident & Emergency at Changi General Hospital for chest pains. Thankfully, it was diagnosed as chest infection and not anything too serious. The chest pain is still lingering around despite taking my medication on time but I really hope that it will go away as soon as possible.
In my first 2012 blog entry, I posted two resolutions that I hope to achieve. Now, it is time to recap if I did achieve it or not.
1. Cut down on the sticks
Nope, I did not achieve it. I am still smoking the same amount and there has not been any drastic changes about it. Like I said before, smoking is my stress outlet and I really need it a lot. Like, really need it!
2. Read at least 15 books
I am proud to say that I achieved that. In fact, for 2012, I have read 40 books all thanks to Kobo which keeps me company. There were many a times I could not put down my iPhone 4s because I was so engrossed in reading. If you have not heard of Kobo, please do check it out! It’s an awesome app!
Now, what lies ahead for 2013? That is a question that I am asking myself too. I do not foresee any drastic changes but then again, if there is no change, life will be too boring.
I may or may not consider changing my job but that really depends on the current market and if I am going to eventually move my arse to find a new job. I am really comfortable with what I am doing now even though I feel very stressed out about work lately.
And as always, the love department is still the same old - dark and gloomy with thundery showers. Nothing new about it but I really hope that maybe in 2013, I can be loved by someone whom I fancy.
As for 2013 resolutions, I am going to stick to the two resolutions mentioned above.
I do want to eventually quit smoking but I am really going to take my time. As for reading, I love reading and since I read 40 books in 2012, I am going to challenge myself to read more in 2013.
To welcome 2013, I went to get a haircut on the 31st December 2012. Cut away some of the dry ends of my hair and some bad luck too. Leave it all behind in 2012 and have a great beginning for 2013!
To all my readers, I hope you will have a blessed 2013 ahead that is gonna be filled with good health and good wealth. Not forgetting a large pinch of laughter and happiness and a dash of love!
Thank you so much for reading my blog and I hope that you continue to drop by in 2013!
Happy New Year!
I know I have been rather quiet lately on my blog but rest assured, it will not stay that way for long.
Meanwhile, I am in a battle with the fever, flu and cough but I will try not to let that spoil my Christmas joy!
Merry Christmas to all my readers!
May you get what you wish for underneath the Christmas tree!
As for my Christmas wish, I think it will not happen but all I want for Christmas, is you~ LOL!
Since late October till now, I have been using Estēe Lauder Advanced Night Repair every single night after I cleansed my face and I see very obvious skin repair on my skin. More about that later on… Anyways, because of the improvements I have seen while using their Advanced Night Repair, I decided to give their other products a try and I was introduced to Estēe Lauder Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme.
What I want to talk about is this awesome gift set that I bought from Estēe Lauder. The full size of a Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme cost $92 for 50ml but because the Christmas season is here, Estēe Lauder is offering many gift sets and one of them, is the Youth-Infusing Hydration Essentials for $120.
The Youth-Infusing Hydration Essentials gift set contains the very essential products for women who has the following skin problem:
I have normal/combination skin, dull, rough, flaky skin and believe it or not, wrinkles and the best way to fight wrinkles is having moisturized skin. Let me introduce to you the products one by one!
Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser for Normal/Combination Skin
Thoroughly cleans and rebalances skin leaving skin feeling renewed, comfortable and healthy. Lightly hydrates and conditions as it cleanses and gently manages oily zones while soothing dry areas.
Been using this cleanser since last Friday and all you need is a small amount of it which goes a long way. The skin feels very cleansed and soft. I am liking this cleanser thus far!
Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex
This silky serum-gel helps dramatically reduce the look of every key sign of aging around the eye area:
- Fine Lines
- Wrinkles
- Puffiness
- Dark Circles
- Dryness
- Uneven skintone
It helps to keep the entire eye area looking fresher, more rested and revitalized.
Like the cleanser and the moisturizer, I have been using it since last Friday and I noticed that my eye bags are less puffy. Skin around the eyes also feel more moist than usual. Oh, all you need is just three tiny dots around each eye, gently pat into the skin and the skin absorbs the serum-gel very fast.
