Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ena Recommends Nam Nam Vietnamese Noodle Bar! :)

So on the same night that my friend and I went down for the Sephora Beauty Night out, we had a late dinner after the event at Nam Nam Vietnamese Noodle Bar @ Raffles City Shopping Centre!

Here’s a quick review of our dinner!

Nam Nam Vietnamese Noodle Bar @ Raffles City Shopping Centre
This is the view of the store from where we were seated. I tried my bestest to capture the Nam Nam sign board but the light box made it impossible for my IPhone camera, hahaha.
Nam Nam Vietnamese Noodle Bar @ Raffles City Shopping Centre
I like how quaint the entire decor and vibe of the noodle bar was. Although right smack in the CBD area of Raffles City Shopping mall, one still feels as though she could be right next to the vietnamese road side. And of course, here’s the old school tiny cup that came with the coke can!
Nam Nam Vietnamese Noodle Bar @ Raffles City Shopping Centre
This was my dinner of the night, beef pho and typing this at midnight is making me saliva very badly. I LOVE IT. I am not quite sure if it’s because I was hungry or it was delicious, I believe it is more the later. What I loved about it was definitely the delicious fish sauce flavour and the lime in the soup. The meat was tender and the noodles were cooked perfectly.

I did not manage to take a shot of my friend’s dish which was a stir fry beehoon and I tried a bite and it was DELICIOUS. I did not expect it to be so delicious. So I am going to go back to eat that dish the next time.

Now time for my review!

Taste: 5/5 

As I mentioned, I loved my pho as well as my friend’s stir fry beehoon. The ingredients like meat and noodles were cooked just right and I love the authentic flavours in the dishes!

Price: 3/5

I think at SGD$9/10 per dish it is definitely on the pricey side, for a basement venue at that. But for the taste, I think it is still worth it. For young working adults like myself, we probably will head there once in a while.

Service: 3/5

 I think the service was fast, considering it was 9pm and still packed. But they could do better with more friendly staff as some of them seemed quite shy and not articulate in english. I think language barrier is not that big an issue but rather the friendliness was lacking. Maybe they are worn out from the day.

Decor & Ambience: 3/5 

I love the decor, but the ambience was not great because of the tiny space, guests are seating right next to each other so we could hear the conversations on our side and vice versa. Definitely not the place for meetings or catch ups but if you want to grab a good quick dinner with old friends, yes.

Overall verdict: 3.5 /5

Yes, if you’re a fan of Vietnamese food like me, go for it! But don’t expect the world. Though the taste is great, I would think it’s on the pricey side and expect service and ambience to be like that of the roadside stalls but interestingly situated in a mall basement. 😉

If you want to visit them, here are  the details:

NamNam Noodle Bar
Website: http://namnamnoodlebar.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/namnamnoodlebar?fref=ts

Raffles City
Address: 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-46/47, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103
Contact: +65 63360550
Opening Hours: 8am – 9.30pm (last order)

Wheelock Place
Address: 501 Orchard Road #B2-02, Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880
Contact: +65 67351488
Opening Hours: 8am – 9.30pm (last order)

xx

Ena

#Ootd Casual Purple |EDD

Taking part in Kukolina’s Saturday outfit posts so here’s mine for today!

Wearing a loose causal purple top from Shana, denim shorts and purple beaded necklace from Diva accessories. Coloured leopard Shades from Primark.

thanks to my sister for taking the pic for me and this is me before going out .. Sans makeup as I usually don’t wear makeup on weekends! 🙂

20130928-164632.jpg

Taking part in this photo blogging is a lot of fun!

Let me know if you want to join us too!^^

I am adding these links from Eszter of Kukolina’s blog,:

Eszter’s entry: http://kukolina.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/weekend-photo-challenge-week-3-show-that-titi-outfit-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-746
B from http://fantasyholidays.wordpress.com/
Tams from http://nakedbeautyblog.com/?p=1255
Casey from http://veggiesandglitter.com/
Tisha from http://dailyeasyrecipes.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/weekend-photo-challenge-week-3-eating/
Vilma from  http://freebutfun.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/challenge-food-and-outfit/
Áse from  http://aspoonfulofstyle.co.uk/2013/09/28/weekend-photo-challenge-ootd-and-eating/
Fanni from  http://theblackberryboys.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/weekend-photo-challenge-week-3-eating/
Grace from http://czechtheflip.com/2013/09/28/weekend-photo-challenge-eating/#comment-3691
Ena from  http://enabalista.com/2013/09/28/ootd-casual-purple-edd/
Beth from http://byrnesbeth.wordpress.com/
Sarah from http://journey2dfuture.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/weekend-photo-challenge-week-3-eating/

😀

Ena’s Outfit | Oasap Classic Embroidered Dress

{ Sponsored Post }

Hi guys!  。(⌒∇⌒。)

This week I got my dress which I ordered from Oasap, a very lovely contrast collar and embroidered dress!

So I wore it to work…

Here’s my makeup look of the day aka #lotd:

Ena Teo Makeup LOTDI matched my eyeshadow colour with the dress, with blue and black at the winged tip portion with black eye liner. It’s my current eye makeup style, a mix of eyeshadow and eyeliner that wings outwards. 🙂 Applied a generous amount of blusher that I promise does not look that much in real life. And pink lipsticks. Just happened that today all make up mentioned are Estee Lauder except eyeliner is Maybelline’s Impact Express Eyeliner, which is my favourite of all, my holy grail make up item. Still have not finished all the Estee Lauder products I got from last year! No idea how some girls keep buying when I can never finish mine, lol. Not that I am complaining. the only beauty products I can finish are eyeliner, make up remover and skin care products like sunblock. 🙂 I also have on Estee Lauder brow pencil in dark brown, though you can’t really tell since my fringe is covering my brows.

