the awesome post

Jap Style Marche - Awesome!

2008-03-15T00:17:00.004+08:00

Having read about Shokudo all over the press, I of course have to try it. :) I love trying new places to dine, so this was a great option for lunch.

Raffles City is really upping the ante with their retail and culinary options - lots of new boutiques and restaurants have opened. Even J Co, the famous donuts from Indonesia have opened, stealing their business from The Donut Factory! ( haha..... ) I'm seeing how long this donut craze will last.

Anyway, when I stepped into Shokudo, its pretty overwhelming - lots of food options! I thought it was quite a good idea to have it Jap style, as lots of Singaporeans like Jap food, and Jap food has great variety.

A brief summary of the food options available: Jap style omelette, Jap style pizza, Bamboo rice, Omu rice, Noodles (Ramen + Cha Soba), Teppanyaki, Shabushabu, Oden (Jap style Yong Tau Foo), and of course Jap Rice ( Jap curry and rice bowls )

too many! I tried Mushroom & Cheese Omelette - YUMMY. they cooked the omelette with 2 layers. The first layer with the fillings, and cover it with another layer of egg. The finished product is topped with fish flakes, mayo and jap sauce. The taste - thick soft eggy goodness that's absolutely delish. I think im going to try it at home. hehe

Ramen next! The ramen is ok... soup base is normal, average ( nothing much to say about ramen cos the best Ramen ever is at Gallery Hotel. I think its very hard to compete with the ramen there )

my rice bowl - Shokudo Grilled Chicken & Egg Rice Bowl. Awesome too! The grilled chicken is sweet, tasty, and the rice is sticky and authentically Japanese. This rice bowl came with a different style of serving - its egg is barely cooked - so i just mashed it all up with my rice and chicken. good good good.

Other things I must try when I'm back - the Jap burger, Jap Pizza, curry rice & Teppanyaki.

Price wise - very reasonable, avg of 5-7 bucks per dish.

try it try it!

The Way I Are - Timbaland - shakes shakes shakes

2008-03-15T00:09:00.001+08:00

great song!!!! I love hip hop & Rnb music - gets you into a groove and you just feel like dancing.

watched step up 2 the streets and they danced to this song - made me think of how much I like this song. so here you go, the video! :)

Laughter is Seriously the Best Medicine

2008-03-15T00:00:00.003+08:00

I'm trying out this therapy now - which is... laughing! haha...:):)

Well, i'm schooling part time and working fulltime, thus can get tiring, stressful, and you just feel so. jaded.

With the effects of stress comes many many other terrible symptoms like acne, over eating etc etc.. which is just terrible and totally unhealthy!

so - i was talking to my boyfriend, and i said - I need to laugh more! ( Though I laugh alot already ). and we came up with this... he'd tickle me as many times a day as he can, and as many times as I can take it. hahahhahha..

HEY it was Great!!!!!! Of course its not those pin you down on the bed and tickle you till you die kind, but it was a short tickle in the ribs, laugh laugh laugh, and stop. After each tickle, I always felt a level of endorphins rushing through me, and I actually breathe better and feel more alert.

So then i came home, and did some research - Laughing is really good! It helps reduce stress ( that obvious ), helps lower blood pressure, heart diseases, and its a great form of exercise. So.. im going to continue my laughter therapy - seriously, try it! :):)

Horton! - Cute, funny, meaningful. :)

2008-03-14T23:41:00.003+08:00

Hortonnnnnn! Watched it today - great movie!

Well, its basically about Horton an elephant, who heard voices from a speck - this speck is actually a planet with people living in the land of Hoover ville. Horton is striving to save this planet, by placing this speck in a safe spot - so that it is free from disturbances lest Hoover Ville gets destroyed.

In the midst of every heroic journey, there is a definite evil character - in this case it is Mother Kangaroo, who does not believe what Horton says and blames him for putting imagination in the kid's minds. She tries to stop him in umpteen ways, and fortunately, she was unsuccessful.

Moral of the story: A person is a person - no matter how small. This made alot of sense, especially when Horton said " Someone else may be looking Planet Earth and thinking, "They are so small" "

All in all, it was a really heartwarming movie which is funny, meaningful and very very very cute. Themes of love, unselfishness and helpfulness shines through here - which shows why Dr Seuss is great with children's book - he inculcates the proper values into growing children when their imagination and learning power is like a sponge.

Sometimes I think adults should read children's books too - we get too carried away sometimes with worldly matters ( wealth, power, etc etc ) and a simple book can remind us of what really matters - friendship & unconditional love.

Durian Madness!! I love Durian!!

2008-03-13T13:03:00.004+08:00

OH MY GOD. I just found out Goodwood Park has just launched their Durian Fiesta this year.

I have to tell you how much i love durian - both its fruit and its desserts.

I first fell in love with Puteri Mas's very awesome durian puffs, and quoting from Friends, they "taste like little drops of heaven". Just speaking of it makes me crave for it. Puteri Mas does not just offer great durian puffs. They added a twist to a traditional kueh and came up with Durian Ambom - soft coconuty kueh with a rich lump of pulp in the middle. I remembered coming out of a horrible job interview and ate 6 of these amboms at one go, and I felt good immediately after. hee.

Enough of Puteri Mas, I can go on and on. I just want to bring attention to these lovely lovely desserts that Goodwood Park hotel has came up with this year! The Durian & Brownie Chocolate Cup and the Durian Oreo Cake just looks so TEMPTING and DELICIOUS!!