Frankly, I have never bother using eye cream in the past but I might just continue using this to help keep my eye area looking fresh. A little pricey though because the full size product (15ml) cost $86!
Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
Experience a dramatic reduction in the major signs of visible aging - lines, wrinkles, uneven skintone and loss of clarity. Skin looks smoother, younger, more radiant and healthy-looking.
I have been using this product for about a month and I am sold with this serum. Like I mentioned earlier, I use this every night and my skin has improved a lot! Prior to using this serum, I had breakouts from using another drug store product (which I shall not name) but after using this, the breakout lessen. Skin also seems to be glowing with radiant. My skintone is uneven and those part seems to have lighten up!
This is a product that every woman must have in their skincare regime. Yes, it is really pricey but a little goes a long way and all you need is just five drops of the serum every night. The mother bought the 200ml bottle (only available at duty free; 100ml to 175ml is available over at the counters) and it is shared amongst the sister, the mother and myself. We are all loving this product a lot!
Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Creme
Hydrationist leaves skin youthful and healthy looking, soft, silky smooth and super hydrated. Helps repair skin’s moisture barrier - the key to maintaing a healthy look and resisting signs of premature aging. Immediately, you’ll see a surprising freshness and vitality. Clinical testing proved that after just one application, skin remains significantly moisturized even 24 hours later.
Because everyone’s skin is different, Estēe Lauder offers Hydrationist Creme in a choice of skintypes:
- Normal/Combination Skin creme is lightweight and silky, with just the right balance of richness and refreshment.
- Dry Skin Creme comforts and cushions with soothing emollients and a luscious texture.
- Also available with SPF 15.
This is the last step to the skincare regime, after cleansing, applying toner, eye cream and repair serum. I apply six dots of the Hydrationist creme on my face and pat it all over my face and the skin quickly absorbs the goodness of the creme. I really do see an instant freshness to the face and it looks super hydrated! I think the full size product (50ml) can last me for quite some time and it will not be that painful to my pocket in the long run too!
If you are looking for a change in your normal skincare regime, I strongly advise you to check out Estēe Lauder products during this time because this gift set that I bought was really worth the price. They have many products that caters to the different needs of the skin - whitening, firming/lifting and more.
I think I am gonna be a loyal Estēe Lauder user from now on.
November is coming to an end in a few days time and I have enjoyed my birthday month very much! Firstly, my buddy was back in town for two weeks and we managed to catch up and do some shopping together.
There was the company’s dinner and dance which was a major fail in the food department but other than that, it was all good.
Also, the birthday dinner was a major disappointment because a handful of my friends were not able to make it. Partly my fault, I guess, because this year, I did not invite many people because I was not really that sociable this year. However, those who turned up, I really appreciated that they took time out to have dinner with me.
A big shout out to Kevin who has been to all my birthday dinners! Fours years in a row he has shown up for dinner! Thanks bro! You have no idea how much I appreciate your presence!
Oh, I really love all the presents that I have received from all my dear friends!!
From my buddy - Sheng, he got me something that I really least expected but it totally made my day!
From the Sister, Kym and Amelia, they gave me charms from Pandora! The wings with a small pearl is from the Sister. The bling star from my awesome girlfriends - Kym and Amelia!
From my dear friend, Debbie, she gave me BB Cream from The Face Shop! Thank you Deb!!
From the group of friends from work, they gave me cupcakes from Twelve Cupcakes to satisfy my cravings that I had!! My taste buds and stomach thank you all very much!
And on my birthday, the Grandma gave me an ang bao that bears the family’s name…
I spent my birthday afternoon at my cousin’s house playing with my nephews and a mini mahjong session with her friends.
In the evening, I came home to cook prawn noodles for everyone because I was too lazy to go out for dinner on a Saturday night and I rather just stay home with my family.
Keyan: “Ah Yi, I want do funny face!!”
Yes, the photo above shows my nephew - Keyan’s version of ‘funny face’. Isn’t he just adorable?!
Anyways, just screen shots taken on my birthday. I love the date of my birthday and am always fascinated with it.
Thank you everyone for your well-wishes be it on Facebook, Twitter or on whatsapp!!
