Yankee Candle Spring 2016

Yankee Candles Spring Launch coincides with their USA spring 2016 fragrances: 

Strawberry Lemon Ice

Flowers in the Sun

Catching Rays

Line Dried Cotton

Man Candles ($31.90) and Barbershop Candles ($33.90) are all 1 for 1!

McDonald's Custom Burger

McDonald's Custom Burger is only available at certain outlets (11 of the bigger outlets spread across the island). You have to order using one of these self-service kiosks. You can choose what you want in the burger and even the portion size. I just went with one of the 3 pre-made custom burgers for a taste of McD vision.

My order number for a $12 meal, no upsize.

It's a really good burger, that tomato relish is TDF! I don't understand why they can't use real bacon, everywhere its turkey bacon.

Back in the Gym...

It's time to get in shape and lose all that excess weight. Most people make new year's resolutions to lose weight and tho' I didn't wish it this year, look at what I'm doing. With all the free time to dedicate myself to getting fit again, I'm really excited Dance classes are trending. 

This month, I had my first personal training session, mostly exercises with stretch bands. Had my BMI checked and a fat analysis, I am 50% fat and 50% other stuff. Since I was advised to start slow, I attended the beginners Group X sessions.

New pair of trainers - Reebok CrossFit Cushion 3.0. I tried on a few pairs and really like the cushion padding on this one. Due to weight issues, padding becomes really important. Reebok is the brand of choice @ California Fitness.

Checking out all the California Fitness gyms @ Novena S.C.(crowded), Bugis Junction (I had trouble finding this one) and Raffles Place (the original location). The Ngee Ann City branch closed down over CNY this year.

They have vending machines for sports drinks and now protein shakes!

You can buy stuff from the Gym. They sell locks @ the counter for towels, gym bags @ membership counter and there is even a gift shop @ Bugis Gym selling supplements, toiletries and fresh smoothies.

Yankee Candle Voting Time

I voted for Olive and Thyme, its got that fresh orchards vibe.

Received a little gift from Yankee Candles in return.

Sushi Express

Everything is $1.50, you get free wasabi, free green tea and just 50 mins to finish your meal.

The time limit is irrelevant as I am usually done with lunch under 30 mins.

Checking out the items, jumbo scallops, hairy crabs with roe and even sea urchin gunkan for just $1.50.

  

Painting

I received this paint-by-numbers kit that was quite old and the paints inside had already dried up, so I thought I would just paint something on the stretched canvas instead.

Semco Acrylic Paints 3 for $5
Miffy Glitter/Metallic Markers $10

Stretched Canvas $15

Paint Brushes $10 

Starting with ombre sunset background that took a few coats of paint to cover up the paint-by-number markings and my rough sketch. These Semco paints for beginners already have water mixed in so just squeeze and spread it out.

I've had these Miffy glitter/metallic markers for some time and hardly used them as its inky and runs through the paper, making it perfect for painting. I broke the nibs and used a thin brush to add onto the canvas in layers.

The final painting that hangs nicely in my room and doubles as a notice board.

I used charity push pins on my previous board, now I am using XL earrings that are really to big to wear to hold up my notes on the board.

Nivea Hampers

Nivea ran 2 promotions at the same time, spend $30 redeem $15 voucher (ORO redemption) and spend $15 win a $50 Nivea Hamper (this one). I entered twice and won 2 hampers! You see I thought the 2 promotions ran concurrently and only submitted 1 receipt for both. The Nivea staff informed me this was not the case, so I made another purchase to submit the second receipt when the Nivea staff told me they could make an exception for me this time.

I stocked up on facial cleansers and also got the new whitening serum antiperspirants. There are another 4 more in these hampers so I have a lot of the new extra whitening antiperspirants to give out. Kinda excited over the new Nivea products like mud cleanser and peppermint facial wash, keeping it fresh for us consumers.

Cold Cuts Platter

An easy party recipe is to assemble your own cold cuts platter by buying 100gm of each type @supermarket. That would cost around $20 to serve 4 to 6 guests. I really only do this for tea-time to share with my immediate family, variety is always more interesting and gives us something to talk about.

Fair Price Grocery Shopping

$100 grocery run from NTUC FairPrice:

Lee Kum Kee XO Seafood Sauce $15.90

Smoked Duck Breast $6.20

Roast Pork Belly 125gm $4.86

Woh Hup Abalone Sauce (2 bottles) $7.90

Rice Bran Oil 2L $7.85

Lotte Ice-cream Mochi 2s (2 packets) $5.80

UFC Canned Fruits (5 cans) $12.50

Marigold Lemon Barley 24s (carton) $7.20

Kleenex Scented Aloe Vera Toilet Paper 20s $14.45

Kleenex Winnie the Pooh Packet Tissue Papers (2 bulk packets) $6.50

Colgate 360 Clean Toothbrush (3 pieces) $23.55

Total $112.71, after discounts it comes under $100.

The biggest offer was on these Colgate toothbrushes, normally $8.90 each are now 3 for $10.90.

Something ready to eat from the BBQ section, I usually get pork ribs but this time I bought roasted pork belly and duck breast.

Cooking oil made from rice bran that I haven't tried before. Given we are such big rice eaters you would think this is a pantry staple.

Kleenex tissues, flat tissue packets fit nicely into my bag (as opposed to those tightly compacted version), only Winnie the Pooh cartoon available so I got 2 packs of 4x8.

Best Find are these scented Kleenex ultra soft aloe vera toilet rolls. When I walked into my bathroom I was wondering who added air fresheners there and its just these scented toilet papers. 

Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Swag

Free Singapore Airlines carry-on duffel bag and batik print luggage strap from their Premium Economy Promotion. The strap is too cute *love* I don't think its sold in stores. The foldable duffle bag will come in really handy.

Patties & Wiches

Patties & Wiches is a Japanese Western Cafe in Ngee Ann City SC level 3, sharing the same kitchen as the Japanese restaurant opposite it. I stopped by for lunch as I have never seen this place before.

I ordered consomme + salad, teriyaki chicken burger, melon soda and Mont Blanc (1 of their signature desserts), $45 after tax.

It's quite good, might just stop by again for their signature clubhouse sandwich. 

   

Bus 170 to JB

I've often heard of people taking public transport into Malaysia, or Johor Bahru (JB) the closest Malaysian state to Singapore. It's not difficult and there really is only one bus 170 that starts from Queen Street Terminal (Rocher Canal, Singapore) that goes across the causeway and ends at Larkin Terminal (JB, Malaysia). If you ride from 1 terminal to the next, it costs $2 (ezlink card) or $2.50 (cash).

We took the MRT to Kranji where there is a bus stop just outside the station. However the Q was that long! Luckily my mom found CW1 a private bus going into JB that charges in MYR, ask the driver or his friend how much is the fare before boarding.

So you have to disembark at Singapore customs, get your passport chopped, embark the same bus to go to Malaysia Customs, disembark to get your passport chopped then walk to the mall. It's a busy bus service as there is JB City Square Mall at the end of the rainbow.

I was held up in customs for almost an hour, unbelievably unlucky as I heard the Q is usually quite short and fast. From customs, you have to walk through JB Sentral to get to City Square Mall, JB Sentral is this bus interchange that brings you anywhere in Johor Bahru including other malls.

This shopping centre is really up-to-date and lively. Everyone loves the dimsum places Canton-i and Dragon-i. We ate lunch at Sizzling Stonegrill, my first time trying ostrich meat. 90 ringgit for 2 including a salad to share.

Giant EGG vending machine outside a spectacle shop, 10 ringgit for a lens cleaning cloth.

Lots of food gift shops, my mom likes Lavender (a French style bakery with local ingredients) she bought lots of pandan chiffon cakes home to giveaway @ MYR 8.50 each, that's a great buy as the pandan flavour is really fresh & intense. I spied cream chicken stew bun that is the only non-local item there. 

Famous Amos, Mika, Yong Sheng, Eureka are all located next to each other, along with a local Malaysian products gifts store. My mom and I each got 1 pack of flavored popcorn (11.90 to 14.90  ringgit) and swiss roll (11.90 to 17.90 ringgit).

For cheap and good local fare, get it from the pushcarts. We used up all our leftover ringgit here.

My mom treated me to Gel mani pedi for only 150 ringgit. We really needed to just sit back and rest after walking through the mall. Everyone likes to come to Malaysia for nail art, however the nail places here are soo packed the girls usually don't have time for that.

Just outside the nail shops are these HP cases that look like designer bags. I totally wanted to get the perfume bottle cases but I couldn't find one that fits my phone.

Giant soft toys too...I want the 1 metre Rilakuma (maybe next time).

City Square JB has KTV, Gym, Cineplex, Tattoo Salons... just about everything else in ringgit.

Stopped for desserts, famous Penang Road Gula Melaka and their highly recommended Nutmeg Ice Kachang. The price is easily 3X the original roadside stall, but its air-conditioned and there are tables and chairs.

We bought Kimdo BBQ squid home for dinner, it gave us momentary heart attack, 3 squids and 1 baby squid on a stick for 65 ringgit. That was the only price shock we had that day.