More pics!:

Ena Teo Oasap Contrast Collar Embriodered Dress 1

Taken during lunch time! Just right outside my office building, which explains why it looks SO bright here cause it was! 😛 Matched it with my Charles & Keith heels which are my new favourite shoes! 😀 They go with almost everything and are the most comfy heels I have. <3 <3 <3 Also seen, carrying my Kenzo green pouch from the SS13 Tiger Collection. I don’t think I’ve posted a pic on that before.. But the season’s already over. Lol.

Pinterest Ena Teo Oasap Contrast Collar Embriodered Dress 1

Ena Teo Oasap Contrast Collar Embriodered Dress 3A close up of the embroidered detailing on the dress. It has a great finish, no frill ends! Accessorized with my star & wing ring and black strap watch from Fossil Relic.

My review: 

Design & Quality: 4.5/5 I picked this dress because it’s simple, classic and I just love the touch of gold and baroque leaves design! It’s a dress that’s great for work, formal lunch and dinners and even dates! 🙂 I am super glad to report that the quality is great! It has an inner soft lining so the dress is comfortable on the skin. Finishing is flawless. Fit is great. In fact when I wore it to office, two of my colleagues commented on it, saying it was nice. 🙂 Only downside is that the material though perfect for air-con office, it isn’t suitable for Singapore on super hot sunny days, so don’t wear this for a day out, lol. But will be great for rainy weather!

Price: 4/5 At original price US$39.90, I think it could be cheaper(no need for them to pay rental and it was a light package to deliver), since it’s an online purchase, and the folks at Oasap must have read my mind because they are now offering this beautiful dress at… US$33.92! 🙂

Shipping: 2.5/5 I thought the shipping took rather long. I ordered on 2 September but only received it this Monday, 16 September after two whole weeks. However the upside is that it came in mint condition, in fact wrapped in 3 plastic layers which made me wonder if it was necessary, I feel bad for all this packaging waste. But I’m not complaining.

If you like the dress, you can buy it >> here.

Or check out their: new arrivals, bestsellers or sale up to 70% off!

Other items I love!

Screen shot 2013-09-19 at AM 01.30.39

This über cute rabbit print cardigan. U.P US$39.90, now selling at US$27.93 here.

Screen shot 2013-09-19 at AM 01.32.07

Puppy love bag aka Cute Dog Head Shape Shoulder bag, $52 here.

Alrighty, that’s all for now~

xx

My Spooky Chinese 7th Month Encounter! >.<

Tourists-walk-through-an-alley-decorated-with-red-lanterns-for-the-Lantern-Festival-in-Beijing-on-February-6-2012.-AP-PhotoAlexander-F.-Yuan-650x433
I associated Chinese with Red Lanterns, yes seriously. Image Source: WuDuMedia

So on Tuesday night while on the way home after my dinner with Sandy, just as we were parting which is close to Katong plaza, the one next to Roxy, in between marine parade road and Katong, I got serious creeps that I have never gotten before because there was a mini (1/2 the size of what you’d see the normal stages) ge tai with a toy puppet show and a cast of elderly behind singing and playing Chinese instruments and of course coordinating the puppets.

As you might know by now, I Rebonded my hair (been announcing it on Twitter and Instagram I think) on Sunday so it’s now silky smooth and bounces off my back when I walk.

So as I walked off from the mini ge tai I couldn’t help but look because the entire crew was playing to – get this – no one at all. It was an empty

Audience, but we local Chinese know its not for the living that they are performing.

And as I turned around, I felt like someone or something was brushing against my back.

Logically it is my hair that is bouncing off my back.

But it couldn’t possibly be that l didn’t notice the sensation from the past two days and this one felt different.

 

If it isn’t my hair that’s causing the sensation – I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!

 

So immediately I picked up my pace , and I also held my hair in place and walked quickly to my bus top opposite the place.

And I said a quick prayer. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus who is in me is greater than he who is in the world (or netherworld for that matter). And I immediately felt better.

Texted my tummy Sandy and told her the place gives me the creeps! Told her that I’m also gonna avoid all these stages for the entire month! While waiting for the bus to come it started to drizzle…

 

Have you ever had any spooky encounters before?

Xo

Some really great quotes here. Been thinking and emoting a lot lately. One of the decisions I’ve made is that I’m probably gonna be too busy to be writing fashion posts & reviewing beauty products here now that I’ve got a full time job. But thoughts, I’ve got abundant of them and writing, even if for 5 minutes a day, is surely something I can afford.
To add my quotes to the ones above:

We’ve only one life, if we don’t live it how we will, when will we ever do?

I’ve decided I’ll choose to live life the way I want to because it’s impossible to please everyone.

 

And with that, my dear readers, welcome to a new era on Enabalista – my life, my thoughts.

xo

Lunch at Oca Grassa

Recently my colleagues and I visited an Italian casual fine dining restaurant, Oca Grassa for lunch.

They were featured on TimeOut Singapore online, here.

Oca Grassa means “fat goose” in Italian and it signifies prosperity and the good life. 🙂

From our experience at Oca Grassa, I most certainly agree that the restaurant lives up to its name!

2013-07-23 12.37.13

The cute namecard with a lightly embossed goose with 3 golden eggs. ^^

2013-07-23 12.30.32The restaurant has a lovely lobby / entrance with a beautiful painting. 
2013-07-23 12.30.44

My #ootd, a black dress with pink floral prints and blue wedges.

I matched my earrings with the dress, but you can’t see it here, haha.

2013-07-23 12.35.44

Oca Grassa has an open kitchen concept where you can watch the chefs in action. Here’s our starters of bread with meat slices and vinaigrette.

