I used to have a problem.

My problem was not having enough exciting or interesting events going on in my life and thus resulting in me not having anything substantial to blog about. This I suppose, was quite awhile ago, when my life was relatively directionless and I was just floating around.

These days, my problem is having TOO much going on in my life, all of which I sorely wished I had enough time, energy and resources to openly share with all those who are still interested in checking up on this neglected and humble blog of mine, because I hate to leave this space without any updates for prolonged periods of time.... I want to capture every single precious memory I have and spontaneously relive it every time I read my own blog post about the experience. Unfortunately, I've reached a stage in my life where blogging has inevitably taken second place in terms of priorities, for some reason another matter always seems to top it, somehow. I remember when it used to be number 1 and I just HAD to take a picture of everything or jot it down in my mind so that I could go back home and tell everyone about it. But now, a few years down the track, I guess I'm slightly older, and have found new and possibly better ways to cope and deal with the events and emotions that go on in my life aside from pouring my soul out to an online audience. I can deal with sadness, difficulty, excitement without announcing it here. Wow. I never thought this day would come. I know I'm almost totally contradicting myself with this statement considering how I'm letting all these feelings loose in this very post, but there is a difference when I consciously choose to blog about something to purposely share with y'all instead of feeling like I NEED to blog about it to get it off my chest / mind so that I remain sane. I have learned how to take a heavier load on my shoulders with every year that passes in my life, and I suppose that is all part of growing up. So much has been going on in my life the past week, you won't believe what I've been through in such a short period of time and the number of times I have broke down and cried, also the incidents where I just burst out in hearty laughter... I never knew one person could be so sad, stressed, happy and gratified at the same time. This is life in a whirlwind at its full glory. I guess this is what it feels like to be 21 years old, when you're trying to figure this world out, and you look and act like an adult... but really, inside you're still kind of a kid still, but you know that will have to change soon.


And what a huge change 2013 has brought about in my life. First of all, I have a rabbit that is now my responsibility to take care of. I never imagined I'd have a pet so soon since I had no intentions of getting one, especially not a rabbit, but somehow little Mochi the fluffy chinchilla colored bunny found her way into my life. Many of my mornings, afternoons, evenings and nights are spent cuddling with, playing with her, chasing her around, feeding her, and picking up after her poop... She brings me so much joy! Secondly, I have officially moved out of my parents' place last year, and in 2013 I am REALLY feeling the pinch of living by myself. Although I stay with my boyfriend and brother, I cannot and do not depend on them to provide for me. They don't get me food or clean up after me the way my domestic helper maid or mum used to. Not that I expect to of course, I'm just sayin', I live with people but I'm pretty much on my own. Now, every single meal of the day has to be accounted for by myself, I can no longer go home and expect a decent home cooked meal to be sitting on the dining table prepared by my mum or maid for me, because I don't have anyone waiting on me any more. And I NEVER realized just how much housework one house could create. I keep mopping and sweeping the floor and clearing the rabbit's litter tray and washing the laundry but OMG everyday there's more dust and dirty clothes to be washed and it just hit me that for the rest of my life I have to be doing housework!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is really depressing. I don't think any other 21 year old does the kind of housework I do. (Clean toilets, mop and sweep the floor, cook, bake, wash the dishes and laundry... blah blah blah) Most are still living with their parents which I sort of wished I was. I LOVE the freedom, but I miss the feeling of being sheltered. Reality is such a cruel and unforgiving place. Not to mention coughing up $1k extra every month for rent is a bit of a big bad bitch as well.


So that's just a brief gist about what's been going on in my crazy life. Aside from the parts I have complained about, there have been a lot of lovely people I had the privilege of meeting recently making a difference and impact on my life, which I am truly grateful for.




I participated in this top secret event (lol) that would've been game changing for my career, but unfortunately things didn't work out so well for me.... however, the experience was mildly life changing, I would say. It was nerve wrecking enough to make my heart feel like it was going to stop right there and then, and sometimes stressful enough for me to completely let down my pride and break down in tears in front of other people. But most of all it was wonderful in many unexpected ways and I find myself more sorry about having to miss out on the awesome company of the astoundingly talented people I have met and the opportunity to learn more from them than actually winning the title of the competition. Which I suppose I never stood a great big chance of doing so, anyway, they're way out of my league. They're going to rock your socks off, Singapore.






Actually I don't even know how I got to stand there with them in the first place considering I have never sung in public before or given any sort of performance whatsoever prior to this, besides my self indulgent Youtube videos which I post on my blog. They're like, way up there in terms of knowledge, skill and experience.... and I'm just here.  I don't know them very well or for very long at all, but I swear I'm not kidding when I say I miss them already. When people are struggling to stay on one boat together.... you share this immediate bond.






We also shared laughter, fears and goals in the short amount of time I knew them. It's not everyday you get to meet like-minded people with such admirable determination and similar interests as you that you happen to get along super well with.  I found myself staring at many people in the competition with utter respect and fascination. How can seemingly normal looking people be so damn great at their passion but be so humble and likable and hardworking and friendly and admirable at the same time?







Some of them are everything I want to be, and more. I wonder how long it took for them to build up their confidence and technique, or were they just born awesome? I couldn't believe my eyes, and my ears. So many of these peeps are soooo damn young as well!!!!!!! How do they do it? Why are these people holding my hand, encouraging me when I'm scared and being a friend for me even though we barely just met? And a few of them gave me warm hugs, when I truly needed them most. The journey on the way there is just as, or even more important than the destination to me. It molds and shapes you into a better, wiser person. And as short-lived as my journey was, I can say it was more fruitful than I had ever hoped for, and I'm still thankful it happened to me, out of thousands of people. I don't know if I'm supposed to feel bitter, but I'm not. I could not imagine more worthy and deserving people to go up against. If anything, I am only upset at myself for making a few crucial mistakes that led to my own eventual downfall, and I only have myself to fault. But I was so new to the game, and since it was my first time ever doing it I really don't think I did all that bad in the end. I should give myself credit for trying, too. I felt like dropping dead at some points. I am not allowed to reveal anything vital or specific about this event, so this is about as much as I can say before I accidentally let something confidential slip... but I suppose some of you will figure it out sooner or later by yourself anyway, if you keep yourself in the loop with media!







With this chapter of my life coming to a close, I take away with me valuable memories and lessons which I know will prove priceless and useful in my years ahead. So thank you to everyone who has impacted me greatly over the last few days. I look forward to keeping myself updated with your journeys and wish the very best for all of you ahead, no matter who the ultimate crowned champion is... you are ALL badasssssss ROCKSTARS. ♥ 

Shine bright like a motherfucking diamond!!!

xoxo,
Jess

So I'm still nursing the open wound I acquired last week.


Much of my free time has been spent with the sheets draped over my head, deep in pessimistic thoughts. I really didn't think the cut would be this deep.... I guess the blade was sharper than it seemed. Let's just say I don't deal with rejection very well. And lately, my self-confidence has been plummeted so far down I don't know if I have any left. I pretend I'm dealing with it fine but really I'm confused and hurt as fuck inside. I completely screwed up my own chances so I'm finding it impossible to forgive myself. After the competition was over, it left me in a lot of self doubt. What the hell am I doing with my life? How did I let such a good opportunity slip? What is wrong with me? What is my calling in life? (*rolls eyes at this*) Am I lazy, undeserving or just untalented? 

I used to think that only bored-out-of-their-brains, directionless people had those of thoughts of uselessness. People who sit on their bums and never do anything with their lives. I never imagined that even with goals and hard work and sweat and tears, I could still fall short of my own expectations, and feel worthless of my own dreams.

Like I don't deserve to be somebody, or anybody. I try to be realistic when it comes to ambition, but then again... ambitions aren't supposed to be realistic, are they? They were created to challenge yourself, to prove the impossible to be do-able if only you have just the right amount and mix of talent, luck and determination. I feel stuck in the middle, torn apart by two different personalities inside of me. One's telling me to dream big, and never lose sight of my passions and to work even harder to do what I've always wanted to do. Another is telling me, forget it... Just focus on cake making and making money, what else time do you have left to pursue other interests? You're not that great, anyway. Who would watch you, follow your journey and wish for your success? Get over yourself. Get real. You're not that special at the end of the day. You know how many other people out there who are better than you, and want it more than you do?

So those are just some of the thoughts going on in my brain that have resulted in a very heavy and imploding heart in my chest recently. I wish I could be contented with a simple life, doing simple things, being an absolutely normal but contented person. I have met people like that and they seem happy going about their daily routines with a happy family and loving partners. Make the money, save some of it, spend the rest of it. Plenty of people work in jobs that they don't particularly enjoy but it makes them the money to pay off the bills and that's good enough. Why do I have to SO STUBBORN and insist that my job has to be something I love doing at the same time? Can I just snap out of this idealistic daydream and find a normal job already? Stupid person who said, "If you have a job you love doing, you'll never have to work a day in your life again." lied to me. Often, the stress that comes together with turning your interest into business completely ruins the meaning of why you enjoyed your passion in the first place. It rips away the pure, true untainted interest that stemmed it all from the beginning, and in its place is hideous greed and a insatiable hunger for more benefits. Sometimes I hate myself for doing this to me, for commercializing everything I ever loved, to the point where I feel like I can no longer indulge in my favorite activities without stopping to think about the possibility of even more commercial gains. Shame on me.


.
.
.
.
.
.


That aside, enough whiny relentless ranting.... here's a complete change of mood - a happy picture log from when I visited Gardens By The Bay with the fam.  Even when I'm having the shittiest time in the whole wide world, nothing quite cheers me up like spending quality time with the people who matter the most.


I would love to continue wallowing in self-pity forever, but life still goes on!!!

...Right?

Right.



I don't know why it took me so long to finally visit Gardens By The Bay even though I've stayed at Marina Bay Sands a lot of times since its opening... but I did finally pay it a visit and it was a very enjoyable two hours!





Ho hum. I'm just waiting for my rainbow after the storm to appear in my life. Damn you overused cliche internet quotes, you'd better not cheat my naive feelings a second time.



 


I will always be a mummy's girl. But I'm sorry mum if I've disappointed you recently when I didn't make it through. :( I know you wanted it for me as much as I did for myself.






That's the last of my emo nonsense. On to the other topic of the day - Gardens By The Bay was actually very pleasant to visit, because both garden domes are air-conditioned!!!! It was like this massive cold temperature glass house garden in the middle of my scorching but beautiful city, crammed with as many random plants as you could fit in a dome and I'm afraid my pictures don't do it sufficient justice. You have to see it in person to know what the fuss is about! I have had two Australian couple friends visit Singapore recently and this was very high on my recommended list of things to do, they absolutely loved the experience!



I would've liked taking my time to snap nicer photos but my parents can't be bothered to wait around, so all of these were snap-and-go in order to keep up with their pace. Jesus those old people sure do walk fast!

I like how I could see the city skyline from inside the gardens, it was the perfect combination of nature and urban civilization! It reminded me of how I felt standing in the gorgeous King's Park in Western Australia, overlooking Perth's water and city buildings.

First of all, Happy Good Friday everyone!!!

I have 3 things to announce:

1) I just got my wisdom teeth pulled out yesterday, under local anesthetic. Yikes! It's definitely not a pleasant experience, but it really wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected and the pain factor I am experiencing is like practically zero... discomfort and soreness along with inconvenience is another factor, however. I'll get around to blogging about it soon! :D

2) I am feeling better about the moderately depressing thing I've been whining about the past two blog posts. I'm back to bubbly, happy, carefree Jessica! Ok, the carefree part has always been a front and a lie. I am not carefree. I am happy-go-lucky by character but you won't believe the amount of stress I go through sometimes. I'm just incredibly convincing at acting like my life is all good and easy. But I find myself in lighter spirits despite having gone through a minor dental surgery yesterday. Life can't be all that bad?!

3) Can you freakin' believe it's been half a year since I last did a What's Bakin'? post? I remember when I used to do it monthly! Well, after you keep baking for awhile, you'll realize quite a lot of designs that people request are repeated from your image gallery.... so nowadays I only take pictures of special orders / something we haven't done before / just stuff I particularly like. So I only have a small collection of cake images below for you but I hope you enjoy looking at them anyways! And please do feel free to salivate all over your monitor and keyboard, it would make me most gratified.


In case you haven't heard or realized..


Guess who's back, back again?
Shiberty's Sweets is back in business baby, so go tell a friend! 

♥ Shibertys.blogspot.com ♥






What's gayer than a normal colorful rainbow?

A pastel rainbow cake with ruffles. Mmmhmm. Sam actually did this order all by myself as I was busy with other matters that day - I think he did a good job despite not being familiar with buttercream piping! I cover all of the cream coated stuff normally. I can't wait till someone orders this again so I can have my own go at it! ;) Looks like a lot of fun to do!






This was actually a design from last year, but I forgot to post it up! This girl wanted wanted a nice big ribbon with a 3d fondant handmade figurine of her sitting on the cake with pink and polkadots as the theme. I love how sweet this looks, too bad it was extremely dark when we took this picture, it hardly does the real thing justice!






I haven't seen Despicable Me yet. Can you believe it? Everyone's talking about it and loving it, I'm almost feeling almost hipster-like refusing to watch it. LOL.

These little guys were so tedious to create.... but at least they're naturally dopey looking so if one or two are slightly odder than the rest, you won't be able to notice. I think. Don't go scrutinizing my work now!






Okay, let's see... What do girls love?

1) Pink & Purple
2) Whimsical Unicorns
3) Roses
4) Pearls
5) Heart Shapes
6) A yummy cake

Damn. Nailed it!






It gives me a lot of satisfaction looking at this photo, because this is real #cakeporn - you can totally tell how ridiculously soft, fluffy and moist our cakes are when it's zoomed in as close up as this!!!! I take deep pride in producing high quality stuff for our awesome supporters, to make sure their cake is always as good as we can get it to be!

Sometimes some things are out of my control, anybody who has ever given baking a go can tell you that no matter how much experience you've had, things could potentially go wrong at any given time. It never always turn out exactly the way you want it to. Just watch cake decorating shows such as Cake Boss or Fabulous Cakes for example! But when I can help it, I do. We could easily use artificial stabilizers / preservatives, a pre-made cake mix, or shortening instead of real butter in our recipes so as to save ourselves a lot of hassle and time.... but we insist on using premium ingredients, self-taught recipes and baking only hours before the cake is actually collected, which runs the risk of us being late for our order (normally this doesn't happen though) but it results in moister, fresher cakes and I believe it's a calculated risk worth taking because of the wonderful feedback we've been getting recently!  Ah, I love my job. So damn messy but oh SO fun.






Oh, yes! The butterscotch flavored pink ombre cake you see above was turned into this Ballerina themed cake eventually. We were told to do "as much pink as possible" ;)






How about a boyish Jersey cake for a LA Clippers fan to break up the girlyness of this post?

I adore how much more clean-cut our work has become now! We're not the best at what we do, and still have a long way to go on the learning curve... but practice makes perfect. And practice, we shall.






I LOVE THIS!!!!! I want a classic 2.55 with gold hardware.. In jumbo size!!!! Caviar.

Some day..





Bye everyone!!!! Thank you for visiting! :* 

Do remember to credit and link back to us at shibertys.blogspot.com if you would like to share our images online, please! And of course, head on over to the website if you'd like to ask about having a personalized cake for your special occasion to wow your friends!

xoxo,
Jess

Little confession time.

I am terrified of visiting doctors and dentists.


I feel like I'm being sent to the principal's office, and the dreadful feeling of impending doom lurking around the corner overwhelms me. I know I'm probably being a little dramatic but that's pretty much how I feel. I've avoided going to the dentist for THE LONGEST TIME because I know I have poor oral health, and I'm scared of finding out the condition of my teeth. Same logic as how a fit person wouldn't mind stepping onto the weighing scale but an overweight person would be afraid of simply looking at a numerical digit on the machine. But, I'm at this stage and point in my life whereby I'm trying my best to act like an adult, and make all the adult-like decisions - as many as I can. One of those happen to be taking care of my oral hygiene because kids don't care about their teeth, but responsible adults do because they're smarter and know how important it is for your health and overall image. Everyone gets put off by bad looking teeth. Everyone.


Well long story cut short, I was getting my teeth cleaned and checked up at my dentist's one day, when he suddenly lamented on how my wisdom teeth were growing out in a potentially harmful direction and they could cause problems for me in the future, if I don't remove them soon. Gah. I had some pains with my wisdom teeth some time back which bothered me for a few weeks but eventually the aches ceased so I thought they'd miraculously disappeared or found a place to hide in my gums, and forgot about them. Turns out I'm not getting away with it so easily. Complications will get more severe the older you are, and so I thought.... the responsible adult thing to do and say: I might as well do it while I'm still young & healthy.


AND THIS HAPPENED NEXT.




Covered in cold sweat and goosebumps, I found myself sitting in the chair of death at 11am, stripped bare of make up, looking like some ailing hospital patient. Lol. Don't judge my beady Chinese eyes that somehow manage to shrink to 1/10000th of its size compared to when I have make up on.





My dentist, Dr Chia, analyzing my wisdom teeth and discussing the process and what I can expect before the extraction begins.

I'm only getting the bottom two taken out out because for now, the top ones don't seem like they'd bother me anytime soon. And I don't think I could handle all 4 being taken out at once under just local anesthetic.... Look at the wisdom tooth on the right side of the picture!!! It's in an odd position so they had to make an incision in my gums and hack it into a few smaller pieces in order to take it out with least damage done to other teeth and surrounding gum tissue.

"If it's not hurting you now, why do you want to take them out?!"

Well, prevention is always better than cure, when it comes to health!!! You don't get AIDs and then figure out how to cure it later, right?







Before beginning, Dr Chia explained some basic hand signals I should always display to show my level of comfort as I won't be able to move my mouth or other parts of the body at all. A clenched fist stands for Zero, no pain or feeling. One meaning light pressure, two is more pressure... three is borderline painful and I guess five means LORD HAVE MERCY!


I thought I would've raised my hand to show a 5 at least once, because my pain threshold is rather low (I am a wussy)  but the most it ever got was a 3 at one point, and then he injected me with more local anesthetic and after that I couldn't feel a thing. Even the injections don't hurt much, it feels like a dull aching stinging feeling. I don't know why I did it, but the night before my surgery I was so tensed up and nervous about getting my teeth removed and I tossed and turned around in bed before deciding there's no way I could fall asleep. So I went to Youtube wisdom teeth extractions, thinking if I knew how the process would be like, perhaps I'd be less worried because informed decisions always make more sense. But after watching THIS VIDEO I shat bricks!!!!!!






HOW PAINFUL DOES THAT LOOK?????

