Sarpino's Pizza Delivery

My family's big on pizza takeaway. Having tried most if not all the available pizzas in town, we highly recommend Sarpino's. Sarpino's uses lots of herbs, olive oil and fresh ingredients to deliver an authentic Italian taste. Delivery within an hour too.

Abalone Shell

Friday dinner at Jumbo Seafood restaurant. We really like this place as you already know. Today's special is stewed fresh abalone and you can take the shell home after. Which I did and the lovely aqua green and beige shell inspired me to churn out more jewellery.

With some natural unbleached coral I found in a nearby shop, I managed to make 4 more necklaces.

Beauty Credit Review

I finally have a chance to sample several lines from Beauty Credit due to a recent shopping trip and generous samples from the Beauty Credit staff.

Previously, I wrote about the most expensive shampoo - Somang Danahan. Now, I have the opportunity to review the affiliated skincare and makeup products that are also made with deer antler velvet and red ginseng. The range Danahan Gowoonbit consists of makeup base, foundation, pressed powder compact and a wrinkle cream. This range has beneficial effects for the skin while providing coverage, a dual benefit that mineral makeup recommended by dermatologists (e.g. Glomineral) also offers. The difference is the Asian recipe here has a 5 colour base that whitens and brightens the skin. The green base powder helps reduce redness in the skin to aid in this whitening effect. This 5 colour effect is not new as Guerlain also provides separated colours in their meteorites compact & loose powder range. Priced at $129 for 50ml of foundation and 10ml correcting base, it's in the same price point as Glominerals and Guerlain. Available only in neutral (21) or beige (23) tones.

* Update 5 Sept 2012: Prices are based on retail in Singapore. Glomineral is cheaper by up to 50% online. The new Guerlain foundations are more expensive, but, you can still get discounts from Strawberrynet.com.

Their flagship product is the coenzyme Q-10 range of face, body and haircare products. I tried their Q-10 facial before that has a pretty good peel. Thereafter, your skin is shiny and smooth like a newborn's, an albeit lesser but similar aftereffect as a dermatologist administered chemical peel. Coenzyme Q-10 is a fairly common ingredient used in face creams. What's unusual is Beauty Credit also has a haircare range. For those not in the know, coenzyme Q-10 is also proven to help restore aging hair and assisting those above 40 acheive lush locks once more. No, it will not help you grow back any lost hair. I tried their Vita Q10 Plus hair serum, 15 golden liquid vials for $129, each 13ml vial has enough for 2 treatments. Works as good as any in-salon hair treatment and I am not 40 yet =)

Beauty Credit stores primarily carry affordable ranges of fruit, honey, grains and sole ingredient (e.g. Keratin) skincare (10 face masks for $30), bodycare (500ml for $30) and makeup ($30 for a compact) that will appeal to teens and young adults. Don't let the Korean film star endorsements fool you just yet. My favourites are the uniquely Asian recipes for facial masks and scrubs (8 grains, germinated brown rice, ground pumpkin, honey & black sugar, bamboo salt mud) that are great for gifts or personal use.

Local Sculpture @ RP MRT

Regulars sit on it's parapet regularly without noticing this permanent feature by a local sculptor. Only reminded of it's presence by the occasional tourist posing for photos.

Her World's 50th Anniversary

Her World is celebrating their 50th Anniversary by giving away $100,000 worth of prizes. Each copy comes with an original entry form, so go ahead and enter as many times as you want. Provided you are able to locate a copy as it has been flying off the shelves. Tip for my friends, enter via the official HerWorld website for an additional chance at the draw, 1 entry per IC number =)

Piaget Limelight Paradise

I absolutely love this new summer collection from Piaget. Cocktail rings that actually look like cocktails! Who would have thought of that. Vibrant transparent gems to resemble alcoholic beverages, diamond encrusted salt rims and carved frangipanis. My favourite is Blue Hawaiian with the straw.

The whole collection is fabulous. Wouldn't mind starving for a while to save up for the necklace charms below.

Service Apartment in HK

Surfing the web with my colleague for service apartments in Hong Kong and came across this. We all know rentals in HK are sky high. For $1,300 a month, you get a 63sqm room in Kowloon with maid service. Check out the toilet below! They should impose a weight limit so plus-sized people don't accidentally book this place.

Bedding Sale

Luxury bedlinen sale at Novena Velocity. What caught our attention was 1000 to 1800 threadcount Egyptian cotton for less than $100. Even more unbelievable were the plush Egyptian cotton towels for $25 or less and 100% down pillow with 1000 threadcount Egyptian cotton covers (to prevent the fine feathers from poking out) for $69.90. 

