Vshares – House of Seafood (Joo Chiat)

Today Vshares on the very famous House of Seafood. 

Again, i would like to emphasize that none of my sharing are paid nor sponsored unless stated.
Because i paid for them and thus i am totally honest about what i paid for and how i feel towards the services/products.
Of course, that is if you trust that i have the integrity to write with my utmost honesty.

If i am lucky enough, sometimes i get more than what i pay for. But on some other occasions, we just have to take in our stride that we  will not enjoy value for money services and products all the time.

By now, you would have already guessed that i have much complaints to make about House of Seafood. But honestly, i hope i wouldnt have to. I really enjoy writing good things than bad. But unfortunately, i cant really write much good stuff this time.

Anyway, i will keep it really short and pray that this will not be a lengthy post. I shall just emphasize on the few important points and that’s it.

Vshares on House of Seafood (Joo Chiat Branch)

Category:  Food (Seafood/ Zi Char)

Value for $: V

Level of service: VV

Likes: V

Will i recommend to my friend: No

Went for the crabs and other famous dishes as recommended by my colleague. It was a much raved about eating place and i thought it would be nice to bring Mum for her Birthie. Actually my heart still aches as i am typing because of the steep price i paid over there.

i am fine with paying that amount if only the food tastes much better. Sorry but i am gona b honest and blunt about my dis-satisfaction there.

We did not know it is so way inside Joo Chiat road, and thus we have to walk a long distance after alighting outside Joo Chiat Complex. I am fine with the distance but not for my Mum and Granny. I would take a cab if i know that it is so far away from the bus stop.
Along the road, you will probably see some indecent pubs/ ktv bars with some women in sleazy scantily clothes. Needless to say, tons of dirty old (and young) men. I hope this isnt enough to turn you off yet as there are more to come. Just kidding, not that terrible.

Upon reaching, we were directed to the 2nd level of the place. If you are keen to try out House of Seafood, please go ahead to their website and check out other branches instead of this Joo Chiat’s branch. Unless you have a car, or you are taking cab over, the location of this branch is really not accessible and causes much inconvenience.

The waitress that came over to take our order is quite friendly but she tried way too hard to sell us the expensive menus. We ordered 1 Medium crab (as what she suggested, that weighs around 1,6kg) and 1 small crab (that weighs around 1.4kg). Honestly, i do not know how heavy should the crabs be, for 5 pax. Thus i left it to her to help us decide.

The side dishes are

1 medium Scallop stir fry Broccoli 

My Aunt loves Broccoli and according to her, they used the Broccoli from China which is not as nice as the ones from US.
The difference between the 2 is that, the latter is softer and not so ‘raw’ and hard when you nibble on it.
The scallops are ok, not really fresh but still acceptable.
The picture above was taken before we touch the veg and this small plate of Medium Broccoli costs $24.

I remember the cost for this because i remember that it is really not worth $24, the quantity is really pathetic
(not that the quality make up for it)

Ok, next.

1 Small Coffee Pork Ribs.

Supposed to be 1 of their signature dishes.
I guess it is up to individual, it tastes really average to me.
The meat is really tough and i do nt like it.
Of course, this isnt a dish for the elderly either.
i wouldnt recommend this dish for sure and in my opinion, it does not deserves the “Chef recommended” status.

Next up,

1 Small Honey Chicken.

Please pardon the poor quality of photos, i am not very good at taking food pics.
Moreover, they are all taken using my Samsung S3.

This dish is ok to me, it tastes alright. Just a tad too salty.
For those that love heavier taste like myself, you will like it.
It is also quite sweet as there is honey in it but the meat is once again, too tough.
We feel that the dish is not fresh at all and the chicken joints might be frozen to death before being cooked.

Next please~

1 Yam Ring (standard size)

I have never liked Yam and will prolly never like it. However, to my surprise, this might be the best of the rest.
I like how crispy it is prepared, and how the nuts, prawns and other ingredients are flowing from the ring.
They tasted fresh too.
If there is a dish i can recommend (out of the many dishes we had), it will be this.

and 4 plain rice + 1 small plate of Fry Bee Hoon (for 1 pax) The Bee Hoon is nice, not your usual dry and tasteless bee hoon from the zi  char stalls.

And of course, how can we not mention about the crabs? They are what the restaurant is famous for isnt it?

There you go, their famous Crab. We ordered the Chili crab only to regret that it is not spicy. It lacks the spicy and ooze factor and thus it is a big disappointment. The meat is fat and juicy though but it comes with a huge price. The claws are enormous and honestly, too big and too much for us. Well, i shouldnt have listened to the lady and let her decide on our order, i mean, obviously it is a scam. Sorry to say that but do you know how much is this huge juicy crab? It costs us $87. Thank you but it is so not worth it.
I can get a nicer crab this size at Melben’s for $60.

And as if the Chili Crab isnt enough to turn us off, here comes the smaller Butter Crab. This butter crab taste nothing like butter crab to me as it is so crazily sweet. It is more like Caramel Crab instead. I am not sure about you but because some like their butter crab sweet, if you do, then probably you will like this. But not for me. It taste horrible to me as it is way too sweet. I prefer Melben’s as their Butter crab is really buttery and creamy, there is also a slight tinge of sweetness despite the buttery taste. Also, this small tiny butter crab costs $60+  (sorry,  i remembered wrongly, $48 was per kg, I wrote $48 earlier on and i realised i made a mistake!) A price which i can pay at Melben’s and be satisfied about.

Although i know the Melben’s owner (TPY) and though we (churchmates) often visits the one at Opal Crescent because of friendship and etc. I am definitely honest about how i feel about the food. I will not be bias and write anything that is to their advantage just because we know each other.
To me, if the food that my friend cook isnt  that great, i rather not write than writing fake opinions. But blessed i am, Melben never fails to satisfy.

As for House of Seafood, it is disappointing and the Pricing$ just does not justify. I really regret leaving the choice to be made by the waitress. I was totally being treated like a foreigner, being ripped off a total of $330 over at House of Seafood.

YES YOU READ IT CORRECTLY. IT IS $330 for those dishes  you see above.

All i can say is, there is ZERO possibility that i will go back to House of Seafood, not even the other branches. 