Durian Oreo Cake & Durian and Brownie Chocolate Cup

I've tried Goodwood Park's durian puffs, and found them lacking in flavour to Puteri Mas's. BUT! Their durian crumble is to die for. You can eat them plain, or the one with Hazelnut - both are awesome. I think Goodwood is good for their durian improvisation, to produce these classy desserts and cater to the tastes of the slightly more "atas" people.

I am definitely heading down to Goodwood to try these desserts out - :) Just the thought puts a smile on my face :) :) :)

Sigh - if only durian is low-fat, non-heaty and very healthy. Then i can eat them everyday................ but then again, eating too much of a good thing isnt good eh?

What does Sandra Oh and Eva Mendes use? Kate Somerville!

2008-03-01T21:06:00.005+08:00

my sister who is currently staying in the UK has this habit of sending things she purchased online from US sites to Singapore ( by Vpost ), and then I'd send it over to her -- this is our way of cheating on the exorbitant sales tax she gets!

anyway - both me and her are crazy over skincare, and in the US Kate Somerville products are very popular and sought after by celebrities and apparently very effective.

I had the chance to try them on since my sister bought them - sent over to me - and by a stroke of luck ( for products that are liquid or cream, can only be sent via sea which takes approx 2 mths -- so we decided to forget it and i'd keep it. ) i got a chance to use them!

I'd slowly review the products, since i've just started and i cant bear to exhaust my supply that fast. =P

ok i wanna talk about Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair with Peptide Moisturiser

Another habit of mine - i like to check out this site www.makeupalley.com for product reviews cos they have SO many reviews there! check it out - you'd be overwhelmed. Besides, you wanna ensure you do not buy a lousy product - you definitely would wanna know if it might be good or bad.

this product is one of Kate Somerville's star - and i think it certainly does what it claims to do - reduce wrinkles, puts a glow to your skin, reduces blemishes & acne scars and more. so makeup alley rated this product 4.5, and 90% of users said they'd buy it again! upon reading this i immediately jumped at trying it.

and hey! its really good! I'm sceptical of moisturisers cos they tend to get too oily for my skin -- causing larger pores, more breakouts which are very saddening - however for this, its rich to the touch yet non-oily ( and i mean ZERO oiliness ) after applying. which is great! the next morning, i did not wake up with oily skin, my scars seem to have faded a little ( just a little...... ) and the most important thing is - i did not have extra breakouts. In fact, one up and coming pimple even subsided. so yay!

if you are interested in trying this product out, it costs US$150 though - very ex! so i recommend you trying other cheaper products she has, and request for a sample of this cream.

and and.. :) sandra oh, eva mendes and molly sims uses it.

Sandra Oh and Eva Mendes

check out www.katesomerville.com

check out the product directly here Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair with Peptide

On a diet? Do Yogurt!

2008-02-29T23:09:00.005+08:00

whenever i felt that i've overeaten and it is time for a detox, i'd start counting my calories ( not like i do not count it everyday ) haha..

so at least if i've gained weight, i know its cos i overeat? i hate it when i gain weight and do not know why!!

anyway, for a girl, its best to have 1800 calories a day ( for a girl with normal activitity ). if you wanna lose weight, just eat less than that - i'd recommend between 1200 - 1400 calories. Since you consume 400 less calories a day, you'd lose approx 1/2- 1 kg of fats in a month!

so let me recommend one great food that can aid you in your diets -- Yogurt! Marigold Non-fat Yogurt. comes in many flavours - blueberry, mixed berry, strawberry, aloe vera & peach mango, they all taste great. and heres the best part ---- its only approx 120 calories per pack, with very little or no fat at all! how great is that?

yogurt helps digestion, helps prevent osteoporosis cos of the calcium inside, and is filling ( so you wont overeat ). if you think its too boring and plain to eat it alone, mixed in with some crushed digestive biscuits, or cereal and there you have it ( your very own home-made delicacy that's fit for a queen to eat.

so this weekend, i'm really looking forward to my detox diet - consisting of some healthy foods like apples, bananas, yogurt, milk, cereal + one indulgent - muffin from Delifrance cos the muffins are just so cheap and good.

:)

forget the Oscar nominated movies or Leap Year! Catch this!! The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep

2008-02-29T22:35:00.011+08:00

caught it today - supposed to premierer on 8th March, but theres sneaks preview.

TIP! Cathay Cinemas have discounts for UOB credit card members - only $8 bucks on weekends, and $6 on weekdays!

for HSBC - you get your bonus too at Golden Village cinemas.. $1 off your tickets. If you watch on weekends, combine your Safra card (if you have) with your HSBC and your tickets are only worth $7 each! hehe

thats how i save money on my movie tickets.

ANYWAY! The Waterhorse - it was supposed to be the next greatest film of its kind since E.T, and i saw the posters about cinemas - definitely had to catch it.

went in to the show without any inkling of what the movie is about - just knew its about a cute little animal which i suppose is the Waterhorse - well..... its more than that. :)

in a very brief summary! ( for those who hates spoilers ) --- it is a movie following the legendary myth of the Loch Ness Monster - period is based during 2nd World War - about this little boy Angus who found an egg at the seaside and brought it back. little did he know it will hatch into an animal that is known as a Water Horse.

What follows is a magical tale of how the little boy made friends with this adorable animal - seeing it grow from a little baby to a HUGE animal! You see how Angus relied on Crusoe ( the Water Horse ) for company, and Crusoe on Angus for friendship - they're both lonely people as Angus has lost his father in war, and Crusoe being a magical creature is only one of a kind in the world. Their close friendship and bond is so heartwarming. Intermitten in the show are hilarious snapshots of comedy scenes created by this creature when its young.

