New Year's Eve

Midnight supper at my sister's place. Can't believe the kids stayed up with us til midnight.

Hai Lam Kopitiam

It's exactly the same as regular kopitiams only with menus and air-conditioning.

Beef Kway Teow Soup

A lot more soup dishes now that I am stuck at home with the flu. Beef noodles in a nicely brewed broth that reflects the rich flavour. The most popular and also the best version still has to be Hock Lam.

Dior Hydra Life

Currently, I have Dior's Hydra Life cleanser ($49) and facial wash ($60) on my bathroom shelf. This is Dior's hydration line for younger people that also guards against the first signs of aging. Although the price might seem prohibitive at first, the product actually goes a long way. Maybe because it does what it's supposed to do so 2 or 3 squirts are all you need to deep cleanse away all traces of makeup and work up a rich foamy lather. The cleanser is quite unique as it's not cream-based or oil-based like most cleansers on the market. Rather, it is a water-based formula that feels quite light and refreshing on the skin.

Paperself Lashes

Lashes based on the concept of paper-cutting. What you get is pretty fantasy lashes that turn out to be actually very wearable. Buy from Sephora, $38.



Flu

What a bummer to get sick during this time. Thankfully my neighbour got us some QQ mee sua from Malaysia.



Christmas Lunch 2011

Little cutie had his santa hat on, sitting next to a roast chicken. Lots of roasted stuff this Christmas - roasted pork belly, roasted pork knuckle, roasted chicken. And 2 smoked meats - duck breast and ham.

This year, my brother's hosting the lunch so his helpers prepared lots of food and even ordered pizzas.

Christmas haul this year! Starting with some rock star trinkets from my lovely cousins. I have been looking for a bracelet like that for some time now.

Next up are auntie gifts from my friend (now neighbour) and mom. I actually find stretchy pajamas most comfortable, even though I usually wear Marks & Spencers cotton pajamas.

Branded toiletry sets from my sis and sis-in-law. They know me soo well. I always love receiving these. And 1 more encyclopedia-ish book on jewellery making techniques *love*

I am giving...

Family - Gift packs of stuff. Sharing things I like and hope they will too

Female Friends - OPI nail polish sets, Ravon dresses and Hello Kitty stuff

Male Friends - Fuji Instax Camera Hampers

Neighbours - handmade Soap Hampers

Maids - Watson's gift packs and handmade Rosaries


Everyone else - handmade SOAPS

* I hope everyone loves their presents!

 

HY California

Hide Yamamoto's casual dining arm. Not a typical Japanese restaurant, the menu is rife with European influences like iberico ham and truffle.

I ordered 1 fusion and 1 traditional dish to get a feel of what was being offered. The chef's recommendation of the day - white asparagus wrapped in korabuta bacon in prawn bisque and parmesan ($28.80). Was unbelievably good, I especially liked the concentrated prawn bisque that was interspersed with bits of melted cheese.

The other dish is a sushi platter or "chef's 8" ($49). It was ok, the seafood was fresher at Hide Yamamoto the namesake restaurant. Having said that, it's really the fusion items that you will come here for. Innovative and fun, the flavours meld together in harmony.

Minx Nails

Got Minx nails today at Vedure Nail Spa, MBS ($80, does not include manicure). I have tried nail foils and nail stickers before, so have been looking forward to this session to compare. Looking through the catalogue, there is a range of gold/silver foil patterns that are not carried by any other brands. Which is what I got this time around - "La La Land".

Before you trot on down to get your holiday nails, be forewarned of the receptionist! She has never gotten my billings right and sometimes moves my appointments around. Situation climaxed today when she wasn't around and my manicurist fished out my spa file only to find some fiddling had been done to it. The team spent 10 mins recalculating my receipts to items then filling up a new card correctly. Nightmare right, but then again, that's why she is still only a receptionist.

For regular solid colours, nail polish stickers work great, like regular nail polish only faster. But, for nail foils or stickers with patterns, only buy the best. I bought some cheap ones from Gmarket and Ebay before that didn't last a day. It fell out after I washed my hair. Sally Hansen and Sephora sell a better version that lasts about a week of regular use ($17.50). Saw someone hawking original Minx stickers online, maybe can try?

Mellben Restaurant

I heard many good things about this Zhi Char place from my colleagues so when my taxi did a detour and passed by this Toa Payoh branch, I knew I had to drop in for lunch one day.

Delicious milky, spicy, crabiliciousness in just the soup alone. Hot noodle soup tastes especially nice on rainy days. I also ordered the stout ribs as recommended by the waitress, but could really do without as the crab beehoon soup portion is too big for just 1 person. Lunch was fantastic! I fell asleep immediately after I got home.

This place opens at 1:30pm. I was there at 2pm in time to catch the seafood wholesaler bring in the stock and even had to wait a while for the staff to setup a table for me.

Peppermint Frappucino

Nothing like holiday frappucinos to contribute to the festivities.

Morton's Offer

Every now and then there is a steak & seafood offer and Morton's will be packed. Reservations are highly recommended.

