One month thoughts....and shopping!

Hellooooo! Thank goodness for scheduled posts otherwise my blog would be pretty dead since I started work x.x My first month at work has just flown past just like that! So many changes, new experiences, and I'm still really trying to get the hang of things. Not to mention that we had three weeks of training before yet another change in environment. This is really testing my adaptability, but that isn't a bad thing! (: In fact, I've always seen myself as being quite adaptable, so I guess this is the perfect chance to put it on a trial run. It was quite a 'culture shock' in a way, to start work for real. Glad that I'm finally doing something useful, earning my keep (#firstpaywoohoo!) and learning new things every day! :) What I miss is my freedom, and a nice wardrobe though!!! ARGH. So corporate :/ Though I gotta say that I realised I have way more work clothes than I realised....haha! But still, I miss fun clothes. 

I was just browsing River Island women's clothing online recently, and I'm so tempted to start shopping!!! Here are some of my top picks:

After wearing work dresses and skirts the entire week, what I really feel like doing on the weekends is to throw on a pair of comfy shorts that I can just laze in. This playsuit is perfect - easy to wear, and with a delightful print that pulls the look together.

One can never have too many midi skirts. I love how they look so effortlessly chic and are so girly and elegant at the same time! Plus this satin pink is too gorgeous to miss.

I adore colours and I really miss having bright colours in my clothes!! My attention was immediately drawn to this skater dress thanks to the pretty pink/peach colour. 

For a touch of glamour, I would always reach for my maxi dresses, and I really liked the interesting neckline of this piece. I love how maxis can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion, and the sash tie helps to cinch the waist to define the flowiness of this dress. 

The Hunter's Kitchenette

I have always been a fan of peanut butter - it's my go-to spread whenever I eat bread for breakfast. It never did occur to me (till recently, that there could actually be so many variations of, well, nut butters. I LOVE NUTS. You would have probably heard me mention this sometime or other. I tried a mixed nut butter for the first time when I was in Adelaide last year while I was on holiday and I absolutely fell in love with it! The flavour of the nuts, the crunch, and how healthy it felt! And from that day, I resolved to make my own nut butter....someday. That day hasn't come yet, and unfortunately I've yet to see nut butters on the supermarket shelves. 

I was at 9 MCM, the Pop-up Marketplace when I came across The Hunter's Kitchenette and I immediately jumped with excitement!!! Nut butters, in all sorts of flavours ^^ ooh gosh. And the best part about them is how healthy they are :)) They are absolutely tasty, but the owner, Herbert, took care to ensure that the health benefits of the nuts were not compromised in the preparation and processing. The ingredients of the nut butters are simple - nuts, of course (and of the highest quality), with the addition of no more than a handful of carefully- selected natural condiments: unrefined French sea salt, coconut palm sugar and pure cocoa. 

For those who are nuts about nut butters just like me, you can try the whole range of flavours that The Hunter's Kitchenette in tasting portions with their gift set consisting of 6 types of nut butters (40g each, pictured above) - Almond / Cashew / Hazelnut / Macadamia / Pistachio / Hazelnut Cocoa - priced at $35. It gives you a good sampling of the flavours on offer, and when you've decided what you like, you can also purchase the larger bottles (200g). With those 40g butters, I could do so much with them! The simplest way of eating them would be to speed them on a slice of bread (wholegrain, please!) but I wanted to go a step further to experiment with them in different recipes! And this really showcased the versatility of these nut butters - they can be used any time of the day, for any kind of meal! And they're so good, you can probably eat them every day. 

Breakfast: Overnight oats x hazelnut butter

So incredibly simple - I just used the hazelnut butter as a topping for my oats.

Lunch

Lunch: Salad x pistachio nut butter

I mixed pistachio nut butter with a bit of verjuice for a tinge of sourness, and voila - I've got a salad dressing.

Dinner: Pork chops x Almond nut butter

I haven't mastered the art of making my food look pretty yet, but it tastes pretty darn good ;) Made a cranberry almond sauce for my pork chops which was so simple with the help of the creamy almond nut butter.

