Designer Giveaways

Loads of designer giveaways to rival the brand name sales it holds. It's like a year long Club 21 sale. Access to this site is by invitation only. Here's my personal invite to you www.ideeli.com/invite/raspberry2008.

Problem is it offers US only shipping. So you have to register with a global delivery service like Vpost or Globeshopper to get your own US address. Still worth it! I bought an Alexander McQueen Samsonite luggage at 57% discount after including shipping.

Yu Sheng

Lo Hei!

River Hongbao

Reunion Dinner

The annual reunion dinner - steamboat. It's light, clear and very healthy. Especially with the choice of herbal broth this year (apart from the usual chicken stock). Various roast meats and fried noodles for the children and while the adults wait for the steamboat to boil. I guess my family likes to keep it simple with the same dishes every year. Nothing fancy.

CNY faux flower arrangement

Fake flowers were going on the cheap today so I got some and put them together. Total cost $15.

CNY floral centerpiece

I spent today making flower arrangements for Chinese New Year.

This particular arrangement on the left is supposed to be a Biedermier form. But, turned out looking like a giant pineapple *sign*. I guess it's appropriate for the season. This large (90cm tall) arrangement is made of Chrysanthemum, Dendranthema, Antirrhinum and Cordyline.

Leftover materials went to a smaller bouquet.

Al Dente Trattoria

Good quality ingredients, good chefs. The place for wholesome Italian food at reasonable prices (coz the portions are generous).

I remember when this place was the only restaurant that served wood-fired pizzas. It was the only thing I would have. Trying the lamb chops for the first time, it's just as good as I would have expected from the chef.

Wished I brought a bigger appetite to the table though.

Shanghai Restaurant @ Suntec

Forget the other dishes on the menu. You have to try the Glutinous Rice wrapped in lotus leaves, any variation. This place serves up the most mouth-watering fragrant glutinous rice I have ever tasted. Done in a way I never knew this humble dish could be.

CNY nails (II)

Spray-painted black & red lace.

Wedgwood Waterford Sale

Unofficially the going-out-of-business sale. Everything at the boutique is on sale (imagine 50% discounts). The collector in me was awakened and I had to snap up my favourite pieces of Jasperware as they have real potential to be collectors items in the future. They remind me of Cameo jewellery, so pretty.

Cortina Watch Sale

After the $7.9 million theft over Christmas, I guess they are not having this sale to drum up publicity. Great for cash rich consumers as the discounts are up to 70% discount on well known luxury brands. I was looking for a Chopard or Cartier, but all that was left were the limited editions or the diamond encrusted variety. At 50% discount, these watches fell into the $50,000 to $70,000 price range. That's what happens when you go on the 2nd last day of the sale. Rolex was sold out and Omega only had their multi-colour stone dials left.

These sales are interesting for first timers. Luxury watches are crammed side by side into glass cases with hordes of people squeezing in between to view them. It's a scene out of a night market. Yet, the veteran sales people from Cortina are on hand to speak in your native language and finger the watches with a velvet glove. I was finally left torn between a Baume & Mercier diamond watch (see pic on top right) and the Gucci gold bamboo watch (see pic on left). I adore the diamond encrusted watches...maybe next year or when I strike the lottery.

Hainan Trip

Went on holiday sick and came back better. The miraculous wonders of a vacation. I spent most of the time in my hotel sleeping off the flu so I didn't really get to see or do much. I just remember there being lots and lots of coconut trees along the roads. Coconut candy, coconut water, coconut baked rice, coconut in my coffee...you get the idea.

The weather is too cold now to enjoy this tropical beach locale fully. On the other hand, the lack of crowds allowed us to take a leisurely morning stroll at the volcanic crater park. The collapsed crater hole (see pic on the right) covered with neat rows of wild ferns.



What a charming little sea-side town. They sell small perfectly potted plants out of the back of their bicycles.






The famous wenchang chicken prepared for the hotpot. Nothing to rave about. I still think the Singaporean style Hainanese chicken rice wins hands down anyday. For one, it's boneless.

CNY nails

I got my nails done for Chinese New Year.

Borders Sale

For those of you who are interested, its 46% discount storewide for members. There are no crowds at all that should make people a little uneasy (sign of our economic health). I guess now is a good time to buy Dilbert 2.0. I have had my eye on it for some time and was just shopping around for the lowest price. I also picked up the new Dilbert book "Stick to Drawing Comics Monkey Brain", Malcolm Gladwell's new book "Outliers" and a limited edition illustrated version of "Eats, Shoots & Leaves".

Happy shopping and let me know what you got.

Rakku Shoe Wheel

It's my new shoe storage system. Doesn't it look like the Singapore Flyer? I think of it as a souvenir. You can buy one from http://rakkudesigns.com/. It's a lot bigger in real life and was a tight squeeze into my shoe area. The only benefit it offers over my last shoe storage solution is that my shoes get a much better rotation now.

I was previously using stackable clear plastic boxes for about 3 years, so the boxes are getting soft & grimy. I think before that I was on the IKEA shoe rack that holds about 10 pairs. My shoe collection has grown tremendously since I started working. If this wheel thing works out I will have to get a couple more and line them up to form a giant wheel.

Happy New Year !

Best wishes in the new year and may all your dreams come true in 2009.