Around Singapore - Christmas is coming...

 ...the geese pigs are getting fat. haha. (: 

Uniqlo  - Customisable tee

Christmas is coming in exactly a week's time! Love soaking in the festive atmosphere and enjoying all the cute decor.

Here's some pictures to give you some Christmas cheer! 

Have a blessed Christmas everyone! (:

My pick for favourite Christmas tree:

 

 Gund plushie tree @ John Little (Jurong Point)

I'm a huge Gund plushie fan so I squealed a little when I saw this tree decorated with mini Christmas versions of the bears from their "Fuzzy" line. 

Cutest -and fuzziest ;) - Christmas ornaments this year. 

...along with more plushies from the Gund Christmas line.
 "Why so grumpy kitty?" ;)

 

 Laduree macaron tree @ Ngee Ann City

 The huge Laduree macaron tree comes in a close 2nd. Who can resist this lovely pastel yummilicious tree? 

 

  You can get your own mini macaron trees too! 

Really expensive though! 

The smallest 20-macaron version (the pink one pictured above) is selling at S$140 and the largest 370(!!!)-macaron tree costs a whopping S$1,997!

More trees....

Gingerbread-themed Tree @ Isetan (Shaw)

 

Wintery Red-nosed Reindeer Tree @ Tangs (Marriott)

Under the Sea ~~ Tree @ 313 Somerset

LOVE how all the malls and shops put in the extra effort to enhance the "Christmasy" mood.  

 

 Christmas pushcarts @ Bugis Junction

Merry Christmas Red-nosed Kitty! (: 

@NEX

"Why, hello there Mr Penguin! (:"

@ Tangs (Marriott) 

Last but not least, was trying to hunt for cute logcakes/christmas cakes with cute snowman/decor on top. 

But none of them were as cute as THIS!

 

 Snowmallowman Christmas Cake @ LINE PLAY 

 Haha. Okay, so it's a virtual cake ... Oh well. If only they had a real-life version. (: 

Blessed Christmas 2015 again everyone!

Cuteness overload ♥ Sugar ballies (:

Shopping around @ Bugis on the Children's Day holiday and came across my current favourite japanese cute character line - Sumikko gurashi (:

 Saw that it cost a whopping $41.20 (!!!)

Asked the store keeper if i could just buy one since there was a price tag on each stating $6.90. But she said they only sell it as a whole. 

After debating, decided to splurge a little as a Children's Day treat to myself  -the teacher. haha. we're kids at heart (: - 

Brought home the six little balls and when i showed it to my mom, she said they looked like the colourful balls of steamed rice cake that we used to dip in the orange sugar! (: haha. so true, especially when they were wrapped up 6 in a pack. (:

Hence.. the name sugar ballies ♥ Because we couldn't remember the name of the cake.  haha

Wanted to buy a pack to take a photo of so that those not familiar with it could have an idea.

Searched high and low and apparently it isn't so common anymore ): 

Only the bigger yellow/brown ones are still common. 

So... here's a picture from the Bengawan solo website. (which unfortunately has stopped selling them too) 

Ma Kuo Kueh - Bengawan Solo 

Now, looking at the sumikko gurashi balls brings back lovely memories of my childhood, when my mom/dad would come home and surprise us with the occasional sweet treat. (:

One of my favourites that my parents used to buy at the hawker centre below our house every so often - the white/brown sugar cake 白糖糕/黑糖糕 （bak tong gou in cantonese)- seems to be a dying traditional kueh as well. ):

What was your favourite traditional snack/kueh?

 p.s: If you happen to know where i can find the sugar balls, please leave a comment! :P  thanks! 

 30.10.15

♥20 Boufe

Boufe (Singapore. Tanglin/Redhill. Phoenix Park)

First heard of Phoenix park opening up as a potential dining spot when Spruce opened there a few years back. However, did not go down to explore. While searching for cafes nearby work that open early, came across Boufe, a newer cafe also at Phoenix Park and decided to head down there.

Boufe is located in one of the colonial buildings in Phoenix Park, amidst small companies and private schools, about a 15 min walk in from the main entrance of Phoenix Park and another 5 minute walk from the nearest bus stop to the entrance of Phoenix Park.  

Went there on a Tuesday morning at around 10am and we were the only customers. (:

Customer flow picked up nearer to lunchtime. 

 Love the outdoor seating area! Headed straight for the outdoor seating area as I entered the cafe, but decided not to seat there afterall as it was a bit hot. The lush unspoilt nature surrounding the cafe was so lovely, especially as it is a rarity in modern Singapore. (:

 Love the windows and the general architecture of these older colonial buildings (:

 Lucky to get the bench seat as we were (probably) the first customers of the day.

