Mini cafe-hopping in the East! (:

to me, the east always seems really really far away and i'm always so lazy to travel there unless i've got a reason to! haha now with the circle line, it has thankfully become slightly more accessible, but it's still far :p we discovered a couple of interesting cafes that were around the katong area which we wanted to check out though! so went there with darling on my birthday (eons ago...) to explore the area ^^ 

haha don't get too excited, there is a reason why i called it a "mini" cafe hopping, because we only went to two cafes :p i think that seems to be all though? tell me if there are more! 

Penny University

we came here for brunch! (: and i like how their menu was pretty affordable (: was deciding between this and rabbit carrot gun (which is the other place we went to), but this seemed like the menu was more interesting. and it's definitely much more affordable too!!!! 

the most interesting of the lot were the turkish eggs ($8) and sam added smoked salmon which was an additional $2. they totally didn't look like how i expected, because i thought it sounded similar to something from jones the grocer but looked nothing like it! anyway, this turned out to be a real surprise because i loved it! sam was...slightly less enthusiastic towards it but he thought it was not bad. personally, i really liked how the various flavours from the tangy-sourish yogurt and spicy Moroccan harissa sauce went together with the simple poached eggs and livened up the entire dish. i enjoyed dipping the sourdough toast into the yummy sauce to soak up the juices ^^

i waited an absurdly long time for my french toast ($8) to arrive, and the fact that we were in a rush didn't help at all. seems like the french toast takes an exceptionally long time to churn out? because another table had to wait really long for it as well. i don't understand why. anyway, these were not too bad! the toast wasn't very tasty on its own, but paired with the maple syrup, it was delicious of course ;) i think i still prefer savoury food! 

sam also ordered a shot of espresso ($3.50) which he declared to be not good at all because it was too acidic. i don't drink coffee so i wouldn't know any better :p then again, his tastebuds have been pampered by italian coffee for 4 months, which is impossible to get here, so it might not be a good gauge. anyway, try it for yourself and decide! 

overall a very nice little cafe, with lots of delicious sweet treats on display as well! it didn't seem wise to order those though, because they were almost the same price as the brunch dishes we had ordered. 

Penny University

402 East Coast Road 

Tel.: +65 9008 9314

Tue-Thu 8.30am-6pm

Fri 8.30am-9.30pm

Sat, Sun & PH 8.30am-10.30pm

Rabbit Carrot Gun

headed to rabbit carrot gun after our karaoke session because we realised it was SO NEAR to katong shopping mall!! haha i didn't realise how near it was! nice ;) 

i think the food is only okay though! preferred what was served at penny. sam got the game keeper's shooting breakfast ($17.50 if i rmb correctly) which sounded super amazing with a whole slew of ingredients such as eggs, bacon, english pork sausage, sauteed mushrooms and grilled tomatoes with toast. but it turned out to be a rather small plate of food! >:( haha this pic is not really a good representation (it actually looks not bad huh) cos it really looked quite disappointing :( taste wise, i suppose it was alright, but not really worthy of the rather high price tag imo.

on the other hand, i really like my lemon drizzle cake ($5.50)!! :) hehe. it was soft, fluffy yet dense enough, with a lovely lemon-y flavour ^^ 

my conclusion is that you should go to pennyuni for some proper food before heading to rabbit carrot gun for snacks ;) haha. btw, this place doesnt have any airconditioning, but we were there on a slightly rainy day and it was cooling enough! (: 

Rabbit Carrot Gun

49 East Coast Road

Tel.: +65 6348 8568

Tue: 3pm-10.30pm

Wed-Sun: 9am-10.30pm

Classic Pedicure at Ladyfinger

hi! (: 

it's exam week!!! and i have three accounting exams in a row. #whee. the great news is that i don't have any accounting modules at all next semester, and that is exactly what has been driving me through this entire semester. and the end is near! (: i can feel it. go go go! for those having exams too, all the best! :)) december is finally arriving. 

anyway, for those who follow me on instagram, you would have seen how i was going on a pampering spree last monday, getting a new hairdo and pretty nails ^^^ it was the beginning of the study week, and i was feeling so guilty enjoying myself, but it was just such a great way to kick off the week of studying. (i can't believe how fast last week flew by). but the result of my pampering (part one on my hair will be up after exams!) were my pretty toenails! (: i dont have the nicest feet/legs, but i hope you like this post anyway :p 

the last time i was at Ladyfinger, i got the most adorable nail art done. but this time i decided to give my fingernails a break and did a pedicure instead. well, i'm not sure how interested you are at looking at my feet (haha), but i had a really relaxing time at Ladyfinger and i'd like to share it with you girls! 

started off with a foot soak, in super warm water with a scrub, and my feet just relaxed instantly. it was like having a foot reflexology and i was almost lulled into sleep! 

my manicurist, Michelle, proceeded to shape my toenails and remove my cuticles as usual. then came my favourite part of the session, which was the scrub/buffer! she used a scrub to slough away the rough dead skin on my feet, especially at the heels and the balls of my feet. i always dislike how rough my feet have become, especially due to all the walking i did in Europe, and all the buffing really helped in smoothening out my skin somewhat! i should have taken some before-and-after photos, but i was too busy enjoying the moment :p 

she then applied moisturizer all over my legs, and here they are, wrapped up in fluffy towels, all nice and clean ^^

i spent the longest time deciding on what colour to choose, because i'm just so fickle-minded as always, when it comes to picking colours for my nails. there were just SO MANY to choose from! and i tend to go for pinks (in all shades) typically, so i really wanted to choose something different this time. i decided on this light blue/turquoise colour in the end, and i was soooo happy with how pretty it turned out!! the colour looked even more beautiful in real life compared to the sample! it was such a beautiful, tiffany-blue kind of colour and i absolutely LOVED IT. because i was greedy, i decided to choose a glittery blue for my fourth toenail, just for fun. just having a tinge of regret there, because i can just imagine how all my toes would look so nice with that tiffany-blue colour on it! but oh well, the glitter has its own beauty too ^^ 

thank you Michelle & Ladyfinger for always giving me such gorgeous nails! 

Ladyfinger 

AMK Hub #03-30

Tel.: +65 6481 1200

La Ristrettos

omg guess what!!!! :D i found my cioccolata calda in singaporeeeee ~ haha so happy! thought i'll never get to drink it again after leaving italy :( now i know where to get my cioccolata fix ;) hehe. la ristrettos is a really nice hidden find, tucked away amidst the maze of medical suites in novena medical centre. if not for the small lunch crowd, i would think that place is normally really really quiet and peaceful (: just look out the window and you'll see nothing but greenery, and more people just chillin'. nice ;) the perfect place for some me-time which i'd really needed during that period. 

i think this is an italian-inspired cafe, not just because of the chocolate, but because lots of things on the menu are in their italian names :) quite nostalgic actually. haha. 'ristretto' actually means 'restrained' or something like that, which means that you get an even more POWERFUL espresso shot, as it has less water in it. i'm not a coffee person, so i didn't try their espresso. but i wonder whether it could be anything like the super gao italian espresso sam enjoyed so much.

i would say that their cioccolata calda ($6.50) was pretty well done! ^^ definitely has the thickness and creaminess similar to the italian version ;) the only thing was that it was rather erm..lumpy? haha not that it diminished my experience of drinking it. it was actually quite nice to melt the chocolate lumps in my mouth :p just wondering whether it was because they didn't stir it properly or what. #kaopeh haha :P