I dont mind paying that amount but really, not for the quality and quantity i get over at House of Seafood.

Vdates End Jul ’13

Hi`

It has been sometime since the last update. As i get busier, i tend to forget most of what happened. Thus Vdates are gradually full of pictures.

I am back to work today after taking off for yesterday. Cant help feeling extremely Tired and Sleepy.

In fact, i am dozing off while typing this. Had fun during the Staycation with my Family for Mum’s Birthie (more on that again) and now, i m missing every moment of it, even the bickering sessions. Oh God, bring me back to 2 days ago. 😦

Alright, that is so not happening, thus i will start and end briefly on the updates.

Went to the famous E-commerce shop MDS collections’ physical shop last week at Raffles Chevron to collect 1 of the tops i bought.
It was the Orange top that i posted for sale previously, it is sold already anyway.

Frankly, i always have the impression that MDS is making it big and all but i did not particularly like shopping with them since sometime back. Firstly, i have to admit that the pricing does not really justify the quality. No offence but there are many other shops selling nicer items, of nicer quality out there. Even if is not nicer, there are definitely items that can be compared.

Image credits :https://twitter.com/mdscollections

However, i wouldnt mind to shop with them once in a blue moon if only the attitude and services of their staff is better and nicer than what i experienced recently.

I knew all along that their service is not extremely good but i brushed myself off and told myself that it is ok as long as i get what i wanted.
But the last experience i had last week at Raffles Chevron convinced me otherwise.

Well, i am not here to judge nor to sabotage anybody or any shop. If you read this blog regularly, you would have known that i like to share my experiences. Whether it is a simple skincare review or a hair cut experience, i will share the good and bad.

Also, i will make no reservations in sharing my Personal views/opinions and experiences with all Honesty. For eg. I wouldnt filter any pictures in my skincare reviews because i always believe that a real and sincere review does not requires that though many others prefer looking at fake pictures with cutesy stickers.

Thus after all the justification i made for myself, i am writing how dissatisfied i am towards MDS collections. Yes i know that the shop is making it big, if not they wouldnt have physical shops besides their e-commerce shop. Of course , i am also aware that they have been around for sometime.

However, what irks me is how arrogant the brand starts to get, after they make it big.

I couldnt really remember the incidents in the past and thus i am letting it go. I will just mention the last experience from last week.
The moment i entered the shop, there was no greeting of any sort but i am fine because i aint a sucker for such attention. It is also fine that the sales person allow us to wander around on our own as i prefer that to the frustrating aggressive promoters.

I guess what really frustrated me was  during my payment for my item. I took out my receipt to collect my item, as i made payment online previously.
I was being the usual me, saying Hi with a smile and i told the lady at the cashier that i am making my collection.

She did not even look at me and she took the receipt from me. She then signaled to her colleague and her colleague came over and searched for my item in their cupboard. To be honest, i was already pissed at that because the very basic of a business is courtesy and well mannered service and that includes eye contact and a simple Hi.

However, there was Zero interaction, no smiles and no greetings from the MDS staff.

Thereafter, the colleague threw my bag of item on the table and walked off. I signed to acknowledged the item and throughout the whole procedure, there was nothing said. After collecting the item, i said  Thanks and was expecting at least a nod.

And you probably knew what happened, both ladies working in the shop turned their back towards me and there wasnt even a simple “THANKS”

INSTEAD, as a customer, i have to thank them for attending to me. 

Honestly, this turned me off big time, but I thought it was because i was wearing like crap that day and thus the hostile treatment.
Because as you might already knew, if you wear like crap and you try entering big names like “CHAN**”, “PRAD*” or” LOUIS Something” in places like HK or even here in SG, you might be despised and the sales person might not entertain you nor serve you.

I thought that is really bad because good service is simply NOT like that.  But anyway, we are talking about MDS here, a local home grown successful brand, that has yet to become another Chanel.

Thus i hang around for awhile more to observe if  the arrogant sales persons entertain the other ladies who were better dressed. To my dismay, NOPE. They were not being served. Even the ones paying at the counter experienced what i experienced. Well, i am not sure about others, maybe there are people who are not as anal as i am when it comes to service, thus they are fine but for myself, i do not compromise to such quality of service.

There are countless e-commerce shops in Sg and overseas. There are bigger names around that provides excellent services. Frankly, i used  to shop with Love Bonito before they were so big, before they are known as Love Bonito. They were Bonito Chico previously and i used to shop with them frequently back then. The pricing were more justifiable back then but as they revamped and all, i personally find  that their designs changed (more common and less attractive) and the quality of their clothes are not as good as what was raved about by many many people. Thus i really do not find it as worthwhile to get apparels from them now. Of course, this is my personal opinion.

However, i still buy a few items from them now and then because honestly, there are still nice stuff to look at, their service has never drop despite anything. Their services and attitude towards customers are still comparable to the past which they first started and that is really a relief to consumers like us.

Look, i am not a stuck up princess that needs alot of TLC when it comes to shopping. I basically just hope for the basic needs of manners to be met. I have zero tolerance for bad service because for every cent i pay, i am paying not only for the item  but also the services. It is also very disgusting to encounter rude services from big names that are giving hostile services now after they have gained the fame and ‘status’.

Thus after saying so much, i regrettably confirmed that i will never shop with MDS collections again.

I honestly forgot about the previous incidents, if i am not wrong, it should be some email inquiries i made which were replied in unfriendly manners previously. However, for this incident, even if anyone were to argue that it is not fair to judge since it is only a one time event, i am still not gonna visit the shop again. I think that if 1 out of 2 sales persons in the shop  is rude, we can excuse the fact that every1 has bad mood now and then. But no, if the entire shop is ill mannered, it has something to do with its management. Its management has to make sure that their staff are properly trained because these people represent their Brand and  they are the most important people as they are the front line warriors, making interactions and building r/s with customers.

Of course, having said that, they might not be bothered as only 1 customer made such statements now (assuming there isnt anymore anal feedbacks other than me)
But i dont really care what action they will (or will not) take because i have said my piece and made a decision anyway.

This post is still on my updates but since i mentioned about shopping, might as well just include this part.

And so, i sold the top i got anyway because it didnt fit my chest at all. Terrible. I actually like the top very much but too bad, it didnt fit me.

Went to get brows threading done with my baby Sis on Fri and we both love our new brows now!  Not particularly in love with the Thick Korean brows but we wanted something more natural and of course, the straighter ones. We are satisfied and thank you Strip for the good services!

Brows before- Not too bad, but can be better!
Picture taken 2 weeks back? Treated Sis n Mum to Dinner for my humble pay increment. 

After, i think looks better but barely noticeable though 😡

Visited gf on Sat with buns from  Barcook (that famous bakery and i will probably review on it soon because they have really nice buns!) Finally, i get to play with the babies. Oh man, i miss them already!

That is Toro baby. 

Our lunch, fol.

Then I hang around and we watched some lame shows, went to get Ramly burger for dinner at Paya Lebar and then i head home to watch movie with Mum.
The next day, we went for our staycation and that will come in my next post.

I love this picture so much! Big Thanks to gf and Chris for helping us so much, and thank you so much for the marvelous Fruit tart!

Noshii sweetie!

My Fav, Miko

Please check out their vid on my Insta!

Randoms:

Went to Dr Robi‘s session at Heart of God Church.
My 1st time to the church, It is relatively smaller than CHC and the members are younger.
However, as much as i am not used to it, the presence of God is strong.
Praise the Lord!
It was a wonderful experience and thank you HOG for inviting Dr Robi.

Find out more about Dr Robi HERE. He is awesome and you will love all his messages!

Actually, there will always be people around you that do not believe in you.

This morning, my friend was asking me why is it that i appear slimmer in a pic and from the tone,
i can tell it is a doubt and not a question.
To be honest, i replied my friend and also would love to say, i did not edit the picture.
I lost some flabs because i have been working hard in the Gym.
Moreover, that picture was really taken in a better angle.

Sometimes, people doubt you because they themselves can never put in effort in doing what you are doing.
Thus it makes them feel better by doubting you and putting you down, in the hope that your are really like them.

You do not have to care about  those doubts, you know you are not like what they make you to be.
For me, i just know it.
I know my efforts are not wasted.
🙂

.

.

Mum and Sis cooked Laksa and it taste wonderful. 
Really blessed! 😛

1 of the pictures i took and i like very much.
During my break after 30mins on the cycle machine. 

Alright, for now, i pray for you guys (and myslf) a good week ahead!
Below are some of my loves, i am playing them on repeat mode now.
❤

Ok, as you can see, they are soundtracks of Wong Kar Wai’s Days of being Wild and Happy Together. 
My fav movies, and thus my fav OTs!

Credits: http://www.youtube.com/

I like this picture #LeslieCheung

SOLD – Selling Brand New Tina Floral Romper (Pre-Owned, not worn before) at $25

Brand New Tina Floral Romper (Pre-Owned, not worn before) selling at $25

Sold out on http://www.tracyeinny.com.sg/ (Original price at $28)

THIS ITEM IS SOLD. THANK YOU!

Description:
Crafted in cotton. Simple floral playsuit with floral prints and elasticised waistband. Featuring button down detail with side pockets and a single back pocket. Designed with a regular fit.

Measurements:
Approx pit to pit: 15”
Approx width across shoulder: 14″
Approx width across waist: 12″
Approx length down from shoulders: 28″

Reason for letting go: too loose for my shoulders.

Leave a comment or pm at valenciafaithz.z@gmail.com
Images Credits:http://www.tracyeinny.com.sg/

Praying for you City Harvest Church!

The date is drawing near.

Is only a week left to the trial.

I hereby pray that All Glory to Jesus name.

Truth prevails.

We support the Crossover.

It is saving lives.

We saw and we testified the lives saved.

I am 1 of them.

🙂

Thank you God.

Thank you CHC.

God Does Not Discriminate

This news struck me and i feel very affected after reading it. Read the News HERE

There is really no need for such extreme displeasure. It is clearly 2 different issues, religion aside, the venue is for commercial use.  This performer is performing in this commercial building. Thats it.

My Eg. might not be a very good one but hey, if you are someone that do not condone Gay Behaviors, you happen to open a Chicken Rice stall, and a gay comes and buy chicken rice from you, do you turn him away and say “sorry, i dont like u cos u r gay and i cant sell you because i am Christian, Bible say we dont condone Gays”

In my opinion, if Jesus hears that, HE might cry. haha.
I am sure He didnt teach us to judge.

I am a very judgmental person and i am STILL trying my best to not judge but i am not perfect so i do judge sometimes.

But this case is just ridiculous, i am surprised that it is even on the news now. People who make noise about using New Creation’s commercial building for Adam Lambert (gay) performances, you people feel the heat, you people are not happy. I am sorry but you are really abit whiny. (right, i am judging you now, how do you like it?)

Appreciating a Gay’s performance does not means condoning Gay-r/s & behaviors.

Dont understand why people just cant be rational to separate 2 different issues apart.
God didnt teach anyone to judge like that. I dont get it why must some unncessary displeasure arise from certain group of people and magnify non existing problem.

Like the Crossover project of CITY HARVEST CHURCH, people ought to understand, there are something abt commercial arts that we cant change, like attractive blingy and sexy/suggestive clothings.  So please do not judge Sun Ho for her ChinaWine song nor her sexy outfit.

Even the recently baptized Elva Hsiao (Taiwanese commercialized Pop singer) wears sexy corsets and that doesnt mean she do not love God.
Their Job is 1 thing, their beliefs is another. They are required to look attractive and not dull. Yet, they are God’s children and they glorify God.

But the fact is, they are all servants of God and they do spread gospel for God. 

We dont judge by looking at the surface, we look at the end results and how many souls were saved and hw much help was rendered.
There are even testimonies from all the people that benefited from the help they gotten from Sun Ho’s past concerts.

You do not judge her by saying that she is not famous enough to be a singer. She didnt want to be a singer just to be famous anyway. Like i said previously, she is doing something greater than just producing awesome record sales. She helped souls and these souls gave their testimonies, which sadly was hidden from public and mainstream media due to the bias system of Singapore Media.

For this case, same thing. People judge too much nowadays, and it is so sad to see gay performers living in secret and with discreet.

I used to judge Gays. But i learnt. I was wrong.

