Dressing to Music: Bloc Party - Banquet

This song is an oldie but a goodie. It's upbeat, rockin, and it just puts me in a great mood. It also gets my tush in gear and I roll right through the dressing/accessory process. This is what I came up with:



Top: Oomph shop
Tank: Loft
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Jessica Simpson
Earrings: Jewelmint
Ring: Jewelmint

The song lead me to a chic, simple, dark hued ensemble! I love my new sheer black blouse. My daughter pulled it unbuttoned about one million times that night, but I look forward to wearing it on a child-free night! ;)

Baublebar

Yes ladies, I have found another jewelry site to love and shop at! ;) Baublebar.com is a place where you can find great jewelry at low prices:

"Our unique sourcing model, direct from high-end jewelry designers to you, coupled with our online-only presence allow us to bring you the in-season jewelry you love at the accessible price points you want. Without the high costs of a traditional retailer, we are able to price our gems so that experimenting with style doesn’t have to mean a big investment for you."

"BaubleBar branded jewelry is sourced from the same designers that sell to upscale retailers - this designer network is the genius behind the BaubleBar pieces you see and love. Designer partners are selected for their workmanship and design aesthetic, and work with the BaubleBar team to create items in a variety of materials and price points, so you can spoil yourself without sacrificing quality."

Here are a few of their pieces:





Happy shopping ladies! ;) You can also "Like" their Facebook page here.

Soap.com

Everyone has heard of soap.com right? IT'S AMAZING! I seriously can't live without this site! They have everything from the Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner I use, to candles, to toilet paper and other paper products, to makeup, to sunscreen, to cold medicine, to air freshener, to (oh yeah) soap, and so much more!!
Every time I go out shopping, I forgot a few of these items! For example, this past Friday I realized I was low on paper towels, deodorant, and kids cold medicine. I went on and ordered around 3:00pm and my order came on SATURDAY with free shipping?!?! I'm sorry, but quick free shipping is all but a thing of the past, so this alone is amazing! I love this site and for sure will be using it order everything I forget to buy when I'm out! Also, it's 15% off your entire order the first time you order so load up people! ;)

My new sweater

Sweater: Forever 21
Tank: Express
Jean Leggings: Target
Shoes: Forever 21
Necklace: Jewelmint
Chain Ring: Tiffany & CO
Ring: Macys (Judith Jack is the designer)

This was the perfect look for having a little get together with another family for dinner. Cute, casual, and cozy! Which is ideal when you're burping babies and changing diapers! lol
This sweater is my new favorite! I got it from Bonnie over at Flashes of Style in her "shop" section. I love shopping other peoples closets! What's that saying? One persons trash is another persons treasure. Well, this sweater is FAR from trash, but you get where I'm going with this! ;)

Thanks for the new sweater Bonnie! I love it!
In other news, 7 pounds left until I'm back to pre-baby weight! I'm so excited!!

An Evening With Susur Lee With Video

Ever since Pauline and I saw Susur Lee on Top Chef Masters, we were rooting for him all the way until the finals, which unfortunately, he lost by the narrowest of margins.

So, when I was graciously invited by DBS Indulge and HungryGoWhere to attend a master class, jointly organised by DBS and the Asian Food Channel, I had no hesitation in saying Yes!

I had been to Orchard Central many times and had walked past the AFC Studio just as often, just that I hardly ventured inside it. This was also a great opportunity to take a look at the immaculate studio itself.

For the night itself, Susur was going through 3 of his favorite dishes and watching the man himself engaging the audience with his culinary prowess and his charismatic charm was absolutely entertaning and delightful.

The Man Himself

Each and every dish was carefully explained and demonstrated to a packed audience. Everyone was listening intently on every syllable that came from the legend himself. With equal doses of informational tips and humor, Susur clearly had the audience hooked and enraptured.

