- Sponsored Staycation –

Happy long weekend chewys! I’m back with a new blog entry! If you have read our previous post, you should have anticipated today’s hotel staycation review ya :) The husband and I enjoyed a one night stay at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay, a splendid 4 stars hotel situated in the heart of Singapore.

Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay features over 400 rooms which had been recently upgraded, each with a magnificent and amazing view of the Marina Bay, Singapore River, and also the spectacular city skyline of Singapore. We had the luxury of staying in a Premier room on the 22nd floor which is extremely spacious, complete with a balcony which can be accessed upon request for the sliding doors to be unlocked.

One substantial enhancement of the hotel was the discontinuation of queen sized beds such that there were only king sized beds even in Novotel’s smallest rooms.

All rooms have been designed to Novotel’s latest standards offering state of the art amenities. I was busy taking photos while misterchewy entertained himself by browsing channels on the LCD televisions with easy media connectivity panel. Oh did I mention that there is complimentary high-speed WiFi too?

Nespresso coffee machine

Some of the snacks available but are chargeable. FYI, 7-Eleven is conveniently located just downstairs.

iPod docking station. It’s a pity that it’s not compatible with iPhone 5.

The bathroom is also quite spacious. I wish I had my wide angle lens with me :P

I like the colors that Novotel picked for the packaging of the toiletries.

Photo taken and very heavily edited by misterchewy using his iPhone 5. Hahaha. But the photo sure doesn’t lie that it was a hot and sunny day! Perrrrfect for a swim!

Totally got this resort or holiday feel right? *Sigh*

It was nice having a staycation at Clarke Quay for a change! So many pubs and clubs in the area and you don’t have to worry that much about getting drunk because all you need to do is stagger a little to get back to Novotel. Hahaha.

The night view from our hotel room is also very nice!

We got to enjoy the MBS laser show as well. We could have watched the NDP preview fireworks display too but the husband had already made reservations for dinner. Boohoo.

Premier room guests get to enjoy Premier Floor benefits all day, such as having access to the newly-upgraded Premier Lounge, complimentary American breakfast, WiFi, express check-in / check-out and complimentary use of the boardroom for those all- important business meetings and cocktail hours complete with free flow drinks and canapes every evening. Premier guests have the option of having breakfast at this Premier Lounge or The SQUARE on level 7, or maybe both if you have the stomach for it.

I admit that I was lazy to get out of bed and told misterchewy to eat breakfast on his own :P He chose to have breakfast at the Premier Lounge. We had been to The SQUARE for a brunch tasting last year and the husband concluded that the variety was much wider there even though the Premier Lounge was more exclusive.

My simple breakfast from 7-Eleven and The Sunday Times from the hotel! Breakfast in bed for me :P

It was a great way for us to spend our dating anniversary at Novotel. Stay tuned to our next post as we will be showing you how we did our miniature food clay art as a couple! :) Stay connect with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy

Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay
177A River Valley Road
Singapore 179031
Tel: +65 63383333
Email: H5993@accor.com

There are so many unique things that you and your partner can do together as a couple and here’s what misterchewy and I did on our 3rd year dating anniversary! DENG DENG DENG DENG! Handmade miniature food clay art! One word, “FUN!!” best describes this! Even the husband thought so too! :D

Before I show you a little bit on the process of making the miniature food clay, these are the final products taken immediately after the workshop because we wanted to use the toothpicks for size comparison purposes :P For the lesson, we could also choose to make bread, pastries, tarts or cakes other than sushi or burger. We decided to make our favourite food so it was sushi for me and burger for misterchewy! :)

The afternoon slot was already filled so we went in the morning, before checking into our hotel for our staycation. The workshop was held in a small room inside a camera shop at Chinatown, Pagoda Street, which is about 3 minutes walking distance from the MRT station.

I did some online research and finally settled on attending Kin’s workshop. Firstly, Kin’s works are amazing and impressive. Secondly, she had a slot for us on our anniversary day even though it was at 10.30 in the morning. Lastly, Chinatown is near Novotel Clarke Quay so we didn’t have to travel all over Singapore.

I asked Kin and she told us that she has been making miniature food clay for over 8 years! Not only is Kin very knowledgeable about the different types of materials suitable for making various types of miniature food, she is also very generous with her information which is what I like about her. You can ask her many questions and she will tell you as much as she knows.

To start things off, I was given a small piece of resin clay and even though it was already white, I had to mix in a bit of white to make it even whiter. And from the piece of clay, I had to divide it equally into 4 smaller pieces because I was going to make 4 types of sushi.

Poking holes to make it look like Japanese rice. Hehe.

Looks cute right! One of them is without holes because I would be wrapping ‘seaweed’ around it.

In the meantime, Kin was teaching misterchewy how to make salad for his burger set.

Made tamago sushi first! Sorry I didn’t take the entire process because it would take up plenty of time. So you just use your imagination ok? :P

Tuna sushi! The husband and I were amazed and how realistic the tuna looked! Ok la maybe not mine, but the one Kin did as a sample looked damn real!

Apple pie done by misterchewy! We were giggling away because his apple pie looked kinda thick and fat, and Kin commented that it seemed as though someone had already taken a bite out of it. LOLOLOL.

Does my salmon sushi look adorable? Actually I’m not very happy with it because I made the indentation on the salmon a little too deep and when I used a white pen to line it, the whole thing looks ruined. Haiiii. But still quite cute because it’s about the size of my fingertip. Haha.

The husband showing off his burger! But still got some finishing touches to be made!

The last sushi that I made was the ebi sushi. It was the only sushi that I had to use a brush to paint the colors on the prawn. Not easy ok! Before I started painting, Kin showed me more than 10 failed samples done by her students. Those really cannot make it one. And I actually laughed at one particular prawn which she said looks like a washing board. I stopped laughing immediately because I realized I have not started painting my own. *Stressed* Thankfully, I think it turned out pretty alright for a first-timer! :D From left to right, we have tuna sushi with prawn roe, salmon sushi, tamago sushi and ebi sushi. The ones in the background were done by Kin, which are a bit smaller than mine, and obviously much nicer too!

Since the husband was still working on his burger set, I took some photos of Kin’s works on display.

Yipee! 99% completed!

The husband’s burger set! Got salad, apple pie, milkshake, French fries and burger!

We spent about 3 hours and after the workshop, I requested to have a photo taken with Laoshi Kin! We were full of respect and admiration for her! Kin was really patient and she constantly gave us feedback and tips while we were working on our food clay. Kin had also been featured in numerous paper publications and she was also asked to make miniature Laksa as a gift for our ex-President MR. S R Nathan!

Out of the 4 types of sushi, I spent the most time on painting the ebi sushi because I had to make sure it doesn’t look too fake. I was actually very worried and kept wondering, what if I also ended up with a washing board lookalike prawn?! The salmon and tamago sushi seemed easy to make but they are also not that easy. Kin said, practice makes perfect!

I thought misterchewy’s burger set looks quite impressive! Very surprising because both of us are not exactly the art and craft kinda people. Before the start of the workshop, Kin asked if we had any experience in miniature clay making or any other types of handicraft. We hesitated for quite some time before I said, “Erm… The last time I did real art and craft was in primary school?!” LOL! The husband found that the top bun of the burger was the hardest to make. He had to redo the thing at least 4 times because the shape was not perfect. Kin told him that there is a certain technique to moulding it. Again, practice makes perfect!

Kin updates her website on a regular basis and features her latest works on http://rainbowclayminiature.blogspot.sg/
For more information on the different types of workshops that she conducts, you may visit her website here http://www.kinsminiatureworkshop.com/
I have also recently found out that Kin has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbowclayminiature-Kin/225509057484186

If you enjoyed our sushi and burger handmade miniature food clay art, do ‘Like’ us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and follow us on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy as there will be more interesting updates to come! :)

- Sponsored Staycation –

In July this year, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened the first ever Holiday Inn Express in Singapore, located in the heart of the country’s vibrant shopping district and entertainment hub, Orchard Road.
Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is the first of two Holiday Inn Express hotels planned for Singapore during the brand’s rapid expansion across South East Asia. With so many hotels concentrated in Orchard, it is needless to say that travellers will inevitably be spoilt for choice.

I was invited to discover the Holiday Inn experience for myself and since misterchewy was working that day, I checked into the hotel on my own that morning. I wasn’t the least bit worried about not being able to locate the place since I had been told that Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is situated in between The Heeren and Paragon. Talk about prime location!

Upon stepping into the hotel, I was warmly greeted with a smile at the 24-hour reception. Check-in procedure was straightforward, swift and hassle-free.

Our room was on the 15th floor, highest being the 16th. There are 221 queen-bedded and twin-bedded rooms with complimentary in-room wifi. In fact, the hotel offers free and fast Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel, so guests can stay connected all day, every day. In this day and age, not many of us can survive without Internet connectivity!

Holiday Inn Express’ STAY SMART concept revolves around making sure that every valued guest can expect a fuss-free and refreshing stay with guaranteed comfort and convenience at a reasonable price.

A panorama photo of our queen-bedded room taken with my iPhone 5.

All rooms feature high quality bedding with pillow top mattress and duck down duvet.

Interestingly, guests have a choice of soft pillows..

..or firm pillows. We preferred the firm ones!

To my delight, there is also a comfy couch for people like me who abhors lying on the bed before taking a shower. To me, the bed is sacred. I’m not joking. Haha.

There are also 40 inch LCD televisions, ergonomic desk chairs and efficient work stations in every room.

Tea and coffee making facilities

I was quite surprised to find an un-stocked mini bar but honestly, with so many supermarkets and convenience stores around the vicinity, I would rather choose my own selection of drinks and snacks.

In-room safe

En-suite bathroom

Holiday Inn takes pride in its green initiatives and Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium recently received the Singapore Green Hotel Award 2013.

Pleased to find liquid handwash instead of bar soap!

Silly me, I was busy taking photos of the bathroom amenities and then realized in a state of shock that I had not seen the shower area. I was almost ready to believe that there could be another shared bathroom within the hotel.. until I saw the handle of the door! Phew!

Guests can recharge after a long day exploring Orchard Road by utilizing the refreshing power showers in the bathrooms with three-head massage showerhead.

There was a tour around the hotel and the first thing I noticed was “SMART is having your own set of wheels”. So there you have it, Holiday Inn Express provides trolleys for guests to conveniently wheel their luggages into their rooms.

Complimentary internet stations and self-service business centre

Complimentary Express Start breakfast is made available at the Great Room.

There is also a Grab & Go option for guests who do not have the luxury of sitting down to enjoy their breakfast. More on this later.

On the 4th floor of the hotel, a compact meeting facility for 12 persons can be booked, subject to availability.

The self-service laundry and and ironing facilities are also located on the 4th floor.

After the tour, I bought McNuggets’ meal at Cineleisure, which was about a 10-minute walk away, and enjoyed a quiet lunch in the comfort of the hotel room.

Watched a couple of movies while resting on the couch before meeting misterchewy, misstamchiak and her fiancé for dinner. There will be a separate post for this!

Featuring our OOTD! Hehehe.

Breakfast ends at around 10am each day and we made sure that we got there by 9.30am.

Scrambled eggs

Chicken sausages

Fried beehoon

Prawn dumplings

Besides the usual coffee and tea, you can also have hot chocolate. Kids will definitely love this.

This is the Grab & Go breakfast option which consists of a cup of hot beverage, muffin and fruit. Busy guests don’t have an excuse for skipping breakfast. Very thoughtful of the hotel!

Packed our stuff and spent a relaxing moment in the room before checking out at 12pm.

The new Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is the smart choice for savvy travellers who are looking for the best location combined with the best value. The Smart Stay experience offers value-conscious guests everything they need and nothing they don’t. We personally felt that everything that was provided during our stay was adequate and we were very satisfied!

Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road
20 Bideford Road
Singapore 229921
Tel: +65 6690 3199

Wheeee! I managed to get down to blogging about the birthday treat that misstamchiak gave me. I haven’t had mushroom risotto in a long long time and was suddenly craving for some. Openly declared my craving to Maureen and the ever efficient girl did her research and we agreed on Noti Restaurant & Bar.

As misterchewy was working, I took a bus from Holiday Inn Express at Orchard and met him at Chinatown before walking to Club Street where Noti Restaurant & Bar is located. Owner and chef Toni Rossetti had been brought up in a family of successful restaurateurs in his hometown in the south of Italy and at Noti, he brings to his restaurant a taste of home, tradition and warmth of authentic Italian food from cherished family recipes and the flavors from this bountiful region.

Pretty nice ambience and setting for a intimate date, or double date for our case!

We had a couple of starters to share. The Tasty & spicy calamri fritti served with lemon & garlic mayo ($9) looked promising and sure enough, it did not disappoint. It wasn’t exactly spicy though, just lightly peppered to tease the taste buds. It was crispy on the outside and chewy within, tasted great with a dash of lemon juice.

The Deep Fried Risotto Balls ($9) were quite unusual and they came deep fried, filled with ham and fresh mozzarella cheese.

Of course, I already knew I had to order the Mixed mushroom risotto with walnut and white truffle oil ($28) even before looking at the menu. I did not regret not giving the other dishes a chance because the mushroom risotto surpassed my expectations. It was creamy and al dente, and the addition of white truffle oil really brought the dish up another notch. I loved the thinly sliced parmesan cheese and also the walnut bits that provided that extra texture. The portion was a little huge for me but all in all, the mushroom risotto is highly recommended and I would come back just for this!

The husband ordered the Crab meat linguine with fresh basil tomato sauce ($26) which had generous chunks of crab meat and this dish was just appetite whetting.

I was quite surprised that Maureen chose the Crispy spring chicken with mix salad and patatine fritte ($24) because it looked like it came from the kitchens of Swensen’s but she was full of praises for its moist and not overly dry meat. The chicken skin did look tempting!

Maureen’s fiancé waited really long for his Homemade gnocchi with tiger prawns and pesto “salentino” ($26) because the kitchen staff missed out on his order. We were actually quite worried for him because the portion looked kinda small! The husband and I each tried a piece of gnocchi (yeah even though the portion is already so small LOL), but the taste was not to our liking.

Dear Maureen baked me some red velvet cupcakes! I’m so lucky to always be able to savour her fantastic bakes and she’s also very lucky to always have me as one of her guinea pigs. LOLOLOL just kidding la. Besides Maureen, I also wanna thank her lovely Aunt Angela for accompanying her to buy the ingredients and also her grandpa for helping to bake the cupcakes. Red velvet cupcakes filled with lotsa love yo! :D

The husband and I love the cupcakes! Very moist and soft! I gave feedback that they were kinda soft but I guess that’s what she wanted to achieve.

Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

Noti Restaurant and Bar
Address: 54 Club Street
Tel: 6222 0089

Opening Hours:
Mon to Sat
11.30am – 12 midnight

Happy 2nd wedding anniversary to us and happy birthday to misterchewy! Yes 9th September is another date on the calender that holds tremendous significance for the both of us :) We decided to celebrate one week in advance because I can’t get away from work this week. Today’s post will be a combination of a staycation review of The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore and how we celebrated this mega special occasion, The Chewys’ style! ;)

We checked in last Sunday, 1st September, at around 3pm after having a quick lunch at Marina Square. The check-in time is one hour later than most hotel’s standard check-in at 2pm. Time is money and money is time. When we stepped into The Ritz-Carlton, we were promptly whisked to the check-in counter and then asked if we wanted coffee, tea or juices.

Before giving you a virtual tour of our hotel suite, here are some parts of The Ritz-Carlton that we explored. This is Chihuly Lounge, which is named after famed American Dale Chihuly. How does high tea sound?

Greenhouse offers an attractive Sunday vintage champagne brunch from 12pm – 3.30pm, featuring an unlimited flow of Moët & Chandon, wines and selected cocktails accompanied by freshly shucked oysters, seafood, roasts, 50 French farmhouse cheeses and freshly baked soufflés.

Swimming pool with plenty of sun tanning chairs.

The gymnasium is located on the same floor as the swimming pool and is extremely well equipped.

It is also the largest and most impressive hotel gym that I have come across so far.

Business Centre

Ok here comes the exciting part! I made reservations in mid July and prior to that, I chanced upon a Happy Birthday package on The Ritz-Carlton’s website (which I think is no longer available) and decided to take it up since we could upgrade to a Premier Suite upon availability at check-in. I’m not sure if this is common but we were elated that we were lucky enough to score a suite room on the 7th floor! :D

The Ritz-Carlton houses one of the largest guest rooms and accommodations of any hotel in Singapore, averaging 550 to 650 square feet, and The Ritz-Carlton Suite boasts a lofty 2347 square feet. Our luxurious suite spans approximately 646 square feet and features an unobstructed picturesque scene of Marina Bay.

The separate bedroom also has an element of timeless elegance, which seem to be consistent with The Ritz-Carlton’s definition of the essence of luxury, evident from its contemporary furnishings and state-of-the-art technology.

Doors separating the bathroom and living room from the bedroom can be closed for enhanced privacy.

The Ritz-Carlton is the first hotel in the world to be furnished with flushed wall-mounted 46-inch Hospitality LED TVs. There was one in our bedroom and another one in the living room.

Even the bathroom is so spacious that guests can enjoy his-and-her sink vanities. Mirrors are anti-fog, so you can no longer use your finger to write “I love you” after coming out from a hot steamy shower. LOL. There is also a separate shower stall with rain shower feature. Wrap yourselves in His and Hers micro-fiber Ploh bathrobes after your shower!

This is what I call the SEXIEST HOTEL BATHROOM in Singapore with the bathtub just beside The Ritz-Carlton’s signature octagonal window. Sorry this photo was taken in the afternoon when the sun was shining in, but I swear it looks sooo much better and also more romantic at night! The husband assured me that people staying at Mandarin Oriental and Pan Pacific won’t be able to see us because the windows are tinted on the outside. Anyway if you are scared, you can always lower the blinds. Ours was stuck and did not work. Oh wells.

Asprey bath amenities

Hair dryer in a bag. I used it after my shower and it gave me ridiculously soft and straight hair.

Separate cubicle. Told you the bathroom is damn spacious!

Walk-in closet. Are you thinking about playing hide-and-seek already?

Back to the living room! There is an iPod docking station at the writing desk but what impressed me was the Bose audio system. Tuned in to 98.7fm and the sound quality was quite good!

Mini bar stocks a range of beers, wine, water and juices.

There were 6 lit-up drawers within the credenza cabinet in the living room and pulling each one of them out was like unveiling a mini surprise.

Our Happy Birthday package was inclusive of a small bottle of champagne.

Welcome amenity consisted of cupcakes, strawberries and a very adorable Ritz-Carlton lion soft toy! Since our staycation cost us the husband more than $600, misterchewy and I decided to maximize the length of time spent in our suite and agreed on in-room dining. We were also entitled to $30 hotel credit which could be utilized for dining, shopping or spa at The Ritz Carlton, and used it for our in-room dining. Unfortunately, we poured through the menu for 15 minutes and carbonara was the only dish that we wanted to order.

Glad that Marina Bay Sands was nearby and it was a good chance for misterchewy to try the truffle fries from Au Chocolat because I kept raving about it after a casual brunch session with my bridesmaids earlier this year. So, out went the mister while the missus lazed in the hotel room waiting for her husband to tabao food back from Au Chocolat :P

Truffle fries from Au Chocolat are da bomb! Really the best of all the truffle fries that I have eaten. The husband agrees with me! Still tasted damn good even when they were cold (I ate some leftovers the next morning).

Spicy Chicken Wings (Au Chocolat) had a tang of spiciness but was quite salty.

Duck Confit (Au Chocolat) was quite dry and hard, probably because we left it there for quite some time. Busy taking photos :P

The Ritz-Carlton’s Carbonara dish was quite well-executed, thick and creamy but I think the egg could be done better.

Earlier in the day, I googled and found out that the sun would be setting at around 7pm, so we planned everything well and made sure that our food was served before that. That way, we could watch the skies change gradually as we were enjoying our food.

We find that in-room hotel dining is an ideal way to spend a intimate and romantic night with your loved ones. You have all the privacy in the world, can be yourself and relax without having to worry about being judged by others. The bonus is having lovely music playing in the background and a spectacular night view of the city. It was just the two of us and we dimmed the lights for a more romantic feel. :)

Feather beds and Sealy mattresses are used in all rooms, Club rooms and Suites. The bed was comfy but quite high. Think I have short legs because I had to tiptoe and hurl myself onto the bed. LOL.

This was the beautiful night view of MBS that we fell asleep to :)

And of course, we soaked ourselves in the sexy hotel bathtub after dinner and played with bubbles :P It was very therapeutic!

Hope you enjoyed our staycation review on The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

We also have a list of Singapore staycation reviews!

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
7 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039799
Tel: +(65) 6337-8888

- Sponsored Post -

Sincere apologies to SK-II for taking like forever to post this up on my blog! As some of you might have noticed, there are slight changes in my blog layout. Hope you guys like it! Annnnnd, the menu navigation bar on top is to allow readers to have easier and convenient access to the different types of blog posts that they want to read :) I have added a Beauty and Skincare column, which is something very new on my blog. Thanks for all your support in the meantime. Ok back to the point! A while ago, I received an invitation to SK-II’s Ultimate Bridal Shower event at The Halia @ Botanic Gardens. It was my first time attending a beauty event and I don’t know that many beauty bloggers, so I grabbed beauty blogger Michelleagy (former finalist of Miss Singapore Universe 2011) along with me!

The setting was really gorgeous! One table was for bloggers and the other was for other guests.

Yes we were served food but I’m not posting any food photos today! Anyway, it was a bit embarrassing. All the other bloggers were using nifty compact cameras while I was the only one handling such a bulky DSLR. I ended up leaving my external flash in my bag. Haha. :P

There was a video showing Singapore’s top beauty blogger Roseanne Tang as a speaker, a live demonstration and a beauty counselor to explain how SK-II’s Bridal Glow Set can give radiant bridal skin in just 14 days. It was not only insightful but inspiring!

Michelle and I!

Thanks Jacelyn for the pic!

Each of us took home a SK-II Bridal Glow Set which is now retailing at a recommended price of $382 at selected SK-II outlets (Takashimaya, Tangs Orchard, Tangs Vivocity, Metro Paragon, Metro Woodlands, Isetan Scotts, Isetan Tampines, Isetan Serangoon, Isetan Katong, Robinsons Centrepoint, Robinsons Raffles City, BHG Bugis, OG People’s Park) while stocks last!

The set consists of:

1. Facial Treatment Essence 150ml

2. Cellumination Essence EX 30ml

3. Cellumination Deep Surge EX 15g

4. Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 40ml

5. Facial Treatment Mask 2-pcs

6. 3-in-1 Electric Beauty Bath Set

Precious Moments figurine not included.

The SK-II Bridal Glow Set is specially crafted by the beauty experts at SK-II, aiming to empower brides-to-be to achieve the bridal glow, in just 14 days with 5 simple steps!

Step 1 – Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 40ml

This wipe-off clarifying lotion gently removes dirt and dead skin cells and leaves skin clean, lively, and perfectly conditioned.

Step 2 – Facial Treatment Mask 2-pcs

Reviving and relaxing, this intensive moisture-boosting mask leaves skin noticeably radiant, soft and crystal clear.

Step 3 – Facial Treatment Essence 150ml

Containing more than 90% Pitera™ this much loved “miracle water” helps maintain the skin’s natural renewal cycle its optimum condition.

Step 4 – Cellumination Essence Ex 30ml

Cellumination Essence EX improves skin from the cellular level for highly defined, aura bright skin in just 4 weeks.

Step 5 – Cellumination Deep Surge EX 15g

This daily moisturiser works to balance skin tone from within to unleash skin’s translucent aura.

Brides-to-be, you know that planning a wedding is never easy. From choosing the perfect venue to planning your guest list, you may not have the luxury to pamper yourself well before the big day. Why not invest in SK-II’s Bridal Glow Set and let its magic work for you in just 14 days? ;)

Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

- Media Invite –

It is certainly a privilege and honor to be invited to the inaugural FIJI Water Signature Creations Expedition which took place on Saturday afternoon. As I had shared earlier on, each ticket costs $180 and all proceeds will go to FIJI Water’s selected beneficiary, Children’s Cancer Foundation. In a nutshell, all guests got to enjoy signature dishes of 6 top restaurants in a half-day road trip. I needed my lifelong companion with me and since the money spent would be for a good cause, misterchewy had absolutely no qualms about joining me :)

I shared this on my Facebook page and two of my big-hearted friends dropped me a message and expressed their interest two days before the event. This is Adelene, my primary school friend and also one of my bridesmaids and Desmond, my secondary school friend. And no la, they are not a couple. Hahaha. Thanks for the support, friends! :)

Free flow FIJI Water to keep everyone hydrated throughout the event! I have a friend who is a huge fan of FIJI Water but I was skeptical and thought, how awesome can water be? I was so wrong! FIJI Water has that soft and unique silky mouthfeel that you wouldn’t be able to get out of drinking other brands of water. Oh here’s a tip: FIJI Water tastes better at room temperature. So don’t chill it! ;)

Our first stop was Absinthe at Boat Quay. After registration, we had to climb two flights of stairs and make ourselves comfortable at the communal table.

Prior the event, leading food critics came together to sample the six restaurants’ signature dishes and each of them was responsible for selecting a signature dish from each restaurant in order to make up the expedition menu. Foie Gras Terrine with Warm Brioche by Chef Francois Mermilliod was picked by Don Mendoza of TODAY. The foie gras terrine had a smooth and elegant texture with a delicate taste. Paired with the brioche which was fluffy and crusty, I couldn’t help but wish I could have this for breakfast every morning!

After about an hour of eating and chatting over drinks, we were chauffeured in a coach to our second stop, Hashi along Bukit Pasoh Road, which was not very far away from Absinthe. I love Japanese cuisine!

This time, I got to sit with the other female bloggers, Charleen, Nadia and Dawn :)

Fresh Live Prawn, Hokkaido Scallop and Mixed Vegetable with Japanese Jelly by Chef Tadashi Takahashi, picked by Marcus Yeo of Lianhe Zaobao, was clearly a winner and everyone was seen wiping their plates clean. Many of us loved the dashi stock which was presented in the form of cold jelly. Extremely refreshing and it made me yearn for more. It was also Chef’s brilliant idea to grill the eggplants for that delicious smoky flavor.

We couldn’t resist a photo with Chef Tadashi Takahashi because he was very hospitable and went round the communal table kanpai-ing. Hehe! :P

I was looking forward to our third stop, Tippling Club at Dempsey because rumour has it that the restaurant has a very strict no photography rule and this has kinda deterred me from visiting the restaurant.

Chef Ryan Clift giving a brief introduction on his signature dish.

Forgot to mention that there was also an Instagram “Snap & Win” contest. We had to upload photos of our expedition experience at each restaurant. Grand prize was one year’s supply of FIJI Water and dining vouchers from the restaurants. This certainly upped the fun element for this expedition.

Picked by Sylvester Ng of The Peak Selections: Gourmet & Travel, I reckon the Pigeon, Celery, Quinoa, Goats Curd is an acquired taste, at least for me.

Despite all the food that we had, we were still going strong and soon, we found ourselves at the fourth stop, The Pelican at One Fullerton.

The Pelican Lobster Thermidor by Chef Issac Tan, picked by Adeline Wong of Epicure, was a splendid dish that won praises. The double cream and Parmesan cheese complemented the sweetness of the lobster meat beautifully. This is definitely one of my favorite dishes!

Our fifth stop saw us at Fat Cow, a Japanese inspired steakhouse within Camden Medical Centre.

The cute and animated Chef Dan Segall spoke very quickly and gave us an idea as to what to expect for his signature dish.

As some of my readers know, misterchewy and I don’t eat beef due to religious reasons. I admit that I miss eating beef. Haha. Anyway, Wong Ah Yoke from The Straits Times Life! selected this Wagyu No Kakuni dish. From the description, the Japanese wagyu rib meat had been simmered in a sweet, ginger soy with fresh yuzu. Heard some mixed reviews for this dish. Some enjoyed it as it was tender while retaining some bite, while others thought that it was not well marbled with sufficient fat.

After more than 5 hours of feasting, we were at our sixth and final destination, Prive Grill at Keppel Bay!

Chosen by Evelyn Chen of Zagat Guide, the Hokkaido Corn and Shrimp Fritter with Lime Aioli by Chef Robin Ho, when paired with a glass of Konrad Riesling 2009, ended the FIJI Water Signature Creations Expedition on a sweet note.

Special thanks to Leroy and the rest of the FoodNews PR team for doing such a great job! My friends and I had a lot of fun and we are looking forward to the next one already!
Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

- Media Invite –

Hello chewys! It’s 72 more days to Christmas! And now the question is: Have you been good this year? Haha. Well, it’s not too late to redeem yourself now! Will tell you how you can do so in just a bit ;) Anyway, Christmas came early for the Singapore beauty bloggers last Thursday, thanks to The Body Shop! We were invited to The Body Shop School Project event which was held at Skyve Wine Bistro. I took a cab from my workplace because it was pouring but the wet weather didn’t dampen my spirits :)

Glad to have the company of Michelle that evening! Busy taking photos while waiting for the other bloggers to arrive :)

Very cool vanity table!

Special Edition 4-Step Smokey Eye Palettes in Brown and Plum.

Soon, it was time for our Social Studies class, conducted by Headmistress Linda Black. The Body Shop has been supporting education for over 20 years. ‘Giving Joy To Every Body’ is a campaign to bring the gift of education to the rural communities that produce Community Fair Trade loofahs, cocoa butter and other ingredients. This Christmas, The Body Shop Foundation will contribute S$ 400,000 from gift sales to build 5 schools for kids in Ghana, Honduras, Nepal and Northern and Southern India where regular kids and those with special needs have little access to education or have to walk as far as 5km to get to school. With education, their futures will be brighter when they are able to earn a regular income, which will also help to raise their self-esteem, build confidence, and increase their standard of living!

How can you help? Simple! By buying a gift from The Body Shop for those we love, we will also be buying the precious gift of education for those who could really use it!

During Home Economics class, our school prefect introduced us to The Body Shop’s Christmas seasonal special editions namely, Cranberry Joy, Vanilla Bliss and Ginger Sparkle.

The much-loved, delectable Cranberry Joy collection is back for the holidays, so get ready to sweeten your senses and treat your body to a taste of sweet indulgence. This luscious line-up of bath, body and home fragrance treats containing cranberry extract and a raft of skin-beneficial Community Fair Trade ingredients has a mouth-watering fruity fragrance.

Pamper yourself and have a sensorial, top-to-toe experience with wonderfully indulgent Vanilla Bliss. Enriched with vanilla extract and a host of richly decadent Community Fair Trade ingredients, the lavish collection has a delicious gourmand fragrance. Time for some delicious me-time!

Tis’ the season to indulge yourself and thrill your body with The Body Shop’s special edition Ginger Sparkle. Spice it up and be sweet to your body with the most festive, ginger-infused special edition collection ever. With lavish, textures and a warm, spicy fragrance, these indulgent goodies are a feast for the senses.

Makeup artist Peter Khor was invited to perform a step-by-step makeup demonstration on one of the beauty bloggers.

Peter Khor taught us how to achieve the smokey festive look by using The Body Shop’s 2013 Winter Trend Special Edition Collection.

Recess time! Even Gingy the gingerbread man looks ecstatic! :D

Some finger food and nibbles.

Christmas goodies for the guests who turned up for the event!

During recess break, we queued up for our recyclable bags which could be customized. Really cool!

Time for some yearbook photos with the other bloggers – Jacelyn, Nadia, Jermaine and Michelle! :)

By uploading our photos onto Instagram and including the hashtag #tbsgivejoysg we could collect our instant prints within minutes!

I found Gingerbread woman! So cute! Nom nom nom.. Oops! :P

Remember to give joy this Christmas and shop away at The Body Shop!
Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

- Sponsored Staycation -

It had been a good 3 months since the last time misterchewy and I went on a romantic staycation in Singapore. It’s always nice to spend quality time with your spouse over the weekend, experiencing a totally new yet comfortable and chic environment such as the newly launched Village Hotel Katong, which is the latest addition to Far East Hospitality’s growing portfolio of hotels and serviced residences.

Located in the eastern region of Singapore, Village Hotel Katong is a non-smoking property housing a total of 229 hotel rooms and is integrated with the family-friendly shopping mall, Katong V. Being just a 15-minute drive to the Changi International Airport, Central Business District and Orchard Road, the hotel provides excellent connectivity to key business and leisure locations. It is also within a 5-minute walk to the Parkway Parade Shopping Mall and 10-minute walk to the East Coast Park. Superb for family staycations as well.

My parents dropped us off at the ground floor of Katong V and we took an escalator up to the lobby of Village Hotel Katong. The husband and I waited in line for quite sometime and we both thought that the check-in process could be faster and more efficient.

This was our lovely home for one night, an expansive 35 square metre Club Room on the 6th floor of the hotel. Do note that the larger rooms are all situated on the lower floors. Our club room, in a soothing shade of blue, was not only cosy but very homely. I was already making notes for our future abode! We certainly don’t mind coming home to this every night :)

In line with the Village brand’s philosophy of drawing inspiration and vitality from its surrounding neighbourhood, Village Hotel Katong reflects the strong Peranakan heritage of the surrounding Katong and Joo Chiat district in Singapore.

The larger rooms are also designed with a comfortable couch sitting area where you can relax with a good book and a pot of hot tea.

Adequate supply of complimentary coffee and tea.

Clearly, misterchewy was very impressed with this. He exclaimed, “WAH! New one! For iPhone 5!” The iPod docking systems that we encountered during all our previous staycations were designed for the older iPhone models and not suitable for iPhone 5.

A sliding glass door separates the bathroom from the room.

Our room didn’t come with a bathtub. The husband phoned reception in order to satisfy my curiosity and they mentioned that rooms with bathtubs were not ready yet. We weren’t exactly affected anyway because of my pregnant state, it’s not advisable for me to take hot baths.

All bathrooms are equipped with a powerful standing rain shower to revitalize and refresh tired guests after a long day of work or shopping.

My OOTD for this staycation was from Maternity Exchange! Absolutely love this black number from my maternity sponsor as the cut is flattering and it accentuates my baby bump. Best of all, the material is light and stretchy (made of lycra fabric if I’m not wrong) which does not trap heat or cling to my skin. To jazz up my outfit, I paired it with my black and gold necklace from Diva :)

I would also like to thank Beauty Direct for the Star Lash falsies in Dark Brown #17 which is very natural-looking.

I was kinda starving as we didn’t have lunch. It was almost 4pm when misterchewy came back with 328 Katong Laksa! He took only 20 minutes (including having to wait for the food). Plenty of eateries around the area! It’s too good to be true! Anyway, I have been avoiding cockles ever since I became pregnant. Somehow, laksa doesn’t taste as shiok without cockles but this was quite good. Very satisfying lunch for the both of us :)

Not only is Village Hotel Katong integrated with Katong V, NTUC FairPrice Finest is just directly below the hotel, on the ground floor. Talk about ultimate convenience. For those who have always wanted to check out Group Therapy Cafe, it’s there too!

Staying in the Club room combines exceptional comfort with a host of exclusive privileges like access to the Peranakan Lounge for daily breakfast and evening cocktails from 6pm to 8pm, in a comfortable environment, both for both work and leisure that will make you feel right at home, Peranakan style.

We popped by the Peranakan Lounge for some light bites at 6pm and saw that finger food such as cold cuts, chicken satay, seafood quiche and pastries were available. The husband had two cans of beer while I opted for freshly squeezed orange juice.

We were supposed to check out a newly opened restaurant for dinner at 8pm but we changed our minds since it was raining and also because of the fact that we were kinda full from the numerous sticks of delicious chicken satay. Earlier in the day, Judy the baker from Happy Avenue delivered her homemade kueh lapis and cupcakes to us. My intention was only to try a few slices of kueh lapis but misterchewy and I ended up finishing up the whole box! :O

We felt so guilty that we woke up at 6am the next morning to… take photos of the gymmasium.

Just pretending to be working out.

I was quite amused by the swimming pool. Does swimming around the circumference count as one lap? :P

Katong Kitchen, located on the 4th floor of the hotel, opens as early as 6am for breakfast. I’m glad we woke up really early for our best meal of the day!

This is by far my favorite at Katong Kitchen, the Nasi Lemak station! :)

If you have enjoyed our Village Hotel Katong staycation review, check out the opening promotion valid till 9 February 2014 or take advantage of the Holiday Savers+ and get 25% off per night when you book now till end January 2014!

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

Village Hotel Katong
25 Marine Parade
Singapore 449536
Tel: 6344 2200
Email: info.vhk@fareast.com.sg

- Sponsored Staycation –

I thought this would never happen in a million years but thanks to The Plot Hostels, I can finally do this – stay in a hostel to my bucket list! Hurray! Prior to this hostel experience, the very idea of sharing a room with complete strangers is exceedingly intimidating and bothers me a lot. Even misterchewy was completely taken aback by my decision to review The Plot Hostels because he’s well aware of this unexplainable paranoia of mine. But I have to say that I was quite impressed by what I saw on The Plot’s website, so much so that I was convinced enough to give it a shot.

Now, the question is, “Why The Plot Hostels”?

The best stories have a great plot. And at The Plot Hostels, you will encounter lots of intriguing and interesting stories from other travelers and backpackers. Then, once you’re finishing interacting and sharing stories and your best travel adventures with other backpackers and travelers, it’s time to plot your future travels. Plotting journeys is part of the fun for backpackers! Plot your next solo adventure or join forces with one of the other adventure seekers that you’ll meet at The Plot Hostels. It’s a place to forge new friendships, to share stories and delightful conversation and it’s the perfect place to plot your journey and plan your next adventure!

Conveniently located within walking distance of Chinatown, Tiong Bahru and Outram, along with the local heritage area, travellers staying at The Plot Hostels will discover a unique blend of Singaporean cultures.

I didn’t see the need to wake up bright and early that Saturday (for the record, I woke up at 12.30pm) since the check-in could only be done from 3pm onwards. The husband and I took a cab from the East and reached slightly around 3.15pm. Guests had to produce either their identification cards or passports, of which a photocopy will be made upon checking in. We were each given a security access key which came in the form of a silicone rubber wristband.

One of The Plot’s friendly staff showed us up to our room on the fourth level, which is also the highest level.

This is how the access key looks like. Pretty cool right! And you don’t have to worry about misplacing it because you should be wearing it around your wrist everywhere you go, even in the shower since it’s waterproof. The wristbands come in two colors – blue if you are staying in a Mixed room and red for Ladies room.

The Plot Hostels consists of 11 rooms, all of which are air-conditioned. The mixed rooms are available in 3 different configurations – 4-Pod, 6-Pod, and 8-Pod, which you can select during your booking process. Room rates are around SGD35 to SGD50 per person per night, depending on room type, length of stay and stay period. We were assigned a 6-Pod mixed room which comes with an ensuite bathroom and shower. You can easily identify your own pod based on the alphabet indicated at the side of the personal lockers attached to each pod.

When we first stepped into our room, I knew for sure that pod B was occupied by another guest because the curtain had been drawn shut and told misterchewy, “Oh no! We have another male companion in our room!” He asked how could I be so sure that it’s a male and I went, “Why would any solo female traveller want to stay in a mixed room if there are ladies rooms available? Unless…”

I don’t sit on my bed if I’m not showered and in clean clothes but I made this an exception since we were only going to stay for one night. Besides, sitting at the side of the bed wouldn’t hurt right? :P I used to think that staying in a hostel is almost akin to staying under slum-like conditions but The Plot Hostels proved me very wrong. Our room was impeccably clean, reasonably spacious and brightly-lit. It really made me feel right at home.

The husband’s pod was just above mine. I was actually quite worried that he would roll off the bed in his sleep given the fact that he’s quite a heavy sleeper at times.

Every individual pod includes a personal locker which has ample space to store your bags, personal valuables, and definitely that precious tablet or laptop which you cannot live without.

There is an international electrical outlet for charging your devices and also a light switch if you wish to do some packing or reading within the comfort of your own pod. Blankets are provided for and if you need towels, you can request for one at the reception.

Washing up area at the other end of the room.

There are conditioning shampoo and shower gel dispensers in the shower room. And for those who are concerned, there definitely is hot water.

Guests are free to use the common bathroom and shower area located outside the rooms on each level. The Plot Hostels is also thoughtful enough to cater to travellers with physical disabilities.

Taking a selfie in the room. Darn, should have backfaced the green-tinted windows :P

Taking the elevator down to fetch our guest of honour. Haha!

We were pretty much entralled by the futuristic outlook of the elevator. No chance to take photos earlier as we were accompanied by The Plot’s staff. Paisey la :P

Communal TV lounge with movie screening

Comfy seating area

Complimentary use of iMac computers

Mini library

Hot & cold filtered drinking water dispenser

Chargeable snacks and mini bar

Guests are free to do light cooking in the kitchen. There is a refrigerator and a microwave, as well as cutleries and crockeries.

There is also a Laundry Area with a coin operated washing machine, coin operated dryer machine and communal drying area.

Still very fascinated by the elevator.

YP and I :)

Balcony area where you can get some fresh air, chill and exchange stories with fellow travellers.

We headed out for very late lunch around the area. It was almost 5pm and I had not eaten all day! Little misschewy must be very hungry but still had tremendous strength to kick me. LOL. Hopefully I will have time to do a separate review on The Orange Thimble :) There are plenty of cafes and eateries located near The Plot Hostels. Thumbs up for its strategic location!

After late lunch, we had late high tea at Drips Bakery Cafe, a place which specializes in tarts. I chose the Lemon Meringue tart which had just the right amount of sweetness and its zesty lemony taste was very refreshing.

We also shared the Chocolate tart (raspberry was from the lemon meringue) which was slightly bitter as it was made with dark chocoaltes. Reminded me of Awfully Chocolate’s dark chocolate truffles. Yummy!

By the time we were done with our mini pigging out session, it was 7pm but this didn’t stop us from wanting to eat dinner. We agreed that the best way to work up an appetite was to take a 2-hour nap :P

The husband was teasing me, “Eh? You haven’t shower, so dirty leh. You dare to lie down on your bed ah?” -_-

YP highly recommended Tian Tian Seafood, a mere one-minute walk from the hostel. Fish head steamboat!

Ordered additional sliced pork, golden mushroom, fried yam and hotplate beancurd.

Decided to relax at the communal area after dinner. YP and I caught the last 20 minutes of Life of Pi while the husband updated himself with soccer news and MapleStory on the iMac. The three of us then trotted over to Cheers to get bottled water.

After a nice hot shower! Pardon my eyebrowless face and dark circles >_<

A group selfie before lights out :)

The guy at the reception sure wasn’t kidding when he emphasized that “simple breakfast” will be served.

Plain white bread or wholemeal bread with peanut butter, margarine or strawberry jam. You can also help yourself to the toaster.

I had cocoa krispies with milk. Headed back to our room to pack up and nua a bit more before checking out at 11am :)

It was a very delightful experience for us staying at The Plot Hostels for one night. The amenities were more than just basic, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the seasoned backpacker found himself being pampered during his stay. I strongly recommend The Plot Hostels not only to travellers seeking maximum comfort and value at a low cost, but also to locals who are keen on organizing staycations for large groups on a budget.

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

The Plot Hostels
259 Outram Road
Singapore 169056
Tel: +65 6223 5866
Fax: +65 6223 9626

Central Reservation
Tel: +65 6298 8889
Fax: +65 6396 8356
Email: reservation@theplothostels.com

- Sponsored Post –

Hello chewys, happy Monday! Here’s a quick update on what I wore to my company’s Dinner and Dance function at Gardens by the Bay recently :) A few weeks back, I picked out this cocktail dress at Maternity Exchange which I thought would be perfect for the event.

All photos in this post were taken by misterchewy.

My baby blue cocktail dress is made of elegant chiffon material with satin lining which is actually quite cooling to wear. Since my baby bump is kinda huge at the moment at 6+ months, I think it’s a great idea to wear dresses made of chiffon fabric because it is lightweight and drapes beautifully.

I like the sequined details around the neckline which helps to draw attention to my neck and no-longer-existent collarbone :P The sequins also add a glamorous touch to the overall look.

Thank you Maternity Exchange!
Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

- Sponsored Staycation –

How’s it going chewys! I have not been updating my blog as regularly as I would like to because I’m either feeling lazy or too exhausted after a long day at work :( Yes! I’m still working even though I’m about to pop anytime now! I don’t intend to take maternity leave early. Say hello to my 9-month old baby bump! Hehe ok I think it’s not very obvious in this photo. Getting really nervous because I don’t know how it’s gonna turn out on the day I go into labor! :S Yeah I’m more nervous than excited actually. Glad that misterchewy and I managed to squeeze in a weekend staycation at Naumi Liora Hotel recently to take my mind off things! :)

Located in the heart of Chinatown, Naumi Liora is The Hind Group’s second boutique hotel that opened in November 2012. Naumi Liora boasts a design concept of an old yet modern charm that is strongly reflected throughout the hotel. To remain true to the inherent spirit of the 1920s Peranakan-styled building’s heritage that Naumi Liora is housed in, the original timber flooring, French-styled windows and ‘five-foot way’ have all been traditionally preserved.

Through the use of its signature light motif alongside a harmonious balance of warm and vibrant colours such as hues of Chalk and Pumpkin, the craftsmanship of Naumi Liora creates an intimate environment that invigorates and soothes at the same time. Abstracted from the lattice design of traditional Peranakan tiles as well as the original metal railing pattern from the exterior of the hotel, these light motifs are also translated into timber screens and used strategically from the lobby to the rooms.

Guests are more than welcome to help themselves to the complimentary 24-hour self-serve Nibbles snack bar at the reception lobby. There is a whole range of treats such as Nespresso coffee, Dilmah tea, and ice cream!

Biscuits, cookies, chips and chocolates are also available at the snack bar.

We had to rush off to the Babycare Festival at Singapore Expo, so earlier in the day, I contacted the hotel shortly after we finished lunch at Ion to see if they could accede to my request for an early check-in at around 1pm. Was told that the only room available is located on the ground floor and it is also smaller than our designated one :( Didnt have a choice but to accept it. This is the Liora Heritage Double, which is approximately sized up to a comfortable 28 square meters. Single bedding option is also available.

Liked the personal touch that made us feel at home in an instance. The welcome note highlighted Naumi’s signature service philosophy. During the later part of our stay, I phoned one of the Naumi Aides upon finding out that there wasn’t any toothbrush and toothpaste in the bathroom. Wanted to confirm if these were being provided for by the hotel and was told that they will be issued only upon request. I had two sets promptly sent to our room in a couple of minutes! Was super impressed by the Naumi Aide’s efficiency!

Open wardrobe concept.

The size of our room was modest yet it feels adequately spacious for two at the same time. The layout of the room is also perfect for families with babies or toddlers in tow as there is definitely enough space for a stroller and a travel cot.

My favorite Malin + Goetz peppermint shampoo and rum body wash are provided!

The mini bar is complimentary and is well-stocked with coffee, tea and soft drinks.

A selfie in our room before heading out! Haha now you can see my huge baby bump :P

We were supposed to meet my in-laws at the fair but they couldn’t make it at the last minute. Buying stuff to prepare for the arrival of Little misschewy was a pretty mind-boggling affair because there were so many things that we weren’t sure if we needed to buy.

We snagged a limited edition Maclaren stroller, which is pretty chio (in our opinion lol). Good thing there was free delivery! Also bought other stuff like organic baby bath, milk bottle sterilizer and loads of pampers (some with free delivery). In the evening, we went our separate ways to meet our friends for dinner. Guys’ night out and girls’ night out :P

Complimentary breakfast is provided just next door, at Keong Saik Snacks. Was looking forward to it since it’s by Michelin Star Chef Jason Atherton. Breakfast starts from about 7am and ends at 10am. We intended to wake up earlier but the bed was seriously so comfortable that we kept hitting the snooze button and woke up with only 20 minutes to get showered and changed!

We went there expecting that the breakfast would be somewhat similar to what was being served at Cocoette during our stay at Wanderlust Hotel. To our dismay, the spread at the buffet counter was quite limited. A small selection of bread, cheese, ham, cereal, yogurt, etc, nothing to get excited over.

The ambience at Keong Saik Snacks was nice though. If only we had more time to enjoy our breakfast, I seriously wouldn’t mind paying extra for the weekend brunch which is available from 11am to 3pm but that would mean we had to wait an hour for it.

Taking a quick look at the gym before checking out. It’s open 24 hours. It’s a pity that there’s no swimming pool in the hotel.

As part of its celebration of Holi, an ancient Hindu festival, also known as the “Festival of Colours” as all ages go into the streets for fun, throwing of powder paint and coloured water to celebrate the victory of ‘good’ over ‘bad’ and also the triumph of devotion to god, Naumi Hotels celebrate the colour ‘Pink’ which symbolises the significant support of Breast Cancer Foundation and its cause. During this playful ‘Festival of Colours’, Naumi Hotels will proudly donate up to SGD$15 for every eligible room stay on 17 March 2014.

In the meantime, do visit ZALORA SG, Asia’s leading online fashion destination! Zalora carries a huge range of apparel, footwear, accessories and beauty products from various brands, you will definitely be spoilt for choice!

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

- Advertorial –

Photo credit: dphotofolio

Do you know that one of the greatest woes of a pregnant woman is not being able to fit into any of her clothes? Initially, I found it quite amusing when my clothes started to feel tight around my baby bump, then it became frustrating when I could no longer zip up my dresses. It was not long later that I went into panic mode when I was left with only a handful of dresses that I could still force myself into. I was living in self-denial and refused to shop for maternity dresses, or what I call “XXXXL dresses”. LOL. Even my colleagues started to ask if I was planning to buy myself some decent maternity wear and advised me to get a few pieces as soon as I can as maternity wear can be quite costly. The earlier I buy, the more times I get to wear them before I deliver! Okay okay, I get the hint. I need clothes that fit a growing me!

I did get myself quite a number of dresses, some online and some from retail stores. Ok I should also credit my mum for doing most of the shopping for me. I’m also glad to be introduced to Maternity Exchange, a long-standing innovative retail concept which offers mums-to-be the option of buying or renting outfits to create their own extensive maternity wardrobe without having to pay exorbitant prices. Plus, it’s also not practical because you won’t be wearing these clothes after you deliver (assuming you would have slimmed down) unless you intend to keep them for your second or third pregnancy.

Maternity Exchange, located at Marina Square, carry the largest collection of imported and local designer maternity and nursing labels in Singapore, featuring international brands like Japanese Weekend, Maternal America and Jules & Jim Maternity, as well as popular local brands Mothers En Vogue and Dote Nursing.

Also available at Maternity Exchange are maternity and nursing lingerie, swimwear, diaper bags, belly bands, maternity support belts, postpartum shapewear, and an assortment of gifts and accessories for mummmies and babies. We even spotted Sophie the Giraffe. It’s like a one-stop shopping haven for expectant mothers and new parents! If you prefer to do your shopping online, you will be pleased to know that Maternity Exchange stocks online exclusive maternity and nursing wear which is not available at the physical store.

I was offered a 8-credit Basic Instincts rental package priced at $329. Two other packages with more credits – All Essentials and Indulge Your Bulge are also available. The renting system is very simple! You first pay the upfront fee for your desired package and you have one year to fully utilise each package. Each piece can be rented for a maximum of 4 weeks. Any item that features a rental price on its price tag can be rented. You can also rent by individual piece, where you will pay the full purchase price first and be refunded the difference between that and the prevailing rental price when you return the outfit. Regular casual pieces are usually worth one credit each, like this flattering black dress from Maternal America which I wore for one of our staycations.

I also found a nice baby blue chiffon dress for my company’s dinner and dance late last year! Because some pieces are more expensive, they are worth two more more rental credits and may require a deposit which will be fully refunded when you return the rented piece in its original condition. Always remember to take good care of the dresses and check the washing labels to determine if the dress requires dry cleaning. If you really like what you are wearing and wish to keep it, you can simply purchase it!

Photo credit: Studio Memories

Besides maternity wear, there are also nursing clothes available at Maternity Exchange. The collection is updated every 3 to 4 weeks so there’s bound to be something that catches your eye each time you visit the store! This lavender floral dress is only worth one credit and looks simple but turned out to be great in achieving a soft look for my maternity photoshoot.

Photo credit: LiveStudios Photography

This has gotta be my favorite rented piece from Maternity Exchange which I wore to my cousin’s wedding at Shangri-La Hotel. It is an absolutely stunning V-neck beaded gown in an elegant shade of periwinkle blue by the brand Decode 1.8. I love how it fits me perfectly, even at 9 months, because I was close to believing that I wouldn’t be able to find a dress that could show off my ‘womanly curves’. Not only is the chiffon fabric very light and comfortable to wear, the fabulous cut helps slim the silhouette and the gorgeous pleated detailing at the bust and empire line adds a touch of glam. This piece retails at $499.25 but you can rent it for as low as 3 rental credits. I forked out $20 to have my gown altered by Maternity Exchange’s approved tailor because it was too long for me. Minor alterations can be done for a fee as long as it does not permanently alter the outfit.

I have used up all the credits of my rental package and wish to conclude by saying that my 5-month long journey with Maternity Exchange had been a pretty pleasant one. You can read up on the FAQ section online if you have any queries or better still, head down to the physical store and browse through the amazing range of maternity clothes. Feel free to approach Maternity Exchange’s friendly retail assistants for advice. Nana had been a terrific help and was always so patient with me when I was at the store. Her cheerful disposition really puts me at ease and I didn’t feel bad about trying 6 outfits at one go :P Do check out Maternity Exchange’s website and Facebook page to be updated on their promotions and clearance sales!

Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

Maternity Exchange
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square
#03-108
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6100 3924

- Sponsored Staycation –

I’m sure our recent staycation at AMOY Hotel would be our last before I pop! Very soon, we will be welcoming Little misschewy into our family of two and I know that life will never be the same again! Three’s a party YO! Lol. Even though we spent very little time in this lovely hotel because we each had a wedding dinner to attend, we enjoyed every moment because AMOY exudes a very homely atmosphere. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it could be due to the personalized service that we received throughout our stay.

AMOY is Far East Hospitality’s newest boutique hotel and the first in Singapore to incorporate a museum that traces the footsteps of early immigrants from China. How cool is that? I reckon it’s a gem for locals and foreign travellers who are history buffs!

The first thing our forefathers did upon arriving in Singapore was to build a temple to honour the gods for their safe voyage. As part of AMOY’s authentic experience, guests will enter the contemporary hotel via Fuk Tak Chi museum, formerly a temple and the headquarters for the Hakka and Cantonese communities in the 1800s.

This photo was taken at night but the lobby looked even more stunning in the day with natural sunlight streaming in through the glass ceiling and windows. The husband and I were each presented with a welcome mocktail drink while waiting for our check-in to be done.

Another part of the lobby.

One of the hotel staff, Lina, personally showed us to our Deluxe Double room on the third floor and along the way, she explained that each room is emblazoned with a Chinese family name on the door, an ode to the contribution of Singapore’s early migrants who lived around the area. I think you can try to request for a room that has your surname but it’s subject to availability.

We also learned that AMOY Hotel was converted from a series of historic shophouses dating back more than 170 years and much of what is seen within the hotel, such as the steps along the corridors, is painstakingly conserved.

Revolving around the theme of “Old Meets New, East Meets West”, our reasonably spacious room had interiors that evoke the charm of traditional Chinese design and architecture as well as the comfort and convenience of contemporary facilities. The rooms are thoughtfully designed to include heritage accents with carefully selected furniture like traditional Chinese stools and porcelain basin. The idea is to recreate the living experience of the early Chinese settlers with a modern and contemporary twist. No two rooms are alike, in terms of layout and furnishings.

Definitely not your typical ‘garden view’!

The mini bar is entirely complimentary!

Besides coffee and tea, you can enjoy fruit juices and also have a bag of chips and peanuts to go with your can of beer! Heh that was what misterchewy did when he was hungry in the middle of the night.

I find the layout of the bathroom very interesting. It’s elongated probably to maximise whatever space there is. There are doors to separate the wash up area, toilet bowl and shower stall.

We didn’t have time to tour the hotel immediately after checking in as we had an appointment at Artica Hair Studio at Far East Plaza and had to rush down. 1st March 2014 (1314) is a very popular date for weddings! I was invited to Nadnut’s wedding at Orchard Hotel and misterchewy was asked to emcee at his buddy’s wedding at Hotel Royal @ Queens. The banquet at his side ended about two courses earlier than my side, so he managed to pop by and take photos with us at the instant photobooth! Hurray! :P

So happy that we managed to get a nice shot together! :D

We still had energy when we reached the hotel so we decided to do a quick night tour even though it was really late! Haha. Kinda fun actually because we were whispering to each other, not wanting to disturb other guests :P

Earlier on, we managed to find out from April, another hotel staff, the location of the 周 (Chew) room which is actually a Cosy Single room.

Found my surname too! Think it was occupied by other guests.

AMOY provides turndown service! Some people might not think much of it, but a simple gesture like this really goes a long way.

We also found a cute handwritten goodnight note left on our bed.

I stuck this on my magnetic board at work as a little momento from AMOY :)

Very thoughtful to have reading lights fitted on each side of the bed frame.

I tried my best to get the widest possible shot of the bed and bathroom by plastering my back against the cupboard. Anyway, we had to check out really early the next day so we woke up at around 6am. Took a hot shower which instantly made me feel refreshed even though I only had 4 hours of sleep!

The breakfast buffet spread was very simple yet homely, featuring items such as cereal, bread with an assortment of spreads, pastries, beehoon, yogurt, etc.

We were probably the first guests to arrive at 7am but I’m kinda puzzled by the rather empty juice dispenser.

Although the breakfast selection was nothing to shout about, I thought that the plain white toasts with kaya were good enough to keep us satisfied.

AMOY is really such a cool hotel that we certainly don’t mind going back to for another staycation! Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

AMOY
76 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 048464
Tel: +65 6580 2888
Email: reseasy@fareast.com.sg

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Hellooo chewys! We are still anticipating the arrival of our baby princess! The feeling is very surreal. I would like to think that we have almost everything ready and are adequately prepared but deep down, we know that we can never be well prepared, especially since this is our first child. Really don’t know what to expect. Getting the jitters already! Haha. During my third trimester, misterchewy and I went for an indoor maternity photoshoot by Studio Memories.

Living by the motto Capturing The Best Moments, Studio Memories is made up of a group of professional, accomplished and well-equipped photographers who each specializes in his or her own field of photography with years of experience. Blessed with a dynamic team, Studio Memories offers a wide range of services such as actual day wedding photography and videography, and various types of photoshoot for newborns, families, wedding couples and mothers-to-be. Created only in July 2013, Studio Memories has gained a popular following as evident on their Facebook page and it’s not hard to see why because of the high-quality photos that they produce at such a reasonable price that makes it so irresistible.

Located at 28 Niven Road, the studio is impressively huge with several rooms, backdrops and props to cater to various genres of photography. Jacky was our photographer and he encouraged us to express our fun and crazy side. It wasn’t easy for misterchewy and I in the beginning but we slowly warmed up and enjoyed the photoshoot! What attracted and impressed me was Jacky’s creative and artistic flair in capturing these wonderful memories for us. Enjoy the rest of the photos and I’m sure you will agree with me! :)

Check out Studio Memories’ website to view their portfolio and package prices, and also ‘Like’ their Facebook page to stay updated on the latest promotions as well as giveaway contests! Catch them at BabyMarket from 18 to 20 April 2014 at Singapore Expo Hall 8 for exclusive promotions!

Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

SAY HELLO TO LITTLE MISSCHEWY!! :D Our little princess was born on 18th March, on a CHEWSDAY (Tuesday la) night! Guess what guys? My EDD was 12th March but everyone says that our baby knows how to enjoy life inside mummy’s tummy and refuses to come out so soon. Or maybe she enjoys going to work with me :P

During the wee hours of the morning at around 2-3am on 18th March, I started to feel really strong and unbearable contractions and this lasted throughout the night. I was drifting in and out of sleep because of the immense pain, and tried my best to time my contractions. The intervals got shorter with time and misterchewy decided that we should go to the hospital. I was pretty reluctant because I felt that I didn’t have enough sleep. LOL.

Admitted myself slightly after 9am and was immediately shown into the delivery suite. Was asked to change into a robe and nurses did some checks on me before reporting to my gynae. I was told that my dilation was only 0.5cm! One of the nurses also administered me an enema and I washed up before being put on a drip which was to make my contractions even stronger to help with the dilation.

The contractions became really excruciating and I felt like I was going to faint or die any moment! The hubs offered me his hand. No la I didn’t bite it but left quite a few fingernail marks on it. LOL. In the end, I begged asked for pain relief. EPIDURAL TO THE RESCUE!

After that very shiok. The injecting of epidural wasn’t that bad after all. Better than having to bear with that bitch of a pain! I could still feel contractions but there wasn’t any pain at all. Felt so relaxed! My gynae popped in twice, first was to rupture my waterbag, and at around 4.30pm she worked her magic and increased my dilation to 5cm. Shall spare you the details.

By late evening, I was damn sleepy already. Totally unprepared when gynae told me to start pushing. Besides, my lower body was feeling numb. I thought that I was using all my might to push already but my gynae told me, “You’re not pushing at all. You need to push harder.” Wah faints. Seeing that I was so tired, she told me to rest and she would be back in less than an hour. Sooo.. I took a nap and gynae came back at 7.30pm. This time, I was super determined and with the help of both gynae and nurse, I pushed until my face turned green and viola! Baby was delivered in 12 minutes! :D

That defining moment was truly indescribable. When a bawling Little misschewy was being tossed onto my tummy, I felt like I was going to burst into tears. It was all so surreal and I made a promise to myself that we will be her guardian angels and protect her with our lives.

Mother and baby skin to skin contact :)

There you have it! Baby Chewy weighs a healthy 3.36kg!

Our very first family photo! :))

My 3D2N stay at Mount Elizabeth Hospital was a very pleasant and comfortable one. All the nurses were very forthcoming and approachable. From time to time, Little misschewy would be brought in from the nursery and I was really happy to have her in my arms :)

The hubs took leave from work to accompany me and also to see his precious baby girl!

I almost forgot to take photo of my ward until the very last day when I was supposed to be discharged. The ward looks not bad right? There’s also an LED television. Pardon the mess :P The ward actually looks much tidier in this photo because misterchewy had helped to lug all the gifts and hampers home the day before.

Also wanna mention that the food is surprisingly quite good! There is a menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and you can check off the dishes that you want. I polished off all my food every single meal. How to lose weight?! Haha.

We completed her birth registration before going home and decided to name her Chanelle :)
Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :D

- Sponsored Review –

When Siyuan from Printic invited me to try out their newly developed iOS and Android app which allows users to order prints from their smartphones, I couldn’t say no. I’m a very sentimental girl and I love taking photos for memories sake. But when it comes to the developing part, it’s such a hassle having to trot down to the nearest photo-developing shop and that is what really puts me off. Thank god for Printic!

This amazing app offers you the easiest and fastest way to order HD Polaroid-style prints from your smartphone, and you can even choose photos from your Instagram and Facebook too! All it took me was just a few clicks to choose my photos and there is even a simple editing function in the app which allows you to crop your photos, change the color of the border, as well as add some text or messages in different fonts. Best of all, delivery is FREE worldwide!

Confirmation will be sent via email almost instantly upon checkout! You can also personalize and send prints to your loved ones and friends simply by typing in their address.

Here are some of the photos which I chose to develop :)

I’m sharing the promo code which was enclosed together with my prints. Key in MAILLOVE and receive 2 free prints! Have fun with Printic! You will love it! :D

Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

Mummy Charlene and Baby Chanelle received quite a few gifts from our friends, relatives and colleagues but these DIAPER CAKES from Lizzie’s Little Rainbow really take the cake! Pun unintended. This is not an advertorial or sponsored review but I just felt that these diaper cakes are waaaay too adorable not to share! They were actually gifted by my maternal second uncle and auntie, and cousins. :) There is a complete price guide on its website and you can choose either a 1-tier or 2-tier cake depending on your budget. Plenty of diapers make up the cake tiers and the rest are beautifully decorated with other useful and practical items such as baby rompers, baby receiving blanket, baby socks, etc!

Taken off Lizzie’s Little Rainbow’s Facebook page

Featured in the April 2014 issue of Mother & Baby magazine.

Cute little rompers rolled into cupcake baking cups!

Awww.. Baby socks for those tiny little feet :)

These Old Navy baby sandals almost made me squeal in delight!

Premium educational toy is also included.

A bottle of Benedictine Dom for mummy. Hehehe :P

A+ for effort and creativity!

That’s all folks! Baby Chanelle wants more milk milk! Tata for now! :D
Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

- Sponsored Post –

The husband and I are extremely delighted to have our outdoor maternity photos taken by Dphotofolio. Established way back in 2005, photographers Alvin and Jane have come a long way indeed and accumulated a wealth of valuable experience from various photography projects. We met up at their studio located at King George’s Building a few weeks prior the shoot to browse at some of their work and exchange ideas as to how we want our maternity photos to turn out.

As for the venue, the possibilities are endless. Alvin suggested shooting at a lalang field, amongst a few other places but I was totally excited to have our photos taken at a lalang field because I imagined that it would be perfect in capturing the blissful and magical moments of my pregnancy. I really admire Alvin and Jane for their willingness to push their limits, go out of their comfort zones and explore areas of photography that they have barely ventured into. Alvin was even adventurous enough to suggest underwater photography! I was kinda tempted but felt that my baby bump might get in the way and make things difficult for me.

The day was a very special one for misterchewy and I. It was Valentine’s Day! Our fourth one together! The weather was kind. Very sunny and the sky was in a lovely shade of blue when we reached our first photo destination early in the morning :)

One of the most important things during a shoot is to be able to relax and have fun and that was exactly how misterchewy and I felt. The entire shoot was very enjoyable and it was also memorable as we felt Baby Chanelle’s gentle kicks when we were posing for some shots. It certainly brought a genuine smile to our faces and we just wanted to remember these special moments forever. Hope you guys like the photos as much as we do! Kudos to Alvin and Jane for being so passionate towards their love for photography and also for being so patient throughout the shoot! :)

Not sure if you noticed that there is also a ‘horse theme’ for our photoshoot because Baby Chanelle is born in the year of the horse! That explains the real horses and horse balloons in some of the photos :P

If you like what you see, and would like to view more of Dphotofolio’s works, simply hop on over to their website or Facebook page.

Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy :)

The world is yours to explore – but often time and money are holding us back from reaching our true potential. Here are ten tips that can help you easily save money while you’re travelling. Feel free to leave comments with other tips and enjoy the photos 

1. Plan in advance
Preparation is necessary for planning trips. Not only will it help keep you organised, but it will also ensure that you find cheaper tickets. Book your flights, buses, trains etc a few months in advance before your trip to help you grab the best savings. Think through your accomodation plans as well – the longer you wait, the higher prices will be.
Although flight comparison websites can be great (e.g. http://www.kayak.com) be careful for hidden charges and cancellation fees. Often if you need to cancel a flight but have booked through aggregator sites, they make it very difficult for you to cancel. My advice: use websites like these to find the cheapest options BUT once you’ve found a good option, book it through the actual airline.

2. Choose country according to budget
If you’re looking for a cheap holiday, choose a place that has cheaper day-to-day expenses and has a weaker currency than your own. If you’re living in Singapore this is easy, as the neighbouring countries are generally cheaper (e.g. Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur).
Cheaper areas in the world are often less-travelled and therefore more off the beaten path. You’ll be less likely to fall into disapointing tourist traps and will be able to engage better with the local culture if you avoid big, popular and expensive cities.

3. Choose places where you know people
Visiting a place where you know someone is far superior than being a complete stranger to a place. Friends and acquaintances not only expose you to the best spots, but they know where and how to avoid rip-offs and unnecessary expenditures.

4. Check out couponing sites
Couponing sites are growing in popularity throughout the world and are great to look at a few months (and a few weeks) before you head out on your adventure. They can give you ideas of where to go (through their extensive lists of products and services) and simply provide fast and convenient ways of saving.
From cultural events to flights, hotels and dining, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the plethora of discounts they have on offer. I’d check out Flipit’s coupons and deals – a great couponing site for just this purpose. They are available in Singapore but also in 20 other countries, so it’s likely that they’ll have something for you and your travels.

5. Couch surfing
Accomodation is, after flights, what people end up spending the most on when they travel. I would recommend Couch Surfing, a free, online website where people offer beds or couches for travelling strangers who happen to be passing by their city. The hosts are generally very enthusiastic people who are keen on meeting passerbys and welcoming them to their city.

(Metro, Washington DC)
6. Travel by public transport or walk
Public transport is always cheaper than more private forms of getting around (like taxis). It’s also how the majority of the population of a given area gets around town, so you’ll be doing it like a local and directly participating in the geography of the place.
Walking is one of the most natural gifts we have as humans and a fantastic way to spend your time if you are travelling. It’s also free – so you’ll be saving money and getting a much better feel for the area you are in.

7. Find free entertainment
Everything tastes better when it’s free! Look on social media sites, ask your concierge, or chat up a randommer at the local pub to find out what you can do for free, or at least ask for activities that they would recommend.

8. Travel during the week
Flights and other forms of transport are more expensive during peak travel times (around weekends and rush hour) so avoid these times like the plague! If you can take the time off, travel during the week 

9. Slow down to smell the roses
Try not to cram too many excursions or trips within your holiday. Spend more time in less places and take a moment to breath. Instead of trying to see 5 cities in two weeks, bring that down to only 2 cities so that you’ll be able to see more within those places. This will not only help you spend less but will enahnce your overall travelling experience, because you’ll have time to stop and smell the roses.

10. Be flexible
Travel plans can change (even mid-travel) and you never know who you may meet or what sort of circumstances may arrise. Be willing to accept this fact and embrace it with open arms – a lof of what travel should be is embracing the unexpected. So keep your chin up and your arms and eyes open.