My Christmas Presents for 2012

 

My BFF was so impressed with these, she has decided to gift me some.

 

I have been down with cough for a few weeks now. So nice of my BFF to also send me some TLC.

 

This is supposed to be my B'day gift but I was sick for the past month and it's tough to meet up.

As such, this is now a Christmas present. Ha! Not that I mind. It's the thought that counts and I'm grateful she even got me a gift in the first place. ^^

 

Shea Soap - Moisturizing

I need this as I tend to focus more on my face than any other parts of my body.

 

Hand Creams

I know there will be no chance for my hands to be dry.

That is IF I don't get lazy and bother to apply them. *laughs*

 

My 1st Guess Watch

 

If you do not manage to get any present this year, be grateful that you've health and people who love you with you. There's definitely something to be thankful for. Just look.

 

Dreamy C

Sunday - 30.12.2012

I just got home for a quick shower and change of clothes. Then, I'm off to part 2 of a friend's wedding. I shall tell you more later today...

Look out for the next entry!!!

Dreamy C

Real Techniques Setting Brush

 

This brush cost 15 bucks

 

It's small enough to use for contouring of your nose, pad loose powder on your under eye after applying concealer, dusting highlight on your cupid's bow. These are just some of the stuff I use it for. I'm sure there's other purposes for this brush as well.

 

I like that this brush is soft like any other brushes by Real Techniques. It's synthetic and doesn't require long drying time.

 

Want to purchase this? Check it out HERE.

 

Dreamy C

FOTD #17 - 24.12.2012

 

Face Primer

Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer

Applied with my fingers 

Skin Enhancer

MAC Prep + Prime

Applied with my fingers

 

Foundation

Estee Lauder Double Wear in Ivory Creme 39

Applied with Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

 

Concealer

Diorskin Nude in Ivory 001

Applied with MAC 195 brush & my fingers

Pressed Powder

MAC Blot Powder in Medium

Applied with MAC 150 brush

 

 

 

Eye Primer

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original

Applied with my fingers

Eyelid

MAC Pigment in Rose Light

Applied with MAC 239 brush 

Mascara

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes

 

 

 

 

Blush

NARS in Deep Throat

Applied with Real Techniques Blush Brush

Highlight

MAC MSF in Lightscapade

Applied with MAC 116 brush 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lip Balm

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick

Lip Stick

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Cherish Devotion 

 

Contour (Nose)

MAC MSF Natural in Medium Dark 

Applied with Real Techniques Setting Brush

 

 

Ending off with a sly look.

 

Dreamy C

Pink Friday

Base Coat: O.P.I. Natural Nail Base Coat

Nail: O.P.I. Pink Friday

Top Coat: Seche Vite

 

Dreamy C

Books I Bought

Books purchased a few weeks ago.

 

I've had a few of Mitch Albom's books - The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Tuesdays with Morrie, For One More Day and this!

 

I don't remember if I've purchased Have A Little Faith from him. This I had to buy. I didn't even read up on the review or the back of the book. I just picked it up.

 

I'm just done with it. A good read yet again. His books gets you thinking. Thinking about living on earth as a person, the fundamentals etc. People get obsessed with power and money and he touched on that in Tuesdays with Morrie. This book here - The Time Keeper tells you pretty much what the title says. It's all about time. How he gets 2 people out of dozens and change their perception on time. Go read about it!

 

 

 

 

These 3 books were bought after what I've read from Xiaxue's blog. I just had to find out what goodness it does to the lives of people who have read them. I haven't start on them though.

 

 

This one I bought as it has good reviews. I didn't know about this initially. I found out about it from the movie. No, I didn't catch the movie and I had wanted to get the DVD until 1 day, I chanced up upon the book and decided to grab it instead. So that sort of destroyed the idea of getting it in DVD. I think it's a good idea to stick with the book as there's so much more description with words. How is one going to squeeze a 450 odd pages book into a movie which spans in probably 1.5 or 2.5 hours? I could never figure that out. I wrote about this book some time back. Click HERE to read about it.

 

Keep a lookout for entries with this label! I'll update on books now and then. I'll even dig out other books. I love reading. It's good fun!

 

Dreamy C

What I Ate on Christmas Day

Sorry no photos to support but my readers are a creative bunch so use your imagination people!!! ^^

No breakfast as I didn't have time for it. I woke up just in time for a shower and application of make up.