I used to think  that i can use the Bible to judge them anytime because IT IS WRITTEN. I used to think that i am normal and they are freaks.
Yes, i am that Mean (with a capital M).

Then i realised, there are many Gays that share a more loyal and sincere r/s than some of the couples (that are straight & r deemed normal in teh society)
I mean, comon, who are we to judge then?

Bible stated that we should have normal r/s (includes sexual r/s) and it simply means Men & Women.

I am not saying i am going against my Beliefs and Faith.

But we are human, right or wrong (for being a gay), we leave it to God to judge,  we dont do the judging.

We are not God. We didnt write the Bible.

We accept people even if they indeed do something wrong because every1 of us are sinners. Who are we to discriminate? You might not be a Gay, but you have anger issue, does that mean that people should discriminate you?

Anger issue is also a problem. Dont tell me being angey al the time is a smaller problem than being Gay.
A wrong, if is a wrong, is a wrong, regardless big or small wrong.
Same as a problem, being a problem, it is a problem regardless of ‘size’. There is no small or big problem. They are all problems.

God said we shld accept each other, dont remember God asking us to point fingers at homosexuals.

Moreover,  this is so ridiculous, even though New Creations Own the building that Adam Lambert is gona perform, they didnt say anything about wanting people to be gays. They merely provide the venue for commercial purposes because the place is, in the first place, a commercial venue made for commercial use.
Adam Lambert commercial or not? Commercial right? That solves all anger issues, i  guess.

*Above r my opinions and ntg associated with my church or anyone in particular. I was kinda saddened to see how human beings judge and discriminating each other. I do not condone Gay r/s but i do not discriminate them.
We are all not perfect and they are human beings too. We are the same, in some way or another.
I am still trying my best to not judge certain people, sincerely.

Aplenty Updates – (Besides loving others, one has to appreciate herself)

Hi!

I am writing about random stuff today.  (Warning: it is actually VERY wordy)

First and foremost, i would like to talk about the dress i am selling.

Information and pictures as below:

Brand: Love Bonito, CNY Collection Erving Dress – Sold out on Love Bonito Website

Size: M measures 16″ PTP, 12″ to 18″ waist, 23″ hips, 33.5″ down.

Color: Yellow/ Lemon

Price: $30 Brand New, Never worn before. (Original retail price on Love bonito is $32)

 

SOLD
Additional description:
Highlight the number’s unique detail with sparkly embellishments, making your chic getup hard to miss! Fully lined; cotton polyester material. Slightly sheer; especially for White (comes with petticoat). Key hole opening at back with button fastening. Elastically banded at waist. Made of crepe chiffon.

 

Photos and information courtesy of http://www.lovebonito.com/

The Yellow piece was a gorgeous one. I really like it  alot. But i reckon it was an impulse purchase because the moment i received the physical piece, i realise it is really NOT ME at all.
Chiffon and all, i dont really like it afterall but i still thought it is a very pretty dress, the color is so awww, it just makes anyone feel a tad lighter in this hot weather.

I honestly contemplated for very long, (2days? is long enough for me) before making the decision to sell it.
It is so new and never been worn before.

But anyway,  i have other clothes for CNY and they are mostly working attires (sadness) and honestly, i didnt buy much clothes this year, because CNY has been boring though it is 1 of my fav festivals. I do not have much relatives to visit, friends are mostly bz visiting, so i doubt i m hanging out much, thus CNY is just an excuse for me to shop, n i intend to stop using this excuse to shop so much this time.

As i mentioned above, the original price Love Bonito is selling @ $32 and i am letting it go at $30, it is brand new, no defects, never even tried on before.

If you are interested, leave a comment or email me @ valenciafaithz.z@gmail.com

Next up:

I have been taking care of myself recently. Not that i have been torturing myself in the past (come to think of it, i kinda tortured myself in the past. LOL)

“Like How?” – you ask.

Well, i used to party non stop and my highest record was 6 days a week, sometimes 7 days straight, but i was really young back then, maybe 20 or younger.
I remember during that time, Romance, Fun, Parties, all activities that are not constructive appeal so much to me.
Drinking from the bottle itself is like heaven, smoking non stop is nothing unhealthy in my eyes, it is just for me to catch / absorb more air into the throat and feel damn shiok  (twisted logic and i feel like slapping myself now).
I DONT do drugs though. I was offered drugs since 14year old but i refused to touch it because i know i am quite weak in disciplining myself. Like smoking, some people can control themselves, and not get addicted but i got addicted heavily ever since i started smoking at 14yr old (i am 27 now and  thats 13 years of smoking). I refused to touch drugs because i do not want to get addicted to it, i know there are drugs that will not get you addicted but honestly, i think that ADDICTION DOESNT necessary mean that YOU ARE ADDICTED TO THE PRODUCT ITSELF, ADDICTION CAN BE YOU ARE ADDICTED TO THE HABIT.

Anyway, more on ADDICTION later.

Back to the Unhealthy (old) me. Yea, i lost alot of weight back then and i wonder why, perhaps i was always emo after all the drinking, and the bad relationships i had with the wrong people. It was just Shit lah.
I smoked more than i eat, i think. I love the slim body back then but i seriously look tired and disgusting.
However, because my skin is still Okay as per se, thus i always conceal and hide through cosmetics, not really thick make ups but normal make up.

I forgot for how long have i been leading that kinda life and to be honest, it was tiring. Physically/ Mentally and Spiritually.
So this was around 2000 – 2006? I seriously cant rem!

Then, i got into much stable relationships and i party lesser or infact, i kinda got myself outta the party scene.

But, those r/s didnt last long, sad but true, although i was MORE serious (i am serious all the time but by 24, i am almost thinking of ‘settling dwn’ and marriage might be in consideration)  in the r/s when i was older ( i think i am around 24 then).
It was never 1 party’s fault, i was not suitable for the exes and neither are they worth loving and blahblah.
So you know, i heard this from some1 really successful – the most difficult thing on earth is finding the right person as a lifetime soulmate and partner. Thus, despite my (you may say many) failed relationships, i tried not to blame anyone or myself.
Year 2008??

After ending those r/s, you must be thinking “Valencia must be back to those crazy party days again”
Nope i didnt really return to those party days but i kinda worked with a nightlife company.
People who know me will know which company is it and i am always at Clarke Quay, that is.
Although i market (marketing)  the different F&B outlets and Entertainment Clubs, i am NOT ONLY required to work in the day but i am also required to hang around the clubs at night, sometimes, till wee hours. Needless to say, i have countless nights of spending time entertaining and Drinking is inevitable.
Sometimes my mum would even ask me “what are you wrking exactly, y r u drunk and all?” HAHAHA
And of course, Smoking is inevitable too, especially when you are a smoker and  the business associates smoke too.

That was when i was single, i spent all my time at work and my ex colleagues smoke alot too (most of them). So, what i did besides working hard was Smoking, Partying, Drinking and it repeated for approximately 1 year.
This was in 2009 (approx).

Then, i got attached to the philandering ex bf Adrian and i guess you know what happened after that. I got abused and all for another 1 year.
I was already looking like a zombie by then (according to my mum LOL) I didnt sleep well, didnt eat well, i smoked alot and i have bruises all over me and i really dont recognise myself.
If i were to see Me now – the Valencia 1 year ago , I really will cry for myself.
Year 2010- First half of 2012

So…the above account for the  unhealthy me for the pass…wait, i have to count because it was the longest time and it felt like forever….
Ok, the Unhealthy me for the pass 13 years (i reckon i should start counting from 14 because i started smoking back then).

Let me do a short summary of my health and well being after the 13 years of crazy torture to myself.

Hair – Dry and frankly, i do not know how my lifestyle can affect the hair but i reckon my hair was forever stained with smoke and smelling bad back then.

Face – Worst part of the body. WORST. DRY LIKE CORNFLAKES (dont ask me y cornflakes. i just feel so) The Skin peels like mad, dry to the max and nothing more than just being Dry. SIGH. Now you know what they say about smokers’ skin condition? IT IS SO TRUE. YELLOWISH AND JUST DAMN DRY.

Body – Weight infatuated. Fat, lost weight and then Fat again. Tired of all these.

Mental – Totally Depressed. Severe Depression, because of the stress from work, the miscom in family, the hurtful relationships. I was referred to Shrinks (my family were very very very protective of me, they know that i am not unsound, they know that i was just too stress at that moment)

I am 27 but i already felt like 37 after going through all that  physical and mental torment.

So what now? Yeap, i have been taking care of myself, at least, for the past few mths and esp the recent 1 mth of 2013. haha.
I am not writing about some 2013 resolutions because i mentioned i do not believe in resolutions. If a person wana b better, it can be anytime and not relying on making some resolutions that most cant keep.

After 1 decade of crazy torture to myself, i finally started to Love myself aplenty and be more careful with the way i live.
I know it is kinda late as i am already over mid twenties.
The smart and disciplined ones started maintaining a healthy body since 21 or even teenage.
But BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
I said that because i still see or know people who party non stop, drinking non stop, smoking and doing whatever that harm the body non stop at late 20s to even 60s. OMG PLS.

But anyway, i got this message nagging me during the end of 2012. Infact, i have this naggy voice telling me to quit smoking since 2011. But i brushed it aside because it was impossible to me back then. I was so heavily addicted, without cigarettes- i cant sleep, i cant do anything and i will feel frustrated.
Previously, I even threw my stuff around, flaring up because i couldnt find a lighter to light the cig.
That was how extreme i was and that was  how much i would do for a cig.
I remember that i was very broke at one point of my life, i only have $ enough for 4 packets of rice (which can last me for 2 days!) OR 1 packet of cigs.
I bought the cigs without thinking at all.  Back then, i can do without food but i cant do without cigs.
Again, thats how much i would do for cigs, and thats how deeply addicted i am.

So anyway, back to the naggy voice…It was very soft and honestly, the normal Valencia you know – WILL NEVER SAY YES TO QUIT (smoking).
I have discouraged i-cant-rem how many friends from quitting (i was a crap, i noe)
Thus, i do not know who spoke that idea of ‘quitting’ into my heart and brain and it turned into a burden. TOTAL BURDEN.

The voice was getting louder and louder till i cant take it and i just told myself in Dec 2012 that i will STOP COMMITTING MYSLF TO SMOKING. Yeap, Stop smoking lah.

Do you think i can do it? I tell you the truth, it was DIFFICULT AS I DONT KNOW WHAT, for the 1st week. During the first 3 days, i almost wanted to …i didnt know how to not smoke. Really, i do not know how to not smoke, just like you asking a non smoker to smoke, he/she wun know how to smoke or how to light the cig and how to inhale and exhale right?
I really do not know what to do without smoking. The worst parts were after meals, the morning sticks and the sticks before sleep. TERRIBLE.

I can assure you, it is not easy, those that say it is easy are just bullsh*tting because they are proud.
HAHA. Ok lah, my Personal experience was really bad and it was not easy at all.

Those Preachy talks about “if you have determination to do something, you can and will do it”…
But, as cliché as it sound, it really work that way.
NOTHING, and i mean it. NOTHING help if you do not really WANT TO DO IT.

I dont know how i did it, but i can be very frank with you, even up till now, i still have that urge, now and then. ESPECIALLY when i am feeling upset.

Maybe, just maybe, God really knows how to help me. Even if it means, using my weak point.
Why i say that? Because i am super LAZY. I am really super LAZY, i shall not explain but trust me that i am super lazy. (rem i said something about self-discipline?) Ok, 1 eg. I dont like to walk down to the shop to buy food for lunch, so most of the time, i just dont eat or during weekends,  i find food at home to feed myself.  I am lazy to even walk that few steps to the Hawker.

Thus, the moment i finished smoking the last stick i had, i never buy another box of Ciggies.  Because i am lazy. I am lazy to walk to any Mama shop or 7-11 to buy. Not only that, it helps too when i see myself less broke, and i can buy more dresses since i stopped buying ciggies.
I HONESTLY FEEL PROUD OF MYSELF AND NTG ELSE. HAHA

I can’t list the whole list of Pros (of quitting) but you already know the Cons of smoking yea. Everyone will eventually die 1 day, thus many people smoke and enjoy ‘the-moment’ now. These people (i am not being judgemental because i truly understand what a smoker feels and think) have the YOU-ONLY-LiVE-ONCE mentality and smoking seriously is like a “frustration-quencher” (watermelon juice- a thirst- quencher analogy because usually you feel better after smoking if you are upset) I really understand all that from a Smoker’s point of view. But there are def more pros than cons, you knew it.