Dessert: Muffins x macadamia nut butter

I made banana macadamia nut muffins! And they were SO SO YUMMY! Loved how the flavours of macadamia and banana went so well together. And because I used the nut butter, I cut down on the amount of butter used = healthier muffins! 

Hope these recipes have given you some inspiration on things you can do with your nut butters! If you have any interesting recipes to share, please do!! I would love to try them out :) And... if you're too lazy to do anything with the nut butters, you can always just eat them out of the bottle :P (kidding, but they're really good enough to be eaten on their own ^^) ENJOY!! 

The Hunter's Kitchenette

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Passage New York

July is when the second half starts, and I start wondering how the first half of the year flew past so quickly. It's a time to think back on my new year's resolutions (if I still remember them...) and take a shot at getting them fulfilled in the remaining half of the year. 

July is also one of my favourite months of the year! Mainly because it's my birthday month hehe. And I'm so lucky this year to have a great start to the month! :) Last week, I just had the most pampering spa treatment ever!!

I didn't know what to expect as I walked along the row of office buildings along Cecil Street on the way to Passage New York. I can't believe I interned in the area for almost 3 months and never noticed the spa! I was impressed the moment I stepped into the premises. The high ceiling, spacious reception and boutique to the left of the spa immediately made my heartbeat quicken with excitement. I was led into a cosy consultation room, where I was served a cup of tea and filled in my particulars. I was to have two treatments that day - a 90min Signature Full Body Massage with Body Scrub, as well as, a facial. Simply by noting my occupation, which was primarily a desk-bound job, my consultant immediately pinpointed the areas of focus for my massage - neck/shoulders/back. I was really glad to hear that since my upper back is always aching :/ I think it's because of my pillow? Not sure why either. As for the facial, my consultant recommended the 90min Premium Intensive Facial based on my skin condition, and even kindly added on a bonus Ultrasound Eye Treatment because my eyes looked tired. 

She then led me up the stairs to the area where the treatment rooms were. Excited!! :) What I really liked about Passage New York was their attention to detail. From the consultation where they customised the treatment based on my needs, right to the end of my whole experience - I'll share more details along the way :) 

It was really nice that they provided lockers for their customers! Usually when I go for facials/massages, I would just place my belongings in the room with me. But beeping phones are pretty disruptive to the treatment when you're simply trying to relax. Out of earshot, my phone didn't bother me at all throughout my 3 hour treatment :)

My consultant then brought me to the washroom first, and I was wowed by how bright and pretty it looked! Plus it had all sorts of amenities for guests to freshen up after their treatment.

I mean, really, this is the first time I've seen a spa provide contact lens solution and cases for their customers!! The amount of care taken to make sure their guests are fully comfortable is amazing.

All ready for my first treatment! :) I started off with the body scrub, and it was really thoughtful of them to provide disposable underwear for guests so that the scrub/massage oil doesn't get on your own clothes. I lay down and relaxed as my masseuse, Lily, scrubbed every inch of my body with a milk body scrub that smelled delicious and left my skin feeling buffed and baby soft afterwards!! I was so amazed at how gently the scrub exfoliated my skin and made it feel soooo smooth :) After the scrub, I was directed to the shower area within the room itself (how convenient!) so wash off the scrub, and I came out of the shower to a clean towel and fresh set of underwear! Following which, was my favourite part of the whole treatment :)) The massage - Lily used a tension relief oil that was a blend of lavender, lemon and rosemary. It was so relaxing, and I dozed off multiple times while Lily used long strokes and kneading to smoothen out all the knots in my body. It was SO GOOD.

And the massage room was absolutely gorgeous!

Doesn't this tub make you feel like jumping right in??! Unfortunately I didn't get to use it haha, but it added to the ambience and made the room feel like a wonderful sanctuary away from stress. 

After the massage, Lilyled me to another room for my facial. And it was so sweet of them to provide me with another cup of tea, just when I was feeling thirsty :) See, it's the little touches that matter. 

Before the treatment started, my facial therapist, Hui Chiun, smoothed some soothing aromatic oils on her hands and fluttered them over my face to relax my senses. Ahh :) The Premium Intensive Facial is meant for sensitive skin like mine, and it's a deep cleansing and exfoliating facial that helps to rebalance the skin's PH, as well as, heals and reduces skin congestion. This was the first time so many skin products were used on me during a facial! I was really amazed at their generosity and attention to detail. From an enzyme peel, to acne tonic, ampoules (several of them!), a mask, moisturiser and other treatments, my skin felt incredibly well-taken care of! I also really liked how Hui Chiun was very careful throughout the extraction process, and kept checking in with me to see whether I was alright. The Ultrasound Eye Teatment was absolutely luxurious with a heated tool applied to the eye area to relax it.

After both my treatments, the staff brought me on a tour of the premises and I was fascinated to find this lovely jacuzzi! It's really an oasis in the middle of the CBD. Doesn't it look like it came out of a fairytale?? :) They also have a sauna next to the jacuzzi area, and all members have access to these facilities.

As I mentioned above, there is even a boutique included under the Passage New York brand! As Coco Chanel put it succinctly "A girl should be two things - Classy, and Fabulous". At Passage New York, you can feel fabulous after all their signature pampering treatments, and complete your wardrobe with their classy clothes and accessories.

And because it was my birthday month, they even gave me a present from their boutique!!! :') So sweet of them :') I really enjoyed my experience there so much, and I've got to say a big thank you to Sheau Jiun and the team at Passage New York for taking such good care of me :) 

Aaaaand for all you lucky girls, here's a *special promotion* for you:

Enjoy 2 Luxurious Spa Treatments @ $98 (U.P. $530) + Receive a Free leather bag (worth $480)!

The treatments are a 45min Signature Full Body Massage and 90min Vitamin C Whitening & Anti-Aging Facial.

This is the free leather bag you'll be getting, and if you look at the original prices of the individual items, this promotion is really worth it!! Usually a good-quality facial anywhere else would probably set you back $98, so with a massage (which was awesomeeee ^^ please read above if you're not convinced) and a bag thrown in, this is a really good deal! Do try it out!! I'm sure you will enjoy it too :) 

Terms & Conditions:

- Valid till 31 August 2014

- Valid for first time female customers (Singaporeans, PRs, and EP holders) aged 25 years and above

- Prior booking is required, subject to availability. Please call 6226 0888 to make an appointment

- Not valid with other promotions, discounts or privileges

- Free leather bag is while stocks last, designs and colours may vary

- Passage New York reserves the right to alter and amend any terms and conditions without prior notice

Melvados

I happily allowed Bandana to plonk items into my shopping basket as I browsed the aisle of the shop and ooh-ed and ahh-ed at everything on display. The way she described the food made it sound so good!

Originally a food-wholesale company that started out in 2003, Foodedge Gourmet expanded its business with a retail arm, Melvados, just over a year ago. Having to meet the stringent requirements of their original clients (airlines, hotels and restaurants, among others), the quality of food is maintained at high standards, made from the finest ingredients, while keeping prices affordable for the everyday consumer. With the simplest 3-step process of defrost-heat-eat, Melvados' gourmet delights are the perfect solution for a busy working mother, a party or anything in between. All the items are fully cooked and kept fresh by blast freezing - a process that requires no artificial preservatives. The food can be kept for approximately 3 months in this state! And I was so pleasantly surprised to find out how healthy it is. Other than the absence of artificial preservatives, Melvados' food is chemical-free, with no added salt, and also halal certified! 

Well, of course to know whether the food was really that good, I had to do a taste test. Yay! And it was so nice of Bandana to gift me such a generous amount of goodies! I was so excited to try them - i had them for dinner that night. Let me just share some of my favourites :)

I honestly don't have much high expectations for food that comes out of a packet. I love cooking myself, and I always believe in freshly-prepared food. The food from Melvados probably changed my entire opinion about frozen food though!! I'm a fan of lagsane ($16 for 4pcs), and this dish hit all the right notes with its piquant flavours and generous amount of minced beef. It was a thoughtful touch to have the sauce packed separately too, so that the elements remained fresh individually.

The Thai Green Curry Chicken Wrap ($12 for 4pcs) could have been a meal on its own, and was a really interesting east meets west type of dish with its Asian spices. It was stuffed to the brim with the filling (save for the two ends of the tortilla, but that's understandable) and packed a punch.

