Snacks...and growing sideways...

Much food has been making it's way into my stomach since Nov last year... and the journey of the snacks are still slowly but surely making it's way in...

Among the many many, I rememebered most vividly were the slices of cakes from Pine Garden....Coffee Moouse, Lychee Martini and Black Forrest! I enjoyed them very much... And come to think of it, am salivating at the memory of Lychee Martini and Black Forrest!

I think there is no need to dwell much more on how good the cakes are. I recommended the cakes to Irene and she, too fell in love with it pretty soon.

I left out my favourite Triple Layer Chocolate as it was simply too sinful to induldge =( But I began regretting my choice in leaving it out almost immediately too.

A few days later, after pinning for Pine Gardens, Triple Layer Chocolate but can't get, I had to satisfy my craving with this HUGE chocolate slice that was sold somewhere in AMK that I shared with Hubby after dinner as I really cannot resist! But it was a really bad choice. The cake was too dry and the chocolate much too sweet. =( A total waste of my money!

One of my Christmas present last year was this big PINK box of Earl Grey Tea! Even the individual sachets are in pretty pink!To be honest, I've never really enjoyed Earl Grey. I mean I drink, but I would take something else, if there's a choice.

But, this packaging already attracts me and of course, after all these cakes, the best would be to wash it all down with ready tea! Some more, with such a nice packaging, must try!

Surprisingly, the taste is very smooth and the tea fragrant, not like the other Earl Grey I have tasted. Maybe, I don't know how to enjoy my tea... but this Earl Grey is definitely nice! And I've never used "nice" to describe Earl Grey. To me, it tasted a little like soap powder. I know I'm a mountain tortoise. But, ever drink before means never drink before lor.

I guess, my company knows that all of us must have been really feasting over the holidays and I'm wondering if all of us had put on weight that obviously.... coz the next few days, once I was back to work, I got this! A Pedometer!

Heh! I guess, we all must have been putting more and more weight. The management decides that enough is enough and gave everyone this? Hoping to get more of us on our feet and off our bum bums? They even organised a mass walk during 1 weekday in the evening and the last I heard was more than 400 staff had signed up for this event!

Then, sometime ago, my campus have this "Mobile Sales Team" (don't mean they sell handphones har. It means they move around to sell their things!) coming round to take orders for Fragrance Bak Kwa and other CNY cookies / googies. I bought 500g (x 3) of Bak Kwa for CNY. 1 pack for PIL, 1 pack for my parents and the last pack for ourselves, which are due for collection tomorrow. It's sooo much cheaper in campus than outside lei! I'm saving as much as $5 to $7 per 500g, you know!

Last Saturday, the Godma and I went to Queen's street, and I bought 500g of shrimp rolls, 500g of pork floss rolls and 1kg of cuttle fish. Which, I'm about 1/4 thru the cuttle fish.

Hubby and I are into our 2nd tin of pineapple tarts... and I've more or less finished the mountain of keropok that I bought from campus when we were having the bazzar not too long ago. =/

Today, the mobile sales team came again and I bought 2 boxes of Japanese Mochi. Red Bean and Green Tea. 1 of each.

And I just remembered, I have yet to get the Julie's Chocolate Love Letters! I suddenly remember seeing my sis ate it last Sunday and made a note to buy. But I kept forgetting.

Julie's Chocolate Love Letters are MUST haves for me.... actually, all the snacks, not even main meals are CNY must haves for ME!

I Love all these!!! Without any of these (with the exception of the Bak Kwa, that's Hubby's favourite), it doesn't feel like CNY.

Ohh... And I completely forgot, I just bought 1 big box of Choc n Spice muffins (Their muffins are the best-est BEST! Soft, hot and moist! Hot not because it's in the warmer, but cos it's FRESH out of the oven!!!) over lunch earlier... which I have intentions to eat for Breakfast for the next 2 days with Hubby.

15 days of CNY

There's 12 days of Christmas and 15 days of Chinese New Year but here in Sunny Singapore, we only have 1 holiday for Christmas and 2 miserable days for CNY. =(

From young, my mom taught me that on the first day of CNY, must wear new clothes... as I grew up, I followed thru religiously. At least 1 brand new set of clothes, even undies. =P As I grow older and started earning my own keep... I think I've take it a step or maybe many steps too far.

