18!

Okay I realise this post is a month late but better late than nvr right? Haha and I really want to jot this down in this space to always remind myself how lucky I am(:

I didn't celebrate my birthday on a large scale as usual where I'd throw a party and all cause it was on the week of prelims. Just 4 days before prelims actually so you can imagine the amount of studying all my friends and I were busy with. However, despite being so busy, my best friend (and may I add, awesome baker) decided to organise a mini party for me in school even though we alr made plans to go out on my birthday! She baked me an oreo cheesecake which is honestly, the best oreo cheesecake I have ever tried hehehe

My classmates stayed back on a Friday to celebrate my birthday with me(: I alr knew Jo was planning it and of course, she wouldn't be able to organise a surprise party with me literally by her side every single minute in school. (Yeah, we even go to the toilet tgt. I think it's a girls thing) She actually did manage to pull off a surprise party last year though by saying that she was too busy to bake a cake and I believed her haha! Nevertheless, she still tried to surprise me by presenting me with a box of literally a packet of oreo and cheese cause she said she didn't have time to bake.

 

 I actually believed her cause I understood that it's prelims and everyone is studying. But before I could even respond, everyone started singing and she brought out the actual cake!

 

 

 

If you need to know one thing about my class, that'd be we are forever hungry. We nvr ever use plates and knifes to eat a cake. We just all grab a fork, and start devouring. Rachel once timed how long we took to eat John's cake which Jo baked as well, and we took less than 5 mins to finish it. And John's cake was bigger than mine so I guess we probably took around 4 mins to finish this. #noshame

 

And here's proof.

And here are more photos with some of my classmates!

(I look really unglam when I laugh, I know)

 

 

And that was about it for my 'surprise' celebration in school(:

On the actual day, Jolene celebrated it with me as well and treated me to a buffet! We actually googled on a few places and decided to have it at Swisscafe cause, actually there wasn't any specific reason hahaha. 

Did I mention there were macarons?!?! I ate around 7 hehe. 

After the buffet, we decided to walk over to Raffles Hotel to my favourite garden to take photos! Yeah, we pretty much ended up jumping around and pretending to gallop like horses cause there was no one there hehe. 

 (I can't help but point out that Jo's necklace slapped her in her face. I'm sorry Jo, I had too hahahaha)

(Just look at Jo's face hahahaha omg I don't even think it was intentional?!)

We jumped till we actually perspired a lot and we did so for about half an hour till we decided the heat is unbearable and all we wanted was to be in an air conditioned place haha! Well that was pretty much how I spent the actual day, with my bestie Jo! Special shout out to her for always taking time out for listening to my rants, problems, happiness, and pretty much just everything cause I really talk a lot(:

Of course, my family celebrated it with me too! But not on the actual day even though my mum wanted to take leave cause I told them I alr made plans. Celebrated it on a Saturday instead by gng to Astons! Decided to go to the one at the airport cause it was near my place which means I'd have more time to study (super mugger I know)

Usual car selfies with the siblings.

 

And here are more photos taken during dinner!

And just because there wasn't any nice photo spots at this terminal, my family went all the way to T3 just to take photos haha. Meet the Yip family.

So that's pretty much how I spent my birthday this year! A rather long post but I tried to condense it to as short as possible haha. Anywho, As are coming in less than 2 months (boohoo) so I'l probably be blogging less cause I won't be gng out that often! 

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven."

Geroge Bernard Shaw

Changing It Up

Something a little different today! I felt really 'Hong Kong' in my jacket, shorts and bun haha! Here's my attempt at a messy bun. I actually went to search videos on how to tie a messy bun when you have insanely thick hair and I managed to pull it off! (with hairspray and most importantly, bobby pins)

I wore smth that isn't exactly my style today cause I wanted to wear my new loafers, jacket, shades and rings haha! It just so happens that all these 4 items channel a really street vibe so I wore a basic top and favourite denim shorts. I really like the lace detail on the top but I had to wear an inner cause it was too low. The back had a panel of lace straight down as well but I wasn't super comfortable with it so I'm glad my jacket came in handy. Plus, it was insanely cold in the train today for some reason hahaha.

