Singapore Top Travel, Beauty, Food, Lifestyle Blog

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

A little update on life + 三个神经病的 CNY Steamboat!

Hello all! (:

Before someone reports to the authorities for "Missing Girl in Action", NO, I am alive and very well, as those who are following me on Instagram/Twitter would attest to.

It's just that I've been thrown into one of those lull periods of seclusion and have decided to make myself a hermit (well, sort of) and am happily relishing my days of retiring to bed early; well before midnight, mind you, amidst spending time doing everything but blog/work.

Okay okaaay. LOL. I've just been rather extremely lazy, I admit it. But somehow, I feel like I'm taking ownership of my own life again. In the past year, there were periods when I've felt so continually harassed over work and blogging and all my thousand and one commitments, that every waking moment felt like work. I turned on my laptop when I woke up, worked, blogged, edited photos and worked my way until I had to go somewhere else, went back home, and carried on working til it was time to sleep.

It sounds silly, but everything I did had to have some kind of agenda. Going for events? Ok, I'll wear one of TVD's upcoming pieces so that I can hype up the sales a little. If I were heading out for a meal with the boyfriend, I'd think of going somewhere new so that it would mean fresh content for the blog! So on and so forth. It almost became like I was living for the sake of blogging and work, which has got to be extreme irony.

SO. I decided that I needed a change! Of course, I love to blog, and I love TVD, I really do. But this year, I'm gonna have a better work life balance, and not be thinking about work ALL THE DAMN TIME. Because everything I do is almost all related to work. Even the mundane things like putting on makeup, or having a meal. I want to have "off" days when I don't have to think about what to blog next or how to push sales for TVD's next collection. I want to go to bed not thinking about my to-do list, and just enjoy reading myself to sleep with one of my many dog-eared Harry Potter novels.

Thanks to my bad skin condition and other health issues lately, I think I also need to take a step back to look at my life and how I'm treating (or rather, abusing) my body, because health is something that money cannot buy. It's about time I started taking better care of my body! Thus, no more late nights if I can afford it, and I also need to do something about my horrible diet. More greens! Less meat, less junk and less sugar! Regular meals!

Still, don't worry, because I will do my best to be as regular as I can in regards to blogging! And also, TVD is not going to be affected la (as far as possible, hahaha). Right now, we're taking things a bit slow because the factories have just started churning out stocks not so long ago, plus I'm preparing for our move to a dot com very soon, thus it's still a lull season. Once we're all moved to dot com and have all the knots and ends ironed out, it will be full steam ahead! ^.^ Oh yes, there will be more sales and also even a warehouse sale upcoming, to do a stock clearance so that the move to dot com will be as fuss free as possible! Look forward to that!

That's it on my "life update".. Hahhaha.

And just so that it's not all words.. Here's belated pictures from CNY steamboat with Evonne, Jayne, and the respective other halves! Jayne even brought along Momo who is MAD ADORBS! Awww.

Speaking of these two.. I'm real glad that blogging is less lonely now because of friends like them! Attending events sound really cool and fun, but it can get pretty awkward if you're all by yourself and don't know anyone else. But now I've got these two 神经病的, the blogosphere is a less lonely place. Yay! It's not everyone that I can "click" with, but the three of us someone just seem to fall into place real nicely. Lol. Extremely blessed and thankful for having found them!

***

Shaggy QQ is always excited when visitors come over, and that evening was no different. Look at her cute little face and bright eyes!

Evonne terrorizing QQ. Mwahahaha.

And the fat roll ham is a fat roll of ham. No matter when, where or who.

Everyone's favourite steamboat "liao", enoki mushrooms, meatballs, crabsticks, sausages and the likes!

And I pestered Mummy to fry us some beehoon, which turned out to be the star of the night, everyone had two servings and were too full to finish the steamboat thereafter. #steamboatfail


But I have got to say my mummy makes a mean steamboat soup!!! It was delish!


Hello cutie Momo! He's just so fluffy!


The two prettyyyyyys!


Momo the carpet!

And Vernon the Dog Whisperer. Hahaha. I swear, Vernon really has got a way with dogs! Both Baby and QQ were just happily enjoying his massaging and stroking.

Shiok-tisfied expressiong on Baby's face. Hahaha damn funny.

QQ too!



We had ice cream post steamboat too: There's always room for the sweets! Heh.


And we spammed the instax at the end of the night hehe. Thanks Evonne for sponsoring the instax mwahaha! ❤

We shall do a BBQ soon-ish! :D

***

That's it for now! Ciao ciao (I am dying to go on a holiday! I mean a real one, overseas.)
Have a great week, everyone! :)

xoxo

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Valentine's Day 2013

It's our 6th Valentine's Day together!!!