Nicholas asked me on Facebook what do I wished for on my birthday and I told him that I wished for good health and maybe a little more luck in the love department. Nicholas replied saying, “May you received what you asked for, my dear.” *big smile* I hope so too! *fingers crossed*
Alright, what is Budae Jjigae?
Budae Jjigae is a type of Korean stew that often incorporates ramen, Spam, sliced sausages, onions, green onions, dubboki, tuf, mushrooms and other vegetables that are in season. Food was scarce in Seoul after the Korean War, so people make use of surplus foods from the US Army bases by adding it into the traditional spicy soup flavored with gochujang (red pepper paste) and kimchi.
I had my first taste of Budae Jjigae on Wednesday when I went out for lunch with my colleagues at Red Pig. When I saw that they had Budae Jjigae on their menu, I knew I have to try it! So five of us ladies decided to order a large portion of Budae Jjigae and Spicy Dubbkoki.
We were presented with this pot of goodie that has Spam, sausages, tofu, kimchi and the most important of all - ramen! Five of us finished this pot of Budae Jjigae and mind you, we still asked for more soup and another portion of ramen and it was all consumed!
I was really curious on how to cook Budae Jjigae because I really love that you can simply add whatever ingredients that you love to eat along with the ramen and feed a group of people with it!
Saturday came and despite having a very painful headache, my cravings for Budae Jjigae got me outta the house and to the supermarket for grocery shopping!
Plus everyone was out of the house that day, so I had to cook myself some dinner too! It was really simply and easy that even if you don’t have much experience in cooking, I am very sure you can make a delicious pot of hot stew!
And, this was my dinner on a rainy Saturday evening…
Alright, now it’s time for the recipe! The soup base is very important.
I would advice placing the kimchi in the middle of the pot and all the other ingredients like Spam, sausages, tofu and mushrooms around it. Add one tablespoon of gochujang on top of the kimchi and fill the pot with chicken stock. Bring it to a boil.
Once the stew is boiling, you may add ramen if you like. Note: just the ramen only! For me, I added ramen and an egg. When it’s cooked, I added a slice of cheese and turn off the heat.
Now, your Budae Jjigae is ready to be served! It is really awesome to have it on a rainy weather! Think steamboat that kinda comfort feeling!
Lemme know if you have tried cooking it and how did it turned out!
Bellabox is celebrating their first birthday in the month of October and they have combined classic brands like Bioderma, Nuxe and Guerlain this month!
October’s Bellabox is in a nice shade of dark pink, something different from the baby pink which they usually use.
They also include a compact mirror that will come in handy in every women’s handbag!
GUERLAIN LA PETITE ROBE NOIRE EDT (30ml for $81)
This divinely feminine scent means “little black dress” in French. Could there be a more perfect name for the perfect special-night-out perfume? The inclusion of roses, orange blossoms, musk, cherry and apple will leave a trail of light, yet womanly allure that both precedes and follows your footsteps.
NUXE BODY 24HR MOISTURIZING BODY LOTION (200ml for $38)
Eliminate dry skin with sweet almond and sunflower oils. Wheat and wood extracts make this a natural formula that absorbs instantly, allowing you to dress immediately after application. No wait time means you’re on to your destination and your fun - fast!
NUXE FACE AND BODY ULTRA-RICH CLEANSING GEL (200ml for $38)
This soap-free cleansing gel is the perfect compliment to your unwinding regime. Fast, easy to use and infused with a delectable honey scent, transporting you to a calm, post night out sense of peace.
NUXE HUILE PRODIGIEUSE MULTI-USAGE DRY OIL (100ml for $68)
Pamper yourself with this luxurious oil treatment that can be used on hair (no heating required) as well as your face and body. And just a couple of drops in the bathtub will create perfectly soft skin that’s ready for a celebration!
BIODERMA SENSIBIO H2O MECELLAR SOLUTION (100ml for $15.90)
This is Bioderma’s star product, a truly unique cleansing solution that is formulated specially for sensitive skin. Sebsibio H2O is prescribed by dermatologists for its perfect tolerability, cleansing efficacy and soothing properties. This non-rinse solution is gentle enough to remove face and eye makeup.