Most of the time, I have at least 2 sets of new clothes, since I told myself, first 2 days of CNY we are always out, cannot be wearing same things. Fine! 2 sets for CNY.

Then slowly but surely and from goodness knows when... the amount of clothes that I start buying from Christmas and all the way to CNY is enough to honestly last me thru almost the 15 days of CNY! That is like if I count I wear a new top and a new skirt (as a set) once.

With great pride(!!!), I bought another a Beaded Satin Dress and a Satin V Top from F21 (again!). The dress is meant for OBIL's ROM which is on 18 Feb. As for the top.... well... if I wear a tube inside, no one can stop me from wearing it to work.

I was telling hubby last night that I hope the dress will come in time for OBIL's ROM. Hubby's reply was "You have nothing to wear for the ROM meh?" My reply? "Of course have... but feel like wearing this lor... but then again, even if it (the dress) does not arrive in time, I have no lack of things to wear."

Hubby promtly retored with "Ya la. It's not nothing to wear, it's you have events to wear finish or not!"

whahahahahahahaha....

Hubby knows me soo well!

But for the sake of my purse and bank account, I promise that this 2 purchase will be my last for Feb and March.

However, in Feb, there's another purchase coming. My Fancl supplies. I need my washing powder, tonner and moisturizer. Have already ran out of the washing powder, been using another for the time being as I did not want to buy since I'll have birthday privilages next month, which is just a matter of 2 days! Hence, I've been holding out since mid Jan ever since the washing powder ran out.

it's Ang Pow mood...

By now, almost everyone is starting to feel the anticipation, the excitment that the yearly ang pow time is coming again. If you are a non chinese.... Ang Pow refers to the red packets that married chinese containing moo lahs that will be given away to the young and unmarried and elders in the family. This is the biggest and grandest event in the Chinese calendar, which we call, Chinese New Year (CNY). =)

So besides the mad rush to clean house (which hubby and I have not done), to buy and stock up sky high prices of snacks and food (which hubby and I have finished half of what I've bought meant for CNY), the need to get new clothes for at least the first day of CNY, (which I can probably replace my entire wardrobe with looking at the amount of clothes I've recently purchased) the long queues in bank to change for new notes (thank God for the godma, who helped us change yearly) I guess the list is endless... but how can I possibly forget about the mandrain oranges carrier right?!

I try to recycle and reuse, but mine are all spoilt when I used them last year. So this year, no choice, have to get new ones and I got myself these...Mickey Mouse for the year of the Rat! I reserved the Mickey Mouse carrier for myself and the "fa chai" for Hubby since I honestly don't believe he will be very happy carrying a bag of Oranges with Mickey...I knew my mother would like the "ong lai" (pineapple) so I gave her that and yes, I was absoultely right. She loves it.

In addition to these, Jeff bought me this. Ha! A fabric mandrain orange bag! Now, this is really something that can be recycled and reused for a good long time! I saw something similiar last year, but the better half stopped me from buying... so I used the paper ones which broke.

Anyway, this year, I shall bring 2 bags of oranges when I go out to make my CNY rounds! =)

Well, at least, my clothes, snacks, food, carriers are settled. Things could be much worse and not anything is done at all... The cleaning up... we shall start pretty soon.... right, Darling?! =D

Chow Time

Usually, chow time for me is in campus with my usual kaki. Because we both have no transport, the furthest by far we have went is maybe Bishan for variety, on the rare occasions that we have transport, we'll venture a little further.

But today, as my kaki need to collect her lens and specs, we made our way to Velo city and square 2. First stop, was to the optician to collect the necessary and then we went on our search for food.

The SA at the optician recommended us to Korean or Pasta Waraku. But I'm not keen for pasta as I just had it on Tuesday. So we settled for Korean. Which I think was a good choice!

