Tag Archives: Featured

Hydrated Skin with Asian Skin Solution

Hi Loves!

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Asian Skin Solution for their Hydrocare water boost treatment and it makes me happy to be sharing about this fantastic facial treatment with you all!

There is a very chic waiting area for customers and guests right next to their counter at the entrance area:

After arriving and checking in at the counter, I was ushered into the consultation room for a diagnosis of my skin and its condition.

So the Asian Skin Solution therapist use a device to snap photos of my skin on various spots on my face; forehead, cheek, nose and chin. And the smart diagnosis tool then proceeded to analyse my skin condition based on these factors: Pores, Spots, Wrinkles, Impurities and Keratin.

So apparently my skin condition was not very good. Intensive care is needed with respect to Impurities and Keratin followed by Moisture, Pores, Spots. It was a very sobering diagnosis for my skin condition and I am reminded to drink more water and start taking my collagen supplements religiously again, hahaha! Thankfully the condition of Wrinkles on my skin is Optimum, yay!

After the diagnosis and consultation we proceeded to the private facial room and I changed and prepared for the facial. The Hydrocare Water Boost Treatment includes make up removal (if any), cleansing, misting (to open up your pores), extraction, oxygen jet, massage, mask, application of moisturizer and sunblock.

Having my face cleansed and prepped before misting:

Therapist applying softener to hasten the softening of the skin during misting to prep for extraction, so it will not be so painful.

The application of oxygen jet on my face was a very enjoyable experience~

The hydrating mask was cooling and had a sweet fruity scent:

Very satisfied with the immediate hydrating and brightening effects of the facial!:

Asian Skin Solution also offers their own in-house skincare products; R.Defence sunblock with SPF 35 that whitens and protects skin from harmful UV rays as well as R.H2O serum, a lightweight formula that hydrates the skin instantly for long lasting moisture:

In partnership with the good folks over at Asian Skin Solution, we are giving away this very pampering session by Asian Skin Solution – Hydrocare Water Boost Treatment for just $38 (actual price at $250)! Kindly PM to Asian Skin Solution Official Facebook Page for redemption with this code <ASS-Ena>, limited to the first 20 readers/followers! And if you would like to have a bottle of complimentary exclusive R.Genes serum (actual price at $150) during treatment, be sure to give Asian Skin Solution official Facebook Page a thumbs up and share! **Terms and Conditions Apply. Results of treatment do vary for each individual.

Overall I will definitely recommend Asian Skin Solution’s Hydrocare Water Boost Treatment for its deeply hydrating and immediately brightening effects. I find that this hydrating facial is a very safe treatment for most local asian skin types in our hot and humid weather. I also look forward to going back to Asian Skin Solution next time to check if my skin diagnosis improves with treatments in time!

You can visit Asian Skin Solution at their outlets here:

Asian Skin Solution @ Paya Lebar Square (Paya Lebar MRT) 60 Paya Lebar Road #B1-37/40/41, S(409051)

Asian Skin Solution @ Square 2 (Novena MRT) 10 Sinaran Drive #03-11/19, S(307506)

Be sure to call in first to book your appointment before heading down! You can contact them via their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/AsianSkinSolution/

Thank you Asian Skin Solution for this review invitation and sponsorship!

x
Ena

For Vitality & Radiance – Hao Yi Kang’s Collagen Beauty Essence

Hi Loves!

Today I’d like to share about a new beauty supplement in the market – Hao Yi Kang’s Collagen Beauty Essence!

Before we go into the Collagen Beauty Essence let me share a little about the brand.

Hao Yi Kang is the official sole distributor of Lao Xie Zhen products. Established in 1928, Lao Xie Zhen is a well-known brand in Taiwan. Being in the industry for 9 decades, Lao Xie Zhen prides itself for bringing the best to its consumers, as a favorable and trustworthy brand.

And more about the Premium Ingredients that’s found in the Collagen Beauty Essence here:

Hao Yi Kang’s Collagen Beauty Essence is a proprietary formula that consists of Japan patented Nano Collagen Peptide and 4 plant-based ingredients that are rich in Plant Polyphenols and Vitamin C to achieve glowing radiance from within.

Beauty Collagen Essence

Proprietary Formula from Japan Formulated with Collagen, Plant Polyphenols & Vitamin C to boost production and absorption of collagen by the body

Premium Collagen

Purest and highest grade of Japan Patented Nano Fish Collagen Peptide 5000mg

Lower molecular weight allows quicker absorption of collagen into the body within 1 hour

Plant-based Ingredients

Beetroot, Figs, Hawthorn & Acerola Cherries

100% Natural

No preservatives, additives & artificial colouring Zero fats & cholesterol

Benefits

❑ Achieve anti-aging

❑ Protect against radical damage

❑ Improve skin complexion & elasticity

❑ Lock in skin moisture & prevent loss of collagen

❑ Promote natural collagen production within the body

❑ Repair joints

❑ Aid in digestion

❑ Boost metabolism

❑ Aid in iron absorption

❑ Help with wound healing

Suggested Intake 

A sachet before breakfast
Start the day with beauty and vitality

A sachet right before bed.
Wake up to a glowing complexion.

20s Beauty Plan:

Build up skin foundation Consume 1 pack every 2 days

30s Beauty Plan:

Maintain youthful skin Consume 1 pack daily

40s Beauty Plan:

Pair 1 pack daily with our Chicken Essence for a nourished and radiant complexion.

I’ve been taking this Collagen Beauty Essence almost daily for more than week now. It’s beetroot in colour and tastes like a sweet fruit concentrate – you can’t smell or taste the nano fish collagen at all! I usually have it in room temperature in the morning on an empty stomach. I like the added boost of energy that I get from drinking this beauty essence in the morning and I find that my skin is also more hydrated from within.

I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a Collagen Beauty Essence supplement especially if you are unable to have a healthy diet due to your lifestyle and need a booster. It will also make a great pre-wedding or get well soon gift for friends! 

Thank you Hao Yi Kang for the products for review! Visit their website and shop here~

X

Ena 

Of Gratitude, Celebration & Hope

Two months ago I celebrated my 30th Birthday and I was inspired by a friend who prepared an E-book last Christmas to compile a few of my favourite proses, poems and quotes, along with a few photos I took in the recent past.

Hope you will like them as much as I do.

Love,
Ena

Celebrating Father’s Day with 8 Crabs

On Monday night, my family and I celebrated an early Father’s Day over a sumptuous 8 Crabs dinner feast!

Two nights before, my sister and I sat down in her room and scrolled through 8 Crabs’ website to check out their menu – they have plenty to offer!

8 Crabs Website

We booked for a 6-7PM delivery slot as my parents have a tendency to eat an early dinner. Dinner arrived early at 5.45PM, delivered by a friendly deliveryman. While preparing to plate the dishes I also asked my Dad to put on a shirt for photo-taking, haha!

Our 8 Crabs dinner feast in their boxes before plating.
Our advance Father’s Day Dinner after Plating

From L-R; We ordered their 8 Crabs Award-Winning Chilli Crab in Extra-Large ($88) 1 piece of Extra Large sized crab is approximately 900g-1kg(Live), 2 sets of Fried Man Tou ($6/set), Salted Fish Fried Rice – Small ($6), Mee Goreng – Small ($6), Sambal Kang Kong – Small ($10) & Butter Battered Calamari – Small ($14). Doesn’t the meal look more appetising after plating? I don’t recommend doing this every evening, but definitely worth the trouble on special occasions like this one!