After 10 months of subscription with Bellabox, I have decided to end it. At first, I was very impressed with what was delivered in the box every month but as of late, I am starting to feel disappointed whenever I open up the box.
In any case, should you be interested to get your very own Bellabox, they cost $19.95 monthly.
My package for the three Power 10 Formula Effectors have finally arrived on Saturday after having to wait for two weeks!
I have read good reviews of this product by It’s Skin and decided to give it a try! You see, recently, I have been having very bad breakouts and I am super annoyed by it! Hopefully a change to my facial products will tame them breakouts down! But whenever people point out to me about my breakouts, I tell that it is because I am still youthful! You get what I mean?! LOL!
Anyways, let me introduce to you to the products that I bought…
Power 10 Formula SYN-AKE Effector (Limited Edition)
Believe it or not, I have wrinkles. Yes, you read it right…wrinkles! Me, at the age of twenty (plus six, damn it!)!
Those who know me personally, knows that I really hate snakes a lot because they totally freak me out! Imagine me contemplating if I should even buy this product! But I decided to get it because my wrinkles are a much bigger issue to me at the moment than them snakes! Laugh all you want at my silliness but I really do want to age beautifully if my skin permits!
The texture for SYN-AKE Effectory is rather watery, hence the skin can easily absorb all the goodness!
Power 10 Formula VB Effector
I have oily skin, no, combination skin, wait, I think I have oily skin! BAH, whatever! Imagine slapping the face with makeup only to find the skin looking rather shiny after a few hours…Have you experienced that before? Well, I hate it! I absolutely freaking hate it and I hope the VB Effector will help with the oil control!
The texture of the VB Effector is the same as the SYN-AKE Effector! Watery and easily absorbed by the skin!
Power 10 Formula PO Effector
Man, I do not even know where to begin telling you how much I hate my pores! They are visible and not naked to the eye! I hate to say this but my pores are big!
Despite a certain skin analysis that I have done this year with results showing that my pores are perfectly fine amongst those in my age range, I still hate that I can see it when I look in the mirror!
I want them Korean stars flawless skin condition that I do not need to pile them makeup thick! Any beauty salon wanna help me achieve that?! Plastic surgeons are welcome to take up the challenge too!
That aside, the texture for PO Effector is almost that of a moisturizer and like the other two products, easily absorbed by the skin.
I have a very bad habit which I am admitting to it here - I am lazy. I get lazy after a week and I totally ignore them skin routine. Yes, I get super excited about the facial products I have but that last for a week only.
However, this time round I am challenging myself to religiously use these three products daily and do a review on it once I empty them three bottles! In order to prove it, I will snap photos of those three empty bottles as evidence due to my diligence! HA!
Been using it for two night now - Saturday and Sunday. I can see a slight improvement to my complexion! *fingers crossed*
Till then…
The lovely lady of Beary Nice Nails - Cecilia name the gelish manicure in which she and her assistant - Apple did for me as ‘Sweetie Pie’.
Sweetie Pie is definitely a term that I believe everyone, yes, I mean EVERYONE, will never associate it with me! I am probably the opposite of sweetie pie but nevertheless, it seems like an appropriate name for this glittery pink lacey gelish manicure set!
I love spending my time at Beary Nice Nails because the people there are super friendly!! They make you feel right at home! Despite being a little shop tucked away behind other shops on the level, I dare say that the hospitality of the people there are much more warmer than the others!
If you happen to live in the East side of this tiny overpopulated island, do pop by Beary Nice Nails and get your nails done! Pssst…Express manicure is only for $8! Now, where can you find such good deal these days?!
But should you like the one that I am wearing at the moment, simply let Cecilia know that you want the ‘Sweetie Pie’ set that she did for Priscilla and she’ll know what to do!
Beary Nice Nails
506 Tampines Central 1 #02 - 361 Singapore 520506
(Above S11 Food Court)
One bright sunny weekday morning, I was flipping thru Today papers while on board the S(a)MRT train to work. I stopped flipping the page because there on the page was the cover of Vernetta Lopez’s memoir!
