SK-II Tea Party

Greetings from Oxford! (Reporting live from Uniz's dining room :p)

I just love love love travelling, don't you? New sights and sounds aside, it's no doubt the prospect of shopping that tips me over the edge of ecstasy. In fact, shopping starts for me the minute I cleared the customs in Changi Airport.

There are some who lives by the mantra that "one can never have too many shoes/ bags". Mine? Obliterate the words "shoes/ bags" and replace them with "skincare/ make-up". On the pre-text of stocking up while taking advantage of duty-free shopping, travelling gives me the perfect guilt-free excuse to go on a rampage of the cosmetic department!

This time round however, I took special care to make a stop at the SK-II counter and snapped up the largest bottle of their Facial Treatment Essence a.k.a. Miracle Water plus a couple of other creams that had been recommended to me during a recent SK-II Tea Party. (Special thanks to NUFFNANG & SK-II for inviting me!)

Scrumptious cakes is half a battle won for a successful tea party!

My lovely beauty consultant, Sheena, was using a scanner on my face to give me a detailed skin analysis. It comprises of components like skin elasticity, sebum, moisture, skin tone, pore size, wrinkles & many more of which I can't recall. But a really useful tool is that it analyses the data & then zooms in on the one area that you need to prioritize treatment on. There were many a time when I stop by a cosmetic counter & the consultant simply asks me what's my biggest concern. But everything is a concern, I can't possibly buy everything?! Instead here, Sheena patiently explained to me that everything else was in order except that my skin tone was too dull & gave recommendations accordingly.

I had the pleasure of getting acquainted with some new blogger friends at the party. Fashion bloggers - Dawn & Arissa from MONOXIOUS & food blogger - Ju of The Little Teochew. (Fashion & food bloggers - just how cool is that?)

Although I might be considered (by some) to have attained guru status (*quit rolling your eyes* :p), I still managed to take home quite a bit of skincare tips from SK-II's trainer, Ms. Cindy Cheong. For example, did you know that you have to apply the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of sunblock for it to be effective? It applies to all sunblocks, therefore you should always choose the right SPF suited to your lifestyle. The higher the SPF, the thicker in consistency it will be.

It was a small party of 7 & all of us were paying close attention to what Cindy's saying.

We were each given a goodie bag that contains a treatment cleanser & treatment essence.

On top of that, the very helpful consultants learned that I would be travelling to wintry places & so gave me an extra rich moisturiser to use. Plus, Derm Renewal Essence for my dull skin tone. After trying them out, you guessed it. I was sold! :D

Please do click on their advertisement located at the top left corner to get more information about SK-II's product or their positively enticing X'mas promotion sets!

See you guys again when I'm back in Singapore!

Bento #26 & #27

Meg's been bugging me for a bento for the longest time but as it's school holidays, I had the perfect excuse not to make one :p However last week, suddenly inspired, decided to make one for her to bring to work with me. 

In the box: rice, fried minced pork, fried chicken wings, Taiwan sausages, wieners, broccoli, star-shaped carrots
As all of you know I'm truly & honestly hopeless in the kitchen, it's hardly surprising that I burnt the rice :p

In the box: rice, fried minced pork, rabbit-shaped broccoli, mushrooms, lady-bird cherry tomato

In the box: fried chicken wing, wieners, broccoli, Taiwan sausage, star-shaped carrots, cherries

Sourcing for wedding rings?

Tungsten Wedding Rings

Ooops I did it again ..........

I can't believe myself ...... I knew I oughta be shot but I left my handphone on top of my car and drove off again! However, this one wins hands down because I drove over my own phone and crushed it -___-""""". I can't even open up the phone to retrieve the data ....... sigh ....... So peeps, you know what to do when you see this, don't you? Message me this instant with your numbers!

My mum's place

It's been a month since we'd shifted out of our place into my mum's. We sure missed it like hell! However I must say that other than the shortage of space, the shift had done me good. I'm enjoying the closeness with my mum and sis. Megan too. And now that my domestic help had MIAed ..... they saved my sanity by doing most of the housework plus pitching in to look after Meg while I'm busy at work.

But there's a severe downside to it too - my ever ballooning waistlines! I'm never short of food. Erykca and Farhan loves to cook and are forever feeding me. The sound that I fear most is the knocking on our door in the middle of the night. I assure you that it's nothing like what you're imagining. It's really only Erykca popping her head in asking if we want waffles, pancakes, sushi, or whatever you want it they have it. OMG ...... it's such a nightmare! 