8 Crabs Chilli Crab

8 Crabs Chilli Crab did not disappoint! The crab came Extra Large as ordered and my family couldn’t finish it. The meat was sweet and fresh, the sauce was thick and flavourful, Overall I find that the chilli sauce was sweet and not spicy, which makes it good for sharing with the family if you have elderly or younger children in tow!

8 Crabs Fried Man Tou with Chilli Crab Sauce

The man-tous were also fried to perfection, with a golden brown exterior and soft on the inside. They definitely paired perfectly with the sweet chilli sauce!

8 Crabs’ Extra Large Crab Pincer

A little fun fact at this point, 8 Crabs pride themselves in serving grade AAA premium Sri Lankan sourced wild crabs that’s prepared by 5 star chefs, offering the best value on the planet.”

8 Crabs’ Salted Fish Fried Rice

My family and I were very impressed by 8 Crab’s Salted Fish Fried Rice generous portion for its small size. This dish is on the oilier side, so if you are looking to order this, I suggest to balance the meal out with another gravy based dish like their Gravy Hor Fun or Clayout Beancurd.

8 Crabs’ Mee Goreng

8 Crabs’ Mee Goreng also came in a very generous portion for small size. The noodles also added a nice variety in addition to having Fried Rice for carbs. It’s flavourful without being spicy.

8 Crabs’ Sambal Kang Kong

8 Crabs’ Sambal Kang Kong comes with a very flavourful deep broth sauce that goes very well with the Salted Fish Fried Rice!

8 Crabs’ Butter Battered Calamari

8 Crabs’ Butter Battered Calamari is my family’s another favourite after the Chilli Crab – it’s crispy on the outside and soft inside. The squid is very fresh and tender. My mum and sister particularly likes the seasoned veggies on the side – they thought that it was a very nice touch to this dish! My sister also added Chilli Lime sauce to the mayonnaise to make a spicy creamy sauce to pair with the calamari.

Daddy & Mummy with the 8 Crabs Feast <3
And one more with le sis and I~ <3

In conclusion, 8 Crabs’ dinner feast definitely felt very worth-while! The highlight and star of the dinner, 8 Crabs’ Chilli Crab in Extra Large is delicious and came in a huge portion – so big that my sister and I had a seafood pasta dinner the following evening with the remaining chilli sauce. The carb dishes came in very generous portions as well, the meal we ordered could certainly feed 5-6 people comfortably. We realized on hindsight that we ordered too many fried dishes, so we recommend you to order some gravy dishes to balance out the meal. If you’re looking for a more affordable Crab restaurant with an approved Chilli Crab dish, do check them out!

8 Crabs’ Dedicated Fathers’ Day Site: https://fathersday.8crabs.com/

If you’re considering to order a Crab Feast for your Dad this Father’s Day, be sure to head over to 8 Crabs’ dedicated site here.

Have a great one with your family, and blessed Fathers’ Day to you (if you’re a Dad) and your Dad in advance!

Disclaimer: Thanks 8 Crabs for sponsoring vouchers for this meal! All views and opinions are my own. 🙂

Planning Your International Trip Right

Hi guys! It’s been a long while since my last post isn’t it? I just came back from a long holiday and thought it apt to share about planning an international trip!

Planning Your International Trip Right

What is everyone’s travel nightmare when it comes to travelling internationally? When everything doesn’t seem to add up correctly. Mind you, this isn’t about getting mugged or scammed out of your money, but more on the preparations phase you might have planned poorly before your anticipated trip. Hence in today’s entry, I’d like to raise a few pointers you might want to take into consideration when you plan your international travel, especially if this is your first trip!

Before we get into the thrill of travelling the world, we might have the perspective that to travel, all you need to do is hop on any cheap flights we can find, and off we go for an adventure. However it might be more complex than that, especially when you’re going to somewhere beyond your own country’s borderlines. Lucky for you, I’ve round up this simple checklist for you!

1. The basics: Where? When? How?

Where? – Even spontaneous traveller needs to have a destination in mind before embarking on one. The reason for being sure of where the destination? Well, from knowing just the “Where”, you get to get an overview of what are the things you might need to bring. Let’s say you’re planning to go to Bali. Bali is a beautiful island, hence you know you won’t be needing a lot of fancy clothes because you’ll be spending a lot of time in a beach environment.

When? – Unlike Singapore where we’re pretty much on a one-season basis, other countries might not be so simple. If you’re travelling to the Philippines, you will definitely need to know the seasons they have. You do not want to go there during June because all you’ll be seeing is rainy clouds.

How? – This does not mean the type of transportation you will need because, for international destinations, we both know the main transport you will be boarding is on those with wings. My recommendation based on track record and general demand? SilkAir. Now, this is not the only recommendations I have, but one of it. SilkAir Singapore flights provide all the facilities you need to make your long-haul flights comfortable. I’ll be exploring this bit later in the “Choosing your airline” section.

2. Choosing your airline

Like my previous point, I recommend SilkAir; however, that is one of the many recommendations I have under my belt. Each airline serves different purposes, and SilkAir is one of those that provide well above average services for international routes. You can find cheap Singapore to Bali flights in any channels, be it their official website to the several online travel agency that serves their tickets like Traveloka for example.

Why is airline so important to take into consideration?

Three words: Quality services provided.

International routes, especially those that cross between 4 to 8 hours will be a pain to you physically and mentally if their services are below average – like, way below. You cannot run away from a crappy service because you are literally thousands of feet off the ground! Hence, I’m going straight to the point and listed the services that SilkAir provide well for their flyers.

SilkAir Services:

1. Seating class: Economy vs Business

Their Economy class provides great comfort with their width between 17-18 inches. It gives you plenty of legroom and pretty spacious for your kids if you are travelling with children. Their Business class on the other hand, of course, provide greater comfort with an extra legroom space and seating width between 20-22 inches. In a specific type of airline, their Business class seats even come with additional seat recline.

2. In-flight amenities: Dining and Entertainment

When it comes to food, SilkAir knows the best way to someone’s heart is through the stomach. SilkAir provides large varieties of food choices that could cater to the crazy foodies and those under special diet preferences. Be sure to give them a heads up if you are a vegetarian or allergic in some sort of way with certain food. With varieties of food also comes with a variety of drinks. Be it alcohol-based or juices, you will have the free flow you need to ensure your liquid intake is as satisfactory as your food intake.

When it comes to entertainment, I’m pretty sure you’ll get all the basic stuff you need to make your trip runs smoothly. SilkAir entertainment inventory is packed with the latest movies from various genres. You’re not into movies? Hard to believe but not impossible. There is also an extensive collection of audiobooks and music that could give you some relaxing entertainment.