I ordered the hotplate fried Saba Fish which came with seaweed soup and rice. The fish was qutie fresh and the portion huge! I thought the fish would be the small cut kind but I was wrong!The skin was crispy and flesh sweet and soft. Coupled with the black sauce and veggies, it tasted heavenly! I finished every morsel of it and pretty much of the veggies. Except the lettuce that the fish was on.. as by the time I'm done, the veg was soaked with oil! Of course, I left that alone then.

Together, we shared a hotplate potatoe pancake. Tasted more flour than potatoe. But when it was dipped with the sourish and spicy sauce that accompanied the pancake. It was quite nice. There was a chewy kind of feeling that I quite like. Similiar to that of the taiwan muah chee. But honestly, the hotplate potatoe is nothing much to rave about. I think I will try the rice cakes next time. =)

Oh, before I forget, the restaurant is
Seoul Yummy
Square 2 #03-68

and if you are in the area and need some help for your eyes, check out "United Optometrist" too. (It's just a few doors down the same corridor!) Look for Arion and mentioned my name... Maybe he'll give you a good discount like he gave the kaki when she mentioned my name. =D

Good things must share, so have just shared a good place for makan and a good optometrist!

Of course, after such a fullfilling meal, we have to exercise it off. Walked around and our legs brought us to URS. One of my favourite shoe shops if my kaki is with me, coz she has the membership card. There was promotion for almost all the shoes inside and with the card, additional 10% off!I scored for myself this black dainty looking pair. The height is just nice. Roughly 2.5" or so. I like the material, makes it look causal and feminine and at the same time, without killing myself in it!

The kaki also bought the same pair for herself. =) But she bought another pair too which I think she will blog soon... so that's that for the moment.

Masks

I know I buy alot alot of things. But there are some things that are absoulte necessary.

One of the absolute necessity is face masks. Recently, I noticed that there are more blackheads and tiny little things at my nose and ever since my facial salon said my package expired, I refused to go back. I've been trying to make appointments with Fancl, but it's really so tough.

Hence, instead of squeezing all those hateful things out myself and harm my skin in the process I'll use this.

SHISEIDO Vital Perfection Mineral Mud Blackhead Removal Mask

Description: Shiseido’s latest skin care technology development, the SHISEIDO Vital Perfection Mineral Mud Blackhead Removal Mask is highly effective at reducing and removing black heads. At the same time, it helps in tightening the skin and reducing enlarged pore size . It is easily absorbed into the skin and quickly removes black heads, resulting in clean, clear, and revitalized skin.

Instructions: After cleansing, gently spread and apply evenly over cleansed, dry face, avoiding the eyes, lips, and eye brows. After the mask has dried (approximately 30mins), peel off from the outer edges upwards towards the centre gently. Then apply your usual toner and moisturiser. This can be used on the whole face or on the nose area only if you like. 2 – 3 times a week is sufficient.

Volume: 12 ml. Made in Tokyo, Japan.

Just placed an order for 20 of such masks and can't wait to try it out. BTW, the silly Biore pore packs does NOT work on me. Anyway, this mask is cheaper! At only $1.20 a piece.

In addition to this, my eye masks have also ran low, so I placed an order for 20 pieces of Collagen Eyes Masks too.

Collagen Eye Mask

Description: Has 3-in-1 effects of reducing eye bags, dark eye circles and wrinkles!

Selling outside for $2 per pair.

Main Ingredients: 膠原蛋白、左旋C、透明質酸、甘草酸、水解粘多醣

Weight: 6g (1 pair)

After being out in the sun, your skin will lose some nutrients especially collagen. When you get tanned, you still can revert to being fair but once you lose collagen, this is irreversible. If you don’t replenish in time, your skin will quietly get damaged and age. Beauty professionals warned that the greatest enemy for our skin is not aging but the day-to-day harsh environmental elements.

Product has 100% natural collagen, Vitamin B5 and this helps in moisturising and promoting circulation. Causes the cell growth factor VA and VE to quickly be absorbed into the skin and reactivate the dormant cells. This helps to rejuvenate the eye area, stimulate the metabolism and improve how your eyes look.

Use twice a week. You can massage the remaining essence into the skin near your eye.