2013-07-23 12.57.57

For salads, we had seafood with avocado. I love avocado and the squid was grilled to perfection! It was akin to savouring the bounty of the sea in a mouthful. 🙂2013-07-23 13.05.09

Next up we had a seafood fritter platter of prawns and squid. 2013-07-23 13.11.14

Then we had a tomato based seafood pasta. I felt that the pasta was a tad overcooked, could have been better.

For the last main… We were in for a surprise! 2013-07-23 13.37.29

Look at my colleagues shocked expressions! 😛

2013-07-23 13.37.44

And all of us eager to Instagram the chef’s recommendation, the florentine steak served on himalayan salt. 😛2013-07-23 13.41.19

I had never tasted steak so good. It was served medium rare, I had a few cuts, one served more cooked and another in medium rare which tasted better because it was tasty and chewy.

2013-07-23 14.14.00

Lastly, we ended off our meal with desserts, Tiramisu with gula melaka and Panna Cotta with a guava base and topped off with pomegranate flavoured ice. I can’t decide which I prefer more!

Located at 6 Bukit Pasoh which is near Duxton, the restaurant is nestled among shop houses which provides a nice background for a stroll after dinner in the evening. 🙂 The budget per person is about $100, without drinks. For wine, add another $50. If you’re planning for a date, you can request for a smaller Florentine steak for two.

I would most definitely be back again for the seafood salad, steak and desserts!

If you’d like to visit, here’s the details:

Oca Grassa

6 Bukit Pasoh Road

Tel: 6534 9854

Opening Hours:
Mon – Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm (Lunch)
Mon – Sat: 6pm – 10.30pm (Dinner)

Till the next post,

<3

Ena

Ena’s Korean Rom-Com Drama Recommendations!

Recently I blogged about Thai Chick Flicks on Youtube that I watched and recommend, this time round, I’ll be blogging about Korean Dramas!  🙂

My favourite Korean Drama genre is romantic comedy, so the ones I recommend are also in this genre! I watch Korean dramas from a variety of sources, usually in Chinese subs because they are released a lot faster than the English ones.

Korean Drama Classics

These are the dramas that I love and strongly recommend, although they were filmed a few years back, I still love them now as much as I did then. 🙂

1. Full House

full-house-complete-korean-drama-english-subtitle-9cc48Synopsis: Han Ji Eun is a naive writer who got swindled out of everything she owned including her house by her best friends. Stranded in China, She managed to borrow money from an actor Lee Young Jae to return to Korea. On her return, she found out that her house was bought by Lee Young Jae. In an attempt to get her possessions back, she entered in a contract marriage with Young Jae for one year. In spite of losing all, Ji Eun manages to be cheerful and takes things in strike and the business relationship between the two becomes personal as they start to rely and care for each other. Based on a popular manhwa of the same title.

Review: From what I can remember, this is the korean drama that started my obsession with korean dramas, lol. I loved Song Hye Kyo in this movie, her cute and lovable looks and antics and her wonderful chemistry with Rain. 🙂 It’s a must watch!

Watch on Funshion with chinese subs here.

2.Goong aka Princess Hours

GoongCast

Synopsis: Set in an alternate 21st-century reality where Korea possesses a royal family, since 1945 to present, this show revolves around the lives of the Crown Prince Lee Shin, and his new bride, Chae-kyeong.

The series starts off with the news that the King, Shin’s father, is very ill. There is a grim outlook on the King’s health, the royal family scrambles to find a wife for Shin, so as to allow him to take over the royal throne if the situation requires. Despite being in love with another girl, the ambitious and talented ballerina Hyo-rin whom Shin initially proposed to (she rejects him to pursue her ballet dreams), he eventually marries a commoner to whom he was betrothed by his late grandfather in an old agreement with the girl’s grandfather. He marries the headstrong yet lovable Chae-kyeong after Hyo-rin’s rejection. Despite initially feeling nothing for Chae-kyeong, love eventually blossoms between the couple as time passes.

In the meantime, however, matters are further complicated with the return of Lee Yul and his mother Lady Hwa-Young, who was once the Crown Princess before the death of her husband, the late Crown Prince, older brother of the current King. Yul and his mother were chased out of the palace some time after the death of his father, and it is later revealed that this was due to the King’s discovery of an affair between Yul’s mother and the current King who was his father’s younger brother. Yul’s mother has returned with a sinister motive in mind; to restore her son back to the throne, which, in her mind, is rightfully his. A series of events befall the palace with the schemes Yul’s mother carries out. It is further intensified by the various scandals involving the royal family, which are inclusive of the Shin’s continuing relationship with his old flame Hyo-rin, and the budding love Yul develops for Chae-kyeong, his cousin’s new-found bride. Things get out of hand and the royal family takes matters into their own hands.

Review: I remember being obsessed with this drama and watching it even though it was my PSLE period. Lol! Now that’s a really long time ago. This was a really well produced drama, with elaborate and beautiful settings and costumes. Plus it was Yoon Eun Hye’s first drama and she really shined in this drama. Plus a lot of people were rooting for the second lead so it created quite a buzz then. However I rooted for the main lead, heh. 🙂

Watch on MapleStage with chinese subs here.

3. Coffee Prince

Coffee-Prince-01

Synopsis: The life of Go Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is not easy; she works many jobs to pay off debts and even gave up her feminine image. Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo) is the heir of a big food company, but his grandmother wants him to settle down, so she arranged many dates for him. After Eun Chan bumped into Han Kyul and was mistaken for a boy, Han Kyul decided to hire Eun Chan to be his gay lover in order to avoid the arranged dates. Desperately in need of money, Eun Chan had no choice but to accept. Han Kyul’s grandmother also made Han Kyul in charge of a filthy coffee shop in danger of being bankrupt. Eun Chan begged to work at the coffee shop, and not long after, feelings start to spark, except, how would Han Kyul accept his “homosexuality”?

Review: This is a really cute drama. It was one of the first drama I watched which featured a female cross dressing and behaving as a guy which was of course a cause of a lot of misunderstanding and humour that made for great drama. I love the pairing of Yoon Eun Hye with Gong Yoo! It’s the kind of pairing that made you root for them and wished they were a couple in real life, lol.

Watch on Fushion with chinese subs here.

Till the next post,

<3,

Ena

Dinner at Covelli Italian Bistro

To celebrate my 23rd birthday in advance, my family and I had dinner at Covelli Italian Bistro, here are the photos from dinner that night. 🙂
Ena Review Covelli Italian Bistro

Tasty calamari rings. Recommend!
2013-07-10 19.54.44

Truffle oil mushroom soup… Was not that great because the mushroom soup tasted more raw than tasty. :/2013-07-10 20.05.25

My truffle oil ravioli. It was very filling, so I would recommend this dish to be shared in a group, which was what I did rather than eating it all alone. 🙂

2013-07-10 20.06.22

My elder sister’s chicken “burger”.
2013-07-10 20.05.38

My second sis’s moroccan flavoured lamb.  I asked my sister for her opinion on this dish and she said it is nice and tender and though she is not a fan of goat cheese, overall she felt it was good. 🙂
2013-07-10 20.06.44

My dad’s pork dish.

Seems like I missed out my mum’s lobster spaghetti. 😛

2013-07-10 21.42.05

Family photo! 😀

Overall the dishes were very tasty in our opinion and reasonably priced at about $20-$28 per dish. So if you’re thinking of where to go for a first date, you can consider this place! 😉

The dish portions were also filling as we didn’t had stomach for desserts. Thumbs up for filling portions!

We went down on a Wednesday night and there were 2-3 other groups of diners, so if you’re going down in a group, especially on weekends, you might want to make reservations. 🙂

If you’d like to visit, here’s the address:

181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central #B2-11/22, Singapore 238896

Phone: 6238 6400

Till the next post,

Be Beautiful! 😉

<3,

Ena

Thai Chick Flicks on Youtube (with Eng Sub)

As you know, I am a fan of Korean dramas and movies. Recently, under the influence of a good friend, Ser Li who has been raving about Thai dramas and movies, I gave them a try on Youtube and then went on a Thai movie marathon. 😀

Due to the popularity of my previous post 5 Chick Flicks on Youtube, I decided to write a similar post but this time in Thai version. 🙂 So here’s a few movies and more that I watched and would recommend to you, with videos embedded for your easy convenience! 😉

1. First Love (A Crazy Little Thing Called Love)

crazy_little_thing_called_love.7y0abor6sk4cg440o8gkow0cw.9hognrvsmz8c8w8s00sk0koos.th

Review: This movie is really cute. It’s about how a young girl grows up and transform from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan. Starring Mario Maurer, a really cute Thai actor! 🙂

2.  Fabulous 30 

Fabulous 30 Thai Movie

Synopsis: Ja (Patcharapa Chaichue) a beautiful woman has everything a woman is supposed to dream of having; a successful career, a partying lifestyle, and a handsome sweetheart. On her 30th birthday, Ja finds her perfect life changed when her boyfriend wants to halt the relationship. Now, at thirty-something, Ja accepts a happy single life until a new guy (Phuphom Phongpanu) gets in her life and he’s 7 years younger than her.

Review: I enjoyed the down to earth moments of the movie, how the female lead cooks, feed stray puppies and checks out bridesmaid gowns with her girlfriends. The male actor is ridiculously handsome and is born in 1991.

3. Hello Stranger

poster

Synopsis: Inspired by Korean culture and entertainment that fluxed around Asia, the film tells a love story of a guy and a girl who destined to meet in Seoul during their private trip to Korea.

Review: Highly recommended movie. It’s funny, romantic and heartwarming. Funny thai antics in Korea? No wonder this movie is so highly raved! 🙂

4. Just One Second 

220px-Friendship-thai-movie

Synopsis: Is a short film about a young couple…

Review: The couple acted by female lead Nattasha Nauljam and male lead Jirayu Laongmaneeacted (only 17 yo btw) together in a famous thai movie Suck Seed in 2011, a movie more on friendship but also with some youthful romance. Actually I can’t remember the ending of this short film. But I am using this to recommend Suck Seed, which unfortunately I can’t find the youtube link anymore. 😛

Also recommended:

5. Seven Something

Seven-Something-600x375

Synopsis: Seven Something is a love story and is shot by three different directors. As such, the film is divided into three parts; the first named “14,” about the problems of two teenagers and social networks. The second part is named “21/28” and is about two former actor and actress lovers who work together again after being apart for seven years. The third part is called “42.195” and is about a woman who meets a young man who encourages her to complete a marathon.

Review: It is a new age movie which follows three couples. The first on a young couple with social media influences and how it makes and breaks the relationship. Second one is a romance with several meta references, including Hello Stranger, I liked the second story the best. The last story starred 2pm’s thai prince, Nickhun, that’s all I have to say for the last story. Lol. I watched in on youtube but it was taken down, so you’ll have to find this movie else where! 😛

Till the next post,

<3,

Ena

Backstage with the Addams Family musical cast! :)

Hello hello beautiful!

I hope you had a fruitful week?

Today I’m posting photos from my backstage tour after watching the musical The Addams Family with my sister! 🙂

404391_10151711336245829_271327818_n

Complimentary 2nd row seats, such a blessing! 🙂

1017683_10151711336280829_1389793124_n

Here’s some Uncle Fester cookies and Wednesday cupcakes for sale outside the hall!

