Philips Carnival Sale!

Tempur Singapore Sale

TEMPUR sales coming up in Nov 2013!

Have you heard of Kiwi Berries?

Yes, this little green stuff on my fingers is the kiwi berry. It's the first time I've seen this and according to the fruit seller, their in-season is very short- usually only available for 1-2 weeks.

These kiwi berries are small and soft. The internal looks just like the usual green kiwi if you cut into half but tastes sweet unlikely the normal size green kiwi.

Season time: some time in Sep
Price: $3-4 at fruits stall.
(Spotted a fruit stall at commonwealth selling $3/small box)

Gum paste lesson

Some months ago I signed up for a lesson on gum paste. I'm pretty satisfied with my end products. As I have some (a little actually) pastes left, I made the Angry Bird and Badtz Maru back at home. You can see that they seems flat/ small compared to the rest. :P

Finally! The option to move to SD card!

Just updated the firmware and as I was exploring my newly acquired S4 (it's 1 week old today) I chanced upon the tab "Move to SD". *gasp*

So now I can shift some of the app/ app data to my external sd card!

Here's how to do it:

1) Go to Settings > More
2) Select Application Manager
3) Select an app that you want to move to your SD card
4) Click on tab "Move to SD card"

While I was totally trilled with this feature however, something bothered me.... where in the sd card are these data saved to?  A mystery to be uncovered. ....

Shanghai Cuisine@ Alexandra Village Hawker Centre

Spotted a long queue at Alexandra Village Hawker Centre. It was a stall offering shanghai cuisine - featuring the xiaolongbao, guotie, dumplings, sweet and sour soup,  and various noodle dishes including szechuan dan dan noodles. The stall is manned by 2 persons - a lady cooking abd collecting monies, and a shifu kneading the pastry and preparing the xiaolongbao on spot.

Tried the guotie and sweet & sour soup, they were "ok".

I still prefer those by Margaret drive's  (note the stall has shifted to maxwell after the Margaret drive food centre was torn down) which are juicer and soup more savoury.

Yum factor: 6.5/10

Capitol Optical Warehouse Sale

Topshop Sales

It's happening at Ion Orchard branch now!

Kam Long Curry Fish Head

Kam Long Restaurant / 亚福街金龙亚仔

Kam Long Restaurant (also known as Kam Long Curry Fish Head/ 亚福街金龙亚仔) is the only place that I know which supposedly serves curry fish head as early as 8am! While I've not verified if people eat curry fish head this early but looking at the numerous people eating in the shop at 10ish in the morning I wouldn't doubt!  (Update: went in oct 13 at 925am and the place was already packed!  And yes, I waited 25mins before I get to eat! There are people who really eat curry fish head this early!)

During lunch time, expect a long queue and waiting time.  I always try to go earlier to beat the crowd after learning a lesson on my maiden visit. However, if you are looking to takeaway, you'll be pleased that you can zoom all the way to the front and inform them that you want to "dabao".  And you can request for the fish to be cooked or uncooked.  They would pack the raw fish head (looks frozen to me), ingredients and their curry separately for those who prefer to cook at home.

Back to the curry fish head, since my first visit, I've been visiting the place almost once a week. I even "dabao" too when the queue is too long. :P  My sis asked me: "so nice meh?" whenever I sent her a photo of me conquering another claypot of curry fish head. Yes, it is nice.  Decently nice homecooked flavour. The fish served had been fresh on my visits so far. And she might not be aware, I loved eating fish and curry, and with this combo and the right taste - how can I miss it?!

Where: No. 74, Halan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor
Hours: 8am - 5pm or till sellout!

(There is another associated stall at Permas Jaya but I still prefer this original stall at Jalan Wong Ah Fook)

For takeaway orders:
016-752 8382 亚仔/ Ah Zai
016-796 2287 顺安/Soon On

DIY Gelish Project - French Manicure

Above features the gelish french manicure i did on my nails some time back with my few months old toy - led lamp. With the led lamp, 30 secs is all I need for each cure. What I like about gel nail is that there is no more "waiting to dry" and I can get on with whatever work I need to do right after the gelish manicure.

I am pleased that my DIY french manicure lasted more than 2 weeks. Not longer because I got bored with the same stuff on my nails after a while .....

"Some of my tools: led lamp, gelish - foundation, top it off, sheek white"

Turn OFF That Photo Syncing on Facebook!

Recently, I did an update of my facebook app and discovered a new feature being turned on unintended. The new feature allows the photos taken with the iphone to be synced to your facebook photo album automatically! While photos remained supposedly private till you decide to make it public online, you'd never know what happens if there is a breach someday.....

