Nuffnang Lovin' x Christmas Countdown - Barista Workshop @ Stranger's Reunion

I gladly RSVP-ed to the final installment of Nuffnang Lovin' X Christmas event when I received the email about it. There were really limited slots for the Barista Workshop held by Strangers' Reunion. 

I gave the other events a miss because the timing clashes with my schedule. I'm so happy that I can make it for this and I've been wanting to visit Strangers' Reunion for the longest possible time. 

We were asked to do a self introduction and what do we usually blog about. The bloggers that were invited to the event are mainly lifestyle bloggers/food bloggers who loves visiting cafe :) 

Afterwhich, the staffs from Strangers' Reunion passed us the menu to order our drinks. 

And guessed what? All the coffee drinkers ordered their signature drink "Magic" since all of us are first timers to Strangers' Reunion. The non coffee drinkers ordered their hot chocolate.

The boss of Strangers' Reunion, Ryan Tan, personally did the coffee and latte art for all of our "Magic". Seriously, I feel so honored, because from what I know, he don't appear the the cafe everyday. Some background info, he's a 3-time Singapore Barista Champion & Latte Art Champion :)

I can only say, he's really serious and seeks perfection in every coffee and latte art he made.

All the latte art done by Ryan Tan. Aren't they pretty? 

When you put a group of bloggers together, they won't be concentrating on eating but in actual fact, we can spend 1/2 hour going around to take photos! 

We were served with many small bites too and they were really afraid we will not be full. But in fact, we are all bursting when we left the place.

Their famous truffle fries. 

I don't really remember what is this, but it just tasted like fried chips. 

The fried calamari is da best! Super yummy, I can't help but to keep eating it. 

The fried mushroom if I never remember wrongly. It's been nearly 1 month since the event, so you can't blame me for the poor memory haha! 

All the yummy treats for us. 

You can spot the fried luncheon meat at the top of chips. It's quite a popular dish being ordered there other than their truffle fries. 

It was time for the Barista Workshop afterwards. Everyone started to feel nervous because none of us had done latte art before. What if it comes out really ugly, it's gonna be so embarrassing! But yet, you have the urge to just try it for yourself to see how latte art is formed. 

I'm a sucker for heart shape, hence my favorite latte art for that night will be this :)

We took turns to learn how to make a simple heart shape latte art. Thanks Amanda from Nuffnang, for helping me take those photos below with my camera, while I'm in the midst of learning.  

Ryan guided us for the first time by holding on to the milk tin, so that we can have a feel of it.

And then it was my turn to go solo! He did gave verbal instructions to guide us :) 

And ta dah I'm done! lol! 

Seriously, not bad right for first timer? hehe. 

A close up look of it lol. 

And if you're wondering, nope we did not drink whatever we have made. If not we will probably suffered from insomia that night. 

After everyone had tried making a heart shape, he went on to guide a few of us to do a leaf shape. A pretty complicated design and it's not as easy as a heart shape. 

:) 

Before we left, we were served with their famous waffles. We had their weekly specials and I can't really remember what is it called. I think it got something to due with coconut shavings and also macadamia ice cream.

The weekly special waffles that week. It tasted really good. :) (p/s: I did went back for their waffles again, will blog more about it soon) 

Ended this post with photos taken by Qi Xin from Nuffnang..She was the one who invited us too. :) 

Group photo with Ryan. 

Thanks Nuffnang for hosting this amazing event. For more pictures of the event, you can click here.

I'll be back really soon to blog more about Strangers' Renuion. Stay tuned :) 

Strangers' Reunion 

37 Kampong Bahru Rd, 169356

6222 4869

Miss Tam Chiak's Xmas Party: Featuring Pizzahut's Xmas 2013 Menu!

It's the time of the year whereby you'll get to see beautiful lightings, xmas decoration and not forgetting the feast that's awaiting you during this festive season. 

I was really honoured to be invited by Miss Tam Chiak aka Maureen, who is a famous food blogger in Singapore to try out the latest Pizzahut's Xmas menu. When I went to BKK earlier this month, I started planning my own itinerary via searching for Bangkok's post by various food bloggers. I find Miss Tam Chiak's post on 10 must try food places in Bangkok really useful! That's when I got to know her.

I saw her having this contest for 50 lucky readers and I gladly entered. And who knows, I'm 1 of the lucky one to be picked by her. I was surprised to receive the email from her. Part of me wished to attend the event and I'm struggling with another part of me who feels weird attending this event alone. But come to think of it, it's just a food tasting event, it doesn't hurt and it sounds fun! I believed there are others who are attending it alone. 

This xmas party was held at the Pizzahut outlet at City Square Mall. I was there early at 6:30pm. The registration counter was not opened yet but I've already spotted Maureen there. Feeling awkward, I kindly took a seat somewhere behind and when the registration started, I gladly shifted to a table with 2 other individual and 1 of them had a friend joining later.

