My 2nd, Then 1st, Now 2nd Home

This is my 2nd home…

It's a place I visit almost once a year, more than just to visit my lovely family & friends…

And not just for fresh air or breath-taking sceneries…

New Zealand - It's about time I shared about the place I migrated to, then lived and studied in, and finally left but only to return every year or so.

Being Singaporean, let's start with the food in New Zealand - SEAFOOD to be specific!

You can also pick mussels for free, but cleaning them is an challenge…

Then you've got the good old 'barbee' gatherings, complete with steak and sausage sizzles…

Or go on a fruit and macademia nut diet!



Throw in some adventurous stunts…

Or don't be so adventurous!

It's all about FUN FUN FUN!

NZ is home to a bunch of touristy things too…

Tired of the sun? Think 4 Seasons!!! When winter comes, snowboarding is a roadtrip away, without the temperature going below -5 degrees…

Then comes the beautiful flowers in the spring, and snow capped mountains in winter...

Talking about beauty or nature OR BOTH, the south island is exploding with that! Despite being to the south island many times, Mr Yap and I still try to do a roadtrip every time we're in New Zealand because it's great for…

Touring New Zealand is like taking a walk through a geography lesson…

Throw in a great getaway wedding photoshoot roadtrip! Our photoshoot and holiday spanned across two whole weeks from the south to the north island, thanks to our photographer a.k.a. groom - Mr Yap.

Don't forget to take a peep into people's houses during X'mas!

Lastly, don't miss an amazing sunrise or sunset!

It's always great to have such beautiful memories captured in pictures, thanks to Mr Yap! We're looking forward to my next trip home…

(Disclaimer: Scenery images are courtesy from E.K.Yap Photography! Not from stock images. All rights reserved :)

Dressed for Winter

Looking back at the pictures from our Europe winter getaway brought back many memories.

Even though I love the thought of a white Christmas, I'm terrified of the cold. Despite winter clothes being dull and boring, I'm lucky I made some fashion-photogenic decisions to stand out against those breath-taking sceneries.

BRIGHT COLOURS!

I thought of getting myself a beige or bright red winter jacket to escape from the dull black, but in the end I decided not to waste any more money and stuck to my good-old black jacket. And I'm glad for that decision 'coz it meant I could dress it up with coloured accessories!

Also, spicing up my simple black Dr Martens with pink ribbon laces was the best decision for this trip! Pairing it together with a bright scarf brings colourful life to the pictures...

And thankfully, having a favourite colour made mixing and matching my wardrobe easier!

Also, it helps to have some coloured jeans / leggings to add variety to the photos!

I don't have much chances to wear hats in Singapore, but when I found a lovely RED hat that was inexpensive, I bought it! Not only did it keep my head warm and tamed my hair in the wind, you couldn't miss me in the pictures!

Who said winter fashion was boring!

This year, Canada is in the list… maybe it's time to search for some new tops, especially when winter clothes are on hot sales now!

Barbie in the post...

Just 2 days ago, Barbie released a new designer barbie... The moment I saw her, I knew I had to get her. It's not one of my favourite brands, but she'll make a great addition to my designer barbie family... so I couldn't resist.

"She wears a Classic Trench in Tattersall, an exact replica of the popular Coach style, along with a striped sweater and an ultrasuede skirt. The turnlocks on the skirt are exact replicas of the Coach handbag turnlocks. But it’s her red Classic Duffle that marks a fashion milestone: this is Barbie^® doll’s first genuine leather bag, made from start to finish in a Coach factory with the same care and attention given to every Coach bag. The Classic Duffle includes a drawstring dust bag." ~ BarbieCollector.com

Problem was, I didn't have a US shipping address! And it didn't ship internationally. That was how I missed out on the Tokidoki Barbie which was selling at USD 50 direct from BarbieCollector.com, but today at USD 289 on Amazon. I wasn't going to miss out on another great opportunity again!

