Instagram Snapshots ~*August 2015*~

I really should have more posts in between my Instagram Snapshots posts as it seems to me that they are appearing too frequently. But then I cannot say that the months are passing by too frequently eh?

It's less than 3 weeks to a mega event that my department is organizing together with many other public agencies. I guess that would only mean that there would be cobwebs here again.





~*1 August 2015*~
Brought back my new Asics running shoes from the office so that I would have more motivation to run in something new. And then the notti cat photo bombed.

#catphotobomb #asics #asicsrunning #asicsshoes #runningshoes #cattail #healthylifestyle #instagood #igsg




~*2 August 2015*~
Tried Milk & Honey artisan yogurt parfait for the first time. There was an SG50 $5 promotion going on and I chose the Healthy Mix which consisted of strawberries, oranges and bananas. Super yummy and look at that cute Singapore flag!

#milkandhoney #milkandhoney_sg #sg50 #simisaialsosg50 #singaporeflag #healthylifestyle #dessert #instafood #igsg #yummy #yogurt




~*2 August 2015*~
MIL birthday dinner at Tim Ho Wan.

#timhowan #dimsum #instafood #foodie #foodgasm #foodporn #ilovefood #fatdieme



~*7 August 2015*~
Whenever I wear this double ring, people would ask me if my finger movements are limited and get me to do the Asian peace sign. So... I'll just do the Asian peace sign.

#doublering #keyring #antiquekey #selfiequeen #asianpeacesign #peacesign




~*7 August 2015*~
First day of SG50 jubilee weekend, we indulge in many Singaporeans' favorite local dish - Nasi Lemak!

Nasi Lemak is one of my favorite local dish but Chong Pang Nasi Lemak is overrated. The coconut fragrance from the rice doesn't come off enticing, the luncheon meat isn't my favourite Ma Ling brand and the chicken drumstick is way too big with a strong frozen meat taste under the super delicious skin. Fried Ikan Bilis is always yummy and can't really go wrong.
I very much prefer the traditional ones where you don't pick your own ingredients coz those ingredients that come with the dish are simple and good.

#nasilemak #chongpangnasilemak #sg50 #sgfood #singaporelocalfood #chickendrumstick #luncheonmeat #ikanbilis #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*8 August 2015*~
Otah or otak-otak for second day of SG50 jubilee weekend. Love it when the whiff of otah permeates through the air and lulls me to the direction of the makeshift otah stand. Often, they smell better than they taste so when they taste just like they smell, those are really ho eh!

#otah #otak #fishpaste #sgfood #singaporelocalfood #sg50 #foodie #ilovefood #instafood #igsg #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*8 August 2015*~
Totally ruined my National Day theme DIY nail art.

#igsg #ilovesingapore #ilovesg #sg50 #simisaialsosg50 #redandwhite #instanails #diynails #chockfullofbeans #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*8 August 2015*~
I was laughing so hard at Hubby's 3D latte art. It's so girl girl!!! I requested for Totoro this time round. We thought that we were limited to 1 3D art per table so Hubz didn't bother to request and look what happened. LOL! 😂 Can anyone tell me if that's My Melody???

#chockfullofbeans #3DLatteArt #totoro #mymelody #coffeeart #latteart #igsg #instafood #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*8 August 2015*~
#Totoro is sinking real fast at #chockfullofbeans. On a separate note, #ootd is #redandwhite for pre national day! On a separate separate note, I wanna see how annoying it is to read hashtags in between text.

#igsg #latteart #coffeeart #3DLatteArt #sg50 #simisaialsosg50 #sgblogger #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*8 August 2015*~
Pre national day wefie with the hubz in red and white at our new place to finish up recording all the defects. So many so many post its everywhere.

#wefie #couplewefie #redandwhite #sg50 #simisaialsosg50 #igsg #newhome #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*9 August 2015*~
You could tell that the focus was really The Cat who was photobombed by the shoes.
On a separate note, the sky was overcast and perfect for running even when it was approaching noon. But once I started jogging, the sun beams peered through the grey clouds announcing their arrival. Then, the dam in my nose called Sinus started leaking and by the 15th minute, my chest was hurting from sucking in too much.
Then, I got home and saw The Cat lazing like nobody's business on the mat and I thought how nice it is to be a cat.

#instacat #catphotobomb #asicsrunning #ilovecats #stupidcat #igsg #healthylifestyle #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*9 August 2015*~
Third day of SG50 jubilee weekend which is also National Day, I indulged in my parents' comforting home cooked food. For today's dinner, there's brown rice, spinach stir fried with garlic and white bait, corned beef with onion, clams with white wine and lotus root soup. Look at how the lotus root is in heart shape. 💕💕💕 I simply love my parents' 爱心餐！We've been watching the NDP in the comfort of our sofa... With my work laptop left in the cold...

