Toby's Estate Cafe

Breakfast is.. always good.

I love waking up for breakfast - but of course on most weekends, I skip it because I rather sleep in. Finally made it this time and visited Toby's Estate Cafe! I'm happy to say, they didn't disappoint.

It was pretty crowded for a Saturday morning. We had to wait about 30 minutes before we got a seat.

 
It's interior reminds me of the quaint cafes I visited in Perth. Had a really organic feel to it. The space wasn't big so it felt cozy when it's bustling. The waiting staff weren't very attentive, that I felt was the only down point. It was a nice day to be upset with someone, really.

Our food came fast. We both ordered Eggs Royale ($14). The hollandaise sauce was bursting with flavour and sinful. The salmon was fresh. The bread was soft and lightly toasted. A good breakfast to me include poached eggs. I had a cafe mocha to go at the end.

I'd definitely come back and try their lunch and dinner menu!

Toby's Estate Cafe

8 Rodyk St #01-03/04 

http://www.tobysestate.com.sg/

 

Movie Review: Chronicle

(out of the many theatrical powers they've, I like this one the best)

**SPOILERS ALERT**

While deciding whether we should catch Jack & Jill or Chronicles last night, we went ahead with the latter cos the seats was selling fast at the counters assuming everyone's gushing to watch it. I've also recently read a review on the Rolling Stone by Peter Travers (one of my favourite reviewers!) about the movie and allow me to cite him, he said the film 'spring surprises'.

In a nutshell, (major spoilers ahead because the plot is simple) Andrew who's a loner at school with a alcoholic dad and sickly bed ridden mother, decided that chronicling his life with a camcorder will open up his world. One day, his cousin Matt and popular school jock friend, Steve, discovered an alien-liked object in a hole. Whatever that they found remained unexplained throughout the film but whatever it is, after touching 'it', they were gifted with special powers they thought would ONLY happen in the movies.

With every new power, it started small. At first, they could hold things in mid air and consequently their powers enabled them to do absurd things such as flying (playing football in the skies, among the clouds, how's that??).

I'm sure you can predict the rest.. as usual Andrew the loner thought his new-found power made him powerful and abused it to hurt people who has hurt him like bullies in school, his drunk father and even innocents. He lost sight of reality and how he's really hurting people around him, his attitude and behavior took a dip after the death of Steve who was struck my lightning while trying to save him in mid-air. All these unfortunate events happened chronicling and was documented on the camcorder. Of course, the ending wasn't unexpected and it was a tragedy.

Some people walked out of the theatre half way because they thought it was boring or something (I mean, if you watched my life in chronicle on video, you'd be bored too.) but I felt that the film was sending a strong message to young and old alike; like how Spiderman would say it "With great power comes great responsibility".

It's true. Of course the film used unimaginable super powers as a metaphor for money, power and fame. When one has them, it's so easy to lose sight of what's real and eventually you lose yourself. Was researching and saw this article about powers and responsibilities, read it. What the author said is true, we all have the power to influence. Good or bad, it's up to you.


You can watch Chronicle's trailer here:



On another piece of saaaaaaaad news, I'm stuck on this song lah. It began with a guy calling his friend saying he's on his way to pick him up on A YACHT and a few bad hot lady dancers #dayum #loserisme

Review: Manicure at Milly's

Saw a great deal on Groupon (my current favourite site, FYI!!!) just a week before I left for Perth: $20 for Classic Pedi/Medi at Milly's, U.P: $45! I knew I had to get it.

I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to getting my manicure and pedicure done because I own a lot of OPI colors at home and I'm all for DIY. (I'm crazy, I change my colors once a week, twice if I've time) So when I saw this deal, I purchased it! I paid $60 for 3 classic mani/pedi sessions.

Where?: Milly's, currently they've got 2 outlets: Far East Plaza (#03-129) & Bugis Village, L2 new extension

What?: They not only provide mani/pedi services, you can get your hair extensions, eyelash perming and other beauty services done there as well. Much raved by Local bloggers/personalities: Bong Qiu Qiu, Yan Kaykay, Fidelis Toh and much more. (yes, I stalk them on twitter.)

The experience:

I opted for my first session to be at Bugis Village, thought I'd shop for a bit before heading in. I made my appointment 2 weeks earlier to avoid any disappointment. Like the fact that they provide a HP number to SMS for convenience's sake. Have yet to try how responsive they are on text though..