Minced Chicken and Foie Gras Dumplings

The first dish of the night was this delectable minced chicken and foie gras dumplings, which also had a side portion of a pan seared foie gras as well. This was typical of his signature style of mixing east and west which he has been doing for many years now and it is nothing but perfect.

Char Siew Duck Breast in Rice Flour Pancake

A different take on Peking Duck, he used duck breast which he had marinated overnight. While it was not as innovative as the foie gras dumpling, it was still a very delicious and flavorful dish which is really very simple to make even at home.

Apple Filo Pastry

The last dish was a dessert and it was a apple filo pastry. The fresh slices of apple on top of the crispy and flaky baked pastry was just the perfect balance of flavors, and adding a touch of Bacardi only brought out the flavors even stronger.

All in all, this was a night to remember, and once the master class was concluded, there were ample of photo opportunities with the Man himself, and not surprisingly, everyone lapped up the chance to have their pictures taken with Susur.

It was a great event and was really well organised. Every attendee was well taken care of from the moment they sat down, with unending drinks and food to go around. And the place itself really lended itself to events like this, and despite the packed crowd, everything went off like clockwork.

Written, filmed, edited and directed by Silverchef Productions.

Shot and edited entirely on Apple's Iphone 4 in Quiznos.

No foie gras dumpling was harmed in the shooting of this video.

"A Little Less Conversation" performed by Lee DeWyze.

Tiger Prawn Capellini

This would have been called tiger prawn risotto, had it not been for a last minute decision to cook pasta instead of risotto.

Nevertheless, the resulting dish was just as appealing as my original idea for a shrimp risotto, and in some ways, might have just turned out better.

Cook some capellini in a pot of boiling water for about 5-7 minutes, and strain it and run it under cold water to stop the cooking immediately.

In another pot, saute a mirepoix of carrots, onions and celery until they are fragrant. Drizzle some white wine and let the alcohol burn and until the vegetables soften somewhat.

Add in lots of chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Peel about 6 tiger prawns (serves 2 persons) and retain the shells and heads. Add the prawn shells into the cooking mirepoix stock and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Season the peeled prawns with salt and pepper and saute them in a pan of butter for about 2 minutes each side. Add some fresh and crushed basil and let the prawns rest in the pan as the pan is removed from the heat.

Cut another onion and saute in a new pan with olive oil and drizzle some wine and cook until the onions are soft and fragrant. Add in the mirepoix stock (without the vegetables) and cook it on high heat and let it reduce.

Make some roux (flour and butter) and add in the roux to thicken the mirepoix stock. Add it some grounded pepper and fresh parsley and add in the cooked capellini and toss. Once the pasta is properly coated with the mirepoix juices, it is time to plate.

Put some capellini in the center of a plate and place the tiger prawns on top. Add in some onions and sauce and garnish it with some more fresh parsley.

This will be a light tasting dish, with the sweetness of the broth giving it a nice flavor and the tiger prawns succulent and juicy. Simple and tasty!

What's happening in my world....

First off, we have finally reached 200 blogspot followers here at Stilettos and Diaper Bags! woo hoo! Thanks guys! Who would of thought?! ;)

So things are crazy busy around the home front. Everyone is sick, well me and the kids are anyway. Somehow my hubby has not caught what we have. LUCKY BASTARD! lol

We have been keeping busy with my son's 3 hours of EI therapies per week. Also starting to fill out paperwork for his transition into the public school district in the fall. So weird that he'll be in school soon. Seriously scary! I'm also in the process of planning his 3rd B-day party! (Can you believe I am going to be the mother of a 3 year old?! Time just flies!) I think this year we are going with a Word World theme. (PBS Kids show)

My little lady is thriving. She laughs, sucks her thumb, and grabs objects and her feet. She can roll from her front to back but has not mastered the back to front roll yet. (Thank goodness, I'm in no rush for her to be mobile!)

