Shopping Queen's Haven

Valentine's Day

2012-02-17T09:00:00.002+08:00

How was your Valentine's Day? We had a simple Valentine's Day dinner at Sydney Harbour, in a thai restaurant called Sailors Thai.

I was pleased that the quality of the food here far surpasses that of Singapore's (the price too), and everything is ridiculously fresh and sumptuous! We ended the night with hot chocolate and latte with the breathtaking view of the harbour. Can't wait to explore more of the city soon!

Oh and before I end, here's my outfit for Vday. ;)

Crochet peterpan collar top Lace skorts from Bangkok Prada bag

Hello from Sydney

2012-02-16T15:29:00.003+08:00

Hello from Sydney! We've been here a couple of days now and we're so thankful that we've relatives here to take care of us while we settle our accommodation. My uncle and his family have been very hospitable and helpful. In fact, we're currently residing at his house as we've yet to clean up our own place.

My aunt, who lives downtown, showed us around town yesterday. Her effervescent personality is so infectious and she's such a warm lady it's hard not to feel at ease around her. Did I mention she has a spectacular view from her balcony too? So super gorgeous!

More pictures soon, I promise!

Climbing in KL (Not me)

2012-02-13T09:00:00.000+08:00

Climbing is JW's favourite sport of all time, and he often makes trips to KL just to climb at this state-of-the-art climbing gym. I usually just tag along so that I can have my A&W curly fries and root beer float. Yes, I am that easily contented. All I need is food.

While he's on the wall, I'm either on the floor observing his every move till I fall asleep or walking around the mall. Otherwise, when our trips coincide with Karen's, I'll excuse myself from the gym and head over to her place. :P

I attended Karen's housewarming in KL recently (you'll see pics when I get them), and the day after, I met a new friend named Charlotte. Isn't she adorable? She kept chatting with me and when her dad came to check on her, she asked him to say hi to her new friends (aka JW and I). Is she cute or what? ;)

House@Dempsey with Jun

2012-02-12T09:00:00.001+08:00

These couple of weeks just whizzed past me in a blink of an eye as I've been busy packing, tying up loose ends for various responsibilities and catching up with friends and family before leaving Singapore. I'll be putting up photos of most of the meet-ups soon!

I love the ambiance and food at House@Dempsey so much, I actually patronized the restaurant 2 days in a row. I was just there for the much raved about High Tea Buffet the day before I met Jun for lunch. It's a great place for chilling out on weekdays especially.

Poor Jun is always busy at work and she has been nursing a bad cough for about 2 weeks! Yitian couldn't come as she was already in India by then, but we caught up over sushi before she left.

I'll miss you girls! But, the good news is, I'll be back before you know it. ;)

Here's what I wore that day:

Black tassel dress from City Plaza
Neon yellow bow belt from Platinum Mall, Bangkok
Ruffles polka dot socks from Hong Kong
Suede pumps from Salvatore Ferragamo
Gold hobo from Gucci

Heading Down Under

2012-02-10T10:00:00.000+08:00

I'll be heading down under this weekend and shuttling between Aussie and Singapore for the rest of the year. It probably requires some adjustment but I'm excited by all the new adventures that await me, both on the family and career front.

I'll still be updating my blog regularly, but please bear with me for the next couple of days cos I'll be really busy settling down. ;)

Meanwhile, have a great weekend everyone!

Heroes' Square

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000+08:00

One of the most iconic landmarks in Budapest is Heroes' Square, where you will find statues of the founders of Hungary. The most outstanding pillar of them all is the Millenial Monument. This towering pillar was built to commemorate Hungary's 1000th year of establishment.

If you're interested in art, you can visit the Museum of Fine Art and Palace of Art, located to the right of Heroes' Square. We decided to chill out at a nearby cafe that was decorated in the Art Noveau style. The quaint cafe took our breath away, and the cool weather was just perfect for a cuppa coffee.

The view of Heroes' Square is even more magnificent at night. The glistening lights and glowing statues are a sight to behold. Absolutely gorgeous!

Budapest: House of Terror

2012-02-07T10:00:00.001+08:00

The House of Terror is a popular museum in Budapest which we stumbled upon while strolling along Andrassy Ut, the most iconic street in town. Contrary to our initial thoughts, this museum does not display instruments of torture. Instead, there are exhibits from the fascist and communist regimes, including detailed real-life accounts of prisoners and victims presented through video interviews and photographs.

It also gives you insights into secret communication devices hidden behind bookshelves as well as the actual prison cells where prisoners were detained and tortured. The prison cells at the basement were particularly creepy as you could still hear water dripping in the background and some cells were pitch dark. It literally sent chills down my spine.

Nonetheless, JW and I found the experience thrilling and interesting as it gave us a better understanding of Hungary's struggles and how it eventually broke free from the reins of the Nazis and the Soviet Union.

If you want to learn about the country's history, this is one museum you wouldn't want to miss!

Kimono Love by Amelie Anne

2012-02-06T11:00:00.000+08:00

I was so captivated by this stylish number by Amelie Anne, I actually have them in 2 colours! I wore the vibrant Raspberry Pink one to Alvin and Eli's home before stopping by Punggol Waterfront for a little walk.

I like that Amelie-Anne's dresses are usually made of a special rayon/spandex blend, which is very comfortable next to your skin. With Amelie Anne, comfort and workmanship always come hand in hand, at a pocket-friendly price to boot.

This darling is so wearable and easy to style, you can just throw on a bold statement necklace and a contrasting pair of heels like I did to up the glam factor!

If you prefer the sweet, girl-next-door look, perhaps the Dusk Pink version would tickle your fancy?

I wore this for lunch with the girls at Basilico and they loved it too. ;)

If you were to ask me to use 3 words to describe this dress, I would say it is simple, classy and fabulous!

Tempted to get one for yourself? Get yours from Amelie Anne now!

A Beautiful Home

2012-02-05T23:45:00.000+08:00

JW and I visited Alvin and Eli's new home at Punggol over the weekend. I had seen some pictures of their home recently and was gushing about how beautiful it looks, so I was very thrilled when they invited us over! :D

I love the bright bursts of colour against the white-washed brick wall. I was also drawn to the eclectic furniture specially handpicked by the owners of the house. Every single piece of furniture and ornament is a conversation starter.

The abundance of natural light also lends a sense of warmth and coziness to the house. Oh and check out those lovely hydrangeas and the tiered English cake-stand! Even the cups match the overall interior design.

I love to admire gorgeous decorative items and ornaments, but whenever I get tempted to purchase them, I get stopped by my husband! :(

It was a feast not just for our eyes, but for our stomachs too. We were treated to a tasty meal of laksa, scallops and apple crumble (with earl grey ice-cream from Udders) for lunch, all of which were single-handedly prepared by Eli. She can probably take on a second career as a chef or an interior designer, having seen how well she has done in both areas!

Thanks for inviting us over to your lovely home!

Journey to Budapest

2012-02-02T01:06:00.003+08:00

Budapest was the last stop of our Europe trip in 2011. The capital of Hungary is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and is home to numerous World Heritage sites including Heroes' Square, Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. You'll see more pictures of these lovely attractions in my later posts.

Did you know that Budapest was initially made up of 2 cities, named Buda and Pest? These 2 cities were then united in 1873 to form Budapest. Buda is where the castle quarter resides while Pest is where the city is.

What I especially like about Budapest is its picturesque scenery, be it night or day. In the day, the sun rays light up the entire city, highlighting the beauty of nature, the danube river and the city's magnificent architecture.

By night, the city comes to life in a different way, gleaming under the moonlight like precious jewels. It almost feels like you're in Disneyland.

Magical.

Dinner with the girls

2012-01-31T01:44:00.001+08:00

I'll be leaving for Sydney next week, hence I've been busy trying to catch up with friends, especially girlfriends. One evening, Yitian, Jun, Karen and I decided to meet at Dempsey for dinner. As Jun and Karen were caught up with work, Yitian and I had early dinner at Don Quijote. We were both famished!

We had paella, tapas and sangria, which are so distinctively Spanish. These reminded me of my recent holiday in Spain, where I had the most delicious paella in Rodellar. I also have a penchant for sangria. In fact, if moscato didn't exist, sangria would probably be my favourite alcoholic drink.

We then adjourned to Ben & Jerry's to continue waiting for the girls to arrive. That was when we succumbed to temptation. We ordered a huge platter of desserts to satisfy our sweet tooth. The presentation alone was so enticing, we absolutely could not resist.

After what seemed like an eternity, the girls came along and we chatted for a long time before calling it a night.

I've never mentioned this before, but I was inspired to share my views on friendship after some recent revelations. I draw very clear lines between work, friends and family. At work, I'm very demanding and I admit I may not be the most patient person to work with due to my expectations.

With friends, I'm more patient as all I expect is a listening ear and companionship, nothing more. In general, I don't like to trouble my friends for help as the last thing I want to do is to cause any inconvenience. Sometimes, mixing friendship with work is a sure recipe for disaster because everyone has different working styles and you may not realize that a friend's working style is vastly different from yours until it comes to the crunch, and this inevitably strains the relationship.

I try to show compassion, respect and consideration, and will reciprocate if someone does so as well. But if I feel someone has taken me for granted without showing me consideration, I get upset. Then again, I don't get upset for long as those close to me would know I never do bear grudges.

Of course, strangers and acquaintances are entitled to their own opinions of what sort of person I am, but I don't care about their impressions because we either don't know each other very well, or at all, and I don't see the need to explain myself to people who do not matter. :) Time is such a precious commodity that the only way to make good use of it is to spend it with people who matter, understand, and reciprocate. These are people who will stand by you, always.