The Garlic Herb Cheese Flatbread ($4/pc) was so simple to prepare. Simply thaw and toast to give it a crisp crust and melt the butter ever-so-slightly to release the mouth-watering aroma from the garlic & herbs.


There was such an array of ice creams and sorbets on display that I had such a hard time trying to decide what to pick! Whether you're seeking traditional flavours like chocolate or vanilla, to something more decadent like salted caramel, Melvados has it all. And I'm not even done. What I found so special about their store was the way they incorporated local flavours into many of their products! (as with the Green Curry Wrap above^) Choose from an array of refreshing fruit flavours in their sorbet range, and...wait for it...DURIAN ICE CREAM ($9.50). For those durian fans out there, you'll be glad to know that this velvety tub of ice cream is made from pure D24 flesh, and (though I don't eat durian myself), in the words of my parents "it tastes exactly like the real fruit!"

I picked out the Yuzu Sorbet ($8) for myself, which is one of the newest additions to their collection. Where else have you heard of yuzu sorbet??!! At least I haven't. And I was so surprised and thrilled that they had this. I thoroughly enjoyed the refreshing citrus-y flavour, though it was a tad too sweet for me.

The pièce de résistance was the Chocolate Melt Dessert ($20 for 8pcs), which is essentially a lava cake. We were absolutely FLOORED by this. It was so so so good!!! We took awhile to get the heating right, but once we got it, the chocolate lava flowed right out once we cut it open. It was rich, smooth, and dark-chocolatey, exactly how a good lava cake should be. And we could now enjoy it in the comfort of our home. This dessert won praises all around, and my entire family was sold.

Melvados really impressed with all the dishes we tried and I'll definitely be going back to them if I need to cater food for a party :) You can check out their website for their entire catalogue of products, or their two outlets (details below). And for those who don't live near the East/North (like me), you'll be glad to know that you can order online and get the food to be delivered for a charge of $8.50, with free delivery for orders above $100/$50 with the purchase of a cake (tray/round).

Joo Chiat Outlet (Melvados)
216 Joo Chiat Road #01-11
Tel.: +65 6444 9351
Tue-Sun 10am-8pm (closed on Mondays)

Woodlands Outlet (Foodedge Gourmet Factory Store)
The Melavdos retail outlet is within the premises of the parent company
26 Woodlands Terrace
Tel.: +65 6339 4953
Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm
Sat 9am-1pm
Closed on Sundays & PH

*I promise this is an unbiased post even though it was sponsored!*
Thank you Bandana & Melvados for the kind hospitality :) 

Itshatched

i was so thrilled to receive my parcel in the mail from itshatched the other day (: school's over now, and i'm moving into a new phase of life. a bit excited, but dragging my feet over it at the same time because i think i still enjoy going to school much more :P these goodies from itshatched perked me up quite a bit though! ^^ kinda makes me a little more enthusiastic about heading out into the workforce with these in tow ;)

so i've been wanting to replace my pencil box for the longest time. i bought a new one when i started university and after the first year, i actually wanted to get a new one because the old one was getting scratched an all. guess what? i actually procrastinated all the way for the past three years and never bought a new one! hahaha :P well, also because my pencil box was functional anyways so there wasn't much of a point getting a new one. but i was so happy to finally get a new one from itshatched, and it's the prettiest pencil case i've ever gotten!! of course i'm sure there are pens at the office, but i kinda want to bring my own nice stationery and markers/highlighters to work - just to make life a little more colourful ^^

this is the first time i've ever seen a roll-up pencil case and it's gorgeous!!! itshatched's roll up pencil case ($24.90) is one of its signature products and it's actually handmade! it's just the perfect size to pop into my work bag, and it fits quite a lot of pens nicely (more than what i showed in the photo above). plus the flap on top prevents the items from falling out into my bag, which is great (:

i was also so stoked to receive one of their latest products - the drawstring pouch ^^ this is absolutely PERFECT for work and i've been wanting to get something like this for the longest time!! the drawstring pouch is super functional and it can be used for so many things :) e.g. when going out for lunch from the office, or just to run some errands, all i need to do is pop my necessities into this pouch, and it works as a great accessory because it's so pretty. i'm totally thinking of getting a few more of these pouches so that i can organise my bag better, to put my makeup, accessories, or it can even double up as a pencil case as well ;) it's super useful! itshatched currently has four gorgeous designs of this pouch which you can check out on their instagram. and they're really affordable ($6.90-$8.90) too! you can totally get one of each design ;) hahaha. 

