So I spotted this ad on Facebook today and TOTALLY had to leave a comment to ask if Zoe even has an Instagram account, much less one that has helped “Over 11,000 Women Lose Weight”. *lmao*

I stalk follow many celebs on Instagram (people like Sharon Au, Felicia Chin, Jeanette Aw, even Pan Lingling! And I have NOT come across Zoe’s instagram account. Is there something I am missing here? ;)

And my goodness, though it is just one short ad, a grammar Nazi would have a field day with it.

“The few detail advice Zoe was able to share has helped so many mum’s and daughters reach their goals.”

-> Should have been “The detailed advice that Zoe shared has helped so many mums and daughters reach their goals” and even then, it is not saying very much. Kind of like a lot of fluff.

And…

“Zoe Tay Shed Tears On Instagram Because She So Happy to Help Over 11,000 Women Lose Weight!”

I think there’s a missing “Was” in the sentence above. I doubt she actually helped anyone lose weight because I am a huge fan of her acting and I have not heard of her helping anyone lose weight.

So guys, the next time you see such an ad, question it. ;) And there are only 2 methods (known to mankind) for losing weight:

(1) Diet & Exercise

(2) Liposuction

Zoe’s “few detail advice” is not one of them. ;)

I have received many comments on my World Ventures blogposts (like this one) regarding refunds from World Ventures. Three days ago, I got an email from a lady who is trying to get a refund and who has information to share:

I found some interesting information on page 30 of the document she sent over:

“11.5 – Voluntary Cancellation

A participant in this network marketing plan has a right to cancel the Agreement at any time without penalty at any time, regardless of reason by giving fourteen (14) days notice in writing to WorldVentures, provided that if the termination occurs within sixty (60) days from the date the RBS is first made available to the relevant Representative online, WorldVentures will, upon request, refund the purchase of the RBS (Initial and any Monthly Fee paid).

*Representative Business System — A selection of WorldVentures training materials and business support literature that each new Representative is required to purchase. The Representative Business System is sold to Representatives at the Company’s cost.”

~

I just keep learning new things about World Ventures it seems. There’s even a set of training materials that every new recruit has to purchase?! Wow.

To those WV reps who keep saying I’m stupid for not wanting to join, well, let’s just say I’m smart enough not to sign up for something I DON’T want. ;)

All of a sudden, just about everyone in Singapore knows who Jover Chew is. We even know what his mobile number, IC number and address is. And we ALSO got to see his topless and rather unflattering pictures (not that we had wanted to). All thanks to SMRT Ltd (Feedback)’s facebook page.

I don’t know what the folks behind that page do for a living, but I am impressed. How did they manage to find out all that information, which also includes the full name and IC number of Jover’s wife?! Wow. Jover’s phone must be ringing off the hook from calls from netizens and reporters. Fortunately for him, he owns a shop selling mobile phones in Sim Lim Square. ;)

Apparently, food orders (for a reported 50 pax) were placed with Pizza Hut and McD on Jover’s behalf too. Will he be paying for the food with coins? ;)

~ Food For Thought ~

1) Is This A Good Prank?

It seems pretty hilarious to send Jover a lot of food he has not ordered but one does have to pity the delivery guys, who might not get any payment from him. Perhaps the ‘Purge Prank’ folks from MerlionTV might finally be able to do something useful? :P

We definitely need to purge unscrupulous business owners from Sim Lim Square. Over a decade ago, I worked there during the school holidays and it was still a decent shopping spot for tourists and Singaporeans alike. Even JJ Lin shopped there!

2) Are Netizens Being Too Harsh On Jover?

Make a customer get on his knees and beg for his money back while staff laugh away? It’s mind-boggling. To make a tourist beg for his money back in Singapore, and have that video go viral? It’s unforgivable. Singapore’s reputation as a great tourist destination is going down the drain, no thanks to Mobile Air.

When I saw a popular blogger in Thailand sharing this news on facebook, I’m thinking “Uh oh. Bad rep for SG”.

Thankfully, we have good folks in Singapore helping to make this right for the Vietnamese tourist. Gabriel Kang’s crowdfunding project to get him an iphone 6 (and perhaps a lot more now) has raised over US$10,000! You can chip in here.

3) What Should Jover Do?

Man up and step forward to rectify things. Don’t disappear and let your wife bear the brunt of the netizens’ fury. Do the right thing.

Whatever netizens have contributed towards paying for an iphone 6 for the tourist, offer to match it dollar for dollar, if not more.