I got this at $1 a piece. Cheap right? Even if I were to get from retail shops, also cannot get at this kind of price.

So, yes, call me spendthrift, but all these are absolute necessary in my little bimboatic life!

All photos and text of products are credited to Eden Roses. Whom, I must say, sprees for good and cheap things! Do check her out if you are interested.

Addiction

Been in hiding for a long time, there's quite a lot of things I wanna blog about. I've even thought of topics that I wanna put in, things like... a step by step guide as to how I do my make up daily, pictures of the things I've bought, my boring life, my soon to start new semester and books.... but somehow, the feeling to write flew out of the window everytime I think I should write something.

So, today, Finally, I 'forced' myself to pen something, least all of you forget me and I'm getting bored with looking at my same entry everytime I log in!

Once upon a time, I was a blog addict. I can blog as much as a few times a day. Since don't know when, the passion and interest faded. Then slowly I only make an entry every few days... and as more time passes, I become even lazier and the entries came lesser and less frequent.

People who know me, will know that I'm an addict... to shopping and yes... I do not disappoint.

Once again, I bought more things. More and more things, I should say. This time, it's more Benefits Cosmetics. I sold my blusher to Irene's sister and in place, I got another as the shade was too light for me.

Then I bought the eyes make up removal because, what I'm using currently is more expensive, I figured, I can save some moolahs with the switch.

And horrors of horrors! I broke my 4th bottle of Clarins Blemish Treament few nights ago! Which, I've broken all previous bottles and has never yet managed to finished any single bottle! I'm so angry at myself, I decided to look elsewhere and ditch Clarins. So, I got the "Ka Pow" which is supposed to clear the zits. =(

So ya, I'm a shopping addict. Through and Through.

I've even created a table (modiefied's from Irene's) to capture all my spendings. I'm really trying my best to cut down on my expenses, but looking at my various reasons (excuses?) to keep buying, will I ever be able to reduce my expenses??

Back from Timbaktu

Since the start of the new work year, I've never had a chance to seriously blog an entry. A nice, long entry, I mean.

I've been so busy with work, students' attendance, training and preparations for the Open House that just past and then after that was the clearing, cleaning up!

I realized, I've missed out so many happenings in the office! I did not even have the time to read my emails in detail. Hence, I almost missed out my free Pedometer. =/ almost missed the 'pek kim' collection for 1 of my Deputy Director. And it was also at the last minute that I signed up for the mass walk that was held earlier this evening. Finally had the time to attend the last and final session on the familiarization of the Windows 2007 today.

Oh gosh... The last 2 weeks were simply MADNESS! The moment I went back to work, it was as though I was fighting a fire. A HUGE STRONG all ENGULFING FIRE! Rushed like mad to train the students for their role, I had to organized 7 sessions for them. And still, I have missing people, not all were present! Shouted myself hoarse at them. Finally decided that shouting does not work. I gave them my killer look and it worked! Nice to them, they don't want, must make me loose my temper then they behave!

Then all the questions about changing shifts as they don't want to do the Sat shifts or something, had to explain and answer each one in detail....

Attendance.. that is another headache. 7 sessions and I only managed to train less than 2/3 of the cohort, the rest just don't bother to turn up at all! Then got to key into the master copy who has attended, who has not.

Came the actual day of the Open House, mornings are not so bad. The afternoons are a challenge, all the silly schools just want to arrive at the same time! It did not help that a new colleague just joined us... well... we sort of crossed paths during one of the afternoons.

I was trying my best to assign the students out asap to the necessary points and she was there, reminding me that school XXX is arriving at 1pm at a certain carpark. For the first few times, I answered, "Yups. Will come to that". There came a point when I cannot take it anymore and I snapped! I replied her with a very frustrated sounding "Yes. I know. Now. NOW!"

Even my students were taken aback and he was saying cool down cool down...

Not that I'm being arrogant nor impatient. I know the schedule, I DID and planned THAT schedule, I'm already trying my best to do the assigning, by her reminders, it just irked me more especially, I've already answered her many times. Immediately after my outburst, I felt guilty, but honestly, I did not have time to dwell on it too much, needed to keep going.