Health: I dont know about you (if you smoke), but for me, i do not want to risk dying younger than i should because i really really treasure my life now more than b4, i treasure my family alot to die young.

Image: I do not want to die ugly.
Smoking causes stains here and there, teeth and nails and it makes a person smell so bad in and out. Thats enough to cause inferiority.
I also tend to hide in a corner to smoke most of the time because i really hate the smoking image. No matter how pretty a woman can be, the moment she holds a cig, it changes everything. (Tell me it doesnt? Tell me any guy that will feel proud bringing u back to their parents? Tell me you smoke infront of your friends’ parents and expect the parents to like you? )

Mental: I do not want to feel ugly.
Most of the times, i dont even dare to admit to people that i smoke but people usually smell it. I am so embarrassed and ashamed (dont ask me why am i ashamed, i just dont feel proud)

Financial: I want to be richer and i am getting more and more cautious as i am older because my savings now aint the amount i desire to have.
Again, not sure about you but i spend ard hundreds per mth and honestly, with these $, i see myself doing more constructive things. Like- dolling myself up because at my age, i want to maintain looking youthful and i do not want to resort to botox, thus i rather spend on skincare and more clothes.

Yep. I didnt break this news earlier on because i am always a person who speaks after action. I will only announce it after i have succeeded doing it. It holds more weight though i am not trying to convince anyone Nor impress anyone but i just like to do it before saying it.

However, as i confessed, i still have the urge to smoke sometimes, though not often.
I did accepted 2 sticks from a friend who offered (and yea, i gave in to temptation then) after not smoking for a month.
But i am still trying right? So please dont judge! But you can pray for me though. 🙂

I managed to be free from the addiction not only due to my own determination but also, i owe this to God. I prayed to Jesus, so many times during those tough times, i prayed for Him to take away my urge and honestly, i really do not remember having much urges.
Of course, there are people tt commented tt i always use the name of Jesus too often and too much. Well, thats my belief, and i do believe He did help me along because whenever i spend time praying the urge away, i feel i do not need a stick at all. Call it psychological effects but i believe in my heart, it is God that helps me along 🙂 Thank God!

Remember what i said about Addiction? I had very bad flu and all for the 1st 2 to 3 days, i felt sick during that few days of withdrawal symptoms.
But trust me, after  all the so-called after-effects, it is no longer the nicotine nor cig itself that holds u back.
It is your Habit, It is Yourself.

I always believe it is easy to break addiction to a product (Unless you are talking about Heroin) but it is NOT Easy to break a Habit.
Alot of people said that they are addicted but i personally feel that they do not know what they are addicted to. Are they addicted to Cigarettes or are they addicted to Smoking?
Cigarette is a product while Smoking is an action, a habit.
Thus, when you say you are addicted, you must be aware that you are addicted to a Habit and Not the product.
I mean, you seldom hear people say “i am addicted to cigarettes”. All of the time, it is “i am addicted to smoking” Right?
And since it is a habit that you are addicted to, you must be prepared to be strong and much stronger mindset is needed to cut this nasty habit away!

I did not eat those sweets, i did not use any nicotine pad, i never chew on any gums. I just bought a Vicks Inhaler (as below) and inhale if i feel the urge. But i did not want to start another addiction thus i try not to use it so often and yea, i kinda stopped using it. I just used it during the initial difficult stage.

In conclusion, i make use of everything to break a habit. Vicks inhaler, prayers, etc. Oh, i also try to chat with Mum to distract myself, initially, it was kinda deliberate and whenever u are doing anything deliberately, it is gona remind you of what you are trying to stay distracted from.
But, as time passes, it turned into a new habit and before you know it, your old habit is being replaced, gradually. Sounds easy? But i struggled for around a month. 30days.

It is never easy to quit, but Quoting what Gary told me
“never tell yourself you are quitting because it is human nature  that quitting is hard, quitting anything is hard.
Just tell yourself that you are no longer a smoker, you dont smoke.”

Some might think we are playing with words here but the difference is really huge because the word ‘Quitting’ is indeed intimidating.

If you are thinking of cutting this habit, I hope i help abit by penning down my personal experience of cutting cigarettes.

All i can say is, i have stop buying Ciggies (and nope, i dont go around asking for ciggies even though my current colleague smokes too) and
I AM NOT COMMITTED TO SMOKING
(i used to have this commitment, this committed r/s with ciggies, which also means that i will look for it, like how a gf will look for her bf. i will never abandon it and i will smoke wenever i am sad or happy. similar to how a good friend will share her good and bad times with her best friend).
Yep, i am no longer tied to,controlled by or bonded to the Cigarrettes Nor the action – Smoking.
I never never experience such freedom for 13 years, which is estimated 4745 days.
I wont say i am very healthy now but at least i am healthier than before, i get to make the choice of whether to accept an offer from a friend OR NOT accepting. You see, cigarettes CANOT control me anymore, i am so strong that i do not need something deadly to control me anymore. I control my own mind and thinking.
I do not need to be committed to Malborooooo Nor Nex Chill (cigs brands)

Btw, i went Cold Turkey because i personally dont believe in cutting down and etc. I tried cutting down and thats just crap to me, i will never stop smoking if i do not cut it off completely.
You cant say you will not have sex after foreplay right?
You cant say you will not eat the fried chicken after frying the chicken instead of steaming it right?
Point is: You run away from Temptation and Not resisting and coming near contact to it.

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22 New International Version (NIV)

So, btw, smoking isnt very cool nor in the trend nwadays ar? Dont know why but i realise the trend now has changed. Smoking used to be cool (to some) but not anymore – seriously.

I did not write about what harm will be done to each organ in the body – hearts, lungs, throats, noses and etc… because honestly, as a smoker previously, i dont care about all that, i only know it is bad for myself but i still do it. It is a chore to read abt all those. But i will include this helpline for you although i saved the number but i did not call them because i manged to come out of it before i even call.