So after googling, here's the steps to disable the feature on iphone:

iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Facebook app and go to your timeline
2. Tap Photos
3. At the bottom, tap Synced
4. Tap the gear icon and choose Turn off Photo Sync
5. Tap Don't sync my photos

If you are using Android phone, the step is different from above: 

Android

1. Open the Facebook app and tap the top left main menu in your sidebar
2. Scroll to the bottom and select Account > App Settings > Sync Photos
3. Choose Don't sync my photos

(Source: https://www.facebook.com/help/274634689307648/)

Lost Your Photo Tab in Itunes?

Fret not!

If you are like me who can't find the photo tab after updating to the latest itunes version, here's how you can find it!

Open up your itune software and connect your iphone. Press "Ctrl B" on your keyboard to open the side bar on itune. Click on your device and you should see the photo tab again on the top menu bar.

It took me a while to find this solution on the web after googling to realise that there were others like me facing the same issue. Some called for the removal and reinstallation of itunes while some called for changes in certain settings. This however, proves to be the most hassle-free! I've decided to include this piece of information in my blog in case I forget how to do it.... "Oh well....." :P

Note: in case you need to open the menu bar, press "Ctrl S"

Drivers with Passion Card Alert! 14% off Petrol!

Just received an email alert that Caltex is having a 14% off petrol EVERY Thursday from April to June 2013 for Passion Card holders!

And with every S$50 spent on petrol, Caltex would donate $2 to the Caltex Passion for Kids Programme!

More information available @ www.caltex.com.sg

Rain & Thunder @ Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi

The Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi, with a size of 235,000 sqm, is located at the end of the Corniche. As it is, it is a mall. With about 400 stores, it houses a decent number of international brands such as H&M, Zara, Marks & Spencer, Forever 21, Gap, Bebe, La Senza, Body Shop, Locittane, Bobbi Brown, Bath & Works, Woolsworth, etc  There is also a Carrefour located at its basement and for those interested in skating, there is also a skating ring inside the mall.

Inside the Mall

Skating ring

Despite being tax-free, I find the products in Abu Dhabi generally priced higher than Singapore. So not much shopping can be done unless there is a genuine sale. I'm saying this because e.g. I saw in Bebe store a tee that went on sale at around 159 AED still - which is not a sale to me at that price.

As I wandered around the mall, I spotted a foodcourt which is relatively small compared to Al Wahda Mall. Fastfood located at the foodcourt include Popeye and Burger King. 

All these aside, that was something that surprises me though - raining and thundering in Marina Mall! Yes, it happens around 4.30pm every day (from my understanding) at a particular area in the mall. And the cleaners would be there on stand-by to mop the floors after the rain. What an idea! 

Wet floors outside the shops after "rain"

Where: Abu Dhabi
Website: www.marinamall.ae/

Qasr Al Hosn Festival @ Abu Dhabi

The Qasr Al Hosn Festival was running last week and my brother got us the VIP tickets to catch the afternoon performance. We thought we were late as the timing showed "3.15pm" on the ticket. However, on arrival, we realized that the performance only begins at 4.15pm! *Phew*

The show lasted about an hour and I must say that I was impressed by their performance. They even had a real horse participating in the performance as well - no idea how they actually trained the horse since it wasn't reined! The effort put in showed in the performance delivered.

Besides the performance, there are on-going activities at the festival such as camel ride, henna drawings, desmonstration of dates preparation etc.

 

Road closed and converted to parking lots for the festival

 

 

Snap of the performance

 

 

 Snap of the performance

 

Snap of the performance



 

 

At the Festival

 

 

 At the Festival

 

 

At the Festival

 

Camel rides

 

 

At the Festival

Free basic henna drawing at the festival

 

 

For 300AED, you get to go "onboard" a ship and open an oyster with pearl to keep

 

 

Resting point?

 

Marmalade Pantry

Met a friend 2 weeks ago and we decided to check out the Marmalade Pantry at Ion Orchard since both of us haven't been there!

It was our first time there and we didn't regret it. The cheesecake and cupcake we had were marvelous!

Above: Granny's Apple Cupcake

For those who enjoyed spice and cinnamon would enjoy this Granny's Apple Cupcake (above). Isn't it pretty? Almost couldn't bear to eat it! Next - the sea salt caramel cheesecake! Awww the cheesecake tasted just so right and light that makes you want to have more!

Above, left: Sea salt caramel cheesecake

Above, right: smoothie

A flip over the menu I noticed that they also served afternoon tea set from 3pm - 6pm daily. However, there is a requirement for minimum order for 2 which I hope they can do away with it.

Glimpse of menu

 

 

Glimpse of menu

Afternoon Tea menu

(Bugis St) Ming Kee Chicken Rice

This is my favourite chicken rice stall. Be prepared to queue if you are going during peak hours - lunch & dinner time. I usually try to go abit earlier to avoid the crowd. The chicken rice not only tastes good, the portion given is also generous compared to other chicken rice stalls. The rice is flavorful and their chicken meat is a little cold/cool and tender. They actually chilled their chicken in cold/icy water which I seldom see that practised in other stalls.

 

 

Where: Coffeeshop at Blk 511 Bishan Street 13, Singapore 570511 (near to Bishan interchange)

 

 



Tze char at 彩虹城 (2)

Again, I pop over at 彩虹城 Tze Char for dinner and this time we had Curry fish (garoupa), Indonesia prawns, sambal Kang kong.

There was no fish head supply that day so we had curry fish instead! The curry is rather different from the usually curry fish head. The curry was flooded with garlic, dried red chiillis, and what I think should be skinned brinjal, and something else that gives the curry a very slight sour taste.. I seen that before but just don't know what it's called... (no it's not assam) Although the curry smelled strong (in a good way) but it was not as potent (spicy) as I thought it would be. The curry was rather mild. I liked that there were a lot of brinjal and the fish was fresh to tender. Overall I gave it a 4 out of 5.

The damaged for the dinner came up to RM 60 for the 3 dishes, 2 plates of rice, and 2 glasses of chinchow drink.

Lastly, I must add that their chin chow drink is nice- they are generous with their chin chow that it  filled every mouthful that I took! Yes I mean it! (Most of the time, hawkers give you more syrup/ sugar water than chinchow.. BUT not here!)


Address: Stall no. 11, Taman Serene Food Centre, Jalan Biru (opposite the famous San Low seafood restaurant)

Operating hours: 6pm - 12am
Cons: limited veg choices (no sweet potato leaves)

45% OFF Travel Joy Single Trip Travel Insurance!

Looking to get travel insurance for upcoming holiday?

I was looking for and comparing travel insurances online that I chanced upon a forummer mentioning that Tenet's travel joy single-trip travel insurance is going at 45% off! (think it's a promotion they ran 'cause of Natas fair...) However, do note that purchases have to be made by 3rd March 2013 to enjoy the discount!

Mphosis Sale! 50-70% off

Seems like a handful of retailers are having post CNY sales! Spotted Mphosis started their sales when I passed by their store at Junction 8 this afternoon!

Takashimaya Sales!

Spotted the sales ongoing at Takashimaya square. There are shoes, bags , fashion wears, cosmetics and fragrances, sportswear, accessories and timewear.

Watches Clearance Sale (21- 23 Feb 2013)

Odm & Levi’s watches Post CNY Clearance Sales is happening from 21st Feb to 23rd Feb 2013 at the Delta House #05-02A, 2 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159919 with up to 90% discount off retail price! Prices start from $10!

Participating brands includes odm, odm Original, odm +, Levi’s, Levi’s Lady Style, cross collaboration collections with various brands, cartoon characters (Doraemon, Hello Kitty, Paul Frank, Toy2R, Tofu, Husky, Looney Tunes, B.Duck etc) and design units (Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (JCDC) & Michael Young), Moschino, Roberto Cavalli and Just Cavalli timewear; Sunnto Training Heart Rate Monitors, Outdoor Wristop Computers and Dive Computers.

Fashion Clearance & Defective Sale (19-22 Feb 2013)

I was alerted to this sale on Tuesday's late morning and since I had some spare time, I went to check it out. Brands include Naf Naf, Bebe, Ted Baker and some other brands like Shana, Vince Camuto which I'm not familiar with.

The sale, as the banner indicated, is a Fashion Clearance and Defective Sale. Most items have some sort of defects- not just small ones but large ones too - like clothes with big torn/ cuts, missing dropped button, spoilt zip etc, bags had broken handle, spoilt zip, running threads... Nevertheless, these didn't deter people from going to the sale.

Despite the large number of defective goods, I managed to grab a Bebe cotton pant for S$20 (no defect in sight!) and i actually found it elsewhere off Bebe racks. I had eyed some Ted Bakers clothings but the sizes ran big with mostly sizes 3 and 4. The Ted Baker clothings were generally S$40 up.

Besides clothings, there are shoes from Ted Baker, Bebe, and Vince Camuto. There are both men's and women's shoes ranging between S$40-S$70 generally. I saw an A4 poster indicated from S$10 but i didnt see any $10 shoes lying around (maybe i was too late?!). I didn't score any as I didn't want to get any more heels. There are boots too going at S$70. The bebe slip-on wedge sandals/slippers were stained or ran in large sizes. Some shoes were also those last/ only piece type condition.

There are also accessories from SIX and Evita Peroni with Evita Peroni going at 1 for S$5 and 3 for S$10. I managed to get a hair twist, a spring clip and a pony elastic. 

Overall, it was OK. Guess I got to be earlier next time!