Then respectfully request for your family members’ particulars to be removed.

Go into hiding now and it’ll take even longer for this to blow over. Assuming the Vietnamese tourist comes back to Singapore again, upon our invitation, people will still want to know “Where is Jover Chew?!” :P

I got to watch ‘The Best Of Me’ in GV Gold Class comfort at Suntec City this week, upon Golden Village’s invitation. On top of the movie treat, I got to taste their yummy fare too. But first, a quick synopsis for those who are wondering if they should go watch this movie…

Synopsis:

“Based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me tells the story of Dawson and Amanda, two former high school sweethearts who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart, when they return to their small town for the funeral of a beloved friend. Their bittersweet reunion reignites the love they’ve never forgotten, but soon they discover the forces that drove them apart twenty years ago live on, posing even more serious threats today. Spanning decades, this epic love story captures the enduring power of our first true love, and the wrenching choices we face when confronted with elusive second chances.”

Despite the horrid reviews that this movie got from local movie critics, I actually liked it. In fact, it really made me wonder if firstly, such an “epic love story” exists in real life, and two, what I’d do if I’m in Amanda’s shoes – stay on in a (probably) loveless marriage for the sake of my son whom I treasure, OR reunite with my first and only love but break up my marriage in the process. Hmm… while I ponder about that, a quick review of the food in Gold Class…

I ordered the most amazing $16 mini Caramelised Onion Beef Burger (which is served with 2 mini burgers). The buns were warm and yummy on their own (which is quite a feat!) and in the middle of the beef is black pepper sauce which oozes out like when you cut open a poached egg. LOL! Definitely one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten in Singapore. I’m not kidding you!

However, the tender boneless chicken thigh ($16) was a huge disappointment. The only thing that was good to eat on that plate were the potatoes. The chicken was under-cooked and that’s also quite a feat – it’s pretty easy to cook chicken so I don’t understand how the chef got this so wrong. Moral of the story: Order only the items which are their ‘specialties’, as indicated by the chef’s hat icon on the menu.

As for dessert, I ordered Churros with Ice Cream ($11) which I didn’t like very much. And for once, he ordered the most stunning dessert – Chocolate Lovin’ Spoonful Cake ($10). The chocolate cake is moist, fudge-y, very rich and absolutely amazing. It’s one of those chocolate cakes you won’t mind getting fat on.

We drank the Lychee-licious and Orange-cooler mocktails ($9 each). The orange one was definitely the winner. And we also had the Harry Brompton’s London Ice Tea ($13) which comes straight out of a glass bottle. It tastes pretty good when you drink it while it’s still cold. Letting it sit while you watch the movie is a no-no, like I found out.

{ Giveaway }

WIN a S$10 Gold Class Dining Voucher simply by leaving a comment on this blogpost: tell me who you’d like to bring to a movie in Gold Class OR which movie you’ll be watching in Gold Class. :D

*The voucher is valid till 28 Feb 2015

*Winner announcement: 28 Nov 2014

{ Gold Class !!! }

And here’s why you should catch a movie in Gold Class with your loved one! :) It’s spacious, the back of the seat and the leg rests can be adjusted independently, you get to eat your entire meal while watching the movie, and you can get assistance at the push of a button so you won’t even have to get out of your seat in order to get another drink!

Singaporeans work hard, and we know how to pamper ourselves too. I guess this is why Golden Village is expanding fast. They now have Gold Class cinemas in 4 locations: Vivocity, Katong, Great World City and Suntec City! Here at Suntec, there are 3 halls with 32 seats each. The lounge is really spacious, great for chilling with friends, and you can even sample a number of wines for a small fee soon.

I cannot wait for my next GV Gold Class date night. This one was awesome! :D

And so I read that the Vietnamese tourist in the Jover Chew saga has been given $550 by a businessman, bought a phone already, and is refusing any more help. Mr Pham Van Thoai has my respect. Anyone in his situation would accept the money which has been raised. He reportedly earns $200 a month so the money from crowdfunding amounts to over 5 years’ worth of salary for him. And he’s saying no, he has already gotten back the amount he was cheated of, and he’s not taking any more.

Would you turn down 5 years’ worth of salary if it was offered to you, with no strings attached?!

I’m at a loss for words. Hats off to him. Despite what anyone may think about a grown man who breaks down in tears and begs for his money back, Mr Pham Van Thoai has proven that he is not a greedy person; he wants to get back only what is fairly due to him.

I cannot say the same for Jover Chew.

You’d laugh at a man who grovels at your feet to ask for his money back. Guess what? He’s more of a man than you are.

A man who goes into hiding at the slightest sign of danger and leaves the womenfolk at home to fend for themselves is not a man at all. He needs to grow some backbone, for he is the real wimp.

Since netizens cannot get hold of Jover, the spotlight now turns to his wife and her shop.

Well done, Jover. Unless you intend to stay away from your family forever, now might be a good time to come out and face the music.

I had dinner with some members of my Blog Club at Bricks ‘n’ Cubes Cafe yesterday. :D I love the decor though the food and service leaves more to be desired.

Thankfully, I had some food before leaving home and all I needed at this cafe was some ice cream. Each scoop of ice cream costs S$4.50. I ordered the Belgium Chocolate ice cream – it was a fairly large serving but served to me with a plastic fork. I have never eaten ice cream with a plastic fork before! (@_@)

The rest ordered pasta which took really long to be served. Half an hour, to be exact. Even though there were few customers at that time.

(The quality of the food is not quite consistent. Steven ordered the wild mushroom pasta and found it wildly flavorful. But Flore showed up late and when her mushroom pasta arrived, the sauce was at least 2 shades lighter than Steven’s)

And strangely enough, the iPads on each table were *not* for ordering food. They are just for customers to play games on. What a waste.

I think kids would love coming by and building LEGO creations here. I thought the play area was, strangely, rather big. It would have made more cents to convert this into a dining area to serve more customers and keep the till ringing.

Pricing: $10.90 to $12.90 for mains

Address: The Cathay, 2 Handy Road, #02-12

Tel: 67357571

I bought some Hello Kitty pasta earlier this year, from an organic food shop I think. And kept it in the kitchen till today. I didn’t realize how absolutely adorable this pasta is till I poured it out and identified 5 different shapes.

There’s kitty, kitty’s head, that famous bow, an apple, and a flower. Wow.

And the best part is, after the recommended 9 minute cooking time, the pasta still holds its shape well. I thought the kitties would be unrecognizable after the boiling process, but they all turned out well!

For this pasta dish, I didn’t use any of the usual sauces. I added a can of Ayam Brand sardines, sliced portobello mushrooms and some chili padi. I definitely should have bought some lime to squeeze onto this pasta, and give it some added zest.

But I’m happy with how it turned out. Anyway, this small packet (which cost me just S$4) can make up to 5 servings of pasta so I’ll definitely be experimenting with other ingredients and sauces. Stay tuned! :D

The latest addition to my Maku Store collection is a pretty pastel purple backpack. :D

Like all Maku Store items, this backpack has its unique features. Besides the 3 inner compartments, there is a slot at the back for the straps so you can transform the backpack into a handbag. Just carry it by the strap at the top. Really cool.

I’m loving both this backpack and my one-and-only Maku Store wallet in pastel pink and green.

My wallet is a really special limited edition one – only one in Singapore. But don’t fret, if you like pastel shades, there are more pastel-colored wallets in store:

You have to pop by Maku Store at Bugis Junction #03-20 and check out the wide range yourself! There is also a ‘Limited Edition’ corner in the store where you can find items which are available in just ONE piece for the Singapore market. So you won’t find someone else carrying the same bag here. Isn’t that cool?! :P *Remember to show that you are a fan of my facebook page, and Maku Store’s too, and you get 15% off your bill! Check in-store for T&Cs!*

Also, Maku Store has brought in an exclusive range of watches. Here are some I like:

And this next range is for charity:

Tempted? ;)

Indulge in some retail therapy at Maku Store and get yourself an advance Christmas present! :D I know I’m popping by again soon!

If you liked Sheryl Sandberg’s ‘Lean In’, you’ll love Tara Mohr’s ‘Playing Big’. I found my personal and professional coach within the 258 pages of this book. This is a book by a coach who knows intimately the struggles that many women have gone though. And any modern woman will find this book immediately relatable.

The most valuable takeaway from this book (for me) is how to move from self-discipline to self-care. Instead of berating myself for (yet again) messing up my work desk, I set a “Gift-Goal” to keep my desk organized enough so it supports the serenity I want every day. Trust me, it is quite a miracle to have my desk not messy.

Interesting how this little switch from faulting myself for being messy and disorganized to being supportive and giving myself this little gift of a neat desk every day is so easy yet so complex. Complex because I’ve never thought of it this way. I’ve just labeled myself as being the “messy, creative sort” all along, and hence, just kept my desk messy in a self-perpetuating way.