There are a few other close friends whom you don't see on my blog at all for privacy reasons or simply because we always get so engrossed in conversations we forget to take pictures, but I'm sure you know who you are! :)

On a lighter note, I'm ending this post with my outfit for that evening. Everything was from my recent Bangkok trip, except for my socks (from Daiso) and heels (from a random neighbourhood shop).

I've a number of gatherings this week and I'll be meeting more girlfriends as well as my beloved god-daughter this weekend! I'm so looking forward to all the meet-ups!

Tongue In Chic Feature: Looks We Love in Singapore

2012-01-30T17:30:00.004+08:00

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that another one of my outfit looks was featured in Tongue In Chic recently. Thank you Shantee!

I've been wearing my hair in a bun for some time now because it's the easiest and fastest way to look neat and presentable. I'm going to let you in on one of my secrets here...as my hair is still rather short, I've been using a bun hairpiece from http://girlhairdo.com to make my bun fluffier. Not only is it fuss-free and simple to use, it matches my hair very well and looks completely natural! :)

Amelie Anne: Alexa Rosette Dress

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000+08:00

Rosettes and pink make such a girly, flirty combination, it's hard to say no to a dress like the Alexa Rosette Dress from Amelie Anne!

I got mine in Persimmon Coral, which is a lovely shade of reddish pink that's perfect for adding that pop of colour to your wardrobe. Cinch that waist with the accompanying sash or substitute it with your own belt for a change and there, you're ready for a cozy tete-a-tete with your girlfriends!

I used my own sash here to create a different look, just to show you how easy it is to add variation to your wardrobe with a classic design. ;)

This breezy little number is also fabulous for summer and the cheery colour is sure to brighten up anyone's day, don't you agree? :)

Head on down to Amelie Anne to get one for yourself now!

CNY Visiting

2012-01-26T02:52:00.000+08:00

Every Chinese New Year, we'll make it a point to visit my parents first before heading to my paternal grandmother's place, where all my relatives would gather. I never used to like Chinese New Year, but this year, I feel different, probably because we'll be away from family for an extended period of time and my two grandmothers are getting frailer day by day.

Sometimes, we never do treasure what we have till we are this close to losing the people dearest to us. Likewise, absence does make the heart grow fonder.

On a more cheerful note, it struck me that although my parents are close to retirement, they totally do not look their age at all. What's more amazing is that they've never dyed their hair ever!

I was really amused by this shot of my mum and my brother! They were both wondering what I was doing with the camera when I took this candid shot of them. :P

I also had lots of fun playing with my favourite cousin, Shuya, who just turned 5 a couple of days back. She's such an independent and intelligent little darling!

When my dad asked her to collect her red packet from my grandma, she exclaimed that she already did earlier on. She then hurried to her little handbag, opened it up and presented the red packet that my grandma gave her earlier that morning. It's incredible how she even remembered what the red packet looked like given that her handbag was brimming with red packets!

This shot was taken when her hairband fell to the floor while we were chatting and I tried to put it on for her. For some reason, it looks like I'm crowning her as a pageant queen or a princess. LOL.

Oh, please pardon my messy hair.

Through our conversation, I found out that her favourite drink, in her own words, is the "yellow flower drink". Everyone was bewildered and I was the only one who guessed that it was chrysanthemum tea. So cute right?

My mum then immediately concluded that I am good with children and hence, I should start a family soon.

*Awkward silence*

Erm, ok let's move on...

The afternoon was spent at JW's 2nd aunt's home, where his family gathered. We were treated to a delicious feast comprising lotus root soup, fried chicken wings, ngor hiang, abalone and other wonderful delicacies whipped up by the mistress of the house. I love my MIL's dress, which was a birthday gift from my SIL. She looks remarkably sweet and young!

Outfit shots with my SIL. I love the flattering cut of her dress. :)

Finally, here are my individual outfit shots.

Dress from Yuan, Far East Plaza
Hairband from Mustafa (a steal at just $4!!)
Transparent heels from Angel, Far East Plaza

CNY Outfit for Reunion Dinner with In-laws

2012-01-25T04:19:00.001+08:00

How did all of you celebrate CNY? Lunar New Year is an important traditional holiday for those of us who are of Chinese descent. One of our traditions is to gather with our families for reunion dinner and enjoy a heart-warming, sumptuous meal. On CNY eve this year, my in-laws and I had our reunion dinner at Soup Restaurant, and here's what I wore that day. :)

大家是如何度过新年的呢？农历新年是我们中华民族的传统佳节。和家人围坐一桌，温馨享用团圆饭，是我们的传统习俗之一。今年除夕，我和我家翁家婆一起到三盅两件（Soup Restaurant）吃团圆饭，共度佳节。话不多说，这就是我当天所穿的连衣裙。

Yellow Sequin Silk Dress from Siam Square, Bangkok
Korean heels from Angel, Far East Plaza

**Trying to practise my extremely rusty Mandarin here! :)

The 1920s Flapper Look, inspired by The Great Gatsby

2012-01-22T15:25:00.002+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! Although tonight's the actual night for reunion dinner, I already had 2 lou heis before this. Here's what I wore for reunion dinner and lou hei with my family yesterday.

Sequin vest from Siam Square, Bangkok
Beaded dress from Siam Square, Bangkok
Korean floral heels from Angel, Far East Plaza
Bag from Dip Drops
Earrings from Chanel
Beaded bow hairband from my mummy!

This year, my outfits are mostly inspired by The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. There's a movie coming out later this year too and I'm very much looking forward to it.

I also had my nails done by Clara at her apartment. I've never seen a nailist as talented as Clara but she's now based in Melbourne so I can only do my nails when she's back for CNY! The design complements my dress perfectly, don't you think?

In case you were wondering, yes, these are my natural nails.

Clara did my CNY nails last year as well, and her final masterpiece was featured in Nylon Magazine!

Before I end off, I would like to share with you some of my inspirations for my 1920s flapper look:

Official image for "The Great Gatsby" movie

Australia's Next Top Model 1920s shoot

Marion in "Midnight in Paris", one of my favourite movies to date

Alberta Ferretti's Pre-fall 2012 Collection

Here's wishing all of you health, prosperity and happiness this Chinese New Year! Enjoy the CNY festivities and have a blast!

My Favourite Accessories & Shoes

2012-01-21T04:16:00.002+08:00

Here are some of my current favourites!

The box that you're seeing here is my new accessory box, painted and decorated by Yitian and myself! Our friends don't think very much of it, but what matters is that it is beautiful in our eyes. :P

Aren't the rings cute? You can get both of them from Accessorize. I always have trouble finding rings that fit my tiny fingers, but the rings from Accessorize come in size XS and they fit me perfectly!

This pair of shoes looks like something that Carrie Bradshaw would wear. I love how it is dramatic, yet feminine, and beautiful, yet outrageous.

These are from a Korean shop called Angel at Far East Plaza, near the escalator on level 3, which is the same shop that I got all my transparent heels from. The transparent heels are superbly comfortable and so versatile, they can match practically everything in your wardrobe.

Now, which of these is your favourite? :)

Amelie Anne: Caitlin Dress

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000+08:00

Amelie Anne is one of my favourite online shops because they manufacture quality, wearable pieces that can easily take you from day to night. The elegant, timeless designs ensure that you will never go out of style.

Take the Caitlin Dress (mine's in Midnight Blue) for instance. Its minimalist design represents the acme of sophistication. The dress is made of a rayon/spandex blend, which feels silky smooth and very comfortable to the skin. Absolutely luxurious.

I dressed up the look by putting on an elaborate hairpiece, but otherwise, a long necklace could be the perfect accessory too.

One interesting aspect about this understated beauty is the back design. The strings can be tied to form a unique triangular cut-out behind. This accentuates your shoulders and is great for evening functions.

Alternatively, you could tie both strings together for a girly, casual look that's fabulous for afternoon tea and a spot of shopping with your girlfriends.

Amelie Anne's Caitlin Dress comes in 4 beautiful shades ranging from muted earthy tones to bright vermilion or yellow and the quintessential midnight blue. Head on down and take your pick now!

A Walk Down Haji Lane

2012-01-18T04:15:00.001+08:00

Haji Lane is one of my favourite haunts in Singapore.

Like Tiong Bahru, Haji Lane has a lot of character. I like to think of it as the more commercialized sister of Tiong Bahru because hoards of tourists and photography enthusiasts visit this street every weekend.

If you take a closer look at Haji Lane, you'll notice that the shophouses of yesteryear emanate a beautiful old world charm that blends in seamlessly with modern additions such as brightly coloured gates, graffiti, eclectic fashion shops and hip indie cafes.

One of my favourite cafes is Pluck. Pluck also retails a treasure trove of unique ornaments, apparel, accessories, crockery and all things beautiful.

I'm addicted to ice-cream waffle at Pluck. It's always sold out on weekends though, so do try to get there early.

They ran out of waffles the last time I went, so we settled for the ice-cream sandwich instead. It's basically ice-cream sandwiched between 2 chocolate biscuits. Tastes yummy but I still prefer my waffles!

Besides Pluck, Soon Lee is a shop that I frequent, mainly to admire interesting pieces from Asian designers. I was so drawn to a pink tulle skirt I saw recently, but they were only left with L size. :(

Still rummaging through the rack in search of the elusive size S skirt. ;P

Soon Lee stocks gorgeous accessories, bags and the most precious books too. I spotted quite a number of English and American classics which will not only be great reads but will also look magnificent on anyone's bookshelf.

