Today, Mayy...

Hi there, how's mid-week going for you? Mine started on a good note as usual at 12 midnight with Jo, Steph, Liren, Eric and Daniel. I've met my match in whiskey in the form of Eric. It was really nice to have him in the bunch and drink with me. It was Manhattan's Fish Market dinner at PS, and Zouk/Phuture for the night. Again, yes. I know. Remember, how just last week I was all it is my first Phuture! Whee. and now, I am like okayyyyyy. The place is just TOO PACKED. and not packed in a good way. so hot and stuffy in the dance floor. Put in my sister's words, if there is a fire, make sure you stand near the exit. And the music isn't necessarily good too. Tsk. Oh wells, nevertheless I met DP again. And saw my first ever crush in primary school there as well. His eyes are just as cute as ever.

I only got home in the early hours of morning this time. Slept in as soon as I could, and managed to wake up in time to get ready to head out for my massage appointment at Body Wellness located in Winsland House. I love going there, the relaxing mood it puts me in. And chilling out in the hydro-jacuzzi with bubbles and downlight. Seriously, all that's missing is a glass of wine and better music.

After my massage, I met my girl Shiyu for a walk in town. We decided to ditch our original idea of watching Burlesque which just came out today. Hopefully, next week eh. We spend most of our time at Marmalade Pantry in ION Orchard today arvo. Ordering our usual sticky-date and toffee pudding with vanilla bean icecream, and she wanted cheesecake but I couldn't stand nor stomach the sight of cheese today somehow. I also had a glass of sweet wine with it all. With this girlfriend, we understood the cultural differences and different outlooks on life so we discussed much. I like today alot, if only life could give me more of these days in my future. Hahaha...

I'm home now, will blog later again...

Till the sand wiches, Mayy xo

M's Food Find #4

It was Sunday, the day I look forward to because my family usually make it a point to do dinner together and go somewhere nice (or yummy). Daddy has been busy since my return home, so this was sort of our first Sunday night out. Finally got him to bring us to Yamamoto at MBS for dinner. I really wanted to try their food. More like Ramen and sushi, however we went for their Robata experience. Our usual Robata-yaki restaurant is Akanoya at Orchard Parade Hotel (but more on that next time). Today's post focus will be entirely on Yamamoto, and promises alot of photos!

Not as authentic as Akanoya, this Robata experience proved to be a very 'hotel' affair. Nice clean lines and colours. I like the mood lights inside the restaurant. The restaurant has the teppanyaki side, sushi bar, robata and ramen sides. We were greeted with smiles all round, and a personalized message on our reservation seats. A very very nice touch.

We ordered our first round of food from our friendly waitress Jennifer. Started with some sake for Dad and I. Appetiser was pretty mushy but I like the good pasta-ish sauce the eggplant is coated in. At least I think it was eggplant.

Sashimi of salmon belly and tuna arrived. It was not too bad but I much prefer my sashimi from Akashi (Orchard Parade Hotel) or Yamagawa (The Plaza). I also really like the concept of being able to choose my own sake cup from their collection. It's like having to choose candy! That's my blue sake cup right there. =)

The assorted mushroom and cheese platter arrived. Juicy mushrooms full of flavour, and we tricked mum into eating the goat's cheese. She doesn't like cheese. Haha.

Second dish was the assorted grilled vegetables which I loved due to the individual flavours each vegetable presented. And the colours delighted! I like watching Jennifer shave the black truffle onto the veggies. I scraped the flakes after... HAH.

Dad ordered the king crab leg, which came in an amazing fish stock. Too salty to be soup, but paired very well with the succulent crab meat. I didn't think a crab's leg could be this big, this meaty! Woah, and I hardly eat crab... I had two pieces of this...

I ordered the foie gras pate with YUZU perfume. I love love love it and am glad my family all were NOT huge fans of foie gras. I basically had 3-4 pieces of the perfectly grilled fragrant foie gras. Would have been such an indulgence if I could have it with my crackers everyday.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I noticed a Japanese family having their dinner at the other side of the robata grill, and engaged in an animated conversation with a very good looking chef. Now, this makes a good first impression (no, not the goodlooker) as it shows the Japs like it and they must come often for the kid to run around. Yamamoto has only been around for half a year! Anyway, this chef came over after my foie gras arrived and welcomed us with their house sake. Which was really really good, sweet and fragrant of rice. I like my sake strong too. However, it costs 870SGD for a bottle! hahaha.

Back to food! The back ribs arrived with grilled rice cake. I like the smoky grilled rice cake more than the ribs...