Underlying themes of this movie showcases love lost ( Angus and his dad who lost his life at war ), and love gained ( Angus with Crusoe, the Water Horse, his mum and his sis ), friendship gained ( Crusoe and Lewis - their handyman ) and the brutality of war.

the ending - i shant say! :) Catch the show and you'd know.

The Love between Angus and Crusoe

pls check out the website at http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thewaterhorse/index.html

pls check out their video blog at http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thewaterhorse/blog/index.php

pls watch the movie, its great. :)

Lunar Eclipse Feb 20 2008 - Did anyone knew?

2008-02-29T22:12:00.002+08:00

did anyone knew there was a lunar eclipse on Feb 20? I certainly did not! came across this video - so this is how a lunar eclipse look like.

According to Wikipedia:

"A total lunar eclipse occurred on the morning of Thursday, February 21, 2008 (in Europe and Africa; evening of Wednesday, February 20 for the Americas). It represented the first of the two lunar eclipses in 2008, with the second, the August 16, 2008 event being partial. The next total lunar eclipse will occur on December 21, 2010.

It was visible in the eastern evening sky on February 20 for all of North and South America, and on February 21 in the predawn western sky from most of Africa and Europe.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes completely through the earth's shadow. This is called the umbral shadow. The moon took about an hour and 20 minutes to pass through the penumbral shadow before and after the total eclipse, during which the otherwise full moon may be mistaken as having a phase.

Shortly before the eclipse began, the bright star Regulus was occulted by the moon in parts of the Southern Hemisphere. Regulus and the planet Saturn were prominent very near the moon during the total eclipse portion."

so - here you go.. short video but worth the sight. :)

Try this! Garnier Light Lightening Peel Off Mask

2008-02-27T23:08:00.005+08:00

Tried this mask recently - My dermatologist mentioned that everyone ( girls and guys ) should do a treatment for their face regularly - why do you think those who are rich have such great skin? They have the money to splurge on expensive facials, microdermabrasions when acne comes up, botox when they have saggy skin, etc etc etc etc etc. As for me - i'd settle for masks for the time being. heh.

so I read on a female mag recently on Dr Woffles Wu doing a critique on the Garnier Light Lightening range of products, on different skin types - normal, acne, combination and dry skin. Yes though at the back of my mind i know it can be just a marketing gimmick, i still cant help but try - Another great tip for marketers - If you want consumers to buy your products, get a renowned sign off! Dr Woffles Wu analyzed the skin of each and every lady before and after the trial period. Turns out all of their skin improved after a period of using this Garnier range.

SO - i hopped down to the nearest beauty store - Another tip for the budget ladies - check out your neighbourhood for beauty stores that sells these products at a discount! Toa Payoh Central has a great store called "Pink Beauty" - their products are sold much cheaper and they are the real stuff - and checked out this range. They sold the peel off mask that comes in 2's at just $1.95 - great for a first trial.

Upon application, there is a slight tinging sensation - i think its due to the lemon essence. After 15 min, you've gotta peel off the mask to peel off all the impurities, dull skin, and dead skin cells. hey! i like it! It does not peel off too hard ( some peel off masks hurts upon peeling ), and i did see some impurities come off - especially around the nose areas for the black and white heads, around the cheek area for clogged skin.

i will definitely be using it again for sure!

Awesome Uses for Milo!! :):):)

2008-02-27T22:45:00.003+08:00

I love Milo. Its the most awesome drink on earth! I can drink Milo for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never grow sick of it. :)

well, since I love Milo so much, I've decided to list down with some awesome ways I consume this lovely chocolatey goodness.

1) Good old fashion Milo Drink with Cream Crackers

A piping hot cup of milo is great with cream crackers, or otherwise known familarly as "sor da bia". Whoever made cream crackers definitely made it to go with Milo! And sor da bia in my opinion, is the best cracker to go with Milo. I have tried it with digestive biscuits, white bread etc etc, and none beats sor da bia. so for all of you who have not tried it before, go try it!!!! I recommend Khong Guan crackers or Hup Seng crackers. They are the creme de la creme of cream crackers hehehe.

2) Milo powder with White Bread

OOOooOOoh. If you like Nutella with white bread, go for milo! yes, its heaty. Yes, its fattening. Yes, its downright sinful. BUT - sometimes one just gotta indulge a little! Simply take a piece of white bread and spread the milo powder into a thick even layer. as I'm writing this post I am craving for this luscious delight. AS you take your first bite, you will not regret. The powder will burst in your mouth like little drops of heaven - the ultimate delight. Forget cheesecakes and awfully chocolate cakes. This simple dish is good enough a substitute, in my opinion. :)

Other breads you can try - baguette - Toast baguette before spreading the milo powder. Cos of the heat, the powder melts and coagulates into something of a milo spread - and oh - its good. Just that baguette can get a little hard, and can be messy eating the whole thing without dirtying your table - be sure to eat it over a plate or over the sink.

3) Ice Milo

Well - hot milo is great, but sometimes Ice Milo can be more gratifying. I always crave for this ice-cold drink during work - and the Indian uncle at the prata shop downstairs makes the ice milo thick, sweet and yes, very sinful too. If you want to up the ante on the sinful factor, do a Milo dinosaur! Simply pour over the drink spoonfuls and spoonfuls of milo powder..........