do check out their website for more of their products that are handmade with love :))

Upside Motion

hello! :) i've been meaning to blog about my fitness/healthy eating regime, but procrastinated terribly! this post shall mark the beginning of a series of few more posts (*i will try my best* since finals are coming...) on this topic which you can follow here, and i can't be more excited to kickstart this with my experience at Upside Motion! :) 

i came across Upside Motion in some magazine previously and i was really fascinated by the kind of classes they have at their studio! because i learnt dance previously, i tend to be intrigued by exercises that train strength and flexibility through similar means - yoga and Pilates for example. i always find yoga a little too relaxing though (with the exception of hot yoga which is really awesome!), but i LOVE Pilates (read about my Pilates experience) ^^ at Upside Motion, you'll never get bored ;) their classes are nothing like your standard yoga or Pilates classes. what i was attracted to was their Xtend Barre and Antigravity Aerial classes.

*hello from upside down!* 

SERIOUSLY?! yep, i could hardly believe my ears when my instructor asked me to flip upside down in my first class of Antigravity Aerial! :O i was absolutely freaked out!!! i have this fear of hanging upside down (firstly because i get motion sick, secondly because I'm terrified that i'll crash head first to the floor). i didn't dare to let go of the hammock at all!! held on to it as if my life depended on it (which seems perfectly legit right?!) my instructor had to come along and pry my hands off :P i felt a teeny bit more secure with her supporting me, while i lifted half a finger off my grip, then a whole finger, and one hand, then the other. and oh my mama, i was hanging with nothing but the hammock supporting me!

after a minute of quivering though, i started to feel the immense liberation of hanging upside down. all the blood rushed to my head. but i just closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of my mind being blank. it was incredible. i started to enjoy it. especially as more lessons went by and i trusted that the hammock would hold me securely, it was an amazing feeling.

i learned to fly! (this photo was taken pre-flying)

and i did crazy stunts! i looked forward to every single lesson of Antigravity Aerial because we tried new things each time, with increasing level of toughness, but it was empowering to find that i could do these stunts! of course i wasn't good at all of them, but the strength-training was really good.

Antigravity Aerial is a great exercise for a low-impact, full-body workout that stretches, strengthens and works the core muscles without placing unnecessary pressure on the spine and joints. all these upside down actions are especially good for people with stiff backs because it really helps to lengthen the spine and releases the tension in the neck and spine. have i mentioned how it's really therapeutic as well? ;) - my favourite part of each class was at the end, when we would cocoon ourselves in the comfy satin hammock. it's such a lovely, warm, enveloping feeling and i could totally fall asleep in it! haha. and it's absolutely safe. every successful move gave me more confidence in the strength of the hammock, and it really pushed my boundaries in overcoming my unfounded fears :) 

Xtend Barre was a whole different feat. it was TOUGH. no doubt about that. but i loved every single bit of it.

ever wondered how ballet dancers have such toned, taut bodies? i found out the tough way in Xtend Barre :P but it's an incredible exercise! I just saw the funniest quote the other day:

You aren't going to get the butt you want by sitting on the one you have

haha! it's so true!!! if you want the toned, chiseled physique of a dancer, you've gotta work for it! and literally, in that one week of classes (i attended them quite regularly), i already felt a difference in my body. plus all the other exercises that i've been doing (which i'll blog about soon!), it's really been helping me a lot in strengthening and toning my body :)

using various equipment such as small weights, a bouncy ball, yoga strap, resistance band, and the barre of course, Xtend Barre sculpts the body through a combination of isometric exercises and orthopaedic stretches to tone hard-to-reach muscles (some of which you never knew existed). my thighs, glutes and calves screamed for mercy (gosh how could such simple-looking exercises be so tough??!!!!) but i tried my best to press on. that's really the whole spirit of exercising! never ever give up! even if its tough, just work to your maximum and take a break. you'll get better each time ^^ taking this bunch of photos was a crazy test for my muscles which were already shagged out from the class before that (so i put in a lot of effort to smile ok...haha), but the extra exercise gave me an additional boost of fulfilment ;)

for girls who've always wanted more toned legs, arms, butt and abs, Xtend Barre is the perfect exercise to achieve the lithe silhouette of a dance without building unnecessary bulk.