Now, who said Singapore was boring? Sometimes, we only have to look around us to discover beauty in our daily lives. :)

Year-end Feasting and Gatherings

2012-01-17T09:00:00.002+08:00

The girls and I met up for late lunch at Greenwood Fish Market on a lazy Tuesday. Every Tuesday is oyster day at Greenwood Fish Market and with every main course, you'll get to enjoy oysters at $1 each.

Look at how happy Yitian was! Yitian loves oysters so both of us gobbled up a dozen of them while waiting for Jun to arrive. Such gluttons we were. :P

The fish mains are pretty good too. Servings are huge and the marinade is generally very flavourful. Yums!

For some strange reason, one of the waiters there thought that we were air stewardesses. Then, he kept asking if I was of Chinese descent before hazarding a guess that I was a Malay. LOL The last time I was mistaken for a Malay was in secondary school when I had really tanned skin from too much outdoor activities. What a hilarious and bizarre encounter!

That aside, I'll probably still patronize the restaurant for its chillax ambience and delicious seafood. There're several cafes in the vicinity where you can grab a cuppa coffee after lunch and relax as you people watch too!

Address:
No. 34 and 38 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 289236
Tel: 6467 4950

After tea, I headed over to Nex mall with JW to meet up with our JC friends. We had so much fun reminiscing about our RJ days, including how we angered many teachers such as our Maths teacher who would throw chalk at us whenever we dozed off in class. I was the Maths rep, but instead of collecting assignments, I was usually busy handing out completed assignments for the rest to copy. Oh well, we were wayward teens, but we all turned out fine eventually, didn't we?

As we were at the counter footing the bill, I noticed, to my utmost horror, that one of my JC friends had all 10 toes painted in different colours.

Ok that was not the most horrific part. The most mortifying part was......

This friend is a guy (3rd from the right in the group pic).

He claimed to have followed a group of friends to a nail salon and was subsequently persuaded to have his nails done too. As he figured this would probably be his first and last time at the nail salon, he decided to test out a myriad of colours. It's funny how there appears to be some logic in his crappy explanation.

Oh...and check out those nude pink slippers.

He insisted they're beige but hello.....

ClubCouture's Premium Range for Chinese New Year

2012-01-16T09:00:00.004+08:00

ClubCouture has just unveiled a new collection of premium designs, so if you're still scouting around for the perfect outfit this Chinese New Year, be sure to check them out!

The premium range is an exclusive collection of luxurious apparel with unparalleled workmanship and design. It is the epitome of class, sophistication and style.

If you're looking for work wear, here are a couple of choice pieces that you could consider, including:

1) layered dress in cream (leftmost),
2) sleeveless red colourblock dress (middle) and
3) grey peplum sheath (rightmost)

These flattering and versatile styles are absolutely perfect for the modern career woman. The feminine details and structured silhouettes lend an air of professionalism without compromising on elegance and grace.

For dinners and functions, I usually prefer sweeter, form-fitting designs such as these:

1) sweetheart bow dress (leftmost)
2) one shoulder pleated maxi dress (middle)
3) one shoulder banded bodycon (rightmost)

These stylish dresses are my definition of show-stopping. Anyone can instantly transform into the sweet girl-next-door, the sexy siren or the sophisticated city chick with these alluring dresses. Looking effortlessly chic has never been easier.

For a limited time only, ClubCouture is offering free next day delivery for all Singapore orders so all you ladies can get your CNY dresses in time. ;)

Check out ClubCouture's Premium collection for the full range of designs now!

Through the Looking Glass

2012-01-15T02:04:00.002+08:00

One fine day, I decided to throw on my geek spectacles just for a change. If you haven't already realized, this outfit post is vastly different from the feminine ensembles that I usually put up. Sometimes I get bored of my dainty floral clothes and decide to go for a style that is totally not me, just for the kick of it.

Do I look like a school principal to you? Or erm... a grandma maybe? Haha.

Detachable collar from Bugis Village
Top and shorts from FEP
Bag from Dip Drops

Office Christmas Party & Melben

2012-01-14T09:00:00.001+08:00

I visited my ex-colleagues during their annual Christmas party last year! It was great catching up with them and we were so engrossed in our conversations that by the time we remembered to take photos, the office was almost empty! Speaking of which, it's almost time for our next gathering! This time, I'll remember to keep my camera handy at all times.

After that, I met my friends, Shihui, Yitian and Jun for dinner at our favourite seafood joint, Melben! If you haven't tried the butter crab at Melben, please do yourself a favour and join in the queue one of these days ok? Besides the crab, the signature toufu is also extremely yummy! It literally melts in your mouth.

My first meal at Melben 2 years ago was a life-changing experience. I assure you there'll be no turning back after your first time!

Ristorante Da Valentino

2012-01-13T07:00:00.002+08:00

I've always wanted to try out Ristorante Da Valentino after hearing all the rave reviews, so my sweet hubby surprised me with a dinner reservation on our wedding anniversary!

Situated along Jalan Bingka, the quaint little restaurant has long received accolades for its delectable Italian fare. We may live just a stone's throw away, but securing a reservation is no mean feat.

I love the decor of the restaurant. The classic European decor and warm, friendly service put us at ease immediately and made us feel right at home. It reminded me of our Europe trips over the past 3 years where we'll just chill out at cozy cafes and indulge in a cup of hot chocolate.

First up was fried mozzarella cheese with parma ham. It is slightly crispy on the outside but oozing with tender, cheesy goodness on the inside. To say that this dish is delicious is a major understatement!

For mains, I had the famous squid ink pasta with crab meat in tomata sauce. I was enamoured with the generous serving of succulent crab meat because I love crabs!

The squid ink pasta is infused with a creamy tomato sauce that binds all the different ingredients together to create a gastronomic explosion of flavours in your mouth. I can't wait to devour it again!

JW went for the fish instead, which is relatively good, but definitely not as delish as the pasta. I gave him a tiny morsel of my dish and he immediately regretted his choice. :P

The restaurant also offers a wide variety of desserts which are presented to you in a glass-encased trolley. The affable server recommended the chocolate crumble and creme brulee, so we decided to go with his recommendations. These are pretty yummy!

I've been raving about this restaurant to all my gfs and we'll probably head back to try out the other pasta dishes and pizzas too! Can't wait!

Address:
11 Jalan Bingka
Tel: 6462 0555

Eternity Loft: Chinese New Year Collection

2012-01-12T07:00:00.001+08:00

Are you all ready for Chinese New Year yet? ;) Spring cleaning aside, I'm sure all you ladies out there are on the lookout for the perfect outfits as well!

To help you along, I'm going to share with you some of my personal picks from Eternity Loft's latest collection. These beautiful dresses come in vibrant colours and unique designs that will definitely blow your mind away.

On the top of my list is the Regine Tiered Dress. This alluring feminine number is my absolute favourite. The cascading chiffon tiers are bound to set anyone's hearts aflutter.

Plus, it comes in sweet pastel shades to add to the demure factor. For those of you who prefer something bold and edgy, the electric blue version will do the job too!

My next favourite has got to be the Jennifer Buttoned Dress! I have always been a fan of peter pan collars because they soften the overall presentation of an outfit, bringing out the feminine grace and poise that every lady should possess.

I particularly adore the Marine and Tanzanite shades (as shown above). Spice up your wardrobe with these playful, fashion forward colours which add a cheerful vibe that is perfect for the upcoming Chinese New Year!

The subtler Puce and Slate Blue hues (shown below) are incredibly versatile without compromising on elegance. Not only are they suitable for the festive season, they can easily transform into work wear with a change of accessories and hairdo.

If you're looking for a dress with some oriental elements (since it's Chinese New Year afterall), I'm sure you'll love the Keira High Collar Dress!

The charming skater dress comes with a high collar that is reminiscent of the traditional Cheongsum and is great for accentuating a slim, elegant neck and beautiful shoulders. Without a doubt, this lovely number is sophistication personified.

I am personally drawn to the Yellow Mustard and Nude Beige shades because they exude an inexplicable air of quiet confidence.

However, if you're looking to add a dash of colour to your wardrobe and join in the festive cheer, the Red and Blue shades are splendid choices!

Be sure to check out Eternity Loft and pamper yourself this Chinese New Year!

Glitter Parade

2012-01-09T15:38:00.002+08:00

Christmas may be over, but that isn't stopping me from adding glitter and neon brights in my outfits. I just collected my new booties and was in a hurry to put them on. That's when I figured the easiest way to make them stand out is to dress in one colour from top to toe.

This style is a little edgier than what I'm used to, but girly elements have been retained nevertheless. Bows, lace and an A-line cut top are just some of them. Hope you like it!

Tweed glitter top

Crochet lace shorts from Bangkok

Clutch from Pleats Please by Issey Miyake

Close-up of my bow booties. Overdose of bows and cuteness!

Monday's coming to an end, so I'm gonna grab myself a coke (my holy grail!) to reward myself! Have a great week ahead!

Closet Matterz: Poppy Orient Cheongsum

2012-01-07T23:10:00.007+08:00

If you haven't already realized, Chinese New Year is just around the corner! A new year marks a new beginning, and in line with Chinese tradition, it is always important to start the new year with new clothes.

If you're on the lookout for modern cheongsums this Chinese New Year, look no further with the Poppy Orient Cheongsum from Closet Matterz!

The Poppy Orient Cheongsum is manufactured with the modern, cosmopolitan lady in mind. Instead of the figure-hugging run of the mill cheongsums, Closet Matterz decided to incorporate a pleated skirt with a classic cheongsum collar so that you can wear this gorgeous dress even after Chinese New Year.