Valentine's Day is pretty much a marketing gimmick to me, and I've honestly never been the type to go for flowers or a candlelight dinner. Especially since YZ and I have been together for more than half a decade now (our 5th anniversary was last August!)

This was us during our first Valentine's Day together, in 2008. Hehe. Dug out these photos from my old blog!! How time flies! I was only 21 years old then. I know, YZ looks scarily round here :X (That's what I call true love. Muahahaha) And I looked different with short hair too!

I don't blog that much about the boyfriend, because like I've mentioned before, this space isn't really all that private and sometimes I'm a little loath to give up the more personal parts of my life for public scrutiny. 

YZ and I actually met at The Ark Music Cafe (木船民歌餐厅) back in 2007. You know, those bubble tea and food cafes that had live mandarin music gigs? Back then, YZ was helping a friend out and part-time managing at the cafe, while I was quite involved in my pop music school, taking pop vocal lessons. So what happened was that the music cafe organised a singing competition, which many of my music schoolmates took part in, and thus I ended up spending many evenings at the cafe to "support" my schoolmates.

I didn't take part in the competition by the way. Hahaa. According to YZ, he didn't notice me at first, until that fateful night that we bumped into each other at the same kopitiam: I was having supper with my schoolmates while he was having supper with some of the other staff from the cafe.

We ended up having supper together in one big group that night! Then, YZ kind of just casually asked me if I had any feedback regarding how the competition was being organised and run, probably only out of politeness or perhaps for lack of a mutual topic, and I basically bombarded him with a thousand and one criticisms and feedback (me being extremely vocal and straightforward...) and I think he was quite taken aback. I mean, it being the first time we even had a conversation and all HAHAHA. Of course he didn't say anything to me that night, but in his head, he was thinking like, 哇。。。这个女孩子, 要小心!

A precious relic from those days, didn't take as many photos back then! We went out for supper very often in a big group, and I think YZ kind of slowly developed an interest in me because of my straight forward and outspoken personality... And he said he liked my looks too, but it was my personality that attracted him first. Oh and also, that was the time right after I had just successfully lost about 10kg as well :X Guess that probably helped. Hahaha.

Us fooling around with the KTV system at the cafe after closing hours! We then discovered that each other could sing and I think that was like super 加分 for him he says he likes talented girls HAHAHA. 

Before YZ, I hadn't seriously dated anyone before. So when YZ started to express interest in me, I was pretty hesitant about it at first, and I wasn't certain if I wanted to enter a relationship with him. I think I had a bit of a relationship phobia as well, but one of the best things about YZ is his completely honest nature. He's like an open book and his actions and emotions are extremely easy to read. There was no manipulation or any mind games, nothing but his sincerity and liking for me. Either that, or he is just SO good at this manipulation thing that I got duped very easily. Haha not sure which one.

We spent many late nights out over supper, or at the sea side just chatting and getting to know each other better. One night while we were sitting in silence at one of the tide breakers and enjoying the sea breeze, my phone suddenly beeped with a message from YZ who was just two feet away from me, and the message said... "Can I hold your hand?"

Lol.

I really didn't know how to react, so I just looked at him, laughed and asked him what I was supposed to say to that, and he just grabbed hold of my hand and didn't let go, and probably 暗爽-ed and did a victory dance inside. Hahaha. And that was the start of our relationship.

We've been together for almost six years now, and I still find it amazing how quickly time flies. We've been through a fair bit in the past five over years, and we are definitely not the perfect couple (I really don't think there's such a thing as a perfect relationship). He's got his temper and I can be extremely stubborn at times, and there's been times when we've both felt just so damn frustrated with each other.

But at the end of the day, I've realized that a relationship isn't just about love, it's about effort and compromises and a whole load of honest, open communication. It's about taking the time to hear each other out, understanding what the other party needs, and wanting to make things work. It's about appreciating the little things, and not taking each other for granted.

:)

We don't usually celebrate Valentine's Day, but last year didn't end off so well for us, and this year is somewhat of a fresh start for our relationship, so I know YZ earnestly wanted this day to be a simple but special one for the two of us :) 

And YZ tried to spring surprises on me... twice!!!
The first surprise was after lunch, he tricked me by telling me he lost my camera and left it in the toilet (what a lousy excuse and I didn't quite believe it) and then popped up with a huge wrapped box that was damn heavy! I was clueless and couldn't guess what he got for me until he gave me really obvious hints.. he got me a pair of rollerblades!! And he got a pair for himself too, hehe. He says this present is for us to have fun and keep fit together, because he thinks that we will enjoy roller-blading together.