Dad and sis are the only ones who take beef in our family so here's their 1st beef order, came with 6 different sauces. They love it. Wanted 200gram but only had 100gram to share. Too bad. Reason to return perhaps?

That's round 1 for us. And went for round 2 of orders. We were already pretty full! Oh wells, not everyday I get this gastronomic experience. Sis ordered the hotate escargot. Lovely scallops. I like the green paste, really brought out the sweetness of the hotate.

What's a Japanese meal without salmon? So this grilled salmon was nicely done, except I thought their salmon skin could have been better. Too tough for me. I rather it crispy. Baby turnip was cute, but I don't particularly like it.

I really like my order of blowfish with the 3 assorted salts (cumin, wasabi and chilli). Never had blowfish before, but it's really just like well, fish. hahaa. But the texture was slightly different. I like it.

Dad and sis ordered the...erm, wagyu tongue. yeah. enough said. =/

And erm, a chef took out something to grill. Big and round. Huge. And we asked what it was...kinda wished I didn't. Tuna eyes. I had NO IDEA. Yucks.

Sis and I ordered a dessert each, but I say it's forgettable. So skip it and just be happy with the meal before. Or just drink sake eh? ;)

Till my next food find, Mayy xo
Photo credits above: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

If any of you want to use the photos in the blog, I really don't mind. Just credit them accordingly please =)))

P.S.twitter.com/mayyb

M's Makeup Case

Hello there! How's your saturday going? Mine's pretty dull, except I dropped into Sasa at Plaza Singapura to visit my favourite makeup artiste, Shilah. She helps me maintain my eyebrows. ;)

With recent reports urging ladies to constantly maintain their makeup products (i.e. not use after expiration), I've decided to update mine. Not that it's the most fascinating case around since I hardly use makeup. Marsha probably concluded after yesterday, I am the laziest person around. So that can be your reason as to me hardly using makeup. The next post for M's Makeup Case will probably take a year hahaha.

My favourite looks are just variations of black eyeliner (smudged), and just glitter and mascara and smokey eyes (black/brown). I only use pink or blue eyeshadow if it's daytime. My favourite brands are Red Earth, Cyber Colours and Clarins. Bobbi Brown and Chanel are occasional treats.

A quick look into M's Makeup Case:

Photo credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com (still using my phone's camera)
Eyeliner: THEFACESHOP FACE&It waterproof auto eyeliner 01 Black
Mascara, comes with a mini eyeliner: THEFACESHOP FACE&It extreme transforming mascara

Do you know that mascara's recommended to be used up to 6 months after opening? My mother bought me these 2 products from Korea. I haven't tried using it. My current mascara is Sasa's DOLLY 3D mascara which served me pretty alright. I am not fussy. Eyeliner's from Red Earth, comes with crayon at the other end to smudge my carefully drawn, or not, pencil liner. I'll miss them both...

Photo credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com
My two new buys today from Sasa are the above.
Concealer: timeBalm the Balm concealer anticernes. Apparently, this is also a repair cream too for dark eye circles and fine lines. Anti wrinkles, here I come.
Highlighter for eyes: 47374 Maiko-Han Powder UV Compact SPF19 PA++ Obviously a Japanese product, and comes with a cute little brush. Can't wait to try this one! Maybe, tonight.

Alright, that's it for now. I will do my eyeshadow colours some other day ok? So M's Makeup Case will be updated in less than a year. Haha. Shout out to my sister who is reading the blog now and quizzing me on my life. Nice.

Till my next makeup case (pun intended), Mayy xo

Completely Random

Photo credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

I found it completely random that in the middle of Orchard Road, in front of Wisma Atria that there is this Tiger Beer bar. For men to sit and people watch?! Okayyyyyy. I don't really like beer, but I think on a hot humid day (like most days here in Singapore), it sure is nice to sit down when you are tired with a cold beer in hand. Just to rest your legs...But men don't shop!!! Okay, so maybe for weary husbands to sit and chat?

M's Food Find #3

Hello, it's been a week into the new year. How have you been celebrating/up to? I'm slowly regaining my energy and going out more. Today, I met Marsha in town. My first proper day out in Orchard. Nice huh, what with all the red sale signs tempting me. I am ashamed to say I caved in at Cotton On Body, Cotton On, La Senza, and Bershka.