Geez ...... FAT! FAT! FAT!

Just prior to the shift - more than 1/3 of our possessions ended up with the Salvation Army.

Here's Meg chipping in to help. That's when I noticed
Ms. Can't-get-her-hands-dirty had improvised a pair of gloves -__-"".

In loving memory of Woofie

We posted a memorial page for Woofie. Meg came up with the words & I tweaked it for her. So touching, right?

Dear Woofie, we still miss you a lot, especially your Jie Jie. She now owns a small toy Schnauzer which she names Woofie & she never went anywhere without 'you'. She hugs 'you' to sleep every night & calls 'you' her lucky thing. When she thinks she needs extra luck, she speaks to 'you' & believes that you'll make it all better for her. I told her you're an angel now & will continue to protect her like before. It made her laugh when I told her that now since you're an angel, you had to start behaving & stop being mischievous :) You'd always brought a smile to her face. Bless you, your sweet little soul. Go forth & be free now - a collar & leash will hold you back no more.

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Our little boy named Woofie

I had recently been really bogged down as I had just sold my place & shifted in with my mum. I had initially hoped that after so much time away from you guys, I would have some joyful news to share but instead I bear bad tidings. I finally understood what one means by 'it never rains but pours'. My ...... what a thunderstorm .........

Just when I thought that things couldn't possibly get any lower and it's time things started looking up, Woofie was knocked down by a car on the 16th and passed away.

You couldn't imagine my helplessness while I cradled Woofie in my arms as he lay dying. There was nothing that I could do but watch him breathe his last. It was excruciating.

I had never loved him enough and I never gave him my time. He usually only had the domestic help for company. He was such a handful that I could never love him wholeheartedly. I was a horrid horrid mistress.

However all that changed when we shifted in to my mum's. The help had gone back to Indonesia and it landed on me to care for his needs. But as there were my sis, her boyfriend, my mum and dad to love him as well. It was a lot easier as he's not as attention-seeking as before. And as we now stay on the ground-floor, Meg was given the task to walk him everyday. This shift had brought all of us closer and made us love him more. But good time doesn't last, does it? And now all I had left are a bunch of photos and many sweet memories.

Now that he's gone, we like to speak about Woofie and recount many silly tales about him. He knows the hierarchy in the family & bullies them in that order. Whenever we call out to the help, he'll run towards her & bark to let her know we're calling for her. Even when the phone rings, he'll bark for her to pick up the phone.

He knew that it's easiest to steal food from Meg so whenever Meg's eating, he's there biding his time. I still remember when Meg was in kindergarten & I had to scream at him every morning because he'd steal her breakfast from right under her nose & make her cry! The bread can be in her hand but he'll jump up when she's not paying attention & grab it from her. Either that or her Milo drink was on the table & he'd hoist himself up to take a slurp from her cup.

It was an absolute embarrassment taking him out for walk because he behaved like he's never been out before. He'd be panting heavily & forging his way through. I'd shorten the leash so that he'd not able to take a single step in front of me but he still manages to forge ahead by hopping on his 2 hind legs. Imagine that .......... an excited hyperventilating dog hopping on 2 legs. Anyone wise enough would steer clear. And if that's not enough, he barks incessantly at everything. I'd raise my hands & strike him (gently) but he yelps like I was skinning him. That's because he knew that I'm terribly conscious about people looking and so he'd then get his way. But it's another story when my sis walks him. He knew that my sis couldn't be bothered about response from people so he just shuts up when warned.

I want to tell you that I am so sorry, Woofie. I am so sorry for what I had done and what I didn't do. I wish there was a way that I can make it up to you but it's all too late for me now. I don't usually regret things but this is one regret that I'll carry with me to my grave. I hope you're happy in doggie heaven and please know that in spite of what it seems, all of us do love you very very much. You'll always have a special place in our hearts and to sum it up very aptly, I'll quote Meg, "I'll never find another pet like you."

Here's baby Woofie in 2006 when we just brought him back from the breeder - he was so so so tiny back then. That little black fluff was only the size of my bedroom slipper

Look how he's grown 2 months down the road but still a black shaggy dog nonetheless A video showing Woofie being checked out by the 2 Peppers during CNY.


Woofie had a big thing for toys even up till now. He never went anywhere without them. When he gets out from his cage, he always makes sure he takes all of them with him. He'd always been such a baby and that never fails to amuse me even though his toys were strewn all over the house.