Anyway, I got there 15 minutes earlier, the shop was rather empty; could be because of the rain. The shop front wasn't fancy, I immediately felt I was transported to Bangkok because there were some staffs conversing in crisp Thai. They were the hair extensions girls. I giggled because I truly miss being in BKK for it's glorious shopping and food. I was greeted nicely by 2 girls who directed me to take a seat and was told to pick my colors.

I asked if the manicurist doing my hands if they had any new colors from OPI, surprisingly (and disappointingly) they don't. Can't help but feel that she just want to get the job done. They've got quite an extensive choice of colors. 2 different shades of red that I picked ran out, I was disappointed again because it's extremely annoying when you're trying out a new place and they don't have what you want. But then again, given that red is a rather popular choice of color. The manicurist was quite nice to help pick 2 shades similar to what I initially wanted.

Outcome: Overall, they did ok. Manicurist working on my hands didn't paint the inner corners entirely but it isn't that noticeable unless you really scrutinise but that's kinda not the point... Manicurist helping out with my toes did a fine job and she cleaned me up well. I think the experience could have been better enhanced if they were more chatty towards me than among themselves. I still have 2 more sessions to go, perhaps I'll have a better experience at the FEP outlet!

Review: Evolu Exoliating Body Polish

I've had this tube of goodness for over months and I only managed to try it now. Got to know this organic New Zealand skin care brand from work and was given this to me as a gift from a sweet colleague. I've personally met founder of Evolu, Kati Kasza, who's got such a great spirit and personality! She believes in the power of equilibrium to promote healthy skin. According to Kati, every pure, bioactive product in the Evolu range is specifically blended to help achieve and maintain your skin's ideal balance.

If you're like me, you live in a country that's 24/7 HOT and HUMID, you've got to try this.

What is it?: Evolu exfoliating body polish consist of crushed walnut and kiwi seeds to help slough off dead skin cells, which works amazingly well! What I love most about this product is it contain New Zealand lavender, eucalyptus and menthol that leave your skin cool, refreshed and a tingling sensation that works best in a hot weather. In fact after 30 minutes, I can still feel the cooling sensation on my skin.

I used it on rough areas such as elbows (ugh, never understood why they're so rough!!!), knees and my back. If you're always in the sun, you might want to get a full back scrub with this glorious product because not only does it help cool down sun burns, it also removes all the gunk on your back which will help reduce acne :)

I occasionally use it on my chest because I'm rather prone to acne there as well.

Pros: Affordable, most Evolu products are in the range of $30 - $40 for their basic skin care which I think is extremely inexpensive judging that it's an organic skin care brand. You'll also be happy to know that all Evolu products are cruelty-free, contain no parabens, petrochemicals, minerals, phthalates, sulfats, artificial colours or fragrances, and no animal products other than beeswax and lanolin!

Cons: I absolutely love this body polish to death, I can't find anything to hate about it. Ok, maybe 1 thing....... I always wind up with a lot of kiwi seeds on my bathroom floor. #justsaying

Where to find Evolu in SG?: You can find them at all major Guardian Pharmacies and John Little.

Go get it, you can thank me later. ;) Have yourself a glorious Sunday!

Black and white

There are some heads that are cute, while black and white heads surfacing on your t-zone, nose (UGH!) and chin ARE GROSS. I've been using Etude house's green tea nose pore pack for awhile now and it has served me very well. It's also very cheap, 90cents a piece which can be purchased singularly so you don't need to commit to buying a whole pack of 5 pieces if it doesn't work for you.

I was at NEX mall yesterday and walked in to Etude House to get some cos my nose has got too much gunk! To my horror, they are sold out NATION WIDE. Obviously I was devastated. But not for too long, hee. Skinfood was just situated next to Etude, I decided to give them a shot. I mean what can be so bad right? The beauty advisor recommended me to get their star product - Skinfood Black beans nose pack. Comes in a pack of 7 and priced at $12.80.

Skinfood's known for using very natural ingredients in their products and for a korean brand it's quite costly. (For a tub of face mask can cost up to $41) I've never really used anything by them other than a sample tube of Rice mask I tried the other time which wasn't too bad. I've heard raves about it. I didn't see results because I didn't have the patience to try it over a period of time.

They have the exact same 'green tea-ish' smell when you peel the pack off and put it on your nose. I didn't find the smell overpowering (I've read many bloggers wrote that it stinks lol). It was manageable. It states to leave it on for 15 mins till its dry and true enough when it's about time you can actually feel the 'suction' from it? Like it's really removing all the GUNK!

When I stripped it off my nose, to my horror/amazement.. A LOT of gunk was pulled out! Like A LOT. I was horrified that my nose had that much gunk on it.

Here's a pic to prove. HAHAHA

Can you see how much gunk's on it? I'm truly amazed!

My Verdict:

I'm very impressed with the results just by ONE application. My nose was a lot cleaner than before, though there are still much more to clear but it has to be done over time unless you want a major break out. Overall, I'm a happy customer. I'll definitely buy again once I run out.

Pros:

1. Easy application. Just follow the blardy steps ok?
2. Instructions were thoroughly clear. It actually gave good advice! At the back of the pack it did say if you're living in a humid/warm climate, keep it on for 15 mins and cold climate, 10 mins. This is so you don't dry out your skin.
3. The Etude house green tea nose pack couldn't reach the inner corners of my nose which annoyed me much. This Skinfood black bean nose pack managed to pull out all the gunk at all corners. Got me pretty much covered!

Cons:

1. The smell is not for everybody. It's manageable for me though.
2. Rather expensive in my opinion. There are definitely cheaper alternatives. Like Biore, Etude house..
3. Not sure if you can buy 1 piece a time. If we can't then its wastage if this product doesn't work for you as it comes in a pack of 7!

Ok back to work, till next time! xo A

Food Review: DeSté & Wild Honey

Finally!
... I made my way to Wild Honey. ;]

Was there on Sunday with Jason and Lala, thanks guys for the not-so-secret surprise (cause' I'm so smart to guess it right at first try!). I've always wanted to visit this "Breakfast place" everyone has been raving about. If you read Rozz's blog from 987, she is an ardent fan and visits there almost every week!

So they don't do reservations - for such a small place, I figured why. What more, we met with the Labour day PH, which was a TOTAL BUMMER. Anyway, so we made our way there only to find ourselves in the queue with like 3207423938 other people. We were told that we had to wait for approximately 1 hour for seats. I'm dying to try la but we were MADDDDD hungry please :( While waiting, we decided to go for some desserts first!

DeSté - A Tradition in Confectionary



Located at quite a secret area behind 313, DeSté is a little alfresco italian dessert place. If you're in for expensive looking yet not crazy on the wallet, DeSté is the place to go for yummy desserts! They've a range of gelato ice creams, chocolates (for someone who doesn't like chocolates at all, I am sold!), coffee, teas, cakes and all things sweet!

From left: Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Wrap, Piedmont Pave, Tiramisu (Photos shamelessly stolen from Jason Muhu)




Right now they've an amazing promotion - A slice of cake + a piece of premium chocolate bon bons + a scoop of gelato ice cream + a drink (coffee/tea) for $14.90

They've 3 outlets at the moment:The Riverwalk next to the Singapore River, Mandarin Gallery and 313@Somerset.

Trust me, you'll love it for its chic store front, great desserts and friendly service staffs.

Wild Honey @ Mandarin Gallery

So, we waited for an hour and left for Wild Honey after DeSté. I wasn't too happy with their Service, for one. We were told to wait for an hour and said they'd call us when they've seats freed up for us but the call didnt came. When we got there, they said they did give us a miss call but we didnt pick up which can't be true because we didnt even receive any call from them. I wasn't impress with their service even before stepping in.

I also don't really like their "Pay at the counter first before seated" policy at the store. First of all, their queue line is really narrow and I don't like the idea of having to hold up the queue while deciding what to eat. It was rather pressurizing. Anyway, we decided on a Tunisian, Mexican and English Breakfast (UNDER PRESSURE!! :P) and we all ordered a Mandarin Wilderness Mocktail each.




Top: Mexican, Tunisian
Bottom: English breakfast & Sides (Mushrooms and Baked Beans)

Verdict: I'd say it was alright. Nothing too fantastic. It could be because I didnt start empty stomach. I couldn't finish my wrap. Their dishes are saltier than you'd imagine. The sides are great, then again, very salty. I probably wouldn't go there too often, maybe once in a while if I'm craving for very good breakfast. Price wise was manageable. :)

Food Review: Fika Cafe & Bistro

Hi guys, how was your week? Hope it was swell. ♥

This post is long overdue but I'll try to remember whatever that's still fresh in me. I was at Fika some weeks ago for my birthday; located on the corner of Beach road and Arab Street, this little white themed bistro had caught my eye for a long time but never had the chance to try.

Fika is a halal swedish cafe and bistro with full white furniture and interior, the place gives you this fuzzy feeling like you're at home. A little fun fact - The word "Fika" means having coffee with one's colleagues, friends, date, or family. The word has quite ambiguous connotations and can mean anything from taking a break from work or other activities, to going on a date. Well, in layman's terms, it means to chill, relax and get together.

The area's rather small, probably can fit to about 10-15 people inside and another 1o at the alfresco. I heard they've opened up the 2nd level which can hold approximately 100 pax for corporate functions, parties or events.

I ordered a Swedish Hash - Diced potatoes, onions and beef, pan-fried and topped with a runny sunny-side-up with sliced beetroot on the side ($17.90). The portion came and I thought: Man, am I going to be full from this? But surprisingly, it was quite filling. They've a good portion of potatoes, greens and the cube sized beef was quite tender and chewy.

My girlfriend ordered Grilled Chicken - Boneless chicken thigh served with parlsey potatoes and black pepper sauce ($15.90) which was really, really good. The sauce was very savory and smooth. It wasn't clumpy like some I've seen before. The chicken thigh was also tender. This is a must order!

Other dishes we tried: The Steak - Juicy strip loin steak served with parsley potatoes topped black pepper sauce ($22.90), it was alright. Portion was good for a lady but probably a little small for a guy. The sides are all the same, you get potatoes and salad. We also tried the meatballs which was a disappointment. We all agreed unanimously that Ikea serve better meatballs!

Dessert was pretty swell. We had Swedish Pancakes sprinkled with icing sugar served with whipped cream and jam. I was quite surprised that Swedish pancakes are actually really thin and they taste slightly salty? But the savory taste mixed well with the blueberry jam and icing. It was a good combination.

Verdict: I enjoyed the experience. It'd be great for a small gathering with 3-4 friends. Especially girlfriends! And I'm very sure the place looks better when it's in the day because of the good sunlight that basked in and white furniture. The food was 7/10. I was quite satisfied!!

What I didn't like: Their meatballs could have been better. I don't know, just didn't taste nice to me. They're also a little too huge. Also, they shouldn't be charging for water. It's a given that water is FOC, period.

For more info/reservations, visit: http://www.fikacafe.com/

Make up Review: Maybelline Magnum Mascara

I only started applying mascara about 3 years ago. I know, I'm an extremely late bloomer. Never liked the idea of having something on my lashes or anywhere near my eyes; thinking that it'd hurt. Alas, I gave in to vanity and tried some on. It worked a little bit but I still hate my Asian lashes because they're so short and bare. I almost couldn't see anything after applying. (And I'm still contemplating about fake eyelashes, so don't suggest)

Recently, I was walking down Dhoby Ghaut MRT station and saw HUGE print adverts of a giant yellow tube. It's really hard to miss. At first thought, I felt really strange. Yellow and metallic purple? Hmm, not the best color combination. It was also a coincidence that I needed to get a new tube of mascara, so I decided to give it a try.

Verdict? I love it. Absolute mad mad mad love.


Don't know about you but I really HATE mascara that comes with the brush. (Always preferred those with comb brush.) Those brushes are really thick and fucking hard to apply when you've small eyes and short eyelashes. You end up clumping your lashes and they look gross. But Maybelline's new range of Volum' Express Mascaras (which is the Magnum) proved me wrong. The brush is so soft and so easy to apply. A few gentle strokes and you're done. No clumps and no hassle.

Magnum does give you volume and commendably a little length. (Seriously, if you have uber short lashes like mine, nothing you do can give you lashes of an Indian beauty like fake lashes can. So quit whining and accept fate!) I don't really care about the length because I don't like the feeling of having a little 'shade' above my lids. But I think volume is important. It's like short hair, you can have really short hair but with a little volume you just look different. Same for your lashes!

If you notice the brush, it is slightly curved. The bristles are quite sparsely arranged but arranged in such a way as to be able to grab quite a lot of your lashes at one go which is perfect for girls with very little and short lashes. Guess what's the best part? After 2 strokes of application, it does not weigh down your lashes! So, so, so awesome. *beams*

Pros: Volumizes lashes. Doesn't clump or smudge on my lashes. Affordable. Waterproof
Cons: If you're looking for a mascara that gives you length (like I said, girls with short lashes, time to wake up.), this is not the mascara for you. It doesn't really give you much length. And personally, I think the size of the tube is also a little too big for my liking.


To conclude, I am sold. Now, I enjoy applying mascara because it really works. Go get yours now!

And people, please be a dear and join the Maybelline (Singapore) fanpage!

Stand a chance to see AKON live in Singapore at Fort Canning this 22nd April! How? Steps are simple:

1) Join as a fan: http://www.facebook.com/MaybellineSG
2) Leave a comment on the wall - any message for Maybelline!
3) Take part in the survey
4) Cross your fingers and hope for the best!

Good luck!