 Eggs Benedict S$16

Chamomile Garden Tea S$5

 

Only had a small taste of the Eggs Benedict but the friend said it was good, albeit a bit too rich with the hollandaise sauce. (not sure what the standard is for Eggs Benedict though) 

 

Brioche French Toast S$19 

Lemonade - infused with cucumber strawberry S$5.50 

The French Toast was delicious and the combination of all the different ingredients made it taste heavenly (: 

The caramelised banana was very fragrant, the brioche crunchy yet soft in the inside. Paired with the cream and the sprinkling of berries and almond crumble, each mouthful was delightful (:

Wanted an iced drink that was not too sweet and the lemonade was a good choice! Love how they added the cucumber and strawberry in to enhance the flavour , and the lemonade itself wasn't too sweet either which was a good thing as it balanced out the sweetness of the brioche

 Salted Caramel Macarons S$3.30/pc

As we were about to finish our brunch, the owner came over and gave us these macarons, as compensation for some order issues. It was really a minor issue and I felt that he need not have done that but thought it was a nice gesture on their part. (:

The macarons were really sweet (as most macarons are)

♥ Loved

Quiet atmosphere

Colonial architecture

Near to nature

Good food! especially the brioche

Boufe Boutique Cafe

Tue - Fri 8AM - 10PM (Brunch starts from 10AM)

Sat - Sun 10AM - 10PM

 308 Tanglin Road, Phoenix Park, #01-01,

 S247974

When entering Phoneix park, turn to the left and continue all the way, Boufe is located near the end of the whole stretch.  

13.10.15

♥ Happy Teacher's Day!

To all the past teachers who have made a difference in my life and to my current fellow teachers, hoping to do the same for our "kids",  happy teacher's day (:

Around Singapore - SG50!

With Singapore celebrating the year of Jubilee as she turns 50, the atmosphere leading up to National Day 2015 has been one filled with excitement and joy. (: 

Here are some of my SG50 highlights! 

SG50 in school (:

 

To get students into the mood of SG50 as well as allow them to have a hands-on activity recreating Singapore's icons,  the Ministry of Education decided to give all schools a Uniquely Singapore Lego set comprising of:

1.Gardens by the Bay   2. Cavenagh Bridge    3. Changi Aiport

and us lucky teachers got a set as well! (: 

As a kid who spent hours playing with Lego, I was really happy to get one and excited to let my kids enjoy some old-school, low-tech fun as well (:

 

 Getting my kids to make a SG50 themed sandwich for housecraft lessons...

 As well as a SG50 masterpiece for Art & Craft (:

 The hand-drawn version of the masterpiece on the class whiteboard (:

 

 Fuzzy Dog enjoying traditional Singapore ice cream as part of National Day celebrations in school (yummy!)

Check out a cute infographic on traditional Singapore ice cream done by Lemongraphic over HERE!

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 SG50 nationwide:

 

 McDonalds really knows us so well! 

Headed over after school to get my fill of twister fries during their limited SG50 favourites promotion. Turns out my 2 favourite menu items (McSpicy and twister fries) are the SG favourites as well. Shiok ah! ;)

 

It happened that the day I went was the week of the SG50 parade hello kitty as well! (:

Was initially planning to get the cute durian kitty but upon seeing the SG50 parade kitty, decided to get that instead. (:

 

Kitty: "Happy SG50 Singapore!" ^.^

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More SG50 hello kitty merchandise produced in collaboration with Sanrio (:

Hello kitty stickers: $2.50/pack of 10

Hello kitty water bottle: $14.90-16.90 (depending on where you buy it from)

Available at Sanrio stores as well as other places such as Cheers and Popular (:

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 Was at Changi Aiport T3 to pick a friend up and while waiting, stumbled across a really cool FREE art activity corner where you can use crayons to shade over a template to get these lovely uniquely SG art. (:

Changi Airport T3 Basement 2

 

 Singapore's heritage

Clockwise from top: 

1. A shophouse
(When buildings in Singapore were mostly still low-rise, called a shophouse because the shops were on the bottom floor and the owners would stay on the upper floors)

2. Rickshaw (transport in the olden days)

3. Iconic dragon playground, playgrounds in the past were made of stone (/concrete?)

Food of Singapore

Food is definately one of the main attractions and icons of Singapore (:

1. Chilli crab

2. Satay

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Gardens by the Bay, special SG50 display @ Flower Dome

 Orchids (the national flower of Singapore) in all sorts of varieties and colours (:

 Red and white flowers paired together, symbolic of Singapore's national colours.

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The SG50-themed Sentosa

   ♥ SG50 - written with tomato paste while eating at one of the restaurants ;) 

 Merlion light display on every night till 10 Aug (i think)

Majulah Singapura (: