Beginnings

End of my Blog

2011-02-20T20:59:00.000+08:00

I have run out of space here, so I am moving to a new address : http://mymillefeuillelife.blogspot.com/

see you there!

Last CNY Dinner

2011-02-19T00:10:00.001+08:00

The last chinese new year dinner for the year. This year's caterer is really good, as is the compere every year.

For one, the chef substituted sour mango for lemon in the crispy chicken dish. Eveyone was smacking their lips in agreement to this.

The braised vegetables were delicious, you know this when the plate is completely emptied.

And my favourite dish - herbal prawns is on the menu tonight.

Indian Samosa

2011-02-18T23:20:00.000+08:00

One of my favourite breakfast foods is samosa. This Indian pastry is stuffed with potatoes & spices in it's most basic form and I can have it for breakfast, tea and in this case, even lunch! The waitress insisted I try the Indian lampchops with mint chutney, an Indian twist on a classic british dish.

Fire!

2011-02-17T22:44:00.001+08:00

The last day of the chinese new year and a fire broke out in Chinatown. They can't be barbequeing the pork for tonight's feast, or are they?

Pizza today

2011-02-16T13:42:00.002+08:00

Aahhh... more junk food again today.

Paint by Numbers

2011-02-15T17:44:00.006+08:00

I tried this paint by numbers kit a year ago when I had more free time on my hands.

Quite impressed by the results although it did take me 3 whole days to finish it. It's so easy, you should try it too.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T20:00:00.000+08:00

I dug through my jewellery and pulled out this old favourite. I remember squealing in delight when my mom gave me this diamond heart necklace over a decade ago. It's reversible with a heart on the brace as well.

McDonald's

2011-02-13T10:14:00.002+08:00

Recuperating with lots of McDonalds. It's the only food group that can be eaten quickly with minimum fuss. Maybe my mom can blend some fruits and vegetables for me to drink instead.

Sprained Back

2011-02-12T19:57:00.000+08:00

in bed all day, the pain is killing me.

Taraba Crab Bun

2011-02-11T21:04:00.001+08:00

This snow crab bun needs 2 hands to hold. Tastes like Chinese bao except for the delicious crab filling with cream gravy. Buy from Isetan when they have a Hokkaido Food Fair.

Spring Nails

2011-02-10T21:58:00.000+08:00

Ombre sunset in the background

Yan Yat

2011-02-09T23:46:00.001+08:00

The seventh day of the Chinese New Year is Yan Yat or Everybody’s Birthday. Legend has it that the Goddess Nüwa created human beings by molding them from clay. So on this day, everyone grows older by a year. Stuff of legends, but, the food you eat on this day is pretty good as crowds gather at sushi restaurants to Lo Hei or toss a raw fish salad with sour plum sauce for good luck.

Soup Restaurant

2011-02-08T22:23:00.000+08:00

One of my favourite places, a chinese restaurant derived from local Singaporean cuisine. In particular, Chinatown heritage food like samsui chicken, beggar's bowl tofu and chopped meat patty. Alongside classics like double boiled soups and waxed meat claypot.

Recently, they started serving more innovative dishes like the below dragonfruit, mango prawns that is absolutely delectable. Must try!

"L" for Lim

2011-02-07T22:31:00.003+08:00

My chirpy yellow Lancaster calf leather wallet with 0.12 carats of diamonds, made in Italy. A BIG wallet for a big fat CNY to hold all my angpows in. Do you love it as much as I do?

Buy from http://www.bidz.com/

Post CNY Shopping

2011-02-06T19:37:00.002+08:00

New year, new watch courtesy of Amex cards. I collected my free Aigner watch when the shop opened for the new year.

I also got new stationery, a bejewelled notepad from Metro.

With colourful traditional print paper inside.

Traditional Japanese attire scrapbooking stickers from Takashimaya.

I couldn't resist and got 1 more bar of Nesti Dante soap, a fruity pomegranate and blackcurrent from Metro.

Takashimaya Fukubukuro

2011-02-05T18:13:00.000+08:00

Takashimaya starts the post CNY sale with fukubukuros in the lucky numbers $88, $188, $288 and $388. I didn't expect a rush for them here so I took my time and went after lunch at my cousin's place. I was partially correct.

By the time I got there, the lucky bags with Sanrio toys, women's makeup & accessories were all gone. The only bags left contained food, men's wear and nintendo games. What a disappointment! I am waking up at 9am next year.

So I did get my hands on 1 food fukubukuro. Not bad, I like the gourmet flora perfumed honey.

Tomato based gooseberry chutney.

Pineapple and orange "Good Luck" hard candy.

Fauchon pralines went into my tummy immediately.

Coffee, Tea and Jam.

Nespresso

2011-02-04T00:27:00.001+08:00

Every house I went to on New Year's day had one of these Nestle Nespresso machines with it's companion wooden case filled with coffee shots. It left me puzzled and wondering what's up? Everyone says it's the new coffee maker, in 5 seconds you get an Italian espresso with whipped milk. That got my dad's attention.

So he made up his mind to get one. It starts from just a few hundred for a basic model to over a thousand for one with cup warmer holder and milk whipper. Looking forward to great coffee everyday and my maid will love us for this as it takes 20 mins to siphon brew our coffee.