Monday to Friday – 8.30am to 5.00pm
Saturday – 8.30am to 1.00pm

QuitLine
Call 1800 438 2000 (Toll-free)

Hmm,  thats 1 thing off my list, 1 burden off my mind.

Next up: The body.
The body needs abit of exercising now even though i managed to get the shape back recently but i am still not as slim as before (when i was way younger, i was so skinny)
I am not Fat now, i lost weight, but i can do better, will blog more on this next time. I ought to do some workout and as usual, i will not be revealing much till after i have done it. But hints: I will prolly sign up classes that allow me to moves around and kicks around or dance around like mad! HAHAAH
Also, it is for fitness purposes lah, besides being trim, i hope i can be fitter too.

Face: I dont do facial because it is expensive and i know it does help but honestly, my skin is really quite good, according to docs, skincare specialists and friends. Thank God for that, and i dont waste $ buying packages for Facials but perhaps is time to do so…
I never put products on my face, not for the past 27 years. I know it is A MUST to slap on toners and moisturizer nightly and daily and religiously.
BUT I HAVE NEVER DONE ALL THAT till recently. Because i realised that i am reaching 30.

I mean, in all honesty, i am not exactly old but i am not teenager nor m i in the early twenties. I want to maintain looking good and even though i might not look 30, i dont want to risk looking 30. Not for anyone this time, not for Men nor friends but i feel good when i look good.
IT IS FOR MYSELF.

Thus, recently i tried SK2, i have 2 bottles of their sample (tell me small sample bottles dont work and i will ask u to talk to my hand because if it doesnt, tell me why they invent sample bottles). Moreover, i used it for around a mth+. More than enough time to tell the effects if any.
It doesnt wrk for me though. I heard alot of good reviews from others but maybe is just not suitable for me.

I tried Bio Essence. It used to work but it doesnt really bring the glow to my face. My face is really dry to an extent. Sigh. Big Sigh.
Yes, although i have no pimples and i can count with 1 hand, hw many times i actually have pimples in my 27 yrs of life. My skin is extremely dry (thus no pimples) and it turns flaky most of the time. My skin peel off itself and i cant even apply make up, i already stopped using powder and choose BB cream instead but it just doesnt sit well on my face and my whole face just look terribly flaky usually.

It is very sad whenever my skin peel off or feels tight and dry. I would try to slap on masks (sis  got them frm TW and i will use them) and usually it works but i guess as time passes, it kinda lost it effects.

Desperate and din know what to do, Sis pass me a bottle of HaDa LaBo. She used it but have stopped since i dont know when. A bottle so big and she only used 1/3 of it. “i shall just give it a try, no harm” i thought. Afterall, they say in their ad that it will : 锁住一个海洋 (lock an ocean) HAHA

I must say i am amazed by it because my sis told me it is not expensive but the moment i slapped it on, i feel it hydrates my skin instantly.
I have been using it since Sunday, it is the 3rd day today and my skin is so bouncy, so hydrated, so firm (although i dont know why it feels firm because it is supposed to hydrate). I feel so good applying make up or even when i dont apply make up, i feel very good because there is a glow on my face.
Applying make up seems easier and faster, and the skin is so silky smooth. Now that i am typing this, i am feeling & touching my face (sounds psycho again but i am really doing it). It is VERY SMOOTH. If it is not baby skin, it at least has to be a toddler’s skin. Or you can describe as egg shell. glowy and smooth.
– No Flaky Skins
– No weird bumps and ugly pores problem
JUST WHITE SNOW SKIN. Looks so much healthier too!

In Just 3 Days.

I am NOT PAID to do any ad nor reviews for Hada Labo but i sincerely want to share here with readers about my personal experience because i am SO HAPPY that my face is so silky smooth now. I always have good skin as mentioned, but i have never experience the glow nor the flawless smooth skin texture before, never before (please exclude baby and toddler’s times).

Now i am happy that i finally found the right product for me!
Having said that, it works for me but it might not work for you as my Sis didnt like it cos she has oily skin and she feels uncomfy applying this.
So, result varies for individual. I shall browse their website for more products after finishing this post…

S_ ** users, time to ditch that expensive bottle of saliva (smells like it) and you know what is a better alternative! Really!

Above image and information, courtesy of http://www.hadalabo.com.sg

Well, i kinda spent 2 hours on this post. Terrible, i initially wanted to just upload my new picture and do some simple updates… never knew it wud be so long and naggy! If you are still reading, well thanks! Haha. Because i am lazy, i never wana do any review or beauty posts but since i am at this topic of well-being….might as well?

As for the Hair, picture below will do the talking. I personally like it alot, 10 outta 10 people commented tt i look younger than before. I feel  i lost 5 years of age aft the haircut and well, i love it. However, it is pissing me off gradually as i have to blow straight the hairends every morning if not i will look like an Octopus (it curls outwards and it is not right)

Thus, i am heading over to Bbra’s to get it permed. Yes, i am gona perm it. I am praying that i wont look old because you know how curls can make a person look older.
But i trust Bbra will do a good job for me, fingers crossed!
So before it is permed, take a look at it while it is straight! 4 mre days to perm!

 

You may check out the skin’s condition. Both pictures- no make up. Zero make up. However 1st pic was filtered. 2nd pic is Raw.

p/s: i do not have before and after photos for my skin. My hp was faulty for the past 1 week. and i couldnt take any decent photos, moreover, the skin conditions cant be seen on pictures. It is just not obvious because i do not have acnes nor holes to start with, it is just the texture of the skin that has improved tremendously. I also do not have a picture of me before the haircut but i guess you can imagine lah, since i always post long hair pics previously. The phone is looking good, not faulty anymore but not as perfect as before. Sigh, hope it will not disappoint me again.

Managed to retrieve a picture of me having long hair over Insta for comparison (uploaded6.30pm 29/1/13):

Before

After

p/s p/s: gonna celebrate Sis’s bday this Sunday and bringing Mum to town to shop this Sat. can’t wait and then it will be CNY already. Happy CNY in advance!

p/s p/s p/s: “Besides loving others, one has to appreciate herself”
this was quoted from Leslie Cheung (my fav artiste and the late HK superstar).
This sentence also sums up the reason for this lengthy post. If you love yourself, you will find yourself being loved by many. If you love yourself, you will feel happy everyday. I have to remind myself that i Love myself, and because i love myself, i do not want to be inferior and i do not need people to label me. I can do things i want to do, i can make myself happier and healthier and i can show myself i can be happy despite situations.
I do not need to rely on anyone.