i really like their options for all-day breakfast here! definitely one of the most original i've seen so far. getting a teeny bit bored of the normal full breakfasts and eggs benny (even though i still love it!!) that i'm seeing in every single brunch menu around. the menu here though, has none of those, and therefore appeals to me much more at this time ;) it's the kind of menu you'd probably find in italy (though this would probably be more like a lunch menu in italy, rather than breakfast), consisting mostly of sandwiches. BUT way better than italy ;) why? because there is real meat in it!!!!! score :D i loved my tostino e arrosto ($10) which was a toasted sourdough spread with garlic olive oil (which made the bread superrr tasty!), spinach, roast chicken breast, cherry tomatoes and ricotta cheese. the flavours of the spinach and cherry tomatoes were lovely, and they enhanced the mild taste of the chicken breast significantly when eaten together. the texture of the chicken was not too shabby, at least it wasn't overly dry, despite being roasted. wish there was more ricotta because it was merely a tiny dollop and i couldn't really taste it :/ sadly, a blooper came in the form of the salad! it was...sad to say, disgusting. ironically one of my friends said it was one of the best she'd ever eaten. maybe they didn't wash it for me :( it tasted really strongly of pesticide. which is awful. but i didn't touch it after a few mouths and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of my sandwich (: 

overall, a very nice place to chill, with a very calm, zen-like feel. and i would come back for my italian hot chocolate ;) 

La Ristrettos

10 Sinaran Drive, Novena Medical Centre #08-37

Tel.: +65 6397 7165

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm

Sat 8am-1pm

The BEST ramen in Singapore: Ramen Keisuke

hihi! oh gosh this post is SUPER overdue. i wanted to blog about this place the moment i tried it, but evidently i couldn't find the time to >.< oops! and i declare this the BEST RAMEN I'VE EVER EATEN. thanks to jiayee for the awesome recommendation!! ^^ it's her favourite too! and i'm not thaaat discerning when it comes to ramen - i usually like it because of the soup/charsiew, or i just find it alright, but this ramen...this ramen is different. 

we started off by digging into this cold dish of bean sprouts. it comes on the side and you can help yourself to as much of it as you like! it's super refreshing and crunchy and we totally devoured half a bottle (it was quite a big bottle) among our whole table :P haha.

i ABSOLUTELY L.O.V.E.D. my bowl of ramen. i do concede that it's not the most photogenic thing on earth (even just compared to the other two below) but i personally felt that it tasted the best! ^^ just a simple Tokyo Style Pork broth ramen with flavoured egg ($13) and it was da-bombz!!!! so so so good! the soup was so deliciously rich and full-bodied, and you could really taste the essences of the tonkotsu within this luscious soup. as i slurped it up, the flavours sloshed on my tongue and i went to ramen-heaven ^^ what really made this bowl of ramen so awesome was that everything in it was good!! a lot of ramen places tend to either do well in one aspect of the ramen, but fail in others, while Ramen Keisuke managed to achieve the sacred trinity of rich soup, bouncy noodles and well-executed ingredients. the cha shu was delightfully soft and the flavoured egg was done to perfection, producing a brilliant concoction that had me squealing with joy.

for the fans of chilli, the Tokyo style chicken stock ramen ($13) didn't disappoint too! though i'm a strong supporter of pork-based ramen, this chicken stock ticked all the boxes with me as well, with the punchy spiciness that elevated the entire dish.

perhaps the most interesting of all was the crab stock ramen ($13.80)! completely unheard of before, this was a really interesting soup base that tasted exactly like how a good crab bisque should be ;) super thick and rich with buttery flavours, this was a hearty bowl of soup which went well with the other ingredients. while i still vote for my ramen as the best of all, this was definitely an interesting contender! (:

BEST RAMEN PLACE. 'NUFF SAID.

Ramen Keisuke
Parco, Millenia Walk #P03-02
Tel.: +65 6337 7919
Mon-Wed, Fri 11.30am-3.30pm 5.30pm-10.30pm
Thu 11.30am-3.30pm 5.30pm-10pm
Sat & Sun 11am-10pm 

Pan-seared scallops and Braised eggplant

each time my cooking turns out successfully is such a happy occasion for me! (: it's really a sense of accomplishment and warmth to be able to cook for the people i love ^^ and big thank you to my family who are the most supportive fans of my cooking haha. they always eat up every single morsel and never fail to sing praises of it!

haha so i did a very "fusion" dinner that night, with one western and one chinese dish. finally managed to find affordable scallops in the supermarket after trying to hunt for them the previous week! so i decided to cook this dish today ^^ my first time cooking scallops and i wanted something manageable, and this was an awesome recipe!!! so simple, and it allows the scallops to take centre-stage with a scrumptious sauce to top it off!