IMG_9564

Before the show started, the invited bloggers and guest had a really quick 5 min photo-taking session with the cast! 🙂 Spot famous local blogger Qiu Qiu of Budget Barbie fame right smack in the middle front row with the dyed hair ends! 🙂 944505_10151711339055829_1661651939_n

Here’s a shot of me and the beautiful stage setting after the show ended. 942710_10151711336920829_2064818634_n

And then we proceeded backstage where groups of bloggers and guest got paired with the cast for a up close and personal tour! Here’s the actor for Lurch! He was super cute in the musical as a “silent” actor speaking in gibberish and mad waving hands. There was this scene where he bursts into a song and it was amazing too! <3

1016316_10151711338900829_681595366_n

Close up of the stage!1005197_10151711337145829_614969174_n

Close-r up of the buildings! Blair the actress playing the role of Alice who brought us on the tour told us that the scene of New York was true to life and she can recognize the street where she lives in and even pointed to us the exact spot! Amazing details!581420_10151711337505829_1286379954_n

Blair and I 🙂968990_10151711337395829_734724756_n

Another one 🙂 1005441_10151711338080829_1935670188_n

Here with Amanda Burton who acted with Grandma! And this is her really cool moving table of potions and what nots! 968990_10151711337575829_976613648_n

Here’s the torture wall where Pugsley enjoys his morning torture ritual administered by Wednesday, the setting of the act where Wednesday sings the lovely song “Pulled”. 995747_10151711337635829_1968774386_n

Here’s the white ball which stands in for the moon which Uncle Fester is in love with! Blair told us how in one show the moon burst and was completely deflated! Fortunately the team managed to fix it in time for the next show. 🙂 I was amazed at how the ball was maneuvered and now seeing the stick from the back makes perfect sense. That’s why I love backstage tours! 🙂 943629_10151711338645829_2125671054_n

The torture seat owned by Mr Addams! In the show, the lever when pulled down will release a chopper up from the seat! Scary, creepy and amazing. 😛

1004497_10151711338300829_1114480203_n

Here I am, sadly imprisoned behind the Addam gate, which opens to the burial place of the Addams ancestors in the musical. 1009793_10151711339205829_36535064_n

My sister and I had great fun at the musical and backstage tour! Thanks to Resorts World Sentosa for inviting us!

Follow RWS’s Facebook page here for exciting updates! They are having their yearly Halloween special at USS soon, so keep a look out for that! 🙂

If you catch this post in time, The Addams Family musical ends today, 28 July Sunday! The last I checked, seats are still available for their matinee show but sold out for their last show in the evening! Book your tickets here!

That’s all for now!

Be Beautiful, Inside & Out!

<3

Ena

23 Things I’ve learnt on my 23rd Birthday

Hello!

20130717-015625.jpg

It’s my birthday today! And I’m going to share 23 things to kick start this day. Hahaha. This is a post inspired by a blogger called Charlie! 🙂

Ok before I launch into the list, 2 updates! I got confirmed from my last job interview, and I’m going to start work this Friday! Praise The Lord! But I feel a bit worried and uneasy.. Worried that I might not feel comfortable with the job, worried that I might not perform to par. But I also am excited to start work, as I’ve “holiday-ed” for 2 months and 2 weeks now! Heheh. And also excited to contribute to society through my work and income. HAHA. 😀 second update is that I’ve sent my lappy to fix at my dad’s friend’s repair shop… Hopefully it can be fixed ! So I’m blogging from my phone now:)

Ok! Here we go!:

1. Being 23 doesn’t feel much older than say being 22.

I honestly had a whole lot of ideas for this post but suddenly have a mind blank. -.-

2. There will be fears and there will be dreams. Don’t let the fears stop you from accomplishing your dreams by taking steps one by one to make your dreams come true.

3. Friends are important but friends will also disappoint you. And when they do,
it’s ok. Your life will not topple neither will it dissolve. If there are conflicts and you have done your part to try to resolve things then breathe in, take things in your stride and move on. Recognize that God has blessed you with more than one group of friends and while some friendships may wither it also means that other friendships can blossoms!

4. Family is important to me. I may grumble at my parents and find them annoying and exasperating at times but I also love them dearly and sometimes I fear the day that they will die and wonder how I will cope with it (sorry If this is too morbid for you) but most days now I just think about how long more they have to live, how meaningful a life they have and how much I must treasure them and not waste our time together by being angry or having negative emotions.

5. It is also totally not worth it to be spiteful toward my family(or anyone). Being humorous and happy is far better. 😀 #didyouknow Humour in a relationship is what helps to resolve conflicts and allow relationships to go the distance?

6. My relationship with God is precious. Being rebellious and not spending time on quiet time because I feel that I have too much to handle is not worth it. Being dependent on him and trusting him is far more fulfilling.

7. That does not mean that everything in life and my ministry in church is perfect. But having a grounded relationship with God is the first and most important thing. That said it also doesn’t mean that I now know everything that I need to do and do them.

8. In my last 22 years I’ve swung the bat from both ends of the extreme. I’ve gone from trying to do everything. To doing nothing. But I figured doing nothing is not my style at all. Having too much time on my hands makes me uncomfortable and I don’t feel good at all. So i try to hit a balance. And taking it easy.

9. In a friendship, it takes two to tango. You can’t always be the one to initiate conversations and dinner meetings. And there’s a limit to how many times you can bear being the “pursuer” in the friendship before you feel you are devaluing yourself when the other party is unreciprocative.

10. When that happens, when you feel said friend isn’t reciprocating, it’s not always your fault. Don’t think it’s your fault. Friendship is supposed to be natural. When you have done your part and your “friend” doesn’t return the kindness and favor, you need to question why you bother and if the “friend” of yours treat you like one at all. Sometimes it’s not your friendship skills or your personality that’s the problem.

11. To develop a love relationship you need to first learn how to develop a friendship. The rules of developing a love relationship applies to a friendship as well. Best is to be friends before you become lovers. I may generalize but most guys will not spend time on you as friends if you reject them as lovers.