Well - the top 3 are my favourites - if anyone reading this post has any other ideas, pls comment on the post!!! :) If i suddenly remember any, I definitely will add in. :)

4) Milo muffin

oh this is the first I've tried recently. you know, with muffins you can try with about EVERYTHING under the sun. I was playing around baking muffins, and yes! simply find a recipe for a good muffin batter, stir milo powder in, top it off with more milo powder ( i cannot emphasize enough how generous you have to be ) and you have yourself a great muffin that tastes great!

other flavours I've tried it with - pork floss ( yum), coco crunch with cornflakes ( not too bad )

hehe.

My Oscar favourites - Heidi Klum and Marion Cotillard

2008-02-27T22:13:00.011+08:00

have i told anyone i LOVE LOVE to watch E Entertainment? If you do not know what it is - subscribe to cable! It's channel 80- and it simply showcases the best celebrity gossips/ stories/ fashion/ beauty etc etc one can ever ask for. Sound slightly bimbotic? Maybe..... but who cares. :) This is the channel that allows me to just unwind from all the stress/unhappiness/fatigue experienced just trying to make a mark in the world..... :)

OK! So - what's the latest in the entertainment world? It will definitely be the Academy Awards! Can i just comment how great Heidi Klum looked?

Heidi Klum in John Galliano

Heidi's one of my favourite best-dressed artiste - she ALWAYS looks great. She looked great on the catwalk just 1 month after her birth during the Victoria Secrets Fashion show, she looks good now, and she will look good all the time! And her perfect accessory - Seal - Both of them just make the red carpet sizzle.

Heidi and Seal

Here's another lady i was fascinated with. Marion Cotillard

This leading lady just won her first Best Actress Oscar for her role in La Vie En Rose - and she sure caught my eye for being a leading style lady too. Fashion Police Kimora Lee Simmons hated her dress, but i had to differ. I thought she looked gorgeous!!

French Actress Marion Cotillard

Her modern mermaid dress by Jean Paul Gaultier accented her figure to the very best - I simply adored it. Not everyone can pull off these bold dresses well - and I have to give credit to her for doing this dress every bit the justice it deserves.

which's more awesome? starry starry nights vs beautiful sunrises

2008-02-20T21:42:00.007+08:00

i was sleeping one night and this question came to my mind - what's more beautiful? a sky full of stars or an unforgettable sunrise at the top of the world?

I was in Bali last year and it was truly an amazing trip. I climbed a volcano (dormant of course), went trekking, white water rafting, parasailing etc etc. The volcano climb was a breathtaking experience. The volcano's called Mount Batur. We started the climb at 2am in the wee hours of the morning ( great way to burn off that indulgent dinner, eh? ) and it was a 2+ km climb upwards. We reached the summit around 4am - tired but accomplished. The purpose of this night climb was so we can catch the sunrise!

Well. the pictures speak for themselves - we were at the peak of the volcano, surrounded by serenity, engulfed with beautiful landscape, watching the sun slowly appear.

on top of the world

Scenery after the Sunrise

I know I've seen the most beautiful sunrise there is yet - but I'm sure there are more to be experienced. I just havent managed to see the most beautiful night sky. I am sure it will be as breathtaking as the sunrise is. I await this day!

Gorgeous Pretty Packaging - Paul & Joe

2008-02-14T09:22:00.008+08:00

I've always a liking for make-up products in pretty packaging, but have to control my urge to purchase because it'll definitely be a huge dent to my wallet!

i sorta needed face powder + blusher, thus was shopping around and found Paul & Joe's irresistable!

I purchased the pressed powder in a light pink colour - its supposed to even out the yellow-ish tone common in Asian skin. Was sceptical at first, but when the sales assistant brushed some on my face for effects - it was really good!!

your skin brightened up immediately, and looked radiant. you can use it as a pressed powder for touch ups, or sweep a brush across and you get a loose powder for a lightweight finish. EIther way, it works great.

Since i was at the counter already, why not shop for more? Saw this amazing blusher - 2 tones - a bronzer colour combined with a rosy hue - and i was hooked immediately. the colours look natural on the face, such that you don't have any of those red streaks some blushers can give.

hehe. im starting to be a fan!

The funniest show on earth!!

2008-02-14T01:21:00.003+08:00

i have to let everyone know about my obsession with FRIENDS - i have watched it over and over from season 1 to 10 umpteen times, and yet i can never get bored of it. it is what i do when i'm eating, when there's absolutely nothing on TV, and when i just have ANY bit of time, FRIENDS is on.

Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Joey makes for great comedy man. Each artiste plays their character to the best there can be. Nothing else can replace this as my favourite show of all time.

Enjoy!

No one... No one... no OnnnNneee!... Awesome song by Alicia Keys

2008-02-14T01:12:00.005+08:00

love this song. no one by Alicia Keys

enjoy this video - her performance at the Grammy Awards. Her award of Best R&B performance for this song is truly well deserved!!

Awesome Skincare Tip: Tomatoes for Acne!

2008-02-14T00:08:00.007+08:00

I've had acne on and off for a while now, especially after I've started working. (must be due to the stress :( )

anyway - so with acne, comes the inevitable - spending huge amounts of money on products that dont work etc etc etc.. I have finally got down to seeing a dermatologist, and luckily my acne has come under some control, though ocassional fiery breakouts are unpreventable.

well, my mum recommended me to use tomatoes on my skin everynight to cure the pimples. I did not believe it at first - but i decided - why not try it? What is there to lose?

So, i purchased some tomatoes, and every night after removing my makeup, used a slice of tomato to rub all over my face gently for say 5 mins. I then wash it off with warm water.

I've just started this regime for 3 days, so I cant tell the results as yet. But i can tell you one thing - my face has become smoother! I do not need to succumb my skin to harsh exfoliating, and yet achieve that smoothness that only exfoliation can give. The blackheads around my nose seem to go away slightly - my nose is smoother too.