Pan-seared scallops
Ingredients:
1 packet of scallops
1/3 cup white wine
4 cloves of garlic, minced
3 tbsp chilled butter
a handful of thyme
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Pour one tablespoon of oil into the pan. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the scallops right before throwing them in the pan. Sear 3-5min on one side, or until browned. Flip it to the other side and sear for another 3-5min. Remove from the pan and keep them warm in the oven at around 60 dec C.
2. In the same pan, pour in the white wine and garlic. Bring it to the boil. Allow it to boil till the wine has reduced to around 2 tbsp. Add in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, until fully melted and mixed well. Stir in the thyme.
3. Pour the sauce over the scallops and serve.

okay this dish looks like a pile of mush, but i'm so proud of it!!!!!! i finally managed to do an eggplant dish that is cooked properly and tastes good :') you have no idea how many times i've failed with this ingredient -.- i don't think i've ever put up an eggplant recipe on my blog because it always turns out rather awfully :( it takes a really long time to soften! and i never managed to cook it long enough to get rid of the raw taste. sighs.

but...i finally did!!!! (: chinese-way of cooking eggplant has proved to work best (Y) hehe. the secret? (no secret actually) - braise it. works perfectly, and doesn't require too much effort. i threw in a whole bunch of my other favourite ingredients so it's really yummy ^^

Braised Eggplant
Ingredients:
1 packet of eggplant
1 packet of minced pork
1 packet of enoki mushrooms, trimmed ends, rinsed
a handful of dried shrimps, soaked
5 tbsp shaoxing wine
2 tbsp light soy sauce
5 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp black vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 dried small red hot chilis, diced

1. Trim off the stems of the eggplant. Cut into small rounds/lengthwise into rectangular pieces.
2. In a bowl, mix the wine, soy sauces, sugar and vinegar and 2/3 cup of water.
3. Drizzle 1-2 tbsp oil into a wok. When the oil is heated, add the garlic and shrimps and fry till fragrant. Add in the minced pork and fry it till it is almost fully cooked. Add the eggplant and chili and fry till it is slightly brown.
3. Pour in the sauces and stir well to make sure everything is well coated. Bring it to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for around 10min, stirring occasionally, or until the eggplant has softened.
4. Stir in the mushrooms, bring to the boil again. Then remove from heat and serve. 

My Pilates Experience

hi there!! (: 

this post has taken quite some time since my previous introduction on Pilates In the Park a couple of months back, but i didn't want to rush it because there was so much to experience and i really didn't want to write this post without going through it thoroughly (: i have so much to tell you about this amazing form of exercise, and there are going to be quite a lot of pictures as well, so stay with me! ^^ 

so, i first picked up Pilates at PowerMoves Pilates in the Park sometime in August this year, and like i mentioned in my previous post (link above), i had misconceptions about how it was pretty similar to yoga in terms of focusing more on relaxation, etc. but i've come to find it such a great form of exercise, that is not too strenuous on your joints (unlike high impact exercises like running), yet, it is challenging enough to cause me to break a sweat! i was so surprised to find out how difficult it was during my first session, and that was just a beginner class. i'm proud to say that after three months, i survived through several late-beginner classes, which is the next level after beginners! :) okay let me allow the pictures to do some talking.

^^^ this was in the last late-beginner lesson that i attended :D ^^^

Pilates focuses a lot on strengthening the core, and i am literally amazed at how my core feels tighter and trimmer every time i step out of a class! it is a lot to do with the method of lateral breathing where you focus on expanding the diaphragm sideways (rather than upwards) and continuing to breathe in deeply through your nose, and exhaling through your mouth while holding your abdominals in. simply doing this alone is a mini-exercise in itself. it is not easy at all, and it requires a very conscious effort to continue with this while executing the various movements. 

unlike yoga where poses are held for around 8 counts or so, Pilates is very dynamic and i like how there is never a dull moment! there are hundreds of Pilates exercises that can be done, and two lessons are never the same. different exercises can be executed to tone the same part of the body, and the variation prevents your body from becoming accustomed to a particular movement, which means that you don't hit a plateau in your regime! being someone who gets bored with too much repetition, i really enjoy pilates because i learn something new in every lesson. and it's great attending classes by different instructors, because each instructor has a different style of teaching, and a different set of exercises they like to practice. 

^^^ these are just some of the equipment that are used in Pilates! ^^^

there are two main types of classes at PowerMoves - matwork and reformer. matwork involves a lot of core exercises, and can be done with no additional equipment other than a mat. but taking classes at a professional studio like PowerMoves has exposed me to so many different types of tools which can be used to enhance the exercises and create even more variation, which adds a whole lot of fun! 

the Magic Ring is a popular Pilates tool - it is a resistance ring used to simulate breathing movements while doing the various exercises. This brings consciousness to the Pilates method of breathing, which is an important part of strengthening the core. it looks easy to work with, but it really isn't. and this is probably the beauty of Pilates - how you can look graceful (it's very much like ballet in some ways!) while getting a really tough workout at the same time. 

Reformer classes involve the use of the Reformer machine, which involves the use of various forms of resistance, creating more strength exercises in your Pilates workout. if i felt the matwork classes were challenging, the Reformer classes really pushed me to my limits! and I RELISHED IT. as i mentioned, i really enjoy how Pilates is such a comprehensive exercise, covering all aspects of a workout from stretching, to cardio, resistance & strength-training. if these poses look easy to you, i can tell you that they weren't at all! i was literally vibrating the whole time especially with the addition of the resistance bands. staying in these positions were really tough! the good news is that there are different levels of resistance (and the qualified instructors are adept at adjusting the level of exercise for all students, regardless of which level you at at) and for Pilates, the focus is usually on dynamic movements, so you typically wouldn't be holding such poses for a prolonged period (i was holding the poses for the sake of photos).

Pilates has really become one of my favourite exercises since i picked it up a few months ago. i absolutely love how it is such a well-rounded exercise, while being low-impact (friendly on the joints!) and constantly fun because of the numerous movements. 

Why PowerMoves?

in this post, and my previous one, i guess you would have already understood the benefits of Pilates as an exercise. but i specifically chose PowerMoves, and i would like to share the reason for my choice.

With studios nestled in three beautiful parks in Singapore, PowerMoves Pilates has the picked the best locations for you to pick up this mindful exercise under the instruction of talented teachers. This concept of 'Pilates in the Park' is exclusive to PowerMoves in the world! I feel that it's a brilliant idea to have their studios in the park - surrounded by lush tropical beauty, this is the perfect setting for an exercise like Pilates. each of the three branches has its own character and subtle beauty, and it really depends on your preference of ambience and location! 

at Garden Spa Aramsa, you are transported into a realm of tranquility in this peaceful, quiet neighbourhood park. it's my personal favourite, even though the studio is smaller, because i love the exclusivity that comes with it. the branch at Dempsey is housed in a lovely colonial-style building in the enclave of Dempsey Hill. For an out-of-Singapore tropical resort experience, this is the place to be. It is one of the largest Pilates studios in Singapore, and coupled with a wide range of equipment (16 Reformers, 8 Towers, 2 Cadillacs, 4 Wunda Chairs and full accessories), it is fully equipped for a comprehensive Pilates experience. the studio at Rochester Park is set amidst a lush rainforest, and private classes are held at this branch for a personalised workout paired with a clinical focus. 

regardless of location, each studio is fully equipped with exceptional facilities, and PowerMoves has won numerous accolades such as Singapore Tatler Best of Singapore award 2012 & 2013, Shape Award for Best Service Standards 2012 and Most Beginner Friendly 2013 among others! you can find out more from their website and facebook page!

feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about Pilates/PowerMoves studio and i would be glad to answer them (: I will also be posting more on my other workout/healthy eating efforts, so look out for those if you’re interested!!