My lovely aunt (in the pic) offered to help us buy one the next time she goes to UK, it's considerably cheaper there. I have to add that I look forward to her peranakan food and it doesn't disappoint. I had double servings of dried mee siam.

CNY

2011-02-03T00:48:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Reunion Dinner 2011

2011-02-02T00:25:00.000+08:00

Tung Lok Pen Chai

2011-02-01T00:24:00.000+08:00

It's the eve of the CNY eve, so we spend it with immediate family before the big steamboat reunion dinner tomorrow night. I ordered a poon choi or pen cai (big bowl feast) from Tung Lok restaurants because you can only get it once a year and Tung Lok has one of the best pen cai in the market.

The moment we stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted by a wall of pen cai carriers. Hhmm...seems like most Singaporeans love their pencai too.

This year's claypot is a bright Ferrari red, wide and low.

The take home feast also had yusheng with the signature citrusy honey plum sauce and salmon sashimi, ginger chicken and glutinous rice...yum! And the piece de resistance, delicious dark flavourful gravy over all sorts of chinese new year delicacies like tiger prawns, abalone, jumbo scallops, black moss, pig's thigh, duck breast, mushrooms, sea cucumbers, oysters, lotus root and cabbage.

Lesont Wines

2011-01-31T21:02:00.001+08:00

This is what you will be drinking if you are coming to my place for Chinese New Year. Thanks to Lesont Wines (the suppliers to MBS's Paiza Club), I got my hands on Champagne, Chardonney and Rose wines with real 24k gold flakes and one diamante-encrusted 95 point full bodied red.

The stock photo really doesn't show much. I laid them out on my kitchen counter for a group photo and you can see the sparkle from the crystals of the Diadema and the warm ember liquids glowing from within the rest.

I got a real kick from shaking the champagne and stirring up a gold storm.

Lesont Wines are on facebook only, check-in to see when their next event is: http://it-it.facebook.com/pages/Lesont-Luxury-Wines/122547187810777

Mahogany Salon

2011-01-30T20:46:00.002+08:00

Getting my hair done at Mahogany Salon in various shades of Mahogany Brown. I got to munch on yusheng while my colour was processing. No pictures to share of how I look as my secondary camera (pic above) doesn't have flash and this (pic below) is what happens when taken against a mirror at night.

Rose Soap

2011-01-29T11:51:00.000+08:00

At first I thought I would mix this with other flowers but quickly thought the wiser of it. Roses are good enough on their own. In order to showcase this flower, I was going to make a rose soap like no other and hopefully better than something store-bought.

Rose water to melt down the white soap base that already contained honey and mulberry extract.

50ml of rose essential oil so the skin will glow from it's effects.

To make it interesting, I decided to stir a little pink rose compound into the little soap left.

It turned a brilliant neon pink like bandung.

Pat it down on top and leave it alone for 24 hours.

Borago Officinalis (Starflower)

2011-01-28T22:21:00.002+08:00

I adore flowers and what better way to combine 2 passions than to find edible flowers, a much loved haute cuisine ingredient. I was pleasantly surprised to find a packet of gourmand Borago Officinalis seeds at a nearby plant nursery. A perennial in our lovely tropical weather, I am looking forward to the fruits or in this case flowers of my labour.

This extremely useful little plant has edible leaves and flowers, with it's seeds yielding an oil as effective as evening primrose as a GLA supplement. Starflowers are THE original ingredient used in pimm's cocktail, nowadays substituted with cucumber. Commonly tossed in salads, it's beautiful blue flowers yield a slight honeyed taste that is excellent as a condiment for desserts. I read that the flowers were candied in olden days. I imagine using it to dress my cakes...can't wait.

Sodium Hydroxide Solution

2011-01-27T21:50:00.001+08:00

I found a chemical company that could sell me sodium hydroxide solution at the highest concentration possible without a license. At this level, lye is used as a cleaning agent and a pretty effective one at that, as my pristine white dishes showed. The problem starts when a higher concentration is required to make soap. Even 25% alkaline solution can burn a hole through a regular bowl, I think it was the high heat that amplified it's effects. Not to mention the irritation/burns it causes when it comes in contact with bare skin. Thank goodness I was prepared with safety goggles, rubber gloves and mask. Just never take the gloves off!

Packing Bubblegum Soaps

2011-01-26T15:20:00.000+08:00

It's the same packaging method as the previous 2 batches.

Only changed the wrapping paper to plastic kaleidoscope-print and used plastic gemstone stickers instead of wax seals.

CNY 2011 Nails

2011-01-25T14:57:00.000+08:00

Roselle Water

2011-01-24T15:10:00.000+08:00

The flower of the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant is often used in infusions to make herbal tea or alternatively as a natural food colouring. It tastes pretty much like ribena so can be brewed for easy drinking. Thus, making it a great drink for CNY entertaining!

Chinese Medical Halls usually sell the dried version, but, you can easily get fresh roselle flowers from an organic farm. Brew a handful of fresh roselle buds with sugar and water for half an hour and you will have a strongly flavoured, floral fragranced drink to enjoy.

