My Skin Savers

Frequent travel, hormones and just plain unpredictable weather can throw your skin regime into chaos. Instead of several different moisturizers, serums or even toners, I just use 2 great products.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is an essential ever since I first tried it. After 1 week, my skin was glowing visibly. Meant to be easily absorbed by the skin and formulated to enhance the skin's natural healing process. You don't have to worry about putting to much or to little on. Works on all skin types without aggravating existing conditions. It is quite miraculous.

For more intensive moisturizing and regeneration, I rely on La Mer's The Concentrate. Not to be confused with The Essence (picture below). It does a great job with restoring moisture and shine to skin almost overnight.

Peranakan Museum

This heritage museum provides a comprehensive overview on the culture of early peranakans. Alternatively, you can visit Malacca. The museum is housed in a restored colonial townhouse, complete with ornate gates and sculptures. And 2 gift shops on the ground floor.

This visit was quite exuberant, with a full schedule of performances at the main entrance. Several stations for body painting, paper dolls and stamping utilizing traditional motifs. Check out my dragonfish above.

Beautifully made brass sculptures adorn the main entrance of the building. Not sure if this cat sculpture is in memory of a real cat that lived in this house or just Kucinta. The flowers strewn on it really makes you wonder.

What I really love about Peranakans are their material culture. Gorgeous brightly coloured porcelain, copious amounts of jewellery (gold gilt, ungraded diamonds) and intricate beadwork made with 1mm glass beads that resemble paintings.

Of course, if you are like me and have to own a piece of peranakan culture, head on down to the gift shops. I was a little surprised as well that you can buy a small green & pink ceramic pot similar to the exhibits for $150 or a gold necklace for $3000. More conventional offerings such as books and magnets are also available. I bought a limited print micro beaded stamp (below) and my sis got a cookbook.

Steamed Shaoxing Crab

No drinks and smoky clubs this girl's night out. Instead we had dinner of Sri Lankan crabs steamed in Shaoxing wine and soyabean milk. That's a 1 kilo crustacean in the photo, each! It took us over an hour to make our way through it. Smelled heavenly and tasted divine... =)

Weekday Lunch

The staple in my diet these days. I am lucky they have so many variations near my office (Indian inspired, Vietnamese fusion, Jap flavours). Nothing beats freshly baked bread.

Mushroom Fairy Circle

A fairy circle appears after the rain on a small patch of grass by the side of the road. For Enid Blyton fans, you will know this means a group of fairies (or pixies) live nearby. But really, it's just the way mushrooms grow, in concentric rings. A strange occurance of nature.

This is quite a sight in the midst of the urban sprawl. I wouldn't dare to eat this batch of shrooms, might be poisonous.

Lavender Closet

I read about this specialty store for plus sized girls in the Straits Times, recommended by a pagent contestant. Everyone in Singapore knows you can't buy party clothes off the rack if you're larger than a size 12. Tailoring is an option, as is travelling to Australia/UK for shopping trips. So I am glad they have this store here at affordable prices. Business is brisk, by the time I made the trip down, the shop only had 2 dresses left in my size. I found stretchy jeans with elastic waists (!) and extra long belts to accessorize.

DIY Gel Nails

This hurts! It doesn't look like it does, but, it is painful as the gel bonds with your bare natural nails activated by the UV light. I have decided to use gel overlay as a top coat. Finally kicking the perfect manicure (aka expertly applied fake nails) habit. The gel will protect my natural nails, preventing it from chipping and breaking.