We girls gave up on our idea of having lunch at PS Cafe in Palais Renaissance. I haven't tried but Marsha had. So comfortable in ION coolness, we settled for xiao long baos and la mian at the new Paradise Dynasty. (ION Orchard, #04-12A) It was not a really long wait so that's good. The staff said about 15 minutes but it was only really 5. We ended up on a table for four so we had places to put our shopping. I like that, along with the plush chairs. Comfy.

I didn't see the menu this time, and just ordered what's recommended in the magazine I read sometime ago. For the both us, we each ordered the 8 different flavours xiao long baos - Ginseng, Garlic, Szechuan, Original, Crab Roe, Cheesy, Foie Gras and Black Truffle. Both of us loved the Black Truffle most, followed by Foie Gras. The Szechuan was abit too oily. Nevertheless, for $13.80 it was a steal to try the signatures. In fact, if it was your first time like us, I found it fun to not look at the menu and try to match the colours to flavour.

Photo credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com (bad photo quality as I used my phone.)
For the La Mian, I ordered the La Mian with Sliced Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup. I loved it. I am a pig to finish both my orders but hey. The soup was thick and fragrant. The noodles soft and tender, better than the Crystal Jade ones I love too. The egg was done to perfection with a soft molten yolk. I like vinegar so I added a bit to my noodles. Yummy. Marsha liked the soup too, and preferred it to her beef noodles (I can't remember which one though). She said she would have liked her beef noodles in my broth rather than her broth. Nice, especially I found out my big bowl of noodles cost me only $9.80. Marsha's $10.80

Photo credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com
All in all, a satisfying lunch with good service and reasonable prices. I like the quaintness of watching the tea guy refill my tea with his long spout teapot. It never fails to make me laugh. They even let us sit around and chat for quite awhile after clearing the table. Relaxing with a good friend, catching up is always nice. I'm sure it's going to be my new favourite haunt for my xiaolongbao lamian craving now. There's just no doubt about it. So go try it when you have the time, and let me know how it went! =)

Till my next food find, Mayy xo

Today, Mayy...

Today started at 12 midnight right? So Mayy was at her first Phuture/Zouk on a wednesday night. Mambo was really funny to watch. Phuture was so packed there was no way to move properly on the dance floor. I could hardly breathe. Met DP who was there with his friends. I wanted to be home by 2am. Guess that didnt happen as it was a pretty fun night out that lasted till past 3. I could have gone on, if not for certain obligations. Either way, it makes me wonder. Do I prefer sticky floors or packed floors? Anyway, I tweeted my night away so if you follow me, you will have read my thought process. Till I found myself enjoying the night.

Slept till my body feels fine, I woke up and got ready to head out with Jojo again to watch Love and Other Drugs. Found a pretty white dress at this new shop, KISSJANE at citylink. Love and Other Drugs was a really good movie that touches on Parkinson's Disease and other emotional topics. Anne Hathaway portrayed that quite well and Jake Gyllenhaal was just good eye candy. HAHAHA. In short, I liked it. Walked around with Jo to this new linkway from Marina Square. Tried fries at Rock and Ash which wasn't that good. Even my university does better fries. And their egg bens major fail. Chocolate souffle looked good but flopped when we tasted sugar pieces. My advice is to ditch the idea all together if you want to try after looking at their photos.

I think I got abit used to being independent and scheduling my appointments to my fancy. But being back here, I can't do that. I got to take into account my sister's classes, my mother wants to take us there for convenience sake. So an argument erupted where I let slip the F word. When I get absolutely pissed, it does come out on a number of occasions. Hardly at home. But Mum went on about how it's a guys' word and if my husband heard me say it how BAD it would be. I wanted to shake her and say excuse me, what era are you living in. I understand that it is not at all an attractive word. I even chided G for saying it. Well, we'll chat about double standards some other time. So tell me, what do you think on this whole F debate?

Till the tissue papers, Mayy xo

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M's Food Find #2

Well, what's new? I'm on summer vacation and back at home. All I want to do is to enjoy the comforts of home and pig out. So the other day when Dad had to go out for the night, Mum, sis and I decided to head to the new megamall in Serangoon, NEX. I've never been and that night was buzzing with people. The crowd spinned my head terribly and I wasn't in much of a mood. Had Din Tai Fung for dinner: fried rice with pork chop, xiao long bao and golden friend prawn cake. All very tasty and crispy where it's supposed to be, soft where it's supposed to be.

Since we were all so bloated, we decided on dessert later. Besides at the bus stop, i smelt this guy's durian pancake. Yummy. I really wanted durian I guess. It's one of my favourite indulgences. Found the origin of that smell: Four Season Durians just outside the mega big NTUC Fairprice.

I surely remembered this one well. My aunt had bought me its durian pancakes before and I loved it. Full of real durian creamy goodness, its pancake was soft and complemented the durian filling well. The line at NEX was so long and unmoving. I gave up in the queue and bought durian tarts instead. Looked like pineapple tarts but so much more expensive at $4.20 for 6 tiny round balls.

Photo credits: http://www.fourseasonsdurians.com/
I popped one into my mouth immediately after purchase and found myself unable to speak. For the durian tart filled my mouth, the pastry melting and crumbling nicely and the filling so fragrant of durian. I proclaimed it to be (after I managed to swallow everything) so good, even better than pineapple tarts. I really would have liked to bring it back with me to Perth but the price is too high. It was like my popcorn. I couldn't stop.

So for those of you who love durians as much as I do or less whatever, find your nearest shop and go try one of their products. Any! I'm sure they are bound to satisfy a durian craving if you cant get the real fruit. ;)

Till my next food find, Mayy xo

M's Food Find #1

It's the first Monday of the new year. I accomplished quite a bit! Submitted my passport application (I think for once, I'm going to have a good photo!), bought quite alot off my list at Daiso & Japan House, and packed/cleaned my 2 display cabinets in my room. All the Barbie dolls, little momentos and toys. Alot of work goes into maintaining them every year.

Anyway, after submitting passport application, Mum decided she was really hungry and wanted lunch. So instead of going to Plaza Sing immediately, I followed her to a pretty nearby coffeeshop in Lavender for Bak Chor Mee (minced meat noodles). Mum said it was really good. Indeed, Mum's hardly wrong. She told me it's her favourite noodles around, and authentic enough. For Teochew style. I totally should get into the habit of taking a photo of it eh? We shared a pretty large bowl ($6).

The noodles reminded me of my childhood where noodles were handmade. Soft, springy and full of flavour. Nowadays, many stalls use machine made ones which are tough and plastic tasting (much like Hong Kong wanton noodles which I am so NOT a fan of). We ordered the dry version and it came with a bowl of steaming soup. The soup was so good I can hardly stop myself. I can taste all the flavours of the noodles, the meat and feel the time taken in preparing that. Yummy. I would totally go back for it everytime I am back in Singapore. Like Mummy, it's my favourite mee place for now: Hill Street Tai Hua Pork Noodle. It's at Crawford Centre in Lavender. Roughly 3-5 minutes walk from the MRT station. Wish I could show you guys a photo but they all turned out pointless since I used my phone.

Till my next food find, Mayy xo

Mayy's 2010

Here comes a new year, time for most people to reflect and come up with new year resolutions. Have you done yours? Share your new year resolutions with me! Apparently, it is additional motivation if you repeat it often to different people. Plus, there is pressure to actually accomplish them since you told so many others!

My 2010 was a special year/age for most people. Coming-of-age. It was also my last year studying for my B.Comm. I had hoped it was not to be as I wanted to study some more. I did it with my hard work and blessings from above. So one more year in Perth! New challenge: trying my hand at research and writing a thesis. Part-time tutoring. 2011 proves to be exciting!

In 2010, I faced quite a few challenges. In the health aspect, I stuck it out and loved gymming. I love to eat, so I have to exercise to maintain my health. Good food is always treat. In the social aspect, there was finding someone, getting to know someone, having someone, being with someone, learning to be patient and understanding, time management with these additional commitments, managing emotions, and the last month of 2010 brought to me a very very trying test which I hoped we both overcame and emerge stronger. In the professional aspect, I aim to be better at networking in 2011. Life's full of lessons, I certainly don't wish to stop learning. I just want to keep being stronger and better as a person. I admit money passes through me easily so in 2011, there is a resolution there to save and manage my finances better. Less impulse shopping or none. ;) My wardrobes are big enough as they are in both cities. I don't have to have everything I deem pretty right? Some are just not practical too.

I hope 2010 had been a wonderful year for all of you, and 2011 will be an even better one =)

Love, Mayy xo

Mayy wishes everyone HAPPY 2011!

Hi all, how did you reign in the new year? Leave a comment to tell me all your adventures ;)

I will do a quick reflection on my very own 2010 soon! Since my mother is shooing me to go get ready for a wedding dinner tonight. for an ex-neighbour's daughter. I don't even know her! Sheesh. Well, never mind. An excuse to dress up is always fun!

Here's hoping 2011 will be better than 2010, making more dreams come true!


Photo credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

And maybe more peaceful and calm like above photo ;)

With all my love, Mayy xo