Tangs Market @ Orchard

So while the parents are in town, it is a good time to go trawling around Orchard especially since we were on a mission to find dresses for the mum and sister for the Big Day. The whole idea was to go to Tangs because my dad has always loved shopping there, whether its shopping or simply window shopping. Bottom line, we managed to get a dress for my sister (Hurrah!). Mum found hers elsewhere. 

But I digress...let's get to the goodstuff...FOOD!!!

Because we all need energy to shop right? And where better than the newly re-opened (OK, not so new but I am slow!) Tangs Market! I'm loving the new concept of old school Peranakan decor but I'm even more loving the fact that I think I just found the place for my Char Kueh Tiaw fix! More about that in a bit...

Yummy Laksa stall

I ordered the Laksa to try because I can never turn down that spicy, lemak plus sambal flavour. It didn't disappoint. First, at $3, it's so affordable for anyone to enjoy. Secondly, when I ordered the Laksa, the aunty actually puts in the gravy, stirs it around, drains it and repeats this process about 3 times. What you end up with is noodles that are nicely coated in the Laksa Gravy and the perfect amount of Gravy! Not like some places just dump the gravy on top...

$3 Laksa, choice of cockles (of course I said yes!)

And then everyone else wanted Char Kueh Tiaw. And so, reasons why I love the Char Kueh Tiaw here:

1) Only Kueh Tiaw, no noodles (because its Penang style)

2) The Jumbo Prawn...OMG! It's like prawns on steroids

3) The "Char" Taste

4) $5, need I say more?

Only 2 things can make this the BEST ever Char Kueh Tiaw - Ham and Lap Cheong!!! (cockles and Chinese sausages, pardon my spelling) and maybe some Sambal on the side?

Carrot Cake and Char Kueh Tiaw stalls...

Check out the steroid Prawns!

Carrot Cake (Chinese style)

Ok, last but not least, the carrot cake as you can see was good, but it was over shadowed by everything else I ordered. So today was not a Carrot Cake day...maybe one day I shall return for the Kueh Pie Ti and the Jumbo Pau and...OMG...I will be back!!!

Tangs Market

B1 Tangs Orchard

(no reservation needed, just patience)

Shiraz @ Clarke Quay

So the better half was craving his Middle Eastern cuisine and a Shisha hit today, where better to get this than at Shiraz @ Clarke Quay? We used to patron this place quite a fair bit when we were staying across the street from Clarke Quay, but since we moved, visits to Shiraz have been few and far in between.

We went early (before 7pm) to be able to score us a seat as the place does tend to get quite hectic after 7pm, especially since they have belly dancers that are a definite crowd puller (and pleaser)! It is definitely a place I'd recommend for a social gathering but be sure to try and make reservations as it can get quite busy- even mid week!

Complimentary Starter Plate served with bread

I had my usual glass of wine and we ordered the Shiraz Twin Platter (serves 2, $82) which comes with filet mignon, boneless chicken and minced lamb. Then finally a choice of the fish fillet, prawn OR quail. We ordered the fish. They use snapper and the fish is always so nicely done! Its very nicely flavoured and despite being grilled, the fish is never dry or inedible (this is the second time I've had it and it's pretty consistent). Despite being a major meat eater, the fish has always been a hit. I also really love the Basmati rice that they served with the platter or whatever dish that you order.

Lovely Meat Plate...Yumz!

As you can see, the portions are more than generous and we did polish off every single piece of meat and fish on the platter. Ugh! Feel so disgusted with myself now! However, Shiraz does pride itself on healthy methods of seasoning and char grilling their meat to perfection. So maybe I can stop beating myself up about it!

Shiraz @ Clarke Quay

3A River Valley Road 

#01-06 Clarke Quay

Tel: 8128 4770

Yo-ga To Go Try This Out!

Whoa...its May already! Is it me or does it seem like 2014 is flying by in a blink of an eye? Or is it my imagination because i'm approaching the big 3-0? And today I have cause for celebration! My weighing scale is no longer "broken". It has snapped out of its 66.5kg and gone just a smidge below that! Woohoo! I don't care, every little counts. I feel like I am starting to get somewhere. Pushing for more! Contributing factor? Read on!

Years ago, when yoga was still fairly new, I always discounted it as being too easy for me, too slow, so monotonous...snore! You get the point. However, as my body (my knees) started to disagree with my love of running, I needed to find alternative ways to burn off my access lady lumps. Thanks to a Groupon promotion at Affinity Yoga and 2 friends who have always liked yoga, I now have a new found love for yoga. At the end of my one month trial at Affinity Yoga, I signed up for a years package. They were having a really good promotion and the locations of the studios (walking distance from both office and home) left me with no excuse as to why I can't go. I believe that they are now having another promotion. You can check it out at: http://www.affinity-yoga.com

Sign up before its too late!!!

If you go to the website, you will also see that they have a week trial for $1! Wow, that's value for money! Check for validity...

Honestly, sometimes, the yoga talk still baffles me and some poses i'm doing like a lost soul. But I like the fact that every time after a yoga/Pilates I suddenly feel like muscles i didn't realize were there are suddenly screaming at me. I can start to see my body changing from having no waist to having a slight waist...Bye bye pear shape? My back is also starting to get more sculpted and my posture is getting better. No more slouching, no more hunching. AHHHH I LOVE IT!!! 

Also, I have a new found respect for yoga practitioners...for all those times I said it was too "slow" or not challenging enough- try one session of 60 minutes Hot Yoga and you will be begging for mercy! Honestly, I feel like I burn more in one yoga session than I do in a run session. Having said that, the runner in me does cry out for a good run every now and again. And I still gym. 

I still can't touch my toes- but that doesn't mean I am not trying. Maybe one day I will and you will definitely read about it!

PS: To the inconsiderate person who took more than 2 towels...please have some Yoga-tiquette! Its just plain rude!! 

Affinity Yoga River Valley

491 River Valley Road

#02-01 Valley Point

Tel: 6732 6007

Affinity Yoga Telok Ayer

157A Telok Ayer Street

2nd Floor

Tel: 6223 8254

May Day!

So, it's already May! And boy what a month its starting to be. I'm now ultimately nursing what is supposed to be a hangover but I manage to haul ass out of bed for back to back yoga sessions. 

OH WOW...Yes I am surprised at myself. 

Since I got off to a good start, let's continue the streak shall we? So I went to the supermarket on the way back from yoga and bought all the necessary ingredients for my first green juice. Now, I usually blend fruits using a cold press juicer and I have salads for lunch on most days...but i wanted a way in which I could get more greens in the body without having to chew them because my jaw is lazy. My best friend Google helped me out with a recipe which looked good. The recipe calls for mostly organic stuff, not everyone can afford organic stuff so just use what you have access to. 

Green Juice:

1 1/2 cup of cold water (you can also use coconut water)

1 bunch of romaine lettuce

1 big handful of spinach

3-4 stalks of celery

1 apple

1 pear

1 banana

1/2 lemon

Chia seeds

1. Blend the romaine at medium speed in the liquid 

2. Add in the spinach, celery, apple, pear and chia seeds

3. Lastly, add the banana and juice of half a lemon

**The juice came out a little bit thick for my liking so I added more water to make it easier to knock back.

Makes 3-4 servings

A few tips to remember when juicing:

1. Remember to use the 70/30 rule. 70% vegetable, 30% fruits. You want the fruits to help give the juice flavour so it doesn't feel like you are eating a vegetable garden. But you don't want to use too much fruits or its like having a sugary drink.

2. If you have fruits that are going bad, cut them up before they go bad and freeze them. You can use them in your juice and it helps to make the juice chilled.

3. If you have made too much for yourself, put the extra juice in an airtight container and you can have it as a quick on the go drink the next day. Juice that's stored properly usually lasts for 2 days. 

Happy Juicing!

Mineral Eye Shadows

So what is all the hype about Mineral Eye Shadows you ask? Or perhaps even the lack of it.

Recently I have noticed that there has been a lot of those loose powdered mineral eye shadows popping up on the market. Being the curious cat that I am, I decided to give it a shot and try some. One of the stores where I usually get my skincare products were having a promotion on them (A FREAKIN AWESOME STEAL, if I may say so). I mean 3 shimmers of choice for $10?!?! Doesn't get much better than that! So I bought 3 just to try it out and I loved it so much that I went back for more the day after...Yikes! They actually have it in a large fishbowl like thingy and you really need to dig around to find colours that you like. 