Here I present, the menu of the day.. :)

My first reaction "wah! So many course??!!"

The pizzahut's staff started taking order of what sparkles drink we would like to had. Btw, the drink is free flow so you can guess how happy I was. A drink like this would have cost $3.90! 

Part of the crowd that has already settled there. There's still more coming in at a later time. We took up more than half of the seats in City Square Mall's Pizza Hut.

Here comes my Mango Sparkle Drink. I've had it before when I dined in at Pizzahut, simply love it beacuse it's Mango. There's berri flavour which is strawberry and green apple :)

While guests are still slowly filling up the seats, the pizza hut's staff started serving the first dish which is the Criss-Cross Fries. It was already 7+pm hence most of us were famished! The 4 of us seated on the same table finished the fries within minutes. I believe the Criss-Cross Fries is not something new to regular customers of Pizzahut, if you've ever dined in at Pizzahut, you should have try it before. It is always part of the festive set.

Coming up next is the Christmas Platter..something new just for this year Xmas..

Tempura prawns, baked potatoes in cream sauce and the drumlets which taste different from the usual sweet and spicy drumlets. One mouth and you can tell it's not the usual drumlets we always eat though it looks like the usual ones. It's still spicy, but more towards the spicy and a little sour. Perhaps they may have marinated it with Mango Sauce. Okay I'll tell you why I guess it's mango sauce later on..I've no idea what the taste is actually, but definitely something new and refreshing from Pizza Hut.

Introducing another new item this year on their Xmas Menu, Truffle Mushroom Baked Pasta! I love pasta by Pizza Hut because they taste totally awesome and it's pretty affordable. My favourites are the Cheesy Shroom Baked Pasta and the Chicken Ole Baked Rice.  

The Truffle Mushroom Baked Rice contains cheese, button mushrooms, pineapple, turkey ham and not forgetting truffle sauce! I didn't know there's this thing called Truffle Sauce. It's pretty awesome but the whole pasta on the whole is a little salty. 

If you're wondering, all the above dishes are shared between the 4 of us. If it was just for 1 person, I think I would have bursted after this pasta dish. lol! 

Maureen start the whole session by giving us a welcome speech and asked us to sit back, relax and enjoy the food. She also briefed us on what's going to happen in the next hour or so.

Before the main lead which is the Xmas Pizza make the appearance, 2 lucky guest were invited to join Maureen to learn how to make the Double Decker Pizza. 

Everyone focusing on the whole process performed by the chef before they try it themsevles.

And ta dah they are done!

They each get to bring home the pizza they have made at there :)

Presenting to you..this year Pizzahut's Xmas Special, Double Decker Pizza.

Now do you get why is it called Double Decker Pizza? Yes? No?

Take a closer look and you will see there's another layer in the middle of the pizza. Basically, it's lying on top of the main toppings of pizza. The addtional layer on top is make using tortilla with turkey ham and cheese, not forgetting there's also mango mayonnaise mixed with it! One can't really tell there's mango mayonnaise and I got to only know the existance of the mango mayonnaise during the games session. 

Btw, there's cucumber added on to the additional layer of the Double Decker Pizza. Non-cucumber lover do remember to request for no cucumber when they order this pizza. If not, you might need to slowly dig out the cucumber and leave it aside. 

As for the base of the pizza, it is made with cheese crust (my favourite crust up till date, I simply love it), chicken, capsicums :)

During the games session, the hosts asked everyone to guessed the ingredients used in the Double Decker Pizza and Truffle Mushroom Pasta. And yup, I won a $10 Pizzahut Voucher during the games session. Thanks Pizzahut! 

We each have 2 slices of the Double Decker Pizza, it was really filling and I couldn't finish it. 

I ordered a 2nd servings of the drink and I've gottsen myself the Green Apple Sparkle Drink this time round.Honestly speaking, I still prefer the mango flavour :)

The berri flavour sparkle drink which the others sitting at my table ordered...

A close up of the pizza..

We were served Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream as desserts.

I find the texture of the Chocolate Fudge Brownie pretty sticky. I'm very cautious and am afraid that it might stuck to my teeth. So in short, eating this ice cream can be pretty tiring lol. I didn't finished it in the end also because I was freezing...

Last but not least, I will like to thanks Miss Tam Chiak for her invite. The Pizzahut's xmas menu is available in store now :) Hope my reviews are helpful in one way or another! 

A picture with Miss Tam Chiak before I left..

I honestly admire food bloggers because they are constantly eating and travelling but they are able to maintain their figure! 

Anlene Giveaway, Nuffnang Ironman 3 Movie Premium :)

I won myself a Anlene hamper from Ying Tian/ruffledwhiteskirt's blog  few weeks ago when she blogged about Anlene products and held a giveaway. 