On top of being a full time mommy and blogger, I have recently gone into business with my sister-in-law and it is all very hush hush and exciting. As soon as everything is trademarked and underway, you all will be the first to know what that's all about! Promise!!

So I guess the moral of the story is, I'm crazy busy, but enjoying myself! Life is good!

Have you entered this months giveaway yet?! Only 8 days left to enter!

Drop Dead Gorgeous by Daniela Edburg

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Death by Oreos

For anyone who has eaten the whole box, or bag, or carton the photographs in this series make light of our secret binges. Here, the consequences of indulgence are tabloid or monster movie deaths. Daniela Edburg’s Drop Dead Gorgeous both mocks and satisfies our cravings. via

Death by Bananas

Feeling guilty? he he I know I do...

Questions Answered

This question is from AndreaLeigh:

i always thought you were in your mid-20s. you look fabulous. what skincare products do you use? tell me your secrets because I am 32 and look a hot mess.

Okay Andrea, first off LMAO!! Secondly, and of course, THANK YOU! I can't tell you how this has made my day/year! ;)

On a day to day basis, and in this order, this is what I am currently using in the morning (I say currently because I switch up some serums and creams every month):

Face Wash: Brand: Nature's Alternative (Mario Tricoci brand) Pumpkin seed & Vitamin A Eczema Bar
Toner: Brand: BeautiControl Skinlogics (gold collection) tonic
Quick Refiner: Brand: Bioelements (New Beauty Test Tube)
Serum: Brand: Skin Ceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
Eye Serum: Brand: BeautiControl Regeneration tight, firm, and fill
Lotion: Brand: Pevonia Age-defying collagen cream (New Beauty Test Tube)

At the end of the day after I take my makeup off I put on the B5 serum and on some nights Bioelements night cream.

I ALWAYS use the same face wash, toner, eye serum, and vitamin B5 serum, but since I am a user of New Beauty Test Tube, I switch everything else up monthly. I have been told my a few estheticians that it is good to mix it up to keep skin looking great!
I have always thought of myself as someone with sensitive skin, but everything I try seems to be gentle enough for my skin.

I also think getting facials are super important!! I get anywhere from 2-4 per year (I would love to get more, but it's just not in the budget). I usually go with the pomegranate or collagen facials at Mario Tricoci. Both very hydrating and great at making skin shinny and young looking!

Lets be honest here, genes do play a role in this! Both my parents look super young for their ages! My older sister looks like she's 12, well, all my siblings look young for their ages.  It just runs in the family!!!
I also decided I liked being told I look younger very early on in life and started using "age defying" creams in my early 20's!

Hmmm....what else? Here are some rules to live by! ;)

NEVER go to bed with makeup on!
ALWAYS wear sun screen! (I don't wear lower then 45 on my face)
NEVER fake and bake!
Don't smoke! (seriously, the fastest way to look older! Not to mention give you cancer or kill you!)

Hope this answered your question!

My search for hair pretties: Ever Creations

I found some amazing hair pretties for my little bean. Well, let's be honest, I have a 16 pound 4 month old! I think the bean has put on some winter weight. She has also lost most of her hair. Hey, a lot of girls have bad hair years! The problem is her head so chubby no regular headbands fit her without being too tight. Also she doesn't have enough hair for a barrette not to look like a floating bow. The solution? Crocheted headbands that TIE in the back of the head. And super cute ones at that!!!

I got these 2 and as soon as I saw they are even more amazing in person I bought another one! Check out the etsy site!
She has really cute packaging and at the bottom is a picture of my little bean sporting her new look!

Seriously love these! They are soft, comfortable against my baby's head, and of great quality! I'm so glad I found her stuff!!

This weeks "I want what she has!"/Wait....you do what now?!