I did some research, and apparently tomatoes do help in acne - with their composition of vitamin A & C & antioxidants, they are all the ingredients to combat that much-hated acne. In the article, they mentioned to leave on the tomato pulp & juice for an hour - so I will be doing that to see how better the results can be.

whatever it is, as long as it does not give me breakouts, I will be sticking to this for a while. :) its natural, cheap and somewhat effective.

P.S. I love trying out these silly little skincare stuff to see how they combat acne, so now that I've started this blog, will definitely be updating more of my findings!

Awesome Mini Breads!

2008-01-25T08:00:00.002+08:00

there is just something alluring about mini things. the UOB visa mini, the mini cooper, mini magnums, mini cornettos, mini peanut butter cups and the list just goes on and on

well, the mini selection of breads at various bakeries are definitely making the raves. Bakeries like Four Leaves, Bread Talk and Sun Moulin have all tapped into this HUGE demand for mini breads and decided to satiate the desire of the public for these so cute mini things. Perhaps its the thought that you can buy more without having to gauge yourselves out. Perhaps its just that these breads look much more appetising and inviting when they are so small and harmless. At 5 pieces for $2.80, it is so easy for one to pile up 10 pieces on that tray, that tray that seems so empty if just one small item is placed on it.

I've tried various flavours, and man they are addictive! The sweet and savoury mini croissants from Four Leaves taste like little drops of heaven. I was in love with the sweet potato croissant. A thick paste of Japanese sweet potato wedged inside the squarish croissant. Unfortunately it was discontinued due to poor response? :(

Anyway, I tried the blueberry, strawberry, choco and nut and ham and cheese croissants. The layers of sweet croissant are laced with sugar syrup which made it extra flaky and crispy. The fillings are of the right amount, and when bitten into half the filling oozes out and it just tastes awesome! Mine would taste extra better though, I brought them home, gave them a slight toast in the oven, and made them that more crispy, the filling that more oozy.

The ham and cheese croissant was not disappointing either. I expected it to have just a small slice of ham wedged in between. It was not the case however. The ham was rolled in together with the croissant, and every bite of it was bursting with the flavour of ham and melted cheese.

Go explore the other flavours! There are plenty to be adventurous with. This is great to step out of the ham and cheese/sausage bun routine, and try other flavours. With these mini breads, you can experiment without much costs incurred. If it tastes bad, just dump it out!

Four Leaves is available at
Takashimaya Basement 2

Picture Source

Awesome Win for Maria Sharapova - Ousted World Number 1 Justine Henin

2008-01-23T11:30:00.002+08:00

yes! I was so anticipating this match between Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin. World No 5 vs World No 1 - the odds tend to give favouritism to Justine Henin, especially after Justine had such a long winning streak of Grand Slams.

It was long-awaited. I was waiting for Sharapova to get back her form after slipping down the rankings - from No 2 to No 5! Sharapova proved critics wrong - that she is not just a pretty woman who happens to do well at tennis. She DOES play the game well with great precision, strength & technique.

I expected a head-to-head fight between the duo, but Henin put up a disappointing fight. Well, I guess all good things have to come to an end - Henin's serve was terrible, played conservatively thus resulting in few winners, and allowed Sharapova to manuever her to and fro the courts.

Sharapova definitely deserved every bit of her placement in the semi-finals, and deserved every point she put her heart into playing.

Maria Sharapova and her Triumphant Wave

The Amazing Race is an Amazingly Awesome show!!

2008-01-21T11:49:00.002+08:00

For those who are the type of pple who DO NOT like to know the finale endings of whatever you watch, please do not read this post! For those who like myself, loves to know the endings to the Korean dramas/reality TV/etc etc I'm watching, I am just about to reveal the winner of the Amazing Race Season 12.

I'm an ardent follower of Amazing Race since its first season. I love travel, and the more I watch The Amazing Race, the more I want to travel! This season, the top 3 teams competing for the US$1 million prize money in my opinion - deserves their spots in the final. 2 of the teams (Christina and Ronald, Nic & Don ) have an elderly - which is amazing enough that they can survive through in terms of physical and mental strength. The 3rd team (TK & Rachel)have a strength of teamwork and unity which I feel has brought them far in this race.

Christina & Ronald

Nicolas & Don

TK & Rachel

Well - here you go! The winner is..... TK & Rachel!!

I like them - They have never quarreled once in the race, they work through everyting with faith and they keep positive. I think to myself - isn't this what we should apply to our daily lives as well? When trials and tribulations come our way, we immediately get discouraged, throw our tempers at our loved ones and give up. This shouldnt be! We should look at it at another pt of view - that trials are here to make us stronger. :) Keeping faith will ensure we get past the difficulties, and ultimately emerging victorious.

TK and Rachel has proven this point - they took a wrong flight and was on the verge of elimination, but they never gave up and went through all the tasks. Lucky for them, it was a non-elimination round. The next round, they had a speed bump which only they have to perform - and yet they managed to catch up with the rest of the teams!

It only goes to show: With determination comes success. They truly deserve every penny of that US$1 mil buck!

Yummy Food at Teahouse The Asian Kitchen!

2008-01-21T10:52:00.003+08:00

I've finally did my first ever food review! I ALWAYS wanted to be enjoying my meals and taking pictures and writing about them and sharing them with others, but not bringing my camera out is always the bottleneck. This weekend, I have succeeded! And I give my virgin review to Teahouse The Asian Kitchen.

We have always wanted to try this restaurant located at the newly refurnished Raffles City Shopping Centre. Its warm and homely ambience beckons to us - and the rows of roasted ducks and meats in the display window is enough to tempt anyone who is looking for a good meal into stepping in and ordering a bite.

Since the roasted ducks are what enticed us, and is apparently the signature dish, we decided to order a small serving of its duck breast meat served in herbal sauce.

Crispy Herbal Duck

It is fragrant, its skin is crispy, its meat is tender, and the herbal sauce topping off the meats is just awesome! One thing though, I'm a fan of anything herbal - thus the herbal sauce in my opinion can be more herbal-ish for me. :)

We also tried the Fiery Fish, which is a simple dish of fish slices stir fried in chilli sauce.

Fiery Fish

One thing about such a dish is that it can get too oily (due to the chilli) for anyone's liking, and thankfully the chef at Teahouse kept the oil amount to a reasonable amount. Match the fish slices with a mouthful of white rice and you have yourself a meal not to be forgotten.

Another must-try is the Crispy Garlic Ginger Ribs! I personally love this dish - it is tasty, and not too tough on the bite.

Crispy Garlic Ginger Ribs

All in all, the meal at Teahouse was a memorable one, and I definitely will be back! I was looking over at my neighbouring table and a group of tourists were enjoying their oriental cuisine with cups of beer. I wonder how yummy that will be..

Awesome Breads! - Apple Galaxy at Bread Talk

2008-01-21T09:40:00.002+08:00

hehe. I'm glad I managed to try more breads this week. :)

Well - everytime I walk past Bread Talk Silver located at the basement of Paragon Shopping Centre, I'd make it a point to step in, just to take in the fragrant smell of the newly-baked breads, and entice myself with the myriad of varieties available out there. This outlet sells breads different from its regular outlets, infusing a mix of unique ingredients to cater to the taste buds of their patrons!

Apple Galaxy

I saw picked up the Apple Galaxy - what can possibly go wrong with anythng apple? It is similar to the Applewerm available at the regular Breadtalk, just this is without the sugar coating. It is also "designed" to look like a galaxy, with rich caramel-brown swirls encircling this round-shaped bread, topping off with a star-shaped apple slice.

Its fillings are obviously apples, but they added some extra flavour with the use of raisins. The end result - a delicious yet wholesome bread that I believe will become a favourite with the young and old alike.

Turning a Japanese Car into an Italian Ferrari Dream

2008-01-21T09:29:00.001+08:00

We are constantly amazed by beautiful sleek luxury cars - from the Lamborghinis usually lined outside Meritus Mandarin Hotel, to Ferraris parked at Hilton & Hyatt Hotel.

For Italian car lovers out there who dream of owning one, this is one way you can do so! Replicate it! I found this video on You Tube showing the entire process - transforming a run down car into a Italian Dream.

We basically fake just about everything, from clothes to bags, hell - now we are faking cars too.

Check this video out and you judge if it is awesome or not.

Hot Male Underwear Models - David Beckham & Freddie Ljungberg

2008-01-18T15:36:00.002+08:00

David Beckham has just caused a huge stir with his Emporio Armani Underwear advertisement which first unveiled in Milan, the capital of fashion. Yes, he looks good. But Beckham seldom looks bad!

While there has been much buzz about Beckhim and his package, I remembered going ga-ga over Freddie Ljungberg when his ck underwear ads splashed all over town. Freddie is an equal heartthrob as Beckham - great bod with great mesmerising eyes.

Here's a feast for your eyes :)

David Beckham Emporio Armani Underwear Ad

Freddie Ljungberg ck Underwear Ad

You judge: Which of these underwear models is more awesome? Beckham or Ljungberg?

Do Your Shoe Straps Keep Coming Off? Try Shoo-Sticks!

2008-01-18T12:23:00.003+08:00

Do your strappy sandals always go against you? The straps rub against and cut into your skin, causing blisters & cuts to happen. Besides that, they keep falling off!

Well, I have just gotten news of this latest Australian invention at On Pedder. Shoo-sticks are an addition to other shoe inventions like the heel cushions & blister cushions. These handy adhesives ensure our shoe straps do not come off, provides cushioning and eliminates rubbing & cutting - perfect for all heel lovers!

Retails at $25, I am definitely heading down to On Pedder to check this out.

Awesome Rapture Silk Scallop Bell Dress from Zimmerman

2008-01-18T11:22:00.003+08:00

I love to browse http://www.shopbop.com/ for their great apparels and brands. Unfortunately, they're too expensive for my current meagre salary, so I can only lust after them. One thing about the fashion scene in Singapore is that there are very few affordable yet nice dresses around - they are either too expensive or not alluring enough. Thus, my search for beautiful dresses remains elusive.

Let me share my lust with you for this beautiful rapture silk scallop bell dress from Zimmerman.

Click on images to enlarge

Available in 2 colours (both of which I lurrvvveeee), this dress is very aptly described as "vintage-inspired grace, delicate feminity and flirtatiousness rolled into one"

This dress is available at Shopbop for an astounding US$680. Sigh.

Awesome Transformation: Sex & The City

2008-01-17T17:37:00.002+08:00

I have mentioned I'm a huge fan of Sex and The City.. Was looking through their pictures and can I just say how much Carrie, Miranda, Samantha & Charlotte have transformed? From Season 1 to Season 6 - they have blossomed - their faces give off a more radiant glow, they can dress better & they have great hair!

Was just flipping through the latest production pictures of Sex & The City movie and I think the movie is going to be another fashion parade - out to raise the envy in women's eyes.

Lets see the transformation from past to present:

Carrie

From this:

To this!

Samantha

From this:

To this!

Miranda

From this:

To this!

Charlotte

From this:

To this!

I think these 4 ladies have never looked better!

Picture Source

Awesome Drink: Negative-Calorie Fruit Juice!! - Green Apple Celery

2008-01-17T16:31:00.003+08:00

i personally am pretty health conscious - so though I love to eat, I ensure I count my calories everyday to make sure I do not exceed my limit. It really comforts me to know that there are such things as "Negative Calorie" around -- to make our lives that much easier.

Let me introduce to you this awesome drink - green apple + celery fruit juice.

These 2 fruits are both negative calorie, meaning though they have calories when eaten, become negative calorie when digested as the energy needed for digestion is more than what they contain! You must be thinking, are you sure?? Is this for real?? Yes yes yes!! I am for real. It means -- that you can eat as much of it as you can and not gain weight - of course, without adding any sugar/dressing etc etc.

Other negative calorie foods are: berries ( blueberry, strawberry, raspberry ), apples, mangoes (surprisingly), watermelon

Green apple + celery fruit juice is possibly the most refreshing drink there is out there. Celery is an acquired taste though ( applies personally to me too ) but once you get the hang of the taste, you'd be wanting more.

Simply blend 2-3 green apples with 1 stalk of celery and you have yourself a great beverage - whether for breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea time or supper.

Awesome Videos: Other Hilarious Djokovic Imitations!

2008-01-17T12:17:00.001+08:00

here are other imitations of Djokovic - first is Roddick, then Hewitt, then Nadal.

so hilarious!

Awesome Videos: Djokovic's Imitation of Sharapova

2008-01-17T10:12:00.001+08:00

Djokovic is currently World No 3 on the ATP Rankings, and he is ranked No 1 in another talent he has - Impersonations!

He has imitated Federer, Nadal, and the most recent one was after his 1st round win at the Australian Open - where he imitated Maria Sharapova. Judging from the standing ovation he received, we can tell the crowd loves him. Watch this video for a good laugh!

Awesome Advertisements: M1 Indian Cafe Commercial

2008-01-16T17:28:00.002+08:00

This commercial simply makes my stomach tickle everytime I watch it! The essence of a good commercial has to be memorable, and this one certainly makes the mark. This humorous advertisement has reminded marketers that a well-directed and thought through commercial can still impact consumers and hold their position in the advertising world today.

Indian accent "Singapore? Is that another island? Another country? This is Mumbai la! India!" hahahaha....

watch, enjoy and have a good laugh!

Awesome Game to Watch: Tennis

2008-01-16T15:58:00.002+08:00

The Australian Open Tennis Tournament is here!!! Imagine my delight. I'm an ardent fan of watching tennis - mind my words. I watch, I don't play. haha.. This is one strange thing about myself. I watch tennis, but I don't play. I love bread, but I don't bake. I've told myself umpteen times to get down to learning tennis and to try to at least bake, but to no avail. I really got to get down to doing these things!

Anyway, I started watching tennis since 1 year ago - influenced by some of my friends who are CRAZY over this game. And i don't see why they should not be - it is a game of literally outwit, outplay and outlast.

Why do I say so?

Outwit - Players have to trick their opponents into thinking they're hitting the ball left, when it is actually going to the right. They trick their opponents in thinking they're hitting a strong ball when it is actually a drop-shot.

Outplay - Tennis is also a game of mental strength. You can be the best player in the world, but if your mental fails you, your opponent can easily walk over you. One has to be absolutely concentrated on his game - only then will he claim victory. A great example is Leyton Hewitt. He is termed "comeback kid" as he is always trailing 2 games behind but ultimately emerge victorious due to his never-say-die attitude.

A player also has to outplay in terms of his skills. Lots of skills come into handy here - you have to excel in serving, changing direction of the ball, strong strokes of your backhand and forehand, minimising your unforced errors etc etc. It is hard to win a game without a good combination of all the skills.

Outlast - As of every sport, one has to outlast the other in terms of physical strength as well. If it is a best-of-5 game and they have to be on court for 3 hours slogging it out, the winner is the one who has outlasted both physically and mentally.

That said, other plus points of watching tennis are of course - to catch the male players in action. :) they always put smiles on my face. I'd be literally glued to the screens during this season of Australian Open. For beginners, you might get confused with their scoring system of 0-15-30-40. Get someone familar with the game to watch with you, and I bet you'd be hooked in no time too.

Here are some of my favourite players ( and i'm sure you can guess who )

Rafael Nadal - immense concentration, great strength

Roger Federer - absolute skillful, gorgeous precise shots

Lleyton Hewitt - never say die, great charisma

Picture Source

Awesome Song: My Love, Justin Timberlake

2008-01-15T17:37:00.001+08:00

OoOoooOoooh. I simply love this song. Justin Timberlake is smooth, sleek and an absolute awesome dancer. Enough said - enjoy the video!

Awesome or Not? Scarification

2008-01-15T16:35:00.001+08:00

my colleague just informed me about this procedure that is one class higher than the art of tattooing - scarification.

Basically, scarification as according to Wikipedia involves scratching, etching or some sort of superficial cutting or incision. One usually uses it to etch designs, pictures or words into the skin.

I guess people like scarification as it allows one to translate any pent-up stress/emotions/whatever they are feeling into pain, so they will feel a high and release.

words cant illustrate this process - let pictures speak for itself:

The end result of Scarification:

The procedure of Scarification:

Is this a form of art? Or is it simply torture? You decide. It makes me shudder though - at the thought of the pain...

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Awesome TV: Sex and the City

2008-01-15T10:30:00.001+08:00

I love Sex & the City - I'm glad my sister took the risks of being caught by the custom police in Malaysia and smuggled it over. - thanks sister. :)

After a 1-year hiatus, I recently picked up my collection of Sex & the City DVDs and decided to rewatch it, all the way from Season 1. I forgot how great this show was.

Well - this show is like none other. It has the right fuse of elements which makes for great TV. Themes of love, friendship, hot sex, betrayal, great fashion & shoes are instant hooks and we cannot ignore the display of great foods like - tempting Magnolia cupcakes, delicious huge pizzas and a host of Martinis & cosmopolitans that just makes you wanna go party.

Apart from all that, i love how 4 friends of diverse personalities have stuck together through thick and thin, shared their woes & happiness and amidst their hectic work, make time to have lunches & dinners with each other! yes, its on-screen, but don't you hope this can apply to you in real life? For those who already have such great close friends who meet up with each other everyday - cherish them! I'm ashamed to admit that through my hectic work life, school life & relationship with my boyfriend, I have neglected some of my friends. It only makes me reflect - what is more important? Great friends to last you a lifetime, or jobs that pay hell alot but you have to give up practically everything? It's a double-edge sword, I feel. But ultimately, when we die, we are remembered by the great friends we have, not by the amount of money we earn.

I can only say I can't wait for the movie to show here in May. In the meanwhile, I'd just get my regular late-night fixes of 2-hr Sex & the City. :)

Picture Source

Awesome Breads: Blueberry Fluff from Bread Talk

2008-01-15T08:58:00.002+08:00

I was at Citylink yesterday night after a game of pool and what better place to visit then Bread Talk?

This branch is different compared to other outlets in Singapore. They have different varieties of bread which other outlets do not have! ok, lets not compare to Bread Talk Silver at Paragon - that is a story for another time.

Some breads that are uniquely theirs are like this awesome Blueberry Fluff that I tried yesterday. Retailed at $1.10, it is truly worth the money, and whatever calories contains. True to its name "fluff", the bread is amazingly soft, and accompanying this texture is its milky, custardy taste. The blueberry filling adds the finishing touch - its blueberry bursts are not too coyingly sweet, and tastes of wholesome goodness - do you know that blueberry is actually a negative-calorie food?

Negative-calorie means that while some fruits and vegetables have calories when consumed, become negative when digested. The energy needed to digest is more then the calories they contain.

Well, though the blueberry filling has been tampered with sugar, making it not negative-calorie anymore, it is still superior to eating whole breads of custard cream cheese or chocolate cream.

What was meant for breakfast had been devoured on the spot - thus leaving my next-day breakfast options wide open.

PS: Pictures coming soon

Awesome Spreads: Duchy Originals Strawberry Preserve

2008-01-14T16:26:00.004+08:00

Since young, jam has been a part of my life - i eat it with plain bread or eat it with peanut butter for an awesome PB&J. Strawberry jam has always been my favourite, thus imagine my delight when I got to taste this pretty awesome strawberry preserve from Duchy Originals - the latest brand brought in by Ms Christina Ong of Club 21. Duchy Originals came from London, and is now the up and coming upmarket lifestyle brand specialising in organic foods. Located at the basement of Paragon, it targets just the right group of customers - those who are health-conscious and affluent - so they can afford to spend a premium on organic food stuff.

For the first time in my whole being - i ate the jam differently. I spread it on a cream cracker (those from Jacobs, Khong Guan or Hup Seng) due to a recommendation from my boyfriend, and wow does it taste good! The cracker plays an important part - it has to be crispy, buttery and fragrant. Mine was from Khong Guan, and thankfully it played its part well. The not-too-sweet jam combined with the cracker proved great as a breakfast item and even more excellent as a late-night snack.

Yes yes, we heard all about the high sugar content that jams can contain. I comfort myself by telling myself this jam i'm indulging in is organic. =P

Awesome Breads: Wassant from Provence

2008-01-14T15:24:00.002+08:00

I love breads. I do not know why. Even though I can't bake, I can't help it but walk into any bakery that I pass by. I hope to intern in a bakery just to get close to these lovely carbohydrates!

Meanwhile, i gotta rave about the various breads I've tried. The wassant from Provence bakery has got to be one of my all-time favourite breads in the whole wide world! As and when I can, I'd head down to Holland V to purchase these cute swirly chocolate buns, and I can devour them in a second.

they are amazingly soft, not too sweet and filled with just the right amount of chocolatey goodness. These wassants come in just 2 flavours - chocolate and custard, but my personal fav is still the chocolate one. Another bread-lover friend of mine adores the custard one though, so there is no particular debate of which tastes better - both are equally awesome!

If you want to get your hands at these lovely wassants, head down to Holland V. its located near the foodcourt, opposite sub way and beside the newly open Marmalade Pantry. Remember though, if you want to ensure you can get your hands on these heavenly breads, always make a reservation. In this way, satisfaction is guaranteed. :)

Provence at Holland Village, Tel: 6467 6966 check out their website! www.provence.com.sg

PS: Pictures will be up soon. :)

Awesome Awesome!

2008-01-14T12:05:00.000+08:00

this blog is set up to record all (hopefully) of the awesome things that have happened in my life! Sweet experiences, good tidings, great food, great travel, great friends etc etc. I wanna thank the Lord for these wonderful things he has bestowed.

I always believe too, that it is only in the midst of trials and tribulations that we find sweet things sweeter. Thus, a positive light to view hardships is so that we can treasure goodness that comes our way.

watch out for my lists of awesome stuff. :)