3. A checklist may seem nerdish, but they are also called smart

Create your travel checklist. This checklist does not necessarily mean how many pair of clothes you have to bring or how many bottles of sunscreen you are going to need. This checklist marks its existence before, during and after your trip. From creating your visa to listing down your medical supplies; from having a checklist for your day-to-day activities at your destination to a checklist containing emergency contacts should things get a bit unpredictable, or even merely a checklist to get you through the airport or immigration. A checklist is your friend; let it be your friend!

So, there you have it. It is a brief anecdote to get you prepped up for your international flights. Either you’re new to travelling or even have been frequent travellers, all in all, we need to make thorough preparations. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, but, trust me, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Better to have a headache now than later when you’re in a foreign land.

Anyways, happy holidays, everyone! Have fun & stay safe always! 

x

Ena

P.S. This post was written in partnership with Traveloka.

Dejavu comes true for The Lion King

I’ll be catching The Lion King tonight and it’s gonna be a a deja vu experience come true for me!

Quite a while ago, I vividly remember dreaming about watching The Lion King musical in a setting that resembles the Sands Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, I remember the actors dressed up in animal like costumes running down the aisle to interact with the audience – it was all too real! So when I received the invitation to watch the musical a few weeks back, I remarked to my bestie that it’s a deja vu coming true for me!

I’m really excited about walking the red carpet and catching the Lion King grand premiere, touted as the World’s #1 musical with my bestie tonight! 🙂

The Lion King runs for a month starting from today until 26 August 2018, tickets start, from $65 get your tickets on Sistic website here!

x

Ena

If you’re a fan of AVATAR…

…You should catch TORUK – The First Flight Cirque Du Soleil performance inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR!

I’ve shared a quick review on my IG and I’m reposting it here. ☺️

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I caught TORUK – The First Flight Cirque Du Soleil performance inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR! The storyline follows the 3 leads as they traverse 5 tribes on the Moon to collect amulets and rescue their universe and we’re captivated by the amazing stage set up, lightning and props that makes the 5 tribes, their creatures and terrain come alive! ⛰

My favourite scene is the one where the performers play with Aerial Silks that are reminiscent of flowers and butterflies and make me appreciate nature once again!

We also got to engage and be immersed in the experience with the special TORUK app, shining lights on our phones during parts of the show. ✨

If you’re a fan of AVATAR be sure to catch this show before it ends its run on 3rd June!

Thanks Mediacorp & Vizpro for the tickets, you can get yours from here, prices from $98 to $188!

GRWM – Winter Skincare Routine

Hi guys!

Last month I was visiting my sister in London and decided to film a Get Ready With Me – Winter Skincare Routine!

If you’re planning to head someone cold or you’re currently in somewhere cold, check out my recommendations for Winter Skincare!

Let me know what Your Winter skincare recommendations / must have are in the comments below!

x

Ena

Delicious Seafood at Kelly Jie Seafood (Formerly Toa Payoh Mellben)

Hi guys!

How’s Chinese New Year going for you so far? It’s Chu Er (Day 2) evening and I’ve been feasting since Chu Xi Ye (Chinese New Year Eve)!

Speaking of feasting, I want to take some time to blog about my recent visit at Kelly Jie Seafood (Formerly Toa Payoh Mellben). My impression of Mellben Seafood started with Mellben @ Prince Edward about 3 years ago, I fell in love with their Creamy Butter Crab (Sooo good) and have always thought highly of Mellben after that experience. So when I was invited to try out Kelly Jie Seafood’s new dishes, I was very excited to see what’s in store. Boy, I must say I was not disappointed!
Kelly Jie Seafood (Formerly Toa Payoh Mellben Seafood)

We were welcomed with Lime Juice and Barley, I had the Lime Juice which was sweet and refreshing and not just a sugary cordial that you might expect.

For starters, we had Wasabi Prawn which was served warm, so it was slightly crispy and the taste of wasabi was just nice, it was not overpowering or too much that might induce a cough. Also, isn’t the presentation just so pretty? I was not expecting a fine dining presentation at all.Next up, we had Truffle Pork Loin and boy, this is good! First of all the pork pieces are so tender and succulent. The truffle taste was not overpowering either and it’s definitely a dish you’d want to order and impress your guests if you’re hosting them for dinner. 🙂

Close up of a piece of tender meat from the Truffle Pork Loin dish.

This is a new dish created by the Kelly Jie chef for Christmas that was so popular, they continued to serve it post Christmas. It’s fried Red Garoupa served with Yuzu sauce, strawberries and garnish. I like the texture of the dish and how the sweetness of the yuzu balances well with the savoury fish. Definitely something different from the usual steamed fish, would recommend if your family / friends / guests are more adventurous with their food. Next up we have another new dish that chef and Kelly Jie are very excited about sharing, Lobster Noodles. (It’s not even on their website’s menu yet, lol)
The lobster meat is tender and fresh. The soup is light (instead of being too rich and creamy that you might become sick of eating halfway through) so if you want to order an entire portion for two or even one, you’ll have no problem finishing it. If you’re a fan of lobsters and soups, I would recommend this.  We also had the privilege to try some of their Chinese New Year goodies, this is the salted egg bitter gourd, which is very interesting!

Review
I was pleasantly surprised by how pretty the dishes looked when they were served, of which Kelly Jie told us that is because Chef is a judge for many competitions (with him being a winner for many as well) which explains why the food doesn’t just taste good but looks good as well. Another big plus point is the location at Toa Payoh, which is centrally located in Singapore, ideal if you are hosting a gathering with guests coming from all over Singapore. I would recommend Kelly Jie for their fresh seafood and innovative, delicious dishes. Also, you must order the Creamy Butter Crab if you haven’t already tried it!

Special thanks to Kelly Jie, Chef, Lucas of Imagine PR for having my friend Keryn and I, and filling our tummies with delicious seafood on a rainy evening!

Be sure to call ahead to make reservations if you’re going in a big group! Details of Kelly Jie Seafood here:

KELLY JIE SEAFOOD
Blk 211 Toa Payoh Lorong 8
#01-11/15, Singapore 310211

OPERATING HOURS
Monday to Friday
4.00pm – 12.00am
(Last Order at 10.45pm)
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday
12.00pm – 12.00am
(Last Order at 10.45pm)
PHONE RESERVATIONS
+65 6353 3120
Visit Kelly Jie Website here.
x
Ena

Achieve Hydrated Glowing Skin with Sothys Hydra3Ha™ Facial Treatment

Hi Loves!

Do you face dry, sensitive or acne skin? When I was younger, I had mild acne skin and in addition to proper skincare routine, facials really helped me to balance the oils in my skin and regain healthy skin.

If you’re looking for a facial salon, you’ll be happy to know that recently I had the privilege to visit the new Sothys Premium Salon Boat Quay and experience Sothys Hydra3Ha™, an intensively hydrating facial treatment which I really enjoyed!

Before I go into the details of the facial, let me share a bit about the Sothys brand. Sothys hails from Paris with over 70 years of history and innovation and they are currently a salon / boutique carried brand in Singapore. I have known about this brand for about 3-4 years and I personally love their Youth Serum – Detox.

