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

Weekend Sushi Date & Running Errands..

It's not my first time blogging about Sushi Express, but it's my first time eating it with Derp :) 

The other time I had it with my girlfriends, and I do think that their sushi are really not bad. A good place to satisfy your cravings for sushi at a affordable price. 

I've wanted to bring Derp to the one at Westgate, because there's some opening promotion going on. However, the queue is so god damn long. We happily passed by the branch at Citylink, after collecting our minions and otw to get our wedding bands. 

Since there's not much people yet, we had our early lunch there! It beats queuing at Westgate when they are serving the same food.

Ever since Derp's birthday celebration, we have decided not to go for buffets anymore because both of us are small eaters. It's not worth it. It's better for us to go for ala carte meals nowadays. 

Mandatory sashimi!

There were lots of plates of these floating around the conveyor belt. No idea what is it but it should be another type of sashimi. It tasted good too :)

Derp's favourite! 

Crab stick sushi!

Loves the way the roe bursts in your mouth when you bite on it. opps.

Cream puff! 

And yes that's all we had lol! I was still very down with my flu and fever hence the drop in appetite. But knowing that weekends are the only time we can settle all this stuffs, no choice but to drag myself out. 

12 plates in total! I probably ate around 4-5 and I'm done. The meal costs us around $25 :)

Sushi Express @ City Link

#B1-23, CityLink Mall, 1 Raffles Link 

We passed by all these minions that day and manage to watch the xmas minion show!

Bee Doh Bee Doh..

Derp's mimicking Tim lol.

We traveled down to our ID's showroom to choose our finishes before she can do up the 3d design for us. We really see till 眼花缭乱.

Our brains were really drained by the end of it and she praised us for being fast when we took 2 hours! Heard that some couples took 5 hours, I guess they probably can't make up their mind that fast lol.

Pray that the 3d design don't turn out to be a disaster if not we will have to go down choose again.

We were also given this paper as reference for our wardrobe compartment. But that will be make known to her at a later time, no rush yet :) We can slowly think about it but actually that night we went home, we already sort of settled lol. 

Renovation/Housing stuffs can be really tiring but at the end of the day, it's all worth it when you moved in. Nothing beats having a house of your own.

The Fiancé Birthday Celebration Part 1 - Rounders Bakery, Ding Tai Fung @ Jem, The Rink @ Jcube

It was a simple birthday celebration for Derp this year because we agreed on saving up money for our ROM and house. Having to say that, I  did make an effort to think of surprises after all it's his birthday. But my goal was to keep it low in cost and it's something Derp likes. 

I almost got cupcakes for Derp since it's like the most common birthday gift on earth, but when I came upon RoundersBakery, something else came across my mind. 

Few months back when RoundersBakery was founded, I was suggested to 'like' this page on facebook by my very good poly friend, Shirley. RoundersBakery was founded by Shirley's brother, Alan. 

They have what I'm finding for, Tiramisu in a Jar! It's something different from cupcakes. Both of us had it in Poulet @ Jurong Point before, and Derp totally enjoyed this dessert :) I love it too! And Because RoundersBakery is opened by my good friend's brother, I shall give the utmost support to them. 

I collected the Tiramisu 1 day before Derp's birthday. I ordered 2 jars and mind you, they are not light at all.  I was clearing leave then, taking a break after the flea market. I remembered quite clearly I had McDonald's breakfast that day all by myself lol! 

Anyway, I brought in the Tiramisu for Derp when the clock strikes 12am. 

The "Happy Birthday" sign was provided by RoundersBakery. After the phototaking, we finished the whole jar in less than 15 minutes. It was our supper! #fatdieus but the calories was all worth it. It tasted really good and melts in our mouth. We got to control ourselves to further indulge in it and leave another jar for the next day! 

If you are looking for cupcakes/cakes/tiramisu in the west area, you'll be glad to know that RoundersBakery do meetups at Jurong east/Bukit Batok, mainly in the west area. A lot of homemade cakes/cupcakes shop are located far away from the west! So now here's the good news, you need not travel far and you'll be having yummy cupcakes/tiramisu in no time. 

Check out their facebook page for more information! :)

The first stop of Derp's birthday celebration: Ding Tai Fung @ Jem! It's our first meal of the day and we dragged a little before getting out of house. Simply nua-ing on our off days, off days are hard to come by and should be cherished! It was a impromptu decision to have Ding Tai Fung because we don't really have much time left till our skating slot at 3pm,

The birthday boy! 

Mandatory order: Xiao Long Bao

Derp ordered the Prawn Dumpling Soup with Noodles. 

I ordered the Pork Chop Noodle! I love love love Ding Tai Fung's porkchop, it tastes best with their chilli sauce. 