Garden Spa Aramsa

Bishan Park II

Tel.: +65 6455 2221

Dempsey Six and 7even

6 Dempsey Road 

Tel.: +65 6472 2221 

Rochester Park

(private classes only)

Open Door Policy

O.M.G. O.D.P. i finally tried it!!!! i think this place can win an award for being on my omnomnom's list for the longest time haha. and i can't believe i waited so long to try it! (although it was because previously it was always quite difficult to get a reservation for this place) can see why it's so popular though! because it's really good!!! 

we actually came here for brunch but we ordered from the lunch menu instead because the items sounded so much more enticing. and no regrets at all ;) maybe sometime i should come back for the real brunch, but i think that menu isn't as fantastic.

so, first thing we ordered was this wild mushroom risotto with truffle and chanterelle ($45). this is probably not on the menu actually, because it was a special 5-day only menu. but gosh, look at those truffles!!!!! :O aren't they amazing?! the risotto itself unfortunately didn't have much of a truffle flavour, but it was nevertheless very tasty. i didn't actually try the truffle itself though, because it wasn't my dish. but it looks soooo gorgeous! and love all the photos i took that day ^^ the lighting at ODP is perfetto! ;)

i sorta regretted ordering the braised duck ragout with pappardelle pasta and smoked tomato sauce ($25), but only because it was such a carb-y dish!! >.< other than that, this dish was wonderful actually! it had a delicious flavour that appealed to everyone, and the pasta was cooked just right (: so much better than italian pasta!!! haha. always cannot forget that ;) and i love how the cheese lent an additional dimension to the dish, which complemented the pasta perfectly. the only thing that left me rather bewildered was the duck ragout! haha it didn't taste like duck at all imo. but it was nice anyway!!

the smoked pork belly with garlic spinach and pickled vegetables ($30) totally looked like 烧肉 doesn't it! haha.  (guess what, i finally figured out how to type chinese words on my keyboard lol!) it was soooo yummy. fried to a precise crisp on the outside, while the interior was nicely tender and firm, without being too fatty (:

one of my favourites that day was the 48 hour braised beef cheek with mochi potatoes, carrot puree and pea tendrils ($29). omgosh!!! it was SOOOOO TENDER, it literally MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. i'm not kidding you. you barely have to chew on it at all. just pop it in your mouth, move it around a little and it just gradually dissolves. it was that soft. i loved the texture. i did wish that it had a deeper flavour though! perhaps the long cooking drained away its taste, because i felt that there was something lacking in that respect.

the bigass ODP burger with garlic fries and japanese mayonnaise ($27) was pretty good as well! it was a big burger with a rather (probably homemade) tender patty - nice! the "garlic" fries were rather disappointing though! totally didn't taste the garlic at all! there was just this garlic clove buried amongst the fries. maybe we were supposed to smash it ourselves and mix it in? haha not sure. 

for drinks, we had our usual hot chocolate ($6.50). very pretty artwork here! (: but i didn't think the chocolate was that great, unlike my italian chocolate or sprmkrt's. it just tasted very mildly of chocolate and was quite thin. not very worth the $6.50 price tag in my opinion!

i think what really impressed us though, were the desserts!!!!! they were sooooo good, i feel like drooling just thinking about it ^^ so yummy!!!! i'm so proud of my choices mwahaha. we had the jam jar english trifle ($17) which was this jar layered with cream, a strawberry/raspberry puree and sponge cake. and it was so so good!!!!! oh gosh i really loved it! all the sweet and sour notes just went together so seamlessly to produce this simple, but wonderful dessert ^^

the apple crumble ($15) was supposed to take around 15-20min to prepare, but the actual wait was much shorter in the end :) but just let you know in case! it was served piping warm, and had a lovely crumbly crust, with soft baked apples inside bathed in a delicious vanilla custard! it was so yummy too!!! i was just like some ravenous crazy girl spooning these two desserts one after another into my mouth non-stop until they were all gone haha. i mean, i wasn't the only one eating them - we shared - but i was just eating non-stop haha. too addictive :D 

Open Door Policy

19 Yong Siak Street

Tel.: +65 6221 9307

Lunch 12pm-3pm

Dinner 6pm-10.30pm

Brunch 11am-3.30pm (Sat & Sun)

Closed on Tue

Ming

Don't these pair of shorts somewhat remind you of an exquisite Ming vase? i fell in love with them when i saw them in Europe. such a contrast in themes, and the juxtaposition of cultures probably contributed to my fascination in this piece. 

i decided to pair it with this top, which has been relegated to the mess in my closet for awhile, but i found it again in the move to our new house. this is such a comfort piece of mine - i can't believe i forgot about it! a light chiffon piece that is really comfortable and airy, plus i can just throw it on and it matches with almost everything. 

for this all-blue ensemble, i decided to bring in some colour in my accessories and i took out my dangly earrings which i haven't worn in awhile. i suppose these are one of the "retro" accessories which Sam used to love teasing me about? :p i guess my style has changed since then, and i wear a lot more stud earrings, but i still love how my danglys add a pop of colour to my outfit! (: 

Top: HK //

Shorts: H&M

Earrings: Old //

Bangles: New Look

Bobbi Brown Holiday 2013 Collection

hi! (: this post is another super overdue one (oops!), but it comes just in time because all the products are now out in stores! *squeals!!* i had so much fun trying all these products and super big thanks to Athena and the Bobbi Brown team for inviting me to the preview! (: i'm so absolutely in love with all the products i was given to try out, and i can't wait to share them with all of you ^^ 

anyway, some photos of the event first!

some champagne to kick-start the fun! ;) i was actually quite surprised at how large-scale this event was! but it was an awesome lot of fun and i was simply star-struckkk when i saw Hossan Leong there! :O

models strutting the runway, and spot Hossan Leong in the front row! 

a makeover showcase and some of the gorgeous displays at the event! :) look at all the red and glitter gold! it put me in a festive mood already even though we were months away from christmas then! and the old hollywood glam is just SO sexy.

here are some of my favourite products from the collection (:

the Lip Gloss Trio ($77) is a pretty assortment of three flattering shades that are quintessentially Bobbi - Pink Sugar Shimmer, Bronzed Heather Shimmer and Dusty Rose Lip Gloss. 

the Smokey Cool Eye Palette ($108) is perfect for achieving that sultry smokey-eyed look. in a variety of nude to rich shades, these colours can transform your look from day to night by adding instant drama with dazzling shades. another version is the one with warm colours for a variation in your look.

the Sequin Shimmer Brick Eye Palette ($99) is another of my favourite eyeshadows from this collection! ^^ featuring 10 eyeshadows in a range of shimmery shades from silver, dusty rose and golden tones. it's sooo gorgeous! here's a tip - sweep the eye shadow brush all the shades in the palette to achieve a radiant sheen ;) 

and you can't miss this Old Hollywood Eye Palette ($99)! as you can see i'm going ga-ga over eye colours here. they are all so irresistible! this is a limited edition eye palette featuring nine stand-out eye shadows. ranging from silver sparkle and subtle gold, metallic to rich chocolate and charcoal shimmer, this palette will arm you with all that is necessary to come up with several holiday looks that will steal the limelight wherever you go.

the Nude Glow Shimmer Brick ($75) comes in a range of gold and bronze shades that adds a warm glow to your skin and puts you in the mood for a party ;) 

i simply adore the Old Hollywood Lip Colour ($50) which is a delicious creamy bombshell red lippie that glides onto your lips for a yummilicious pucker.

with these christmassy Glitter Nail Polishes ($29 each), you will be all ready for the festive season! the glitter polishes add texture and a touch of colour, and they can be layered over the Siren Red or Tuxedo Black Nail Polishes for added drama. 

finally, the new glamorous shades of Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks ($45 each) in Tuxedo Black and two limited edition shades of 24 Karat and Bronze help to create a va-va-voom look with intense colour that lasts.

one last photo from the Holiday Gift Giving collection! ^^ out in stores now, i can't wait to check them out again! 

here's a look i created with some of the products gifted by Bobbi Brown! (: i love how the colours are so pigmented - just a little bit and it's perfect for a night out. and also, the BB cream i used was from the Jane Iredale Warm Silk set in my VanityTrove!