Now let’s get to know more about the facial,
Hydra3Ha™ Intensive Treatment
Immerse in an intense hydration experience powered with triple hyaluronic acid. It restores, reactivates and regenerates your skin for an immediate long-lasting effect. Enjoy double serum and triple mask in a SINGLE treatment. Results are instant and lasting at any age.
3-Dimensional hydrating innovation

Proven Efficacy:
– Up to 71% moisture after 1 treatment
– 100% satisfaction on pro-youth hydration after 3 treatments
*Professional evaluation on 15 clients

Now let’s dive into my personal experience with Sothys Hydra3Ha™ Intensive Treatment!

One of the two private treatment rooms at Sothys Premium Salon Boat Quay

Enjoying a relaxing foot spa before the facial

Understanding the Hydra3Ha™ Intensive Treatment and products used before the treatment

Hydra3Ha™ Intensive Treatment Salon Grade Products  used during the treatment

Sothys Beautician Clara ensuring my face and neck area are properly cleansed during the session

Applying Hydrating serum

And Hydrating mask as of the the last steps of the facial

Enjoying a cup of tea after the session in the salon with an incredibly hydrated face!

Review
All in all, Sothys Hydra 3HA hydrating facial at Sothys Premium Salon @ Boat Quay is a luxurious and effective hydrating facial session that takes away all the stress from our hectic city life. Starting with the soothing foot spa, to the intensive hydrating salon grade products and Sothys beautician’s magic touches (which includes a back massage for females) make this facial treatment a much welcome treat. My skin was definitely hydrated and glowing like never before after the treatment. If you’re working at/near Raffles Place or Boat Quay, the  Sothys Premium Salon is only a short walk from both areas!

Sothys Premium Salon Boat Quay
23
 Lorong Telok #01-01 S049035 Singapore
Make your appointments at: +65 6588 3468
Opening Hours 11:30 AM – 8:30 PM

For a limited time only, try the Sothys Hydra3HA Intensive Treatment @ $199 (NP: $315)!

Additionally, they’re also running a promotion for Sothys Essential ampoules (each box is 7x ampoules for 7-day programme):
1 box @ $79 (NP: $89)
2 boxes @ $139 (NP: $178)
4 boxes @ $239 (NP:$356)

Thank you to Sothys Singapore, Sothys Premium Salon Boat Quay & Jessica for making this facial review possible!

x

Ena

Get Your Home Ready For Chinese New Year

Hi guys!

How has your 2018 been so far? If January flew by for you (as it did for me), no worries, it’s but a trial period! 😛 Chinese New Year is now round the corner (16 Feb 2018, in case you’re wondering) and it’s another opportunity to start anew!

With Chinese New Year fast arriving, places to get your Chinese New Year decorations such as Chinatown are beginning to get really crowded! That’s why for this post, I’ve teamed up with the lovely folks at online store Masons Home Decor to share how you can get your home ready for Chinese New Year with these popular decorations, so your guests and you can crush the Instagram game this festive season! 😉 

1. Wall Decoration – Stickers, Scrolls, Banners

 A must have item to usher in the Lunar New Year is a pair of red vertical banners with auspicious phrases written on them. These auspicious phrases would be in Mandarin and would indicate well wishes of joy, good health, and prosperity. The upside down ‘fu’ Mandarin character on a red background in the form of a wall sticker or hanging décor is also extremely popular. This, bundled with the vertical banners/scrolls at your door would be perfect in setting the mood right, and welcoming your guests in style.

Image from Pinterest.com

2. Lanterns

Lanterns provide an oriental touch to any space. Most homes in Singapore are very modern and many may feel that lanterns would not suit the theme of their home décor. There are in the market however, lanterns that look extremely modern. These lanterns are not your usual traditional looking lanterns made of paper or plastic, but they are made of premium fabric. Check out Mason’s premium fabric Chinese New Year lanterns that are perfect in blending in with a modern home décor theme, and at the same time introduce an oriental festive atmosphere.

3. Red Cushions / Bean Bags

As we already know, house visiting is a huge tradition for most Chinese in Singapore. Apart from welcoming guests in style, ensuring that their comfort is not jeopardised would be a big point to note for the host! A change of linens to the red colour or the introduction of red cushions would inevitably bring about the CNY atmosphere. The colour red in the Chinese culture represents fortune and joy. If you would like to go the extra mile in providing comfort, perhaps you could even throw in a red bean bag to allow your space to accommodate to more individuals. After all, bean bags are a comfy home decor tool that can be easily moved around the home!

Image from Potterybarn.com

4. Artificial Flowers

Cherry Blossoms and Peonies are must haves when it comes to floral arrangements for the New Year. Cherry Blossoms signify longevity while Peonies are a representation of good fortune. These are two attributes that many individuals would want! These flowers are also suitable for decorating the home after the festive season ends.

Image from ebay.

5. Pineapple

In the context of Chinese New Year, Pineapples have a deeper meaning than the pineapple tart party. Yes, it is definitely a must have CNY goody, but it is also too a must have CNY décor! Pineapples are known to be lucky items. In some dialects, the term pineapple can be directly translated to ‘prosperity is here’. This is why, you can see hanging pineapple decorations in many shops or offices you visit. Having pineapple decorations all over your home would represent a home that is bound to be blessed with good prosperity and wealth.

If you’d like to beat the crowd outside, you can get your home Chinese New Year ready by shopping from Mason’s array of Chinese New Year decorationsIf you would prefer to get the whole family together to partake in some DIY CNY decoration making, check out this article here Regardless of how you are going to attain your decorations, I hope you have a great time with your family and loved ones this festive season while ushering in the celebrations!

x

Ena

SG Bus Leh? – The App To Use When The Train Breaks Down

If you’re a Singaporean or a local Singapore resident, you know the jokes about MRT breaking down is no longer funny. The reality we live in today is that the trains breakdown are more of the norm, than not. 🙁

I am not a hater or online keyboard warrior that goes about trashing the government body (Land Transport Authority) or the MRT company (SMRT) for all the train breakdowns. If you know me, I am much more of a realist and pragmatist – I don’t whine about the problems. When I see a problem, I rather much focus on what steps to take next, to find a solution or go around the problem, you know?

When the train breaks down, Grab or Uber ride prices escalates pretty high, pretty fast due to the unexpected demand, so I would opt for taking bus rides especially if you’re not in a hurry!

So, without further ado, I want to introduce to you SG Bus Leh?, a super cute app that will help us to board and alight a bus on time!

As I’m an Apple IPhone user, I will share my personal experience using this app before sharing more features available on the Andriod version! (I hate it when there are differences on the two iOS, but I have to accept that because there are a lot of restrictions places on Apple’s system.)

  1. Search Bus Stop

Starting from the furthest right tab, <Search>. Simply type in Keywords and they will give you a few options for you to zoom in to the right stop / interchange to see what buses are available and when the next few buses are arriving.

2. Find Bus Stops Nearby

Another handy feature to locate bus stops is under this <Nearby> tab. I also really like how they even include details like “Bendy” for long  buses and “Double” for double deckers. Cool, huh?

3. Add your Favourites stops! 

<Favourites> is probably my favourite (no puns intended!) tab! This is so handy because instead of constantly searching for the same few bus stops you commute to and fro from, you can save your favourites there!

How to add your Favourite stops:

Step A: Search for your favourite stop

Go to <Search> and locate your favourite bus stop. For this example, I picked <Bedok Stn Exit A> and hit the star icon at the bottom of the list.