Ding Tai Fung @ Jem

50 Jurong Gateway Road #02-07 Singapore 608549

After filling our stomach, it's time for ice skating! Honestly speaking, I challenged Derp to Ice Skating and I suffered more in the end lol! Sigh. But I've been wanting to try it for the longest possible time.

When I was really young, probably during my primary 6 days if I've never remembered wrongly,  I've ice skated at the old Jurong East building. 

It was the most 'in' thing those days, perfect class outing. The whole bunch of us will just go there and form group of 4's to skate. That's the promotion at the time. I can't really remember how I fare in skating then, but I wasn't a pro all along lol. I simply able to balance and move without much aid.

Now that I'm older, It took me quite a lot of courage to step back onto the skating rink once again . The fear of falling on my ass or getting cut on my hands by the sharp blades seems to be there, it wasn't there in the past. 

As it was the school holidays, the crowd was expected. But we managed to get our tickets quickly :)

We got our skates pretty quickly too though there was lots of kids returning their skates at that time. They were quite well organized.

The changing and locker area.

Derp is figuring out how to wear the skates.

I'm all ready with the help of Derp of cause lol! 

#OOTD with the skates lol!

I'm all ready too! 

Our so call 'ticket' for ice skating.

I was really scared to step on the ice. Once I'm on it, I grabbed on to the sides for 1 round before letting it go. I needed some time to get used to it while Derp got used to it much faster than me. 

I skated really slowly around the rink while holding on to Derp. When I was better at the last 45 minutes or so, I asked Derp to go ahead to skate without me while I slowly make my way and focus on my skates. It takes probably less than 3 minutes to get back to me. That's how slow I'm going.

Good news is, I never had a fall at all. Phew. I spotted people falling around me, I wanted to go over to help but 心有余而力不足! It just meant, I wanted to but I can't. I've to focus on keeping myself balance. 

The last 15 minutes or so, Derp and I skated pretty fast because he was dragging me along haha! He's the one who dare to make big steps whereas I'm one gu niang bird who don't dare even after getting the basics almost right. My postures weren't that right too afterall. I did regret not renting the seal! I would have skate faster with the aid.

I did remember to ask the crew to take photo of us before I focus full time on ice skating.

:) Photobomb by the crew behind us.

Love this shot! :)

It was indeed a memorable experience, and yet another #achievementunlocked moments.

My calf muscles hurts like a bitch the moment my skates reach normal land. That's when I think I've probably use the wrong part of my calf muscles during ice skating. The pain is worse than the aches you get from running a marathon.

For more information of ice skating, you can visit their page here!

I'll be back with part 2 of the birthday celebration soon :)

The Rink

2 Jurong East Central 1

Level 3, JCube

Singapore 609731

The first month of the year, January

As I sit down and read through what are the resolutions I've made for 2013, I realized I've fulfilled almost 70% of it. *gives a pat on my back good job!*

In 2013, My weight went down a little more and I continued my exercise regimen. In 2014, I don't expect myself to lose anymore weight and I won't be surprise if I gain 1-2 kg due to increase of muscle mass. At the very least, I hope to maintain my exercise regimen in 2014 despite my going-to-get-busier-life. My half-marathon goal in 2014 is still standing firm!

Other than saving to get my house done up, I do hope that there's money left to go for a short getaway to neighboring countries and another trip during end of the year. Just the other day, Derp and I was looking at winter clothes in Uniqlo. We even tried on it but didn't get it in the end. We told ourselves to save up for next year end trip. We are really looking forward and will try to make it happen. Afterall, our house is still the priority and looking forward to xmas party and counting down in our new house in 2014!

Basically, my 2014 resolution is pretty simple: Keep fit, Stay Healthy, Save Money!

I was pretty sick for the 2nd half of my December. I took 2 days of MC in less than a week and both were of different reasons. The first time was just the common cold which took me 1 week to recover, hence I didn't really enjoy my Xmas at all.

The second time, I almost fainted on train to work. My lips turn white and scare the shit out of Derp. I almost blanked out but I had to force myself to stay conscious! I'm really glad I go work with him everyday if not I would have appeared on Stomp. I was wheeled chair to the SMRT office once again(yes, it's not my first time fainting on a train. The first time was last year December, I had a heartburn due to allergy to some antibiotics!) Oh, this time was due to a pain reflex action by my body. I felt a sharp pain at the left lower abdomen and the next moment, I'm seeing stars.

Anyway, all is well now. I had a pretty simple and nice 31/12/2013. I'll blog about it soon.

As CNY is coming, my goals this month is to keep really fit, look good and be healthy so that I can enjoy my CNY :)