Jim Thompson Sale

Extended lunch today to indulge in some shopping at the Jim Thompson sale. Lots of pretty things at fantastic prices. We can't always get what we want. So just grab what you can. 

I have been eyeing this potholder for quite a while now. It's not worth paying $50 for this as it's going to get burnt and dirty. But for $13, that's alright.

I was lucky jewellery cases were stocked whilst I was there. It was gone in a flash. Also time to stock up on cute little pouches & tissue paper holders in all sizes.

National Day Exhibit

Art display for National Day @ Raffles Place MRT.

Thai Fruit Carving

Gorgeous carvings of rose balls, cranes, chrysenthemums from fruit!

Free Samples

Free Sephora samples courtesy of Her World magazine.

Biscuit Tin

I buy Famous Amos cookies for the biscuit tins. The cookies taste great as well. 

Bro's New Apartment

My Brother got the keys to his new apartment at Sky@Eleven. A new condo development known for it's generous layout (for a Singapore development that is). At almost 3000 sq ft, there is finally enough space for his whole family.

The apartment comes in ready to move in condition with designer fittings and marble tiles. However, I think my sis-in-law has more plans in mind - wallpapering, timber deck, safety grills to be fitted, the side seats to be tiled in matching marble, landscaping for the window and balcony areas as well as furnishings yet to be delivered.

I love the enormous open plan dry kitchen with island that opens up to the dining and living room areas! To the right is the wet kitchen with maid's room and adjoining toilet. This layout seems to meet the needs of the entire family with incredible views and balcony areas for fresh air to circulate.

And a completely open plan Master bath as well. I think they are going to spend quite a bit on drapes.

Pu Tien Restaurant

Lunch at Pu Tien with my family. It's a restaurant chain that serves Fujian province cuisine. Classic dishes like stewed pork buns, fried mee sua and chilled pork belly.

Bliss Spa

Time for a 2 hour lunch break on a Friday. I checked myself into Bliss Spa at ION Orchard for their signature blissage massage to ease away the day's tensions. The quirky upbeat setting complete with a mini brownie buffet and photo booth set the tone for my weekend of rest and relaxation.

Chequebook Post-Its

I came back from lunch to find a chequebook full of $10,000 leaves for me! More paraphenalia from the HR marketing dept.

ANZ Thank You Gift

My first work trophy! A glass globe paperweight to thank all who participated in the Integration.

Pink Pearl Jewellery

The magic of pink ribbons, pearls, hearts and gold charms

A/W 2010 (part 3)

I spent the weekend making more jewellery. The aim is to use up all my gems accumulated over the years. I rationalized that it is practical to have pieces I can wear or gift rather than loose pieces lying around.

The necklace above looks like a rockhopper penguin. The Tiger Eye gems were from my trip to Nanjing China and I was struck by how similar in shade and tone my gold corals were to tiger eye.

The yellow Jadeite beads are also from China, the usual necklace you find in Fengshui shops. Once cut up and reassembled in another necklace, these gems were left out due to their odd colorations. Which works well in this bubble necklace as it adds dimension to an otherwise fairly common design.

OPI Breathe Life

OPI's Breathe Life nail lacquer benefits the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. It's a light silvery grey that would work better as a topcoat. An alternative to all those pinks for the Breast Cancer cause.

Lulur Powder

I bought this bottle of Lulur powder from Quan Spa in Marriott Hotel Medan. Believe it or not, it costs the same in Singapore via mail-order from dodgy sites. I love lulur spa treatments and was excited to get an entire bottle of it for home use. Professional spas usually use only a little of it, mixed with other scrub ingredients. Pure lulur is known especially for it's whitening properties. I just might get visibly fairer with this.

Wrapping Birthday Presents

I found a use for the 10 x 10 inch silk pocket squares. It's a perfect fit for my jewellery giftboxes that I will be gifting my sis-in-law, sister and mom for their coming birthdays. And to think I was going to make a patchwork cover with the lot. I wonder what it's original use is, handkerchiefs?

The Japanese furoshiki or Korean Bojagi is a square scarf used for a multitude of purposes, from carrying bento boxes to a light summer top. This traditional wrapping is an eco-friendly way of wrapping presents and serves as a 2nd gift for the recipient. One good way of using up any scrap cloth or scarves you have lying around the house.

More stuff for Ebay

Having found more cute and irresistible charms at the suppliers, I have started creating more stuff for ebay with prices ranging from $10 to $100.

Still in 14k goldfill or gold-plate to prevent tarnishing.

Still with gemstones

Gives me more practice with wire-work

The only necklace of the lot

My favourite is the one below with removeable earrings that can be worn on it's own as studs.