Since that moment, I knew I had to get my hands on the book! Imagine me smiling from ear to ear when I saw that she will be having a book signing event at Times Bookstore @ Tampines 1! Debbie whatsapp me about it and we just had to go get her book and have it signed by the author herself!
Yes, we took photos with her while making funny faces and yes, she is that nice of a person!! No wait, nice is an understatement here. SHE IS AWESOMEEEE!! Very friendly, down to earth and super funny!! That’s the Vernetta we know from Class 95fm Morning Express and from the sitcom ‘Under One Roof’!
I know that almost everyone carrys the perception that a biography is super serious and oh so boring that you do not even wanna start reading the first page but trust me, Vernetta Lopez’s memoir is totally different!
I have read my fair share of serious biographies to know…in case you are wondering, I read about Madonna, Queen Elizabeth I (which never fails to fascinate me), Mimi Alford (she had an affair with President John F. Kennedy; great book!) and I think, on Napoleon too (don’t ask me why).
Just first four pages into the memoir (by the way, those four pages are the acknowledgements by Vernetta herself and the foreword by Florence Lian), my eyes were already tearing up!! And then a few pages into Chapter 1, I was laughing out loud!
I will not go into details about the memoir because seriously, I think everyone should own a copy of Vernetta’s memoir! You will have a blast reading it and laughing out loud (which I did, well, not literally, but was trying to control myself from laughing while on the train). People do stare at me with the look on their faces as if questioning, “Have she gone bonkers?!”
Oh, at Vernetta’s book signing, I asked her what are her favourites chapters and she said Chapter 4 and 10! So if you have a copy of her book, you can look forward to those two chapters.
And once again, I stress that if you have not gotten a copy of Vernetta Lopez’s memoir, please go grab one! You will not regret reading it and hey, we all should live with no regrets right?! So yeah, buy buy buy, mai tu liao!
Disclaimer: I have nothing against the people who will be mentioned in this post. I am merely expressing my disappointment in my findings and observations made.
Instagram - A social network platform for users to share photos
An app that is available on both android and iPhone. Even celebrities are now sharing photos on Instagram and having a large pool of followers who are interested to see photos that their favourite celebrity posted.
If the celebrity ‘likes’ your photo, it would make you feel as if you are on top of the world! Oh yes, I once had such a feeling but am brought back down to reality…
You see, just last week, I posted a selca of myself and imagine my surprise when my favourite local celebrity ‘like’ my photo! I proudly showed it to my colleague and her reaction was like, “WAHHHH!!!!” I even uploaded onto my Facebook because I felt so good about it!
Imagine the horror when a few of my friends and I discovered that all the ‘likes’ by Zheng Ge Ping was simply because of the Instagram Bot!
What is an Instagram Bot, you ask?
The bot likes all posts related to the selected hash tag that you choose. By liking a lot of posts randomly with the hash tag you selected, people will notice your account and start to like your photos and follow you. Run the bot for a period of time and you can easily get more followers.
So, what is the hash tag that got me started on my observation? It’s none other than #Singapore. I tried it on my photo which I posted and commented “Kinetic Rain #Singapore” and in less than a minute, I had four person liking that photo.
Who are the four person? Zheng Ge Ping, Constance Song and another two bloggers (They are not my source of disappointment. Should you be curious, it’s not easy to spot the two in the next few photos below)
In case you are not too into the local scene, the two celebs that I am talking about are…
And that sparked my drive to test further… I mean, I had my doubts too! But if you think about it seriously, I doubt these celebs have all the time in the world to be glued onto Instagram and liking photos. They have a life too just like the rest of us and honestly, we do not glue ourselves to Instagram every second refreshing the page and liking new photos! Well, unless you are paid which I doubt so!
This was posted by my friend… We were observing~
And the next few by yours truly again and any human being will be able to tell the difference. You’ll understand what I mean when you read my caption.
*Like if you think this is tuna sashimi!!
The very last photo to prove my point…
Seriously, Constance Song, you read my blog?! I’m so freaking honored! Oh wait, or was that the doing of the Instagram Bot?! I seriously think it’s the bot!
See what I mean?! I am super disappointed that my two favourite celebrities are using Instagram Bot to gain more followers (if that is their intention).
