Candles on the Cake

I am counting my blessings. Seriously.

I had my birthday celebrations at Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia this year. On different days of course. Thanks to all my dearest, beloved friends and family. First time in my life that I had my-day celebrated at 3 different countries.

First candles blowing was in Vietnam, on the 17th May...

Then on the 24th May, in Malaysia...

Finally on the 25th, 27th, 30th May respectively in Singapore...

And lastly on the 31st May, one of my besties in Singapore delivered me some home-baked yummylicious carrot cupcakes for my-day! (Just when I was craving for carrot cake since the week before, lovely ^^)

I'm really grateful to have known all of you. To have you all, lovely people putting in efforts to celebrate my bday, plan for surprises, get all those thoughtful presents and some of you even DIY!!

I owe u all a BIG THANK YOU!! THANKS!!! You all are truly and greatly appreciated. Cheers!

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more."

*winks*

Sundown Marathon 2011

Finally, I made it to Sundown Marathon 10km this year on the 28th May 2011.

Registered as a participant last year but ran away to Kuala Lumpur for a short trip *gasp*

Checked the online race result, completed 5km within 30mins 33secs and my chip time was 1hr 04mins 09secs.

The online result shows that there were 5454 finishers behind me when I stepped on to the finisher line and I was at the 17th place in the female 25-29 division, with 2% finishers ahead.

I could not ask for more though I aimed to complete the 10km run with no pit stops. I walked for a distance till I saw the finishing line from far. That was when I started to run with all my strength to complete the Sundown Marathon! *satisfied*

Never ever give up! If you think you can, you can! Cheers.

Beef Noodles Soup (Taiwanese Style)

I wanted to participate so much in the blood donation drive last week. Especially when I know that my blood type is scarce most of the time.

However, my hemoglobin was too low and I was rejected at the door step to become an eligible blood donor. The minimum hemoglobin level you need to be a qualified donor is 12.5g/dl, mine was 11+g/dl *sad*

With the intention to become a suitable blood donor in the next blood donation drive. I cooked a dish that is high in iron, aiming to increase my haemoglobin levels *winks

Beef noodles soup~ *nom nom nom*

Learnt this dish from a friend’s mum who is a Taiwanese when I was in uni. Have not cooked this dish for at least 2-3 years. Luckily I still received positive comments from my guinea pigs :P

I love it best with loads of salted veggies *yummy*

Fish Spa, Jurong Point

It has been a while since I wanted to try on the prominent fish spa which started to bloom a few years back. The fever has now faded after all these years and I had yet to try it till a few days ago at Jurong Point.

Getting my feet clean as a start to my first fish spa experience ;)

It was a coincidental visit as we need to wait for a good 20-30minutes for the passport photos to be done. And a session of fish spa takes approximately 15minutes. It is a good way to kill our time while waiting for the photos, isn’t it? *winks

Fishes here are much bigger in size than those that I have seen at else where.

It was not easy to immerse my feet completely into the water to “feed” the fishes with my dead skin. Once you have gotten the courage to submerge your feet into the water, the excitement kind of washed out too. Haha.

(p/s: I simply can’t imagine these fishes which have been biting on other people’s dead skin to bite on mine too. It is worse if there were inconsiderate people who have had their feet with broken skin/ wound/ unknown diseases to visit the fish spa before me. Geez. Hygiene issue has always been one of the main reasons why I used to be in a dilemma to give it a try :P)

Good experience. But I prefer spa and massage much more than fish spa *grins

Ikoi Japanese Restaurant, Miramar Hotel

With no fear, a group of us went to Ikoi at Miramar Hotel along Havelock Road to attack their well-known Jap buffet!

This was my 3rd visit to this restaurant, and my 1st visit after the devastation that happened @ Japan in March this year.

Here are some of the complimentary from the buffet…

This was one of the many plates of sashimi that we had that night. I think I was overloaded with omega-3 after the meal, haha. (Hello Heart, I am treating you well I suppose. LOL) OOoohh, I LOVE sashimi. Uhm, fresh ones please. *drools*

Not to forget another signature dish of the Japanese cuisine… TEMPURA!!!

Some other deep fried items that we ordered…

We seriously ordered so much that our table was flooded with F.O.O.D!

For once, these 9ladies who went to the Japanese buffet that night had C.A.L.O.R.I.E.S. deleted from their dictionaries (for that couple of hours). Haha.

I am really not kidding. I was too busy eating at one point of time and some of them could not wait but to attack the food once it arrived. Hence, the photos shown here are only part of the food we ordered (e.g. didn't manage to take the dessert - green tea ice cream with red bean that my friend ordered, cos she could not WAIT!). LOL.

Besides, some were ordered in 2 or more plates/ servings, haha. Our stomach elasticity must be in really good condition to be able to expand and shrink as necessary *grins*

The place was still crowded with people (as usual). So reservation is a must! Seems like nobody is affected by the issue about radiation in food. :P

We all die for yummylicious food!*winks*

Happy Mother's Day 2011

This is the 3rd Mother’s Day celebration since I am back from Australia for good. It has then become a tradition for me to cook on this special day for my dearest mum.

My mum was so excited when I told her I would turn her kitchen into my playground once again on her day. Her response was it had been so long since I last cooked them a meal. True enough, I can’t remember when was the last time I messed up her kitchen. Most probably it was Father’s Day last year? *grin*

Decided to cook some Thai foods for my beloved parents on Mother’s Day.

We had Seafood Tom Yum Goong...

Green Curry Veg-Chicken...

Lemon Sauce Steamed Fish...

And Stir-fried Four-angled Bean ;)

When I was cooking the green curry, mum kept peeping on me and commented that the green curry smells really nice. And during the dinner, mum was saying that I should cook this green curry again. *smile* I am really glad that mum enjoyed the meal.

Happy Mother's Day once again, my dearest mummy. Thank you for always being there. I am nothing without you <3

Hope you like the present. *BEAR HUGS*

Arteastiq, Mandarin Gallery

My 2nd visit to Arteastiq at Mandarin Gallery.

First went there in March for desserts, and it definitely has its magnetism to pull me back for more.

I have read some reviews to complain that their service is too slow. Perhaps thats the reason why they have the above message left on each table.(Dont remember seeing these messages on my first visit)*grin*

Revisited this place again for dinner before the mother’s day present hunt at Orchard.

It is a lovely place with beautiful interior and the drinks are rather special such as dessert teas, alcoholic teas and tea-infused ice-cream. *yum yum* The set meal serving size is just nice for me, or perhaps most girls. Hehe.

A perfect place for girls outing.

Had a nice chat with my friend there before we started to shop till we dropped *winks*

Honestly, I don’t think there is any right or wrong in many of the things that we are doing everyday. And I am definitely not there to judge.

Many a time, it is not likely to please everyone. Everyone is different in a way besides having different perception.

All I would say is to be the best you can and leave no regrets. Cheers.

p/s: I heart yummylicious mushroom soup <3

Banana-Peach Chocolate Muffins

Baking mode is once again on over the long weekend.

Baked some chocolate banana muffins this time round. Added some canned peach into the muffins, simply because my bro bought it early this year when he was back at home but never had a chance to eat it before he left to China. No one at home really like canned peach, so there it goes in to the muffins :P

First, mashed the banana...

Add in the mashed canned peach...

Mix with shaved chocolate and all other ingredients...

Have the muffin batter placed nicely into the muffin cups...

There they go in to the oven to do some "sauna"...

And, TA DA...

The so called fruity and moist banana-peach chocolate muffins are ready to be served!

Bon appétit ;)

Celebration of Life, Love and Happiness

Two lives joined together, two hearts that beat as one.

Witnessed and celebrated a church wedding yesterday.


The wedding was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart, a really nice church along Tank Road.

And the ceremony was sweet and lovely.


May this day you share be filled with love and laughter. May all the days ahead be happy ever after!

Congratulations G&G! ;)