The second surprise was a little bouquet of roses that was personally delivered in the arms of Chip the chipmunk, with a love letter too :) Same excuse about losing something except this time round it was his phone that was "accidentally" on-purpose left in the car so he could go back to the car in order to get the bouquet to surprise me during dinner. Haha.

***

Pictures!
Lunch was at Everything with Fries. YZ's absolute-est favorite-est restaurant.


My huge huge present.
Totally had no idea what it was!

Can't wait to go blading real soon!
The weather's been so crazily erratic though :(

And the pretty roses.
YZ knows I find flowers a waste of money, so he got me a small bouquet, along with a soft toy so that I have something to keep after the flowers are gone.

There's even a little love letter "hidden" inside the acorn that Chip's carrying! Heh.

I'm really not the best at expressing how I feel, but thank you for everything!
:)
For showering me with your love and care, for your assurances that I'm the most beautiful girl in your eyes, for doing your best to curb that bloody bad temper of yours, for trying so damn hard to make everything work, for refusing to give up on me and on us, and for loving every single bit of me so whole-heartedly and sincerely. For everything that you've done for me today and everyday.

MUAHS.

❤


Pardon this video. It's from 2011, but I thought it was befitting to end this post with. Heheh.
Thank you for reading!

xoxo


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Monday, February 4, 2013

Lunch at Ramen Keisuke Tori King + Group Therapy!

GOOD MONDAY, ALL!

Sighhh, I'm sure everyone's feeling the same I do this morning: BLUEEEE. The gloomy weather ain't making things better and I don't want to sound like I'm whining all the time but work's been pretty stressful helpppppp. (Just thinking of the emails alone, I want to die.)

It's the last lap to go before CNY and I absolutely can't wait for CNY to come quick! After which we'll probably be taking a two week break to "spring clean", hire new staff, and plan things for the rest of the year.

By the way, TVD's birthday is actually in February, so we are turning THREE YEARS OLD this month! Wtfffffff. Has it been three years already??? I still cannot believe how quickly three years has passed. Three years! D: Praying that we'll have another fruitful and blessed year ahead... Huat ah!!!

I've been fulfilling one of my personal new year resolutions for 2013 pretty well, which is to spend more time with my loved ones instead of being constantly buried in work! It's really hard to keep the right balance at times. But I'm working at it! (Pun not intended) :D Took a day off to go out for a meal and date with the boyfriend and friends, I love bonding over a fantastic meal! ♥ Somehow, food just makes everyone happy.

Random picture of my early morning face.

Trish's been introducing me to lots of yummy food places recently, damn shiok! She said we had to go try this super fantastic ramen and so off we went. Woke up early because we were forewarned that the queue after noon time would get pretty crazy! YZ and I travelled down to Tanjong Pajar, Tras Street. The ramen restaurant is actually located inside Amara Hotel Shopping Arcade, my first time there!


By the way, Ramen Keisuke Tori King is actually the 3rd ramen restaurant opened by the winner of the Tokyo Ramen Championships 2011, Keisuke Takada, and this particular outlet focuses solely on chicken based ramen!



The exterior of the restaurant. Feels like Japan already!

The menu signboard!



We had to wait to get a table, but we were given order slips to fill in while waiting! The menu is pretty straight forward, you can choose from three different "flavors", the original Tori King Ramen, the Black Spicy version, or Green Spicy (Wasabi) version.

After that, you can customise your ramen to your liking, and you get to choose which toppings you want, and even the texture of the noodles! Easy enough. I went for the Black Spicy Tori King Ramen Special (with ALL toppings!!!), normal soup taste, less oil, and normal noodle texture!


Got seated after about 15 minutes or so, yay! The interior of the restaurant is plastered with retro posters  and old comic pages that will bring you back to the 60's/70's. Pretty awesome!

Service was prompt, free-flow of ice water, and we didn't have to wait long for our ramen since we'd already ordered it whilst standing outside.

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the beansprouts, but there are free flow hardboiled eggs (normal and low cholesterol), seasoned bean sprouts, and condiments available. The bean sprouts were so tasty I couldn't stop eating them!


Hardboiled eggs free flow O_O I only ate one though because the ramen portion was ginormous! (More on that later)


YZ peeling me some hardboiled eggs. Hahaha.


You're supposed to grind the sesame seeds provided, and add it into your soup to bring out a different flavor! Kind of feels like playing masak masak. Hahaha.


