My first Fashion Show

I've never been for a fashion show before. The closest ever is project runway when it is broadcast on tv. But, I finally got the chance to watch a fashion show live at Rae's graduation show. It was really cool!! But, because I was working, I didn't get there on time and missed half of it (including Rae's collection). Such a pity. Still, it was interesting getting to see a runway show first hand. Too bad, the photos were too shaky since I was trying not to use flash.

That's one of the creations by their teacher. And since I missed Rae's collection earlier, here are some of the creations from her booth.

And not forgetting, here's the designer and marketeer of her own line of clothes.

I just had to take a photo with the words...
and this is found in front of NAFA (main building) .

Chocolat N' Spice

I was out for lunch with a colleague at International Plaza and she commented that there's this store that sells really good muffins at affordable prices but the queues were insane during lunch. That immediately reminded me of the store "Chocolat N' Spice" which Rudi introduced to me about a couple of years back when we were interning around the same area. I never got to visit the place, but he got me one of the brownies and this cake called "chocolate paradise" or something of that effect. And, to my recollection, the cake was quite nice.

Anyhow, I was off early from training at Singapore Conference hall the other day, so I decided to try my luck at Chocolat N' Spice with only the knowledge that it is opposite Tanjong Pagar market. So, i walked around, asked around and it wasn't long before I found the infamous store. It's exactly like one of those neighbourhood bakeries, in fact it occupies only half of the store, small but, the aroma of freshly baked muffins just pulls you in. It was near closing time, so only 4 flavours were available - cheese (which is what they're famous for), chocolate, banana walnut and blueberry. So, I got one each and an extra cheese one for my munch back to the MRT.

And, indeed, their muffins are really good!!! Really yummy!!! I've never been a big fan of muffins because I always end up buying the other chocolate desserts that I miss out the humble muffin. And, some of those muffins they serve at hotel breakfast buffet spreads never are good. Usually too dry and i take a mouthful and am done with it. Only nice ones I've ever tried are Kenny Roger's ones, but my only grouse is the corn that they put in it. The corn always get stuck in my teeth. And lately, their muffins haven't been all that up to standard, at least the last that I tried, it wasn't as soft and moist as the last time. So trying Chocolat N' Spice's muffins was a big change.

The muffin batter is exceptionally yummy, and the muffin is soft and moist and I love the top crust of the muffin which is slightly caramelized giving it a really sweet and crispy top. My favourite!! And for $1-$1.20 per piece, they are HUGE!!! In fact, I'll have a muffin anytime over a cupcake (which I have no idea they sell at exorbitant prices in Singapore!! at least $2.50 onwards for one and the amount of cake is probably only 2/3 that of Chocolat N' Spice's muffin).

Chocolat N' Spice
Blk 1 Tanjong Pagar Road
#01-18 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
Singapore 082001

Tel: (65) 9276 2110

Opening hours
Mon to Fri: 8.30 am to 5 pm
Sat: 8.30 am to 3 pm
Closed: Sundays & public holidays

Also available at:
Blk 320 Shunfu Road
#02-12 Shunfu Mart
Singapore 570320
Tel: (65) 9383 0413

Double Chocolate Brownie

Remember my dark chocolate obsession? That obsession turned into a baking frenzy after I surfing Martha Stewart's website. And, here's my brownie baking frenzy with those bars of dark chocolate which I bought. Rudi gave me the idea to put marshmallows into the brownie. So, here's how they looked out of the oven. I made 5 varieties of which some really lucky people got to enjoy them.

Dark Chocolate

While I love chocolates, I prefer eating chocolates with wafers and cookies, basically not just a plain chocolate bar. Seldom will you see me buy a bar of chocolate (especially white chocolate), cos I usually won't go more than 2 squares and everything else either goes to waste or I take a super long time to finish it. However, recently I am having an obsession with Dark Chocolate. I'm totally in love with dark chocolate and it all started with the Christmas present that Rudi gave me - a box of dark chocolate from Chocolate Art. And, that has got me hooked, so hooked that I bought 4 bars of bitter chocolate (those with 70% cocao and more) over the weekend. That bittersweet taste is just SO GOOD!!!

Euro Fair at Sengkang

I was out with some of my ex colleagues to one of those makeshift EuroFairs that was stationed at Sengkang and it was amusing seeing a bunch of well dressed people (with suit and all) running around playing those rides. Everyone around us must have been wondering what in the world we were doing there since everyone else was wearing a lot more slack. But, I must say it was really fun. And, my ex boss went crazy with the bumper car that we played it more than once. And thanks to his liking for the bumper car, he paid for all of us to go play it with him. You could almost see the gleamer of mischief in his eye the moment he got into the car. When it started, he was going berserk trying to bump into all of us and his crashes have a lot of impact. My other colleague said it felt like a good massage after our rounds of the bumper car. =)

Economic Market Report

I was reading an Economic Market Report today and it made me regret not putting more energy into my economics and not taking an advance economic module. Here are some of the terms that were totally alien to me:

1) Carry Trade: The practice involves taking out loans in low interest rate currencies (like the Japanese yen), exchanging the money to a currency with higher rates (say, the U.S. dollar), and re-loaning it out. You make more money in interest than you are charged on your initial loan, and if you leverage the bet you can make a killing. Unless interest rates change.

2) Soft Landing: A term used to describe a rate of economic growth high enough to avoid recession, but slow enough to avoid high inflation. When the economy is growing at strong rate, the Fed will try to engineer a soft landing by raising interest rates enough to slow the economy down without putting it into recession.

3) Goldilocks Economy: An economy that is not so hot that it causes inflation, and not so cold that it causes a recession. This term is used to describe the U.S. economy of the mid- to late-1990s - it was "not too hot, not too cold, but just right." Some economists consider this optimal, and in such situations the government usually decides not to undertake any policy measures to improve macroeconomic performance. Everything in the Goldilocks economy is fine until the three bears (or bear market) come home for their porridge!

But, with the Internet, I managed to get the meanings and am trying to piece together what the report means. Learning something new everyday. I love this challenge!

Bar None

I finally went to Bar None last week after being told by tonnes of people how good it is. And, I really like it there! We went on a Thursday and it was Ladies' Night, so free entry for us girls, and what's more there was free flow of Champagne and Champagne Rose for ladies from 9pm to 12midnite. We reached there in time to grab the last few glasses before the free flow ended. So, free entry and free drinks. To top that up, they have a wonderful band - Energy (not the Taiwanese band) and they play up a mean tune. Thursdays are retro night. I loved the music and later when the band took a break, the DJ also spinned some really familiar old school tunes. Really reminds you a little of Zouk's Mambo night without the young NS guys trying to pick you up. Instead, the crowd here is a little older and so some of the songs are really retro, like way before my time. But, that's fine (although at some point the songs became unfamiliar, proving that I'm not all that old). It was a great night out to chill, dance, listen to live music at minimal cost and all in one place.

Bar None
320 Orchard Road
Basement Marriott Hotel Singapore

All for Love - Hillsongs

All for Love

All for love a Father gave
For only love could make a way
All for love heavens cried
For love was crucified

Oh how many times have I broken Your heart
But still You forgive
If only I ask
And how many times have You heard me pray
Draw near to me

Everything I need is You
My beginning, my forever
Everything I need is You

Let me sing all for love
I will join the angel song
Ever holy is the Lord
King of Glory
King of all

All for a love a Saviour prayed
Abba Father have Your way
Though they know not what they do
Let the Cross draw man to You


Hillsongs United - Look to You

Gavin and Daniel's Birthday

We were out to celebrate Gavin's (and later I found out it was Daniel's Birthday too) Birthday, so some of us from YAM trooped down to Brewerkz for dinner. Haven't been to Brewerkz in a while, and guess where we were seated? The same spot where we had our farewell for Anthony last year before he left. Typical Brewerkz dinner. I had the sausages and mash and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I chose the beer bratwurst and spicy Italian sausage. The beer bratwurst was interesting and you could really taste the beer in the sausage. Most people preferred the spicy Italian which was as it was supposed to be, spicy. But, I felt it lacked the essence of Italian sausage. But both were really good, and as usual, I can't resist a decent mash potato which is not from the packet.

And, I took the opportunity to buy Gavin's favourite type of cake - Cheesecake, and I bought the best in town, or so I'm told it is the best on in town. Hilton Hotel's Cheesecake. I've heard so much about it, but have never tried it before, so what a better excuse? Oh... Sorry Daniel that your name's not on the cake. No one told me it was a dual celebration. Nonetheless, here's the cheesecake...

Here are both our Birthday boys...
And... The cheesecake, which I must say really lived up to it's name of being one of the best cheesecakes in town!! It's really creamy and rich, yet still light. I could easily have finished one more piece, but I decided not to eat an extra piece especially after that oil laden dinner of sausages. But, it was REALLY good. =) Next time I need to try out the other flavours. Hee... yum yum...
Brewerkz Singapore
Restaurant & Microbrewery
30 Merchant Road #01-05/06 Riverside Point
Singapore 058282
Tel: (65) 6438 7438

Checker's Deli
Hilton International Singapore
(Hilton Hotel) Level 1
581 Orchard Road (S)238883
Tel: 6730 3392

Stuck in the Lift

I was heading home with my folks from my granny's house and while we were in the lift about the reach the ground floor, there was a sudden jerk and the lift totally stopped moving. Immediately my mum started frantically pressing the alarm button. Thank God that the lights and ventilator were still on. My dad immediately called the lift guy (thank God for handphones!!) It was amusing to see their actions. They were almost simulating the typical "stuck in the lift" scene that most movies dramatise. My mum tried waving to get the attention of the people outside and kept ringing the alarm bell non stop. My dad being kan cheong kept calling the lift guy after 5mins and after he put down the phone, he called again. (like er... the people need time to come here). My mum was so worried that we would be stuck there till the night that she told him to stop calling and "conserve battery". They were a circus to watch. LOL..

And, guess what I was doing? While my folks were all anxious, I was just reading my newspapers and eating my tapioca chips. After a while, I remembered that I had my camera with me, and whipped it out to take a photo of the lift being stuck. I wanted to take a family photo of us being stuck in the lift, but my dad thought it was silly and asked me to stop fooling around. But, seriously, what is there to worry. The guy needs time to get here, it's not like he's staying next door. Also, what else can you do in the lift when u're stuck? Nothing much... So, why not snap a couple a shots, and remember the time when you're stuck in the lift. That said, how many times do you get stuck in the lift? Not many I hope, and I hope this one's the last one. That little stuck ate into my snooze time with slumberland.

My New Grill

As promised, here are photos of my new grill... It's one of the 3 in 1 grills...

Look at those beautiful colours!!!

I have a new grill. It's one of those 3 in one things that is a grill, sandwich maker and waffle maker all in one. And, I'm utterly crazy about it. I made dinner with the grill the other day and I was just so fascinated with it. It was healthy cooking since I was using lots of fresh herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and adding lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and onions to the marinate concoction. Did I ever mention that I've been into this frenzy of cooking with herbs lately? But, cooking on the grill was wonderful and it's non stick! No need for messy charcoal grills now.

Oh, and the sandwich maker has just got me and my mum all excited about trying different types of sanwiches. I made a really yummy mashed luncheon meat and cheese sandwich for lunch yesterday and today, I had PB+J sandwich. Both were super tasty. I absolutely loved the PB+J sandwich since the sandwich maker seals the sandwich allowing the melted PB+J to stay on the bread and not make a nasty mess when I bite into it. When I do it with the oven toaster, it usually comes out a disaster, since the kiasu me will put a lot of PB+J. Haha... Gosh, I'm craving for another PB+J sandwich again.

1st of April came and went and it totally slipped my mind that it was April Fool's Day. In fact, it wasn't until a friend casually mentioned that it was April Fool's Day that it jolted my memory and made the linkage between 1st April and April Fool's Day. Maybe it's because for the past few years, April has always been a busy period in my life. Rushing projects, getting all worried, agitated and panicky at the thought that I had not begun studying for finals. And, since I did my last few semesters of school (where my finals clash with projects) the last few of weeks before the NUS exams proper have been a mad rush with almost no time to catch my breath lest to even think of special unofficiated occasions like April Fool's Day. I remember in Primary and Secondary school, April Fool's Day was the day to always be on your guard, lest a classmate and sometimes even the teachers played a trick on you. But, the fun was there as we also tried ways and means to play tricks on each other and play practical jokes on the teachers. I can remember the grins and desperate attempts to conceal our laughter when a teacher steps into class and is about to walk into our little trap. It was a designated day for us to play the fool and just let loose for a while all in the name of "April Fool's". However, that atmosphere somehow has been lost over the years with piling workload, and maybe as you grow older April Fool's Day is not as exciting as you become supposedly "wiser" and don't have time for jokes. I vaguely remember in my JC days, my class was all excited about April Fool's Day, however we were promptly reprimanded by one of our teachers to be "serious" and "grow up" and know that there isn't time of such child's play as we grew older. Probably that was the start when April Fool's Day began to loose its meaning and busyness and the need to be "more serious" took precedence over pure fun and humour. But maybe, just maybe sometimes all we need is joke to loosen up our life and bring back humour into our all too busy life.

Happy April Fool's Day!