This weeks "I want what she has!" goes to Jessi Savioli. I saw this hat on her facebook page and I knew I needed to own it! lol No, seriously! When I went in for a closer look, I noticed she had written that she made it!!!! So she has kindly agreed to make and sell me one just like it!! woo hoo!
When we got to talking, I found out that knitting is just a hobby of hers! She also has a Etsy site where she sells her jewelry. But this is just a hobby too! (She mentioned that more items will be coming soon!)
What she really likes to do in her free time though, is make quilts! Here are some examples of her work:






I was so blown away by these! The detail is just amazing. She is now also making both my kids baby sized quilts!
If you are interested in having her make you a custom quilt in the baby size or twin size you can email her at jsavioli11@gmail.com. She will only be taking 1 or 2 orders at a time so make sure you order in advance if it's a gift you need by a certain date! Prices vary on size and how intricate you want the design.
So you see, what started with "I want what she has!" has ended in I'm buying everything she has! lol
Great work Jessi, you are such a talented person!

70's or Boho? You can't make me choose just one!!!

Top: Piperlime
Jean Legging: Target
Shoes: Jessica Simpson
Hat: Charming Charlie
Heart Ring: Jewelmint
Long Ring: Banana Republic
Earrings: House of Harlow (Somehow not shown!! ;( I will wear them much more no worries!!)

I LOVE THIS TOP! Seriously I would buy it in all 3 colors it comes in, but I fear I would wear them (and only them) everyday for the rest of my life! And how lame would that be for you the readers! lol But really, it's my new favorite. It's light weight and breezy. LOVE!
This was just a simple outfit (leggings, a top, and a great heel) accessorized with gold jewelry, a hat, and a red lip! Easy, effortless, and beautiful (well, I think so anyway!).
Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice 天天海南鸡饭

Despite having so much chicken rice in the last few months, I have not had the chance to sample one of the most talked about Hainanese chicken rice in town, namely, Tian Tian.

So, it was without hesitation, when one of my golf buddies suggested we go Maxwell Market one afternoon that I agreed with the intention of checking this very famous chicken rice eatery.

 Occupying 2 stalls side by side, Tian Tian did elicit a sense of professionalism in the way they handle orders, and was very precise and clockwork-like.

I was always under the impression that they have endless queues during lunchtime, but thankfully, on a week day afternoon, it was relatively quiet.

Chicken Rice Meal

As with almost every chicken rice blog these days, I ordered half a plate of steamed chicken, and soup and rice to go along. So, what was the verdict of this well-known chicken rice?

Steamed Chicken

Well, I was not that awed to be perfectly honest. Having had Jiang Ji and Leong at Shunfu, I was expecting more from Tian Tian. For one, the bones in the chicken was quite distracting. Undoubtedly, the chicken was tender but certainly not as smooth as Jiang Ji nor as tender as Leong.

The other thing that did not sit well with me was the sauces. The soy and sesame combintation tasted too salty for my liking, although I fully expect some folks will enjoy this. For me, it felt somewhat overpowering.

Chicken Rice

The rice was nicely grainy and not as mushy. It did have some good flavors, but certainly did not match the robust flavors of Jiang Ji's rice which I still rate as the best. In fact, the rice did help to smother the salty nature of the sauces somewhat.

The condiments were good but not great. The chilli had a sharp lime bite which I liked, but the heat was just too much, and should have been toned down a notch to balance nicely with the chicken flavors.

Overall, I think if a foreigner were to eat chicken rice for the first time, this would be a good introduction as the chicken is certainly good and well better than your average chicken rice stall. But for myself, there are superior chicken rice around.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice 天天海南鸡饭
Stall No.10 Maxwell Food Centre
Singapore 069184

norwegian wood

I am re-reading the book now - it find it so beautiful and haunting, I don't know if it is because I connect with it on a very personal level, but anyway I think of Murakami as a contemporary demi-god... this is the trailer for the film, it's being released this march in UK but I must say I have such mixed-feelings about seeing it - cause I have such a clear image in my head about the characters and I don't want to spoil it, but on the other hand I know the director worked closely with Murakami and just seeing the trailer made me tingle...

Chinese Sausage Linguine

It's strange how you can take the unlikeliest of ingredients and make an edible dish out of it, and that is exactly what I did this weekend.

My mum, who has always had this notion that she is the best cook in the family (which belongs to my late Dad, by the way), decided to hand us some chinese sausages.

She was rambling on how to cook this and cook that with the sausages, and despite her best intentions, we were more likely to do it our way.

And it so happened, I had this penchant for pasta one late night, and with our fridge running low on cookable ingredients, that I decided to incorporate the sausages for a pasta dish. Hence, Chinese Sausage Linguine.

Cook some linguine in boiling water for about 8-10 minutes until they are soft but not overly so.

In a pan, chop some sliced garlic and heat it in the pan with some olive oil for a minute or two until the flavors infuse the air. Add a dash of white wine and let the garlic sizzle in the alcohol for awhile.

Add in the sliced chinese sausages and toss it with the garlic until they are well caramelised.

Add in some chicken stock and about half a cup of water and bring the mixture to a boil. Let the liquid reduce by more than half, or until a thickened sauce is achieved. Add in a knob of butter.

Add the cooked linguine into the mixture and toss with the chinese sausages and garlic until they are well infused. Season with some pepper.

Plate the linguine and add in the garlic and sausages, and spoon some of the sauce over it. Add in some chopped parsley or coriander for garnishing purposes.

To finish, drizzle some extra virgin olive oil over the pasta. The sweetness of the sausages will somehow pair nicely with the garlic and sauce that was derived from the cooking process.

Bloggers day of silence: Friday March 18

Read about it and donate here! Every little bit counts!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day and hope you all have a fun and safe weekend! xo

Time to bust out the riding boots

Sweater: Old Navy
Jean Leggings: Target
Boots: Jessica Simpson
Earrings: Lia Sophia
Ring: Jewelmint
Necklace: Self made (you can find one like mine at Erin Gallagher Jewelry)

I got these bad boys over a year ago, but didn't fit comfortably back into them until recently. Plus I got rid of my other brown boots in my "shop my shoes" section to make me wear my awesome ones more! ;)
And can we just check out my hair please!? I have very little idea of how this worked but I twisted the sides, braided the back and put it in a bun and used lots of bobby pins! It was so nice to have no baby/toddler pulling my hair for a day! And when I took it out, I had amazing waves! This style will have to be used on the super hot summer days this year!

the mad ones

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"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars, and in the middle, you see the blue center-light pop, and everybody goes ahh..."

jack kerouac - on the road

what guys really think

Combat boots


WhoWhatWear




Lisa: HATE IT! Especially when you don't even take the time to lace them up (Ahhemmm Lindsay Lohan)! I'm all for women wearing men's inspired wear, but I like it in a more tailored feminine manor. I get it, wear them with something super girly for an edgy look, but I still would not be caught dead in them. Hey, I'm finally excepting flat riding boots (and loving them by the way), but that doesn't mean I want to add laces and buckles all the way up.
I do think a few of these ladies look great in them, but again not something I'm going to be trying any time soon.

Ryan: So let me get this straight Hollywood starlets - you weigh 89 pounds, eat nothing but sushi & Red Bull all day and decide to CLUNK up your outfit with Frankenstein's boating shoes? Rachel Bilson, stop breaking my heart! For the record, the recent trend of dudes walking around with their Air Jordans untied is equally egregious ("tie your shoes!" says the old man from his front porch). Anyway girlfriends, keep killin' it with some flats, heels, pumps or whatever else you wear to keep us slobs interested (and you feelin' sexy/comfortable/sexy-but-uncomfortable), but leave the combat boots to marines & movie monsters.

This weeks "I want what she has!"

This weeks "I want what she has!" goes to Lindsay Burdett. The entire look is amazing, but I was gushing over that bag!

Canvas Bag: $53.79 ASOS

I love that you can hold the bag, throw it over your shoulder, or even wear it cross body! It goes with anything and everything and is great for spring! Great find Lindsay....we may need to do a closet swap soon! And my "may need" I mean yes please! ;)

Giveaway: Nicole Smith Family Trees

This giveaway is just in time for Mother's Day! One lucky winner will receive a 5 by 7 framed "love addition" family tree with up to 12 people (a $44.50 value)! Here are examples of what your tree could look like. The winner even gets to choose the color of the frame!



Isn't it beautiful?! I got a family tree for my mother-in-law for Christmas 2 years ago and I also have a family magnet in my kitchen. I just love Nicole's stuff! Here are a few other examples of the new love addition pieces:



To enter:
Visit Nicole's Etsy site and copy the url from your favorite item and paste it in the comments section below along with your email address.
For an additional entry "like" NS Family Trees on Facebook

Winner announced April 6th.

In addition to the giveaway, Nicole is offering readers of my blog 10% off any purchase through 3/31 by using the code LISASBLOG at checkout!

Shokudo Japanese Coffee House With Video

In recent years, there has been an increasing number of new Japanese cafes that specialises in western fare, especially Italian pastas and pizzas.

I remember a few years back, I used to frequent Waraku Pasta in Clarke Quay Central, and back then, it was very packed and had a novelty feel about it.

Since that time, Waraku seems to have expanded this concept to a few more outlets, and Sakae has gotten into the act. Unfortunately, Sakae just did not seem to have the same quality and their Wheelock outlet has since reduced to half its original size.

I found this Shokudo Japanese Coffee House sometime last year, and was quietly impressed by it the first time I was there for a simple coffee and light meal.

I happened to be in Bugis Junction over the weekend and wanted to bring Pauline to let her try it out for herself. Thankfully, it is as I remembered from last time.

Macha Latte

Pauline started off with a very greenish macha latte and it was a good start indeed. Not too milky, and just enough of the green tea macha flavor without too overpowering.

Iced Yuzu Soda

My own iced yuzu soda was even better. It was refreshing and the little bits of lemon zests really gave this soda a real zing and zip to it.

Unagi and Mushroom Ultra Thin Crust Pizza

Pauline had this very sumptuous unagi and mushroom pizza. It was shaped rectangularly, similar to Crust Pizza, and had this super thin crust which was rather crispy. The mix of unagi and mushroom was quite nice, except that the mushrooms were a bit dry.

Salmon Spaghetti with Wafu Butter Sauce

I had this very tasty pasta dish, which was essentially pan fried salmon on top of a spaghetti tossed in a slight butter sauce. I particularly liked the generous amount of garlic and slight chilli for the extra heat. The highlight for me personally.

Caramalised Bananas on Thick Toast with Chocolate Sauce

Japanese cafes tend to do very funky and pretty looking desserts, and Shokudo is no exception. This thick toast did look pretty, but tastewise, it was a letdown. The toast was a bit too thick and dry, and though the notion of bananas and chocolate was a temptiing one, here it just did not work out.

Tofu Cheesecake

The tofu cheesecake was a totally different experience. Not only was it beautiful to look at, it was also a delight to consume as well. It has a nice, creamy and soft texture that was both sweet and savory at once. And the chocolate sauce on the side just perfectly complemented it.

Shokudo is a cafe that is designed more for the younger crowd, and the ambience within was definitely colorful and cosy. But as a place to have some light and tasty meals, Shokudo is definitely appropriate and serves as a nice alternative to other Japanese pasta cafes.

Shokudo Japanese Coffee House
200 Victoria Street
#01-53
Bugis Junction

Written, filmed, edited and directed by Silverchef Productions.

Shot and edited entirely on Apple's Iphone 4 in Bugis Junction.

No unagi pizza was harmed in the shooting of this video.

"Innocent" performed by David Cook.