Lunch was roast chicken with salad (cooked by my ever so clever helper) and 2 x pcs of Otah which were bought from Raffles Shopping Mall (the one @ City Hall MRT Station). I bought the big version ones and not the small, drier version. I've been buying the otahs there w/o fail after church services week after week, for the past 1 month! You can say I'm an Otah lover. ^^

Dinner was black pepper pork (yummy! I love the slightly charred parts.) with cabbage which are purple in colour. My helper call them the Purple Cabbage. According to her, it's packed with anti-oxidents. Also according to her, white cabbage cost around $1.20 to $1.30 per kg and for the purple cabbage, get ready for this people. It's $4 per kg!!! Read all about its benefits HERE. Just in case the site gets removed or changed, please read as follow:

The purple cabbage is a variety of the head cabbage that grows close to the ground and has abundant leaves that are removed prior to cooking. European farmers developed the head cabbage in the Middle Ages. Today, growers in California, Texas, Georgia and New York cultivate the vegetable. Raw purple cabbage is often tossed into salads and when cooked, adding lemon juice preserves its purple color.

Fiber

A 1-cup serving of chopped purple cabbage provides 2 g of fiber, or 8 percent of the 25-g daily value as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. Dietary fiber prevents excess cholesterol from entering your bloodstream through the wall of your small intestine; the fiber absorbs the cholesterol and excretes it through the waste elimination process.

Potassium

The potassium content in 1 cup of chopped purple cabbage is 216 mg, or 6 percent of the 3500-mg daily value. Potassium keeps your body's fluid level from fluctuating to unhealthy volumes, preventing potassium-related blood pressure disorders. It also prevents heart muscle stress by supporting the contraction that fuels your heartbeat.

Vitamin C

The vitamin C content in purple cabbage is nutritionally significant. A 1-cup serving provides 51 mg, or 85 percent, of the 60-mg daily requirement. Cooking decomposes some of the nutrient. Raw purple cabbage contains a higher level of vitamin C than it does when cooked. Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant. It protects cells from the DNA and compositional destruction that metabolic toxins often cause.

Vitamin A

The vitamin A content in purple cabbage is 20 percent of the 5000 IU required each day, or 993 IU per 1-cup serving. Vitamin A is a nutrient that provides a variety of functions in your body. It produces retina pigments for your eyes, maintains vision health and improves vision at night. It also supports your body's immune response, reducing your risk of microbial infection.

We did some research and purple cabbage is good for people with heart burn.

That explains the $4 per kg... Ha ha!

In between lunch and dinner, I had a few olle bollen with 2 x cups of mint tea.

After dinner, I had some dessert.

 

 

Frankly speaking, it doesn't taste as nice. I guess they were rushing for Christmas pre-orders. When I was there to purchase this in the afternoon, they are still busy packing the cakes.

 

 

I drown all the fats with yet another 2 x cups of mint tea.

 

I hope you had a delicious Christmas dinner!!!

 

Dreamy C

Christmas Eve 2012

This Christmas Eve brings me to an invitation for a Christmas gathering. Lovely house by the way... *blinks*

Photos? Definitely! I would never whet your appetite! ^^ Let me first give you a short brief. The owner does everything (almost) herself. I do not have the 'before' photos but if you are interested, you can have a look RIGHT HERE. Meanwhile, enjoy...

The Entrance

 

Alfresco Dining???

Worried about the heat? Fret not for there's a fan above. I just fail to take a snap of it.

I believe the coverings for the cushions and long chair were done by the owner herself.

I sat in one of the arm chairs - very comfy.

I can imagine myself sitting there with my partner, having a glass of GOOD wine and some light bites. With some breeze, this is LIFE!!! Even reading a book in this area makes it so inviting...

 

Just next to the Alfresco area, the Hall.

I'll have a better photo of the hall later.

 

The Chandelier

I've always have a liking to chandeliers. So classy, so pretty.

This is just on top of the dining table for your info.

 

There! The dining area.

I love the big mirror hanging on the wall.

Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Ha ha! Just kidding.

The dining table is 7 foot and made of black/grey granite.

Ooooo classy!

Sorry no photo of the dining table. Allow me to explain!