#homecookedfood #parentscooking #爱心餐 #like #love #lotusroot #beef #brownrice #healthydiet #sg50 #ndp #ilovesingapore #igsg #instafood #instagood #ilovefood #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015




~*9 August 2015*~
Soaking in the post NDP atmosphere with @tifducky and Paul at the whole Marina Bay area before National Day is over. What better way to start the night with old school wafer ice cream! So we had chocolate mint, nata de coco and chocolate chips but they all tasted like durian!!!

#sg50 #ndp2015 #ilovesg #redandwhite #oldschoolicecream #igsg #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015 #marinabay




~*9 August 2015*~
Oh dear. It's past midnight but anyway... Happy birthday Singapore!!! I love you!

#ilovesg #sg50 #ilovesingapore #igsg #fullertonhotel #happybirthday #ndp2015 #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015 #marinabay




~*9 August 2015*~
Yesterday... Trying to get some work done while watching NDP. Today??? Sigh... Nothing to say. The 4-day long jubilee weekend sure passes quickly.

#ndp #ndp2015 #sg50 #jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015 #ilovesingapore #ilovesg #wearesingapore #fireworks #danbo #workfromhome #igsg




~*10 August 2015*~
Hit by the realization that the 4-day jubilee weekend is coming to an end. Woa... Where did the time go?

#jubileeweekend #jubileeweekend2015 #sg50 #chewonit #ilovesg #igsg #ndp2015 #realitybites




~*11 August 2015*~
Watching The LKY Musical with @tifducky-- one of the greatest fan of LKY.

#LKY #TheLKYMusical #LKYthemusical #mbs #sandstheatre #ilovesg #ilovesingapore #sg50 #igsg




~*15 August 2015*~
MoMo (MolekTheCat), my favourite neighbourhood stray died from being attacked by a pack of 10 wild dogs last week over the Jubilee Weekend. I haven't even seen her the past few times I was at my family home. This picture of her rousing from her sleep in the bicycle basket was taken in 2008. I still can't believe she is gone... A feisty but loving cat when faced with 10 wild dogs is beyond her feisty nature to handle.

For my Singaporean followers/Yishun denizens, these wild dogs roam the forested area near Bottle Tree Park and they are pretty aggressive. There is a Park Connector there where I see joggers and cyclists. Do keep a good watch out when you are around that area!

This 2012 video was my last long interaction with her: https://www.facebook.com/jolene.ng.961/videos/vb.741817783/10153670493252784/?type=3&theater

#caturday #MolekTheCat #momo #instacat #straycat #cutecat #igsg #sgcats #ilovecats




~*16 August 2015*~
On National Day, I did a short clip of "Home" which is almost every Singaporean's favourite National Day song and didn't post it up. Now I'm challenged by SOMEBODY (tag removed) to post my amateur singing up on public social media. Challenge accepted but please don't bash me for the bathroom singing. Takes a lot to post this up to get bashed.

#KitChan #homesingapore #singingsunday #SG50 #NDP2015 #bathroomsinger #iruinedthesong #amateursinger #onesongonesg #ilovesingapore #ilovesg #陈洁仪




~*18 August 2015*~
Spontaneous lunch meet up with bestie @xtinaong and Baby Sammie today! Baby Sammie is sick but she was so well-behaved! Most of the times, she just let mummy and aunty eat and chat in peace while she looked at everyone in the restaurant and made them smile with her curious, kpo expression. It was so great catching up with you Chris!

#besties #bff #galpals #friends #ilovemyfriends #igsg




~*19 August 2015*~
I haven't posted any illustration or random doodle on Instagram for a loooooooong time. Here's a Triumph TR250 which was part of the farewell card for our previous director. I've never drawn or coloured a car before and even with referencing, this is my most challenging drawing and colouring to date.

#illustration #doodle #antiquecar #TriumphTR250 #colorpencildrawing #blackpendrawing #yellowcar #igsg #instagood #sgblogger




~*22 August 2015*~
Discovered new, doable and effective toning and sculpting YouTube videos to work out to! They are just toning and sculpting but I was burning and sweating like cardio.
Yes yes, some of you are still guessing on Instagram which sports bra I chose. I got the pink and black Nike one in the end coz I'm bimbotic and wanna match my pink and black FBT shorts.

#healthylifestyle #postworkout #postworkselfie #dontbelazy #hotandsweaty #sweatitout #fitness #moveyourbody #nikesportsbra




~*23 August 2015*~
Liquid eyeliners are meant for drawing fake tattoos, only that I don't know what I'm drawing.

#bodyart #faketattoo #wristtattoo #liquideyeliner #tattooart #instagood #igsg




~*27 August 2015*~
Throwback to 10 years ago. These are the very first colleagues I've made when I stepped out into the working world, some of whom have become great buddies and many of whom are still connected through Facebook. I will always miss the times when we worked hard together and played even harder together, the long lunches whenever we decided to reward ourselves and all the celebrations we threw for one another. We need a 10 year reunion soon!

#tbt #throwbackthursdays #colleagues #friends #missingyou #thosememories #thosedays #whenwewereyoung #igsg #instagood #mahjong #birthday




~*30 August 2015*~
The raw oysters from Itacho Sushi served in this manner reminded me of how much I miss the oyster shooters at Dan Ryan's.

#itachosushi #rawoysters #oysters #japanesefood #instafood #instagood #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm




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Birthday 2015 In Summary

For someone who is always late in updating about events, I managed to get the thumbs up from so many of my friends when I updated about my birthday staycation at MBS in June. It was well within a month from when it happened.

And then I forgot all about updating the rest of the meet ups and pig outs for this year's birthday.

Some of you would know that I dislike my birthday. I spent two birthdays at the specialist centre and hospital. And in all morbidity I thought that if I should leave the world, I should at least meet up with all the people who mattered to me for the last time. Hence, I started arranging to meet up more often with the different groups of good friends and also reached out to old friends whom I haven't met up with for a long time.

I really enjoy spending time with all the people I love during the May-June period. Though to me, I would just treat these as get-togethers and catching up with friends instead of celebrating my birthday. It is the time spent with treasured people that fill up my happiness jar.

This year was a little different. Somehow it was such a busy period for many friends and I that it was quite difficult to arrange pig out sessions. So unlike the previous years, here's Birthday 2015 all in just one post.

Like my usual fashion, this is a long post so to get all the pictures loaded in good speed, don't read this on your phone on 3G network.



~*Takumi and TCC with the Branch Babes*~

My branch gals had an advanced birthday lunch celebration with me on a Friday. Knowing that there would not be impending meet ups with good friends, I thought that that would be the only cake I would be getting this year. How wrong I was as you would soon find out why.

These are my lovely branch babes. Well there used to be 7 in the branch but we have since slimmed down a lot in manpower. Now you know why I'm always going home late.




We realized that the wide angle camera function of one of the gal's Samsung phone skewed the proportion of objects at the end. My colleagues' faces ended up being so distorted that even Facebook face recognition could not recognize them. After much 美图秀秀, we managed to get a decent shot... sort of.




Before drinks and cake at TCC Keppel, we had a wonderful Japanese lunch at Takumi. Takumi could be considered as semi fine dining during dinner but for lunch, they have a really affordable and yummy menu. I ordered the Salmon and Salmon Roe Don for my main.

Chawanmushi




My colleague was full of praises for her Negitoro Don. I know I could not finish a whole minced raw tuna dish on my own.




Dessert came as a surprise coz we didn't have that the last time round. It's either a nice surprise that day or they robbed us of our desserts the last time we went there.





~*Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant with Hubby*~


Hubby had been spending so much time at work that he had quite neglected me. However that Friday, he promised to have dinner with me outside. We didn't know what to eat until the aroma of Chinese soup wafted into my nostrils at ION. Each time I smell this delicious soupy aroma at the top level of ION, I would tell myself that one day I am so gonna eat at Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant. The day finally came!




We could do a Photo Hunt and spot the difference between the 2 pictures. Anyway I really love roasted Barley Tea.




When the waitress asked us which soup base we wanted, I asked her, "What is this soup smell that is always coming from your restaurant? We would order that." She was rather amused and said it was just a mixture of all their soup. I forgot if we ordered the Ginseng Chicken Soup or the Healthy Chicken Soup. The soup tasted like a bland version of the aroma that was engulfing us.




Before the steamboat pot was served, a tray of 12 condiments was presented at our table. We were told that we could mix our own sauce.




Hubby and I both love sauces with peanut and garlic but he was more adventurous in mixing more condiments in his. In the end, I love his sauce more! His was on the left, mine on the right.




For us Chinese, steamboat is usually an affordable and easy meal which involves throwing in of ingredients and building up a tasty soup base. It is also the kind of get-together meals whereby people gather and "cook" together. It is really easy to prepare steamboat meals and hence we seldom spend too much for a steamboat meal. However, the price is a little steep at Imperial Treasure because it is the classy sort of steamboat restaurant that serves premium ingredients. You could tell how fresh the ingredients were just from the photos. I'm craving for their steamboat as I'm typing this right now.




They served choice cut of meat like this well- marbled beef shank over here.




Their pork shoulder was delicious too. There wasn't a hint of those porky taste that I dislike.




Fresh vegetables.




Deep Fried Spring Roll, Deep Fried Beancurd Skin.




"Soon Hock" Fish and Cuttlefish.




Cuttlefish Balls with Egg York, Pork Balls and Shrimp Dumpling.




The King Tiger Prawns were so sweet and succulent. I was craving for more prawns after I finished my share.




Well, this photo was supposed to depict me with the smorgasbord of steamboat food in front of me. But the hubz preferred to leave the food overexposed and focus on how this human seemed to be spontaneously combusting.




Wefie with the hub. We both looked super tired. I'm still liking my much shorter hair and I always find it very intriguing that I could start the day with hair blown in neatly and end the day with hair curling everywhere. But that's fine. I'm ok with hair curling everywhere as long as they don't stick out as a bunch. I'm tempted to cut my hair again!





~*Birthday Cake Cutting with My Family*~


My 大姐 (eldest sis) got me a durian cake and told me to go back to my family home for cake cutting on the eve. She claimed it had been planned since January and not because I said that the cake from my branch gals would possibly be the only birthday cake I would have this year.




My sis was so funny. She wanted a solo picture of me and the cake. My dad was beside me and still, she framed me in the middle and cut part of my dad out. I would have included my dad in if I were the one taking the photo.




My dad said it was all right to cut him out as he was in shabby looking home clothes, yet he continued to sit there. Hahaha... Here is an anigif of the cake cutting process.




My mum requested not to post that day's family photos on the Internet and so this is a photo of me and kh.





~*KUVO with Vios*~


The VIOS group met up at KUVO for a joint birthday celebration for Jully and me.




It was the first time at KUVO for many of us and we wouldn't have known of this gem of a restaurant tucked away in the dingy Orchard Shopping Center. To many of us, Orchard Shopping Center is a building whereby we had karaoke sessions during our schooling days. Hence we were pleasantly surprised to discover a clandestine multi-concept space which offers fine food and wine. Besides the great food, the lush furnishing and warm lights made the short weekend lunch meet up a cozy affair.




We ordered so many platters of small bites to share as you would soon see.


KUVO Coffee Hot Wings served with baby carrot crudités and blue cheese dip.




The blue cheese dip made eating carrots so fun!




Calamari Al Ajillo -- calamari sautéed in garlic and extra virgin olive oil with pork chorizo.




Tiger Prawn Al Ajillo -- tiger prawn sautéed in garlic and extra virgin olive oil with pork chorizo.




Spicy Meat Balls slow-cooked in red wine sauce, drizzled with sour cream.




Now let's go on to our main dishes.

Portobello and Cheese Wagyu Burger-- housemade wagyu half pounder with chargrilled portobello mushroom and melted edam cheese served with bacon, U.S. fries and petit greens.




Free-Range Country Chicken -- half oven-roasted spring chicken with kumara mash and jus of forest mushroom.




Duck Classique -- French duck leg confit in amaretto prune jus, served with ovenroasted soft cheese-potato cake and fresh garden medley.




Double-Cut Rack of Lamb -- roasted baby lamb rack dusted with housemade citrus spice and juniper berry glaze, served with eggplant confit, chargrilled zucchini and gingered kumara purée.




Steak Au Poivre -- chargrilled U.S. Angus beef tenderloin with green peppercorn sauce, served with grilled asparagus, baby carrot and haricot vert on potato purée bed.




KUVO Atlantic Cod Meuniere -- sweet pea crusted fresh cod medallion with pearl barley fricassee, potato gratin and citrus nuttybrown butter.




Birthday gals, let's be irritating and act cute.




I thought this was supposed to be a proper one.




Birthday gals with the gals.






The peace smile is getting more common. You either look extremely sweet or downright annoying. I've to really work towards looking sweet. Lol!




Little Belle saw all the aunties doing the peace smile and she tried to imitate too! So cute!




I love this shot!




Photo bombed to the max.




Birthday gals with the boys.




Boys being boys...




So while this was supposed to be a dreamy shot of us making a wish...




This was what happened behind us!




We are ONE!




Jokers Mark and Kh were at it again, spoiling the group shot this time.




A proper group shot!