In this book, you’ll learn too:

1) How to listen to your inner mentor instead of your inner critic

2) 15 simple tools for moving out of fear and into a different state of being

3) How to unhook from praise and criticism and to no longer depend on others’ positive feedback or fear their disapproval

4) How to change the way you feel about “self-promotion”

5) The 10 common undermining speech habits that women have

6) 8 ways to recognize your callings

All in all, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. You definitely should get a copy too.

[ Read the first International Gift Exchange blogpost here and check out all the earlier presents I've sent out and received! ]

Yes, the gift exchange is definitely still ongoing. And as we get closer to Christmas, I expect I’ll be sending out even more amazing gifts. :D

It’s actually pretty difficult to find Made-in-Singapore items which are easy to mail overseas. Sure, we have delicious sauces and all but those will probably not fare so well during the delivery process. If you have any ideas to share with me, drop me an email. *wink*

Here’s a recent one to Kien Mei from Labuan, Malaysia. I sent her Meiji’s Hello Panda biscuits and a bunny keychain which I’d blogged about here. I’d never realized that Hello Panda biscuits are made in Singapore! I’d always thought they are from Malaysia or elsewhere (maybe, Japan?). And the bunny keychain was made by the elderly at House of Joy in Mountbatten so it’s really special and one-of-a-kind with a different color on each side. I hope she likes them. :)

What Kien Mei sent over was really cute: Kabaya Hello Kitty Strawberry Pretzel, mini collectible mugs, a bracelet, Visit Malaysia 2014 badge, an ‘Explore Labuan’ brochure plus a handwritten note. :)

Knowing that I’ve sent her Hello Panda biscuits, I was thinking we probably had some telepathic communication going on when I saw the Hello Kitty strawberry sticks. LOL :D

And looking at her gift, I’m deducing that she must be really proud of her hometown, and it must be a fascinating place to visit.

Why have I never thought of including a brochure of some sort or postcard from Singapore? Hmm… that’s an idea for my next gift exchange. Perhaps it’d entice people from the region to come visit Singapore (again). :D And no, I do not work for the Singapore Tourism Board. :P

~ To Participate ~

If you are not a resident of Singapore, you are most welcome to take part. You simply have to send me a gift that is made in your country and I’ll send you one from Singapore.

To get started, drop me a private message on my Facebook page right HERE.

I had the privilege of attending the media preview of Capella Singapore’s Festive Chocolate and Tea Experience yesterday.

I have never thought that tea and chocolate could go well together.

But they do.

The pairing of Valrhona Chocolate and Gryphon Tea was amazing. I never knew that chocolate appreciation, like wine appreciation, is an art.

By warming your mouth with the tea first, it helps the chocolate melt when you put it into your mouth next.

Thus, I learnt not to pair chocolates with wine. ;)

And how do you go about appraising the chocolate? First you rub a small chunk of chocolate between thumb and forefinger, and observe its appearance. Then bite off a piece and let it roll around your tongue and melt in your mouth. Note the fragrance and maybe even fruity notes that surface. And then, yes, swallow.

If you are pairing the chocolate with tea, get a sip of tea first and savor it. Then put the chocolate into your mouth (as above) and then finish off with a piece of chocolate and tea together! Quite an experience, I tell you! :)

And the chocolate dessert buffet that follows? Amazeballs.

You have to check it out at The Knolls, Capella Singapore. Available every Friday evening for 6 weeks, from 21 Nov 2014 till 2 Jan 2015, 6.30pm to 10pm.

Price: $48++ (Definitely value-for-money!)

Includes: Gryphon tea-infused cocktail or mocktail, chocolate dessert buffet, free flow of tea and a take-home memory bag.

Reservations: The Knolls (6591 5046) or knolls.singapore@capellahotels.com

{ Giveaway }

I’m giving away some lovely bars of premium chocolate from Valrhona. To be one of three winners, simply leave me a comment here with your email address so I can contact you if you’re picked. :)

*International giveaway :D

*Winner announcement: 20 Nov 2014

Every time I get a letter which states that it has something to do with ACRA and business registration and all, I immediately think it is scam-my.

So when I got this letter from DP Bureau Pte Ltd, printed on very thin paper, with barely visible logos and ‘awards’ at the top, I phoned ACRA to find out if this company is legit.

According to ACRA, it is legit. Just that you have to pay for their services.

If you do your business renewal online, via www.bizfile.gov.sg, it takes only about a minute, and you pay S$20 for a one-year renewal.