Then, once you found colours that you like, you just have to step to the back of the mirror where they display the makeup and try out your colours. **Warning! Because the powders are displayed upside down, make sure you tap before you open or you may just have a colour explosion in front of you.

Now the shimmers actually come with a 8-in-1 ways to use instruction card, I on the other hand prefer to just stick to what its actually used for and use it on the eyes or contouring. Sometimes, especially the fine glitter, for the nails. Here is a copy of the 8-in-1 ways to use the shimmer:

I gave some pots of shimmers to my mum to try and she loves them too! We have problems with oily eye lids but we both feel that when the shimmer is applied with a good eye primer, the colour stayed on without smudging or moving. I usually use Urban Decay Primer Potion but for loose eye shadow, I prefer to use MAC Painterly or even MICABeauty Eye Primer. Again, I prefer the MICABeauty one because I left my MAC Pot unproperly closed once (ONCE!!!) and it started to dry out...bummer! My MICABeauty Primer is still nice and as it should be.

I bought an 9 stack, some shimmer powders and the opened one on right is the Primer, just so you can see that its not cracked and dried up!

The trick to applying mineral eye shadows is to either use a firm brush or to apply it wet (and I mean wet the brush ok! Not the product, unless you mix it into a paste- messy and unnecessary). Because the eye shadow is so densely pigmented, all you really need is just a teeny bit to give you some really gorgeous shades. Being over zealous and picking up too much with your brush could result in you getting it ALL OVER your face/clothes/makeup table/everything! In the end, that one pot of shimmer that u paid $3 for could last you anywhere from 1-2years! 

*Tip: Usually when you open the shimmer, there is a plastic covering on the top of the holes, DO NOT REMOVE THIS! Just poke a hole in 1 (or 3) of the holes and tap upside down before using. 

(L) Plastic removed, (R) Holes poked in plastic (See what I mean!)

Whatever the case, don't knock it till you try it! I know that pressed eye shadows are easier, more user friendly and less messy but honestly, it is nothing a little bit of practice can't fix. Believe me- once you master the art of handling the loose eye shadow, you will never turn back. Go check out the promotion, I believe the salesperson told me that its while stocks last as they are trying to clear the last bit of the old brand before switching to the new brand. Either way, its not a concern for consumers because mineral make up is not supposed to expire because it doesn't contain any junk in it!

After Eve The Skin Studio

B1, Wisma Atria (opposite Holland & Barrett)

Tel: 6737 3309

Cheap and GOOD!

So recently I have been having a bit of breakout on my chin, sporadic (nothing to freak out about) and so I wanted to get something that would ensure a thorough face cleaning. ESPECIALLY under the chin! We eat, the oil transfers, we don't really wipe it for fear of removing makeup and so after a long day out...I want a clean chin!

The solution is a magical, amazing, potion called ESKINOL!

I started using this when I was 14years old. And I've always loved the way my face felt so squeaky clean after using it. Even though it says its a cleanser, I use it as a toner. Wash my face, Eskinol on a cotton pad and once over including my neck (especially since I don't want yucky dirty lines on my neck!), moisturize! This is a regime I am most happy with- quick and simple! Even as my moisturizer changes to accommodate my "aging" skin and different climates, a bottle of Eskinol has always been a constant, be it in my travel kit or on my dresser.

I've tried to use The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil but somehow I am not getting the same effect as when I use Eskinol. I realized that Eskinol keeps my face clear and clean. Even my sister, who has cystic acne and hyper sensitive skin, has now switched over to Eskinol. Apparently Eskinol + Dalacin C is a sworn remedy for acne. I can't say I have tried but my sister's skin seems to be improving so it must work.

The best part is...the price tag! For a mere $3 and a trip to Lucky Plaza, you can walk away with a bottle for yourself. The smaller bottle is $2.50. They have about 8 different types of Eskinol Cleansers but I have always used the Oil Control with Pure Lemon Extract (more than 10years now!!!). My sister uses the Pimple Fighting with Dermaclear Formula. 

**Disclaimer: While this is a sworn remedy for me, as with all products, there will be a minority who will be more sensitive to products than others are. Please also note that the second ingredient in Eskinol is alcohol- so if you are sensitive to alcohol in facial care, consider your options. This was not a sponsored post, this is just a post to share as we should never keep good beauty secrets to ourselves. 