12. I have been single for the last/first 22 years of my life. Partly it’s because I’ve rejected guys ranging from one wanting to be my boyfriend within one week of knowing me, another still hung up on his ex, some(yes more than one, unfortunately, depending on how you see it, for me or for their gfs) still dating their gfs but will still spend time texting and asking girls out. I obviously avoid them like a virus when I find out. Partly it is also because I don’t like the guys that like me and neither do the guys that I like, like me back. 🙁

Digressing: Said guy who wanted to be my bf within one week of knowing me, back when we were 15, he threatened to commit suicide if I didn’t speak to him on the phone for an hour during our O level exams period. Since then, I’ve stopped responding to anyone who will threaten me with suicide threats. I’ve learnt to encourage them to see a psychiatrist instead. :p

13. When a guy likes you, he will most definitely take the initiative to contact you. SMS, FB, whatever. You don’t have to worry, does he like you or not. You will know it. Neither do you have to worry if he will stop liking you. If he really likes you, nothing you do will make him stop liking you. But the reverse is true, if he doesn’t like you, it is unlikely that he will be touched by things you do.

14. Honesty is the best policy. Just be who you are and people will like you for it, or not. But no point pleasing people who don’t like you, and if you do, you will have to constantly do it which is not worth it at all.

15. That said, I subscribe to the policy that having a friend is better than an enemy. Don’t burn your bridges because you never know when you might need one. Although some may argue no point keeping a rotten bridge… It is also true that for the bridges I have burned before, I don’t foresee myself ever needing them. But then I may be speaking too early. Still, try not to burn your bridges.

16. I have made my fair share of mistakes. I have been rude to people who have been rude to me. But if time could turn back, I’d choose to be cordial. Some people say that’s hypocrisy. But I think that’s being polite and professional. I may not be able to control how others treat me, but I can control my response to them.

17. It’s ok to make mistakes. Really. It’s not the end of the world when you do. Just know how to learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat them and be better next time. Life is a life long learning process! 🙂

I am left with 5 points and am running out of things to say… :p

18. The Addams Family was my first musical. I enjoyed it. But I enjoyed the media call and the backstage tour with the cast even more. ^^

19. The two months of waiting for a job and the long job decision process is a humbling one. On one hand I am privileged to be able to choose what job I want, but on the other, waiting can be trying. However I am thankful because its this process that led me to my confirmed job in an industry that excites me. And also it is in waiting that my faith and trust in God is refined and increased.

20. I used to want to plan my life and have things happen “this way and that and by this time and that” but now I’ve learnt to take things one at a time and step by step. While I can still plan things in the long term, but it can be silly when God doesn’t allow it to happen. It doesn’t mean I lie back and do nothing, (I applied for this one by asking the director/boss for “a job” through LinkedIn and they just nice had a job up for fill!) but it also does mean that I am not constantly worrying what’s going to happen to me and if it happens, it will happen. If the job is going to be mine, nothing can stop me from it. But if it isn’t, then nothing can make it mine either.

21. Life is what you make it to be. Your perspective on things and on your life is one of the major determining factor of whether you can achieve “success” (no matter how you define it). As Henry Ford says, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

22. The people and environment we are in influence us to become who we are. We become more like the people we hang around with and the shows we watch, the books we read and the images we see. So be wise with whom you spend your time with and what you spend your time on.

Last one! So it’s going be something future-focused.

23. I may be embarking on a full time paid job but I have not lost sight of being an entrepreneur someday. I don’t know how and what I’ll be doing to get me there but I know three things for sure, 1. I’ll need to meet the right team of people, 2. provide a product or service that solves a solution and 3. overcome my fears by taking action! I may not succeed upon my first enterprise but that is a risk I will have to take when the time comes! 🙂

That is all! I hope you enjoyed reading this one!

😉

Be beautiful, inside & out!

<3,
Ena

Catch The Cranky & Kooky Addams Family @ RWS only showing till the 28th July!

Sponsored review

20130711-171126.jpg
Opening Act “When You’re an Addams”

This morning I went down to Resort World Sentosa for The Addams Family media call as a blogger. It’s my first time attending a media call as a blogger and I was so happy and thrilled to watch the cast present 3 items and to get to interview the cast after! 😀

I present to you video excerpts of the first 2 items presented!

Item 1: Opening Act “When You’re An Addams”

Item 2: “Pulled” It features the adorable Addam Siblings Wednesday & Pugsley during their morning torture ritual which Pugsley enjoys and how it is changing because Wednesday is falling in love! Very cute and funny!

Excerpt of Interview with Lurch. I found it immensely amusing because he’s just mumbling / speaking gibberish! Which is also very cute!

A little more about the Addams Family musical, it is based on the bizzare and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. It began performances in March 2010 in America and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway’s biggest hits.

“Classic, full tilt, fast paced, old fashioned musical comedy!”- Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune

I am enthralled by the performances put up by the cast today! The introduction booklet featuring the cast and crew shows a very impressive cast with a lot of credits, like almost every individual has more than 3 shows worth of stage experience so you know it’s really a top notched cast. I can’t wait to watch the full musical coming Saturday afternoon with my sister!

20130711-172239.jpg
With the Addams Siblings! ^^

Interview with the Addams Siblings, Pugsley & Wednesday

Actor Jeremy Todd Shinder as Pugsley Addams
Actress Jennifer Fogarty (JF) as Wednesday Addams

Question for Jeremy Todd Shinder (JTS) as Pugsley:
Ena: Do you require any special diet for your role as Pugsley Addams?
JTS: No, I just eat and stay the way I am. I’ve been told I can put on more weight as the character of Pugsley is a heavy boy but I like the way I am now and intend to remain like that.
(Ena: I have a strong feeling that we’ll be seeing JTS grow up to be a tall young man, we’ll see, if he does continue on in his career in Broadway/acting!)
JF: It’s important that the cast is chosen and picked for how they are even before the musical, so Jeremy doesn’t have to put on or lose additional weight.

Question for Jennifer Fogarty:
Ena: Is there anything you wish to do or look forward to during your free time in Singapore?
JF: Oh yes! I’ve already explored Universal Studios and Sentosa with the tour team and I’m looking forward to visit Chinatown.
Ena: You should also visit Marina Bay Gardens & the Supertrees!
JF: Yeah and those! Basically looking forward to explore beyond the 4 train stations in Sentosa! *wide smile*

During the interview, we also found out that Jeremy Todd Shinder is only 11! How very talented he is for his young age and fortunate to be able to tour internationally as an actor! 🙂

Jennifer Fogarty is 26 years old but she definitely looks much younger, like a fresh graduate! I think partly it is because of her petite frame and big beautiful eyes and her wide smile. 🙂
Her eyes and face reminds me of Emma Stone. 🙂

The Addams Family cast will be heading towards Guangzhou after their Singapore leg. Wishing them all the best!

The Addams Family musical started on July 9 and runs till 28 July 2013. So grab your tickets from Sistic while seats lasts! 🙂

Many thanks to Resort World Sentosa for the invitation to the media call and tickets for the show! 🙂

Let me know if you plan to catch the show and how you find it after you do!

<3,
Ena

An Announcement

I’ve been wanting to write this for quite some time now but I didn’t quite feel I needed to publish it, or let people know about it until really today.

The rather important announcement I have to make, which I began to feel the impetus, an unshakable obligation, is that *drum rolls please*……

I have changed.

Ena Teo, more commonly known as Teo Jia En in real life, offline, has irrevocably changed.

I wrote a pretty long personal reflection at the end of last year, now shelved somewhere in a folder on my desktop that the people I’ve met last year has changed me more than I’ve changed them. I’ve been changed more than what I think we collectively can imagine.

Like it or not, people have an insidious influence on others.

So how have I changed? You may ask.

I have changed from bring a naive, trusting, innocent, un-beguiling girl to an aware, skeptical, doubtful, assuming person.

I’ve become more like those who made me this way.

I’ve become less of who I was – that purity and innocence that I embodied were taken for granted, mocked, despised, spat on, ripped out and apart.

And people will look at the change in me and wonder. Not that they have actually done so, but I imagine. “What has happened to the Jia En of the past? What has happened to you? You were never quite so mean or bitchy. Why are you like that now?”

You want to know what happened?

Life happened.

I find it even more ironic that a close friend, whom I trust very much, told me not to lose that purity and innocence. I don’t doubt the sincerity of her heart. But coming from another like the who I am now, where is the validity of that statement?

Essentially, how can you expect another to be pure and innocent when you also are no longer, in this dark and tainted world?

In case you are wondering at this point about purity and innocence, I refer to mental and spiritual, not physical or sexual.

I debated within myself for months. I was evasive. I evaded having to face, how to reconcile the fact of others mocking my “nice-ness” to them by lying quite blatantly and repeatedly in my face. The saying in mandarin “Good people have no good returns” still ring quite soundly in my ears. To say I’m used to being taken for granted, or my kind actions to be taken for granted is an understatement.

So I did make a decision, not quite decisively, but rather naturally, logically. That I was never going to be the stupid fool giving out free love and care to the “un-deserving”. Not especially if I’ve come to see that she doesn’t appreciate it.

Yes everyone deserves a chance. Yes I still choose to see the world as a half full cup and people I meet at the first time as a 10/10 before negative experiences with them diminish the invisible count.

But I’ve become harsher, stricter with the people around me. If you use me, and I know it, for the second time after, I’ve said good bye to you in my heart. I’m just not going to initiate communication with you.

If you are giving me excuse, and expecting me to be the Jia En of the past, the nice one, the giving in one, the weak, the pushover.

This is the announcement I’m here to make. She’s gone.

This week made me grow up.

Made me really realize this change is here to stay.

Made me realize I’m no longer around to serve everyone, make their day and earn their smiles.

I still will, as a Christian, it is my pleasure to be of service to others.

But I’ve begun to draw a difference from those who are sincere. And those who are not.

People who are not sincere and out to exploit my niceness, please get out. You are not welcomed. You can say your good bye.

And now where I am, I have realized I’ve grown guts to say. No wait, I haven’t actually grown guts per se, they were always there, just hidden. Now I acknowledge I have the guts to say, if you are doing something wrong, to me, to the world, whatever, just something wrong, I’ll just state it as it is.

This rationale is flawed. I acknowledge that I am flawed. So yes you might have recognized by now that I’ve become like one of those defensive, oversensitive types. Perhaps over thinking and thinking the worse of others in order not to be taken advantage of. I doth agree.

Yes, I’ve become more self aware, selfish. Whatever happened to the biblical saying that if someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn over the left to him? What about the, forgive your brother up to 7×7 (meaning forever) times?

Id like to bring up that the bible also teaches one to be as gentle as doves but as cunning as snakes. You certainly have to lose some battles to win some battles but you certainly DON’T consistently let another play you like a fool when you know you are played.

Christianity is about love, receiving God’s love and showing God’s love to others. It is not about allowing others to take advantage of your pure and kind nature for their own agenda. It is not. Christians are not pushovers. In fact we are anything but that. I do humbly think if you have offended a Christian you should be thankful he or she is one and able to forgive and let go, simple because we recognize that God has forgiven our sins and remember them no more.

I digress.

I am not going to harp on this topic any longer than I should. I am going end with a few thoughts.

Firstly, I speak up for all who can relate to how I feel. For those who can’t, stop assuming your nice friends will always forever be nice to you and you gawk and wonder whatever in heavens happened to them when they are nice no more one day.

Secondly if you know one of these nice people, stop exploiting them and I mean it. Start appreciating them and asking them how you can offer them any help back in return. Stop mocking them behind their backs and say “omg why is he or she so dumb by being so nice?” You are the dumber one who is receiving help from this supposedly dumb person. And if you hear such talk, don’t participate in it, say you think otherwise, thank and compliment the nice person instead! We have to learn to stand up against negative talk and stand up for what’s right!

Lastly, if you are reading this and you can totally relate, please comment and tell me about what you’ve been through, how you are coping or you’ve coped and if you think you’re still nice to all or nice with a differentiation (like me).

I’ve not stopped being nice. I don’t think you should either. I just think people should stop exploiting nice people. Nice people should stop letting others exploit them. Stand up for what’s right.

Enabalista Blog 2012 in review

Hello!

Enjoy the last day of the year 2012 and have a great 2013 everyone!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 28,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 6 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

<3,
Ena

EDD | Faux Fur For The Faux Winter

Today’s EDD photos are taken on my school, Lasalle compounds in my favourite furry dress, a few weeks back. I bought it last year at Far East Plaza and although I couldn’t think of any occasion to wear it, I did when I was in Korea earlier this year in March. I’m wearing it here again when the weather in Singapore turns colder towards the end of the year, faux winter I say. 🙂

Ena Final Mid Terms Presentation Photos

Gifted Gilot Necklace Silver GAS Bijoux necklace, furry leopard dress, faux fur lined boots from Korea.

0.365x365

Gilot Necklace Silver GAS Bijoux, available here. Unfortunately sold out, but you can check out the other styles on their website.

2295-collier-mini-love-silver-one-size-1_d235

Collier Mini Love Silver Gas Bijoux available here.

3073-collier-ham-white-1_d235

HAM Necklace, Gas Bijoux available here.

For fur lined boots, see here at Shopstyle and here at ASOS.

Similar military but non fur lined boots, from Korea available on Zalora for the coming Spring season here.

Final Mid Terms Presentation Photos

With Bini & Christabelle.

Ena Final Mid Terms Presentation Photos 2

Candid shot with Christabelle. ^^

<3,

Ena

B’s La Luxe Vita Birthday

Bini La Luxe Vita

Hello!

This year, my best friend in Lasalle, Bini threw a luxe party at Marina Bay Sand’s Ku de ta, treating a cozy group of her closest friends to dinner and after dinner drinks! 🙂

I count myself very blessed to have B as my best friend, having gone through most parts of Lasalle together and many similar friendship related mis-experiences/dramas that I’m sure in time to come, we will look back in laughter and hopefully fondness as well.

Check out Bini’s blog here.

I’ll now let the photos do the talking! (:

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday5

Ku de ta has a mix japanese and western fusion cuisine.

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday7Bini's La Luxe Life Bday6

It was really dim inside, very atmospheric, heh.

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday4

Tasty mixed sushi & sashimi appetizer.

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday3

Foie gras! 😀

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday11

Was busy indulging in the other dishes so I didn’t take photos of them! This was the final dessert.

A mixed platter of chcolates, cream, cake, sweet pineapple puree and savory sauce.

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday9

Then the restaurant served up a cake for B! 🙂

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday10

Binibday1Binibday2

Photos taken outside Ku te da restaurant. 🙂

 Bini's La Luxe Life Bday18

Then we went out to the bar side and we celebrated with a double tiered cake prepared by Bini’s bf, served up by the Ku de ta staff. Check out the cake, from 1 Caramel @ Rochester.

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday13

With fireworks! Heh.

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday14 Bini's La Luxe Life Bday15

Happy birthday girl blows out the candles in excitement. ^^

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday16Bini's La Luxe Life Bday17

Taking her birthday wishes very seriously! 🙂

Bini's La Luxe Life Bday19

Face of satisfaction! 🙂
2012-10-30 00.29.10
Posted this series of images on my instagram @ena_teo, after using filter from Poco app. 🙂
Bini's La Luxe Life Bday1
Bini's La Luxe Life Bday2
The beautiful scenery from atop Marina Bay Sands.
Bini's La Luxe Life Bday12
Next to the infinity pool
Following a series of photos by Arjohn, one of Bini’s close and talented graphic designer friend. 🙂
66521_4653562374258_1500124254_n183965_4653581334732_1593631364_n
With the group!
320488_4653613895546_1111934374_n
Girls only.
530853_4653638416159_1735010499_n
Arjohn’s requested photo with the ladies, lol.
561866_4653568294406_1982733251_n
T’was was a beautiful night!
Till the next post,
<3
Ena

Merry Christmas!

 

Ena Merry Christmas

Hello dear readers!

I would like to wish all my readers a very wonderful and blessed Christmas!

May you spend it with your loved ones.

It’s also a season where I am reminded of God’s love for mankind by sending His son, Jesus down to earth to save us. <3

Thank you God.

Now let’s get off the computer and really spend some quality time with our family and friends!

Till the next post!

<3,

Ena

 

EDD | Purple & Pearls

Hello!

Weeks back, while I was Bini’s place, we decided to take photos which would begin “My Daily Dress” which I reterm Ena’s Daily Dress here. 🙂

Just a few photos in this lovely korean purple dress with huge pearls necklace and black heels. 🙂

Happy3Happy5Enabalista Purple & Pearls Outfit 1

I’m so happy and I know it and it shows on my face. 😀

Happy2

Sure I can smile while I’m looking at a plain white wall, why not? 😛


Happy4

I’m on my way to becoming a Tai-tai and I know it! 😛

(Ena: Now taking in applications from rich bachelors for courtship.)

I KID. You are not allowed to quote me on this! ^^

OOTDs are so much fun! Hope you liked this post as much as I enjoyed writing it. HA.

<3,

Ena