If you choose to ‘outsource’ this to DP Bureau, you pay S$40 (S$20 for the renewal, and S$20 for a “processing fee”). For 2-year renewal, you pay S$88, and for 3-year renewal S$136.

You can mail DP Bureau the form and a cheque or visit International Plaza to make payment.

Me?

I’m sticking to renewing this myself online. Only S$20. Takes less than a minute.

Besides, ACRA sends me a reminder email about 2 months’ in advance. Thank you, ACRA! ;)

[Pic credit: Google / perugia-farmhouse.it]

When a friend you’ve not spoken to in a long, long time suddenly contacts you on a social media platform or via text message, it is likely that the person is getting married, is selling insurance, or is in an MLM business and wants to rope you in. ;)

I encountered #1 yesterday night.

I didn’t quite know how to respond when the person invited me to his wedding, more than one year in advance. I’m flattered he thinks I need the wayyyy-in-advance notification, but puzzled as to why me.

The last time I agreed to attend a wedding of someone I hadn’t spoken to in a long while, I took it as a gathering of ex-Student Council mates. An expensive gathering, no doubt. But our President was getting married, and it was a good time to catch up with old friends.

But why invite me if you and I haven’t actually spoken or met up in a long, long time? We are not buddies who go out for coffee, don’t remember each other’s birthdays, and I don’t even have your phone number! Hmm…

And you might wonder… so who am I going to invite to my own wedding?

I don’t think I’m inviting any of my relatives. I’ve only exchanged text messages with one cousin this year. And she reads my blogposts sometimes, I think. The rest of the people I see only during Chinese New Year.

And during Chinese New Year one time, a still-upset uncle demanded to know why I did not attend his daughter’s wedding. And our conversation went something like this:

Me: “I haven’t spoken to her in a long time [Which was an understatement. I've not spoken to her ever, I think, except for the once a year Happy New Year greeting] , and I’m not even like one of the bridesmaids or anything.”

Angry Uncle: “No… This is about family, and (blah blah blah, I cannot remember what he said)”

Me: “It’s about the money, right?” ;)

Uncle: …

My Dad is very generous when it comes to red packets and even if anyone in our small family unit is absent, he’d still put in the same amount into the red packet as if that person had attended the dinner too.

So I could not understand what the fuss was about. I don’t even know what that cousin’s name is. Yes, honest to God, I cannot, for the life of me, recall what her name is. And I’m supposed to attend her wedding? HUH?!

As for my wedding, I’m not inviting people I haven’t spoken to in ages. I’m only inviting those who are closest and dearest to me. People who actually remember my birthday, for one. People I meet at least once every other month, and people who constantly ask when I’m getting married because they claim to have their angpows ready for me.

It’ll definitely be a small, intimate gathering of friends who are truly (with tears in their eyes) happy for me, that I am not going to be left on the shelf. Hur hur.

Thankfully, my Dad’s the real enlightened sort. He’s constantly telling me to plan my wedding according to my own wishes. If I’d like to do away with the expensive banquet, I should do away with it. His latest take on the whole issue is that we should just splurge on a honeymoon instead of paying a hotel and inviting all these people we haven’t seen in a while.

Must we stick to tradition?

Why do we even need a lavish banquet? Why do we need to invite so many people and pray and hope their red packets ‘cover’ the amount we paid for the expensive ballroom, that lavish spread, that designer gown, the costly photography and videography package, etc?

It doesn’t really make much sense.

As for wedding couples who actually tell guests how much to put into the red packets, and would happily announce to all guests present about how much is in each red packet collected and who gave how much… shame on you all!

As my personal trainer and friend shared with me, that celebration should not be about the dollars and cents. Just invite a small group of close friends for a dinner and take it that you are treating them to dinner and expecting only that they give you (JUST) their blessings for your marriage. He told me that those blessings are really important, and I just nodded my head in agreement.

So… for the people I eventually decide to invite to whatever form of wedding reception we put together…

Your presence is requested, but not expected. Come only with blessings. Bring that red packet only if you must (since you’ve been telling me about it for years now). The meal’s on me. All I ask is that you have a really good time.

Been organizing quite a few giveaways lately. I do feel like a Santarina now. LOL. Sometimes I do feel a bit arm-twisted by giveaway participants. Some will even privately message me to demand that I pick them to win certain prizes. I either scold these peeps or ignore their messages. I’m nice, but don’t ever try to take advantage of me. :P

One dude also left a comment on a giveaway saying that since I am unable to attend his wedding, I should pick him to be the winner of the giveaway. I didn’t quite get that, even if it may be a joke.