Packing Coffee Soaps

2011-01-23T23:49:00.000+08:00

Animal prints to match the earth tones of this coffee soap.

Same as last time, I had to shrinkwrap it first then in animal print paper. The yellow sash is to hold the seams in place and print out the type of soap.

My wax seal, this time the red seal wax matches the animal prints perfectly =)

The finished 16.

Am going to give out this batch during CNY as well.

Bubblegum Soap

2011-01-22T23:22:00.001+08:00

I wanted to make this multi-coloured soap for quite some time. But first, I had to look for the perfect white base that I found in Camay fragrance free, dense, soft soaps.

I used generic pre-mixed essential oil called "Meditate" in an amiable scent that everyone will like.

It is time to test my liquid colourants before I progress onto cold processed soaps. The word is that colouring soaps from scratch isn't as easy as adding colourants. To acheive the colour you want, you need to use oxides, clays and naturally coloured powders. Food colouring will just wash out or worse yet, won't be absorbed by the soap base. Fact or Fiction?

The colours are definitely brighter than the usual oxides and clays. Hhmmm...I hope it stays that way. Colourants in small amounts won't stain your skin or tiles. But, am not sure about the quantity I used.

After 24hrs in the chiller, it came out in light pastel shades.

It takes 6 full-sized bars of soap to make 16 guest-sized bars of soap from 50gm to 80gm a piece.

As you can see, the colour is concentrated around in chunks. The conclusion is liquid colourants cannot be used to dye soap. *sign* back to sourcing for suitable colourants. Don't get mad when using this soap, I suspect it will all wash off leaving a tie-dyed puddle on your bathroom floor.

What's left is a colourfully cheery bar of soap to start and end your days with in a fruity floral scent. Hard not to like.

Fiona Paxton Sylvie Necklace

2011-01-21T21:46:00.000+08:00

Believe it or not, I have been looking for this necklace for almost a year. Then one day, I saw it hanging in On Peddar's display. It's the right length, the right colour and just enough design to make it interesting.

24k Gold Soap

2011-01-20T20:05:00.000+08:00

A luxurious, generously cut bar of soap (250gm) to usher in the new year. For Nesti Dante's 60th anniversary, a 24k Gold and Iris soap inspired by Florence, Italy and made with all natural Tuscany ingredients. Inside it's soft metallic shimmer, this soap works up a frothy, creamy lather. At $17.50, finally, this is something everyone can partake of. This limited edition bar of soap is not to be missed! Is it a coincidence Iris essential oils are considered one of the most expensive in the world? I absolutely love the other Nesti Dante soaps fom fruity figs & almond to apocathery lemon balm & fennel, each bar smells delicious. The perfect hostess gift!

Packing Soap for CNY

2011-01-19T00:23:00.000+08:00

My first batch of soaps turned out beautifully even though there are some blue stains (from the tray) on the bottom that resemble mould, it's not! I am going to package it to giveaway on Chinese New Year.

Each soap is shrink wrapped in plastic first as the essential oils will leak through paper. Thereafter, I put them in kimono print paper and try to wrap them origami style. After the first few, I gave up and started wrapping them as normal packages.

On to tie an obi for each to hide unsightly seams and also to identify what type of soap is within.

I am not quite done yet.

I have to seal it with my wax stamp. I tried the usual red sealing wax but it wasn't as pretty as the aqua blue wax from my candle.

And it's done!

I hope everyone loves it too!

Spring Must Haves!

2011-01-18T23:15:00.002+08:00

New year, new clothes!!!

Spring brings bright acid colours which are a great respite from the traditional red for Chinese New Year visitings. It also offers more variety in terms of co-ordination with existing items in your wardrobe.

Me? My usual palette is black, white and soft pastels. Hence, the occasional pop of colour is essential in bringing my wardrobe to life. And to neutralize everything, use Tod's roomy white bag. White being devoid of colour goes with everything and can fit all your stuff (atomizer, umbrella, recyclable bags, you name it). It's the quiet classic that's white hot!

3 fabulous and oh soo wearable looks for the year.

Mocha Swirl Soap

2011-01-17T23:54:00.001+08:00

For our inner caffeine addict, this bar will definitely wake you up in the morning!

I shredded 4 bars of white soap of the skin lightening variety. Melt in microwave until gooey.

These are sticks of pure cocoa butter...hhmmm...

Melt the cocoa butter and pour into the melted soap. At first it makes a small fizzle...

Then it makes a BIG fizzle.

Whisk it in. Don't worry, the mixture will still remain white.

I added an entire bottle of coffee essential oil, just to make sure we get the scent right on this one.

Pour into loaf pan. Now I can get to the fun part.

Melted another 2 bars of white soap in the microwave, mix in ivory icing paste to create a warm terracotta coffee-like colour and 2 great big scoops of ground coffee! Some of the coffe will melt into the mixture and fill the room with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Whisk then pour over the white soap while still hot. Very important step to ensure the lovely swirl pattern in the soap.

I used the spoon to give it a few more twirls to get that marbling effect on every bar.

Freeze overnight and then cut =)

It's as though someone poured cream over the coffee.

You can see the swirls better once you cut through it.

Each and every bar is unique and special =)

Rose Toner

2011-01-16T12:41:00.001+08:00

The scent of fresh roses is beyond doubt, one of my favourite aromas. It's richness soothes, comforts and offers beneficial qualities. This is an age old beauty treat to refresh your body and mind at the same.

Make your own rose water by boiling fresh rose petals in a stove-top distil.

Add in rose essence or essential oils if you want a more potent brew.

Since I am making a toner, I add in witchhazel a popular natural astringent.

Glycerin for moisture.

Give it a good stir and it's ready for use. This batch will keep until Dec 2011.

Strawberry, Apricot & Whipped Cream Soap

2011-01-15T20:08:00.003+08:00

Trying out the layered technique to make a dessert soap using 2 bars of pink strawberry soap and 2 bars of white apricot & whipped cream soap. The amount is just enough to fill 1 standard loaf pan.

First, a layer of pink soap. I put it in the freezer for 5 mins. Then, took it out and added the next layer of white soap, left it in the freezer for 5 mins and so on. I was careful not to swirl the liquids too much when moving it around as the soap hasn't hardened and I didn't want a tie-dyed bar of soap.

The finished loaf is left in the freezer overnight to set. I use a non-stick teflon pan (no lining needed!) and the bar of soap slid right out.

Cut the loaf into bars and leave to air dry for 1 week before using. Looks like agar-agar and smells delicious! I had to warn everyone not to eat it.

Cheap Soap Trick

2011-01-14T21:33:00.000+08:00

If you have trouble sourcing a melt n pour soap supplier, try this cheap alternative made with regular bars of soap. I chose this lux soap because it has mineral salts and marine extracts to make my ocean themed soaps.

Shred the bar into little curls. You can save these for dressing as well.

Then add a little oil and water. Through some experimentation, I realise you need a little oil to protect the soap from drying out & hardening in the microwave. But, not too much or your soaps will be too slippery to manage in the shower.

Then hit the start button on your microwave. Stand back and watch the soap explode, I believe soapers call this the volcano effect in the hot saponification process. Stir down the foam and keep going until everything is melted.

Spoon the liquid mixture into moulds, I use ice trays to make cute little accent soaps. Leave it in the mould for at least 24 hours before popping them out.

After popping out the soap, cover with a tea towel and leave it out to air dry for a week. And you have your fancy guest soaps!

Soap Mould

2011-01-13T23:55:00.001+08:00

There isn't much here for soap-making hobbyists. Who knew sodium hydroxide is controlled by the NEA and you need a license to purchase some. Store-bought lye is NOT skin-safe, please don't use it! So you really need to locate some melt-n-pour suppliers in town.

I really have this thing against cute chocolate moulds for soap as it makes it too small to clean yourself properly. I was cleaning out my brother's handmade chess box when my dad offered to make me a soap mould. Today, he brought back some wood in the right size to make a 3 loaf mould, 2 normal sized bars and 1 cubed bar. I have some scrapbooking stamps that I can press onto the soap and lovely double-sided bird print wrapping paper from Christmas. So I guess I am all set. Hhmmm...when is the next occasion?

Mustafa Centre

2011-01-12T22:15:00.000+08:00

Rows of chutney!

Made an almost midnight provisions run at Mustafa Centre, it's 24 hours. The variety is overwhelming with pre-mixes for curry to chapati, everything an Indian mom would want to make her life easier. I come here for hard to find items like ground pomegranate and mango powder. Prices are cheaper too! I checked.

An entire aisle of ghee!

年年有余

2011-01-11T20:50:00.001+08:00

Ok, sometimes 余 is used interchangeably with 鱼

Auspicious to start the year with a goldfish charm

Green Tea Salt Scrub

2011-01-10T22:19:00.000+08:00

This is a green tea scrub to help promote overall well-being this Chinese New Year.

In theme, I used sea salt as a base with it's healthy invigorating properties and chose macadamia nut oil, a rich nutty emollient.

Glycerin again, it helps attract moisture to the skin.

This is melted cocoa butter. Well known as a moisturizer, it also acts as a natural preservative with it's antioxidants helping to extend shelf-life of products naturally.

This is the mix of essential oils I used to create green tea as I remember it to be...light and refreshing with undernotes of flowers and fruits. Collectively, the essential oils will make you happy, relieve stress and bring all sorts of improvement to your health. Exactly what we all need this festive season.

The mixture turned a slight yellow once everything was mixed in. I added a drop of natural blue food colouring that turned the mixture a pastel sea green. That won't do! So I added a drop of yellow pineapple essence and the mixture turned a bright jade green.

This is the finished product!

Grapefruit Sugar Scrub

2011-01-09T15:11:00.004+08:00

Sometimes, I make my own bath products to ensure it contains only the best ingredients for my skin. Sourcing for organic produce ensures the ingredients contain at least 30% more vitamins and minerals than ordinary produce. It's also preservative free. Just make sure it's used within 18 months or keep it in the fridge.

Today, I am making a sugar scrub. Coarse, unrefined cane sugar is full of alpha hydroxy acids that acts as a natural skin peel, especially beneficial for aged skin.

