This Christmas/Birthday, I've received my very first blue box! I'm so very, very elated about it. Yes, if anyone finds me lost on the streets one day, send me back home, return me to where I belong. Okay so here comes the funny part - I've ALWAYS wanted a charm bracelet (doesn't have to be Tiffany's) and I've always been torn between getting one for myself and waiting for someone (I mean, a special someone) to get one for me.

OKAY so here's a time for an unexpected confession that's as silly and realistic as a fairytale - that he'd somehow know that I want a charm bracelet and get me one without me saying anything. Totally girly, I know. But it's such a wonderful idea - to be able to add a charm whenever there's a special occasion or an experience you want to remember. And at the end of it you'll have a bracelet full of memories!

Anyways, since I've gotten one, I decided that this secret is now safe to be let out of the bag. I promise there isn't much more of this silliness (okay well, not thatt much more at least). It's very shiny and I can only collect it in a week because it's been sent for alterations to get some of the links cut off so it'll fit nicely :) This must be some sort of good karma - mere months after I get my mum her very first blue box I get my own. Oh, love.

The next on my never-ending quest for Japanese food - Itacho Sushi at Ion Orchard. We were so lost when presented with the variety that we went for one set (Ume) and ordered additional pieces of sushi on top of that.
 
 

Various kinds of sushi - swordfish, tuna, japanese flounder, and some others.
 

 

Here's the Roasted Scallop Sushi, Sea Salt Scallop Sushi and Conch Sushi. I love scallop sashimi sushi! I didn't try the conch sushi but apparent it's rather hard and crunchy and not very pleasant an eating experience. Look at the seafood draping over the rice! Makes me so happy. The actual amount of rice beneath each fish is only a tiny amount - which means that I can eat plenty of sushi before becoming full!
 
 
 

Sweet Shrimp Sakura Leaf Roll
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Salmon Roll (that comes as part of the Ume set)
 

 

Pumpkin tempure - the only fried dish we had (came as part of the set). I love pumpkin so it was all good!
 

 

Whole Sea Eel Sushi - I don't even know why they try to disguise this as sushi. There's that tiny lump of rice under the hugeeee eel that seems to stretch on forever, and we were just picking away at the eel itself until we got to the portion with the rice. So sweet and tasty - J. calls it fish bak kwa. Alright all the food went by in a wheeze because I was hungry and everything was yummy so it was like a sushi frenzy. I'm in Ion every alternate day and there's always long queues during lunch time. Lunkily, with my slightly weird eating hours, i got there at 11.30am and got a seat with ease. I like that the sushi comes in individual pieces instead of the usual pairs - it means that you don't have to have too much of one thing and you can still order it even if your partner doesn't want it. Definitely one of the better places in Ion to dine at and I'm coming back again very, very soon!  

My dad's Christmas present is settled! I don't know about everyone else but I generally find that guys are terribly hard to get things for. All the more so if they're old - what they need, they have. What they want, they have. How in the world are you supposed to get something they actually like that will be used?

I know some of my past attempts for my dad have been a random assortment of toys and pretty but useless things (like, a decision maker.) that are good for a moment's laugh but that's it. This year I've given up on finding funky stuff and went down the old route - a tie. My dad loves his ties - like the way a woman loves handbags or shoes. I suppose it's the only exciting thing in an outfit of white shirt + dark pants (his usual work get up). He has built in, pull-out tie racks. Enough said.

Thing about ties is that there are so, so many designs out there. I decided to get him one good one, rather than multiple not-so-good quality ties. He'd mentioned that he liked Zegna and Dunhill ties, so we headed to Paragon to look for one. I suppose service really made all the difference. In Zegna we were pretty much left alone, but when we stepped into Dunhill and the sales assistant saw us looking at ties, he immediately asked questions like "what colour shirts does he wear?" and "is he a conservative type?" and then proceeded to get us a white shirt and give recommendations, but was in no way pushy.





The people at Dunhill then wrapped it up nicely and it's now sitting under our Christmas tree :) Hope dad'll like it!

My mum still doesn't know I bought her earrings yet. I shall surprise her on the day itself hee.

Whew I'm glad the two most difficult people in the world are settled!

I haven't really figured out what I want for Christmas/ birthday this year. So far I've shortlisted these two potentials: Chanel pendant earrings with pearl from the Cruise 2009/2010 collection or the Miu Miu croc embossed wallet (but not in green... maybe the dusty pink similar to my bag).

Ho hmm ho hmm! Though I've realised my first love is still for my Balenciaga city and I feel like getting another. Oh dear!

ALRIGHT. So here's the deal: J. and I are planning our trip to Hong Kong, and our whole tour will be revolving around food, food and more food. Basically, we are aiming to stomach at least 4 proper meals a day, and many snacks in between. In other words, it is also going to be a massive weight gain session! And considering that school starts a day after we get back, I have no time at all to lose it all!

And anyone who knows me will know that I am the least active person ON THE PLANET. I can't remember when was the last time I exercised. Actually I do. It was for NAPFA 2.5 years back. Yes. SO basically we have a situation of all input no output! As of 10 minutes ago, I have decided to set for myself an aim: to lose 2.5kg before my trip on 4th Jan 2010. That basically gives me a month. The month of December - parties, gatherings, and all good food. Oh lord.

My mum recently got for herself the Flabelos machine - apparently what you're supposed to do is um., Stand on it and let it... shake. And it's supposed to work by proprioception or something, making your muscles work to balance yourself while the machine shakes. Whatever it is, it sounds dubious, but since my mum got it, I've decided I shall give it a try this holidays! (Please don't ask me to go out and exercise. Baby steps, I say).

The only problem is - each time in my life I've tried to start exercising I ALWAYS gain a ton of weight - it's just so much additional hunger to that little output (if any). And everyone always says it's only temporary and thereafter the weight will go away but I've never gotten that far. So I've decided to try it out for a month and see what happens, for the sake of HONG KONG. This isn't even a weight loss plan - it's a damage control plan.

Anyways, I shall do updates as to how well the Flabelos works and how well the HONG KONG PLAN will work out. (Yes, I like the sound of the Hong Kong Plan. From now on, this experiment shall be known as such).

I'm sitting here typing, with my back and arms warm, red and throbbing from the sun earlier today. This must be some sort of punishment for wanting to get out in the sun and not putting on sunblock.

We checked out Marina Barrage today! It's a great place to be - and on a weekday it's not crowded at all. The weather amazingly held up for us today - it's the first day in a week I've not seen it rain! And the breeze there is magnificent! So much so that there isn't a picture where my hair looks remotely decent/ not covering half my face. Also, a point I learnt is that it's not a good idea to wear a dress/ skirt there. Always. Wear. Shorts.

I got to bring my new picnic basket (which I acquired a few weeks back during exam period. mmhmm.) out for the first time today and I love it. It's actually part of a Crabtree and Evelyn Christmas hamper set that we specially bought so I can get the basket :D. It's a beauty with inner lining and leather straps and buckles. Only thing is it doesn't have straps for proper wine glasses and cutlery but I doubt I'll want to hassle of lugging so much around anyway.

Since it was a small picnic (just 3 of us) we just picked up a few items - chocolate cookies, juice, blue corn chips, dip, shaved smoked ham and bread from Simply Bread. I've discovered that the herb plait from Simply Bread is really, really aromatic and good! Went so well with the ham.

The next time I'm coming back with a kite, sunblock, and shorts. I look like a red lobster now!