Here's him more grown up now and more a rascal than ever. Don't know where he found Meg's stickers and managed to get them all over his body. He's always been such a silly little boy :)
He bit a hole through his bed and we managed to catch a pic of him with his head through the hole. That was just way cute :DDDIn one of our rare outings to Sentosa. He lets us get away with anything & everything
I remembered I had a tough time washing the sand off himWoofie's 1st swim!

Meg's badly traumatized too. He was the brother she never had. I called him her 'DiDi' - little brother.

Here's when we just adopted Seraphina.

Woofie loves to annoy Seraphina but she doesn't hesitate boxing him in the face either

Woofie had plenty of fun when Pepper & Soba stayed over

I regretted that we didn't take more pics of Woofie. Here's the most recent one & that's taken almost 2 years ago :(I'll love you forever, my little boy. Mummy & Jie Jie misses you very much. Not a day goes by without us thinking about you.

More clubbing in Movida

Checking out my make up before heading to St. James - I so totally hate my hair ...... aunty-looking, don't you think?
No clubbing session is complete without my besties
We couldn't decide on a club & finally settled ourselves in Movida
Other than Marilyn & Juliana, I'd managed to meet up with 2 dear old friends. It's been eons since I last met you guys (my bad :p). I certainly plan on seeing more of you all. More clubbing!!!
But mysterious friends they are ....... one refused to take a pic with me & the other insisted I cover up his face.
Ooops ........ I accidentally stepped on Ju & my heels jabbed right into her foot. I'm so so sorry darling, I knew that hurt real bad :(
The music at Movida was great but the crowd not so. We wanted to switch club. We tried Boiler Room, Power House, Dragonfly but everywhere was packed & we resigned ourselves to Movida.
Not a very 'happening' night & I didn't even manage to dance! (What a crime!) But I am soothed for the fact that I managed touch base with my friends again. Next time ~~ A better club!!!

Great girly fun in Social House

I'm sorry ...... I must have had worried some of you, disappearing for so long. I had been away accompanying some doctors to a cardiology conference in Beijing. I can't wait to post those pics but before that, I think I had better post this which had been sitting in my draft for almost a month.

In a bid to cheer me up, the girls decided to bring me to do what I loved doing most ~~ DANCING!!! I found this new joint - Social House in Liang Court. I love it for the fact that they provide decent platforms for showing off my dance moves (0'O) and even allows bartop dancing if you dare. Oh ..... how I missed bartop since Devils' days. But I didn't muster enough courage to get onto it this time :p

*Juliana - I know I make a real lousy friend but in spite of everything, you never gave up on me. Thanx for watching my back.

*Marilyn - You're the best friend that anyone can ask for. You are my rock & I never fail to draw strength from your petite little frame.

*Geraldine - Though we do not keep in touch often enough, I know that I can always count on you should I need you by my side.

We met not in the most conventional of circumstances but yet had amazingly remained steadfast to each other through it all. I hope in my heart of hearts that our friendship will withstand the tribulation of time & remain forever strong, for I can't imagine what life would be like without you girls by my side.

*Denise - We may not know each other very well or long enough but I know I spotted a gem of a friend when I met you.

Arghhh ...... not quite the tone that I had wanted for this post but I just can't help getting all soppy :p My bad ~~~ now's the time to parteyy!!!

Watch a bunch of old ladies act cute - I think I hear violent protests already ~~ ok maybe it's just me that's the old lady then :p

We had a great night of girly fun!

Jolene dropped by to give me a surprise & moral support. I was so touched by her & her hubby's gesture. I guess seeing each other happy meant a great deal to the both of us. And now looking at her, I firmly believe that love & happiness is within reach for me too.

Arghh ...... the nasty part ...... I realised that I now have 0 tolerance for hard liquor. Just a sip sets off my gag reflex & so I was drinking beer while the rest were happily downing neat Martell from the bottle. Then Jolene had to get me a Flaming Lamborghini (see, she's laughing so happily in the pic!). The second I downed the entire lot, I turned around & puked everything straight out. The girls thought I was drunk but I was the most sober of all at the end of the night :p

We love dancing on the platform!

Thought I might as well flaunt it cos that's probably the last time I will wear that top to a club. Mar did an excellent job picking that sexy top out for me but all those frills was just so not me. Lol ..... but even I myself like that view from the back! :ppp