I forsee lots of buns for my HK trip at the end of the year and I'm still so insanely excited at the idea of being a tourist in my own country!

Lace Top - MDS
Jacket - Bershka
Denim Shorts - Stradivarius
Bag - Aldo
Loafers - Her Velvet Vase
Rings - El-ska
Shades - Her Velvet Vase

"The perfect shorts are always important."

Britt Robertson

Percolate

Most of my friends will know this but I actually have an album on my phone for brunch places that are near mrt stations to check out! Everytime I see a photo on IG for a brunch place, I'd click on the location to find out where it is and then save it for future references. One of the places in my album is Percolate, simply because it's at Bedok which is relatively near my place.

I went there with Heyse on Monday to get my cake craving satisfied! I kind of know it's under some HDB blocks cause I've seen photos of it but when we were walking to Percolate from the MRT, it still feels quite weird and random to have a cafe haha! Not complaining though cause it just means greater convenience for the majority of us (:

It's actually located next to a hawker centre and a clinic hahaha!

Upon arriving, we got the last seats available! We were a little shocked at how crowded it was on a Monday afternoon. The cafe is quite small actually and seats are limited so I guess it's really about luck!

Banoffee Cake ($7)

Salted Caramel Cake ($6.50)

Heyse and I decided to get 2 different cakes to try even though we both wanted the salted caramel one haha! For the Banoffee cakes, it's actually a mix of toffee and bananas. Both cakes aren't too sweet which is awesome cause that means you won't get sick of it after awhile. A little bland for my liking though. I prefer my cakes to be 'richer' in flavour I guess. This would definitely click with those who like their cakes simple!

Percolate does sell other food such as sandwiches, muesli and bread. But that's pretty much about it! Hence it's probably a better choice for a tea break or when you just want smth light. Definitely won't be a lunch kind of place! I'm still glad I found this place in the East cause it's quite rare to find one near here(:

Percolate - 136 Bedok North
                  Avenue 3
                  #01-152

"Love is like a good cake; you never know when it's coming. but you'd better eat it when it does!"

C. JoyBell C.

In The Blues

A dress down kind of Monday for a tea date with my favourite fellow Hong Kong buddy, Heyse(:

This blouse is one of my favourite and definitely a staple in my wardrobe because it pretty much goes with everything! Be it shorts, skirts, midis, pants, a basic blouse is always smth I fall back to when I'm looking for smth casual and comfy. You can check out the set of photos I took for this blouse with a skirt here!

And I got this pair of basic skorts cause everyone needs a pair in their wardrobe right? The material is super stretchy but a little too thin for my liking. And this is the reason why I decided to sell it. I'm currently on a search for smth similar and I know quite a few blogshops sell similar skorts so I'm not really worried about not being able to find another pair.

Photos are all by Heyse who secretly has a talent for taking photos! Best part is, she actually enjoys helping me take my ootds (love you) and I can't wait for us to explore Hong Kong tgt at the ned of the year!

Button Down Blouse - Ellysage
Rosie Drape Over Skorts - Megagamie
Bag - HnM
Watch - Fossil
Sandals - Tory Burch

"I love clothes. Maybe I can say I don't love fashion, but I love clothes completely."

Miuccia Prada

Haji Lane Explorin'

In all my new buys from my shopping date last Thurs! Don't you love the feeling of being able to cut off tags and wearing new clothes (:

Decided to wear smth more casual and 'lazy' as some might call it for a change! I'm usually dressed in a skirt or a dress but somehow a pair of shorts just feels right for Haji Lane exploring. I got this pair at a sale at $20 off it's original price! How can you say no to it right? Hahaha!

Paired it with a knit cause I was secretly hoping that it'd rain that day. (which is did btw hehe) Initially, I bought this knit to bring to HK at the end of the year but since it's thin, it's appropriate for Singapore too! It's that time of the year where I start sourcing for knits to keep myself warm and comfy as if there's winter in Singapore haha! I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who does this.