TGIF! And April's Bellabox

TGIF! And what an awesome way to welcome the weekend indeed! Stepped into work to find on my table, the highly anticipated 1st Bellabox! After seeing some posts appear on my Facebook feed, I decided to go to the website and read up a little bit about what Bellabox was all about. My curiosity was piqued. While they are not the only beauty box company in Singapore, I decided to give it a shot despite reading mixed reviews about them. I've always love trying new stuff and sharing my "finds" with friends. Those close to me also probably remember a time when Christmas gifts were "My favourite things of -insert year-". While its been a while since those Christmas boxes, because i haven't found anything to rave about I still like sharing my little discoveries and finds with friends and family. What better way then to get a box of goodies every month, I mean, every girl loves gifts!

So here we go! At $19.95/month, we receive a box of 5-6 goodies depending on the profile of person you are (they make you answer some questions to determine your profile and then stuff gets put in your box)- apparently! My April box was a cute blue and white polka dot box (which I shall use to store stuff after this) with: 

Like most promotional stuff, it came with a brief description of the items, including the RRP (that's Regular Retail Price, for those who don't know) and the sizes it's available in. Oh yeah, you can also purchase it at bellabox.sg.

In full display:

From Left to Right: Fragrance Du Bois Capsules, Activa Well Being Hair, Model Co Fat Lash Mascara, Batiste Dry Shampoo & Jyunka Ultra Defense UV Pro SPF 50

My reviews on the goodies (I shall update this when necessary): 

1) Fragrance Du Bois - These little capsules sure made the either box smell heavenly! It is crafted using Oud oil and other sustainably sourced ingredients. It is also an ethical brand which promises to plant trees for every item sold (now I know why the RRP is so damn expensive at $395 for 50ml...you are paying for the tree!). I like that it smells quite musky and vanilla-ish and can't wait to test it on a day out!

**The fragrance went on nice and smooth and the smell was very natural- it didn't make me sneeze like most scents do. It lasted for about half a working day. Still skeptical about spending so much for a parfum tho.

2) Activa Well Being Hair - These little babies contain 3 main "synergistic activities" for maximum efficiency- Saw Palmetto, Bilberry and anti-oxidants for beautiful hair and a healthier scalp. Seeing as initial treatment requires you to consume 2 capsules/day for 10-20days followed by 1 capsule/day for 1-3months, this blister strip is barely going to make a dent in my hair care. Maybe there is a grow hair quick capsule instead?

**3 days of consumption and one blister strip isn't nearly enough to be able to see a difference. Seeing as I already has my own natural supplements, I probably wont go out and buy more these to add on to the number of "supplements"

3) Model Co. Fat Lash Mascara - I will add photos to compare to my Maybelline Falsies (which I swear by) at a later date and you can decide for yourselves. 

4) Batiste Dry Shampoo - Already using this as a matter of fact! And they sent my favourite scent too (tongue twist much?)! I love smelling like a beach holiday and the coconut/tropical scent of this dry shampoo always makes me want to throw on a bikini and slather on some tanning oil! It also helps me get through the day without feeling overly self conscious that I have greasy hair. Having said that, I haven't quite mastered the art of holding the can 30cm away so sometimes I end up with greyish looking hair...Ooops! No drama, nothing a little fluffing of the hair can't do.

5) Jyunka Ultra Defense UV Pro SPF 50 - Perfect! With age, suddenly I am compelled to use sunblock as part of my regime. Gone are the days of "I'm allergic to sunscreen"! Now, I damn well better find something that works, unless I wanna forgo the good skin that I have been blessed with! I like the fact that the main ingredient is water and that it is made for sensitive skin. Plus points for being slightly tinted but after doing a patch test on my wrist, I felt that it was a little bit too greasy for my liking. Not deterred tho- I shall test run it over the weekend on one of my outings. 

**At first due to the plastic-y smell I was quite put off by it. But after using it for 3 days now, its not that bad. While it goes on sticky, it eventually absorbs well into the skin. Reading up on the brand, several other products have won awards however the sunscreen is not one of them yet. 

So, that's all for now...already looking forward to my next box!

Hello Weekend!