i really enjoyed all my classes at Upside Motion and i strongly encourage you to try them out too! :)) plus, it's SO NEAR school (for those in SMU) - a less than 5 minute walk away, which makes it super convenient ;) do try it out and check out their website and Facebook for more information! ^^

oh yes! and fyi, Upside Motion recently launched an app which makes it absolutely fuss-free to check class schedules, book your classes and keep track of them! no more forgetting what classes you've signed up for ;) i hope you enjoy the classes as much as i did!

City Hall
36 Armenian Street #02-03
Tel.: +65 6636 6859

Bukit Timah
100 Turf Club Road Horsecity #01-02L/X
Tel.: +65 6465 1559

Almost there

it's crazy, how fast time flies. there is only about a couple of weeks left to the end of school, and about a month till the end of my final semester in SMU. :O where has all the time gone! the four years in university, all the memories that i've had along the way :') really really glad for the important friendships i've formed in these four years. so many unexpected things! in a good way of course (: celebrated ngan's birthday recently with our two best groups of friends in SMU <3 the ones who've made my university life so much more colourful and memorable.

happy birthday bestie! (: stay pretty (and look like zoe tay) forever ^^ 

celebrated her birthday with the Hopers at Concetto! the new italian restaurant by Saveur. will blog about that in a bit! this is a photo with our ever-growing family :'))) so happy to see everyone like this! <3<3 wish liying & ngan's boyfriends were here tooooo. and huishan is missing from this photo. but so much love for these friends who went through thick and thin together while we were slogging away on OCSP hehh :) 

and my favourite SMU girls! :))) shall not post the one with the guys because i look so unglam there (sigh). we look so colour-coordinated in white/black in this pic!! 

went to watch Non-Stop after that and IT WAS SO EXCITING!!!!! i was totally gonna jump out of my seat any moment during the movie haha! really felt like i was on the plane :O and the sound effects O.M.G. gosh but i think if i was in a situation like that i would die of fear even before the plane crashes x.x so scary when such things happen >.< 

and we went for the Senior Dis-ornetation event together too! <3 haha what a funny name right :P and it was a SUPER EPIC day as well, which i'm so tempted to post a really swoon-worthy photo teehee, but it is too embarrassing. hehe ^^ so it shall remain exclusive to us ;) and we're going for grad night together!!!! wheeeeeee i'm so excited! haha it's gonna be like prom all over again, but with such awesome company ^^ i can't wait!! hopefully we'll be lucky enough (haha *cross fingers and toes*) to win that hotel stay at MBS. my happy place <3 

so many memories for us in SMU i'll never forget :') thanks for the wonderful 21 months so far and counting! :)) haha so funny, that day during Ngan's birthday with the superheroes, Nic asked all the girls whether it's still worth it to have a boyfriend when it heightens all our emotions - both happy and sad. the answer? yes yes yes yes YES. i love you darling, to the moon and back and till the stars stop shining :) thank you for always loving me the way you do, with your amazing patience and biggest heart <3

prepared a lil something for my dearies in SMU! (: hope they like it ^^ and big thanks to PixaRoll as well! they sent me this gorgeous set of magnets which are the perfect gift for my superheroes! (: so many memories we've had captured in #makingyear4count (credits to Sam for the hashtag ^^) and being able to print them out just makes it even better! plus the fact that Pixaroll does magnets which is pretty innovative - something i've never seen so far! and you're not just limited to instagram photos. PixaRoll allows you to develop normal photos into 4R or 6R prints as well! get it on Android or iPhone and start printing your magnets now ^^

*for a little sweetener, PixaRoll is offering a special discount for my readers - use the coupon code 'KELW' when you check out your order for a 15% discount. it's only valid till 31/3/2014 so get yours soon if you want to (: