Singapore Staycation #1 2015

Not complaining that I'm not spending enough time with the boy, however it's undeniable that the time we spend together are hardly quality time. Having a small business that we manage together, while doing LDR, every time we meet always become work catch up time :( 

I'm mostly to be blamed. I take things too seriously, hence when I'm preoccupied, it is difficult for me to turn off work mode and just relax. This stress has been taking a toll on our quality time, including our intimate times together.

Determined to fix this, while also craving for a vacation, I was at first looking up vacation at Bintan Island for this long Easter weekend. However looking at the logistics and thinking how much (in fact very little) time we need to travel to the island is already stressing me out! In the end I just decided to do a staycation using my SPG points for the first time, to have some good quality time to ourselves!

Wanted something really near and accessible, I booked The Westin at Asia Square. How is this not a Staycation when it's only 2 blocks away from my office? Oh my. 

I requested for early check in because their usual check in time is only at 3pm! My goodness more than half the day is gone what use would it be to book this hotel?! The service assistant could not promise to fulfill my 10am check in request, I requested to at least do it at 12pm which is a standard hotel check in time. They did not get back to me until 10:30am in the morning and told me that I can check in now. Oh dear that's good news but I've already had plans in the morning! Nonetheless I still planned to arrive at 12. 

Being a SPG gold member, I was also upgraded to an enhanced room with sea view, and my late check out request was approved! I'm happy! 

Oh well, what kind of sea view can you expect in Singapore huh? I call this harbor view. The room is not very big, however it has a separate bath room and dressing area that is as big as the bed room itself, I'm quite satisfied with the overall experience. Totally not something I would pay for myself, thank you SPG! I may not have the best experiences with most of your hotels, but I guess this staycation did kinda retain my loyalty to you. 

We did all we wanted to do during our stay which include watching a movie and playing board game. Best of all, I was very well rejuvenated and happy that we spent time together not working. I am looking forward to more staycation, for free!

L'OCCITANE Angelica Face Toner Review

Never a fan of face toner, it is usual of me to never finish a bottle of toner. I have been using the travel size for some time and I thought this is not too bad? Determined to fix my dry + oily skin, I thought perhaps I should revisit using a toner. Hence I purchase this a month ago.

The verdict -- again, I didn't quite like the sticky feeling it leaves behind when I first started to use it. After 2 weeks, I can't go without it! After my morning and night cleansing routine everyday, I have the urge to pat my face over with this Angelica Face Toner every time and I look forward to using it!

Nine West Exclusive from Zalora

Purple is my favorite color. I saw this pair of peep toe shoes on Zalora, by Nine West Exclusive. I didn't know how is "exclusive" different from the normal Nine West, but they are definitely cheaper. I bought this pair for SGD 49. 

They fit perfectly and comfortably. However the quality of this shoe is just terrible! The inner side starts to peel on the first day wearing it! I am not sure if a worn, damage product is covered in their 30 days return policy. I chose to keep them because they are still comfortable nonetheless. Look at this terrible peeling by yourself...

Shame on you Nine West Exclusive(ly low quality)

L'OCCITANE Pivoine Flora Solid Perfume Review

L'OCCITANE Pivoine Flora Solid Perfume

I would have never pick up this vintage little tin if it was not because I had to top up my purchase in order to receive a free gift set. Well I was almost there and I would want to try out there latest Aromachologie collection! What more for free.

This pretty little tin of Pivoine (pronounced as "pi-vua-ne" or Peony in English) Flora solid perfume retails at SGD 18. The sales girl totally sold it to me. I asked her what is this? Is it lip balm? She chuckled a little and explain that it's actually perfume, but you're right that it is commonly mistaken as a lip balm, it is also as easy to carry like a lip balm in your purse! Made perfect sense to me. I do like putting on light floral scrent fragrance and my favorite to date is still the Paul Smith Rose. However I find that the spray releases a large amount that sometimes I am concerned the scent might me too strong, especially when I can still smell it myself. This little tin will be perfect for me to carry it around!

I was trying out all 3 scents in the store. The Rose is definitely too strong. The Cherry Blossom is too light. I couldn't get a distinct liking for this Pivoine Flora at first. The scent is definitely mild enough for my liking, however I was still uncertain. Nonetheless if I have to pick one it will have to be this. 

Turns out after I arrived home, and after un-boxing my today's haul, I open the solid perfume up to put it on, I absolutely love the scent! I guess my sense of smell just got clouded after sniffing too many products in the store.

Oh and this thing makes me think I smell like an atas tai-tai too ;)

26 at Oxwell & Co.

Oxwell & Co.

My office mates threw me a birthday surprise at this lovely restaurant and bar, decorated with my favorite hydrangeas. They simply know me too well and picked out this place for they know I would love it. 

If you fancy something old fashioned, yet simple, classy and girly, this is the place to be. I personally find this a good place to throw a hen's night party simply for the modern vintage decoration! Their house gin and tonic is also a must grab while you dine here.

The Immortelle Precious Cream Review

If you must know, I became the biggest fan of L'OCCITANE after I bought a set of travel size products from the Livermore Premium Outlet. I always thought this brand is expensive until I discovered it at the outlet store, it became a lot more affordable to me compared to what I need to pay for in the part of the world I am living!

I used to have oily and acne prone skin. Now in my mid 20s, with frequent travels and night crawling, my skin turned combination. Most times it gets dehydrated and it peels! Finding the right skin care is an expensive experience for me because I always ended up not using up half the stuff I bought.

I'll leave the story of how I first started the Immortelle collection for another time. This is the third product I'm using from this collection. The retail price costs a hefty SGD 95. Thanks to this awesome app Carousell, I bought this 5% used jar for only SGD 5. I was very hesitant to purchase used product at first, but this product is just too expensive for me to "try". 

Turn out that I didn't like it that much at all. I guess I just do not like the creamy texture that much, it kinda feels sticky. I can only apply it at night before I go to sleep or my face would turn oily if I use it in the day. I was almost going to abandon it. Until my moisturizer starts to run out, I started to use it more at night again. I must say after giving it a second attempt, I love how soft my face is when I wake up the next morning! I'm not usually a fan of sleeping in air conditioned room, I usually only turn on the air con for an hour to fall asleep because my skin is very sensitive to air conditioned room, it gets too dry. However with this Immortelle Precious Cream, I could go on  all night with the air con on, and still have soft skin in the morning!

I have then started to splurge a lot more on L'OCCITANE products now and I am excited to review all of them soon!

The Pattern of Coffee and People

Ever since I stopped writing and sharing photos of trips on Facebook, I stop processing photos that I've taken, the worst, I stop taking a lot of photos. I don't have a lot of attachments simply because I can be too lazy to keep them. Moments are going to slip by and one day I may regret when I felt like looking back, I told myself.

I rummage through the memory card of my much neglected semi-pro. What I found are memories I'm glad I captured. Picking one for my header photo isn't difficult. Coffee is my daily fuel. I literally cannot function if I were to start my day without one.

The Gibraltar @ Houndstooth Coffee

Gee introduced me to my first The Gibraltar while we were in Austin last March. It is a tad stronger than my usual cappuccino. Perfect for the day when I needed the extra kick.

The Pattern of Coffee and People

Not only did I fall in love with this brew now, the pattern definitely became one of my favorite after stripes and polka dots!