Thinking fast before it's sold out, I hopped onto our Singapore Post website and signed up for a VPost account! Immediately, I owned 4 new addresses, one in US, UK, Japan and China. If only buying a real home address was as easy!

Today, I'm impatiently awaiting its arrival.

The Coach Barbie will also be available for sale at $195 in Singapore's Wisma Atria Coach store next month... But I couldn't wait!!

In Barbie's World...

You've gotta love PINK in order to survive in Barbie's world! And thankfully, I do!

This Taipei trip, we were lucky to spot the Barbie Cafe when we were shopping around Zhong Xiao Dong Lu. From a distance, the vibrant pink immediately caught Mr Yap's attention. Though I've heard about this Barbie themed cafe, it wasn't part of my Taipei plans, but Mr Yap kept urging me to have a look...

And I have him to thank!

They got the Barbie theme down to a T, right from the entrance all the way to the cute little frilly chairs and pretty waitresses in pink tutus!

I wish I could take home the chair in the waiting area! It would look soooo cute in our cozy corner at home!

Mr Yap and I wanted to have a tea party for two there... However, they had a minimum spend and they sold out of those cute little cakes on display, so we said our good-byes to the cafe and went on our way...

If only they sold Barbie collectibles there too...

Welcome To Your New Home, My Barbies!!

A few weekends ago, Mr Yap and myself were very busy with our new wardrobes! The first thing I did was moving my barbies into their new home.

It’s a simple wardrobe, nothing fancy, but the best part was that we could choose the shelving we preferred… and I chose mine with the sole aim to house as many Barbies as I could, as well as clothes!

My Barbies now have a more specious home. Even though there are still some of them hidden behind, at least most of my favourite designer collectibles can now be seen!

Every Barbie of mine holds a special meaning…

I grew up with Barbies. Even through my tomboy days, my Barbies were stashed in a box at the back of my cupboard, one that I frequently visited. Each one of my Barbies had a name, and each one of them had a unique fashion style. To me, Barbies are the most fashionable dolls and I love buying clothes and shoes for them! My grandmother even sewed dresses for them following my design instructions.



The Start of the Addiction... 

One day in June 2007, I was drawn to the display in a toy shop at Serene centre. Before me stood the Giorgio Armani Barbie, dressed in an elegant grey strapless chiffon top and intricately beaded long skirt. There were also two Barbies dressed in their signature Juicy Couture tracksuits. Instantly, I fell in love with them. At the same time, I couldn’t resist a silkstone Robert Best Barbie in a cute 60s dress… as well as a Lady Camille Barbie. Her princess gown captivated me, and her curly locks were so unique, I couldn't resist.

Another one of my favourite Barbies is Versace. It's a brand that does not need introduction, but the dress that adorns Barbie is the same Versace dress Beyonce and Christina Aguilera wore, only smaller and of a different colour. Flowingly elegant but seductively sexy...

Also, my collection could not have been possible without the help of a friend, who received and re-courier my Amazon purchases all the way from US to Singapore! Without him, Kate Spade, Christian Louboutin shoes, Burberry, Versace Versus, two Christian Dior, Escada, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Givenchy, Donna Karen New York, Anna Sui, Hanae Mori would not have made it into my wardrobe!

Why did I buy two Christian Dior barbies? It's a funny story of carelessness, embarrassment and blessing. When my first Christian Dior arrived, she was bare foot :( I don't usually open my Barbie boxes in order to maintain their mint condition. I didn't dare to tell my husband that I ordered a Barbie without shoes and was lazy to go through the hassle of returning the package... so I ordered another one. But a few days before the second one arrived, I decided to open the first box and looked thoroughly. I found the pair of golden shoes tucked neatly below the Barbie stand within the box. So that's the story of my two Barbies and it was a blessing in disguise. Today, I have an opened Christian Dior Barbie standing among my boxes of Barbie and the intricacy of the beading on the Christian Dior dress deserves to be admired by touch!