Step B. Name your Bus Stop

If you wish to, you may be your own government and rename this bus-stop. HAHA. I am boring today and for the sake of this blog post, I kept the same name.

Step C. Find it in under your Favourites!

Et Voila! Now I can have <Bedok Stn Exit A> easily accessible under my Favourites tab! 😀

What you can do, is to rename the bus stops as “Going Out” & “Coming Back” if your bus stops for going out and coming back are always the same.

4. Check out Lobangs while waiting for your bus.

Seems like pretty legit deals. My favourite is probably the “Spot  & win lifetime ad-free SG BusLeh!” hahaha.

Onwards for more Android features!

5. You can spot your Nearby stops on Google Map.

The Android is able to integrate Google Maps, which makes the app a lot more interactive and cool.

6. It shows you how many more stops the next bus is away!

Because of the Google Maps integration, you can see how many more stops your bus is away from, on the map.

7. The App tells you how many more stops before you alight!

Lol, do you ever get anxiety when you’re on a new or unfamiliar bus route and don’t know which stop to alight and afraid to miss it? Well, this feature solves this problem by helping you to track the route! I am certainly tempted to get an Android phone now, lol.

8. Check EZ-Link Card Balance

Another nifty feature on the Android version is the ability to track your card balance after you sync it with this app. Cool huh?

9. You can pay to remove the ads.

If you’re the kind that pays for Spotify so you don’t have to listen to ads, you might be happy to know that there’s a paid version so you don’t have to see the ads when you open the app!

Last but not the least, if you’re curious to know, SG BusLeh is developed by one of the top local mobile app development singapore consultancy, Originally US. These guys they specialize in designing and developing amazing mobile apps that look and feel great with clients include insurance giant AIA, River Safari, Mediacorp, CPF and Zalora.

You can download your very own SGBusLeh? app on Apple here and Android here.

Many thanks to AM Collective for the introduction and SG BusLeh for sponsoring today’s post.

X

Ena

Unforgettable Authentic Italian Dining Experience At Ricciotti

Are you a fan of pasta and wines? Then today’s post will definitely be of interest to you!

Recently I had the pleasure to revisit Ricciotti and the experience was even better than I had remembered. The first time I visited Ricciotti was for a family dinner years back. The same restaurant has undergone a revamp with a sleeker branding and image, which makes for a great dining spot to also chill and hang out. The restaurant sports an open bar concept and has an incredible collection of 73 (and counting) whisky labels for whisky lovers to pair the delectable Italian dishes with.

If you are craving for authentic handmade Italian pasta and pizzas, look no further. I highly recommend coming with a crowd of four or more so you can order more dishes and share! It is tough to pick a favourite dish, although ultimately it will depend on what your taste preferences are. In case you are wondering, I will highlight what my picks are, in my captions/notes accompanying the photos of dishes we tried below.

If you enjoy wines and have someone to impress, I also recommend calling in to reserve your seats and request for wine pairing – the manager will recommend the best of Italian wines (have I mentioned how much I love Italian wines?) to go with their fine dishes.

All in all, Ricciotti is a modern restaurant and bar that serves authentic Italian cuisine with excellent service and a place that I’ll definitely head back for more!

I don’t always have my fill with bread but I simply couldn’t resist these, which are so soft and delicious.Carpaccio di Manzo, Argentine Beef Carpaccio, 25 Years Aged Balsamic Dressing, Parmesan Cheese, Rocket Salad.

A chef’s recommendation, undoubtedly a popular dish for Italians but not quite my liking.

Polpo e Burrata, Grilled Octopus, Burratina D.O.P, Roasted Cherry Tomato Pesto, Crispy Celery. 

I really like this dish, everything from the fresh octopus, cheese, roasted cherry tomatos and how everything goes together. This dish pairs so well with the Italian white wine we had!

Tortelloni di Bufala. Homemade Buffalo Mozzarella D.O.P. Stuffed Pasta, Cherry Tomato Confit, Pearl Onions, Basil Sauce.

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese.  Homemade Tagliatelle, Beef Ragú Sauce, Parmesan Cheese.

I don’t know if you ever get Bolognese Pasta cravings, but I do and this dish just hits the spot! It’s everything you’d want in a beef bolognese pasta!

Ravioli del Plin. Homemade Beef Stuffed Pasta, Parmesan Cream, Porcini Mushrooms, Veal Jus.

This is my favourite of the three pastas we tried. I might sound like I’m exaggerating, but I’ve been to Italy and I’ve tried other Italian restaurants in Singapore but there’s nothing quite like this dish! I love the flavour of the dish and how the Ravioli goes so well with the mushrooms. Most definitely recommend this dish with some red wine.

Crudo e Rucola. Parma Ham, Rocket Salad, Parmesan Shaving, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese.

This is such a satisfying pizza. the parma ham is definitely the highlight of the dish. The saltiness of the parma ham pairs so well with the fresh rockets (another one of my favourites!), cheese and  pizza base that I couldn’t resist getting more of it, slice after slice. I’m not usually a pizza lover, but you can give me this pizza anyday!

Branzino alla Mediterranea. Grilled Seabass, Mediterranean Vegetables Caponata, Gaeta Olives, Capsicum Sauce.

The sea bass is so fresh, guys. I am typically most picky when it comes to eating seafood because I only like it when it’s fresh and well flavoured and this dish did not disappoint. Agnello alla Ligure. Mint Brined Lamb Loin, Taggiasche Olives, Pearl Onions, Artichoke Purée

At this point of writing, I must admit that I feel like I’m running out of descriptions to express how delicious the dishes are, especially when we were served so many! And I can only say that in my honest opinion, this is lamb slices cooked to perfection. We were so surprised by this dish, it is not gamey at all, this is how all lamb meat should taste like, in my opinion, heh. I have weak gums that tire easily when I’m eating chunky meat slices or steak so I always appreciate when meat slices are well cooked so that it is neither too raw nor tough! 

Panna Cotta. Almond Milk Panna Cotta, Salted Dark Chocolate Crumbles.

One of my favourite memories of Italy is enjoying fresh, white Panna Cotta in Venice and I haven’t had the chance to eat anything quite like it – soft, white and delicious. And I must say, Ricciotti’s Panna Cotta comes close. What’s better is that this Panna Cotta is almond milk flavoured, so if you’re a fan of almond, you will love this.
Tiramisú. Classic Italia Recipe, Mascarpone Cream, Espresso, Savoiradi Biscuits.

The test of an Italian establishment, we’re told, is in its Tiramisu. This is a favourite dessert at Ricciotti, with its soft tiramisu cake that’s moist and well flavoured, it’s no wonder why.

Semifreddo al Gianduja. Hazelnut and Chocolate Frozen Parfait, Salted Caramel Sauce.

It feels right to end off the review with this dish, the mix of sweet hazelnut and chocolate frozen parfait that’s like ice cream and the salted caramel sauce, this dish is Italian with a modern twist.

I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience at Riccotti with their delicious, authentic Italian dishes and also love the modern and trendy setting.  Thank you Lucas and Ricciotti for having me at the media tasting. Shout out for Wei Kai of SgCafeHopping for the beautiful photography you see in this post, to remember these delicious dishes by!

Ricciotti Riverwalk

20 Upper Circular Road, B1-49/50
The Riverwalk, Singapore 058416
Tel: (65) 6533 9060   Fax: (65) 6535 5915
Email: riverwalk@ricciotti.co
 Daily, 11:30am – 11:00pm
Private room available for max. 10 pax,
with min. spend of $400 for lunch & $600 for dinner.

The meal is sponsored but all opinions in the review are my own.

x

Ena

8 Things You Might Expect At Le Diner en Blanc

You might have read about my previous post Checklist for Le Diner en Blanc First Timers and I thought I’d do a follow up post about what actually happened at the one I attended in Singapore earlier this year!

1 / You have to meet up with your chosen bus group.

As the location for Le Diner en Blanc is always kept a secret, participants of the event will have to gather at their chosen location (many across islandwide) to wait for a bus that will take us to the venue.2 /  You will have to carry all your stuff with you. (Bring a handy trolley if you have one!)

It was tough finding a white bag that will fit all the things that we had to carry, so we had to split all the things up and carry between the two of us!


3 / You might experience a really long bus ride.

We took the bus from the east near Tanah Merah, the bus took us to Changi before heading down to Sentosa. >.< I’m not sure why that was the reason though, so I hope you like bus rides!

We finally alighted at RWS and took a walk to the location at RWS.
4 / You might rush to get a spot in the line and then get busy to set up your table.

Every bus is assigned one line, and most people would want to be at the end of either sides so there might be a bit of jostling around, but thankfully everyone was quite courteous. We did a bit of research online and especially Pinterest to gain inspiration for table setting and I had the sense to add in a candle lamp and fairy lights – I brought enough to share with the tables on our left and right, haha!

5 / Prepare to exchange stories and maybe even food!

The french on my right happened to have worked at an office near where I live so we had quite a good conversation and they offered us really yummy cheese (as pictured) and salami on bread! I especially love this part about the dinner, meeting new friends!  6 / Photoworthy moments

Being at DEB means everyone’s dressed in white and it’s definitely an evening you want to remember, so be sure to take a few shots, especially with who you’re with and meet!

7 / Enjoy the fringe events

In addition to all that’s already happening – setting up dinner, dining, meeting new friends – organizers had a lot of fringe events like models on stilts, musicians to entertain us through the dinner. We made the trip to the photobooth to get a few cute shots! 🙂

8 / Dance the night away!

The event ends with a blast with everyone dancing the night away, we also got to see fireworks since we were at Sentosa and the evening was truly quite spectacular and enjoyable.

If you enjoyed my post and want to receive an invite for DEB 2018, register here. Special thanks to DEB Singapore for hosting us and my partner in crime Christabelle!

x

Ena

The Two Most Important Days In Your Life

Recently I came across this quote:

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

While I don’t profess to fully know why I am born on this earth, nor do I have THE calling or mission to accomplish in this life time – I do know that my interests and career lies heavily in the areas of  Real Estate & Digital Media and I want to continue to grow my interest and skill sets in these two areas.

I’ve reviewed my 2017 goals and vision board (they’re in powerpoint slides format, in case you were wondering) and I’ve decided that my theme for 2018 will be “Value-Add”. Whether it is value adding for my clients at work, readers on my blog or social media following. brands that I work with, my family, my church community or my friends  – I will strive to Value-Add in any and all ways through my actions, time and with the life that God has given me.

Speaking of value-adding, one thing I’ll be doing more often is recommending cafe spots and fashion finds in 2018! 😉 If you’re looking for a cozy coffee spot in Novena, I highly recommend Joe & Dough at Square 2 (10 Sinaran Dr, 01-156, Singapore 307506)! Also, shout out for Mizzue Singapore for sponsoring the cute beige bag featured below! I like that the bag is well made and comes at an affordable price point. Mizzue also carries many bag styles, there’s sure to be something you’ll love that you can carry from work to date nights. The design I’m carrying below is sold out, however you can find similar styles here, here and here.

X

Ena

3 Benefits of Tumeric For Your Skin + Himalaya Skincare Hampers Giveaway!

Hi Loves!

Today I’d like to share with you 3 benefits that Tumeric can bring for your skin!

1 / Gives you a natural glow

Traditionally women have been using Tumeric as an effective skin brightener to maintain clear and beautiful skin. This can be attributed to the curcumin found in Tumeric, a powerful anti-oxidant that can prevent cellular damage by destroying infected cells from free radicals.

2 / Helps to heal wounds faster

The same curcumin found in turmeric can help wounds heal by decreasing inflammation and oxidation. Studies have found that turmeric can positively affect tissue and collagen as well. The journal Life Sciences recommends applying curcumin as an optimized formula to best work on skin wounds.

3 / Reduce acne and scarring

The anti-inflammatory qualities of Tumeric can target your pores and calm the skin. Turmeric is also known to reduce scarring. This combination of uses may help your face clear up from acne breakouts.

With that, if you want to start incorporating Tumeric in your skincare, I’ve got 2 Himalaya’s Tumeric Infused product hampers for giveaway! Check out my unboxing, quick review and giveaway details below. 🙂

3 bags of hampers, 1 for review & 2 for giveaway.
The box for review came with a cute folder including the press release document.
Opening the box reveals a Tumeric flower, with the Tumeric infused products packaged below the soil, as Tumeric is extracted from the stem (yes, I googled, if its stem or root!).Uncovering the black cover reveals 4 Himalaya Tumeric infused products.Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash, Purifying Neem Scrub, Neem Face Pack, Purifying Neem & Tumeric Soap.That’s not it! Removing the products reveals another layer below.A DIY Kit with Tumeric.Comes with Tumeric Powder and Honey and instructions on how to make the DIY mask.Uncovering the paper cases to reveal the product packaging below.

All the products also include the Neem ingredient, which comes from the Neem tree and has amazing anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which is great for the skin. Check it out here.

My thoughts & reviews:
I struggled with facial acne issues growing up, and I was a Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash user. I like that the product felt very organic and close to nature, it felt like a very natural solution to my acne issues. For this review, I tried every product in the hamper and I can attest that the product is just as I remembered it. The Purifying Neem Face Wash is a gel-like consistency product, that gently cleanses the face without leaving it taut or tight.

Purifying Neem Scrub is denser, darker in colour and contains apricot granules that gently exfoliates the skin while also containing neem that has skin purifying qualities. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a face or body scrub and also other scrubs in Apricot and Walnut as they are effective, feels great on the skin and smells pretty good.

Using  Neem Face Pack

Neem Face Pack contains Fuller’s Earth, Neem & Tumeric which has purifying and anti-bacterial properties.  A good mask pack, in my opinion helps to regulate sebum production, cleans clogged pores and prevents pimples, which this mask promises to do so. I have yet to use it regularly to attest, but it is pretty decent after my first use and impression. My only gripe about this product is that is smells too strong (I think it is due to Neem) for my preference.

Purifying Neem and Tumeric Soap has the same purifying and anti-bacterial properties which is good for cleansing the body, and especially if you have back acne like I do. However, again, I don’t quite like the strong smell of the product – I kinda wish they had this amazing product in rose scent.

Himalaya range of skincare products are available at the following retail stores – Watsons, Guardian, NTUC, Giant, Mustafa as well as NHG Polyclinics, ranging from $7.95 – $12.95.

I will be hosting 2 of the generous Himalaya Tumeric Infused skincare products gift hamper bags on my Instagram (will be posting it shortly tonight). Head over to my IG – @ena_teo and take part in the giveaway tonight!

x

Ena

Amazing One for One Dining Offers with Entertainer 2018

Hi guys! Today I’ll be sharing about an amazing app that will potentially have you save a ton of money while you entertain family and friends. 😉

If you haven’t heard about Entertainer app, you might have been living under a rock.  Other than offering many one for one dining options islandwide, the app also helps to suggest dining places and explore those that might be out of your usual comfort zones. With this app, I’ve dined at Mad For Garlic (Suntec) with my friends and we paid for only 3 meals for 6 of us! Amazing right? 

Here’s more about what’s in store with the new Entertainer 2018 app:

Entertainer Singapore 2018 includes over 1,700 Buy One Get One Free and discount offers for dining, attractions, leisure activities, retail and services. Top brands include Jaime’s Italian, Hard Rock Café, Fat Cow, Bedrock Bar & Grill, Jewel Coffee, Nature’s Spa by Jurlique, Bounce Singapore, Forest Adventure & many more.

With over 1,700 offers for restaurants, bars, attractions, leisure activities, hotels, spas, salons, gyms, fitness studios, retail, everyday services and much more, Singapore 2018 delivers over S$176,000 in savings for customers across Singapore. Back this year are customer favourites such as Fat Cow, Jamie’s Italian, Bedrock Bar & Grill, Toby’s Estate and more. New brands for 2018 include Cold Stone Creamery, Hard Rock Café, Pizza Express to name a few.

Here are some photos with my friends while we were at Cin Cin for Entertainer 2018’s media launch! We had so much fun watching the bartender concocting the cocktails and snapping pictures with the cute Entertainer 2018 app photo props. 🙂

With Charlene, Kai Ting, Jacelyn & Mori. 

With cutie pie Zong Han.

With Keryn. Finally got to hang after talking about it for so long! 

T’was a great Mojito!

We had the pleasure to share this refreshing Mojito! 

So much fun with these girls~ 🙂
With the ever lovely Kai Ting.

If you’ve not heard about Entertainer app until now, it’s ok! You can rejoice because now you’re early to the party! 😉

Entertainer 2018 app is having an awesome introductory promotional offer aka Early Bird Offer at S$95 (U.P $145) Plus it will come with FREE Cheers Singapore 2018, Bali 2018 + Travel 2018 (including Hotels Worldwide and ENTERTAINER getaways) with a total value at S$265. 

The 2018 ENTERTAINER products are available to purchase through the website or the app from the 25th October – at a special early bird price until 30th November 2017.

Thank you Entertainer Singapore, AM Collective & Kai Ting for having me at the media preview!

x

Ena

My journey to clearer & healthy skin with TCS Aesthetics Central Clinic

Do you face facial pigmentations, skin bumps / tacs & moles like I do? Well, I’ve got an excellent solution for your skincare woes to share with you today!

I’ve been facing small brown bumps on my cheeks for about a year plus, which are tiny, so it’s not very visible unless you see them from a very close distance. I’ve also got two pretty visible moles above my right eye, sometimes I get asked if they’re an ant! >.< See:

While waiting for the anesthetic cream to take effect ahead of the CO2 laser, with no foundation on.

So I’m very glad that I’ve been undergoing these two laser treatments at TCS Aesthetics Clinic to treat my skin issues and give me clearer, healthier skin. ☺️

1.Q Switched + Genesis Laser  are two different but relatively light laser treatments that help to reduce skin pigmentation, acne marks and allows for skin rejuvenation. Having completed 2 sessions, these  combined laser treatment help to reduce my acne outbreaks therefore helping me achieve clearer and healthier skin than before. Q Switched laser is a more focused light treatment and has a slight sensation but not painful. Genesis laser is done with the same machine and feels like a gush of warm air which feels very comfortable.

If you’re interested, you can continue to read on to find out more about this laser treatment:

What is it?

A Q-Switched (aka Q-Switched Nd-Yag Laser) Laser is used in various procedures: the laser is a beam of energy at a specific wavelength (1064nm) which is applied to the skin and is absorbed by coloured pigments such as freckles, sun spots, age spots, etc. in the skin.

The power settings of the laser can be set at different levels and frequencies to accommodate your specific condition and expectations.

What is it used for?

  • Pigmentation (such as freckles, sun spots, age spots, brown spots, melasma, birthmarks)
  • Acne marks
  • Fairer skin
  • Skin rejuvenation
  • Pimples and acne
  • Tattoo removal

Genesis laser is intended to improve skin texture, reduce wrinkles, reduce acne scars, and diminish pore size

2.CO2 Laser is a more intensive laser treatment that helps remove bigger skin imperfections, such as darker bigger moles and/or birthmarks or acne scars. Dr Tan used it to remove my two moles above my right eyes and it is recovering very well – I will be doing another update in time to come.

What is it?

Fractional or “pixilated” carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers are one of the latest advances in non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments. The CO2 laser has the longest wavelength of all the lasers on the market and can be used safely on darker skin types with appropriate adjustments in the settings.

What is it used for?

Fractional CO2 lasers excel at treating deeper wrinkles, more severe textural changes from sun damage, wrinkles, blotchiness, acne scars, and surgical or traumatic scars. It can be used on the delicate eyelid skin and around the mouth. It is also a very effective treatment for sun damage and precancerous growths.

Three weeks after Q-Switched laser treatment and Two weeks after CO2 laser treatment, with foundation on. Two moles above my right eye is barely visible. Dr Tan says that the brown spots will continue to lighten with time, so I will do another update with no foundation makeup on, in time to come.

Many of my close friends have asked me where I got my laser treatments done and I have recommend them Dr Ryan Tan and his excellent team at TCS Aesthetics Clinic at The Central, Clark Quay.  Dr Ryan Tan is a very patient doctor who will gently explain the procedures before starting so I feel very safe and assured under his hands during the two different laser treatments I have gone through. Their prices are also very reasonable. I highly recommend Dr Ryan Tan and TCS Aesthetics Clinic! If you’d like to find out more about the various beauty treatments they have to offer, visit their website at www.cosmeticsurgery.sg. 🙂

Thank you Dr Tan & team at TCS Aesthetics Clinic for taking care of my skin!

Be sure to call ahead and quote “ENA” when booking your appointment especially if you want to drop by at lunch hour as they are usually busy then!

TCS Aesthetics Clinic

Address: 8 Eu Tong Sen Street, The Central #11-90, Singapore 059818
Call: 6221 8221

You’re Never Too Old to Achieve Your Dreams

I turned 27 recently over the past July. And that got me thinking that I’m 3 years shy of hitting the big 30 . It seemed so far away, when I was in my early 20s, but all of sudden, I have friends who are past 30, more are getting married and even pregnant. No, I’m not thinking about marriage – it’s still a milestone that’s not even remotely near in sight because I’m still very much single. But my recent birthday did got me thinking, just what did I achieve in the last 3-4 years since I started working and how far am I from achieving what I’d like to achieve?

And while I am not doing exceedingly well in property as some top producers are, I am doing better with every year which I am thankful for. While I still don’t own a car or close to owning my own property, I believe that these goals will become a reality in time, if I continue to be conscientious in providing good service and strategic in my plans as a property agent. Hopefully these goals will be reached sooner than later, especially since the property market is picking up in Singapore.

And while my current love life is almost non-existent (yes I admit I am picky) I am very blessed with a wide circle of friends – not just hi-bye friends but really good and supportive friends who make my life better with laughter and valuable encouragement, advice and insights.

And it got me thinking – what do I make of my life when I am 30? Heck, what do I make of my life at the end of it? Am I just going to work hard, be successful in my career, own a car, a house, find a good husband, get married and have kids? Is that all there is to my life?

Don’t get me wrong – to work hard, be successful in one’s career, own a car, a house, find a good husband, get married and have kids – that’s a great life right there. I want a life that’s greater than just these, a life that goes beyond just me.

I starting thinking – if I die today, will I leave a legacy behind? And if I do, what will that be?

I may never be able to be the next Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook, Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google,  Bill Gates of Microsoft or Warren Buffet of the stock market world – but I still want to be able to leave a legacy and impact on this world that will live on even when I die.

My ambition in addition, or maybe in continuation of being a producing real estate agent, is to own and manage businesses and be a real estate developer (or part of a committee) when I am older. I also want to make an impact on this world by inspiring others to live a positive life – something I try to achieve through my social media platforms.

Right now I may not be able to see clearly what kind of legacy I will be leaving behind, in both tangible and intangible ways – but I believe that if I live my life earnestly one day at a time, I will be able to slow piece together the picture of my life that I envision.

No matter how old you are right now – I want to encourage you that you’re never too old to dream dreams and to achieve them.

If you’ve never heard the story of KFC by Colonel Sanders – here’s an extract from The Verge:
Sanders didn’t retire at the age of 65. That’s when he sold his first restaurant, and began developing the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in earnest. Nearly 60-years-old, he would spend days at a restaurant, peddling his chicken technique, cooking for customers, and often sleeping in the back of his car. At 73, he sold KFC for $2 million. He was not a billionaire, but he lived in comfort for the remainder of his years.

If Colonel Sanders can create a fried chicken franchise at the grand old grandfatherly age of 65 – what excuses do we have?

Ending off my post with OOTD pictures – deets below. 🙂

Polka Dot High Neck Top from Closet London‘s R.S.V.P Collection here.
Tuck Flare Wide Pants from Uniqlo. Similar here.

Checklist for Le Diner en Blanc First Timers

Hi Loves!

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be heading to my first Le Diner en Blanc this coming 3rd June! I’ve compiled a quick and simple checklist to get you prepared for your first Le Diner en Blanc experience. 😉

If you already know what Le Diner en Blanc is all about and want to get invited, head over the registration page here to get your invite!

What is Le Diner en Blanc (DEB) about?

Le Dîner en Blanc – Singapore returns for its fifth edition on 3rd June 2017 with a brand new team of dedicated hosts: Alexis Lhoyer, Guillaume Chabrières, and Jasmine Tuan

Le Dîner en Blanc is an international viral picnic event celebrated in over 60 cities in 25 countries where guests gather at a secret location for the sole purpose of sharing a gourmet meal with good friends in one of their city’s most unexpected public spaces. The Singapore edition began in 2012, and has been gaining traction ever since. The last edition of Le Dîner en Blanc – Singapore was in 2015, held at the Old Kallang Airport with 1,500 invited members and friends.  

Invites are open in 3 phases:

Phase 1 – For those who have attended the last edition of Le Diner en Blanc (Opened 27th April, 9am)

Phase 2 – For the invited guests of Phase 1 to invite their friends
(Opened 3rd May, 9am)

Phase 3 – Those who are new to Le Diner en Blanc – Singapore
(Opened 9th May, 9am)

All Phases will be closed by 19th May 2017 <—– Extended to 24th May, 11.30pm

Simply put, the event started in France about 30 years ago and has now spread to major cities globally. It’s a strictly by invite event, where the venue is kept completely secret and everyone who registers comes dressed in all chic formal white outfits and also prepared with an all white dinner setting (yes tables, chairs and 3 course food!). Registration allows you to sign up for bus seats which will pick you up hours ahead of the event and then take you to the secret venue. For that special evening, hundreds other Le Diner en Blanc guests will gather and dinner together, befitting the name “Dinner in White”!

Now let’s get started with the Checklist! 

1. Read Up and Get To Know Le Diner en Blanc Better.

If you’re new to a topic or subject then the right thing to do to get to know it better is to read up about it. So head over DEB’s Singapore Official Website’s FAQ to know more. From what to wear to what to bring, the answers are all there.

2. Tables, Table Cloth, Chairs & All White Cutleries

Image Credit: Pinterest

It is recommended to get square folding tables however the closest I can find online in Singapore are these 70×50 tables, so they’ll have to do! For foldable chairs you can get them here, and throw on a white lace cloth to cover it up. For affordable cutlery, make a trip down to IKEA for plates that start from $0.90!

3. 3 Course Dinner Menu Ideas

Most guests go with their Significant Other, for me I’ll be going with my bestie Christabelle and here are some very useful websites that I will refer to get inspiration for our 3 course dinner menu! Jamie Oliver’s Romantic Recipes are a great start if you’re planning to cook and pack a romantic dinner menu, they even have the level of difficulty and time taken for each meal item suggested. Another useful link is BBC’s Good Food site, they offer recipes from starters, to mains to desserts, win! One special note is that you can’t bring your own alcohol cause apparently that’s not allowed, so if you must, order from DEB’s E-Store (accessible only after registration) before closing date on 24th May and pick up at the event. Alternatively, bring your own non-alcoholic drinks. 🙂

If you want to join in the fun but have absolutely no time or skills to prepare a cooked dinner, then I suggest getting and packing these from the supermarket or convenience store:

1) Starters: Biscuits and cheese cubes

Image Credit: 2ufood.co.uk

2) Mains: Chicken with Salad

Image Credit: BBC Good Food

3) Chocolate Cake Slices

Image Credit: StayAtHomeChef.com

4. All White Outfit Ideas & Inspiration

Image Credit: phillyprgirl.com

It’s not hard to look good in all white, neither is it hard to shop for it! Probably the toughest part of this is getting the right fit for the various pieces. If you need more inspiration, head over to the results for “All White Outfit” on Pinterest! Bearing in mind that the weather in Singapore can be humid but windy at night, don’t prepare jackets or outerwear that’s too thick, but be prepared with a shawl or thin coat!

5. Be prepared for Wet Weather

Last but not the least, it can get rainy in Singapore and rather unexpectedly too. So come prepared with umbrellas and raincoats -in white if possible, if not transparent will do too!

That is all for my blog post, I do hope you’ve found this quick and simple checklist helpful – see you at the event, be sure to say hi if you see me! 😉

x

Ena