29 Feb 2016 : Secret Recipe @ Vivo City

Mom took leave today to spend some time with me! We thought of where to go and decided on anywhere with Secret Recipe since she got a $30 Secret Recipe voucher. We actually wanted Plaza Singapura but sadly, that outlet is closed for renovations. So we decided on the 2nd best convenient choice, Vivo City!

I actually wanted to meet my friends at Adventure Cove but I came down with a flu so my mom did not allow me to play with water and catch a cold. Moreover, my mom took leave specially for me that day as well as Tuesday it would be bad of me to leave her alone to join my friends.

HAHA we thought Secret Recipe was at Harbourfront Shopping centre because of the address stating a “Harbourfront” in it. We walked so much just to realise Secret Recipe is in Vivo City… which is also called Harbourfront in the address.

While walking towards Harbourfront centre, I tried to take some photos of the water fountain using my new camera! Was not very sure how to increase shutter speed using the different modes yet so this was what I took using AUTO mode.

We then made our way back to Vivo City for Secret Recipe after a wild goose chase. We didn’t know where it was so finding the unit number was tough, especially when the shopping mall is so huge.

We finally reached Secret Recipe! The voucher could only be used on Ala Carte items so it was expensive but it beats not using the $30 voucher. We made our orders and waited for the food. Mom ordered, as usual, an Asian dish, satay chicken rice while me, prawn penne with cheese.

Mom’s Satay Chicken rice~

The rice is super delicious! Like yam rice… And the satay is breaded.

Prawn penne with cheese!

The cheese that is infused with the taste of prawns! Never tried before! But too cheesy and I happened to eat something super cheesy the day before so I felt very thirsty after.

Red Velvet Cake!

Coffee for mom~

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie~

Pretty cake that I’ll definitely eat again HAHA there is something about Red Velvet and Cheesecakes that I like so much! Maybe… cheese?

Went out for some fresh air after lunch!

We then went back in to a fashion shop beside for intern clothings. Bought nothing though. I am looking for intern skirts. Because all the skirts I have is either too tight or not appropriate for work. Need something that is not bold in colour and long enough.

We shopped at other fashion shops as well and after a long walk my mom and I went out again. While I waited for my mom, I took photos of the scenery.

5 of the 7 princesses must be somewhere there. Adventure Cove~

Flowers. I realise I see this flower very often. But it’s not a sunflower, is it?

Sentosa walk. Last time I went was for my Sec 2 Chinese journal essay assignment where I needed photos with my cousin and mom. But we didn’t really go into the island. Just stopped at the entrance of USS and headed back. I do miss Sentosa. So many things I want to do there such as the Luge ride and the 4D magix. And a new item on my bucket list, Adventure Cove (since I realised don’t need to have a proper swimming costume for it) as well as roller coaster, haunted house in USS. Maybe this year’s Halloween… I’ll come for Horror nights!

There’s my mom!

LOL

The blue sea~

The blue sky~

We continued to shop around for clothes! Got some skirts from Forever21. Happy I finally owned skirts that suit my body type. I don’t like flare skirts. I like pencil skirts!

So after a while, just before our dinner, we went out again. But this time, we saw a beautiful sunset!

Sun down.

The Queen’s Port.

Wood and water!

Shhh…

But there is somewhere that is livelier by the night.

My duck ramen! I love the fats in the duck skin. So much flavour!

When there’s hor fun, it’s a sure order from mom!

We went to Giant to shop for stuff. Wasn’t looking for anything exactly but just that we felt the need to explore a 2 level supermarket? Was at the noodles section and I tried looking for the scallop noodles that my family liked. We found it but it was premium and very expensive. Gave up that up. It’s not easy to find scallop noodles in usual supermarkets actually. Mom ended up spending nearly an hour there. It was already so late at night HAHA. Kinda tired and my mom finally saw the mini air purifier she thought suited the best. It’s mini but it’s not cheap. But since we only have one for 2 rooms, we thought we should just buy it for health’s sake. You never know when the next haze isi coming… (or maybe we can lol).

After that, my mom went out again (don’t ask why). I finally figured how to use shutter speed so I set it low to make the water look smooth. And it looked so pretty with the lights contrasted with the dark surroundings!

It’s 9pm already so we decided to make a move for home. Carrying the air purifier and other stuff we bought, we took a long MRT ride from one end of Singapore to the other. You don’t know how tired we were…

But it’s a day well spent! We ate good food and I took great photos with the new camera!

24 Jan ’16 : Harbourfront after so long…

Woke up to Anchorvale Crescent’s housewarming party at the events area. I know it’s been more than a year since many of us moved in but since moving in is based on block by block basis due to different completion dates, right now, almost every unit is occupied so they finally started on the housewarming celebrations.

There are many activities for kids such as balloon sculpting and I guess there are no activities for non-kids… except the buffet… I went down and the people there are mostly families with young children.

Met this neighbor at the other end of my storey. Didn’t really recognisie them as I had never really seen them before. This is not good… I must start getting to know my neighbors already. A year and I still don’t know my neighbors except for the uncle staying at the house just opposite mine.

We then walked to our breakfast destination!

Finally got to eat western breakfast at the kopitiam opposite my house!

Western Fried Rice – $4

Fish and Chips with a side dish which we chose Stir-fried Mushrooms

Baked Prawn and Broccoli Rice

Large serving of mushroom soup for just $2.50 with purchase.

It was better than expected. I like the western fried rice! It is not as salty as the Chinese Fried Rice and feels more homemade with less MSG. But I won’t order the mushrooms again not because it’s not delicious but it’s just a weird combination to eat with.

On our way to Vivo City. Passed by Mariina Bay Sands area and I start acting like a tourists who’s never seen MBS before.

Upon arriving, I made my mom follow me out to take photos of the scenery at the balcony!

The harbour.

Mom’s candid HEHEHE

Walking down to the ground floor.

Awww so cute!

The sea~

The huge cruise!

The beautiful sea~ Loving this shade of turqoise. Same as my phone casing?

We then went back in, away from the harsh sun…

Mom was attracted to the Chinese New Year decorations.

Pretty CNY flowers~

We came here today to get me CNY clothes. So we first went to American Eagles and Aeropostle at the basement because my mom bought hers from American Eagles last week and she liked that store.

At Aeropostale, I liked a denim jacket with grey cotton sleeves and a shirt with white and pink stripes but the jacket was too expensive for something that is not fully denim and the shirt I thought I had striped shirts similar to it. But I wanted something pink. Somehow, I decided to just leave and not buy anything. Kinda regreted… It’s cheap…

I don’t know but I used to like the kind of clothes shops liike H&M, Cotton On and Aeropostale back in Year 1. Now nearing end of Year 2, I find myself liking more of Korean fashion? Like I like the clothes sold in Korean fashion indie stores found in areas like Scape and Square 2. Stores like H&M may have items that I like but I find myself hardly finding anything I like nowadays. Like I walk in and soon enough, walked out. I think it’s a good thing because indie stores usually sells cheaper clothing but thing is, such clothing are usually of cheaper quality. But to be honest, usual fashion stores like Cotton On has clothing that aren’t really good in terms of quality either. Unless you frequent shops that sells more expensive clothing like Uniqlo which my mom likes as well. The good thing about my mom is that she is the kind of person who chooses quality over price. She finds that good quality clothing will last longer and you can wear it for a longer time, hence, there is no need to rebuy clothing, wasting more money. So to her it’s an investment. That’s true but I think it’s not very possible for cheap clothing to spoil that easily and it’s also possible to last long as well. Moreover, expensive clothes aren’t really my taste because it usually looks very mature and not to my liking. And wearing it makes me feel very burdened because of the price. So for me, I prefer to buy nice, cheap clothing but quality good enough to last.

We went to H&M and bought a boho looking long-sleeve shirt which my mom thought it will be appropriate for CNY.

After, we went to Tangs to see ‘expensive’ clothes but thankfully, nothing caught our eye. But I saw these pretty notebooks. Nonetheless, these are out of my league… Too expensive to even think of buying.

We went to all the fashion shops in Vivo such as Forever 21, Pull and Bear (which I like but too expensive), Uniqlo as well as TOPSHOP. No CNY clothing bought from there yet. My mom insists that I can’t wear too casual and these shops sells mostly casual clothing. So it’s quite hard to find one. I personally like dressing casual but her idea of what a CNY outfit should look like are skirts and dresses. At least this year she’s chilling out a bit already. Before, I bet she wouldn’t even let me go anywhere near H&M kind of casual shops and would pull me to some dinner dress shop. I don’t like to overdress and I think she’s understanding that bit now too but she remains on her stand that you can’t dress too casually on CNY.

So we nearly gave up after going to Cotton On and Factorie on the second floor. (P.S. My mom hates these 2 shops becaus she saw their clothes and finds the quality too poor.) Then we saw the above shop and thought it seems okay, and there seemed to be skirts as well.

The interior was pretty especially this section where all the blue clothings are placed.

I saw clothes that I liked but it’s already something similar to what I already have so nope I didn’t buy it. Saving the money for something more suitable and needed.

It was already 5pm and we were both hungry. We decided to go eat HANS at Harbourfront. But before that we went out again.

Tranquility~

So cute! The mom carrying her son to chase after the train. Candid shots are still the best!

Lovely~ If only you were there~ To hear the sounds of cruise honking, to smell the salty air while looking at the deep blue sea~

Pork Chop and Sweet and Sour pork with Mushroom soup.

I got myself a denim shirt at Denisen after a 20% discount! Happy! But can’t wear that for CNY as denim is too casual…

We then went to Waterway Point to look around as I haven’t visited the new mall at Punggol yet. Really pretty…. I was kinda surprised tha new mall looked like something you will see in Orchard. Big and very modern-looking it feels like the malls at Orchard Road can’t even beat. It is confusing to navigate though as it is so crowded and the mall is already so complicated with it’s West and East Wing. I did not even manage to go up or down to other floors as we are already tired from the confusion. Maybe another time when there are less people. I hear from others that Waterway Point is going to be very Orchard Road style with all the shops such as the 2-leveled H&M, Uniqlo, Cotton On and Factorie as well as the design of the mall. I thought it was exageration but when I exited Punggol MRT that day and went through the walkway (They named the walkway Lol but I guess it’s too pretty that’s why) I got shocked. You have to see it for yourself to believe it. It’s just weird that susch a mall will be built in the countryside. But I guess with the increase of population these years I think the mall is placed there for a good reason.

Now I’m wondering what will happen to Seletar Mall and Compass Point (or Sengkang Mall as they will call it in future). Seletar Mall has nothing much. Just a neighborhood mall. Compass Point had Cotton On at least. Seletar Mall had Uniqlo which is expensive. Nothing much to walk. But since now there is Waterway Point and a currently-renovating Compass Point I guess there’s a lot to expect now!

Finally going home… So tired from all the walking… 21495 steps OMG that is 659 calories burnt just from walking. I usually walk 10000-12000 steps on a day out shoppng. Thats good but we both need a good rest!