I feel, we both don't have enough 'chemistry' working together for the time being. I've never had this problem with any of my previous colleagues. Our working styles are different and I know we got to learn to adapt to each other and work out the best way for our team. Just that, we did not have enough time to build up the team spirit and then we were thrown this mammoth task of Open House.

It will get better. It's too early to say that we can't work together, but definitely, we are both trying, of course, with her being new, there are times, when she called me many times a day to check on things. So far, I'm glad to say, I've been answering her patiently. The one and only time was during the Mad House last week.

This about summarizes my hectic weeks ever since I've step into office and hence the lack of entries.

Bad bad bad!

I realized I have a very bad habit. A habit that will sooner or later send the banks after me very soon and have to get new drawers, shelving cabinets too.

No... not that I owe banks money nor delay payments on my credit cards. But it's this bad habit of buying and buying.

An example will be, I've just recently started using Benefits Cosmetics... but to date, my whole stash of BC is this much....A total of 10 items in less than 2 months!!!

Not to mention F21, I've forgotten what and how many I've bought. I think I still have 2 brand new dresses to be worn and I have 1 more on the way now...Racerback Dress.Which silly Hubby claims looks like apron and asked me why I buy! =S

Hence, this year, one of my new year resolution shall be, REDUCE purchases!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello 2008. Bye Bye 2007.

Happy New Year!

A brand new year is here already. =) Anticipating? Exciting? Another year is here and what ideas, motivations, dreams do I have for the next year, actually I haven't even thought about it at all.

But nevertheless, I'm sure the new year will bring about new challenges, passions, knowledge, experiences, trials and blessings.

On reflecting, 2007 was a year of experiences, trials and blessings.

I got to also be very thankful for a stable job that pays rather well and my organization for sending me to upgrade myself and paid for my course in SIM. Studying PT while working FT was something that I thought I will not do again after my Adv Dip years ago. But. I'm doing it again. This time, with more more effort that I've ever put into any of my studies.

And thus far, I've got quite good grades. Grades that made me happy enough. It's not straight A's but to me that's ok. I'm pleased with my grades.

We got for ourselves our God-daughter, Clara.

Many times, I questioned God, Lord, why give us Lama, that gave us hope and joy and only to have it taken back. I do not know the answer. All I have is the faith and belief that it is his planning and in his own time, all will work out.

I also got to be very thankful for a wonderful husband, a blissful marriage, healthy parents and siblings. My siblings, both in laws and my own did give me some heartaches over the last few months, but well, I guess, time can heal all wounds and it should get better over time.

Friends, colleagues, family members who are so supportive thru my down time the past few months.

I guess, the year 2007 has indeed been a rather good year for me. Ups and downs but the ups far far outweigh the downs.

With a grateful and heart full of thanksgiving, hubby and I together with the rest of Godma's godchildren, we went for the Thanksgiving mass in Novena yesterday. As usual, we all meet up for dinner and then made our way to Novena Church for mass.

By the time, we reached home and settled down, it was almost 2.30am and still feeling too excited to sleep. We lazed in front of the google box till 4.30am. We were just chatting and watching the program. It felt really good to usher in the new year with my loved one beside me, peacefully, chatting merrily and relaxed in the home that we both set up.

I think 2008 is a going to be a great year!

To date, I already have 3 wedding invitations spread through out the year. Not to mention, the number of babies that are coming to greet the world... the number is quite staggering. I kind of already lost count of the number of babies expected!

Of course, this year is going to be challenging too. Hubby and I will be embarking on our respective programs together. Meaning to say, we will have lesser time to spend with each other and also financially, we may be tighter than usual since he got to pay for his school fees and I expect I will have to take over more of the bills.

I have a new colleague whom I heard is not as easy to work with, but then again, it's too early to tell. So.. it could still turn out both ways.

Hubby and I even managed to find some time and drag our lazy bums for a short game of Frisbee. It was quite fun, just enjoying the breeze and also spending some silly moments together.

It seems like a good start to 2008 and with plenty of graces and blessings, I'm sure 2008 will turn out to be a year of joy and all good things. =)

2008....Here I come!