My Black Spicy Tori King Ramen Special (with ALL toppings), normal soup taste, less oil, and normal noodle texture! Looks damn good right!!


This huge bowl of ramen came with a grilled chicken thigh, a soft oozy onsen egg, a giant sheet of seaweed, and chashu! The chicken broth is supposedly simmered with chicken bones, chicken feet and vegetables for over 8 hours, resulting in a rich and tasty flavor. SLURPS.

Giant bowl of ramen is giant.

Anyway, it was DELICIOUS! I finished the entire freaking bowl, along side heapings of bean sprouts. The soup broth was so so tasty! The noodles were just the right chewy and springy texture, not too soggy. Enjoyed the grilled chicken thigh too because the meat was really tender and soft. I might go for "No Oil" instead of "Less Oil" the next time though because I felt that the soup was a tad too oily!

Also, will probably not order the All Toppings in future. Hahahaha it was really really a challenging task to finish the entire bowl! :X But I managed to do it!


With Trish and Xuan!


So so so so insanely full and satisfying, and the ramen is like only $16.90 for my huge all-toppings version!!! Value for money, CHECK! If you're a ramen lover, you have to try this! Oooohhhh now I have mad ramen cravings.


By the way you can redeem free ramen with Perx (iphone app) if you have it too! 7 chops to redeem one free ramen with value of $12.90! Woooo! One visit I got 5 chops already just need 2 more and I get a free bowl of ramen :D


***

Ramen Keisuke Tori King

100 Tras Street, #03-15
Tel: 6604 6861
Opening hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm

***


Xuan with hubby and baby Vivi! She's only two months old and daaaaamn cuteeee omg her eyes are so big! ♥♥♥

Hello cutie ♥


With le boyfriend!

Headed over to Duxton Hill just a couple streets away for desserts.. I was actually filled to bursting point already but there's always room for desserts! :X We ended up at Group Therapy, which was filled with customers despite the streets looking very quiet D:


Been to Group Therapy twice, and I really like the comfy vibe in there with the mismatched furniture and homely decor.

Next time I wanna go back for brunch! Looked so good on other customers' tables. Hahaha. The desserts that we ordered were quite decent but not like rock-your-socks-off kind of awesome. My favourite was the Belgian Waffle! Can't go wrong with ice cream and extra maple syrup on the side. Heh.

The Apple Pie was quite forgettable in my opinion, and the Carrot Cake was too smooth for my taste, I prefer the chunky sort! But well, I'm a glutton and still had a fair share of all the desserts regardless :D


Caramel Granny Smith Apple Pie $8


Belgian Style Waffle with Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate Sauce, Almonds and Fruits $12


4-Layer Carrot Cake $8.50

Proud godmama carrying her goddaughter!


Super duper satiated and happy tummy omg. And we still went for a huge dinner that night! Maybe I'll put up more pictures from the rest of the day next time.. Too many! So fulfilling to be able to put work aside and spend time with some of my favorite people. And I am definitely craving for more ramen now! How to diet like this! :( Let's go back again soon people!

***

Group Therapy Cafe 

49 Duxton Road #02-01 
Tel: +65 6222 2554 

Tue to Thu: 11am – 6pm 
Fri: 11am – 11pm 
Sat: 11am – 11pm 
Sun: 9am – 6pm 
Closed on Mondays

***

Miffy Instax too cute! Yaayyyy!!!

So so so so in love with this pair of gold-capped loafers I bought from OnPedder! They are crazy comfortable and too damn pretty. Trying not to wear them so often cos I heart pain if they spoil too quickly, but they are so pretty I want to wear them all the time!!!

Outfit: Suede Biker Jacket in Rust Orange and Scallop Hem Flared Skirt in Black, both upcoming pieces on TheVelvetDolls! Just a casual outfit heh. Ooh and I love my new vintage back pack too... 

Bought it from a 2nd-hand shop together with Min (she got a similar one in a bigger size) and I've been using it daily since! Affordable price and in reasonably good condition, score! Love finding 2nd hand buys cos I wouldn't bear to buy a brand new one, not with the crazy retail prices in Singapore.

I kept the Suede Biker Jacket in Black too cos I love it too much! (And I have the original piece in Camel. OOPS) Wore it with the Panelled Leather Skirt, and accessorized with my Burgundy Cambridge Satchel and new lime snakeskin pumps from HeatWave!

Erm, too much shopping lately. Retail therapy I think cos I've been very stressed. Hahaha ;___;

Going back to face my Monday Blues now! Fighting!

xoxo

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© Yina Goes

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