He has won at least 3 prizes in my previous random-pick giveaways as he takes part in just about all of them. I definitely have to make sure I don’t pick repeat winners from now on, or they will think I am OBLIGED to send all the prizes their way. Hmph.

(And no, don’t invite me to your wedding unless we are best friends. Ok? Read one of my latest blogposts about my take on wedding guests.)

Anyhow… here are the winners for 3 of the recent giveaways:

1) For the SUPER limited edition Maku Store wallet: Daphne Loo

2) For the ‘Playing Big’ books: Samy Rajoo, Clarence Chin and Priscilla

3) For the Valrhona chocolate: Catherine Vinluan, Rachelle Therese Feliciano Gonzales, and Mei Fang

For giveaway #1 and #2, winners are to send me their mailing addresses by 22nd November 2014, 23:59hrs in order for prizes to be mailed out. Email gracewwg (at) gmail (dot) com.

For the chocolate winners, I’ll be in touch with you via email today. So check your email inbox! :D

Thank you all for participating! :)

There’s still the movie ticket giveaway right here. Winner announcement on 25th Nov.

[Pic Credit: Google / blogcdn.com]

Because him and I are often guilty of ‘thinking too much’, we recently spoke about the issue of kids (in the future) despite not even getting our flat or signing wedding papers yet. Strangely enough, I had come to the conclusion that we would need half a million dollars before having a kid would be something I want to consider.

He was quick to pooh-pooh the idea of half a mil. If half a mil is a prerequisite, no one would have kids.

I guess I was just thinking about expensive pre-schools, costly after-school enrichment lessons, additional tuition, and the best and the finest ANYTHING that any kid can possibly want or have. And of course, the minimum of three holidays a year that I still want to enjoy. Oops.

Our government isn’t helping. Those ads at the MRT station about fertility and all are a tad insulting, and frankly, pressurizing. While I’m calculating how much it’ll cost to have a kid, I don’t like the idea of a government trying to help me estimate how many eggs I supposedly have left.

I had a nice catch-up session with a blogger pal on Wednesday and since she has a 7-year-old kid, I thought the question should be posed to her – “How much does it cost to have a kid?”

She said that for having a baby, and picking a private hospital instead of KK Hospital, it’d probably take slightly less than S$10,000 in Medisave and perhaps just S$400 out of pocket like she did. Her friends chose KK and they had to pay significantly less.

So, ok, I take back my words. Half a million dollars is not needed for having a kid.

I do want to ensure that the environment my kid is born into is a comfortable yet challenging one; he/she should have all the resources required to develop any innate abilities and ‘gifts’, yet not become overly ‘soft’ and needy.

If the kid has musical talent (which I don’t), I hope to get the best teacher and the best school for my kid. But I’d still want my kid to plan his/her own timetable, select the preferred classes, and work really, really hard at developing whatever talent there is.

As for mainstream education, I hope I don’t turn out to be like those parents who DEMAND that their child goes to the top schools (But every school a good school? What nonsense. We just agree publicly and laugh privately), scores top grades, and makes the family proud.

I know that this kid can easily say “I didn’t ask to be born. Why are you asking so much of me? Did I tell you to bring me to this earth?!”

Any parent who expects more of the child, beyond that he/she grows up happy and healthy, is ultimately being selfish.

There are some who expect their kids to be lawyers, doctors and accountants, just like everyone else in the family.

There are those who think that 98/100 is a horrible test score if another kid in the same class scored full marks.

There are also the lot who believe that they have their kid’s future all mapped out. What rubbish! You have your kid’s future all ruined if you force him/her into any particular career of YOUR choice!

Me?

I just want to ensure I still have a life after having a kid (if I do indeed have one).

Will I be able to do the same work I enjoy? Will I be able to get my 10 hours of beauty sleep on days when I really need it? Will he be willing to change the diapers, feed the kid, and bathe the baby when I’m just too tired to do any of these?

Will I be pressured into having a male child to take on someone’s surname? (In which case, I’d rather not have any kids and just declare myself not mummy material)

Sometimes I just think I’m not ready for kids. I like kids, don’t get me wrong. If someone else’s kid cries, poo-ed into a diaper or is just being disagreeable, I simply hand the bugger back to the mother. If I am THAT mother, oh no…

And he tends to say that I’ll be ready when it happens… or rather, I have no choice but to be ready even if I’m not. LOL.

Easy for men to say.