I can bet with you that there are many people out there who are jumping for joy when they see the notification stating that you have just ‘like’ their photo… Yes, it’s beneficial to your account in the sense that your account gets more awareness but can you imagine the disappointment that these people are going to experience when they realised that you did not truly ‘like’ their photo?
Hence, my fellow Singaporean instagramers, you need not feel so happy and excited when you see Zheng Ge Ping or Constance Song like your photo… It’s all the bot’s doing.
You may choose not to believe what I have revealed but there is no harm for you in adding the hash tag #singapore on your next post and find out the truth yourself. Well, provided they have not disable the Instagram Bot. But mind you, the bot ‘like’ photos randomly, so it could take you several tries before the celebs ‘like’ your photo!
Updated at 10:45pm, 10 September 2012
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Updated at 7:09am, 11 September 2012
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Updated at 10:24pm, 11 September 2012 (from here till end of entry)
If you are on Instagram, do follow @instasg and read up on their latest post on my findings. A big thanks to them for taking an interest in my findings and sharing it with the rest of the community.
Also, I think the person(s) behind the accounts has deactivated the Instagram Bot as I noticed that when I hash tag Singapore now, you don’t see them liking your photos already. Additionally, the photos on my stream in which they ‘like’ yesterday, no longer have their name on it, so I suspect that they probably ‘unlike’ my photos… Since so many readers are reading this entry.
For comparison’s sake (refer to the above photo)
I really hope that all of you who are reading this, will continue to help spread the news about this… Because I think, those who are unaware, are seriously thinking that it is the celebs themselves who like their photos.
Shermaine (@morethansher) screen shot and showed me a tweet which was a result in her search for ‘Zheng Ge Ping’ on twitter, which I am not going to post it up at all. The content of the tweet, however, was by a girl who mentioned to her friend that Zheng Ge Ping like her photo and she suspect that he is stalking her.
So yeap, I hate to burst their bubbles of delusion but the truth is, they didn’t like your photo. The bot did.
“Out with the old…In with the new” That’s the theme for September’s Bellabox.
Products that leads you to your most beautiful self with picks from Vichy, Origins, and Rimmel - just to name a few. Enter the new season with confidence, knowing you’ve had the chance to experience the latest and greatest beauty finds to hit the market.
VICHY BI-WHITE MED DEEP CORRECTIVE WHITENING LOTION (200ml for $49)
No one goes deeper for a global whitening efficacy. By targeting melanin at it’s source, deep within your skin, and stops its creation biologically, this lotion fights dark spots, dullness and yellowish skin tone. For all skin types, even sensitive.
ORIGINS MAKE A DIFFERENCE™ PLUS+ REJUVENATING (50ml for $78)
Is your skin always thirsty? Restore and rejuvenate the appearance of damaged and dehydrated skin. Origins transposes the unique power from nature with The Rose of Jericho into the Make A Difference™ Plus+, arming skin with long-term hydration and repair. A light refreshing scent will have you looking forward to each use.
L’OREAL DERMO EXPERTISE WHITE PERFECT LASER ANTI-SPOT BRIGHTENING ESSENCE (30ml for $39.90)
This is a perfect product for women who are starting to see the first signs of hyper pigmentation (dark spots) on their skin or who have spent long hours under the sun. Dermo-Expertise White perfect Laser prevents new spots from forming as it works to eliminate existing spots over time. Forming as it works to eliminate existing spots over time.
CELMONZE PREMIUM FACIAL AMPOULES (WHITENING OR LIFTING OR VITAMIN A) (1 box contains 5 ampoules for $95)
The formulas within these beautiful ampoules has the power to restore the skin’s youth and vigor, slow down aging and provide a flawless base before makeup application that helps it stay on throughout the day. The secret is a concentration of highly active ingredients that work from the inside out.
RIMMEL EXAGGERATE FULL COLOR LIP LINER DEFINER ($7.90)
Sexy, edgy, trendsetting: these are all words that define the Rimmel brand whose British past includes providing perfume to Royalty. They have the chicest supermodel in the world representing their brand (Kate Moss) and wearing their products. Try the legendary Rimmel brand on for size, and see if you don’t feel some of the impeccably cool vibe rubbing off on you.