人除了要懂得怎去爱人，最重要是要懂得怎样去欣赏自己。- Leslie Cheung

Wedding Workshop

For Couples who are tying the knot soon!

I am not sure who will be reading this space, maybe not alot, maybe not from Singapore. But as long as you can help to sound out to your ‘ready-to-marry’ friends, or just spread this news around, it will be good.

For this Wedding Workshop 2013, it is held at The China Club Singapore. 

$68 PER COUPLE (not per pax) and you get to enjoy 4 Course special luncheon set, you get to see the beautiful gowns ( ft Badgley Mischka) from The Prelude (Google Badgley Mischka if you do not know them), from Laichan (omg Laichan! The top Cheongsam designer!) and a 30 min beauty workshop from Korean Skincare – Sulwhasoo.

Carly Rae Jepson (if you do not know her, you do not know who sang Call Me Maybe. and you are Out! lol) wearing Bagdley Mischka.

Badgley Mischka Bridal Gowns

LaiChan ‘s gorgeous cheongsams

LaiChan Wedding Cheongsam

Sulwhasoo – Korean Skincare
See also the review of Sulwhasoo: http://sulwhasoo-sulwhasoo.blogspot.sg/2011/01/anti-aging-line-sulwhasoo-extra.html

Check out also special beautiful weddings decorations by 人情味, Wedding Singing Band Acoustic Tavern (check out the clip below for Acoustic Tavern).

The way i see it, this workshop is an ALL in 1 workshop. All at $68. I swear i will pay that amount FOR 2 PAX (which means, per pax pays only $34!!!) just to go and eat even if i am not getting married! At least, the 30min showcase on Korean skincare is worth more than $68 (for 2 pax) already!

Besides, the venue China Club Singapore is actually not easily accessible, unless you are a member of the club or of certain status.
Check out the Club: www.chinaclub.com.sg

Whats better is, if you sign up any wedding package on event day itself, there will be waiver of 1 table! (thats 10 persons!!!) and also, the early birds who sign up will get a Tissot Watch (worth $280) free! Yes! 1st come 1st serve! Hurhur.

UOB also provide installment plan for your wedding, whats better than not having to worry for tedious payment hassle!

So, if you are interested in the above, you know who to call or msg, you may leave your msg here and i assure you that your comment will be confidential (i will not pulblish of cos, and i will contact you personally)

Official Magazine Partner: Female Brides

P/S  And i hope (i am sure) this workshop help you and your bride/bridegroom in the preparations of your Big Day!

Happy Birthday Singapore and the August babies!

Happy 47th Singapore. I love you and i dont hate the Govt! 😀

Honestly, it is an eyesore for me to see people hating the Govt. I am not a Pro PAP person. I can be quite angry sometimes over the high living expenses, for the difficult times in SG, for the actions and decisions made (high amount of foreigners that jam the whole train, the high cost of buying a car, and the list goes on).

Honestly, i do not love the Govt, or rather, the PAP. But i am extremely thankful for them as well, i believe it is clear that, without them, we can never be proud of ourselves when we go overseas, we can never be the safest (i feel we are) country in South East Asia, or even Asia.
I thank the Govt for everything, i see how Singapore transform from a slump to a country of high standard now.
In short, we really have to give credit to the Govt, so we dont wake up to riots, we dont see drugs going around or people holding guns and etc.

Frankly, just 1 trip to our neighbour country and i am filled with thanks when i touch down back to my Home- Singapore.

I seriously feel that haters should stop hating, be better or go join the Govt to make Singapore a better place than just typing behind computer screens.

We Singaporeans should be proud of ourselves, why are there numerous haters hating and blaming? If you are poor, work harder!
I am not born rich, neither am i even consider rich now. but i do not blame the govt because they didnt make me poor, instead, they kinda motivate me to work harder. Thus i can tell people that are not from Singapore that “If i can survive in Singapore, i can survive anywhere”.

When will haters stop hating? No idea, they blame the Govt, they curse my Pastor, they blame everything except for themselves and when i take a look at these people, these are usually the people who will never be contented with life or they are just the ones that are not achieving much  that want to whine about everything in the world. Do something instead yo!

Practically, if you are so unhappy staying in SG with its Govt, migrate. Because the Govt is not gona change to please everyone, deal with it or just leave it.

Thus, Thank you Mr Lee Kwan Yew, i dont particularly love you but you deserve much thanks, and much appreciates goes to the Govt, PM Lee and his staff. Mr Tan Chuan Jin has also lent a great help to me and my family. So comon, i am not some rich, spoilt brat that speak up for the govt.
I believe the poor are suffering, my heart goes out to them, and i believe the Govt will try their best to help too, even if not the entire parliament, there will be help. Just hope, not whine.

Sad to say, nothing is fair in this world, even a beautiful country like France, they have beggers everywhere. Look at our neighbours ard SEA. Are they better off? Would you like to stay there? They are not countries that are difficult to live in, except that you might or might not have to face tons of riotings and drug trafficking.

No1 is perfect, no organization is perfect, accept it, be the best yourself and stop expecting. Love your country and even if you cant love the Govt, be thankful and fill yourself with gratitude.

Also, i would like to say Happy Birthday to my Dearest Mom. I love her so much. I will never be able to find a better Mummy other than her.
She is not the perfect Mum, but she is the best mum to me, EVER.

Mummy i love you so much, you are probably the only person other than Jesus, that loves me unconditionally and someone other than Jesus, i would give my heart and life to.

Happy 52! Long live Mummy! May God shower you His blessings of Love and bless you with Good Health and joy!
I know i havent been the best daughter, i know i am very rebellious during my younger days and i upset you aplenty. I hope is not too late to make up to you my dearest Mum.

Happy Birthday to Gary, a pal of mine, also, a belated HBD to my dearest 7. Thank you for being my friend, you both are awesome!

God Bless the above!