Very very much, I know!!! But don't you worry, it's actually surprisinglydeceivingly horrific because I honestly couldn't feel any significant painful sensation.. cross my heart on this. The most I ever felt was engulfing fear in my heart and some tugging and pressure in my mouth. For real, normally I wouldn't hesitate to burst into spontaneous tears when I stub my toes a little too hard, but the pain level for this surgery is probably less than 1 on a level of 1-10, thanks to the local anesthetic. The worst part was probably when the tooth was coming out of the socket and they had to pull pretty hard....... I could feel a slight tugging sensation and I thought a burst of pain would follow, but nope. Just a tugging sensation. It would be almost impossible for me to feel any pain even if I wanted to nitpick. Ok then if I were to nitpick I'd say that dentist tools sound terrible. The drilling, scaling, scraping all echo through your throat and ears and your mouth literally feels like a construction site! I pleaded with my dentist to put me under general anesthetic (the type where you fall asleep & have no feeling or recollection of the event whatsoever until you wake up later on) but he insisted it was unnecessary for a small procedure like this, unless I had very tricky wisdom teeth positions that'd make it difficult or tedious to remove, but mine was supposed to be a super easy extraction. When it was all over and done, he proved to be right, I breathed a huge sigh of relief, feeling like I didn't need to worry so much after all.




About 30 minutes later, the surgery was completed.... And this is the aftermath!




Yikes!!!!!

I am a tooth murderer. D:




And if you ever wondered how beautiful I would look with a swollen, numb mouth..... well your dreams just came true, you son of a gun.




I'm sexy and I know it.


So glad I got the procedure done, because now I don't have to worry about my bottom wisdom teeth any more!!!! And it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I'd anticipated. Woop woop!




Something to remember your little friends who helped you to chew by.


After my teeth were extracted and my gums stitched up, I was given a gauze pad to gently bite on and then sent off on my merry way with some painkillers and meds to help with the aftercare. I did feel pretty woozy after that and wanted to go to sleep straight away but I wasn't allowed to lie down until night time because the pressure change might cause bleeding. Dr Chia told me I was lucky I decided to take them out because he actually discovered a growing infection where the tooth was affecting my brushing techniques, so consequences would be more dire had I not rectified the problem in the early stages. For the sake of people who are thinking of getting their wisdom teeth removed soon, here's some possible scenarios you can anticipate to happen, based on my own personal experiences!


What To Expect When You Extract Wisdom Teeth

1) Your biggest hurdle to cross will be the mental fear

Or at least mine was. You're not going to feel much, or any pain at all. Even after the surgery, I didn't need to take the painkillers because the discomfort level was very little, aside from the fact I oozed so much blood my mouth tasted like salty metal for hours after the surgery and I choked on my own blood a few times. They say you're supposed to swallow all the blood and not spit, because spitting would cause more bleeding. Every damn thing causes bleeding, even breathing, lol.


2) Expect blood. A lot of blood. Avoid anything that will cause prolonged bleeding

After the surgery I tried to keep my mouth closed as much as possible, and I didn't want to swallow so I just sort of kept the pool of blood in my mouth (grossssss) but would you rather swallow it?! Anyway when I finally did spit out the blood, it looked like a crime scene. So. Much. Concentrated. Dark. Red. Blood. I rinsed my mouth once, and then distracted myself with TV. You'll be tempted to rinse & spit very often but don't do it!!!! Dr Chia advised me to throw away the gauze after an hour because too much gauze may cause even more blood to be sucked out and dislodge the blood clot. Eventually, bleeding stopped completely after approximately 6  hours.


3) Eat soft foods for at least a few days after the surgery



My mum took care of me after the surgery at her place, and she bought me my favorite selegie tao huey. What an angel. Tao huey tasted like angel brains because the sweetness and smoothness of the bean curd effectively cleansed my mouth of the bloody residue. Have a nice large meal before your extraction because you won't be able to have solid or chewy food for probably 4-5 days after the surgery.





You are supposed to avoid sucking on straws, eating extremely warm or cold foods, chewy foods, and food that will stick to your gums / get stuck in your teeth. Some people apparently only consume liquids for the first 3 days but I am a fat pig so by a few hours after the surgery I was actually eating minced pork congee. Yum. HAHAHAHA omg I'm really a pig.

In fact, I felt so fine that I completed my surgery in the noon and by evening I went to catch  the sexy and stunning Le Noir circus show at Marina Bay Sands, tickets courtesy of Nuffnang and Churp Churp, where I was seated next to the charming and handsome Nat Ho and I somehow managed to have a conversation with him despite my mouth being so swollen I looked like a chipmunk. And you know what else? By two whole days later, I was already eating hot and spicy tom yam noodles for dinner. I must be superwoman. (Or just a really hungry person)




Here's me 4 hours after the surgery. Hey presto! If I didn't tell you, would you have guessed I just had my gums cut open and molars extracted? Ok my cheeks were a little swollen so I hid them behind luscious purple hair hahaha.



4) Swelling will be the most obvious on the third or fourth day





As you can see, one cheek / side of my jaw is a lot more swollen than the other! It was the left one where they had to cut the gums and drill the tooth into pieces. But other than looking a couple of kilograms fatter on my face than I should, there was no discomfort to the swelling at all. I almost couldn't believe how much everything did not hurt.

If you've hesitated about removing your wisdom teeth for awhile now, perhaps this will give you the push you need.



Here's Why You Should Remove Your Wisdom Teeth (source):

• A few people are born without wisdom teeth. Others have enough room in their mouths for the teeth. But many of us get our wisdom teeth taken out as young adults, and are first alerted to the problem when our wisdom teeth can't come in all the way. If that happens, part of the tooth may be covered by a flap of gum. Bits of food and bacteria can get trapped under the flap. This can cause swelling and a low-grade infection called pericoronitis. This usually happens with lower wisdom teeth. Pericoronitis, and the pain it causes, are the most common reasons people need wisdom teeth taken out.

• In many people, the wisdom teeth are blocked from coming in, usually by bone or other teeth. Sometimes the teeth are tilted under the gum. Dentists call these "impacted" teeth. They may cause pain, but not always. You may feel nothing at all for years. You may not even be aware that you have wisdom teeth until your dentist sees them on an X-ray. Regular dental visits are important during your teens and early 20s. If you visit your dentist regularly, he or she can use X-rays to follow the progress of your wisdom teeth. Any problems will be seen early.

• Even if your wisdom teeth aren't causing any pain or other problems, they may cause problems at some point. The most common problems are decay, infection and crowding or damage to other teeth. Teeth next to the wisdom teeth are more prone to developing gum problems. But more serious complications can occur. Some people develop fluid-filled growths called cysts. These can cause permanent damage to bone, teeth and nerves. In rare cases, other tumors may develop as well.

• Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. But if there's a chance your wisdom teeth will cause problems, it's easier to take them out when you're young. That's because the roots of the teeth are not fully developed yet, and the bone around the teeth is less dense. Younger people also heal faster than older ones. As you age, it will take longer to recover from the surgery.



Possible Complications(source):

• Pain and swelling in your gums and tooth socket where the tooth was removed.
• Bleeding that won't stop for about 24 hours.
• Difficulty with or pain from opening your jaw (trismus).
• Slow-healing gums.
• Damage to existing dental work, such as crowns or bridges, or to roots of a nearby tooth.
• A painful inflammation called dry socket, which happens if the protective blood clot is lost too soon.
• Numbness in your mouth and lips after the local anesthetic wears off, due to injury or inflammation of nerves in the jaw.


Rare side effects:

• Prolonged numbness in the mouth or lips, AKA Paresthesia. I had this for a week. Apparently I am allergic or sensitive to the local anesthetic used called Articaine, I had a half tingling, half dull aching sensation in my lips for a week, causing me to speak funny for awhile. After going back to Dr Chia for a check up he prescribed me some Daneuron to help with injured nerves or altered nerve sensations and I'm almost fully recovered (95%) now after 2 weeks! I only have a slight numb feeling in a much smaller area compared to the large patch a week ago. For some people it may take a longer time to heal, up to 9 months, and some people never get sensation back at all. However, I've heard this is incredibly rare. This has nothing to do with my dentist's skills or professionalism level as it could happen to anyone, especially if your wisdom tooth is located near the nerve that runs along the jawline, but for my case it's an allergic reaction.

• A fractured jaw if the tooth was firmly attached to the jaw bone.
• An opening into the sinus cavity when a wisdom tooth is removed from the upper jaw.



Having said all of this.. of course, different people have different thresholds of pain and dental experiences, and there are two keys to a pleasant wisdom teeth extraction process:

1) Go to a reputable dentist. Some are more gentle, patient, and professional than others.

2) Follow your dentist's instructions. Take your meds as instructed and don't do anything stupid like sports a few days after the surgery. Get lots of rest and limit physical activity.



(old picture from when I had red hair)


I am very fortunate to have had my wisdom teeth extracted by Dr Melvin Chia, from Tooth Angels at Clarke Quay because his gentle nature made me feel relaxed and assured at all times! I have heard stories of people who suffer aches and pains for days or even weeks after their surgery but I had none of that, thanks to Dr Chia's expertise. We're posing beside my teeth X-ray at the clinic :P Look at his uber straight and white awesome looking teeth!!! I know this is a no-brainer but dentists always have such perfect teeth. I don't have to be jealous any more, because Dr Chia is urging me to get braces done.... I have relatively straight top row teeth but my bottom teeth are completely messed up due to an underbite jaw problem. Should I or should I not be metal teethed? Would you guys judge me? :3 I hate to admit this but I've always looked at people with braces in a funny way.... I know it's not very nice (but I've never made fun of anyone for it! I just keep it to myself) because most people aren't born with perfect teeth and I should actually give people who bother to make the effort of having better teeth some credit but I can't help but pay a lot of attention to it when someone with braces talk to me. It looks so... weird. The aesthetic factor is definitely the biggest thing holding me back at the moment.


Nevertheless, here's a big shout out and a HUGE Thank You to the wonderful people at Tooth Angels for this extremely smooth experience. I hate going to the dentist's but Tooth Angels makes it so much more bearable for me because everyone there is incredibly nice and caring, the vibe is great, the location is central (literally at The Central) and the dentists and oral surgeons there are great at their job!









Looking for a good dentist you can trust to frequent?

Tooth Angels & Co. Dental Surgeons
The Central (Clarke Quay MRT Station). 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #B1-01
Tel : +65 6222 6220

I will find it difficult to ever visit another dental clinic now, because none I've ever patronized in the past have been as professional or friendly as Tooth Angels, the place feels like a second home to me!!! I actually look forward to visiting them to get my teeth cleaned and checked up because I know I'm always one step closer to better, healthier, nicer teeth when I leave their clinic. :)

 If you haven't gotten your teeth checked in awhile, do it please!!! It's more important than you'd think. You'll thank me and yourself in time to come!

xoxo,
Jess

Some of you already know this piece of news - but for those who don't...

I am one of the lucky Top 60 contestants for The Final 1 Singapore!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!

The newest, and apparently biggest, reality singing competition to hit our little sunny island. When I got the call from Mediacorp saying I have been selected as one of the Top 60 contestants to participate in this show.... I was in utter disbelief. I really didn't think I'd even make it to the Top 60 - I was just trying my luck at the auditions for fun.

And what do you know??? I actually got in!!!!! :')


Out of over a thousand hopeful entries, me! This is a huge deal to me because I'm such an amateur singer if I do say so myself, and to be shortlisted as one of the contestants for the first ever singing competition I've joined in my life, a significantly large scale one at that, was tremendouysly thrilling indeed! This is as big as a show is going to get in Singapore, honestly! My childhood ambition has always been to be a singer. Now that I'm older and have come face to face with the real world, I know it's not as simple or achievable as it sounds. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to stop hoping.


For the first time, I turned that "want" into "do", and "hope" into "action".






Here I am.... cheekily beaming away on their contestants page, looking wayyyyy too purple. I'm like a giant eggplant decked in floral wear. What the heck?!

WHY in good god's name did I consciously choose to wear a purple dress when I have purple hair? When I have a hundred other dresses in my wardrobe.....? Sometimes I think I ought to be shot by fashion police. LOL. Too bad I often realize my fashion mistakes a little too late for rectification. *heaves a whopping sigh*







If you've been tuning into Channel 5 on our local TV.... You may have seen this advertisement to promote the show featuring yours truly in my Begin Again music video!!! :)

LOOK MA, YOUR DAUGHTER'S ON TEEVEE!!!

I was like :OOO when a fellow contestant told me "Hey, your video is on Channel 5!!". It's always exciting news to be on TV, but even more so when it's your singing clip that they choose to feature! The last time I was on TV was for a Eu Yan Sang Weight Loss feature last year, a lot less glamorous than this one because my fatness was exposed on national television, thank god I don't have to die knowing that the only time I ever appeared on television was because I was fat. I got appear because I got talent also okay!!!! Hoo-rah!


I don't watch much TV at all (I'm more of a movies kinda girl) but I hope I get to see my advertisement at least once before the premiere of The Final 1 airs!!!!! I am also excited to watch the first episode of the show, of course, but the difference is... this advertisement is 100% me. Lol. Whereas the first episode will feature 59 other contestants. So this is my only real time to "Shine" without anyone else stealing my limelight. Literally 10 seconds of fame HAHAHA.


More about the fabulous Top 60 contestants in The Final 1:



Oh lord, you can actually see my awful candid shots in various parts of the video - in fact in the very first few frames you can spot a bored-looking purple haired girl sitting in a chair stoning away. (And sashaying away in the background at 0:20 LOLOL) It was a very long video shoot, we filmed for over 12 hours.... unfortunately my tiredness was indirectly captured on camera!!!!!!

To be really honest with you, I'm not looking forward to seeing myself perform on TV. If you have half a brain and have read my previous emo posts, I'm sure you would've figured out just why. Furthermore, I don't know how weird / fat / awkward / fail I'd look and even worse - how I would sound like!! Hopefully passable? I can't remember ANYTHING solid from my performance.


Here's how it basically went down.

.
.
.
.


My name was called to go on stage. My heart stopped at that very second. "Don't trip when going up the stairs", I told myself. I walked onto stage. I heard the other contestants sing. They were GREAT. Like, beyond great. They rocked my world. I knew it was going to be very very tough for me to top them, and to be honest I felt so intimidated and petrified, I wanted to just drop off the face of the earth forever and never return or at least run off the stage to hide my face until people forget my name, at that point in time..... but, cameras were rolling & recording & all eyes were fixated on me - so bo fucking bian, gotta go through with it, no matter how much of a pussy I felt like. Eventually, I was asked to introduce myself by either Taufik / Kit Chan (my entire memory of this event is sucha blur I honestly cannot recall properly) and then I opened my mouth to sing. I started off VERY shaky. It didn't help that the song I chose did nothing for my voice, as well. So many bad decisions on my end, I didn't know any better :'( I was so nervous, my heartbeat was louder than my own voice. I was supposed to hear music and myself singing but after a few seconds, all I heard was deafening silence. It's probably the sound of fear.

I glanced over at Ken Lim's direction, he didn't seem so impressed. My heart sank. "Don't look at Ken Lim, DON'T LOOK AT KEN!!!!!!" I kept repeating in my brain. "I'll look at Taufik instead, he's got a less fierce face." Taufik managed a half smile at me. My hands are drenched in cold sweat, I was afraid that the microphone would slip right out of my grip and fall onto the floor, causing an ear shattering boom. That would be embarrassing. I was so numb with stage fright that I couldn't even feel my fingers at all. Throughout the whole time I was singing, I didn't even feel like I was singing (or breathing or existing). It felt like an outer worldly experience, as if I was dreaming, just witnessing the whole thing from a third person point of view. I don't know if you understand what I'm trying to say, but sometimes your body does things without your mind actually being there. When it's all over, your mind snaps back to reality and you're just like, "Woah, did that really just happen?" because it felt exactly like a daydream. Like my soul left my body or something. Yes, it's THAT dramatic.  Before I knew it, I was reaching the end part of my song.

Time to hit that relatively big note Jess........... DON'T SCREW IT UP.... Oh, fuck. Nerves got the better of you, this time, girl. The rest, is history. You have to watch the show to find out what actually happened!

I've never felt this way in my whole life before. I have been scared, I have been insecure, I have been unsure, I have been nervous... but NOTHING could compare to how I felt that day. It felt like my heart was going to implode, both from stress and excitement. I wanted to burst into tears just from the sheer overwhelming emotions and adrenaline running through my veins. On a live stage with 50+ other contestants looking on, Kit Chan, Taufik Batisah and Ken Lim judging your every move and note + big fat cameras planted everywhere in front of you.. not a good virgin attempt at public singing. I wish I had experiences in live gigs or performances prior to this competition, but well, the fact remains that I didn't. I am a rookie. I don't want to get all emo again lah. I want to learn from my mistakes and carry on life, making the best out of my future opportunities. For the rest of my feelings about this, please refer to this post and that post if you haven't already read them.

Thank you to everyone who has been excited for me to be part of this journey and for all the encouraging messages as well. I don't think I did my best at all for the performance in terms of vocal ability but I really gave it my all in terms of effort + determination. I just didn't have the skills to execute what I wanted to achieve.

Nevertheless, if you want to catch me and my purple hair on TV....
See you guys on your television set on 24th April, 8pm, Channel 5!!!!


I'm only a small, small part of this big show. The rest of the contestants, however, are another story. You DON'T want to miss the epic-ness of their singing talent. I just can't comprehend how some of them are not already famous yet. I can't stop gushing. And trust me, when you watch the show - you will as well! I can't wait for the live shows baybeh!!!!! Lights, camera, action! Get ready, Singapore.

THE FINAL 1 TROOPS.... ONWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!


xoxo,
Jess

Here are some simple things that I love in my life:

1) Media preview events. Especially the ones where I can spend time checking out the latest cutest fashion in store & hanging out with blogging girlfriends sipping on champagne, giggling the night away.

2) Taking lots (and lots and lots and lots) of photos in the mean time!

3) Fabulous gal pals ♥

4) Themed parties / gatherings, because they really don't happen often enough. I like dressing up but I don't get nearly enough chances to do so! In this case the launch was Pin Up Girl themed in conjunction with their Spring / Summer collection, which got me super excited so I got my hair fixed up & put my red lipstick on + even drew a ridiculous fake mole underneath my eye - what's not to love about the swinging 60's??

5) Everything about Juicy Couture!!! ;) 


For starters, there really is no other real point to this post other than to show off my efforts for dressing up that night and also showcasing the beauty of my gorgeous friends and our frivolous evening together. Yep, that is all.


Let the love making to the camera begin!





I have known this girl since the relatively early days of my blogging life in 2008.. Time has passed too quickly! Valerie probably has the proudest dentist in the whole wide world. Her smile... it's blinding!!! I can't get over how perfect her teeth are.




While waiting for the mini Juicy fashion show featuring 1.75m tall leggy models wearing their Spring / Summer collection to begin! I LOVE their clothes this season (or rather, every season) and I spotted this super lush corset-like dress I may buy for my 21st birthday. Want want want!




Cute Evonne was the only one who didn't arrive sporting red lipstick because she didn't realize there was a Pin Up Girl theme :P





Juli> looking seriously kawaii with her big poofy hair! Ok I actually hate using the word kawaii, and can't stand people who say it either. Lol. Typing it is okay but I HATE saying it. Nevertheless.... "kawaii" is really the perfect word to describe her so I shall use it just this once. *swallows pride*











I lost count of the number of photos we took that evening. I think when you put a group of girls together, photos naturally happen. Lots of them. It's just our thing. Don't judge. But when you put a group of girl BLOGGERS together..... I swear the amount at least doubles! I mean our face is the simplest and best form of exploitation of content for our blogs after all, anyway (YES I SAID IT!)





Wtf Pegs is really super hawt I think I may have a slight girl crush on her!!! And I love our purple hair together. They're purple but entirely different styles and colors... done by the same salon who takes tender loving care of all our hair needs, Shunji Matsuo @ Somerset 313!





My "EXCUSE ME NO PHOTOS PLEASE!!!!" pose, LOL I don't even know why we started doing this butttttttt...




This was what happened next. Hahahahah WORK IT BITCHES!!!





































Thank you Juicy Couture for the fun-filled evening at your store, your clothes are seriously too cute I'd go broke in 2 seconds thank god I didn't bring my credit card / Pegs for extending the invitation to us / Juli for your camera's pics!!!! I can't wait for the next girly blogging event together!

Also, here's a shout-out to my salon. They do the best things with my hair. I love the fringe they did for me that evening!!! Can I get away with that hairstyle more often, even when I'm not attending any special events...? You think???

Shunji Matsuo Hair Salon @ 313

Orchard Road, #03-26,
313@Somerset, Singapore 238895
+65 6238 0226
Email: lovehair@shunjimatsuo313.com.sg

Looking back on old photos of me Pre-Shunji era, I don't know HOW I ever lived with my hair looking so blah because it's been freaking amazingggg ever since I joined them!!! I owe sooo much to them! I'm sure some of you know I've had some really bad hair days in the past (and bad weight days lol). And I kid you not when I say I cannot leave the house to go out without someone asking me where I did my hair or saying something nice about it these days. If you feel like nobody ever notices you / you don't get enough attention or compliments in your life, please go dye your hair purple tomorrow at Shunji 313. Or bright red / blue / green / something crazy. You will see a 360 degree change and you will never complain about being unnoticed again. And apart from "I'm doing good, what about you?" the other question I answer most frequently in life is "I touch up my hair every 2 months at Shunji Matsuo 313 and I had to bleach it three times to get it purple."  True story.

Ok, *insert abrupt end to vain post*

xoxo,
Jess

So, it's been a couple of good months now since the last time I looked as big and heavy as the picture below..... but just in case you forgot what I used to look like, here's a gentle reminder.




Weight loss starts not with a change of diet or lifestyle, but with changing your state of mind.


There's the old me, on the left, and the current me on the right. I love delivering shock-factor pictures like these, they're always so fun. Especially when you know you're no longer the person you used to be. Face your demons! I embrace my past because it has made me a better person.


♥ My Story With Eu Yan Sang:

Mmmmhm. No biggie.... just lost like 10 whole kilograms of fat I had the misfortune of putting on after gorging myself with food and spiraling out of control of my own body.

...WHO AM I KIDDING?! It's a huuuugeee deal!!!!! Last year I dropped about 11kg in total, and of that amount, 5.2kg was with the generous and sincere help of Eu Yan Sang's weight management program. Read my 100% honest recount of the experiences here: Post 1, Post 2, Post 3. You will notice how my attitude starts to sound more positive in writing from the 2nd post onwards as I begun to see satisfactory results!


I was dealing with weight issues for awhile and was losing weight on my own, but Eu Yan Sang offered me that SHOVE I truly needed to get off my ass and really work those pounds off. Everyone, and I repeat, EVERYONE can lose weight instantly if they wanted to. You will see results in a few days, or a week, even if they are minor.. they are results nonetheless. But it's just SO much easier when you have someone encouraging (in this case, professional to boot) to guide you along and nudge you whenever you start getting lazy. Many a times I felt like giving up on my low-carb diet last year, but my physician kept pushing me further, pressuring me in all the right ways. The only thing more difficult then losing the weight itself is gathering enough motivation, determination and willpower before you get around to doing it.

Before I started the program, I was really skeptical and hesitant. I told myself even if I only lose like 2kg it'd be an achievement (back then, losing weight seemed somehow impossible to me, it was as though no matter what I did I only seemed to gain more weight) Well imagine my delight when I lost 5.2kg in under 3 months thanks to Eu Yan Sang's guidance and traditional acupuncture method!!!!!! Go read my previous posts to find out how acupuncture actually helps with raising your metabolism and curbing a monstrous appetite like mine!




Here I am with Physician Yang in a photo taken last week, I was so glad to see her again and gave her a warm hug when I walked into the clinic! I don't want to seem over dramatic about being so grateful to her and Eu Yan Sang but really, I am. A lot of people pressured me to lose weight along the years, by calling me a pig, fat, obese, troll, etc, but those comments did nothing except piss me off / hurt my feelings / make me feel like not losing weight even more, because they weren't supportive of encouraging but more of taunting. And I don't respond well to taunting. I am a rebellious soul and will do mostly always the opposite of what people tell me to. I was just born that way.

But Physician Yang was patient, understanding and encouraging, like a second mother, which is why I felt so motivated by her genuine support. Even when I faltered, she didn't blame me, but instead urged me to strive to do better, for my own health and sake - not for her, or for anyone else. Anyway, Physician Yang not only helped me find ways to curb my appetite and shed kilos, she also helped in improving my overall health!





Every single visit to Eu Yan Sang's clinic would result in blood pressure, heart rate checks, asking me if my bowel movements have been regular, etc. Eu Yan Sang's Traditional Chinese Medicine and practice approaches are more holistic that way, they believe paying attention to little details will help improve one's overall health as when you feel unwell it means your body's yin and yang is out of balance. They will try restoring that again for you, and prefer using all-natural ingredients on their chinese medicine as opposed to western drugs which are full of chemicals.


♥ My Story After Eu Yan Sang

I was kinda afraid that after ending my weight management program with Eu Yan Sang, I'd accidentally let my strength slip again and have my weight rebound back up. But surprisingly I haven't gained any weight at all since ending my treatment and in fact I've lost more weight without even trying (no exercise, no special diet, I still eat ice cream and pasta whenever I want to, but within a reasonable amount). I've ended my treatment since September 2012, and still I am maintaining the results well!





Generally I try to eat healthier, fresher stuff like homemade sandwiches... it's not carb free but it's still delicious (sustainable dieting is key) and relatively good for you compared to fried chicken or hokkien mee!

But on days when I REALLY feel like snacking on something as unhealthy and fattening as potato chips, I try my best to substitute it with the next best thing! In this case, I went away with potato chips and made baked kale chips instead (no carbs YAY!!!)




Have you girls ever had kale chips? THEY ARE SO AMAZING!!! They taste like seaweed except better and 100% natural because they're organic and chemical free, I just added a bit of salt and olive oil. They taste a lot better than potato chips but have less than 1/10 the calories.

I realized, after a few months of trying to control my diet, that you don't have to give up good taste if you're on a moderated diet. I can be losing weight and yet be eating all sorts of food that I love, such as cheese, steaks, mushrooms, soups, deep fried stuff... I just have to eat smart and choose quality over quantity. Sustainable dieting means something you can keep doing for months on end without feeling you're on the brink of starvation or depriving yourself. Now that I'm lighter, healthier and eating better, I feel amazing! I'm thankful that I'm easier on the eyes these days, too. No need to worry about layers of fat folding around my stomach when I sit down or bend over and I LOVE being able to fit into UK 10 dresses with ease when I used to struggle with Size 14s and 16s.




I no longer have to feel self-conscious or lousy about myself because I can't fit into normal-sized pretty clothes, or like when I stand next to tall, gorgeous, slim friends... of which I seem to have many of!!!!! I mean obviously I'm not as utterly beautiful as dear Beatrice in the picture above, but I still feel happy with the way I look despite my flaws and imperfections and really, I used to feel like an ogre beside my friends after I gained all the weight. But after all this talk about my success with shedding weight and how many kilos I've lost.... I HAVE to admit to you guys..

I'm still not TOTALLY contented with my body and weight. Obviously I can still work on a lot of things!!! I will be the first to say, I reckon my arms and legs are still huge, hahaha. TONS smaller than what they used to be, trust me. But yeah, still pretty big and noticeable.




Ideally, I want to be as thin as my pal over here.

LOL. Just kidding... (I think), no - really, I am. It is not only important to have a healthy weight but also a healthy state of mind! Please don't let yourself be one of those girls who are SKINNY but think that they are fat. You have a mental / psychological problem, not a weight problem. Although my BMI is now in the healthy and acceptable weight range, my ideal weight is actually about 6 or 7kg lesser than what I am right now. I actually had a New Year's Resolution post in January stating I want to lose a goal weight of 7kg..... will I be able to achieve my goal this year, with almost half the year gone already???



♥ A New Chapter With Eu Yan Sang Begins

Here's where the fun part begins!!!!

I will be taking part in SHAPE magazine's 5km run happening on July 7th, 2013, in a mass awareness and participation project to promote good health and a happier being in general as a result..... And I'd like to invite YOU, my blog readers,to join me on this journey to wellness!

I am holding a contest on my blog, brought to you by Eu Yan Sang TCM Clinics, a chance for two of you to win a fully sponsored Weight Management Program to experience yourself, worth more than $2000 for the sessions EACH!!!!!!!! You guys don't know how lucky you are omg!!!! I cannot believe this! I have to work and blog to get my sessions sponsored but some lucky two of you are going to get it completely for FREE. Why the world so unfair?? Lol.


All you have to do is just join this awesome contest on my blog and hope you'll get picked! In disbelief about the effectiveness of the acupuncture I've been raving about since last year?! Well here's your chance to try it personally and boast your own results for the rest of the world to see. To kick start this little health project, you'll have to take part in the SHAPE 5km run with me. With every contest, there will be rules, so here are mine:

a) Participant must have a BMI of 25 and above (BMI calculation http://www.shape.com.sg/bmi-calculator)
b) Participant must be willing to be featured in www.shiberty.com and SHAPE magazine.
c) Participant must be able to commit to the programme (treatments are scheduled at least twice a week) from June to September 2013.

The contest is open from 1 – 30 May 2013. Between 17 to 30 June, Eu Yan Sang will call up shortlisted participants to go through an initial consultation with the physicians to assess their health and determine if they are suitable to undergo the programme. Interested readers are to send the below info to Shiberty@hotmail.com!

- Name
- Age
- Height, weight & BMI
- State why you want to be part of the programme (in less than 100 words)
- Photo (optional)

So girls who feel like they need support from like-minded females to go through healthy weight loss methods together with them, pray that the stars align for you and that you get picked, especially if you really need encouragement and support to lose weight.. because I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU!!! I swear!!! Correction - we will be there for each other! I am super excited about being able to share this part of my life with you guys. I always get messages from girls who also struggle with weight issues asking me for advice on how to do it, well now is literally the chance for you to GET IN THE ACTION together with me. We will get fit and healthy together!!!! PROMISE ME YOU WON'T FAIL ME?! Lol. Don't worry, I won't let you fail either way.

ISN'T THIS EXCITING??? 

Quick send in your information to me, and I'll announce the winners in my next Eu Yan Sang blog post! GOOD LUCK. 

xoxo,
Jess

Love eating good food and watching TV?Congratulations, you're just like every other Singaporean!!!

Singtel mio TV has been around in Singaporean households for 5 years now, and they've finally reached four hundred THOUSAND subscribers. 400k is a whopping number of viewers for a small island like ours! To give their thanks and show their appreciation, Singtel mio TV is bringing you this awesome competition where they bring you closer to all the action you see on your TV set!



My Wacky FoodCreationCompetition

What do I win? ♥ mio TV is offering a lucky subscriber a pair of tickets to dine with Michelin Star Chef Alvin Leung in Hong Kong. 3D2N return tickets and accommodation included!!!

How do I participate? ♥ Whip up a CRAZY, wacky, out of this world food creation.. take a picture of it, and describe your mad meal! Share it on Twitter, Facebook and other social media, then get all your friends to vote for you! The more votes you get, the higher your chances of winning.

How do I win? ♥ The top 5 most bizarre food art will be shortlisted and invited to a showdown, with the Judges’ top pick winning a pair of tickets to dine with Alvin Leung in Hong Kong.

That's all there is to it. Straightforward, and tons of fun.

Visit this link for more information on contest mechanics and check out other participants' entries! I think this competition calls my name!!!!  I am always in the kitchen so this is like second nature. But hey, you don't have to a Master Chef to whip up fun and creative dish, let me show you just how you can come up with a unique and impressive Wacky Food Creation with some everyday cheap household items such as bread, cheese, seaweed, sausages & ham! This took me approximately an hour to do.

Here's my submission for mio TV's Wacky Food Creation, with instructional visuals... hopefully it will inspire you hopefuls out there to submit your own entries!!!




Let's start off with these items. Toasted white bread, a large crispy seaweed sheet, sliced cheddar cheese and some green leaves! The brand of these items don't matter, as long it looks similar to the colors it's fine.






Next... I got some chicken sausages, fried them up and chopped them into halved pieces like so!

You'll see which character it's used for later ;D






I thought the toasts looked kinda plain so I buttered them, then sprinkled garlic/onion and paprika powder to give it some life and color. Paprika and some sprinkling of parsley flakes always does WONDERS for presentation!







Cutting out simple character shapes with ham, cheese, seaweed and a pair of scissors! Mummy always told me not to play with my food, but I think I can make an exception this time. ;) Mum, if I get to go to Hong Kong because of mio TV's Wacky Food Creation contest, I'd bring you!!!






Check out the jiggly shape I'm cutting out!! *hint hint*

Can you see where this is going yet?



.
.
.
.
.
.
.





PSYDUCK!!!*Psyduck hurt itself in confusion*

Whaaaaaaat? Did I really just make epic pokemon characters out of some sliced cheese and bread like a boss?






Yes, I did. Is there a limit to my expansive talents?

....No. :P










I WANNA BE THE VERRRYYY BEST. That no one ever was!!!

To catch them is my real test, to eat them is my cause... JENG JENG JENG.







They say breakfast is the most important meal of your day. So why not make a breakfast the kids (and adults like myself lol) would LOVE to eat?! I promise they'll wake up earlier every morning just to see which pokemon character you make next!!!! I know I would if my mum made me these when I was younger! My Saturday mornings used to spent watching pokemon at 10am on TV.





Jiiiiglypuff~ JigleEeeeeeeeePAHHFFF was made out of ham and seaweed! The red part of the mouth was tomato ketchup squeezed out of a piping bag.

I literally could not stop singing the Jigglypuff song in my head the whole time I was making these. I must be annoying to live with.






When I was researching which Pokemon I could re-create into food, I couldn't get over how genius it would be to make Diglett out of a chicken sausage!!!! I mean he LOOKS like a sausage to begin with! :'D The green part is just some dark green vegetable.

YUMMY DIGLETT. 






Pikachu cut from cheese, the eyes from shortening... I choose you!!!!!!!! 


















................
.............
..........
.......
.....
...
..
.





...Oops!!! Sorry Pika, you were too delicious! :(Mmmm mmm!

The most cutest breakfast ever, washed down with orange juice, which happens to be my favoritest drink in the whole wide world. Now that's a great start to my day!!! And really, it wasn't all that difficult to do. Messy? Yeah.. a little. But difficult? No, no really, just slightly tedious!

But was it worth it, considering this Wacky Food Creation entry could win me an expenses paid trip to Hong Kong to dine with a Michelin Star Chef, Alvin Leung?

HELLL YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






What kind of Wacky Food Creation can you crazy people come up with to impress the judges of this mio TV competition? Get those creative juices flowing & your thinking cap on! It can be any type of food you want.. pasta, rice, anything you can cook and make it look as crazy or unique as possible.

Submit your own entry at this link, contest ends 22nd May so best to head to your nearest supermarket soon!

Have fun, and remember,you're never too old to love Pokemon!


xoxo,
Jess

A few weeks ago, I went on an exploratory trip to Chiang Mai. It is an assignment given to me by Chan Brothers and Tourism Authority of Thailand, part of the Young Explorer Project!

From the official Thailand Young Explorer website, featuring 5 other bloggers besides myself:

"The 'Young Explorer Project' is a joint collaboration by Chan Brothers Travel and the Tourism Authority of Thailand; it's all about travelling in Thailand from a foreigner's opinion. This joint project aims to introduce Thailand's attractions and culture in a fun and engaging way through the eyes of our local bloggers; to introduce free and easy travel in Thailand; to emphasize it isn't THAT difficult to plan a free and easy trip to Thailand."




Me, just off the plane and in my hotel room in Chiang Mai!


When I was first informed that I was supposed to go explore Chiang Mai, I have to admit that initially I wasn't very excited. I'd thought Bangkok or Phuket seemed like more entertaining choices of destination, having been to both of those places before I knew I would enjoy it again. However, a part of me was also longing to find out what Chiang Mai was all about. My first impression upon googling information about the place was that it has a lot of elephants and culture... which sounded boring. But, now that I'm back from my 4 day trip to Chiang Mai I would love to tell you guys all about how it was ANYTHING but boring!!! My partner in crime was Maureen aka MissTamChiak and although we didn't know each other prior to the trip, we hit it off pretty well and had no problems traveling together. I am actually really thankful to have been sent there on an assignment trip because I probably would not have chosen to explore Chiang Mai on my accord, and would've missed out on all the beauty and fun this city had to offer. It is plenty in riches and I'm not talking about things you buy materialistic items with. I'm talking about things money can't buy. I wish I had more time to indulge in their culture, food and experiences a little bit more, but I think I've covered quite a bit of things in the amount of time designated so here we go...


Shiberty's List of 10 Things To Do In Chiang Mai!!!

1) Embark on a religious adventure by visiting one of Chiang Mai's many Buddhist temples!




Religion is a big deal in Thailand. In Chiang Mai, Theravada Buddhism is the main religion. The whole city is dotted with beautiful and intricate places of worship with long dated history you can visit to pay your respects to the gods at, or even if you don't quite believe in a higher being like me, you will still find their strong beliefs utterly fascinating.







Our choice temple to visit is one of Chiang Mai's most famous, Doi Suthep. Some people say you haven't been to Chiang Mai if you haven't been to Doi Suthep. Unfortunately for me, the temple was located at the peak of an alarming amount of stairs...









When I eventually made it up, I was captivated by the intense atmosphere of worship. I can't bring myself to be a religious person because I need to see things to believe in it. In other words, I don't quite have the ability to open my heart and believe in blind (or guided? as some may say) faith. It inspires me that these people can.





You just can't not be wowed by these details!




You're meant to make a wish, try to lift the elephant up with one finger, then put it down. Make the same wish again, and if you're still able to lift it up the second time it means your wish will not come true. If you try your darnest but you still somehow seem unable to lift the elephant up when it was easy to do so before, then only will your wish be granted by the gods.




For the record, both times I managed to lift the elephant up.... either I have really big hulk arms (which I do) or the gods hate me. I wished for good health & happiness for myself and the people I love. Ironically, when I stood up after putting down the elephant, I somehow broke my nail on the floorboard and it immediately bled. I don't know how I broke my nail on a perfectly flat surface and managed to injure myself right there and then.....








According to your different birth dates, you ladle oil onto different parts of this... erm... thingy. I have no word for it. I am bad at describing religious stuff.




Went to get a blessing bracelet from the local monks...




Here's our Thai / Taiwanese friend, Toto, tying it on for me. I had the bracelet on for a couple of days before untying it and laying it under a tree :)

Toto is sucha sweet guy and I am so happy that we had a local friend who could introduce us to the most authentic places to visit in Chiang Mai! If not for him, my trip definitely would not have been so epic. If you would like Toto and his friends to bring you around amazing places in Chiang Mai too, hit them up here! Or if you're having trouble contacting him, you can email me and I'll get you in touch with him. Toto heads a Chiang Mai tourism company but he took us around without charges on a friendly basis, as he's a friend of a friend's. But I would highly recommend his services to anyone visiting Thailand soon, he's the most thoughtful and kindest person you'd meet.






We only had time for one temple because our itinerary was jam packed with other exciting stuff, off to our next destination we go!!!


.
.
.


2) Eat Khao Soy, a traditional dish originating from Northen Thailand most famous in Chiang Mai!



Our first meal in Chiang Mai was lunch at this eatery called "Just Khao Soy." We incidentally passed by this shop while we were hungry and roaming around the streets, and found ourselves wandering in.




It had air conditioning.... score!!!!! That's quite a rarity in Chiang Mai! And much appreciated in the heat.




We were first served Thai appetizers such as sundried beef strips, sausages, spring rolls and crispy fish slices... which were pretty good! It built up my appetite for the main course:



Khao Soy!!!! 

When I first had the soup without adding all the little condiments pictured above, I thought it tasted like our local laksa (coconut curry soup) but a little blander. But as soon as I poured in most of the ingredients I realized it was nothing like laksa and actually very very tasty!!! (and spicy) but I LOVED it. Khao Soy is normally served with beef / chicken / pork pieces and has ingredients such as pickles, sugar (quite a bit of it), lime, shallots, fish sauce.... and more items I couldn't figure out.




Me with my Khao Soy set! I love trying new food.

 My contact lens tore when I tried to put them on so I had to make do with glasses the first day. I had the appetizer to share with Maureen + my khao soy set + a refreshing lemon drink for less than 10 SGD. Thailand's food is seriously WAY too good and cheap.... unlike Singapore's food which sees its quality dipping but prices rising!




We had Khao Soy another time at a hawker centre of sorts and it was less than $2 for a bowl! Tasted different, but very good as well. I really wish I had some right now!


.
.
.


3) Visit a native village tribe in Chiang Mai to take a peek into a life so different from yours!

If Bangkok is all about the shopping and Phuket is all about the beach, then Chiang Mai is definitely all about the culture & food.






We drove up a hill to visit the Miao tribe and for an hour, experienced the tranquility of their relatively carefree lives. They may not have much in terms of monetary value but they are living simply, happy & free.




The Miao tribe (also known as Hmong tribe I was told) are known for their delicate embroidery.




This is one of their forms of entertainment.. trying to get a bullseye on a dangling fruit on a crossbow! I wanted to buy a crossbow back for Sam coz he would've loved it so much but you can't take weapons onto planes, lol.





I got a bullseye on my second shot!!!





Other forms of entertainment included jumping again and again into a reservoir...





Sweet little girl! She gamely posed for a photo when I asked her to!





There was something precious about rustic living like this. It's so close to nature, and even though it's not the glamorous life we're used to, it sure is beautiful in its own way.






Happy to be frolicking around in Chiang Mai :)






Spotted a man selling Thai ice cream - yes please!!!! Coconut ice cream (SOOO GOOD) wrapped with white bread, filled with glutinous rice and peanuts.





Loved everything but the peanuts. Not a fan of nuts.






Know why there are so many standing sticks on top of this rock? Apparently if you pick up a fallen stick and place it standing upright on that platform, you'll turn all your bad luck into good luck!











There was a shop that sold and rented their traditional embroidered attires... and for a brief moment in time, we had a chance to be one of them tribal people!!!







My #ootd is pretty spiffy, don't cha think?




Those hand sewn details are out of this world. So much tender loving care and long hours went into making a piece like this, probably one of each in the entire world ♥





Sawadeeka!!! The true Thailand experience. Now I'm REALLY in Chiang Mai.







I love going into the country side to see the REAL "country" when I travel, staying in the city is so boring! Sightseeing is always my number one priority when traveling.


.
.
.


4) Visit an elephant sanctuary / camp to learn more about Thailand's sacred animal!



Maesa Elephant Camp came as a really nice surprise.

The last time I blogged about riding an elephant in Phuket, a blog reader informed me that riding on elephants is unethical because they often get mistreated while training to be humanized and that the living conditions tend to be terrible. So I was quite conflicted inside about riding an elephant even though it was planned to be part of our itinerary.





To my relief, Maesa Elephant Camp didn't seem like one of those places that ignored the welfare of their elephants. It appeared to me, as far as I could tell, like a nice sanctuary for elephants. I mean, just look at the forest that they live in!!!! It's SO gorgeous and wild and free. They get to roam around (spot the ellie in the distance!) like they would in the wild, and not worry about starvation, poachers or harsh elements..

Maesa elephant camp houses over 70 beautiful elephants!





It takes a lot to feed a creature like that. Now imagine more than 70 of them. I can't imagine how much funding and resources this place needs.





They have a natural river to bathe and play in that runs across the compound! Visitors can also ride on rafts that will along this river and they can choose to play with the elephants if they want.




The trekking path was amazing! A much more pleasant than my previous experience. We had to go up and down steps and slopes which made it all the more fun.






 Maureen was squirming and dying from anxiety next to me, it was hilarious to watch. I was relieved that there were not any huge insects flying around the elephant and landing on our legs (happened to me last time and I freaked out more about the insects than the elephant) and the mahout didn't whack the elephant repeatedly in disrespect.... he talked to it nicely and gently and it obeyed him obligingly! I looked out for any puncture wounds or stab marks from the hooks that mahouts use to control elephants with, but I could find none on the elephants I saw in this camp. I was told they do not tolerate any form of abuse of mistreatment here. So glad to hear that - makes me feel happy for them.

Ethical elephant riding - possible?




After our 30 minutes trek through the jungle, we were seated down for the elephant show of a lifetime!








I didn't really think elephants could be trained to do much but these guys could PLAY SOCCER, basketball, paint and throw darts!!!!! I would never have guessed!!! 

The elephant paints better than I do. Ridiculous. You have to see the show to really understand how mischievous and intelligent these gentle giants were. Another reason for me to believe that these animals are treated kindly is due to their behavior. You can force an animal to perform a trick begrudgingly, but you cannot force an animal to be happy while doing it. If its behaving so naturally playfully, it has to like the attention!







Awww!!!! Friendly ellies!


.
.
.


5) Learn how to cook delicious Thai food at one of Chiang Mai's aplenty cooking schools!



We chose Baan Thai Cooking School for their competitive prices and for their hotel pick up service!




Rode from our hotel to the cooking school in a tuk tuk Chiang Mai style.







The set up was extremely homely. I felt like I was going to a Thai's friend's house to cook!



Before the cooking begun, we set off to the markets to buy fresh produce for our dishes..





You don't wanna know how that smelled :P






Apparently these are baby eggplants (?!?)




Bought a mango smoothie from this nice lady to cool off, then back to the cooking school!






Spot Maureen and her huge camera as the group learns how to whip up delectable Thai dishes from a friendly and patient local cook.





The dishes they taught us to cook were relatively simple (but yummy!) - the most common ingredients being lime, chilli, fish sauce... And since I cook often at home I found the whole class very enjoyable and easy to follow.




The instructors spoke pretty good English and gave very simple instructions, so even if you're not familiar with kitchen tools and preparation work at all, this should be a breeze!





This.....




Turned into this, after 15 minutes! Spicy coconut seafood soup!






Most of the class participants were white people. In fact we were the only Chinese / Asian people out of like 20 attendees.


Other food I prepared that day:



Crispy Thai Spring Rolls



Pad Thai




Pork Red Curry




Feasting at our table!!! After cooking our dishes, the attendees would gather around a table and share their dishes with one another.. we cooked different stuff and it was fun sampling everyone's cooking attempts while exchanging stories from where we're from :D




We made new friends with lovely ladies from USA and Ireland!


.
.
.


6) Get your adrenaline pumping with extreme sports in Chiang Mai!




One of the coolest things I've done in my life... We went to The Shooting Club and fired real guns like true badasses!!!!!!! I can't believe I can say I've used a gun before, coming from a super sheltered and safe country like Singapore where owning a gun or even firing one is often unheard of.







It was my Left 4 Dead fantasies coming true!!! I love FPS games! Except I totally hated how loud shooting a gun was, even with my ear plugs on. I get frightened by loud noises easily.





The instructor teaching us how to properly handle a loaded pistol. I can't say I wasn't nervous..... I was getting cold sweat just knowing that I was about to operate something so deadly in my hands and actually fire a bullet at a target. A bullet, that could potentially take or save a life, given the circumstances. All my life I have grown up casually watching shows with thousands of different guns in them and never thought much of the whole thing but to actually hold a loaded gun in your very own hands is an overwhelmingly powerful and intimidating feeling.

We chose to shoot with the Glock 19, which was nice and light for girls like us!





So I may have a cute fluffy bunny and my hair is purple and I make rainbow cakes for a living but I'm decently accurate with a gun so don't screw around with me. :P










We also did indoor drift karting that day... Which was like go-karting but more fun, because these were modified for you to drift easily. The whole time I was drifting (like a noob) through the tracks, the annoying song Tokyo Drift repeated through my head. Du du du du du du~ I wonder if you know, *the rest of the song is gibberish I can't understand*

I wanted to go zip lining through the forests but Maureen doesn't do too well with heights so we opted for a milder option instead! Chiang Mai has other exhilarating extreme sports such as zorbing, bungee jumping, ATV riding through the jungle if you're keen on more thrilling outdoor activities. Definitely give their ziplining mazes a go, it's one of Chiang Mai's most popular tourist attractions and I heard it is a TON of fun flying through the forests in the air on a cable!!! I'm dying to go back and try some day!


.
.
.


7) Have a meal among the Thai mountains & heavens in Chiang Mai!



Atop a mountain 45 minutes from the city called Mon Jam, nests a little home-style restaurant serving you delectable food. But it wasn't the food that enticed us.


This is what we came to the top of the mountain for:










To have a private little picnic in adorable wooden huts in the clouds. To have lunch at one of the most serene and stunning places I've ever had the privilege of sitting down & enjoying a meal at.





Maureen & I couldn't stop gushing about how perfect our lunch spot was. This was definitely the highlight of my trip. All of Chiang Mai was great, but this literally tops it all.





The weather was warm in the city but enjoyable where we were - as we were higher up in the mountain, cool breezes came along every now and then and generally we didn't perspire at all. Chiang Mai gets quite chilly during winter, about 15 degrees in the city during morning and nights!




And the food.... :') Oh, what more can I say about authentic Thai food??? Really? Can I do it justice with mere words?




Toto, you are SOOOO awesome for bringing us to places like these which aren't usual tourist spots! Thank you for allowing us to see the real Chiang Mai!





We sat there for a long, slow lunch, popping juicy sweet strawberries from nearby farms into our mouths while enjoying every second of the peacefulness that surrounded us. Just breathing in the fresh air, pondering over life and being happy.






If you ever come to Chiang Mai there is no way you can miss out on this place. You will leave with a happier, lighter heart :)

I did.

.
.
.


8) Get up close with dangerous exotic animals with crazy people who risk their lives for your entertainment in Chiang Mai!





I'm not that afraid of reptiles. I am a lot more scared of insects like butterflies & moths than I am of lizards and snakes!




Praying, I assume, for their safety as everyday they face huge job hazards (hint: its brown & green & sitting right behind them!!!)






These boys make Steve Irwin look like a wimp.




Maureen & I screamed a few times during this show. AKDAJIWERWFUKSjskasdal;qr3WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!











Another insane man toying around with a king cobra at another show. I don't mean insane in a bad way. But let's face it, you gotta be insane to a certain extent to work at a job with these sorta animals right?!?!?





Them demonstrating releasing the venom of a poisonous snake into a cup right in front of my face. O_O





Ok I know I said I'm not that scared of snakes but I still don't like them around my neck and it was so heavy and warm but cold at some parts and just "WTF WTF WTF" the expression says it all.





Eventually I managed to compose myself for a few seconds for this shot. The snake looks like it's gonna bite my...





A cuteeee baby hedgehog (also found at the King Cobra Show) to balance out the evurl creatures overload. It reminded me of my old hamster Pudding! So small ♥


.
.
.

9) Watch pretty Thai girls dance & perform as you feast on a traditional Khantoke dinner show!



At the Old Chiangmai Cultural Center!





Sitting around a low round table on the floor in front of the stage enjoying our drinks and waiting for the show to start






"What makes the traditional Lanna Khantoke dinner so special is the music and dance accompanying the mouth-watering food. Thai Classical Dance is a matchless piece of performance art that cannot be described in words. However, it could be compared to a group of dancers performing in the field of wheat, or sunflower dancing together in the evening breeze. The dancing resembles poetry in motion. This informal style of dinning with different style of cooking and gentle slow-tempo dance makes the Khantoke dinner a remarkable experience.




There could be hardly a better plate than the traditional Thai meals. Thai dishes are completely different from Western concept. Generally, a traditional Khantoke dinner starts with fried pumpkin. Then you can proceed to the mildly spicy red chili, tomato and minced pork dip. The alternate options are mouth-watering Burmese pork curry, so delectable that you wouldn’t wait to have it twice and the luscious fried chicken.        
 
The Hangleh (pork curry) with stir-fried cabbage and sticky or plain cooked rice would be etched in your mind forever. Further, the bowl of crispy fried noodles goes well with the rice. At the end, the scrumptious deserts with fried rice crispies await your tongue. Certainly, the Khantoke dinner would surely be the fantastic experience that will keep you craving for a second coming." - credit source


The food was beyond delectable. The best part was the waitresses would come around every now and then to top up any dishes you've greedily devoured. Like a buffet brought to your table with classy dancing girls included. Loved the concept of sitting on the floor, it was extremely casual and laid-back, I don't fancy fine dining settings too much - too formal for me and I sit cross legged 90% of the time, even in a lot of restaurants! Another must-do in Chiang Mai and a perfect way to spend the evening. Toto told me this was what kings / emperors used to eat! I wouldn't mind having this once a week as a staple in my life. Honestly.


.
.
.

10) Shop to your heart's content for handicrafts and cheap bargains at the night market!





The weekend night market is the most happening place to be on a Saturday night in Chiang Mai. It's bustling with people, food and merchandises. I LOVE night bazaars & markets in any country.. this one is the best one I've been to hands down! Just so much to see, smell and buy! All at the most affordable prices you can get.







I believe these are pandan leaves folded in roses. Mad!




A popsicle is always a good idea in Thailand






Real candies coated with lacquer and turned into hair accessories. Say whaaat? I was so tempted to buy one back home for the heck of it but realized it has no real use. Like, at all. Would you wear a candy clip out?




My favorite Thai dessert! Love Thai honey mangoes and glutinous rice!






.
.
.


And that sums up our trip the last thing we did in Chiang Mai before flying back to Singapore the next morning. I bought a floral sun hat, a weaved bag, and some accessories for myself & friends not pictured here! I love bargains. $_$ Thailand is full of them. There you have it, my list of 10 things to do in Chiang Mai!!!! Or at least the main 10 things I went through there!




All in all, I absolutely loved exploring Chiang Mai and its hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

It proved to be a delightful new age city in Thailand that has won a new found special place in my heart. I feel like I came back to Singapore a slightly renewed person from all the experiences. Some of which I did not even blog about but stays known only to Maureen & I!




I think Chiang Mai is a severely underrated holiday destination that more people need to sit up and take notice of, but now that you guys have read this post, hopefully it will change your minds! Most of the Thai people I met in Chiang Mai were nice, and kind. I didn't feel unsafe there or that I had to be wary and watch my bag or belongings all the time (as I'm sure we have all experienced when traveling at some point or another) I had the best 4 days ever and brought home with me memories to last a long time. Our time there was far too short, 5 days to a week would be perfect to tour all around this city. I will definitely recommend Chiang Mai to anyone who's looking for a little bit of everything - food, culture, sports and more! It's a world of discovery and adventure out there. Thailand just keeps on surprising me. Every trip I've made there has been so different and unique in its own way!







Thankful for the new friendships found, the generosity and kindness shown to me during this trip and.. just.. thankful in general.

A shout out to Chan Brothers and Tourism Authority of Thailand for the opportunity to embark on this trip!!! ♥ Thailand, it's always a pleasure!


.
.
.
.
.



VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE T.Y.E BLOGGER!!!.... aka me. :'DD




There's an ongoing contest among the 3 groups of bloggers who visited different parts of Thailand on this Young Explorer Project, and we all created video diaries and blog posts based on our unique experiences....  Now we're competing to see who will walk away as the ultimate winner! If you wanna see a video of me looking ridiculous while riding an elephant and firing a real badass gun, CLICK HERE and vote for Maureen & I! Of course, if you think the other teams did better than us, feel free to vote for them instead...  but I'm watching you. I will know who you vote for, and I will hunt you down.

Just kidding. :D Or, am I? But honestly, I reckon Maureen did a GREAT job at video editing, she made the video highly entertaining to watch and it must have taken her so many hours to do up something like that!!! So vote for us and stand a chance to win $100 Chan Brothers Travel Vouchers! Voting ends 2nd of June. Thanks in advance!

For more information about the Thailand Young Explorer Project: www.chanbrothers.com/tye/index.cfm

xoxo,
Jess

Hi! Notice anything different about me today?

No, not the fact that my hair has more blue highlights than usual.... but them eyebrows!!!!! They've gone missing! That's actually what my brows look like normally without any make up on them. For those of you who have been following me for a long time, you would have heard all about my brow woes before. And for you new lot who have no idea, well, I was born cursed with sparse and oddly shaped eyebrows that are slightly downward sloping. I've struggled with eyebrow make up all my life, even now, when I consider myself very familiar with the application of make up on my face, my eyebrows seem to be the hardest and longest thing to do. I guess it's because I have so little to work with in the first place, it's kind of like trying to apply mascara on eyelashes that aren't even there. Even if you have the best mascara in the world, it's still going to look like crap because you don't have a good base to start off with.

Now normally I wouldn't be caught dead without my eyebrows drawn especially when the rest of my face is covered with make up - the contrast is way too noticeable! Even on lazy days, I try to make it a point to draw my eyebrows and apply a bit of cheek and lip tint so I don't give innocent people a jolly good fright when I'm wandering around town.





The only reason why I went out with naked brows that day was because... I was going to get a Brow Resurrection treatment done at Browhaus!!! Woopie-doo!!!

Brow Resurrection is basically getting semi-permanent eyebrows drawn to a shape of your liking inked onto your skin using vegetable dye, and small but precise incisions. The effect can last up to 1-2 years, depending on how you take care of it. This is my second time getting Brow Resurrection done with them, the first session was back in 2010 and even though you can search for the entry if you're curious to read about it I am so not going to link it here because reading back, my old entries REALLY make me cringe. Why did I like to dress up my blog posts with all sorts of fugly bolded fonts and rainbow colors and space everything apart so widely??? And my pictures! They were beyond horrid! It's like reading a 10 year old's scrapbook and it seems hardly credible. Sigh, can we just pretend those days didn't exist? I wish I had a magical button I could click that would instantly make all my old blog posts slightly less retarded but the only button that exists for me is "Delete" at the moment, and unfortunately I'm not about to throw my archive away. When you bare your soul to the internet, shit ALWAYS comes back to haunt you!





Here is the PR representative of Browhaus, Weiying, explaining to me the whole process of Browhaus' famous Brow Resurrection treatment and what it can do to help girls with brow problems like me, and I bet some of you out there!




Which brow crime are you committing right now?! I think mine falls under the "crayon" category - they need to make a new one on that book. :P




So here I am... Ready to resurrect my brows back to life!

If you look at the ends of my eyebrows closely, there are some remnants of my previous Brow Resurrection from 2010. It's faded 95% or thereabouts, however the remaining 5% sort of gives my eyebrows a bit of a brownish looking tail (luckily) otherwise I would literally just have only the front part of my eyebrows. And no, it's not because I groom them that way, they're... just.. like that. Everyday, shaved or not.

I can really appreciate how the treatment fades away inconspicuously as though it was never even there, because nobody wants to have the same eyebrow shape for more than a year or two of their life, do they?! I'm all for changing the general shape of my eyebrows every other month, depending on my make up and dressing style.





The consultation begins with the therapist explaining the shape and arches of my natural eyebrows to me, and then proceeds to ask me more about what sort of look I'm hoping to achieve with my Brow Resurrection.

I told her I want something fairly natural and normal looking without a distinct arch, but it cannot be too straight, and it doesn't have to be particularly thick or long. Definitely not thin or downward sloping at the ends either, though. *fussy customer*




And she gets straight to work!

According to what I'd described, she will draw the shape with a removable eyebrow pencil before doing the real thing with semi-permanent ink so that I get a good idea of what it's going to look like. She also shaves away any excess hair around the eyebrow so that the overall look is cleaner.





I got her to re-adjust the shape at least 3 times before I was fully satisfied with it and gave her the green light. I'm not going to settle for anything less than I consider the best it could be, because semi-permanent make up on your face is no laughing matter! I chose a natural brown shade as I wanted something less fierce looking.




The difference between Brow Resurrection and other less-than-desirable eyebrow treatments out there is that the eyebrow shape is inked on carefully, stroke by stroke, instead of a whole solid chunk, to recreate the individual hair look natural brows would have.





3 things about this photo:

1) There is a stick flying about to poke me in the eye
2) My hair.
3) Holy crap my hair line. I AM BALDING AT THE AGE OF 21... AND I'M NOT EVEN 21. Hello Beijing 101 or other scalp management places, I want to be your ambassador!!!!

A numbing cream is applied all over my brows, I waited for 15 minutes, then the procedure officially begun. I wasn't nervous at all because I've done it once before and know it doesn't hurt that much despite my low pain tolerance level, so I almost fell asleep a few times through treatment, which took about half an hour. As I'm not allowed to take photos of their top-secret techniques (hehe) I can only tell you guys that I felt almost no pain except for one or two occasions where I felt a prickling, stinging sensation that lasted for about 2 minutes only. All I did was close my eyes, lie back on a comfy chair and let the therapist do her thing... She was gentle and patient, so I felt completely at ease. I would safely say the overall pain was lesser than stepping on a lego or getting your eyebrows plucked. I can't even stand the idea of waxing any part of my body because of the fear of physical pain, so there's really nothing you have to worry about. The previous time I did Brow Resurrection, I admit I did get a massive headache and slight bleeding / swelling afterwards but this time I encountered no such problem. The new Brow Resurrection 2.5 is supposed to be more light-handed and natural looking, compared to the "heavier" Brow Resurrection 2.4 from years ago.

.
.
.

Less than an hour after my consultation, I finish my treatment, and... I feel like a new person!!!!!!!




HELLO beautiful eyebrows!!I haven't seen you in awhile, where have you been?
(If I look like I just got up from bed, that's because I did)





I was pleasantly taken aback by how natural it looks, even more so than my first experience - and I'll be damned, if no one told you my new eyebrows were inked on with vegetable dye by a therapist you would probably just have guessed I was born with naturally beautiful brows! (well, I wish) Don't underestimate the difference well-maintained eyebrows make. It frames your whole face, and could make you look younger / older / fresher / angry / surprised / tired without you having to alter your facial expressions.





This was a few days after, a more close up view shows the individual strands better.

The color intensified after the swelling went down from the first day, and my eyebrows started to scab and itch a little due to the open wounds.. but it didn't bother me. You'll be provided with after-care creams to apply, and there was almost no down time, besides the fact I should stay away from swimming, exercising and sun tanning the first couple of days, which I don't do much of anyway. Now that approximately a month has passed since my Brow Resurrection, the color has lightened significantly and looks deceivingly natural! If you like the effect, NOW is the perfect time to get yours done too! Browhaus is offering a very special promotional rate to my blog readers to try the Brow Resurrection 2.5 (Natural).








If you quote "Shiberty", you can get the same thing done for only $300!Usual price: $2140.


With all good bargains, there's always fine print... so the deal is, you have to be a first-time Brow Resurrection customer (it's okay if you've done other services before) and there will be no touch up sessions included in the $300 pricing. This promotion is only redeemable at these specific outlets: Browhaus Cathay, ION, Katong, Raffles City Basement & Street Level and is valid till 31st May 2013, so you'll have to make an appointment in the following week.

With normal customers who pay the full price of $2140, they get unlimited touch ups for up to 2 years. But for trial customers from my blog, there is none included. You guys can first try out how you like the service and if it's to your liking, you can purchase the touch up sessions separately. So much better than paying the full price upfront in my opinion. In any case, with my old Brow Resurrection I only went back to touch up my eyebrows once and then I totally forgot about ever going back to touch up again (just never crossed my mind). I'd imagine you would need maybe maximum two to three touch ups a year if you want it in tip-top condition.




With the senior therapist who did my brows at the Cathay outlet, Lisa!

Thank you Browhaus for saving me precious time and frustration now that I don't need to suffer coloring my barely-there eyebrows in everyday. Drawing in my eyebrows is one thing, my biggest problem was that eyebrow pencils are all water-soluble so whenever I perspired more than usual or brushed something against my forehead, my eyebrows would be spontaneously and tragically wiped off. There is nothing more embarrassing than half smudged eyebrows. Oh the horror!

Thankfully that won't be happening at the Social Star Awards which is happening this Saturday. Anticipating the amount of people going, it's definitely gonna be a sweat fest but my eyebrows ain't melting off this time! Did I mention? I'm going to see Aerosmith perform live (*DOES LITTLE STUPID LOOKING EXCITED DANCE*) a shout out to Nuffnang and Starcount for the kind invite, Sam and I can't wait to watch these legendary rock stars in action!!

xoxo,
Jess

First of all, let me just tell you how sorry I am for not blogging for THREE whole weeks. T_T

WTF. I did not even realize that time passed so fast. I honestly just cannot grasp how fast 2013 has gone by. Life has never passed me by this quickly. I swear the last time I checked it was only a week since I last blogged.... I thought I'd make it up to you all by posting an extremely simple, healthy, and delicious recipe that even ultra kitchen goondu idiots could whip up in 15 minutes!!!!!

So here's the deal.

I like chips. Unhealthy chips like the ones made from potato. I like them a lot. Here's another thing for ya. I like seaweed. Probably more than I should because I can eat an alarming amount of seaweed at one go. And then here's the last thing. I am on a diet.... of sorts. (No, not really actually.) I kind of eat whatever I want, however potato chips just seem to be far down my list of Food Eating Priorities considering it's junk food but the calories are ridiculously high. What would be the most sensible thing to do?

Eat a carb-free, low-calorie VEGETABLE chip that tastes like seaweed, so that I can snack away without any guilt or repercussions whatsoever!!! In fact, I could eat this everyday and lose weight! This is the magic vegetable that makes it all happen.




Kale.

A dark green, leafy, curled at the edges sort of power vegetable.

Heard of it before? If you haven't, that's okay, you probably live in Asia where kale is pretty much non-existent. Probably something like 90% of Singaporeans have no idea what kale is. (Random statistic pulled out of my ass) What we have in everyone's households instead, is a relative of Kale called the Kai Lan.



Let's talk about Kale first. I have always seen fitness and "Real Food" enthusiasts talk about Kale like it's the god of vegetables. About how it's good for your body it is, and how incredibly yummy it tasted. So, naturally curiosity (or gluttony) got the better of me and I set out on a random hunt for the elusive Kale in Singapore, only to realize that absolutely NOWHERE has Kale in stock. I've been to Sheng Siong, NTUC, Cold Storage, etc..... couldn't find any at any supermarket. Finally, sheer luck should have it that one fine day I chanced upon it at North Point's Cold Storage when I wasn't even looking out for it!!! Wooohooo!!!!! I was so excited to finally hold Kale in my arms. It was like holding my long lost lover or a twin sister I haven't seen in 10 years. Never did a veg excite me so much before.

However..... I was mortified to realize that a small packet of Kale was 6 WHOLE DOLLARS. I'm assuming because it's organic and, well, hard to find in Singapore.. maybe difficult to grow, as well? Cursing under my breath for buying a vegetable that is more expensive than a lot of cuts of meat, I bought the $6 Kale, thinking I'd just try baking kale chips once and get it over and done with to satisfy my curiosity. Little did I know that trying it once would only make me want to eat it again and again. I'm dumbfounded by how simple and brilliant this is, so I HAD to share it with y'all. I don't often share recipes, but when I do... you know it's going to be something worth waiting for ;)




YOU WILL NEED: (this recipe makes however much or little you want to make)

♥ -- Kale, or Kai Lan for people who can't find Kale (or do not want to pay $6 for it)
♥ -- Olive Oil
♥ -- Salt & Pepper 
♥ -- Onion / Garlic Powder Seasoning (or your favorite bottled seasoning)
♥ -- A large baking tray and baking paper

Step 1: Wash the vegetable, then remove the stems completely and dry thoroughly with a kitchen towel. It's important to remove every last bit of stem and water, then tear the leaves into relatively large bite sized pieces while noting that the size will shrink more when baked.

Step 2: Line your baking tray with baking paper, arrange the vegetable pieces onto your tray, preferably not touching each other. Drizzle a litle bit of olive oil (I like using extra virgin), sprinkle salt, seasoning and black pepper over sparingly. A little goes a real long way with this recipe. Add just a bit, then you can taste test it after it's been baked and add more if need be. You can refer to the picture above to see approximately how much seasoning and olive oil I added. Don't mix the veg through with the oil, just bake it as is so that you get a slight variation of flavors and consistency through the pieces of vegetable. 

.
.
.

And that's all it for the preparation!!!! Pop it into a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees to bake and crisp up for 8 minutes, or until the veg has turned crispy and changed a bit of color. (By changed color I don't mean brown - I mean patches of different green) The baking time will vary a LOT depending on 1) Amount of vegetable you're using. 2) Whether you're using kale or kai lan, I find kai lan takes longer to crisp up 3) Your oven's settings and functionality.... So please monitor closely and judge for yourself.

But it's not rocket science, people. keep an eye on your veg. It can change from ultra crispy to burnt pieces of crap in a matter of 2 minutes, so you don't want to leave it unattended for too long. I would recommend checking the consistency after 5 minutes, then decide from there how much more time it needs in the oven. 


The result?





Delicious and CRAZILY addictive vegetable chips that will leave you popping them into your mouth so quick, you'll wonder where your $6 went. I swear they're better than the any sort of packeted potato chips to me. They also sorta taste like my favorite Korean seaweed sheets, but with more texture and bite, and minus the preservatives. They're BLOODY AWESOME, in short. They may not LOOK all that crispy or appetizing to you but it has amazing sound effects when you chew on them like "grrncchhh kkrrtthhh" with every bite - you know, the sound that over-the-top crispy food makes. I liked them so much I put them on toasted buttered garlic ciabatta for an awesome lunch... yippeee!!!  

But my favorite way to eat this is by its own, using my hand. I can finish a whole plate of this within 5 minutes. 




Another meal idea for kale chips - eat it with grilled fish!!!  The flavors go together sooo well, what with the saltiness and texture of curly kale chips with mild, tender white fish. It's so tasty while being as low carb as possible - perfectly delectable diet food! As you can see here, my kale chips are just a tad too brown. Like I said, goes from crispy to burnt very quickly, and that time I wasn't giving it enough tender loving care.. :P





Oh yes - if you REALLY can't find Kale, you are also welcome to try this recipe with your commonly found Kai Lan.... thanks to a follow on Instagram for this suggestion! 

It's exactly the same recipe and preparation method as the kale version. This is what my kai lan chips that I made earlier looked like. Because Kai Lan isn't as thick or curly (or yummy hahaha) as Kale, it turned out quite different. Not as much chewy texture and it's not as epic as kale chips BUT still a decent fix if Kale has somehow eluded you once again. But the basic concept and idea is the same - crispy, addictive vegetable chips. Also, it's a lot more affordable than Kale!!!! 





I served my kai lan chips with milky cheesy scrambled eggs for my quick fix of a lunch this afternoon!! ♥ ♥ ♥

Perfect combo that goes together like coke and fries. Strangely satisfying for a meal that is meat-free, low-carb and took 15 minutes to prepare and cook. While the chips were baking, I fried up my scrambled eggs!





You HAVE to try this if you love chips or seaweed!

 Or, if you just like trying new things in the kitchen in general. It's a fun experiment for 15 minutes, even if you don't end up making this a staple in your home cooked food menu like I did. :) And it's perfect for all you health and diet watchers out there. There are few recipes in this world that are so fuss-free and good for you, so I'm happy that I can share this with you all. I think vegetable chips are still a relatively alien idea in Singapore (the closest I've seen to it were deep fried asparagus and kang kong, but fried stuff isn't healthy and doesn't count!) why don't you guys try making this for your partner, friends or family one day, and see what they think of this innovative food idea? ;) Perfect for a mid noon snack! In fact I may just go make more to munch on tomorrow!!!

xoxo,
Jess

Long gone are the days where I felt a compelling need to take photos of every single activity I got up to.


That's just so not me now. That would've been me, 3 years ago. My 21 year old self is a lot more laid back about her blog these days. I still consider myself a blogger, but not an avid one I suppose.

Sometimes I see my blogger friends furiously and ever so enthusiastically snapping pictures of every product they lay hands on, every meal they eat, every outfit they wear.... and I look on at them, feeling old, feeling passé. Even though I'm mostly younger than a lot of them, I STILL FEEL OLD. I'm old to my god damn bones! But hey, you know what's one thing I'll never stop taking photos of?




My cakes. My creations. *rubs hands with glee* My babies!

They are the one thing I don't mind losing myself completely in, and losing sleep over. They are practically my life, I guess you could say. Every day it's about the cakes.

Oh and my pretty dress is the All About Details Embroidery Dress from the popular online boutique Hollyhoque.com, which is unfortunately completely sold out by now.. but I love the cutting at the top and the chiffon skirt details! ♥





I always grew up knowing I'd have a job in the future that would involve some form of art that gave me not only freedom and creativity to explore within my job scope, but also with regards to my lifestyle. Everyday I am thankful for having a job that I enjoy doing. And in case you're new around here, here's some of the stuff that I do. :)

All cakes are in Instagram square format because I took them off my account (follow me @shiberty if you haven't already because I post there almost everyday!) and please credit my pictures to http://shibertys.blogspot.com if you'd like to use them! For enquiries and orders, please visit the website. It's going to be quite a long and big update because we've been going FULL FORCE with our bakes recently! If you're already following me on IG, you might've seen these pictures before... but who's going to complain about looking at awesome cakes photos twice, right?

Right.






You're my honey bee!






What's up little Minion guy? I almost wish I didn't create him as a fondant cupcake topper, because that meant he was going to be eaten in a matter of hours. D:







The only thing better than a cupcake, is a giant cupcake cake.







Made this cake for Mel Mel's birthday last week! She asked for a tiny 2 tiered cake, so this one was a 5" base with something like a 2.5 inch top. Super cute!!!!! Smaller than the size of my palm! I won't be selling any cakes in this size though...







Minnie mouse is always a good idea with little girls!







Every other month, I go through a flavor craze. That means I'd obsess over a certain flavor combination that we offer at Shiberty's Sweets and make copious amounts of the order whenever we get a request for it, so that I can eat any leftovers. My current favorite is sea salt caramel drizzle over vanilla frosting with light butterscotch cake. YOU HAVE NO FLIPPIN' IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS. The slight savory tinge from the sea salt that I cracked into the home made salted caramel mix, generously spooned over lush creamy vanilla icing, sitting atop fluffy cake.

Yes, yes and yes. Yes all the way to infinity and beyond!!!!!!







A simple daisy cake, but a beauty nevertheless.







A customer liked our previous ballerina design in What's Bakin #13 but wanted a design she could call her own, so we came up with a a varied but unique version of the original!








Creating this 3d sphere was extremely challenging, but super fun to make! Defying the laws of physics, all in a day's work. *wipes sweat off forehead*









Eat your heart out, ombre rosette cakes... check out our pastel rainbow rosette swirled cake!!!! Boss or what?




The girl we made this special cake for was so delighted that she took this lovely picture of the interior and tagged us with raving compliments. If you've ordered cakes from us, please tag #shibertybakes on Instagram so I can see your happy pictures too!







Sweet pink cupcakes commissioned for a Jill Stuart event I attended!