I started drinking Anlene awhile ago. The packet Anlene drink are nice to drink but also quite expensive. 4 small packets of Anlene costs $3.95. Hence, I will wait till NTUC to have discount on this product before  stocking up. I usually have it in the morning while having my breakfast in office. Those small packets are convenient to bring around. 

I started taking in high calcium products for stronger bones (because of all the exercises I did, I feel that my bones must be stronger). It's better to start when you are young. Start now, it's never too late. :) Calcium is very important to human especially in women.

I was hoping to win the giveaway and yes, Anlene chose my answers. If I did not remember wrongly, they asked me what does the word "strong" meant to me. :)

These amount of Anlene gonna last me for quite some time. :)

Btw, it was hand delivered to my house but no one was at home, so they hang the recycle bag at my house's door gate. Aren't they afraid that it will get stolen? But anyway, I'm glad its not.

Thanks Ying Tian and Anlene for the hamper :):)

Remember my blog post on Ironman 3? My entry was selected by Nuffnang and I won the Ironman 3 Movie Preimums from them. Thanks Nuffnang once again :) 

Ironman T-shirt, Ironman Stickers and Tattoos, Ironman Notepad and Ironman Lanyard. 

I love to participate in such giveaway/contest to try my luck. Seriously, who don't love all this freebies? :)

Create Your Style with Swaroski Elements Workshop @ Jurong Point

I was invited to the Create Your Style with Swaroski Elements Workshop by Nuffnang on 27th April :) 

Thanks to Nuffnang for the invite! 

I was told to go there 15 minutes earlier for the event so as to get my started kit and goodie bag.

When I reached there, I was asked to choose 1 bracelet (there's around 4-5 types to choose from), and also 3 charms since it's buy 2 get 2 free. There's many charms and I'm seriously spoiled for choice. 

While I'm choosing the charms, I spotted famous blogger bongqiuqiu teaching others how to DIY their own bracelet with the latest BeCharmed assortment by Swarovski Elements. 

Though It's not my first time meeting her, I've met her before in 2011 on Valentine's day during the  I'm no. 4 movie gala premiere, BUT I still feel super nervous meeting her. 

I'm glad she's really very friendly and I feel so pai seh for giving her one word reply.

:). 

I took this photo of her after She's done with me actually haha!

She's really very patient and friendly with everyone who asked her all sorts of questions. Btw, there were many aunties attending the workshop too! 

Once I'm done choosing and paid for my bracelet and charms, I sat down and started to do the bracelet. Anyway it's a very easy process. less than 5 minutes can be done :)

With bongqiuqiu! 

I'm lucky to have a 1 to 1 session with her and I even won her giveaway. 

Anyway I felt really pai seh cause I DO remember reading on her blog she's having a giveaway for people attending her workshop, but at that point of them when she say she's giving me something, I replied her " oh? You got things to give away arh?" 

My brain sort of hang-ed after I see her, feeling kan cheong and shy. It's only after everything then I came to my senses. zzzzzz. 

So qiu qiu if you're reading this, I'm just too kan cheong after seeing you and busy admiring your pretty face! 

Another pic with qiu qiu outside the workshop :)

The pic I posted on instagram with filter added.

#OOTD - Denim jumper with white tank top :) Derp love to see me in a jumper but in the past I refuse cause I can't fit cause of my fat butt at that time. We passed by a shop selling the jumper and he told me to try and I managed to squeeze in this time round :) Will be wearing this jumper for my Taiwan trip! 

Derp came to have lunch with me after the workshop but We were too early for our Iron Man 3 movie, so We went home to put my goodie bag and I change out of my jumper. 

#OOTD2 - change out of my jumper and wore a denim shorts for Iron Man 3! 

I don't really wish to be in a skirt for a 2 hours plus movie.

Derp actually took a few pictures of me in #OOTD2 just that I decide to post this up lol. I was adjusting my tank top and going to put my hands into the pocket of my shorts and ta dah, he took this epic photo. -_-'.

After typing so much, I'm going to show your the bracelet I DIY-ed at the workshop. 

Pretty ma? :) 

I've wore it to work for 1 week and the condition is still damn good. Why do I say so? Cause I'm quite a chor lor person lol. I did hit my bracelet against some stuff but everything is still intact, no scratches and everything. 

I paid around $27 for it, it's so worth it! :) I'm going to add in another 2 charms to the sides very soon. 

Won this set of giveaway from qiu qiu. 

The sunglasses were 'zheng' with swarovski crystals all by qiu qiu herself. She call this pair of shades the 'angry bird' shades because of the black swarovski crystals that look like angry bird's eyebrow. haha! 

I think I look not that bad in this shades so I chose it, I did actually try the shades on the spot. 

Do I look like angry bird? lol. 

I realise the shade is a little too big for my face but I'm okay with it.

 I really think I look not that bad in this shades leh, I shall bring this for my Taiwan trip! 

Thanks Nuffnang once again for the invite and qiu qiu for the awesome giveaway gifts. It was a really good experience meeting qiu qiu in real life :)