Their onion bread is always delicious, I remember the first time I ate it I was surprised by the intense flavour. The prelude to a very good meal.

They usually do an intro to their produce. But, since I am here for the promotion, I just order directly from a little card the waitress hands me. You can upgrade to other appetizers or bigger steak for $5-$30 extra. First time I am trying the Morton's salad that is massive! Is that an entire head of lettuce in there?

I ordered a big ole steak and shrimp alexander (never tried that before) with mashed potatoes that the waiter plies with bacon, sour cream, buuttteeer.... Perfectly cooked, quality ingredients, just simply delicious. 

After I finished my meal, the waitress brought out a dessert tray with the most tempting sweets. I was full but had to order a slice of that key lime pie. The scent of fresh lime just hits you, it's like they doused it with perfume before serving and the serving might look small in the picture, it's more like 1/6 the pie or 2 normal servings worth. Definitely to share.

Lovely folks even gave me VIP privilages - free brandy. Ta-powed everything remaining home.

KH & Su House Party

Small celebration at my sister's place with all our favourite foods - turkey, ham, pizza, pasta and garlic bread. So glad I didn't order a turkey for next week as well. Although I can't get enough of that stuffing!

Aston's

Aston's is offering dry-aged ribeye for under $50 while stocks last. I had to try it and am happy to report that it is good value for money!

 There is no mistaking the prime beef flavour in all 220gms of it. The manager recommends it be grilled medium and it came out perfectly. What a treat for festive shoppers.

Tissue Face Masks

I noticed almost everyone I know has a pack of <My Beauty Diary> facial tissue masks that they use on a weekly basis. It's really more convenient than cream masks, just rip open the packet and place the tissue on your face. After trying almost all the different brands, I really can't find a clear favourite and the age old adage applies - you get what you pay for. For example, Lancome's absolue masks are fantastic. My skin is moisturized even plumped out and glowing, over the week it's still dewy and fresh. But, it costs $25 each time so can I afford to have it weekly? In contrast, generic store brands tissue masks cost as little as $1 each time and packs loads of moisture and a little of whatever else it purports to deliver. I love getting the sanrio affiliated ones that is full of humectants like glycerin.

Face Masks

One thing I always look out for in facial masks is the ingredient kaolin clay. Masks with this ingredient tend to produce visible results, because it removes excess sebum and draws out toxins from the skin effectively. Back in school I used St Ives and it was less than $20, now it retails around $30 for a smaller size. Or Elizabeth Arden's Purifying face mask $38, the entire purifying range is a dream for combination skin, if only they had a makeup remover in this range as well.

Disposable Gloves

I bathe with disposable gloves to protect my nail art. For those of you wondering how girls maintain their nailart daily or planning to get your nails done this festive season.



Stash of Freebies

I am up to 2 boxes full of freebies. I get myself onto the various mailing lists so I know when they have free stuff coming up, or shop around Christmas when the retailers are more generous with freebies. My favourite so far is Shu Uemura, I got free lashes from them before and now it's a stack of Cherry Blossom Cleansing Oil sachets. I try to even it out by buying presents and other items at full-price from them, then they give me more free stuff. These miniatures are good when travelling as they don't take up much luggage space.



Scalp Care

Mentholated hair products are always a welcome respite from the tropical heat and a life-saver for those of us with long hair. Short of using peppermint shampoos, I find myself most hot-headed and my scalp the itchiest just after mid-day. So I use this great product I found quite by accident over 5 years ago. It's a leave-in hair-loss prevention serum that is scentless! A few drops and my head is tingling in delight, like snake brand powder. Only thing is you can only use it once a day.

Victoria Sponge Cakes

This cake is more like a sweet biscuit, the book recommends it be topped with fruit jam so the tartness offsets the sweetness. And I added Peeps for the neighbours.

Pumpkin Pie

Canned pumpkin pie in pre-made crust, the filling can't fill a 9 inch pie crust as indicated so I saved the extra batter for a new pie on Christmas day lunch. Topped with marshmellow Peeps from Candylicious. Marshmellows go well with this like it goes well with sweet potato & turkey for thanksgiving.



TinTin DVDs

 

I grew up with TinTin comic books. Story of a journalist always caught in espionage adventures with his dog snowy and his friend captain haddock. I caught the 3D movie at Lido IMAX when it came out and it was just awesome! So I went out and got the animated dvds of the books. Will be holed up in my room watching these well into the next week.

Hangoga Grill

Newly opened Korean BBQ place at MBS. I love trying out a new restaurant whenever I am there :)

Good stuff here, I had some fried chicken in lemony mayo as I never resist fried chicken.

And their signature bibimbap, the sauce is very good. The teas all taste like light barley tea so no point trying, just go with regular barley tea that is thicker as it has been brewing longer or water.



Santa Nails

Handmade Presents - Jewellery

Handmade jewellery gifts for my mom, sis and sis-in-law this christmas. I purchased 10 strands of blue-black pearls to make necklaces for the girls and 3 strands of silver-black pearls to make rosaries for the guys. 

These will form part of a gift basket of stuff I made and stuff I like that they might too. We will see how that goes.