But my ultimate favourite is my Vera Wang Barbie. Perhaps it's silly, I'm not even sure from what age onwards, whenever I hear of Vera Wang, I think of dream wedding dresses (the power of advertising). So when I saw this Barbie selling at Dollz Inc, I had to get it. This is my only Platinum edition doll in my collection, which means I'm one of 1000 privileged few who owns this Vera Wang Barbie... special? Being from a marketing background, I'm am constantly aware of the silly traps of marketing but I can't help falling!

My collection isn't complete.

I've still got a couple more in my wishlist... just waiting for some sellers to realise they've priced it too high!

Imagine Barbie covered in tattoos, funky skulls, bleached hair and edgy leopard leggings. That's gonna be my next doll, the iconic Tokidoki Barbie! His name is being mentioned on red carpets, in fashion magazines, and on style TV... he's Zac Posen and I want this Barbie couple!!

To complete my dream collection...

There is one Barbie missing from the Mattel family of designer Barbies, and that is none other than the legendary Louis Vuitton, one of my favourite brands...

Goodbye To My Special Bags!!

LITTLE RED TRAIN HANDBAG
2006 - 2013 | Obituary

Little Red Train, nee Handbag, age 7, having served her duties for 7 years, has quietly retired on this May 24, 2013. Little Red Train who was purchased from Korea, was the cherished Handbag of Mrs Yap. Although in the last few years, Little Red Train has been suffering from Peelingitis and wardrobe-ridden, she brought many beautiful memories to Mrs Yap and was her special companion during her first few years of service.

LITTLE LONDON PHONE TOTE
2006-2013 | Obituary

With mixed emotions, we announce the peaceful retirement of Little London Phone, nee Tote, age 7, on May 24, 2013. Coming from a souvenir shop in London, Little London Phone shares Mrs Yap's experiences, having the privilege to travel throughout UK with Mrs Yap. Having suffered from jaundice in the last few years of her service, Little London Phone finally retires to the recycling bin at the Void Deck. She will be missed by Mrs Yap, but also well-wished that she will be able to find peace in her future abode.

LOTD: 5 Years Ago

Yesterday, Mr Yap and I took a trip back to memory lane, looking through our 2008 Taiwan holiday photographs...

"That's a nice top... Why don't you wear it anymore?" Mr Yap commented.

"Oh yah, forgot about it..." [guilty for having too many clothes] "I'll wear it tomorrow!"

And so I did.

Comparing between me then and now, I'm definitely loving my current look. A much better complexion, better makeup skills, slimmer, cute hair cut that makes me look younger, and my signature "Arale" glasses!

The way they do their food...

Last weekend, we went back to Mr Yap's hometown for a dose of protein, calories and cholesterol!

Back in the days when we were dating, these trips were very often. Once in every month or two, we'd head back to Penang to catch up with family, friends, food and shopping!

But nowadays, with his parents here in Singapore, we don't go on these trips as often. The last time I was back was about half a year ago. This trip was long overdue! We were in dire need of a dose of Penang!

Within the span of 2 days, we covered everything on our list and more. Here are some of our favourites!

Penang is known for their hawker food, but you know its good when its crowded! The above Kedai Kopi New Cathay is one example! You can also find Penang Hokkien Mee, Char Koay Teow, Fried Fish Meat Beehoon Soup, and many more here.

Another Penang favourite is their Assam Laksa, and this particular shop is my favourite. There's an option for the Assam Laksa, a sourish spicy base, or the Siam Laksa which is a sweeter curry base. I like the Assam. There's just something about the sourly fishiness that I simply love...

Penang also has many popular snacks, our favourites include goreng pisang and ban chang kueh. Mr Yap dreams about ban chang kueh when he's in Singapore!


He does the regular ban chang kuehs as well as the fancy ones like the Hawaiian Chicken above. Their banana chocolate makes an amazing dessert. Another popular ban chang kueh is the peanut and egg combination...it is one of our must-haves! The key to appreciating them to the fullest is to have them fresh!