Love these tempting looking assorted cupcakes that I brought for my vocal instructor, Ashton Koh of Millet Music! They're carrot cake with cream cheese & nuts, chocolate and lemon frosting with strawberry jam. Wouldn't mind the lemon one right about now O_O

I've started going for vocal lessons because I know I have a lottt to improve on and I love how I can hear the difference when I sing. I plan to keep going for vocal lessons until I'm confident enough to release another cover online that I can be extremely proud of!!! What was I thinking with Justin Bieber. Oh dear god. At least my hair looked pretty in that video and I was wearing a nice dress hahaha. Got a blog post on my vocal lessons and music school coming up soon so if you've ever considered honing your singing skills as an amateur you should stay tuned for that entry!







The first cake Shiberty's Sweets ever sold was a flower cupcake. Now look at everything else we can do. :)








Underwater themed stuff are always a whale of a time because there's so many colors and elements to play with!






Made my high school girlfriend her 21st birthday cake, which I never ever fathomed I would. Imagine if 7 years ago, when we skipped school together to loiter around, I looked my best girl friend the eye and said, "Hey, one day in the future, we won't even be talking to each other on a regular basis any more. But we'll still somehow keep in contact every now and then, and I'd end up having purple hair and baking your 21st birthday cake. What do you think about that?" I wonder if we'd even believe it.

I haven't seen these girls for years... it was a blast from the past reminiscing good old times! It was nice to see everyone again. We were 14 years old not too long ago, and suddenly, we're 21 years old now. *sheds a little tear* I wish I never grew up. Now, can I just stay Forever 21? Because I swear I'm going to hit 30 and have tits that sag to the floor before I know it.







Ombre cakes seem to rival rainbow cakes in terms of popularity these days!







South Park fondant toppers that took longer to do than I expected because I was pretty particular about the details.






LOVE this set of floral brights I did for blogger buddy Beatrice Tan! These cupcakes will be featured in her upcoming kids fashion label. :)




And this set was for Tammy Tay's friendscapade photoshoot! The pictures turned out sooo pretty, you can check them out on her blog. Credits to Ohsofickle's Instagram for this picture, thanks Tam!








A girl's best friend: Chanel bags. Make up.


...And cake, with more frosting than her daily calorie count allows. Never forget cake.








Because mummies are our guardian angels!



I adore these roses with gold tips painted on!!! So pretty!






I've been toying with the idea of buying a Celine luggage for awhile now... I really want the hot pink one ♥____♥ But they don't sell that color in stores anymore. Sniffle.







SO glad I have rid myself of my Candy Crush addiction!!!!!!! That game was eating up way too many hours of my life.






Got to almost level 200 before I dropped it. The levels became frustrating instead of fun after some time. I have a phobia of chocolates now, thanks to this game.










Cakes weren't meant just for girls! I like how I am seeing an increasing amount of manly cake orders - 3d car cakes, golfing, soccer, video games related... ladies, if your man ever told you he doesn't like desserts, it's only because he hasn't had one with his favorite soccer team plastered all over it yet. It's guaranteed to make him smile, even if he doesn't normally eat cake. Be the first lady in his life to do it!






Because apparently a ribbon isn't enough and a tiara was demanded to be added on top of it. :P Super princess!






For my friend Pearlyn's birthday, her bf Albert came over to help make this Chihuahua cake. It was the first time we'd ever done a 3d animal topper that wasn't made out of fondant but I loved the outcome! Pretty good for a first attempt, I do reckon! And ++++ points for Albert for coming over to do the cake with us when he could've simply bought it off us. Romance is still alive, people.




Lastly, I just wanna share this collage that made me grin from ear to ear...



You people are my muse, and the reason for all that I do. So thank YOU.

♥ ♥ Order your very own customized cake atShibertys.blogspot.com! ♥ ♥

.
.
.

.
.
.

.
.
.


That's all the cake pictures I have for this post, but I've a random surprise in store for you awesome possums who soldiered on through my lengthy post till the end! :D





Last week, I had a fun night filled with shopping, playing games and dining at fabulous retail stores located in 313 @ Somerset
(Somerset MRT Station) with a few other bloggers, and these folks have very kindly provided us with vouchers to reward our readers for being so AWESOME!!! On a normal basis I already visit 313 @ Somerset very often because my hair salon Shunji Matsuo is on the third level, I must've spent at least a good coupla hundreds of accumulated shopping over all the times I've been there.... but today, I'm giving away stuff I've specially hand picked that I believe y'all would LOVE (I have the same  / very similar stuff so these are totally me!!!), as a small thank you for reading my blog.
Sorry to the few guys who are reading this in advance - everything in this post is meant for girls because I don't think I have many male readers to begin with! These are the fabulous stuff I'm giving away to three lucky ducks, from shops like Victoria's Secret, Lowry's Farm and EpiCentre, all of which are located at 313 @ Somerset!




Fragrance & body lotion from Victoria's Secret. We may not be able to look like Victoria's Secret angels but at least we can SMELL like one!!! And then print out Alessandra's or Miranda's picture to paste over your face.

Just kidding.





Pretty white eyelet dress from chic apparel store Lowry's Farm. The size states M, I'm guessing it fits UK 8-10 best!





Bling iPhone case from EpiCentre! So shiny *.*

Want to win one of these three items for yourself? (of course you do!)

Follow 313 @ Somerset on Twitter, then leave me a comment on this blog post stating your name, email address, twitter username, item you'd like to win and why you like shopping at 313 @ Somerset, OR why you like reading my blog. LOL I am including the second buay paiseh option because, what if some of you have never shopped at 313 before?! *lousy excuse for wanting to feel loved*. Remember, you have to be a follower of their Twitter account to qualify! All comments will be moderated & screened so you don't have to worry about privacy or leaking out personal details. Winners will be contacted via email.

Till the next post... chao!

xoxo,
Jess

What defines beauty?

I'm sure everyone has different opinions about what is considered "pretty", "gorgeous" or "beautiful" to them. It's true that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Some people like bright colored big eyes. Some like ethnic small asian eyes. Some people like long sharp noses, others prefer cute button noses. But I think there is one aesthetic factor every one in this world can agree on that instantly qualifies as an attractive attribute.... and that's clear skin on your face (and on your body, for that matter). I believe that having good complexion is half the battle won for being good looking. The other half is having proportionately sized, symmetrical features and being physically fit (still working on that one). I cannot imagine blackheads or zits ever being considered as sexy, or cute, so there's no wonder why females can spend hundreds of dollars on skin care and cosmetics every other month in a bid to keep their complexion as flawless as possible! Every girl's lifelong dream is to look good without make up and to never get fat no matter what they eat. But let's face it - things don't always pan out the way we want them to.. If you're overweight, you can exercise or go for slimming treatments. And if your skin needs help, you can go to Bella Skin Care for some much needed salvation.




Here I am at Bella Skin Care, wearing another comfy and simple hollyhoque.com dress (I wore a different dress by them in my previous post!) that happened to totally match their logo's color... no it wasn't on purpose, but I must have some level of telepathic ability :P

I have to admit, I have never been taking particularly good care of my skin until just of late.

Prior to this, I had not gone for a facial session in probably more than a year and my regular skin care regime  included the bare essentials - cleansing and closing up my pores with toner. I still remember using body soap to wash my face barely 2 years ago. Only in recent months have I really tried to step up my game and purchase more skin care products, so now I go all the way with cleansing, toning, moisturizing, serum-ing and weekly exfoliating + masking. To really complete my routine, however, I visited Bella Skin Care for a wholesome and revitalizing treatment!







"Established in 1982, Bella has over 30 centres worldwide to date and is the region's acknowledged leader in advanced skincare services and advanced hair removal solution. Using the most up-to-date facial and hair removal technologies and techniques available worldwide, Bella is constantly enhancing and expanding its exclusive range of professional skincare services. All Bella Skin Care centers are staffed by a dedicated team of qualified skincare experts who are equipped with the latest developments in specialized skincare treatments and hair-removal services."






The Bella outlet I visited was extremely conveniently located at International Building, coincidentally also the same building where my chiropractor is at!!! So immediately after my chiro sesh, I hopped over to Bella... I can foresee myself coming back here more often now, it's only a 5 minute walk from Orchard MRT! :)

The interior of the place was minimalist, very clean and simple looking yet comfortable and polished at the same time.






After seating me down with a cuppa tea, the skincare expert analyzed my overall skin condition with this cool machine that could Zoom In x 999 into your skin to see even the tiniest freckle, hair, pore and zit. It shows us all the problems that we can't see as well with our naked eye. I told the skincare expert that I've noticed my skin getting oilier these days, and I tend to get small zits more often than I used to. Also, I have combination skin, which means my T zone is excessively oily but my cheeks and chin area are dry.




She highlighted to me that I've got some scarring from recent pimples on my forehead and chin, and blemishes / blackheads that needed to be extracted most notably around my nose. The dark blotches you see on the screen are apparently remnant pimple scars which have faded into dark pigmentation!!!! D:

I didn't know it would look so dark!



Based on this analysis, it was then decided that the most suitable treatment for my skin would be the...


Pure Blossom Treatment








The treatment room was soooo cozy and comfy, I fell asleep multiple times while the therapist's soft hands worked their magic on me.




This is my face with zero make up, freshly cleansed. And obviously I won't be doing any photoshop to my skin or face in this post to show you the real deal. I think I have a yellowish undertone for my skin, and redness around my cheeks, forehead and chin. My chin area has the most discoloration, with random dark patches of skin everywhere, so frustrating! While people struggle with the common oily forehead, I have an uncommon problem with a zitty chin.






I wore contact lenses to the facial, so I was asked tp remove them before starting as I would be more comfortable during the procedure. Unfortunately, I didn't bring any solution or contact lens casing with me, and to my surprise, they had spare ones ready for my usage! How extremely convenient.

After cleansing, I was treated to a "Welcome Massage", which took me by pleasant surprise because this is the first facial salon I've been to that not only massages your face but your shoulders, arms and neck too. Ultimate bliss!!!!!! Then, my skin was gently exfoliated by scrubbing, prepping it for the upcoming extraction. I know most girls hate the extraction part but I actually quite like it. Doesn't it feel good to know that all that yucky gunk is being squeezed out of your face?! It's not recommended that you do it by yourself at home because you might accidentally damage your skin even further by using the wrong methods, so leave it to the professionals! The pain was tolerably and completely acceptable by my standards. My therapist offered to groom my eyebrows (nice touch!) but I had to stop her after awhile because I couldn't stand the pain from plucking. So yeah, plucking eyebrows definitely ranks way higher on the pain threshold level than extraction for me. I always shave my brows.


Halfway through the treatment, my therapist wheeled in this odd looking tub of orangey liquid.. which turned out to be hot wax.




And told me to dip my hands in them!!!

With raised eyebrows, I followed her instructions. She explained that this hand paraffin wax is going to keep my hands warm and toasty and the aftermath result will be softer, smoother hands!




It did feel quite strange, not in a bad way, when the melted wax eventually dried up, like your hands were encased in wax... a unique experience indeed.

After which, a rose infusion was sprayed all over my face, a botanic ampoule massaged into my skin, and then a relaxing mask was applied as the finishing touch. Everything smelled sooo good because the Pure Blossom treatment uses natural flower extracts! I thought I would be left alone while the mask was setting on my face, but the therapist gave me another massage for the next 10 minutes. So many plus points for extra massages!



By the end of the treatment, my skin was feeling rejuvenated, firm, supple and justplain awesome.



My skin tone looks brighter, more even and despite the extraction, you can't see any angry red marks on my face! I was extremely glad about this because nothing says "I've just gone for a facial" like a bare face with bright red dots all over it.







The Pure Blossom treatment's key ingredients include Vitamin C and Glycolic Acid, which helps stimulate collagen production below the surface of the skin and detoxifies, restoring a firm, youthful and radiant complexion. You can see the results for yourself!!!!!!!! The whole process took slightly over an hour, time went by quicker than I expected as I was having friendly chats with my therapist the whole time, and by the end of it all I was very pleased with what I saw in the mirror.






Just in case you think I've played with the lighting or photoshopped the difference on my skin, here's the skin analysis upon completion of the treatment.





My pimple scars have lightened tremendously!!!!! Begone, pigmentation. The quicker you get rid of pigmentation when it sets on your face, the easier it will be. The blackheads on my nose were also removed and hydration level of my skin boosted!

The shots above were taken when zoomed into my forehead area, and the reason why the hair disappeared along with the pigmentation marks is because she shaved away the hair excess around my brows!








On the whole, my complexion was radiant and I dare even say, glowing without make up. I don't mind leaving the house without make up on a normal basis, in fact I do it a lot, but I feel like my skin looks rather dull naturally and would prefer not to be in town without it. Not that day, however. I paraded around Orchard Road, and even went to Mediacorp to support my friends for The Final One and got accidentally filmed on national TV without an ounce of make up on me!!!

Barefaced, loud and proud!

Specially for my blog readers, you girls get to try thePure Blossom Therapy at only $98instead of the usual pricing of $168!!! Please print out this voucher and bring it along after fixing an appointment with them to use it. Bella has outlets all over in Singapore, from Jurong to Tampines to Serangoon to Orchard so visit their website here for a list of their locations and to make your appointment!


Here's to beautiful skin, and confidence you can wear even without make up on!

xoxo,
Jess

*points to the title above*

Yep, if you look through my Instagram #shibertycooks feed, you'll see that about 80% of the food I cook at home is some sort of variation of pasta... not even exaggerating! What's NOT to love about pasta? (besides the calories lol) It's an entire meal, on one convenient plate. No need to think too much. No need to cut, or dip, or peel, or do anything to get your food in your tummy.. Just twirl your fork around, and dig in!

I'm definitely a carbs kinda girl. Like I definitely love my red meats and sometimes a good salad, but I NEED to have carbs for every meal. You don't know how much it killed me to be on a low carb diet back then!!!
Now that I'm no longer on a crash diet and I can indulge in delicious pasta whenever I want, imagine my reaction when I found out that Pizza Hut at City Square Mall was spontaneously turned into an all-new Pasta Hut for a couple of days, and I was invited down to a blogging event to sample a few of their new pasta dishes!!!






I didn't even know the surprise I was in for, until I got there.

Naturally, I thought I was going to have Pizza atPizza Hut! Upon arrival, I stared at the sign for a few seconds in confusion. It turns out that from 29 June - 2nd July, Pizza Hut was converted to Pasta Hut to show their dedication to pasta and how Pizza Hut can make good pasta just like their pizzas. Introducing three new yummy dishes - Roasted Chicken Leg Parchment, Baked Penne in Truffle Cream Sauce & Turkey Bacon Aglio Olio! Even better still, each order of a pasta dish entitles you to a complimentary personal pan pizza!!!! I know a good deal when I see one!





When I entered the restaurant, there were already what looked like more than 50 RSVPed blogging guests eagerly waiting for their food! It didn't take long for myself to get seated and served by a friendly waitress as well.







We were given a choice between the Berri Sparkles& Summer Sparkle for drinks, and of course I chose the latter. Mangoes are my absolute favoritest fruit!!!!!






Sometimes I think I'm still a 10 year old kid. I can't live without my sparkling sugary drinks. It takes a lot of self control to limit myself to only a few a week! If I could eat and drink whatever I want without getting fat, I'd be chugging down 3 glasses of these addictive and refreshing Summer Sparkle drinks a day.


It wasn't long before food started flowing out of the kitchen like I've never seen a kitchen do so before. Every few seconds, a tantalizing pasta dish would fly out of the doors and onto our tables!



Loud pop music played as waiters danced around with a pasta plate on their hand, gravitating towards customers, performing what would be the very first Pasta Parade I've witnessed in my life. Gotta love their spontaneity!

The atmosphere for the night was fun and upbeat, buzzing with excitement. All thanks to an enthusiastic emcee host, fun games like crossword & jigsaw puzzles, and music pumping throughout the evening! Over here, this lady is posing with the Roasted Chicken Leg Parchment. Look at that big fat juicy leg just waiting to be devoured. I'm so hungry typing this now ahhh!






In a matter of minutes, we were all crowded around this table that featured all of Pizza Hut's signature pasta dishes! Stomach growled like crazy when I was taking these photos because they smelled so good! They have everything from tomato sauce based pastas, to aglio olio, to creamy baked pastas (the best type I reckon hehehe)






I wanted to try everything but along with the side dishes, appetizers and drinks, I didn't have much stomach space left!



To me, these were the star dishes of the day:



I always get amused by people who order Squid Ink Linguine and their blackened mouths! Quick tip: don't order this on a date? :P





Turkey Bacon Aglio Olio is the second newly released dish, which I managed to try that day! It's surprisingly spicy (probably catered towards the Singaporean taste buds), wasn't overly oily like some aglio olio dishes tend to get, and had just the right amount of garlic to give a nice kick. Mushrooms + bacon is always a good idea!!






However, Baked Penne in Truffle Cream Sauce is an EVEN better idea!!!! 

Everything I love is combined in one plate - button mushrooms, chicken ham, turkey bacon, crusty baked cheese with a gooey center, a slight hint of truffle aroma.. definitely my top pick for the night. It wasn't a heavy dish, it was actually rather light despite it's name so people who don't fancy creamy pastas because of their thickness - no worries about this one being too "gelat"! Happily wolfed the whole thing down.

 Before I forget... let me tell you a true short story (that is moderately embarrassing). The emcee walked over to my table and decided to prey on me, asking "How do you like the Baked Penne in Truffle Cream Sauce, and why?" I can't even remember what sort of verbal diarrhea I managed to spit out in the spur of the moment but I painfully remember saying "I like creamy things in my mouth." e_e... Or something along those lines, that could be totally taken out of context. #thatswhatshesaid #cringeworthyanswers #ineedpublicspeechlessons




As if the mountains of pasta wasn't enough to feed us, Pizza Hut fed us with their popular appetizers as well, like the classic Soup Of The Day (mushroom), Sweet N Spicy Drumlets, Cheesy Mussels and Criss Cross Fries! I'm sure no Singaporean would need any introduction to the taste of these dishes because most of us would've grown up eating it!





I love their spicy drumlets, it's a must-order along with their garlic bread every time my family calls for Pizza Hut delivery and it was the hot favorite among my table because it was the first dish to disappear quickly. :D






By the end of the night, we were all stuffed silly, and satisfied.
My dining partner was the bubbly Rachell, who's favorite dish of the evening was the Turkey Bacon Aglio Olio (because she loves spicy food!)

Thank you Pizza Hut, or should I say Pasta Hut... for an evening filled with laid back mingling, yummy food, hilarious games and continuous laughter! I'm very pleased by the introduction of new pasta dishes to Pizza Hut because I'm definitely a bigger pasta person than pizza, and I'm sure there are many pasta lovers others out there like me - now you and your friend can enjoy pasta AND pizza under one hut together. Don't miss out on their awesome Weekday 1-for-1 deals, available from 3 July onwards till 13 August at all their dine-in restaurants!!!!
Double the choices, double the fun, double the yum!! :)

 Head on down to Pizza Hut’s Facebook page to LIKE and find out more about them!