Then, I add in an entire bottle of glycerol and fresh aloe vera gel.

Succulent leaves of the Aloe Vera plant can be purchased from the market. I am cutting 2 leaves today to process and keep as raw material for my bath products. When cutting, be careful not to agitate the sap underneath the skin. In any case, the sap can just be washed away before extracting the aloe vera gel.

Powdered flowers or hydrogenated fruits to add colour naturally. These are hard to source for, so use food colour if all else fails.

This is my personal blend of Grapefruit, Chamomile and Eucalyptus essential oils. Meant to lift your mood, calm the nerves, invigorate the body by removing fatigue and muscular aches then to boost the immune system. Generous amounts of essential oils are added to ensure it delivers everything it's meant to.

Lastly, add in a carrier oil. I like to use grapeseed oil due to it's light fragrance that doesn't interfere with the scent of essential oils. Grapeseed oil also contains vitamin E and is beneficial for the body when absorbed through the skin.

The final product!

New Website & Graphics

2011-01-08T13:00:00.000+08:00

Another New Year thing, I had to change my website, webshops and graphics. This is the first thing I made and there are more to come! Stay tuned.

Chinese Dinner for 1

2011-01-07T22:59:00.001+08:00

Enjoying my Friday dinner for one at a Chinese Restaurant. I love sampling tiny dishes.

My Soap Bucket

2011-01-06T23:22:00.000+08:00

My mom picked out this bright and cheery bucket to keep my soapmaking stuff in. I absolutely love it coz it can fit the countertop and is big enough to house everything. New year, new hobby!

Window Washers

2011-01-05T19:44:00.000+08:00

What happened to their trolley?

Picture Frames

2011-01-04T23:57:00.002+08:00

Custom framing costs are just ridiculous. I always try to find pre-made photo frames in the right size for my paintings. Ikea frames are really affordable and although not always in the right size, can be cleverly disguised so the onlooker won't know the difference.

This painting I bought from Prague during my last trip. It's cartoonish and quirky, the sort of picture that provokes the imagination with it's randomness.

Bath Fizzies Giveaway

2011-01-03T20:22:00.000+08:00

Here's my second batch of homemade bath fizzies, made with edible (except maybe the epsom salts) and premium ingredients including the purest cocoa butter and unadulterated botanical essential oils. I went for apricot coloured miniature fruit shapes that will burst into bubbling, scented yet healing baths to soothe your soul.

This batch dried out perfectly and I am giving away over 50 of them as a platinum Valentine's Day present!

Just leave a comment on this post and "follow" my blog (on the right). I will randomly pick a winner on 14 Febuary 2011. Please enter, it's soo worth it even though you have to self-collect it.

Laundry Blue

2011-01-02T17:35:00.001+08:00

I took time out today to browse through the old shophouses near my place and to my surprise, found a pack of laundry blue. 50 years ago, dhobys' (Indian Laundry) used this to whiten clothes. It stains clothes a slight blue but drys out into a crisp white. Laundry blue is no longer sold to the masses as modern cleaning products have incorporated the same properties into their laundry soap. So I am going to try it out at home.

New Year Shopping

2011-01-01T23:20:00.000+08:00

It's the new year, so I thought I would start it with lunch and then shopping.

The malls are wide open with festive sales. I couldn't find a Bandai Bath Bomb maker but, I did find an affordable range of 100% pure essential oils from Holland & Barrett. I want the entire range... you know for reference.

New Year's Eve

2010-12-31T23:43:00.000+08:00

The bubbly booze this year is Laurent-Perrier, I've never tried this one before. It's light and frothy so much so we practically drank the whole bottle in an instant.

My sis brought parma ham with melons...hhmm!

I made watermelon men topped with pan fried hungarian foie gras, goat cheese, balsamic vinigar and black pepper. Everyone said it was yummy and I agree!

Stuffed pita pockets. Ok, I had trouble making a hole in the wholemeal pita bread, so I threw the toppings on top like pizza. Lots of that lovely french cheese from Christmas to form the base, chopped basil & marjoram mixed with ground pork to form the stuffing. It really tastes more like chinese chopped meat patty than pizza. But, still delicious!

Bath Fizzies

2010-12-30T23:50:00.000+08:00

This is a basic recipe for bath fizzies that I am trying out on smaller moulds (ice trays). Practice before Valentine's Day. You are supposed to spray the colour on and that really is the only way you are going to get the colour on. Then finger press into moulds. I am leaving it overnight to dry out and check in tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Homemade Scrubs

2010-12-29T22:05:00.002+08:00

I used to make this all the time with my sis, trying out new recipes in the kitchen. Our favourite was the ground apricot seed scrub with pureed tropical fruits. Edible and bursting with antioxidants & vitamins for the skin. You can make masks, scrubs, bath soaks or fizzies (very popular these days), soap, hair masks.

With simple ingredients from your kitchen, you can make your own bath products. I would recommend homemade scrubs as it is the easiest to whip up and gift (not everyone has a bathtub). Look for the purest form of each ingredient: oils have to be 100% pure, extra virgin or cold-pressed, naturally found sea salts and cane sugar straight from the plantation. Oh yes! and seasonal fruits from the market.

Then add in essential oils for scent, colour and other healing properties. A couple drops of tea tree essential oil to help the body heal always helps.

Zhou Kitchen

2010-12-28T21:13:00.001+08:00

I need this to counter all that festive turkey and ham.

I am part Hock Chia so I eat mee sua.

Presents

2010-12-27T20:33:00.003+08:00

My booty of hand creams this year. I think there is a year's supply here =)

Boxing Day

2010-12-26T15:36:00.000+08:00

The chocolate Christmas tree I should have brought out yesterday. Goes great with coffee from my brother's new nespresso machine. We were celebrating my Brother's birthday as well with the extended family where he brought out a baked Alaska ice cream cake. Aahh! I love ice cream!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T00:38:00.000+08:00

That's me in the background. This year's turkey is a 6kg butterball surrounded by fruits in season (Columbian physalis and miniature plums).

This year I made the sides: truffled mushrooms, tomato avocado salad, whipped potatoes, marshmellow sweet potatoes. For dessert there is just a cheese platter and all the candy you can eat.

Now, about those sweet potatoes...I read online that it is a Thanksgiving must-have and the recipe comes straight off the marshmellow packaging. And they are right! It is delicious, every last spoonful was finished.

My sis carved the turkey and ham to make a lovely platter. My mom made a nutmeg lime drink.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-24T21:04:00.001+08:00

Coming from a non-Christian family, I don't really celebrate Christmas. So I do some last minute shopping for festive food to last us through the next few days and open a bottle of my favourite cidar while I prep for tomorrow's lunch.

Then the delivery people came just as I stepped home with Christmas presents!

Have a blessed Christmas!

Handmade Xmas Gifts

2010-12-23T22:45:00.001+08:00

Homemade bath salts for Shan who made me red velvet cupcakes (with vinigar).

Bath Salt Recipe:

Epsom & Sea Salt

Bicarbonate of Soda

Vanilla essential oils

Buttermilk powder

*just add water*

Pumpkin Soup

2010-12-22T22:34:00.000+08:00

Looks like a giant egg yolk doesn't it? It's a really big plate of pumpkin soup, pureed whole pumpkin with cream.

Combi Oven

2010-12-21T23:43:00.003+08:00

It's time to say goodbye to my 20 year old microwave cum steam oven as it's starting to heat unevenly and the glass plate is broken. I had to get another combi microwave oven again as it's soo handy. Who uses a regular plain oven or microwave anymore?

The hottest model in the market right now is this Panasonic 30 litre Awasewaza that can do it all - microwave, bake, grill, steam. All this for $1,500! Much cheaper than my dream 70 litre Ariston oven.

Realistically, I got a Samsung Trio 30l microwave oven that also does it all, but, with specialized equipment. It's even self-cleaning. For the down-to-earth price of $479, add $50 for a 5 year warranty.

Best Denki gave me a free Moulinex blender/grinder even though it's not advertised anywhere (*ok, it's advertised on the Samsung website).

Here's my new kitchen toy cleaning itself.

Christmas 2010 Nails

2010-12-20T20:16:00.000+08:00

Gold lacquer with fluorescent glitter tips to point the way.

Applebees

2010-12-19T23:29:00.000+08:00

Cocktails and dessert with whipped cream. Just what I need before going back to work tomorrow.

Squash Flower

2010-12-18T01:11:00.001+08:00

I only have 1 variety growing mainly because we didn't water the plants while away on vacation. It's a squash. Quite a crawler, it has ran amok on top of other plants and I had to coil it around the rail. Now it has 3 flowers that I am contemplating plucking to stuff with ricotto and deep-fry. Which is quite a delicacy... very modern Aussie or Italian. I don't know what the neighbours will say once fruit starts to grow, I just hope it doesn't fall onto passer-bys below.

White Truffle Dinner

2010-12-17T19:46:00.000+08:00

I love having long dinners in place of clubbing these days.

Lots of white truffle in my wild mushroom risotto. It's the season, near Christmas and my boss just told me I am changing my contract =)

And a fleur de lys dessert... seriously.

Parma Ham

2010-12-16T22:27:00.000+08:00

Food tasting before deciding what we're making for Christmas and New Year's. Parma ham is the best prosciutto available on the market. How will the salty, porky flavour sit with the family?

Google Adwords - Thank You Video

2010-12-15T19:01:00.002+08:00

My own personalized thank you video from Google Adwords. How incredible is it!

Decorating for Christmas

2010-12-14T22:47:00.000+08:00

Today, we put up the Christmas decorations.

It's the same every year - tinsel, felt stockings, bells and wood figurines.

This year's addition are a bunch of happy skaters powered by candles.

My Santa matryoshka dolls.

And the same wreath that gets re-decorated every year.

Winston the Penguin Purse

2010-12-13T22:55:00.000+08:00

How cute is this little critter? I have a real weakness for 3D animal shape pouches, so it took me all of 5 seconds to buy this, especially since it was on sale.

Elizabeth Arden Perfume Candle

2010-12-12T13:14:00.000+08:00

The first perfumed candle of the season. Scent is Elizabeth Arden's Red Door.

Lucky Draw

2010-12-11T22:15:00.000+08:00

Christmas block party. Lucky draw prizes and lots of fried finger food.

Christmas Presents - Wrapped!

2010-12-10T20:31:00.000+08:00

To make wrapping presents easier this year, I bought more bags to put them in...zip it, slap a bow on and it's wrapped!

Chinese Name Necklace

2010-12-09T19:16:00.001+08:00

Early Christmas present from my mom! We all remember the name necklace popularized by Carrie Bradshaw almost a decade ago. I was actually looking at a new necklace with my name in Arabic. But, my mom got me this one with chinese characters instead.

Christmas Cake

2010-12-08T20:44:00.000+08:00

Gold dusted chocolate fudge cake. You didn't know Spinelli's would have this during the Christmas season did you?

Christmas Cookies

2010-12-07T19:53:00.000+08:00

First batch of christmas cookies courtesy of the mall next door. Taste like Famous Amos double chocolate.

Starbucks Xmas Ornament

2010-12-06T19:31:00.000+08:00

It's a mini fruppucino charm, soo cute! Oh yea, and they have candy cane straws you can buy too.

Gmask & Swarovski Crystals

2010-12-05T11:23:00.000+08:00

The magic of Gmask and Swarovski crystals. I got my new mobile covered in irridescent crystals and my initials monogrammed onto the back...finally!

Being the only provider of such services in Singapore, their customer relations is excellent and exceeds expectations. Probably because such requests are not common, their staff could do with more practice to improve the workmanship. So to set expectations right, as long as it's within the ballpark it should be ok.

I wanted the shimmer of night lights and got it! Money well spent, my Christmas 2010 gift to myself.

Gift Idea 3

2010-12-04T23:38:00.002+08:00

Dayna Decker's Essence Body Cleanser and Buffer. A range of complex perfumed yet effective, lather-rich cleanser created from natural botanicals. The perfect Christmas present for the person that has everything. I love love the wood packaging it comes in. Wood because it has natural birch bark extract, a natural antibacterial that deep cleans and purifies the skin. Also fortified with natural extracts and fruit enzymes to nourish the skin. A decadent treat for the skin at $98 per 500ml bottle.

I would recommend Sierra for guys and Indigo for girls. Not to be missed is the body buffer which exfoliates with fine natural lava crystals, $98 per 295ml bottle with the same organic wood cover.

Buy from Mandarin Gallery, 30% discount in store now.

CheChe Nutcracker

2010-12-03T22:45:00.002+08:00

My Christmas "Nutcracker" bag charm from CheChe - 30% off their christmas collection.

Manna Korean Restaurant

2010-12-02T22:51:00.000+08:00

My current obsession with Korean food. I have to have lots of kimchi followed by noodle soup. Manna restaurant has a cold noodle dish of beef broth and noodles with a bowl of shaved ice dunked in to ensure it's sub-zero while you are slurping it up.

Beschle Chocolatier Suisse

2010-12-01T20:57:00.000+08:00

Beschle Chocolatier at Mandarin Gallery. I love chocolates and had to try this place for the marnier/grand cru choc bars that they recommend we melt in hot milk to make hot chocolate and a copy of their Christmas Advent Calendar. I am already counting down to Christmas!

Hello Dolly Toolkits

2010-11-30T22:34:00.004+08:00

Obviously, this is one for the girls. No one will dare use your pink hammer or shovel. I even received more vouchers with my discounted purchases, courtesy of Reebonz.

Unveiling the surprise, these matte black + shiny pink boxes carried silicon handle, brushed alum tools in the sweetest shade of pink.

It's good to know now I have an entirely co-ordinated set of gloves, 30 piece toolkit and gardening equipment to fall back on.

Buy from http://www.glamourpuss.com.sg/products/Hello-Dolly.htm?gclid=CNL97JOcxqUCFcZ56wodX3_QYw or enter Her World's December issue contest to try and win 1.

Valentino Red Croc Bags

2010-11-29T23:10:00.000+08:00

Red Alert! Valentino Red Crocodile Bags on Sale! And not just any sale, it's black friday sale online bringing these haute couture bags as close to affordable as you can possibly wish from USD 9,035 to 5,959. I don't have a red bag yet and these are just plain gorgeous.

Buy from http://www.modnique.com/bzJApp/SalesEventDisplay.action?saleId=1009&sid=300&tid=100. Sale ends this coming Friday.

HK Disneyland Chocs

2010-11-28T12:24:00.001+08:00

Souvenier from HongKong Disneyland from my brother and nephews. Tastes like Ferrero Rocher.

NRIC Collection

2010-11-27T14:07:00.000+08:00

I collected my new NRIC today, so the picture actually looks like me now and not at 11 years old. Can you believe the records show my highest education as primary school up til now!

Bodum Pavina Glasses

2010-11-26T22:35:00.002+08:00

I was ordering the Christmas Turkey and Ham from Cold Storage when the cashier offered me Bodum's double wall glasses as purchase with purchase. I didn't need much more convincing to cart home as many as I was allowed to buy.

As a keen follower of good design, I have been eyeing Bodum's Pavina range of double wall glasses since launch day. Pavina is much lighter and tougher than ordinary glass. Designed to keep the cold or hot in and your hands at room temperature through it's double wall design. The silicon covered hole underneath allows for self moderation during sudden temperature fluctuations, so it can moonlight as cookware. Microwave and dishwasher friendly means low maintainence. Do you really need more reasons?

I intend to use the little ones for tea or sauces, mid-sized ones for daily drinking or soup and large ones for cocktails and beer.

Gift Idea 2

2010-11-25T21:26:00.002+08:00

I love these Swarovski crystal pens from Austria. The colours come out seasonally so I got one in every colour I could find. The pink one's for breast cancer awareness. Each under $50 too!

Brother-in-law's Birthday

2010-11-24T21:13:00.000+08:00

Mango Mousse cake on Kim Hock's birthday.

Broken Nail

2010-11-23T21:06:00.001+08:00

My nail snapped into 2 and started bleeding as I was shoving christmas presents into carriers. So I had to put a band-aid around it. My favourite brand is Nexcare's waterproof tattoo cartoon print bandages made by 3M.

Nasi Lemak

2010-11-22T22:21:00.001+08:00

That's right, Malay for delicious rice. Sometimes in the morning you feel like you could eat an entire cow, tuck into a packet of nasi lemak. Only 80 cents and beautifully wrapped in a banana leaf just like the good old days.

Mobile Lines

2010-11-21T10:23:00.001+08:00

All my friends probably know this story of my mobile lines by now.

I bought a new phone and a new mobile line last Sunday from Singtel Hello shop because for some reason, my last mobile which was purchased under a corporate plan, was registered in my previous company's name. So I had to apply concurrently for the line to be transferred to my name before I can cancel it.

This new line was great, until Monday when I started receiving notifications of subscriptions etc. When I called Singtel, they told me the line was still registered under some male stranger's name. It's probably the previous owner of the line and will take 3-5 working days to get registered under my name.

Since I can't use my new mobile phone and line now, I sent it to Gmask for a makeover (another story I will post on later).

Then my backup phone battery died on me and I realized I couldn't find my charger anywhere. I dialled my sis in horror to check if she had a charger I could borrow as we keep similar makes of Samsung mobile phones as backup. She didn't. Where did all the chargers go?

We dialled SOS to our dad (a former Singtel engineer) to get us a charger. Which he did after much sorting and searching. And I managed to charge my phone, juggling 2 phone lines.

And I finally got to download these 30th birthday cake pictures onto my computer.

My Christmas Wish List

2010-11-20T11:45:00.005+08:00

Hermes Birkin Bag... $15,000

My initials in diamonds... $1,500

Matching hangers for my entire wardrobe (approximately 350 pieces)? Preferably in pink or white faux pearls... $700 including shipping

Risis 24K gold-plated chopsticks with carp rests... $638

OSIM uSqueeze leg massager... $588

1 year subscription to National Geographic... $57 including delivery.

Electric Salt Grinder. I like the transparent ones so you can see if it's salt, pepper or something else. Electric so you don't have to use 2 hands and newer versions allow you to adjust the desired size of salt granules produced. Please don't spend more than $50.

Automatic wine opener coz I really can't open wine bottles... $50

World's largest gummy bear in red cherry flavour, thanks... $45

To lose 30 kilos overnight... priceless

GMASK

2010-11-19T09:54:00.003+08:00

I have been meaning to do this for a while. So when I saw the Reebonz City offer to hot wrap my phone, I decided to give my battered backup mobile a makeover with a yakuza tattoo skin and swarovski crystals.

The new skin is wrapped around my phone twice to ensure the vivid colours of the print come through. Then the swarovski crystals are glued on. A piece of tape goes over the crystals to protect them while they dry. That's me peeling off the bandages the next morning.

I really like the end result, should have done this sooner. Thinking of sending my new mobile for a makeover as well.

Spinelli Cake

2010-11-18T18:55:00.001+08:00

I dropped by Spinelli's for coffee and they gave me a free slice of cake since it's my birthday month =)

Grandparents' Death Anniverary

2010-11-17T21:11:00.000+08:00

Maternal Grandparents' death anniversary. My aunts and uncles gather for a meal together on this day, a sort of time-honored family tradition. Sweet potato porridge with a mix of preserved and freshly prepared dishes.

McDonald's Monopoly

2010-11-16T22:47:00.000+08:00

The longest running game of monopoly you will ever play. Each extra value meal at McDonald's gives you 2 stickers (monopoly property). Collect a full set and exchange for prizes like $80,000 cash or a $25,000 trip to Vegas for 4. Have Fun!

* jingle bells *

2010-11-15T22:17:00.000+08:00

" deck the hall with boughs of holly "

Nokia N8

2010-11-14T16:54:00.001+08:00

My new mobile phone: 12 megapixel camera, free TV after 6pm and unlimited music downloads.

Giveaway Winner

2010-11-13T22:21:00.001+08:00

Since it's my big 30 birthday, I am giving away a Rose Quartz Necklace in 14k goldfill to all my followers! contact me with your address so I can mail it to you.