And a comfy pair of sandals and brown bag to complement the casual look!

 

Just to share with you guys cause #goodthingsmustshare. I can't rmb which shop it is as Haji Lane but there's one that doubles up as out all time favourite mama shop! They sell all our childhood snacks such as the one you see above! Jo and I were so happy when we found this gem! Do check it out if you're there cause it's really so rare to find such snacks nowadays!

Knit Top -HnM

Denim Shorts - Stradivarius

Bag - HnM

Beaded Sandals - Steve Madden

Garden Party Watch - El-ska

Earrings - Accessorize

"I want everyone to wear what they want and mix it in their own way. That, to me, is what is modern."
Karl Lagerfeld

El-ska Lovin

If you follow me on my IG, you'd know that I've been wearing apparels from El-ska these few days. It's safe to say that El-ska is my ultimate favourite blogshop at the moment! I find myself looking forward to every Tues for their launches even though I know it's going to burn a hole in my pocket haha!

Today's post feature an outfit entirely from El-ska! I got the 2 piece floral set and bag during their national day sale at 25% off! Such a steal! Recently, I'm super into 2 piece clothes cause they're just super fun to wear around and I find it more convenient as well. Especially when I'm gng shopping and I want to try on a top/bottom haha.

And the bag is just to die for. It's sooooooo adorable! Rifdi was saying that it's so small and wondering what I could fit inside haha! Well basically it could fit my phone, lip gloss and a small pouch for my cards and money. Small bags are just a lot lighter I guess and they're definitely not overwhelming. Especially when you're my height, you wouldn't want to be carrying a huge bag cause it honestly just makes you look even shorter.

Sandals are from El-ska as well and it was a birthday present from Rifdi and my sister!

Flower Up 2 Piece Set - El-ska
Get Bow T Sandals - El-ska
Garden Ribbon Bag - El-ska

"The daisy's for simplicity and unaffected air."

Robert Burns

Stateland Cafe

Finally got my waffle fix after craving for it for such a long time! I've been wanting to check out Stateland Cafe cause I've been seeing photos of their waffles on IG for the longest time ever! It's actually located at Bali Lane, which is right next to Haji Lane so it's really convenient to get to. About a 5 mins walk from Bugis MRT.

 The Classic Waffle ($9.90)

Blueberries ($2)

Jo decided to get classic waffles that day cause she wanted something simple and light. We were both saying that we shouldn't eat such a heavy meal cause there's lots of cafes at Haji Lane and we could always try out another shop. I had a bite of hers and I found it quite average. Nth really spectacular but it wasn't bad as well. She added extra blueberries but we couldn't really see how it's worth $2. The waffles initially alr came with blueberries so they added really little extra blueberries.

 The Red Velvet ($14.90)

And here's what I got! I was initially inclined to get the big breakfast but I decided to try their waffles instead since it's what they're famous for. And the results? I was so disappointed ): I'm not someone who is very particular about my food. Honestly, I can't tell when something is too creamy, too sweet or stuff like that. But this was really so bad. My waffles were burnt. I actually had to stab the knife into the waffle to cut it. Towards the middle, it got better though. Maybe cause the ice cream was there to kind of overcome the burnt taste. Initially, I thought it was just me but after Jo tried it, she just stared at me and said it's really burnt. Hahaha but being the nice customer that I was, I didn't request for a change or anything.

Well and here's a photo of both our waffles tgt. At least their waffles are pretty and presentable. As for the burnt aspect, it could be a slip up and doesn't occur very often. Jo's one tasted totally fine so I guess I'm just unlucky.

And a photo outside their shop! I'll be blogging about my outfit and trip to Haji Lane soon so stay tuned! (:

Stateland Cafe - 30 Bali Lane

"You should eat a waffle! You can't be sad if you eat a waffle!"

Lauren Myracle