CupCakes

These cupcakes from Le Cupcake are killing me softly.



Minnie, will you bring some home for me?



More photos here.

Home-Cooked Bak Kut Teh

Following the success of home-cooked laksa, we decided to try out the Prima Ba Kut Teh.



This is more difficult to prepare because the pork ribs (bak kut) had to be pre-boiled for an hour. We spent a total of 2 hours cooking this meal.



Surprisingly, the end result is extremely good! I would think that this is even better compared to the laksa one. But considered that the pork ribs cost 5 bucks per 200 grams and the required amount is 700 grams, it's probably more economical to eat out.



My fave vege to go along. Yummy!




End note:
Cute buttons. From madeit.com.au.

The Great Pretenders

Jack said that if you want to test your perseverance as well as to hear a really good sales pitch, the best way is to visit a time-share company.

And so we did. Not for the above 2 reasons but it's more like we can't be sure if we are indeed walking into such a crappy trap. This company is, afterall, part of the Marriot group and we thought we should give them the benefit of doubt. Maybe they can offer us a really good deal.

Plus we wanted to get the gift that comes with going down to their premise and hear what they have to say - SGD 289 for a 3 days 2 nights stay at Marriot Resort Koh Samui. Sounds good right?



Nowadays, time-share companies keep trying to pass off as something else. Perhaps the very mention of time-sharing bring to mind an act of swindling. Sad to say, this Marriot one is also nothing but a time-sharing program.

What is worst is that their sales person sucks big time! And when the sales person cannot convince us to buy their vacation packages, a supposedly high-level manager took over. And yes, you guess right! He failed too. Unfortunately we are not stupid.

In the end, he resorted to hurling subtle insults at us, hoping that by doing so we would be pushed to say yes - he said if we can't afford his packages, we might as well don't go for holidays. So I very calmly told him, I couldn't agree more! If I can't afford to go for a holiday, I won't go then.

He has no choice but to give up. Boooo!

Such losers.


End note:
Looking at these make me feel like being a kid all over again. From Nume at The Little Fashion Gallery.

Home-Cooked Laksa

Today we went on a small cooking adventure with Mdm Yeo's trusty recipe.

Prima Laksa

The laksa paste and condiments.



With the simple and easy-to-follow instructions, it's not hard to make at all. You just need to prepare the ingredients you want and add in the paste according to the sequence.



Of course, this is still lacking in taste compared to Katong Laksa. Plus it's not spicy enough for my preference. But still, considered that it's fully home-cooked, it does make for a great stay-in meal.




End note:
These are too adorable to resist! You totally have to visit this site.

Princess Faith's 4th Birthday

We celebrated Princess Faith's 4th birthday at Vil'age.



Kieran the handsome boy.



I've never been a big fan of Vil'age (or Marche) but everytime I come here, I still gorged myself to death.



Faith's chocolate cake.



Happy Birthday my Princess!

Early Bird

My folks are going on a week-long vacation and after dropping them off at the airport this morning, we went for MacDonald's breakfast.



Yes, it's that kind of morning. I've long heard about Mac's bagel breakfast and wanted very much to try it but never had the chance to. As you know, waking up to the morning sun on a weekend is super rare for me.



Sad to say, I don't think I will have it for breakfast again. I prefer to stick to my usual fish burger.

Dim Sum

Yesterday we went to this really good dim sum place in Geylang for lunch.



I first came here a while back with Mdm Yeo who highly recommend their food.



For that kind of price, it's definitely value-for-money.




End note:
Cute wedding cake topper.



From www.eleganahandcraft.com.

Hong Kong Goodies

Little Ying Ying (as her friend Little Mien Yang calls her) is back from her Hong Kong trip and she brought back many many many goodies from DisneyLand.



For me, a tiko Tigger.




End note:
You nasty to me, I nasty to you back. Rule of the game: whatgoesaroundcomesaround.

A Simple Fare

Mum's home-cooked food for Minn's salivating purpose.



Orange oranges.



Weeeeee!

This Wednesday

It's official. My fave yoga pose is The Child Pose.



After yoga today, MB treated us to dinner at Hong Kong Streets Cafe @ IMM.



Dan highly recommends this curry noodles which is really good.




End note:
Paper dolls clothes, some of which I'ld love to own.



[Source]

Just Because I Feel Like It

There is nothing much to blog about today but I just feel like taking some pics and posting it here.

So, here goes, my dinner tonight. Yummy.



Jack had been sick for days now I hope he will get well soon enough.

The Casual Weekender

It used to be that I looked best during weekends when I am in my casual clothes. Not that my weekend frocks are a bomb but I built my wardrobe in such a way that I place more emphasis on my going-out togs rather than my work wear.

Then, it came a point where some clothes became unioccassion - I can wear it on a workday, I can wear it on a weekend.

Now, it seems like immaculate work clothes have become the way. Maybe I haven't reach the super formal stage yet but during workdays, I try my best to look chic and sleek. So much so that during weekends, I just can't be bothered to dress up anymore. I don't even wear jeans nowadays.

I guess it makes sense because it's 5 workdays versus 2 non workdays.

Am I getting old?


End note:
I must remind MB to stop buying shoes and she must remind me to stop buying everything else.

2 FIRSTs in a Day

[Does not apply to MB.]

Yesterday BB and I had 2 firsts.

It was the first time we had lok-lok in JB.



Whenever it comes to dining in JB, it used to be seafood, seafood and more seafood because they are so cheap. So this is a very welcome change.



The fishballs are good. The meatballs are good. The chicken wings are good. The luncheon meat is good. The siew mai is good. Everything is sooooo good! Check out how much food we had.



MJ was cancelled due to our usual premise being occupied. So we went to the Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple - another first!

[Pictures taken from excelglsi of ClubSnap.org.]

It was quite an experience going around the temple trying to follow the praying sequence of the deities. Although it was already 1am when we reached there, the place was still bustling with activities and devotees.

The temple is dressed in a grand golden and red colour. BB said she was reminded of the palace in Curse of the Golden Flower. Maybe it's us but this temple looked vastly different from how a temple looked like in our minds - old, dark and less grand.

[Pictures taken from excelglsi of ClubSnap.org.]

A Few Random Things

Cool graffiti near my office.



Once a gamer, always a gamer. Even when a hand is injured.



This ad caught my attention. I guess it works then.



MacDonald's food vouchers from Bernard's recent Hong Kong trip.



A piece of the sky.



I didn't know public phones these days are so cool-looking.



Yummy Japanese goodies.



This Japanese pocky has only 4 sticks in each pack. The packaging is not lying!




End note:
This is funny. Remember to move your cursor around and click on it.

www.1-click.jp

National Toy Hall of Fame

What! Transformer didn't make it?


National Toy Hall of Fame

Green For Earth

I dunnoe if I should use funny as a word to describe it because that would make me sound like I am gloating over someone's misfortune. But I seriously can't find a better word for it.

You see, some time back, there was a night where Jack was waiting for me at the corridor below my floor. Then my freaking neighbour, this auntie who stay one level down from me, went to question Jack on why he was standing there. She even told him that he can't wait there and the way she said it, she made it sound like it's against the law.

Jack, of course, ignored a crappy old woman but she refused to give up and keeping coming out of her flat to tell him to go.

I told Jack that the auntie's son has a history of harrassment from loan-sharks and they even got their door splashed with paint for a few times. So she was probably just afraid or something.

So just now, when Jack sent me home, we saw the same auntie at the lift landing. After she went into the lift, we went into another life and I starting telling Jack that her son must have been a good-for-nothing gambler who always get into trouble with the sharkies.

And guess what! When our lift door opened, we saw his name and unit number written on the wall! Got so zhun or not! The sharkies just came to splash paint on his door!

Of course, we had missed the actual splashing process and the family was already trying to repaint the wall and stuff. But the point is, got so zhun or not!

And guess what colour did the sharkies chose as paint. Green. How environmental friendly!

So yeah. Call me a gloater for all you want. I kinda think he deserve it.


End note:
Why are people destroying the significance of the Olympics by deliberately giving it a political agenda? Shame shame!

The Secret

I caught The Secret yesterday and in my opinion, it's AWESOME.

[Image Source]

It's the kind of movie that is deep enough to leave you pondering and yet at the same time it's light-hearted enough to let you enjoy it. At the end of it all, it gives you space for your own interpretation based on your own imagination. You can go as far as your mind (or heart) takes you and believe in what you want to believe in.

I am truely in awe.

And plus the fact that it's Jay Chou. I do like the female lead too. Little Raindrop on my face.

It's just great.

Bangkok 2007 - Part II

One of the highlight of our Bangkok trip is this - Siam Ocean World.



With the adorable penguin mascot.



Fish Funtastic!



I don't know why but sea creatures aren't exactly my favorite things around.



They kinda freak me out a little.



These 2 walk around with their fins.



Underwater disco?



Leopard eels.



This fishy has really nice colours.



Nice corals.



Huge sea rat. Remind me of the guy in Harry Porter who can turn into a rat.



Sea apple.



The tanks are very nicely decorated.



Cute otters.



This Chevy has been converted to a full-fledge fish tank!



In fact anything can become a fish tank.



Penguin.



Jellies.



Our tickets come with complimentary ice-cream.



The second highlight of our trip - the much anticipated dinner at The Dome at the State Tower.



This is the highest restaurant in all of Bkk.



Live band plays at the side.



An exquisite, gigantic, expensive-looking lamp.



Good service with good food.



The bill came up to SGD 500 plus which DT paid for. Gee, thanks!



I had to take some pics in the expensive loo.



The breeze was crazy. And the night ended with me in tears (don't ask me why).



Us, the stupid tourists kana tai at the shrine of the Four-Headed Hindu God, Brahma. We bought 1200 baht or around SGD 50 worth of offerings each. Damnit!



We later realised we can get less elaborate but equally good offerings for 60 baht per pax.



At Chatuchat, the weekend market. Prices there have become so steep it's hard to buy anything at all!



On the top of a push cart in MBK. Cute.



I need to add one more must-go eating place to my list of great restaurants in Bkk - Oishi Ramen.



Seems like Oishi is popping out everywhere! Their noodles are just damn good.



MB attempted to dog-napped this cute doggy.



He is everywhere!



Cool advertising using lighting.



Giant chips along the street.



Dinner at an authentic Thai restaurant with very good and cheap food.



End of trip.




End note:
I'm very satisfied with my shopping this time round because I scored some really quality and classic pieces. Weeeeee!

Bangkok 2007 - Part I

So we took the long holiday break and went to Bangkok.

It was a damn tiring trip because even though it was 4 days and 3 nights, we took an evening flight there and an early afternoon flight back. We lost 2 days and essentially have only 2 days in Bkk. Bad planning on our part.



We stayed at Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the tallest building in Bkk.



Upon stepping into the lobby at 18th floor (you heard me right!), we were greeted by a robot girl.



Initially we thought she is a real robot because her every movement is so mechanic. But we were told shortly that she is actually a human. Wow! We were very impressed with her flawless mimicking of an AI.



Playing the number game.



Jack said their lifts probably have high breakdown rates because they even provide a torch light inside.



Baiyoke is so damn tall.



View from our 44th storey room.



We were upgraded to Junior Suite at no additional charge because normal rooms with queen beds were not available. Love the solid-stripe combi of the sofa.



Cute toiletries.



Breakfast was served at 76th floor.



The very nice pool which we have no time to use.



Our first meal in Bkk, at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar (my fave place in Bkk!). Yummy!



The very complex linkways from BTS stations.



Cheryl recommended this donut shop in MBK (can't be sure if we got the right shop though).



Me with my lolli-donut (in the underwear department).



Outside MBK.



Must-go teppanyaki place at MBK - Oishi.



Oishi's own brand of ice green tea which is to-die-for.



Pretty ele.




End note:
More pictures of the trip coming soon.

Money Makes The World Go Round

Or perhaps it's vandalism at its best.

British Pound.

UAE Dirham.

Russian Ruble.

US Dollar.

Japanese Yen.

Swiss Franc.

Hong Kong Dollar.

Euro.

Chinese RMB.

Brazillian Real.

From www.nickolya.net.


End note:
Microsoft incentives. Thanks Mr Gates!

This Tuesday

I got some nice fabric from Spotlight yesterday which will soon end up as (more) tubes. That's all that I can do, remember?



Bernard is back from his Hong Kong work trip and he lugged a MacDonalds toy-in-capsule vending machine from there.



This machine is made from cardboard and is oh so cool. It dispenses Sanrio mini plush toys.




End note:
Fish outta water - Jenny's little swimming fishes.

For a Better Future

Today is all about walking and waiting - walking from one place to another for appointments and waiting for the time to come.

At the end of the day, how many of those meetings are worth it?

At night, we toast to Steph wishing her all the best.
[Good luck Stephie!]




End note:
According to typographica.org's estimation, at least 1800 new commercial typefaces were released in 2006 alone.

One More Tube

I made one more tube today. Not quite completed because I ran out of the orange binding.




End note:
This is so pretty and exquisite.



From www.johnsonbanks.co.uk.

Tubes and More Tubes

So, my first attempt at sewing a puff-sleeves top failed.

I thought a proper commercial pattern from a proper designer would help. But even the smallest size is too big for me and the instructions are impossible.

So I gave up. =((



From now on, I will stopped making anything with sleeves and neckline because without any formal training, it's like suicide. I will just stick to tube anything - tube tops, tube dresses, tube whatever.

And I think I am getting good at it.



Lucky for me cause I love tubes.


End note:
Do you sometimes do things because other people are doing it? But while they do it for a reason, you do it for wtf?

Corduroy & Finch

Been meaning to go to Corduory & Finch for a while now and today I finally made it there with the rest.



A giant egg beater and a giant dough cutter (actually I'm not too sure what it is) greeted us at the door.



They have warm and cosy deco with shelves of bakery goodness.



Chill-out couch.



Chandelier.



Their unisex loo has a cool sprinkler tap.



Food.

Onion bread a appetizer and soup dipper.

French onion soup.

Cream of mushrooms.

Burger. The buns are so good!

Pasta.

Sandwich.

Club.

Jack will be outstationed again from tomorrow.




End note:
Colourful ella (ehh.. ehhh.. under my umbrella..).



From www.uncommongoods.com.

Illustrations

Super cute illustrations by Ingela Peterson Arrhenius. How not to love them?




End note:
Don't ask me the things that are none of your concerns. You don't have to know everything to get by.

Today I Miss You A Little

Me: Minnie..
Me: today I miss you a little..
Minn: why?
Minn: what happened?
Minn: what did you break?

zzzzzZ...

My OPI orders came in today. Woohoo!



Doing a mandatory good deed.



Strawberry mochi from Japan. It's delicious!




End note:
Yoga class is getting intensed but when can we do this?
[Girls, this cow is better than us!]



From www.swissmilk.ch.