Flavours @ Zhongshan Park

Zhongshan Park is the new enclave of offices/hotels/shops/restaurants near my home. Flavours is the restaurant in Ramada Hotel. We had our family dinner at this buffet place and service was up to par. The cooked food is the best part of this buffet and that is not often the case for buffets.

The waiters bring Kueh Pie Tee tray to our tables that is constantly replenished and you even get coffee/tea at the end, really yummy stuff.

The cold bar had salads, sushi, fresh boiled seafood and sauces. I love buffets for their cold bars.

I had second helpings of that delish beef rib.

After +++, it comes up to around $50 per person, check for promotions and discounts as there is 1-for-1 sometimes. Then take a walk around the shopping center after eating, Fair Price Finest is truly amazing for its variety of authentic euro brands and some china local favorites. I bought a live basil plant ($2.99) to grow at home and the giant la Fabricca Caccavella pasta sets with DVD rom ($13.90).

Potluck Yarn

I participated in Potluck Yarns Labor Day Sale. Cheryl Potter the author of "The Broken Circle: Yarns of the Knitting Witches" has written several other knitting books before and its all sold on this site, along with themed kits and their special dye technique yarns.

I got the pattern book along with a 10 pack of Camel/Merino/Silk blend yarns in a colour called Northland Glacier. Planning to get inspired once I am done with this fantasy/drama novella. This is book 1 from a trilogy and heard Cheryl is writing a 2nd companion pattern book soon.

Since Potluck Yarns is also hosting the Labor Day Sale for Cherry Tree Hill, I got 2 skeins of silk Fingerpaints yarn in a colour called Secret Garden, it was the brightest shade available. I really like the effect of the Fingerpaints yarn series. It's a self striping yarn but the lines are not clearly defined, kinda like a child's colouring.

The first 200 customers got a lucky bag thrown into their order, filled with little goodies. Everyone knows this is the real fun part as it's usually things you may not buy for yourself.

I got 3 patterns (socks basics, crew neck sweaters for mommy & baby, leaf pattern sweater) and I think I will use these with some yarns I already have.

2 sets of buttons, couple of belt/scarf buckles and 1 scarf clip that is totally vintage as I remember my primary school teacher using these.

1 stitch holder and a set of large eye needles with sharp pointy ends that I really need, would have bought these at the shop myself.

An ice wool comb that I have no idea how to use although it's sold quite often online. And a really lovely denim knitting needle organizer that I luv.

Cross stitch canvas of a tissue box cover. Hahaha...more things to sew.

Random hanks of yarn, Royal Bamboo multi-colour 100% bamboo, Herrschners pom poms, Araucania chunky wool, Misson Falls 100% cotton, Robison-Anton Textile Co. wool, Froehlich silk.

New Work Clothes

Helping out at my brother's new clinic and some new clothes to fit in. Mostly stretchy dresses and black jacquard leggings, I need to be super comfy.

Relishing the opportunity to eat out everyday, thanks! There's even a Starbucks downstairs so I don't miss my holiday frappucinos.

My daily beverage of choice is Perrier with Lemon, some fizzy bubbly water to celebrate the opening. Now Perrier comes with lemon or lime in a larger size plastic pep bottle to fulfill your water intake requirements for the day. Free delivery by Redmart that offers the best prices and widest selection of imported water.

Halloween cookies & drinks available now at Starbucks, for the rest of this month.

Diagonal Lace Scarf

This is one of the Loom Knit projects on Martha Stewart and Lion Brand Yarn Website. The Diagonal Lace Knit Scarf is a Knit 2 & Yarn over stitch pattern that sounds do-able.

I used 4 skeins of 50gm Panda brand yarn, Mindarie series, 70% wool & 30% soya bean protein, Cocoon and Mocha Peach colour ~ $20. Also chose to make it into a circle scarf that is easier to wear. The entire project took me just over a day to finish.

The result is a beautiful diagonal pattern but the holes don't look as big as in the photo. This is why stitch gauge is soo important! For thinner yarns like the ones I used, you have to do a few rows of Knit2 and YO before a knit/purl row to make those holes larger and more visible.

The scarf also tends to curl at the edges so I placed it under a bunch of stuff to flatten out.

Prada A/W 2013 Fashion

One of the trends this season is the use of gingham and darker colours, its almost as if the Fashion Houses have decided to target the farmhouse girl or anyone who wants to wear their Prada in the countryside and still blend in. So its gingham paired with luxe furs and lots of sequins.

There are also lots of puffy sleeves from the elbows to the wrist, mimicking the working girls' sleeve protectors worn when carrying out chores. Everything is beautifully done of course. 

Prada Menswear 2013 plays it safe with an 80s vibe. As you can see, its solid colours and the usual pullovers and suits.

Wine Appliances

Appreciating wine can be intimidating as the barrage of accessories, tools and appliances sold solely for this hobby brings a bottle of wine above the average class of food & beverage. The first wine appliance I am introducing is the wine fridge, a piece of furniture that says you enjoy the finer things in life. In some homes this doubles as a beverage centre, if you don't have enough wine to fill it with.

The electric wine opener, an item that has appeared in my Christmas Wish List before. With a click of a button it uncorks a bottle of wine quickly and painlessly.

An electronic wine cooler, that moderates temperature accurately and does away with the mess of ice. Ice is always in short supply at a party and it really shouldn't be wasted on the wine bucket.

Wine aerator is not an appliance as it's not electric. Nonetheless, it is a necessity for wine connoisseurs. I love the fancy designs it comes in that adds to the decor and this double aerator creates some pouring drama doesn't it.

 Electronic Wine Stopper that allows you to store any wine you aren't drinking in the original bottle and maintain the freshness of your wine through a pressure lock system.

Electronic wine dispensers, used in businesses and also in homes that like to enjoy a variety of wine at the same time.

SK Jewellery

I like to think SK Jewellery as the younger sister of SooKee, offering diamonds of G grade or below, smaller pieces of jewellery at ridiculously affordable prices (like a diamond pendant for $69!) and stainless steel accessories.

Recently, it decided to focus on the bridal market with boxed sets of "si dian jin" in an ad campaign starring Mediacorp actress Jeannette Aw.

  

SK jewellery also sells licensed Disney Cuties and Disney Princess fine jewellery for those special occasions.