P.S - Check out all the enthusiastic people having fun at Pasta Hut that evening below :D



xoxo,
Jess

My shoulders are heavy, and my mind is burdened by countless of worries tonight.

Just got back from the vet with Sam (I hate going there because every time we do it's some sort of problem. Anyone else feel the same about doctors?) who confirmed that Mochi has spontaneously developed a cataract in her right eye that is maturing alarmingly rapidly. I started noticing a grey-ish sheen only a few days ago when I was playing with her but ignored it (foolishly, sigh) because it was reakky barely visible and when I tried to check for it under the light I couldn't see it clearly. I shrugged it off, thinking I must've been seeing things or maybe she just had some foreign bodies or irritants in her eye. Then yesterday, it grew to the point where it became rather obviously visible. I nudged Sam worriedly, asking, "Is that a fucking cataract in Mochi's eye?!" I wanted to hear him reply, "No." But when he muttered reluctantly, "...Yes, I think it is. I think you're right." My heart dropped to the floor and all sorts of horror scenes and music started playing in my head.


During this point of time it was already late in the evening and the vet clinics were closed, so there wasn't much to be done except wait till the next day for our vet's appointment. I thought waiting one night wouldn't hurt. I thought cataracts couldn't develop and worsen over such a short period of time. We would go to the vet and she will be fine tomorrow, I said to myself before I slept. Wasn't very good at self convincing because I read up on rabbit cataracts before I fell asleep and ended up bawling my eyes out when I realized what a drastic and helpless situation it is for bunnies. It's not your average case of sniffles or skin parasites. It's something that is almost always irreversible. The longest night ever followed suit, then morning came.

To my utmost horror, by the next day's morning (today), the affected area has enlarged tremendously in size and turned near opaque in a mere number of days since I first noticed the slightest sheen that replaced her pupil. It is seriously growing so fast I wouldn't be surprised if her eyeball was entirely white tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! Cataracts in rabbits don't usually happen till they're more than 5 years old & almost always leads to total blindness in a matter of weeks to months.... but my Mochi is less than a year old. :'( It just doesn't make sense. The condition will more than likely spread from one eye to the other in time, if I don't get them surgically removed (even so, the chance of her sight regaining isn't 100% and has many complications). It costs 2.5k PER EYE for the fucking surgery. The vet "thinks" the cataract resulted from genes, but honestly, they didn't give me any substantial information or results except a few speculations. Just for today's check up I had to spend over 200+ dollars. I can't help the tears from welling up when I think about this shit happening to my little energizer bunny. I asked my vet whether I could have eye drops for her condition that would possibly prevent her cataracts from developing so quickly, and she told me there was none she could administer to me at that point. She told me I should really let Mochi go for the surgery because she's so young. I am so enraged because 1) Research online and real life accounts have told me that vets have given them eye drops before that supposedly counters cataracts. Why isn't she giving me any?! and 2) Who the fuck has two thousand five hundred dollars lying around to spend on their rabbit's eye surgery that may or MAY NOT work?!?!?!!? If the cataract spreads to two eyes, that's five mother fucking thousand dollars!!!!! In the grand scheme of things, can I honestly afford to fork out the five thousand dollars to save my rabbit's life? Yes I can. It's totally ridiculous that they're charging these sort of rates, but yes, I can. But it's not life or death situation for Mochi, she won't die from being blind but she MAY die from the surgery because rabbit eye surgeries tend to get inflamed, and bunnies don't deal with those type of infections or trauma very well.


 From what I hear, I still need to go down for a consultation to see if my rabbit is suitable for the surgery or not.. So that means if she's "not suitable" for the situation my rabbit will go blind (in some cases the infected area of the cataract may leak into the rest of the eyeball and become a painful infection).

I really really really want to help my bunny so much, but my options seem to be fucking bad right now. I don't want to see the cloudy whiteness in her eye get more opaque each day and see her movements becoming more limited as she slowly loses her eyesight due to reasons we can't even figure out. It really kills me inside to think that this scenario may very well be reality in the near future.





If you ever spend some time with her in real life, you will know she's the sweetest thing on earth, licking you for affection, snuggling up on our bed for cuddles & sprinting all over the place, getting up to all sorts of mischief. She's more active than a lot of dogs I've seen that just lie around most of the time. Whenever she's out of her cage, she will run from the living room to Sam's room, to my room, to my brother's room... and when I say run I do mean she sprints at unbelievable speeds sometimes! She has so much more character and personality than you could ever imagine.

People say rabbits can learn to cope with blindness rather well, but I know she will not be able to live the same life now if/when it happens. My bunny has always been in the best of health since I got her, up until 2 months ago. I was going to get her spayed when we did a pre-surgery blood test for precautionary measures, and they found out she had liver problems.





Thankfully, that was an easy problem to fix over 2 weeks, with some medicine. Then another problem came alone: less than a month ago she started losing fur on her head. I didn't find it to be anything I should worry about because I know rabbits shed all the time. But as the days passed, she lost so much fur excessively in one particular area, it's almost like a bald patch now..?






At the rate things are going she's going to be a white eyed hairless bunny. I'm terrified she's going to lose all of her fur or just drop dead. WHY IS ALL THIS HAPPENING??? What's happening to her? I posed these questions to my vet, but they really couldn't give me a proper answer, just things like "oh she has dry skin.... but we're not sure why.. maybe.... lasdskfjsktww" I am so sick of vague fucking diagnoses and not sure whys!!!!!!!! WHERE DO I TALK TO A REAL RABBIT EXPERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



From what it appears to be currently, there seems to be not much hope for Mochi. Either I fork out $2.5k or $5k (depends how fast the cataract develops and whether it spreads to the other eye or not) and risk her dying from surgery complications or not regaining her site despite the surgery and money, OR, I just let her go blind.. slowly, but surely. Both options are absolutely dreadful decisions I hope even my worst enemy will never have to make about something they hold dear to their heart. If you have a pet that you love dearly, as much as I love Mochi, you will understand how agonizing this feels. I know she's not a human, and animals tend to fall sick and get diseases or disabilities often... shit happens... but blindness in animals is a big deal.

 I think not being able to see is much worse than being deaf, physically disabled or mute. I have been none of the above but I'm saying if I had to choose I would not be blind, if anything. Even if you can't talk, you could at least write, if you can't listen, you can still watch... what is life, without sight?! I can't help feeling so lousy that I tried to provide my very best to ensure my furball leads a healthy and happy life, yet she came down with this situation so quickly and decidedly that would leave her without sight, and I don't even know what I should do to help her. All stories I've read online pretty much end the same way: the bunny goes blind, with or without eye drops, medication, and surgery. Does anybody have happy ending stories of their pets having cataracts and then getting better??? :'( Would you please share some valuable information with me, if you have any?





Even though I haven't blogged about Mochi since the first day I got her, she's been one of the very essences of happiness in my life. I look forward to coming home to her fluffy self and stroking the crap out of her soft body every day. She's endless entertainment for the whole family and she is truly the epitome of the word: bundle of joy.

I spend hours a day frolicking around with her whenever I can. Whenever I'm supposed to be doing work, I'm probably cuddling her. She's my little baby girl, but I can't even protect her from herself. This feels so awful. The worst part is, it's happening over the weekend when I am utterly and COMPLETELY swamped with a shit load of work which I'm not even sure I can finish. This means I don't have the time I need to bring her for more vet check ups / appointments and to spend time with her while she still has some sight in her eyes.  I really don't know what to do.





Everything happened so fast. It's like her rabbit life was literally perfect one moment, and the next week everything just went to shit. What if she never sees me waving at her signaling for her to come over again? What if she will not be able to see my grinning face smiling at her, attacking her soft cheeks with kisses... what if she never peers at me in that ultra adorable gaze when I cradle her like a baby? What if she just NEVER SEES again????

PLEASE GET BETTER SOON MOCHI!!!! Somehow. Mommy loves you very very very very very very very very much. :'(




She's too young, too fluffy, too loving & too fragile for this. She's just a soft little bunny.

She doesn't deserve this, or to go through any pain or suffering when she's less than a year old in this cruel world.


My heart hurts so much.

xoxo,
Jess

Mochi loves getting her cheeks stroked!




She's so tiny even though she's adult sized already.




I find it amusing how rabbits look so cuddly and fluffy... but in truth, almost all of them hate being picked up or petted too much. Prey instincts, I guess.





Nom! Red velvet cake (hidden beneath the wrapper) and cream cheese frosting!!!











Random artsy fartsy image of some crisp leaves to break up the narcissism..









I've had the great pleasure of testing out the all new Nikon 1 J3 camera recently (update: this post was drafted some months back, actually! so not so recent..), snapping pictures of my everyday life with this bad boy as you can see above, for the whole past week... Which, surprisingly (or not) consists mainly of (or only) my rabbit, me, and cakes. Mmmhm just summed up my life the past month with a couple of words. I wish I had gone on some crazy adventurous trip around Europe or at least go out to a party of clubbing with friends or just something exciting so there would be more photography subjects to cover, however that's just not me. I'm just the average baker blogger girl with a cuddly netherland dwarf and bright purple hair. Yep, sounds about right.

In any case, here's introducing the camera that has taken ALL the pretty photos in this post - The Nikon 1 J3!!!






With the innovative functions and amazing performance of the new Nikon 1 J3, you can now easily create your own picture moments. Lightning-fast operation and minimalistic design come together in perfect harmony. Offering 14.2 megapixels and high-speed autofocus, the Nikon 1 J3 lets you capture photos with incredible depth and details.


The J3's exceptional performance and range of features are beautifully built into an incredibly small and lightweight interchangeable lens camera body. Housed in its precision-crafted metallic body is a 921k-dot LCD monitor that offers a wide viewing angle. The J3 ensures you never miss your shot, thanks to its fast performance and autofocus. The J3 features a remarkably short release lag time (just 80ms in single-point autofocus) and 15 fps of continuous shooting, the fastest among all interchangeable lens cameras.





After using the Nikon 1 J3 for a week, here's what I like most about it.



✓ Impressively mall & lightweight body, despite having interchangeable lens. After being a DSLR user for years, I grew reluctant to lug my heavy and bulky camera out over time, and resorted to using my phone to take pics instead. Since bring introduced to the Nikon 1 J3, I was thrilled by how it could fit properly in my girly handbag and still deliver decent photos!

✓ Super fast shutter speed! I normally do not like using the autofocus function on any camera because it focuses on the wrong parts of the frame and the response is sluggish. However, the shutter speed and auto focusing of the J3 is lightning fast which lets me capture that perfect moments seamlessly.


✓ User friendly and totally fuss-free to use. I didn't even bother reading the manual - everything is labelled concisely, the user interface is straight to the point, and sleek. A true testament to the term "point and shoot", this camera is great for beginners who would like something robust and versatile to play around with but not too confusing to start off with.

✓ Fun photography filter functions that everyone will enjoy using! Be artistic at the touch of a button - you don't need photoshop skills or anything of the sort.


Here are some of my favorite creative filters from the Nikon 1 J3!


1) Miniature Effect








Basically what it does is up the contrast and vividness of the image's colors, and plays around with the focus point to make small several objects stand out more than the rest!

 It is actually originally created for far away shots of small things such as cars on the road when you're looking down from a high view point, and other aerial shots, however since those kind of shots don't happen so often for me I love using it for a different creative usage: to shoot everyday objects such as flowers, Uno Stacko blocks and even coconut biscuits!!! I feel like it gives the overall look a lot more dimension and you don't even have to edit the colors or focus points! Instagram-worthy images in a second.




2) Soft Focus



For girls who want to look like they're glowing - literally. This isn't a function I'd use everyday, but it's a fun over the top beauty filter that makes everything look ridiculously dreamy and surreal. Great for bad hair / complexion days coz most details get blurred out nicely nobody would notice your otherwise apparent flaws.. LOL! No need for photoshop - yay!







Very useful for acting mysterious online. It's like, you can see me... but really, you can't see the real me. Am I a woman or am I a unicorn?








This look is best paired with white / light colored clothing and a head piece if you have one. Sit by the window sill and you'll find yourself looking strangely ethereal even if normally you look like an ogre. ;P

Or, use this Soft Focus mode to shoot an innocent looking little baby for MAXIMUM angelic effect!!! I tried desperately to look around for an available one to shoot and prove my point but what do you know? Turns out I don't have any friends with babies, and I can't seem to find any for sale on eBay. I take this as a good thing because I'm not old enough to have friends with babies, yet. Relish being young, Jess!



3) Selective Color









This filter is AWESOME, especially when you're outdoors with good lighting shooting colorful stuff!!! It picks out specific colors you want (anything from pink to blue to green to purple, a rainbow spectrum for you to choose from) in a picture and then turns everything else black and white. Normally this is only achievable through various tedious steps in Photoshop, but the Nikon 1 J3 does it for you so conveniently, whenever, wherever! This filter makes the specific color POP out in the photo and the flowers above seem almost 3d-like!




4) Panorama



Capture super wide angled landscape shots effortlessly, without distortion! All I had to do was hold my shutter button down and turn my body from left to right, making sure to keep the camera as steady as possible and leveled. I appreciated how the Nikon 1 J3 any obvious choppy patches in the panoramic shot as it often happens with other applications and devices. Obviously it would be a lot more impressive if say, you were taking a panoramic shot of Singapore's majestic skyline from the top of Marina Bay Sands instead of the grounds of the old condo you're renting right now.... but  yeah, you get the drift of the camera's abilities.




Now, I was slightly puzzled when I realized the Nikon 1 J3 didn't have a dedicated Macro shooting mode. It does have Aperture and Shutter priority modes, however not for close ups. I went ahead with trying to take macro shots with the auto mode anyway, and was pleasantly surprised by the results! The level of small details in the Auto mode meant there was no need for a specific Macro function, you can take nice close ups even with Auto shooting!!!






The previous close up shots above (such as of the selective colored flowers and red velvet cupcake), were also taken with the auto mode, which is very good for a camera of its size, I must say. It has a good depth of field and sharpness in tiny details which I feel, is essentially what macro shots should be about. Most other cameras I've tried shooting with before often had problems focusing quickly and focusing on small objects which annoyed me very much - I admit, I'm an impatient person!







Here's a picture of Mochi licking my nose taken straight from the Nikon 1 J3 camera - no adjustment of lighting or color, 100% unedited and raw! Not bad huh? Considering the lighting in my house is pretty atrocious most of the time, I didn't expect to get this well lit shot!



Finally, some other key features the camera boasts includes, pictures and info courtesy of Nikon:



• Smart Photo Selector



Capturing the moment is easier than ever. Enhanced Smart Photo Selector snaps up to 20 frames before and after you press shutter release, then presents you with the one perfect shot or a choice of 5 best shots. Or use its new Slow View feature to record a 20-frame slow motion video from which to select the ideal shot. You can even turn a frame from a video recording into a high-resolution photo.



• Motion Snapshot

If a picture says a thousand words, imagine what you can express with Refined Motion Snapshots. Press the shutter release to capture a still image and a slow-motion video of the moments just before and after. You can even add background music and save the video in different movie formats to make them uniquely yours.




Video, images and information courtesy of Nikon.


.
.
.



Like what you see?? The Nikon 1 J3 is now available for purchase in stores!!!!! I find this camera most suitable for people new to photography but want something relatively sleek and substantial at the same time, or those who prefer a least hassling photography experience, without all the confusing buttons and additional shooting modes.

Just simply point and shoot, to capture that perfect moment with Nikon.
For more information of the Nikon 1 J3 and other Nikon products / features, visit the Nikon SG site!

xoxo,
Jess

I love having brunch.

Too bad I don't wake up in time for it on most days! Either that, or I don't get the opportunity to have it simply because I'm working. Most places that serve brunch food only do so during the early hours of the weekend, and I'm almost always certainly doing cakes on weekends.... can't leave the house/kitchen. So no brunch for me :(

However, when Edina from the Emmanuel Stroobant Group invited us to have a hosted lazy brunch at the newly revamped Saint Pierre restaurant, I jumped at the opportunity!!!




Completed all my work in advance just so I could enjoy a nice weekend out. So worth it!





I know you can't actually see anything on the menu I'm holding up. But since it's nice picture, I'm gonna post it anyway! :P

The new Saint Pierre's location is absolutely gorgeous, situated right next to the prestigious W Singapore in Sentosa and along a nice sunny stretch of restaurants where beautiful yachts were docked and blue waters were sparkling!




Saint Pierre is headed by celebrity chef Emmanuel Stroobant and his lovely wife Edina Hong, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting a few times prior to this brunch session because she's my brother's personal friend, and eventually introduced me to her. She's such a nice lady!!! My first taste of Saint Pierre's food was during Savour 2013, and I was sold since then.


We opted for the Saturday Brunch Set Menu, which was$38 a person and you get your choice of fruit juice, homemade assorted breads, a main course and coffee or tea!






It didn't take long for our bread to arrive, accompanied by their own whipped butter & fruit preserves.



I'm generally not a bread person, but I love croissants, sourdough and ciabatta.... they had the first two of my favorites and I was more than happy to inhale them in a matter of minutes. The salted whipped butter and fruit preserves went amazingly well together on a fluffy, pillowy slice of sourdough. Raves all around!






My main course arrived... Eggs Benedict, of course!

 Eggs benedict everyday, baby. This one was elegantly done with champagne holladaise and thinly shaved iberico ham. I like the ratio of bread (brioche) to egg and sauce. Eggs benedict should always be served in this proportion. Normally eggs benedict is thought of to be a heavy, sinful meal but this one was really light, so light in fact I blinked and it was gone from my plate. :P





Sam opted for the Smoked Salmon, on sourdough with chives and lemon juice. More sourdough!!!!! Yay! I like how their in-house smoked salmon wasn't unnecessarily salty like most grocery store options are, and seemed to have a higher fat content than the lean cuts I'm used to. Fatty salmon is always, ALWAYS a good idea.







I also had a taste of their Scrambled Eggs with black truffle, toasted bread (yeah, it's a lot of bread! a tad too much overall, IMO) The eggs were fluffy like little yellow clouds as how they should be, and the amount of truffle was moderately alarming. Makes me wonder if truffle has started growing on coconut trees.






I adore waterfront dining; it's relaxing, romantic and fun all at the same time.

I don't care if Sentosa is troublesome to get to. The laid back atmosphere makes the trip worthwhile, and there's no better place to be on a weekend (well except in bed). The entire set up of Saint Pierre is both elegant and quaint, with wooden furniture, floor-to-ceiling glass windows to allow maximum sunlight in and the atmosphere was classy, but not too pretentious. Sure it's an uppity place, but it's not somewhere you walk into and feel uncomfortable if you aren't paying over a hundred dollars for your meal or if you're not carrying a branded bag, or dressed to the nines. In fact, there were a lot of happy families and very casually dressed people having their Saturday brunch that day, which was a sight I enjoyed seeing!


.
.
.



If you thought that was all the food porn I was going to feature today.... you're wrong!!!

We eagerly came back a few weeks later, to sample their Sunday Roast menu!!! WOOHOOO.




What??? How can you judge us for being pigs when the food is this good, and when the owner personally invites you herself? :P




Their weekly Sunday Roast features your choice of roasted meat of the day, an all-you-can-eat, self-serve selection of starters & bread, finished off with dessert, for $68 a person.





I thought I liked their Saturday Brunch, but I LOVE their Sunday Roast.











Heaping servings of refreshing salads were just waiting to be devoured. A buffet you don't have to feel guilty about!


All my favorite food on one plate. How absolutely pretty.








 Most restaurants that offer a buffet selection are kinda messy, rowdy, and crowded. You'll have to push past people just to get to the food you want. Not really my idea of fun. I will never suggest a buffet for a meal with friends if given a choice, I prefer quieter places.

But, I especially like how the environment at Saint Pierre maintained its quiet elegance despite being filled with laughter and cheery moods. I suppose it's because the seating capacity isn't too large, so it still feels intimate.





Random out of focus shot of Sam looking a little too candidly happy with his food!









When our main courses arrived, I was a little taken aback because I was enjoying their sourdough and starters so much I almost forgot we had a main course coming too. The mountain of brown is traditional yorkshire pudding, which is kinda like bread / pastry that is usually paired with meats and gravy. When I took my first bite of the herb marinated black angus ribeye roasted overnight in red wine and balsamico jus, my awesome afternoon was made even more complete.

It is REALLY good. Melted in my mouth more than my own buttercream on my cupcakes would, and the meat was done to perfect reddish pinknes. Wish I could've had double, or triple the portion!!!!!! Sam got the lamb option, which was mediocre in my opinion. Can't even remember the name of that one, unfortunately.




The main courses also come with vegetable sides and potato gratin! The cheesy gratin was nice :)




A good meal isn't complete without desserts to leave a sweet taste in your mouth!




Hello, perfection.




Also known as panna cotta with salted caramel. Can I marry you?





I can't resist posting up picture after picture.. The lighting there is too good to pass up! Just look at the textures in this crumble!!




Sam had a chocolate mint mousse, which was alright, but I don't care much for either chocolate or mint so I'll just repeat again that the panna cotta with salted caramel was beyond perfect. I've never had better panna cotta in my life.


This brings us to the end of my gastronomic adventure at Saint Pierre. It was an immensely enjoyable one that filled two of my weekend afternoons with smiles, and my tummy with yummy food. Big thanks to Edina, Chef Emmanuel Stroobant, Isabel for always being so hospitable and kind!!!! :)

Till the next meal!

Saint Pierre
31 Ocean Way, #01-15, Quayside Isle, Singapore 098375Tel: 6438 0887

Food quality: 4/5 (while some menu items were relatively simple and not particularly mind blowing, there's no doubt about the quality of ingredients)
Service / Ambience: 4/5 (gotta love the waterfront views and unpretentious classy atmosphere. also, chef emmanuel and edina are warm hosts!)
Value for Money: 3.5/5 (slightly pricey but you won't expect anything less from a fine dining restaurant)
Most suitable for:  I highly recommend Saint Pierre if you're looking for that perfect place to idle away a weekend afternoon. Just look at my pictures!!! The prices aren't cheap, but they're worth paying for and pretty reasonable considering the location, ambience, and how renowned Saint Pierre is. Give the Sunday Roast a go! 

.
.
.
.





Outfit of the day shot outside Saint Pierre. My pretty floral cut out dress is from Hollyhoque.com! I don't do fashion shots often, but how could I not with such a picture perfect backdrop?

I wish I could live in Sentosa! My life would be awesome. I'd sail on my yacht and bake cakes and cook food all day long and suntan in my non-existent bikini body.




I miss my purple hair!!! If you don't already know, I got rid of it (much to my regret). I'll save that story for another blog post... what a shame. No point crying over spilled milk but looking at these pictures makes my heart ache!





What better way to end off this post than with a picture of a greek god randomly cycling past me as I'm innocently snapping pictures of myself?


xoxo,
Jess

On 20th July 2013, Marina Square organised a Food on Foot Trail event in conjunction with 8 DAYS magazine, and my good friend Yina& myself were invited to participate in the amazing-race-style game activities, running around Marina Square covering the main highlights to share with you guys on our blogs!




With Yina, and her bf Yongzhuan!


The 3-hour programme that day included:

•Food Photography Workshop, with food blogger Dr. Leslie Tay and MediaCorp photographer, Hong Chee Yan, to teach participants how to take appealing food shots! Food shots are actually very difficult to master... not only must the lighting be perfect, you have to make the viewer wanna lick their screen to succeed properly!

•Participants are then sent to race around the mall to accomplish a series of tasks that requires them to take photos, implementing the tips taught during the workshop earlier.

•After looking at all the food at the various task stations, when they've completed all their challenges... it’s their turn to feast, at the buffet spread catered by Three Bistro!


I discovered a whole bunch of delicious dining options in Marina Square, which I didn't realize existed before. You will be surprised at how many choices you have in one mall! Happy to have also made new friends while putting my legs and brains to the test. A light-hearted way to spend the afternoon, one I wouldn't mind doing all over again. :)


This time, can we do something even more fun such as actually getting to eat food at every single station? Lol. I would totally win at that game, for sure.

In recent months, I've gotten to work increasingly often with a few home grown fashion brands and online boutiques, and it makes me very happy that they want to clothe me with their pretty stuff.. because if you know me at all, I'm anything but a fashion blogger. I blog about my life, food, traveling, and random every day stuff, however, rather rarely about the things I wear.

So thank you for dressing me up still! When I went down to online shopping paradise Fox Out's studio for a short photoshoot session last night, I was an awkward turtle still reclined in her shell. I haven't been in the studio for a photoshoot for far too long... since I was 16, I think! But I had so much fun pretending to be a model, even though it was a short-lived fantasy session for less than an hour.




Fox Out is a popular local online boutique selling ladies apparels & accessories, which has gained a significant amount of followers and loyal customers over the past year. Now that they're turning 1 years old, to celebrate their first birthday bash and to thank their customers for their support, they're holding an AWESOME sale that will see you bringing home pretty pieces at a fraction of the usual prices!!!



I personally picked out & wore these few outfits exclusively from Fox Out to show you girls what sort of apparels you can expect to see at their sale from as low as $5-20! I'm a UK 10 and these outfits fit me just fine, so there will be goodies for girls of all sorts of sizes :)




I adore this black crochet top and how the sleeve length cuts off at the right place, making my big arms look a little smaller!



This ensemble is feminine and flirty without being too over-the-top girly, especially with the monochrome colours. You would probably want to wear a tube or camisole underneath the crochet top and not parade around in a bra like me though, lol. I would do it in a studio... but not walking down the streets of Orchard Road. Later kena stomp.





A seemingly plain red dress from the front...




But va va voom at the back, with sheer lace details and an exposed zipper!! Hugs the body in all the right places. Date night dress for sure! I don't wear red much in fear of looking like an ang pao or a big tomato, but rich wine hues are a totally different story (the studio lighting makes it look brighter than it is)





As I get older, I find myself gravitating towards maxi dresses more than short ones. They're sassy and comfortable (no need to worry about your skirt flipping up in the wind which happens to me all too often, and I can sit cross legged or any way I want!). The peekaboo details & chiffon skirt makes a normal black fabric a little less formal, and lots more fun.




The strappy black platform heels on my feet are from Strut Off (a debuting shoe brand that will be revealed at the sale!) with gold accents are surprisingly comfy and easy to walk in, despite the height boost. I have a pair myself and they're my newest "go-to" heels. You have no idea how difficult it is to find a pair of heels I can ACTUALLY walk in.






This. Knitted. Top.... is. EVERYTHING.






It is soooo ridiculously comfortable that after throwing it on, I was like, "Mmmkay I'm not taking this off." And I actually went home in this attire, despite arriving at the studio in a lace dress. LOL. I love bell sleeves.. and scalloped hems.. and crochet / knit detailings... in other words... this top and I were meant to be. How I wish I was in Australia with Sam now (he's back in Melbourne visiting family) because snuggly cold winter weather would be a perfect excuse to wear this like, everyday.

So!!! Expect midi dresses, long dresses, short dresses, outerwear, accessories, tops, shorts, skirts, and HUNDREDS more gorgeous different designs (some unreleased ones as well!) at the Fox Out sale this weekend going up to 80% off, items at $5, $10, $15 & above, and the first 300 customers get a Fox Out goodie bag worth $80! I'll also be bringing a big fat rainbow cake to celebrate their first birthday.... so do say hi if you see me there. (in the evening)

Fox Out Sale Details!
Venue: Concorde Hotel, Concorde 3
Date: 31st August
Time: 11am-9pm (express pass holders can come in at 10am)
♥ 20 grand lucky draw prizes ♥ Free hair styling booth ♥ Free instant photo print ♥ Bored boyfriends corner (where girlfriends can deposit their boyfriends to play PS3/Xbox kinect etc, while they shop in peace! BRILLIANT IDEA!)

I'm giving away 5 complimentary express passes to the Fox Out Sale for my readers to go crazy shopping. You know what this means...? YOU GET TO BEAT THE MAD QUEUES!!! And, you're guaranteed that $80 goodie bag, even if you don't buy anything. Never ever underestimate how crazy queues can be when it comes to having a sale in Singapore. Also, having this express pass means you get first dibs on the prettiest items that will usually sell out the fastest during the sale.

To win the express passes, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post with your name, contact number and email address and I'll randomly pick 5 girls who will get priority treatment at this sale. Get your friend to leave a comment too so you can go shopping together!

Comments will not be published to protect your privacy. Winners will be chosen and contacted by Thursday evening (29th August!)




.
.
.
.
.
.









A nice coordinate isn't complete without accessories, and I've been wearing this CC Skye rose gold spiked bracelet from JUST TANGY to death. It's super cute and it goes with literally every outfit I have!!!




Wearing my white & gold CC Skye screw leather bracelet with the most comfy knit top in the world. I've seen this iconic CC Skye screw bracelet donned by soo many female celebrities on the internet.... of course I had to get one. They brainwashed me!

If you didn't already realize... yes. I really like CC Skye.

JUSTTANGY.COM brings you all the exotic things and unique international designer brands from all over the world, founded by Sarah Tang, who is an avid online shopper and a fan of exclusive international designer brands.  She finds magic in bringing emerging international brands, which are highly sort after but unavailable locally, making them more exclusive and special to own. These brands are carefully selected for their exclusiveness, unique design and popularity.

From the high fashion of New York City to handmade European goods. JUST TANGY aims to carry brands, which brings life into the owner, a distinctive flavor or tanginess to their personality and outfit!

Other delicious items JUST TANGY offers from different jewelry labels mixed and matched in the way I would personally pair / stack them:




Horseshoe Charm White Gold Bracelet from Claire Aristides with Double Header Spike Bracelet from CC Skye




Double Wrap Portico Lock Leather Bracelet in Neon Pink from CC Skye with Neon Yellow Gold Screw Bracelet from CC Skye

I have the neon pink leather bracelet, it adds a fun pop of color whenever I feel my outfit needs more life!




Hey boys, there's something for you too!!!! Kiel James Patrick nautical rope bracelets!

She has only recently brought in this label, and I can't wait to get Sam to pick his favorite design out of the collection for me to buy for him, because there's so much old fashioned American charm in these. Who wouldn't want to date a handsome sailor boy in uniform and bright blue eyes, back in the day? ;) There aren't many fancy guy accessories out there, and these are way more fun than the boring dark colored leather & metal types.




JUST TANGY brings in chic Daniel Wellington watches for both men & women as well, so if you're a fan of simple vintage-looking watches you have to check their website out!

Enter the code SHIBERTYxJT upon check out for a special discount off all your CC Skye purchases, while stocks last :) You may notice quite a few items are sold out on the site, but Sarah the owner brings back stock every now and then, so join their newsletter for live updates on when your favorite coveted pieces come back in stock!



Happy shopping everyone... it's cheaper than a shrink, and I don't know about you, but it sure as hell works wonders for my moods!

P.S - Photos of me were taken at La Novella studios. The people there are extremely nice and helpful! Thank y'all for the awesome shots even though it was such a rushed and impromptu session ♥

xoxo,
Jess

Japanese food.

Where do I begin explaining my love for it? All the different textures, strong and light flavors, immaculate presentation...



 I'd previously blogged about one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Singapore, Hinoki, back in January, earlier this year.

 However, they have since made a big change, bringing about a brand new chef to helm the kitchen... so I just had to revisit to see if the standard was the same, or perhaps even better!






Hinoki used to just be called.... well, Hinoki. But ever since Chef Santaro Li took over, the whole restaurant was renamed Santaro @ Hinoki... so you can kinda tell what a big deal this is! Chef Li has over 40 years of culinary experience, having spent a few years in Japan learning the secrets of the trade, bringing authentic sushi back to Singapore. I have always liked Hinoki, but I think I love Santaro @ Hinoki even more because Chef Li is such a jolly man, his smiles are infectious! Also, his food is BEYOND amazing.

Omakase is a unique Japanese concept dining whereby you leave the menu entirely up to the chef's discretion, so you don't know what you're having for lunch or dinner until you're staring the dish in the face!!! It's not something I indulge in often due to the price tag (heavy, but worth it) but when I do, it's usually a special occasion.

This time, it was Sam's 27th Birthday!! Man, he's getting old...




The first appetizer set made sure our meal got off to a great start!

Chopped prawns smothered in mentaiko sauce, tuna tartare, and century egg tofu.




The century egg sauce was so lusciously creamy and thick, went perfectly well with the refreshing taste of silky cold tofu!





Our sashimi platter - tuna belly (!!!!!), salmon, sweet prawn, squid, caviar.. of the freshest quality


The texture of the sashimi slices were wonderfully firm yet it kinda melts in your mouth. There's nothing worse than cheap sashimi that isn't fresh and this tasted like it just jumped out of the ocean and onto my plate. Hehehehe I am so corny.




Traditional Japanese soup with tofu, asparagus, fish cheek, shitake mushrooms and kelp. Simple and light on the palette, but soul warming nevertheless.






Grilled yellowtail cheek, with seaweed and truffle oil. :') It may not look like something particularly extraordinary but this is definitely one of the best, if not THE best, grilled fish I've ever had.

Every bite had me wanting more. Throughout the whole meal, Sam and I couldn't stop gushing about the food to one another. I think I'm blessed enough to have had a lot of great meals in my lifetime, and I can tell you very honestly that I do not gush about food very often. If you ask my friends, they'll tell you about how I'm a food snob. But refined Japanese food is REALLY something else. Worth frothing your jocks for!




Hinoki's signature chawanmushi with shark's fin and salmon roe.

Wow. I know, right?


And of course... one of the things you can't miss out on at a good Japanese restaurant besides sashimi. Sushi!!!!!



I think good sushi is incredibly difficult to get in Singapore. Most places serve you lukewarm rice that don't have a firm bite / not enough vinegar tang / falls apart when you try to pick it up / made with rice that wasn't even made for sushi... omg. No, no and no. The main ingredient of the sushi (usually a type of fish!) should always cover at LEAST 70% of the sushi rice!!!!

 Hinoki's definitely got the right idea. Every piece was a burst of joy in my mouth.




I think my heart skipped a beat every time they layed down a new plate on our table. But no one was a happier man than Sam that day, because this birthday treat was on me! They were sweet enough to surprise us with a green tea birthday cake for him, complete with a lit candle and all. Thank you guys for the sweet gesture and for making my ham literally b u r s t at the seams of his heart and belt with happiness!



Check out the Instagram video I put together of our omakase meal:




I loved watching Chef Li assemble the sushi and sashimi that would soon go into my tummy right in front of my very eyes. When you visit Hinoki, definitely grab a counter seat to witness magic happening before your very eyes! I'd take this over David Copperfield any day. :P


.
.
.


Apart from being famous for their omakase style dining, Hinoki also offers great value for money bento sets for a more everyday-affair type of dinner!

We came back a few weeks later to try their bento sets for dinner (told you I ♥ Hinoki). They have prices ranging from $20+ to $40+ per bento, and each bento comes with a variety of dishes, great for people who want to eat everything on the menu... like.... me.




Since they're having a promotion for the month of September for a shabu shabu set, we decided to try that out as well.




And for the month of October, they have a special sukiyaki deal!




My babe of a friend Melissa Celestine Koh and her charming man Jonathan joined us for dinner! We had a great time that evening, chatting away in a quiet alfresco area while pigging out on Japanese food paired with beer... every weekday evening should be made of something like this. :)






No omakase this time, so we sat outside instead for a more chillax ambience! It wasn't particularly stuffy or perspiration-inducing as I'd anticipated. It was actually quite lovely.





Hinoki Signature Bento, come to momma!!! All that food for one person? Yes please!



Our bentos (we ordered different ones) had different side dishes!

To name a few: stewed pumpkin with prawn and egg white, terikayi unagi, assorted sashimi and sesame salad. So much goodness in one bento set.... I didn't know where to start first. But start and finish it, I did..... every last morsel of it, to be precise.





Next to arrive on our table was this plate of thinly sliced and beautifully marbled wagyu beef for our shabu shabu. The boys couldn't get over how tender the meat was!!! (Y) It didn't need any marination.

It was great on its own, just a couple of swishes and seconds in the boiling broth and it's good to go.





What our dining table looked like:

4 bento sets, a huge plate of vegetables and wagyu beef, and our hot pot to the right which you can't really see in the picture. We sure know how to feast!




Happy diners posing for a pic. Sorry for the atrocious quality, I had a random person snap it for us and it was so shoddily taken that it was beyond my photoshopping skills.





By the end of the evening, Jonathan was happily conversing with Chef Santaro Li in Japanese (Jon lived in Japan for a few years) and I guess Chef Li really liked having us over at Hinoki because he invited the boys back for drinks a few days later (guys night out), and apparently Chef Li told Sam and Jon many interesting stories about his life! What a great man.


Sincere thanks go out to Hinoki for always delivering top-notch Japanese cuisine every time I've patronized your restaurant, and Chef Li for hosting us with warm hospitality, making sure we have nothing short of a great time with him. Hinoki remains as one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Singapore. It's going to take a lot to beat this for me.

Santaro @ Hinoki
22 Cross Street #01-50 China Square Central
Tel: 65367746
Food quality: 5/5 

Service / Ambience: 4/5 (Chef Li is really quite a character)
Value for Money: 3.5/5 (Pricey, but you get your money's worth in deliciousness!)
Most suitable for: A great hidden & underrated find to take business clients to, and celebrate special occasions at. Birthdays, anniversaries... and good test results. Feel like splurging? Try their omakase dining and prepare to be impressed.

xoxo,
Jess