If Mr Yap dreams about ban chang kuehs, I dream about these 2 crab dishes below. They are divine. I don't just take namecards from any old store! Only the best!!!

The above baked crab is my favourite Penang dish! No one does it like they do! It's so delish, my photos do not do justice.

So this ends my Penang food trail! There's plenty more amazing food in Penang, till next time!!

LOTD: Indian Style!!

Every wedding involves the dress, getting ready and the ceremony... not just for the bride and groom. Those attending also get to go through the process.

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend my first indian wedding, and it started with the dress.

One month before the big day, the bride-to-be took me and my colleagues shopping at Tekka Market for a traditional indian outfit.

It's not everyday I get to wear an indian outfit so we were all very excited. Getting dressed, I made sure I had everything right, from the gold bracelets right down to the matching purple-gold heels! And of course, a new hair colour!

Everyone looked awesome!!
 

The ceremony was very interesting. The bride had on the most elaborate outfit I've seen, dorned head to toe in gold! For 20 minutes, the wedding couple were on stage doing their prayers, and then we had the opportunity to throw rice at the couple!
 

It was a lovely night! Hopefully, my pretty indian outfit will have a chance out of the wardrobe again!!

The Best Medication from the Doctor

I fell in love with the pink Dr Marts boots when I saw it in a music video. Unfortunately, I never managed to find one and decided to get the most iconic 1460 boots from Dr Marts - adding my own pink touch!



During my hunt for this pair of Dr Marts, I came across a Gold pair that I almost got. A year later, fate brought us back together at the awesome Takashimaya's 'A Shoes & Bags Affair' Sale!



Then last month, after only being able to see (they didn't have my size) the pink pair I've always wanted during my Sydney trip, I decided to turn to good old eBay when I returned, and lady luck was on my side.

Arriving precisely on my birthday:   
And yesterday, Mr Yap suggested that we'd go visit the doctor again and right there, staring straight back at me, was my happy dose.

But I faced a dilemma: They came in both boots and ankle shoes!!! Should I buy another pair of comfortable boots, or should I buy the shoes and sacrifice my ankle in a month of breaking-in?

The answer was clear. It was time to move on:
 

Presenting my family of doctors:
 

I Heart Nylon Free-Stuffies!!

Last Friday, Nylon Magazine celebrated their 1 year anniversary in Singapore!

There was even a section for FREE Shiseido makeovers, but there were so many ladies in the queue for that, I gave it a miss.

Though Mr Yap and myself felt a tad bit old among the young crowd, we had a great time, stuffing our face in cotton candy, munching on popcorn while sipping the freeflow vodka redbull (we're not a fan of vodka).

We left the party with some awesome free-stuffies above! The best part was since Mr Yap received the same goodie bag, I get double the goodness!!!!!

Thanks Nylon for the invitation :D

LOTD: Dr Marts Clemency

I took my new Dr Marts out for a walk yesterday, and the camera clicks followed...

Fashion Tip of the Day:
To make a piece stand out, make sure the surrounding pieces are toned down.

Princess Me!

There's something about princesses and me that I can't explain. I just love being one! And it seems everyone around me knows that :p

As a pre-birthday celebration, Mr Yap took me to Divine at Parkview Square for a grand evening with red wine and some jazz. The interior of Parkview Square is absolutely grand, like a palace set in victorian times. The whole time we were there, I couldn't take my eyes off the grandness of the place!

This morning - my birthday - I was blown away by my colleagues' effort in transforming my office cubicle into a castle! Honestly, it was the most awesome prezzie I've received. The creativity and execution deserves a massive thumbs up!

That afternoon, a little black box arrived at the office! Something I've been waiting for since the past week - the timing could not have been better! My latest addition to my Dr Martens collection: a pair of Clemency boots in hot pink!

Of course I had to get a dose of pink on my birthday! What a princessy day it was for me - WHEEEE!