Earlier guests have seated themselves comfortably for dinner. It would be rude of me to go around taking photos while they are enjoying. Do you not agree?

 

Ahhh... This lamp. Done by the owner and perhaps her Mom as well?

 

Ok abrupt stop to all the pretty stuff. Not that this froggie isn't pretty.

It's cute but it's totally out with the deco.

Nonetheless, a house isn't perfect or beautiful with expensive or fanciful deco.

In my opinion, a house is a place you call HOME. The furnitures can mis-match like nobody's business but if it makes you feel HOME and COSY, I say viola! You managed to get it! ^^

Cute Froggie.

 

Master Bedroom

Furnitures aren't new but look just as great!

Curtains throughout the house were sewn by the owner's Mom.

I can only go Wah...

 

Closer look of the Dressing Table

 

This sofa here, the owner upholster herself!

I'm truly amazed... The cushion there, sewn by the owner.

 

Guest Room

 

Wardrobe in Guest Room

 

Owner's Mom's Room

 

I LOVE this chair. Looks so adorable.

 

Wardrobe of Owner's Mom's Room

 

Just look at the knobs!

Very detailed indeed!

Wardrobe in Master's Bedroom is of a different design.

 

Better view of The Hall

 

Cuckoo Clock

 

Backyard Garden

There's lemongrass, lady's finger, Kai Lan, Lime Leaves, Chiku

 

Nah! The Chiku Plant!

 

Wine Barrel

There's 3 of these at her pad

 

 

Such a big place, how to clean up?!

 

Ha ha... iRobot to help around.

I'm sure this alone isn't sufficient.

I would consider it as a Helper and that's as far as it can be.

 

I'm truly amazed and darn proud of the owner! If you're reading this IS, I give you big pads on your shoulder AGAIN! I'm truly truly proud of you! YOU MADE IT!!!

 

Notice how matchy matchy the pattern is on the cushion, curtain, bedsheet, chair is for each room? Very detailed! The owner is good with her hands in most things except for gardening. I guess for that aspect, just leave it to what she would call - her Chief Gardener. Ha ha... Chief Gardener makes good fishballs and chili sauce by the way. Her braised duck, Heavenly!!! Her ngioh hiang *sigh and reminisce*.

 

Both owner and her Mom are good people who are humble with good character. It runs in the family. I'm also humble and possess a good heart! Ha ha... *laughs hysterically*

 

Ok enough about my madness!

 

I didn't take photos of the food but it's good. We've 2 types of salad, roast chicken (guests feel that turkey's tough so yeah... Turkey, you have been saved), roast beef (this is soft and tender. Nice), satay (nice peanut sauce), Beef Rendang (this was cooked by the owner's Mom. OMG. It was GOOD!!!) etc. There's also fruits (Jambu, Strawberries & Cherries), coffee, ice cream etc. The owner's Mom also made Wanton with Tom Yam soup. The wanton is fat and nice. The Tom Yam soup is mean... made by the owner's Mom. You think it's from a paste bought from stores ah? No lor... I've the priviledge of enjoying food cooked by the owner's Mom since young. She's a really good cook! *reminisce again*

 

If she's reading this, *shouts* Aunty! You good cook ah!!! Ha ha... I remember the meat pie, roast chicken. That smell from the oven everytime you bake stuff makes me want to kill myself (in a good way). Her chee cheong fun, even her veggie! Lovely!!! I wonder why the owner isn't fat. Unbelievable! Good genes??? Ha ha... *winks*

 

Before we leave, we were given Almond & Fruits cup cakes!!! Such hospitable people! Then J invited them to our place when there's an opportunity. *stress liaoz* I wonder if we can be that hospitable. Ha ha...

 

Well, last night was THE best Christmas Eve I've had in my life, I kid you not! It's not just the beauty & cosiness of the house. It's also the company, the atmosphere, the people.

 

I'm so happy I'm back!!! I'm sure IS understands what I meant with this sentence. I'm really blessed to know them!

 

Have a Blessed Christmas!!!

 

Oh! I almost forgot! We brought Olle Bollen. It's pot luck after all. It is a small round doughnut that is a traditional food served on New Year's Eve in Holland. They are fried and due to duration, don't taste as good anymore when we reach there. Haiz... Ps... Never mind!!! There's always next year??? *winks*

 

Dreamy C