They are not the ones who have to decide whether it’s natural birth (which supposedly comes with intense pain) or a C-section (which leaves that scar).

Just do a google image search for caesarean scars and you’ll find images like these:

I don’t think I am ready to be cut open yet I think the C-section is the lesser of two evils when it comes to the level of pain involved. I cannot imagine a baby popping out down south – I’d probably feel like I’m being split into two.

So men who callously say that we’ll be ready when it happens deserve to be stabbed with a fork… multiple times. (I know you are reading this. Watch out, darling). Men just give of their sperm (which they likely wouldn’t miss anyway) BUT women?! Some women give up their careers, their personal lives, their hobbies, their beauty sleep, and more, just for the kid. Of course, there are stay-at-home dads (Bravo, gentlemen!) but they are still in the minority.

And my response to those who like to say “Oh, but a kid will bring you such joy, and complete your life, and the joys of motherhood are nothing like you have ever experienced”…

Answer me:

1) Do women usually look more tired or less tired after the birth of a child?

2) Do women generally have more or less confidence about their body and self-image before or after the birth of a child?

3) Do women tend to have more time for themselves before or after having a child?

4) Do women often experience more success at work before or after having a child?

5) Are stress levels higher before or after having a child?

I’m sure you know what I am driving at. ;)

I’m not so certain about a child “completing” my life or (future) marriage. I’ll be happy if it doesn’t wreck it. My life is ‘complete’ as it is.

So there is no straightforward Yes or No answer to whether I’ll have a kid in future (assuming we are both perfectly capable of producing offspring).

Baby? Maybe. Just maybe.

Initially, I didn’t quite know what I’d like for Christmas. But now I do. :D

Have a look at these items from the Chocoolate x Tsum Tsum collection 2014! Devastatingly adorable and absolutely irresistible they are! I’ve picked out my favorites:

Possibly the cutest sweatshirt ever:

Socks you’ll never want to take off. So grab more than one pair!

For happy feet:

Prettiest handphone case I’ve seen this year:

This backpack makes me smile:

Priced from $23.90 to $179, these items will be available in Singapore from December 11, 2014 onwards, at i.t Bugis Junction, #02-11 and i.t Orchard Gateway, #01-18.

You can bet your last dollar that I’ll be there to check them out. :D I really do like that sweatshirt! :D And that backpack… my goodness!

If you’d like to see which are the other items in this collection, head over to this article by Her World Plus.

I’ve been in love with this awesome BB cushion product from Laneige since I got my hands on the first set for a review. I don’t usually wear makeup, but when I do, it’s just this BB cushion and a touch of blusher and that is it.

This holiday season, the limited edition case comes ringed in this rose gold shade and it’s super pretty. As you know, each set comes with a refill and is priced at just S$59. But if you purchase it now, you get all these additional items:

• 3-color eyeshadow palette
• Travel-size Water Sleeping Pack (20ml)
• Travel-size Foam Cleanser (2 x 10ml)

This is impossibly good value for money! I’ve also been told that if you don’t open the product, it’ll keep for another 2 years. So why not buy it all now? :D

And that’s not all! If your final receipt comes up to S$150 or more, you get an additional Basic & New Water Bank Moisture Kit which comes with 5 travel-size products PLUS a black-and-pink travel organizer! :D

It’s definitely time to sparkle with this amazing BB cushion. Go grab your set now!

There are many coffeeshops in Punggol but no malls like people in other neighborhoods are used to. We have this tiny “mall” called Punggol Plaza. At the basement, there is a Nihon Mura outlet, where the wet market is. Despite its odd location, it manages to draw in the crowds.

The prices are reasonable, the food is decent, and the service standards are good when the place isn’t packed full of diners.

But what I found most fascinating was the sushi rice machine:

Each time she reaches out her left hand to grab the rice roll nearest to her, the ‘plate’ swivels and the Suzumo machine automatically dispenses yet another identical-looking rice roll. This definitely helps up productivity levels in this outlet. Even I would feel confident making sushi here. LOL.

The chawanmushi served here does not look the most awesome but it tastes ok:

One main I would always order is the Salmon Ikura Don ($9.90) though the thickness of the salmon slices during your visit is dependent on which staff member is on duty that day, I think.

And our common favorite? The Ribeye Beef Shabu Shabu ($10.90)

Rice costs an additional $1.50 but they can top up the broth for free.

This meal cost us S$27.99 inclusive of 10% service charge and 7% GST.

If you are ever in the area and don’t know what you should eat, you can pop by Nihon Mura at 168 Punggol Field #B1-05.

Tel: 63878192

When these perfumes were delivered to me this week, I KNEW I had to do a giveaway because there was no way I’d be able to use them all after this review. I still have quite a few perfume bottles sitting around in a cabinet at home, so… lucky you! :D If you win one of these, you are very lucky indeed!

And I’m a huge fan of Escada perfumes. I love this one (the name, especially) and I just had to keep it so indulge me. :D That’s why this blogpost is titled ‘Gucci Perfume Giveaway’!

Yes, I’m giving away both bottles of Gucci goodness – the Gucci Guilty (50ml) and Gucci Première (also 50ml). Both these scents are very sophisticated, but first, let’s start with the one I am keeping: The Escada Joyful.

At first whiff, Joyful smells like regular air freshener, but it is generally very ‘happy’, refreshing and awakens the senses. It is great for people who are not ‘morning people’. :D Middle notes remind me of leaves, and greenery, and really bring me back to Nature. Nature in a bottle, this is! After which it settles into a delicious scent that I just want to smell more of. The moral of this review is to never judge a perfume by first whiff! LOL.

[If you’d like to get Escada Joyful, go purchase it from stores! Sorry, I’m keeping this baby! :D]

As for the Gucci Guilty perfume, my goodness, the bottle is pure decadence. It would sit pretty on ANY socialite’s dressing table. At this point, I don’t know how much this perfume costs (I’ll have to check out the press release for that – you’ll find the pricing at the end of this blogpost) but I don’t think I want to know either. This bottle speaks of luxury! The scent itself is light, not over-powering like I thought it would be. Kind of fruity, with a sweet middle note. It’s even – dare I say it – comforting! Like what you’d expect a kid’s mom to be wearing. You’ll definitely be snuggling up to Mom if she’s wearing Gucci Guilty and be a mama’s child (guilty as charged).

Gucci Première is a bit of an enigma for me. At first, it smells floral (I’d even say it reminds me of jasmine) then it starts to smell a bit like a unisex perfume. LOL. After which, I thought it reminded me of perfumed stationery – you know those perfume letter sets you’d write on and send letters to a penpal? Ultimately, I have decided that it is a great perfume that takes you from day to night. If you’re a party lover, or want to get a gift for a party lover pal, this is the one.

(Of course, these are all my personal opinions! :P Go check them out at individual counters and stores. Just remember to spray them onto your skin and then walk around the store first, then get a final whiff before making your buying decision.)

Pricing:

Escada Joyful: $87 (30ml) $122 (50ml) $158 (75ml)

Gucci Première: $106 (30ml) $129 (50ml) $181 (75ml)

Gucci Guilty Stud Edition $122 (50ml)

{ Giveaway }

To win either the Gucci Guilty or Gucci Première perfumes, make sure you are a fan of my facebook page first, then complete these 3 simple steps between 27 Nov 2014 and 14 Dec 2014:

*Please note that I’ve taken 2 sprays from each bottle, then resealed the packaging so it looks as good as new. If you don’t mind this, then…

1) ‘Like’ my Gucci Perfume giveaway post on Facebook

2) ‘Share’ my Gucci Perfume giveaway post on Facebook

3) Comment on THIS blogpost and tell me which perfume you want: Gucci Guilty or Gucci Première. You may pick ONLY one.

Important Note: Please take part ONLY if you are a resident of Singapore, and can collect your prize on 21st Dec if you win.

~

Winner Announcement: 15th Dec, 2014 (Monday)

Prize Collection: 21st Dec, 2014 (Sunday)

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Good Luck and Merry Christmas in advance! :D

Maku Store has everything from key pouches to luggage. And it also has camera bags! Here, I review their Sky Blue & Neon Orange one (S$49.90) which I find super spacious!

Inside the bag, I have 1 DSLR, 1 Lumix and 1 Instax camera. And there’s still more space!

The pouch in front is great for storing an ezlink card, SD cards, tissue, and a few other things for a photoshoot!

It’s hard to find a camera bag that can fit all my cameras and still look good. So this one is for keeps.

The only downside is that, beyond the sling, it doesn’t have a small handle / strap at the top of the bag.

All things considered, it’s affordably priced, offers a lot of room, and is so eye-catching.

Get yours now at Maku Store (#03-20 Bugis Junction). Show the staff that you are a fan of my facebook page, and theirs, and you get 15% off your bill. Check in-store for more promotions and other T&Cs. :)