The best part is, it comes in a multitude of colours, including White/Mint, White/Orange, Pink/Sand and Yellow/Navy. Bright colours are known to bring good fortune, so there's every reason to get yourself a Poppy Orient Cheongsum in one of these cheery hues. It is so versatile and stylish, you can wear it to work or functions too!

In this post, I'm wearing the Poppy Orient Cheongsum in the White/Orange combination. The dress comes with a detachable navy sash which adds a beautiful contrast to the vibrant orange hue. The flared pleated skirt is made of shantung material and is extremely comfortable.

My favourite part of the dress is the embossed floral bodice which is made of quality Hampton fabric. It adds structure as well as a touch of femininity and elegance to the dress without veering away from the key characteristics that every cheongsum should possess.

Here's a close-up of the top. Gorgeous, isn't it?

Head on down to Closet Matterz to bag this beautiful gem for Chinese New Year!

Davina and Dalen's Wedding

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000+08:00

It was such a delight attending Davina's wedding because all of us have been hearing so much about her wedding plans, we all feel like we've a stake in it too, and it's amazing to see it unravel before our eyes. LOL.

Since I wasn't working then, I helped to source for bridal hairstyles and tutu skirts for the dance performance that the ravishing bride put up as a surprise for her hubby! Davina's ever so thoughtful and sweet to everyone around her, even more so to her loved ones. Dalen is one lucky man!

I met Veron at the hotel lobby earlier and she brought along her son, Edmund, who looked absolutely dashing in a suit! Don't you think well-dressed kids are so very adorable? :)

Edmund's one of the smartest kids I know. Which kid at the tender age of 2 (this happened 2 years back maybe?) is able to tell you that the automatic doors open and close because of a sensor? He can,and it's all thanks to his mummy's efforts! And wait for this...during the dinner, the well-mannered boy went around distributing sweets to all the guests on the table, just because he wanted to share the love. How is it possible not to love him?

I had a great time catching up with my ex-colleagues too, all of whom I miss dearly. The rest of the night was spent camwhoring as everyone was busy snapping away with my camera! I'm sure they are all eagerly waiting for me to upload the photos on facebook. I'll be doing just that in the next couple of days!

Two Days in Bratislava

2012-01-05T12:38:00.004+08:00

After visiting the Czech Republic, our next stop was Slovakia, also known as the country that the horror film, "The Hostel", was based on. We stayed on in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, for two days before moving on to Hungary.

The old town of Bratislava is one of the city's main tourist attractions. In an attempt to break away from the solemness of communism, the streets are lined with quirky statues, such as Cumil, the statue coming out of the manhole, and Napolean's soldier (top right). We spent the bulk of our time in cafes at the old town sipping hot chocolate and just immersing ourselves in the tranquility of the city.

St Martin's Cathedral was the other attraction that we visited. It is the oldest church in Bratislava and was previously the coronation church for the King of Hungary. What is interesting about this church is that it has a crypt with real human skeletons on display! If I recall correctly, the crypt was used to bury monks in the medieval times.

On our second day, we tried to brave the torrential rains and strong winds to visit Bratislava Castle and Novy Most bridge, the most famous modern landmark in Bratislava thanks to its UFO-lookalike restaurant and viewing platform. Inevitably, this resulted in a few overturned and broken umbrellas. To add on to our disappointment, Novy Most was closed due to the strong winds and even the ships along the Danube River were not in operation.

As you can see from the pictures, there was hardly anyone on the streets besides us. Everyone was hiding indoors. The winds were so strong, I had to put on my trench and wool scarf in the month of September!! In the end, we gave up our fight against the forces of nature and retreated into our favourite cafe for chocolate crepes with whipped cream.

Truth be told, there is really nothing remotely frightening about Slovakia, except for the strong winds that we experienced. If anything, it is the quietest, most peaceful city I've ever been to. The people are generally friendly and very good-looking too (especially the girls). That probably explains why we spent most of our time chilling out at cafes and people-watching. :P

Feature: Tongue in Chic

2012-01-04T09:00:00.003+08:00

Thanks to Patsy, I found out that my recent Christmas outfit was featured on Tongue in Chic recently. What a pleasant surprise!

Here's a closer look at the outfit. Many thanks to Shantee Lim for the feature!

I am so very grateful for all the support and encouragement from everyone around me. The kind words and the many ways that my efforts are being recognized play a significant role in inspiring me to improve. Thank you! ;)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T14:44:00.001+08:00

Time flies! It's a brand new year again! I usually spend my New Year's eve quietly in the comfort of my own home or in the company of my closest friends at a pub/restaurant, but on 31st Dec 2011, Karen, JW and I made a last minute decision to fly to Bangkok for a short but eventful trip! How was your New Year's celebrations?

On hindsight, 2011 was a terrible year laden with mishaps (if you've been reading this blog long enough, you would know) but on the brighter side, that has made me appreciate and treasure the little things in life even more, especially family and friends. I'm also very thankful for all the opportunities that came knocking on my door. This year, 2012, there are plans to head back to school and work. If everything works out well, I may be shuttling between 2 countries, but we'll see how it goes. ;)

Meanwhile, I'll leave you with a back to school outfit. I don't know why but there's a schoolgirl vibe about it and I thought it would be pretty apt for the content of this post.

Lace top from FEP
Floral lace skorts from Liz Lisa
Floral wedges from Liz Lisa
Pastel pink hairclip from Salvatore Ferragamo

In other news, I've only joined Lookbook 6 months ago, but I've 138 fans to date! Thank you everyone for your support! ;) I don't put up all the outfits you see on my blog on Lookbook, but I'm glad the 21 Lookbook outfits that I posted over the past 6 months made an impression. :)

Have a great year ahead everyone! May this year be better than the last!

Karen's Red Christmas Party

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000+08:00

We attended Karen's Christmas party on Christmas Day, all dressed in red! Well, at least that was what we thought the theme was, until we realized that only those who asked if there was a theme came in red! Haha.

Among the 30 guests, Jun, Yitian and I were probably the reddest of them all. Our red frocks resembled red packets used for Chinese New Year. In fact, we could probably wear these dresses again for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations next year. I'm sure our grandparents especially would be delighted by this auspicious shade of red. LOL.

It was supposed to be a potluck party, but the hostess prepared a feast single-handedly, with some assistance from two men who shall remain anonymous and mysterious in this post. There were two appetizers - a unique sour plum concoction as well as an exquisite smoked salmon and watermelon with balsamic vinegar appetizer. Everything including the sauces were made from scratch! The grilled chicken and grilled ham were so yummy! The guests also brought log cakes, shepherd's pie, curry, bacon streaks, kueh pie tee among other mouthwatering dishes.

Right after the meal, the anti-social boys went to the sofa to read and watch TV while the rest of us girls decided to camwhore.

Before long, it was time for gift exchange! Unwrapping presents is always a joy, don't you think?

Unlike some of my friends who enjoy tearing up the wrapper, I like to make sure that the whole wrapper is intact. I personally think it's a form of respect to the person who took pains to wrap up the present beautifully. My heart actually aches when I unwittingly tear a wrapper! Oh well, but that's just one of my idiosyncrasies. Haha. What about you? Are you like me too? :P

Finally, here's a preview of my presents! These are not exhaustive though...I've opened up quite a number of the other presents and they're all over my room. Thank you my dear friends (you know who you are) for all the thoughtful presents! :D

I love the month of December because there're so many festivities going on! This weekend, I'll be celebrating New Year's overseas and I'm sooo looking forward to it!

Christmas Shopping!

2011-12-28T12:00:00.001+08:00

As the old adage goes, "Christmas is all about giving". Hence, I had a field day shopping for Christmas presents for all the girls just days before Christmas! JW also came along to lend his support by carrying all the bags. :P

pink floral lace dress from Clubcouture

We dropped by some accessory shops like Green Petals but no other shop held my attention like the way Dip Drops did. Ever since I discovered Dip Drops, I've been wanting to buy down the entire shop, and I would have done just that if not for the fact that most of the clothes were way too warm for our weather. I did however end up getting almost everything that I bought for the girls for myself too, save for those items that were already out of stock. Well, to be clear, JW bought those for me as Christmas prezzies. ;)

We stopped for a quick coffee at Blue Mountain Cafe before we continued shopping. The coffee is reputed to be good, but I can't say the same for the other non-caffeinated drinks. I can't remember what soda I had but it tasted like toothpaste. :S

Being the impulsive, erm..I mean efficient shopper that I am, we managed to squeeze in time for a movie (Mission Impossible 4, which was excellent by the way) and dinner thereafter at Xin Wang Cafe. I'm usually not a fan of HK cafes, but I love the spicy minced pork porridge and the iced peach tea at Xin Wang. There're real peaches in the iced peach tea, which adds punch to the drink, but I don't eat peaches so JW and Jun always end up stealing them.

Silly me decided to try the grass jelly drink instead that day. Huge mistake. I'm staying loyal to my iced peach tea from now on.

How did your Christmas shopping go? I love all the presents that I received this year and I hope the girls liked what I got for them too!

For those of you who are still on leave, enjoy the rest of the week!

Christmas Sparkles

2011-12-25T10:46:00.003+08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

Last night, I had a quiet dinner and rose moscato with JW, but today, we're heading to Karen's place for a potluck party. Before that, Jun, Tian and I will be going to the temple to visit our friend, Reyna, who has since passed on. It's been months since it happened but everything still seems so surreal. Whatever it is, we all hope she's happy wherever she is. :)

On a happier (and vain) note, this was my Christmas eve outfit. It was raining cats and dogs so it made sense to put on my fuzzy white top with bows behind.

Top from Hong Kong
Tulle skirt from Korea
Shoes from Korea
Hair clip from Bugis Village

If you noticed, there are green sparkles all over my photos. The amazing thing is, they were not edited at all. I believe they're reflections of the christmas lights on my tree. Kinda magical isn't it?

Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.

Dale Evans Rogers

My Love for Chairs

2011-12-23T07:00:00.001+08:00

I'm probably one of the easiest people to shop for, because I love practically everything that's beautiful, including furniture!

Our latest conquest for our home is the Emeco Navy Chair. This is a different version from the original, which is made of aluminum. Emeco 's collaboration with Coca Cola has spun off a new breed of Navy Chairs made from 111 recycled plastic bottles!

I really loveee the pop colours like persimmon, grass and red, but unfortunately, they do not go with our home decor at all! And so, we settled for the charcoal (above: 3rd from left). I think those gorgeous colours I mentioned earlier would go really well with retro, pop art styles.

Here's a closer look at the charcoal chair. We bought these to replace our existing dining chairs but they're only arriving in March 2012. :( What we adore about this chair is its ergonomic design. The seat imprint you see here (inspired by some pin-up star called Betty Grable) makes it very comfortable to sit on.

I was contemplating on getting the Victorian Ghost chair by Kartell instead, but the hubby pointed out that this is ergonomic and scratch-resistant, which means it's likely to outlast the ghost chair.

Erm..I still can't get these lovely colours out of my mind. They kinda put me in a Christmas mood too. Haha.

If the interior decor of your house allows for such bright colours, go get them ok?? :D

Chocolate and Cream?

2011-12-22T07:00:00.001+08:00

Let's start with Chocolate first.

We popped by for chocolate pancakes (called "The Druggie") at Strictly Pancakes today and it was most gratifying! I didn't really think the pancakes here were any good previously, but this somewhat changed my opinion.

Although the pancakes are not fluffy, every bite fills your mouth with divine chocolatey goodness. The chocolate ice-cream and strawberries complement the dish perfectly too. It can be too much for one person though, so it's best to share it with a friend. ;)

Now, for Cream.

In contrast to the dark chocolate hue, I was dressed in cream from top to toe. I love the gorgeous tulle overlay top that I got from Number Fifty at Mandarin Gallery a long time back. You can pair it with an inner camisole in any colour and it'll bring out the subtler tones of the colour in a dreamy, airy-fairy manner.

Tulle top from Number fifty, Mandarin Gallery

Crochet shorts from Hong Kong

Furry alphabet bag from Dip Drops

Transparent heels from Korea

Hair accessory and necklace from Korea
Rings from London

Oh before I end this post, let me introduce you to my furry alphabet bag from Dip Drops, which is also one of my Christmas presents from JW. I can't begin to rave about how silky soft the fur is, and I absolutely adore the pink satin lining and gold heart locket.

Do you see those rings too? I got them from Ms Selfridge in London last year, but they've not really seen the light of day till now. :)

Zoukout 2011

2011-12-20T07:00:00.001+08:00

Truth be told, I've never been to Zoukout in my life because I've never found outdoor parties very appealing. Horror stories about the rowdy crowds and molesters at Zoukout year after year never failed to deter me too. That was the main reason why we were all dressed very conservatively. :P

However, I thought I should attend Zoukout at least once in my lifetime, just for the experience, and I did just that this year! All of us got to attend Zoukout together thanks to Jun!

We spent most of our time hiding at the Singtel tent as Jun had to entertain her client. Of course, it helped that there was a free flow of alcohol before 11pm. The Singtel babes also gave out cute little torch rings which we wore on our fingers and toes!

We had so many rounds of beer and hard liquor that Yitian and JW were already delirious and high before Kaykay and Eric arrived (the group pic below is taken from Eric's blog). JW even performed some breakdancing moves thrice in a row! Haha but he was so drunk he only remembered doing it once! He didn't even recall taking this group shot below. -_-""

We went from tent to tent, jiving to tunes of yesteryear (there was a mambo tent playing retro hits such as YMCA and the likes) and house music. The maddening crowd drove us crazy as we literally had to squeeze past sweaty bodies just to get from one tent to another.

Anyhow, the happy drunkards, JW and Yitian, kept us perpetually entertained throughout the night. By midnight, they were smiling away and talking nonsense.

Yitian kept telling JW that he had to take good care of me because I'm a good friend of hers. JW, on the other hand, kept insisting he wasn't drunk and stood as straight as he could, chest out and all. At the end of the night, he shone one of the torch rings into Karen's eyes before running away and laughing his head off. But, when I asked him about it the next day, he claimed he had absolutely no recollection of it at all! Such audacity!

After partying for a couple of hours, we finally called it quits at 3a.m. to fill our growling tummies. By then, the roads leading to the carpark were strewn with drunk bodies and JW had morphed into a Merlion.

For my overseas readers, the term "Merlion" has two meanings. The first connotation refers to our national Mascot, a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Here's what it looks like along the Singapore River:

The second connotation of the term "Merlion", based on the Singlish Dictionary, refers to a person who vomits after excessive drinking. I guess you can tell where the similarity lies from the picture above. LOL I hope you found this tidbit of information useful!

Besides JW, there were lots of other merlions at Zoukout, but thank goodness we left way before the party ended at 8a.m. the following morning. It was great fun hanging out together and laughing at the drunks in our group, but I think most of us will not be returning to Zoukout in the near future! Give us air-conditioned, posh clubs anytime! ;)

Eclectic Mix

2011-12-19T13:28:00.002+08:00

Detachable collar from Bugis
Socks from Topshop
Leather belt from thesaladshop, Haji Lane
Dress (gift from Lyndie) from Bangkok

Fashion magazines often tell us that in order to look good, an outfit should comprise not more than 3 colours. That's fashion rule #1. However, I'm never one who goes by the book. As long as integrity is not compromised, I believe there are different ways to attain the same goal and rules aside, pushing boundaries often results in unexpected outcomes. You know what they say about going down the path less travelled. Pleasant surprises await. ;)

So here you have it. I went amok with colours in this outfit post. In this ensemble, you'll see a kaleidoscope of colours, namely beige, brown, different shades of green, red, blue, pink and black.

What was I thinking?! Haha I was rather pleased with the final result though. What do you think?

Yuletide with Eternity Loft

2011-12-17T17:26:00.003+08:00

Earlier this month, I had an enjoyable photo shoot with Eternity Loft, where I was greeted to a collection of delectable apparel in flattering styles and beautiful colours.

Here's a sneak peek of the two designs that will be coming your way soon:

I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent workmanship and quality material of the apparel as they certainly surpass that of many blogshops. They are very affordable too, so there's absolutely no need to break the bank to look presentable!

Now, let's take a closer look at the dress, shall we?

This gorgeous dress is made of the softest chiffon. In fact, I was gushing at how soft and luxurious it felt against my skin! The dress also comes in 4 colours - black, blue, pink and lilac.

The beauty of the dress lies in its simplicity. Subtle details like the pleated front and capped sleeves add interest and femininity to the ensemble. It's a wonderful wardrobe staple as you can easily dress it up for work and functions or dress it down for shopping and afternoon tea with girlfriends.

Next up, let's take a look at this chic ruffled top. Words can't express how much I adore this top, so I'll let the pictures do the talking!

I love the ingenious juxtaposition of the sharp collar with soft, feminine ruffles. There are so many ways to wear this preppy chic top. Tuck it into your shorts for a casual day out or wear it with a flowy skirt for a date. ;)

There's a Christmas collection coming up next on Eternity Loft!

For updates on their latest collections, do add them on Facebook here!

Happy 1st Birthday to Leo!

2011-12-16T11:46:00.002+08:00

We attended Leo's 1st birthday celebration at Island Country Club last week, just 2 days after my birthday. He's the most adorable baby boy I know and he never fails to brighten up my day!

In celebration of his first birthday, Sushi and Daryl organized a grand party for family and friends. There was an abundance of food, balloons, presents and laughter! Check out the birthday cake (top left). Silly me mistook it for party props initially because it looks too perfect to be eaten!

Leo was his usual happy self that day, always easily entertained by everything around him. He hardly throws tantrums and always seems to be at his best behaviour. ;)

Happy Birthday Leo! May you always be blessed with happiness, health and lots of love from everyone around you always!

Finally, here's what I wore to Leo's party:

Sequin Top from Bangkok
Tulle skirt from Far East Plaza
Bow platforms from Bugis Village

If you like this outfit, do hype it on Lookbook! :)

Curious Sights in Cesky Krumlov

2011-12-13T07:00:00.002+08:00

You may recall that I blogged about Cesky Krumlov a while back, under I left my heart in Cesky Krumlov. Cesky Krumlov may just be a small town in Czech Republic, but not only is the scenery captivating beyond words, there are also some very interesting sights to behold.

We visited the Mirror Labyrinth, which is essentially a maze lined with mirrors. This temporary exhibition has the largest number of mirrors in Europe and is designed to give you the illusion of indefinite corridors.

It was exhilarating and nerve-wrecking at the same time because it was virtually impossible for us to find our way out! We almost bumped into the mirrors and killed ourselves on several occasions, so it's really important to put your hands in front of you as you walk!

After we got out of the maze relatively unscathed, we ventured upstairs to view the distorting mirrors! Doesn't JW look like one of the characters in the cartoon "The Incredibles" with his huge-ass head and tiny body? LOL!

OMG..check out my fat legs!!! These are my legs at their stumpiest! We look like hobbits from Lord of the Rings right?

After laughing at our ridiculous images, we moved on to the Museum of Torture. It felt like we were thrown from Heaven to Hell instantly. All the funny images that we encountered vanished as we descended into a dark, musky dungeon where instruments of torture awaited us.

Deep down below in the pitch dark chamber lay torture instruments such as the witches' chair, knuckle cruncher and other unimaginable equipment used during them medieval ages. The walls were icy cold and you could hear water trickling, combined with the horrific screams of witches burning in a corner. It sent shivers down our spine!

As if to tell us our nightmare hadn't ended, we returned to our hotel only to see everyone dressed in medieval costumes! Goodness, they looked like ghosts! Haha but we realised soon enough that they were just guests as they were all Asians. :P

Plus, there was one knight in shining armour who came to our rescue!

Haha, he's one of the many statues that the hotel placed around the lobby. He looks kinda creepy up close actually. :S

Both the Museum of Torture and the hotel are perfect locations for haunted houses during Halloween! You don't even need props! Speaking of which, it's time I start sorting out those Halloween pictures! You'll see them in time to come I promise. :)

My Actual Birthday

2011-12-12T07:00:00.002+08:00

My actual birthday was spent chatting with JW over unpretentious, leisurely meals at Jack's Place (his favourite) and Fish Mart Sakuraya. We also caught Already Famous, the local production directed by Michelle Chong. The movie was a little one-dimensional but it was quite hilarious all the same. Parties and gatherings aside, I love spending quality time with my other half and it was the perfect way to spend my birthday! :)

And now, for my birthday suit (haha don't get the wrong idea please). I love plaids and the English schoolgirl look that's so prevalent in Japanese fall/winter fashion magazines this year. It's so adorable!

Outfit from Dip Drops

Socks from Topshop

Hair bow from Korea

If you like this outfit, do hype it on lookbook below too. ;)

Have a good week ahead!

Early Birthday Celebration

2011-12-11T18:12:00.002+08:00

JW organized a surprise birthday gathering for me at Leonardo's Place the weekend before my actual birthday. He was coordinating with my friends secretly over facebook just a couple of days before and they were all so spontaneous!

It was also funny how my friends told me they were busy "running errands" that Sunday, which was quite out of the ordinary. I even told JW I suspected they were out buying my birthday gift. So thick-skinned of me but I was spot on! Haha yay, I have another pair of earrings to add on to my collection now!

I wasn't really expecting a birthday celebration though, so being lazy on a Sunday evening, I didn't bother to dress up. I couldn't even be bothered to do my hair, hence I clipped it up rather haphazardly before darting out of the house. LOL. You can imagine my surprise when I saw my friends all glammed up at the restaurant! Jun even paid extra attention to her make-up because we often tease her about how her make-up never does show up on her face. :P

I had an amazing time in the company of good friends, good food and my newly minted photographer! Without any hesitation, JW quickly assumed the role of the photographer for the evening, capturing all our picture perfect (and also imperfect) moments. I especially love all the candid shots below, where we were laughing our heads off because the candle looked a little erm....vulgar, and my dear smoker friends couldn't find a lighter (of all things?!) to light my candle!

Sushi and Daryl were so sweet! They knew that I loveeeee the durian cake at One Bakers World and JW loves their chocolate cake to death, so they specially made a birthday cake with 2 flavours - durian and chocolate! I was so touched!

Little Leo was there to celebrate my birthday too, putting a smile to our faces with his cute antics and crazy laughter. Everyone wanted a piece of him! The cutie pie's birthday is just 2 days after mine, and we all celebrated his 1st birthday just yesterday, before Zoukout 2011. ;) More of that in a bit!

Costume Party at Lucky 13

2011-12-09T17:02:00.002+08:00

Last weekend, a group of us attended a fancy costume party at Lucky 13, a Miami-styled diner/bar/club that opened its doors to the public recently.

Sebastian, Xing, Melva and Alex (aka Shrek) were very serious about dressing up. Karen and I almost didn't want to dress up, but thankfully we decided to put on our poufy skirts to masquerade as cosplayers or we would have looked so out of place! It felt almost like Halloween all over again. ;)

We were all very amused by Alex's Shrek costume and wasted no time in taking turns to play with his humungous Shrek gloves. He claimed the Shrek bodysuit in his size had already been loaned out by the time he reached the costume shop, so he had no choice but to make do with Shrek's head and hands. LOL.

Our drink for the night - Jaegerbomb. It made me physically tired but mentally awake till the next day, hence I swore I would never touch it again!

On the contrary, JW loves Jaegerbomb so much he intends to drink it at Zoukout this weekend. Did I mention he's quite a character when he's high? Everyone loves him when he's high on alcohol. He even takes better photos! Haha!

Besides Jaegerbombs, we had photo bombs too. Do you see 2 zombies behind us? :P

Here're our outfits for the night, taken by JW when he was high and thus very enthusiastic about photography (not that I'm complaining!).

Have a good weekend!

a3 Bistro & Bar

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000+08:00

It's my birthday tomorrow but I received my birthday present from JW in advance this year! Many of my girlfriends find the gift very unromantic, but I've been wanting to get a DSLR camera for the longest time, and so that was exactly what I got from JW!

The camera comes with my very own photographer too. No prizes for guessing who. Just to clarify, he readily assumed the role on his own. No force or manipulation on my part. :P

We tested out the camera at a3 Bistro & Bar, where we had lunch on Saturday. It's located along Bukit Timah Road, just beside Smokin Frogs. The spaghetti with tandoori chicken wrapped in banana leaf is highly recommended by my sis-in-law. The dish is so unique and flavourful, it makes me salivate just by looking at the photo below. Totally drool-worthy, isn't it?

The barbecued chicken pizza is unforgettable too! The fresh, well-marinated ingredients and thin crust hold the key to its amazing taste. We packed half of it home and when we had it for lunch the next day, we were pleasantly surprised that it still tasted just as fresh and delicious!

Address: 881 Bukit Timah Road

Tel: +65 6466 4130

Get Ready for the Festive Season with ClubCouture!

2011-12-04T17:50:00.003+08:00

Christmas is just around the corner and as we're busy buying Christmas presents for our loved ones, we've gotta prepare to dress up for the parties coming our way this season too!

I'm thankful that ClubCouture is always here to save the day with its extensive collection of dresses for all occasions.

I generally prefer sweet, floral dresses for casual parties, and the floral printed chiffon dress is the perfect dress for me!

The best part is, it's currently on sale at only S$15 here. What a steal!

For more formal occasions, such as parties or weddings, I prefer sophisticated outfits that add a touch of glamour without going over the top.

I especially love toga dresses like this draped one-shoulder dress. Don't you think it is elegance personified? :)

I paired the dress with a clutch from ClubCouture as well, but it's already out of stock! If there's anything you fancy, do be fast because ClubCouture's items always run out very quickly.

Here's another one of my favourite toga dresses from ClubCouture. It fits like a dream and the pleats add a unique twist to the pinkish beige bodice.

Again, this dress was snapped up instantly the moment it was launched. But, fret not! There're other party dresses such as this one shoulder satin dress in purple.

Jewel tones are always great for the festive season, and this cut is fantastic for bringing out those curves without showing too much skin. ;)

Oh and for all you lucky babes out there, ClubCouture is currently holding a sale on many items! Head on down to the sale section HERE!

A Day in Tiong Bahru

2011-12-02T01:28:00.003+08:00

Tiong Bahru holds fond memories for me as I grew up near Great World City, which is pretty close by. The old shophouses, the famous Tiong Bahru market, and the beautiful rows of pre-war conserved apartments are just some of the highlights of this estate. I can't think of any other estate in Singapore with as much charm and character.

Of late, it has also morphed into an arty farty hangout with the mushrooming of design studios, art galleries and hip indie cafes. One of my favourite cafes is 40 hands and I absolutely love their tau sa pau (i.e. red bean paste bun)!! Some new cafes include Drips cafe (haven't checked it out yet) and The Orange Thimble, which I visited recently when I popped by Lyndie's place.

The food is a little pricey for the portions, especially when compared to 40 hands, but I like the lychee martini ice-cream here. Very unique and refreshing.

Thereafter, we packed a couple of tau sa paus from 40 hands and adjourned to Lyndie's place for a tête-à-tête.

I've always admired the interior decor of Lyndie's ground floor apartment. It is tastefully designed with mid-20th century pieces complemented by a dash of pop art.

My favourite of the lot are these original artwork by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. If they look familiar to you, you probably might have seen these happy flowers on Louis Vuitton bags some seasons back. ;)

The apartment also has a sunroof in the kitchen. Perfect for basking in natural light in the day and star-gazing at night.

In the evening, my family joined me at Tiong Bahru for dinner at Ting Heng Seafood before my brother left for BooksActually at Yong Siak Street to attend one of their talks. My brother loves writing and BooksActually's talks have provided him much inspiration to pursue his dreams.

Speaking of which, my bro recently wrote a movie review on Midnight in Paris here. It's such a delightful film with witty dialogues, magical sights of Paris and insights into the lives of esteemed authors during the golden age. Do read it if you've time! ;)

Have a great weekend ahead! If you haven't thought of what to do this weekend, perhaps you could head on down to Tiong Bahru!

My Collection of Hair Bows

2011-11-30T00:15:00.001+08:00

I've been infatuated with hair bows for a long time, so I thought I'll share my collection of hair bows today and do a quick stock take while I'm at it. ;)

These are my favourite bows to date. Most of these bows are from Korea (they can be found at Far East Plaza too), a handful are from Hong Kong and some are gifts. ;)

I think I have a couple more hiding in an inconspicuous corner of my dressing table, but I'm still constantly on the lookout for new bows!

I'm actually quite, quite appalled that I've so many pink and white ones... it's really getting out of hand! I'm thinking of adding on some blue and yellow bows to my collection, but so far nothing has caught my fancy yet.

What about you? Do you like bows too? If so, where do you get yours from? :D

La Senza's Sexiest X'mas Party & Fashion Show

2011-11-28T20:27:00.003+08:00

It's that time of the year again! Dazzling Christmas light-up along Orchard Road and beautiful decorations prominently displayed outside shopping malls with Christmas carols playing in the background signal that it's time for Christmas parties!

Karen, JW and I attended the La Senza Sexiest X'mas Party & Fashion Show recently, thanks to Stacie. ;) It was yet another feast for the eyes, as with all lingerie parties.

The highlight of the evening was the fashion show, where models sashayed down the runway in sensual, titillating lingerie, much to every man's delight.

La Senza's Christmas collection is so adorable! I love the cute little fur-trimmed baby doll sets paired with Santa's hat and candy canes. Lolitas ahoy!

Woohoo..the male host was grinning from ear to ear in the company of the sexy, cleavage-baring ladies on stage.

As it was a Thursday night, most of the guests came from work and weren't exactly dressed to the party theme. Since I came from home, I had no excuse not to dress up! Karen rushed down from work too, but she was in a festive red dress that's still in tune with the Christmas mood. :D

Pink corset from Far East Plaza

Black & Gold tulle skirt from Snidel, Japan

Hairband from Korea

Black Loewe Amazona bag

Didn't manage to take a picture with dear Stacie, but I'm sure we'll have other opportunities soon. We've to catch up soon babe! :)

Longines Singapore Gold Cup

2011-11-25T06:00:00.004+08:00

I had the opportunity to attend the Longines Singapore Gold Cup with Karen at the invitation of the Singapore Turf Club recently. It was an afternoon of glitz and glamour, coupled with adrenalin-pumping action!

The Guest-of-Honour, President Tony Tan, graced the event, alongside famous Hong Kong actor/singer and Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Aaron Kwok. We were all eagerly awaiting Aaron Kwok's arrival at the marquee but our hopes were dashed as the heavy rain stopped him from walking over from the VVIP area.

Oh well, at least you get a glimpse of the official photos. ;)

Through this event, a total amount of S$241,136 was raised for Chaoyang School, one of the social service programmes supported by Community Chest. To be able to raise funds and have fun at the same time is definitely no mean feat!

There was also a best dressed contest, which Karen and I were selected to participate in together with some of the other lovely ladies at my table.

Here's what I wore that day:

Rosette Dress from H&M

Pearl necklace from Chanel
Suede pumps from Salvatore Ferragamo
Fascinator from Hong Kong

Everyone was dressed to the nines, and to say it was a feast for the eyes is probably an understatement. Here're all the gorgeous ladies at my table, including our pretty and bubbly organizer from the Singapore Turf Club, Jessie!

We may not have had the chance to meet Aaron Kwok, but we did get to meet local celebrities Irene Ang and Rebecca Tan. Loved their knee high boots and chic blazers. Didn't they look ready to take over the reins of the horses? :)

Although it was raining half the time when we were at the turf club, the heavy downpour didn't dampen our spirits. Before long, we were out enjoying the invigorating fresh air while watching the races.

Little did we know we were in for so many unexpected surprises! Due to the weather, many of the popular horses didn't perform as well in the races. In comparison, the dark horses seemed to excel beyond expectations! But I guess that's where the fun lies. It wouldn't be as thrilling to watch if you could have easily guessed the winning horses!

In between races, we also had fun chatting and camwhoring with our newly made friends. Many of the photos here were taken by fellow blogger, William, who takes such amazing photos that Karen and I decided not to trouble ourselves with our own cameras.

All in all, we had an enjoyable time in the company of good food, exhilarating races and most importantly, new friends!

*Most of the photos here are courtesy of the Singapore Turf Club and fellow guests. ;)

Schoolgirl vs Granny

2011-11-21T07:00:00.002+08:00

I chanced upon Dip Drops, a Japanese label that Isetan carries, and went a little crazy over the vintage preppy style this season.

If you like this outfit, please hype it on lookbook by clicking the hype button above. :)

The blouse (which by the way has the cutest coffee bean motifs) and the skirt with suspenders come as a set. This set comes in black and white too, but I was attracted to the orangey brown and teal hues as they seem to complement each other so well.

What I like about this ensemble is that I can always mix and match the blouse and skirt separately, with other wardrobe staples!

I also got myself a burgundy boxy leather sling bag that doubles up as a clutch. I like the vintage design and the excellent workmanship of the bag.

It's so difficult to find well-made bags these days, unless you're talking about designer bags, so I was pretty happy with this purchase. ;)

Erm, I got myself a pair of suede booties too. The bows just made them totally irresistible.

This is probably my first time being all decked out from head to toe in items from just one label alone. I usually prefer to put together items from various labels but somehow, these just matched perfectly!

The only thing I lacked was a pair of geeky spectacle frames, which I totally forgot to put on before leaving the house. Silly me!

I'm sorry I've been a little slow at replying comments lately. Phew, I finally replied all the comments for the past week! So many things have been happening..some bad, some good, and I just need time to settle down.

My dad had a virus infection in his right ear which affected his hearing. There's no guarantee that his hearing will come back completely, if any at all, so we're all keeping our fingers crossed. :( Please pray for him ok?

On a lighter note, I also came across a new work opportunity recently, which I'm very grateful for as I can work with the people I love. :)

Have a great week ahead!

Dolly Dearest

2011-11-20T00:58:00.001+08:00

Dolls always have the prettiest and most adorable clothes, don't you think? Dainty details like cute little bows, lace and candy colours always come to mind when I think of dolls. This outfit here was entirely inspired by dolls, hence the title, Dolly Dearest. :)

Lace dress c/o Pearlavish
Bow Heels from Bugis Village
Socks and bag from Hong Kong

Have a great weekend babes! ;) I'm gonna have to finish up some work later today, so please wish me all the best!

Jewel Coffee

2011-11-17T07:00:00.002+08:00

One early Saturday morning at 11a.m., 3 girls (Karen, Jun and I) decided to meet at Jewel Coffee for brunch.

Situated right at the heart of the CBD at One Shenton Way, Jewel Coffee has one of the best pancakes in Singapore, second only to Riders' Cafe's.

If you're a pancake lover, you shouldn't miss out on this one!

The pancakes here are very fluffy, and although they're less thick that those at Riders, the rich buttery flavour makes up for its lack of height (hm..for some strange reason, it sounds like I'm referring to a person instead :P).

What I really like about the pancakes here is the whipped cream. It has a very light consistency and has just the right amount of sugar, definitely a perfect match for the pancakes.

Floral dress from Hong Kong

Wedges from Liz Lisa

Bow Satchel Bag from Miu Miu

Coffee, Tea or Mint?

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000+08:00

Nope, this isn't about beverages. I've just fallen in love with mint coloured apparel, especially those with dainty floral prints.

Mint floral top from KandyKayne
Lace shorts from Hong Kong

The colour is unique yet feminine, unlike the usual suspects such as pink, white or even blue. I personally think it's a refreshing change.

What about you? Do you like mint as much as I do? :)

Prague Old Town & Wenceslas Square

2011-11-15T07:00:00.001+08:00

After Barcelona, we took a flight to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Besides Austria, Prague is another European city that I've always wanted to visit because of its rich musical heritage.

Prague was home to several renowned classical music composers including Dvorak and Smetana, but of course, it was also here that Mozart, the most famous composer ever, premiered some of his greatest works.

We attended an opera while we were in Prague too, and I absolutely loved it! If you are interested, I'm saving that for another post so do keep a lookout for it. ;)

The old town of Prague is bustling with life and full of beautiful medieval architecture. The astronomical clock (topmost left in the collage below) is one of the most popular attractions in the old town square, and there's an hourly show where you'll see sculptures and figures of the Apostles striking the time.

For more people-watching, you can also head down to Wenceslas Square, the main shopping belt in Prague. This is one of my favourite photos taken while chilling out at a cafe in Wenceslas Square. I didn't edit this photo below at all (except for the border)!

Here's my favourite drink, Cappy! I especially like the pear flavoured one. Cappy is a fruit juice but it's so delectable, it easily beats all our Sunkist or Peelfresh fruit juices in Singapore, hands down! The only downside is, it attracts lots of bees during summer...and I can certainly attest to that. :S

Unfortunately, I wasn't as fond of Czech cuisine. In particular, the famous Czech dumplings (bottom right), supposedly made from wheat or potato flour, were the most horrible things I've ever tasted! If anything, they tasted like dough or worse, plasticine!

Hair Encounters

2011-11-12T16:34:00.000+08:00

Petite Eyelet & Lace Maxi from ClubCouture
Wedges from Liz Lisa

If you haven't already realized, I'm sporting a different hairstyle in the photo above. I've recently acquired a couple of hair extensions and they've proven to be extremely useful for lazy days when I still want to look groomed without having to spend time blowing my hair. :P

Over here, I'm wearing a pony tail extension. It's very easy to use and works just like one of these hairclips.

All I have to do is tie my own hair into a ponytail with a rubberband, clip on this large ponytail hairclip and I'm ready to go! If you like, you can also accessorize with a fancy hairpin to complete the look. ;)

Karen's Birthday Celebration

2011-11-11T07:00:00.001+08:00

A few of us celebrated Karen's birthday recently at Arbite. I made the reservation and was so impressed that the owner Marc remembered me from my last visit. Such flawless service, coupled with yummy food, is difficult to come by these days!

Before heading down for dinner, I was tasked by Jo and Koji to get Karen's present. We got her a mustard Miu Miu ostrich skin bracelet. It's so pretty I was actually tempted to buy one for myself, but I resisted, much to my pocket's delight.

Karen and I have been hanging out more often than ever and I think we became closer after a series of events that took place. After what we've been through, I learned for myself that she's a wonderful friend who always puts others before herself. Only true friends will stand by you in times of need and she's definitely one of them.

You know how I've always believed that every cloud has a silver lining? I've always been proven right, and I'm glad this time was no exception. ;)

Preppy Chic Colourblocking

2011-11-10T14:03:00.001+08:00

I've been neglecting colourblocking for a while and I figured it was time I revisited one of my favourite trends. ;) This was taken at the Shangrila hotel when we went to The Line for Jw's birthday celebration recently.

Thought I'll give it a preppy chic twist by adding a colourful floral collar I snagged at Bugis Village while shopping with Karen, a vintage pearl belt and preppy pumps paired with lace socks.

Just a couple of shout-outs before I end off!

Dress Affection is having a promotion at Deal.com.sg NOW! You'll be entitled to 35% off a $50 shopping voucher! Great for those of you who're looking for D&D dresses or new work wear! :D

I've also just joined Chicisimo, which is similar to Lookbook, and I'm so flattered to be awarded the Top Fashionista in Singapore. There's so much to learn from everyone and I hope I can continue improving on my outfit posts as time goes on!

Dress Affection

2011-11-09T07:00:00.004+08:00

If you've always had an affection for quality, fashion-forward dresses, look no further with Dress Affection!

Dress Affection is an international online store that stocks cut-label designs (items with the blue 'cut label' tag means that the clothes label will be cut before it is sent out to customers) from Alexander McQueen, Karen Millen, Prada, D&G, Chanel, DVF, Miu Miu and Gucci, just to name a few.

It's incredibly difficult to find well-cut formal dresses on the internet these days, but Dress Affection assures that it delivers quality designs hot off the runways. It is always on trend and in style!

I especially love their selection of work and cocktail dresses, such as the Prada Black Ruffle Dress here. The cascading chiffon pleats on this elegant shift dress add an interesting twist, thereby enhancing the femininity of the ensemble.

I styled this little black dress in a casual way for a day out with my friends but it is just as capable of taking you to work and then an evening function thereafter by tweaking some accessories. This is THE little black dress that every girl needs to take on the world. :)

This lovely dress is currently sold out on the website, but you can always request for it to be restocked (depending on availability) by clicking on the "bring it back" button. ;)

However, as Dress Affection prides itself for bringing in exclusive designs in limited quantities, it's best to buy what your heart fancies before they're sold out!

For all you fashionistas out there, here's a secret that I'm letting you in on. Dress Affection will be holding a deal at Deal.com.sg on Thursday 10 November (that's tomorrow!). You'll be entitled to 35% off a $50 shopping voucher.

Remember to visit Deal.com.sg tomorrow!

Barceloneta Beach & Cal Pep

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000+08:00

Barceloneta Beach is supposedly the number 1 urban beach globally, and it's not hard to see why. There're so many hot babes suntanning on the soft sandy beach.

The waters are crystal clear and the sand is so fine you literally sink into it as you walk along the beach.

In case you were wondering, these shadows belong to us. JW insisted that we take this photo as he thought it was a romantic moment, but in reality, I was chasing him to hurry so I could get out of the hot sun. I was about to melt.

Yup, now you know I'm really a vampire.

As we were there in late summer, when the skies were still blue and the sun was scorching, the beach was rather crowded. This was on a weekday afternoon, mind you, but it felt as if it was a Saturday! All along the beach, you'll see the young and old suntanning, swimming or just chilling out with a magazine on their laps. Unfortunately, I didn't expect to go to the beach on this trip because I thought it'll be cold, so I didn't have any beachwear with me. :(

After a stroll along the beach, we walked to a popular tapas joint by the name of Cal Pep at Placa de les olles.

One of the unique characteristics of this tapas joint is that there is no menu. The servers make recommendations and you basically just go with the flow. One thing to note though, the seating capacity is extremely limited - everyone just sits at the bar counter, so if you can, try to get there just before dinner time to avoid the queue!

We were there relatively early at about 630pm but already we had to wait in line with 2 other couples. The food is worth the wait though. The beef was so tender, juicy and flavourful, we lapped up everything despite being really full from the previous dishes. The other dish that I would highly recommend is the clams in white wine sauce. It was so tasty I still salivate when I think about it!

You can't see from the picture below, but by the time we left at about 8pm, there was a long queue right up to the door. I reckon there were at least 20 people waiting for their turn. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Cal Pep
Placa de les Olles 8, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
93 310 79 61
www.calpep.com/

Retro girly style

2011-11-07T04:30:00.000+08:00

Retro elements incorporated into feminine outfits - that's the retro girly style that has been pretty popular in the recent issues of Vivi magazine.

Crochet shorts, hair bow, nude pumps and lace socks from Argyle Centre, HK

Mustard top & straw bag from Bugis Village

Think peter pan collars, detachable collars (like the lace one I made in my previous post), polka dots and mustard hues, among other retro and vintage styles.

Now, for the girly elements. First up, we have crochet. I love crochet skorts/culottes because they go with practically anything and everything.

Then, we have the giant hair bows. This green polka dot hair bow completes the look from head to toe. Its light green hue, polka dot fabric and lace details give it a vintage vibe.

Who can get enough of straw bags? Don't underestimate the size of this little straw sling bag for it can hold everything that I need, including my camera, handphone, cards and money!

Finally, the socks with shoes trend is still going strong. I adore socks with lace details, like this pair over here. Matched with nude pumps, you'll get that vintage schoolgirl look instantly!

Detachable Lace Collars

2011-11-05T00:00:00.001+08:00

Inspired by Prisca, who DIY-ed some of her pretty collars to mix and match with different outfits, I decided to try my hand at it too. I bought some pretty lace, ribbons and pearls and got down to work with some assistance (a lot actually!!!) from my mum who spent the entire afternoon helping me to get my act together.

This is my first DIY lace collar! I have a couple more that I intend to put up for sale soon. :)

These collars are great as accessories and can instantly dress up a plain neckline or even change the overall style of your favourite dress/blouse. I love how versatile they are!

Gothic Quarter & 4Cats

2011-11-04T01:06:00.004+08:00

Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is the heart of the city's old town. It is home to many buildings dating to as far back as the Medieval times.

Within the Gothic Quarter lies a famous cafe by the name of 4Cats, which used to be frequented by famous artists including Pablo Picasso. It was here that Picasso first exhibited his paintings and the cover of the menu (bottom right) was drawn by the artist himself.

Established in 1897, the cafe still retains its old world charm and the walls are decorated with beautiful paintings of the artists who used to meet at the cafe.

Well, they're all dead now of course, and the cafe seems to be more of a tourist attraction now thanks to its historical background. To say that the cafe is bustling with life is probably an understatement, although the pictures here depict a different atmosphere altogether. We were just lucky to have gotten there before the lunch crowd arrived.

Before our set lunches were served, we saw tour groups from Mainland China and tourists from various parts of the world streaming in and out of the cafe as if it were a museum. The Mainland Chinese tourists occupied the long tables and were so loud and animated throughout their meal, you could hear their shrill voices from a mile away.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a Caucasian couple cringe in disgust at the uncouth Mainland Chinese tourists who were talking at the top of their voices without any consideration for their fellow diners. JW and I could only look on in exasperation as we prayed that no one would associate us with the Mainland Chinese.

While the service was friendly and attentive, the quality of the food left much to be desired. I admit that I am a fastidious eater and I can be pretty picky about my food, but even my other half felt that the food here paled in comparison to other eateries and cafes in Barcelona.

I think the experience of stepping into a cafe popular with renowned artists from a golden era was worth the trip here, but if I were to do this again, I would come here only for drinks, definitely NOT during lunch hour. ;)

Bullfighting in Barcelona: Monumental arena & Museo Taurino

2011-11-02T14:00:00.001+08:00

After our visit to Sagrada Familia, we took a walk down to the famous Monumental arena and Museo Taurino (bullfighting museum)

After all, how can a visit to Spain be complete without experiencing bullfighting?

Alas, there weren't any bull fights that day, but the majestic view of the arena somewhat made up for our disappointment.

We also stopped by the bullfighting museum to check out bullfighting momentos, photographs of bullfights in the pasts and the beautiful costumes of famous matadors.

The bullfighting tradition has been around in Spain for at least 4,000 years was probably popularized by the Romans. Monumental arena is Barcelona's last bullring and it stages 15 shows annually.

To many, Spanish bullfighting (also known as corrida de toros), is a developed art form on par with other traditional art forms such as painting and dancing.

Despite its cultural significance, a ban on bullfighting was slapped on Barcelona and it will take effect come 1 Jan 2012. Animal cruelty is the main reason for the ban it seems. I do think it's rather cruel to kill the bulls for entertainment, but couldn't they have modified this art a little and stop bullying the bulls (sorry for the pun, I couldn't help it!) to make it more palatable to the animal activists? *shrugs*

Nonetheless, bullfighting remains legal in other parts of Spain, so if you're interested in catching a bullfight, perhaps you may want to head on down to La Maestranza in Seville, the oldest bullfighting venue which dates all the way back to 1765!

Anyway, I'll end off this post with pictures of what a bull would typically wear during a bullfight.

Haha gotcha! Could I have passed off as a bull, you think?

Lace camisole from Forever New

Floral skirt with lace hem from Far East Plaza