Quite honestly speaking, I am rather disappointed with September Bellabox. It has set me pondering if I should discontinue my subscription with them.
If you are interested in getting your very own Bellabox, they cost $18 monthly.
On 8 September 2012, I spent my Saturday evening with Aaron Kwok. It was such a beautiful night and definitely an experience I will never forget. No, don’t think otherwise…I was referring to his concert!
I got the second best category in the house and totally loved seat that I got! Enough leg space and I could lean against the railing and wave my hands in the air!
Aaron Kwok sang almost all of his classical songs but the best part of the entire concert was his stage and his dance moves. I mean seriously, out of the four heavenly kings, you have to admit that Aaron Kwok is the best dancer!! So to be able to watch him sing and dance live made me so happy that I bought the tickets to his concert!
Yet another monthly dinner with the villagers except that this session, we are sad to have one of our villager leaving us but we are also happy for her that she is moving on to a greener pasture!
136 Hong Kong Street Fish Head Steamboat was recommended by the villager and a few other fellow colleagues. They have been raving about the awesome food at this small little zhi char stall along South Bridge Road and the other villagers thought it was about time we gave this place a shot.
Nine villagers (including myself), were present for dinner earlier this evening and we ordered nine dishes. Let me go down the line and comment on the dishes that we ordered.
Sambal Kang Kong
Not exactly fantastic baby! We ate it halfway thru and the villager informed the zhi char lady known as Qing Qing that it tasted rather burnt. Gave them our dish of Kang Kong to try. Before we can even inform them that it’s alright, we do not want a fresh plate, they were almost done whipping up a fresh plate of Sambal Kang Kong! Service was definitely a plus point from this.
四季豆 (I don’t know the English term for this vegetable)
I never tried this because I am not a big fan of vegetables but review from the villagers on this dish was that it is crunchy and rather tasty!
Braised Mee Tai Mak
O M G! This is a freaking must try! Finally, other than the usual soup/fried mee tai mak, there is a braised version of it! A villager told me that they asked not to have vegetable for this and I dare say that that was a good move! It’s very tasty and flavorful!! *thumbs up*
Mongolian Tofu
Do not mistake this as the typical yam ring. This, is a TOFU ring! Yes, you read it correctly…T O F U! This dish is served with a generous portion of prawns, scallops and capsicums! The texture of the tofu looks like mashed potato, except, that it’s tofu and there are bites and pieces of water chestnut in it for the crunch. Being a fussy tofu eater that I am, I think I rather stick to just egg tofu. However, definitely worth a try!
Pig Trotters Bee Hoon
Please, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT order this dish. Maybe it was not wonderfully cooked this evening but it was horrible. I think the Mother’s pig trotter bee hoon tastes even better than this! Mind you, the Mother is not really a fantastic cook.
Salted Egg Pork Ribs
The latest trend, I am sure everyone has noticed, is salted egg this and salted egg that. This is my first time having salted egg pork ribs and it’s wonderful! The saltiness of the salty egg along with the tenderness of the pork rib…Awesome combination!
Fried Shrimp Paste Chicken
Not too bad a dish. The plus point is that the wings are plump and juicy! Finger lickin’ good I say!
Wasabi Prawns
Do not be fooled by the strong smell of the wasabi that this dish gives off… It does not choke your nose like how normally wasabi will do. The mayonnaise definitely balances the spicyness and you can never go wrong with Wasabi Prawns! NEVERRRR!!
Fish Head Steamboat
Do try the fish head steamboat! They gave a generous helping of fish and usually when there is this dish, I only just whack the soup. The soup, is really delicious!
I think overall, I love the Wasabi Prawns the most! So, to crown Wasabi Prawns the winner for tonight’s dinner…
136 Hong Kong Street Fish Head Steamboat is definitely worth a try if you have not tried it yet. I think parking can be quite a bitch cos the nearest car park is the one at Maxwell Market.
Service is also awesome and the best part is that this zhi char stall is air-conditioned! So you do not having to worry that you will be sweating like a pig while having the fish head steamboat or maybe even their pepper crab!
136 Hong Kong Street Fish Head Steamboat
