Hello Talia

After much hassle, I finally received The velvet dolls' Talia Eyelet cut out romper, mostly because of my own decisions. Here comes the long story. I tried the romper in size S at Kissjane one day and decided that it's too fitting for my liking. I already decided that I would get it in mint because it's the nicest (probably my own biasedness towards mint colour as well), and since S is fitting, M would be good. So I happily joined the backorder for the romper in mint size M. And I was really really looking forward to receiving it because well, I really really liked it.

This is how it looked when I tried it at kissjane. I really felt uncomfortable in it, likely because I just had a heavy meal.

And then while I was happily awaiting the arrival of the romper, I received an email from them instead, informing me that they did not have enough stocks for mint size M, and I was given the option to either opt for a refund or choose another colour. I really wanted a piece of the romper, so I was again stuck in a dilemma as to which colour to choose, and I decided on white in the end. And even as I was taking the white romper out, I knew that it was too huge and would not fit well. I don't think I took a photo. So I decided to try my luck and email them to ask if they have extras for mint size S, and I was :D when they replied that they did! So I waited for it happily, although I was a little afraid that I might not be able to fit into it. (I think I've gained weight since the previous time)

And here, this is the one I received from the backorder. It actually fits nicely, no weird stretch lines at the sides like you see in the above photo, and it didn't feel tight at all. I'm guessing its due to mass manufacturing, I couldn't have lost weight right? Hahahaha. And pardon the un-ironed romper.
So I conclude that I would not have faced any problem with the backorder at all if I had just ordered size S. But well, this is how it turned out, and I got my desired colour in the end(: It's a really nice piece and in my favourite colour! The only problem would be the length which is a little too short for my height of 1.66m, but nothing that cannot be solved by being more careful when out.

Favourite colour and style

I love white and I love ruches, so I was absolutely attracted to TTR's Waldorf ruched front maxi. I have a top from Mango that has so many ruches but I seldom wear it because it's black.

Thanks to both Singpost and TTR's super efficient service, I received this in my mailbox just 2 days after the launch. The material (cotton spandex) is really thick and of good quality, similar to lycra, in my own opinion since I'm no professional about materials and cloth.

I didn't really notice that it's the figure hugging kind of dress until I tried it on. Size M is kind of loose at the top but fitting at the hips, then loose at the legs. Seamless undergarments definitely needed. Oh the woes of a pear. I kind of like the padding at the shoulders since my shoulders aren't that broad and doesn't emphasize them. Overall, it's a dress that is suitable for both formal and casual days depending on how you accessorize and what shoes you choose to wear. I guess black is the popular choice because it's most flattering but no! No black colour for me because I don't exactly look good in black. I was actually deliberating between the very nice pastel blue and the white. Perhaps I'm just weird like that.

Cafe hopping days (II)

Here's part two of my cafe hopping journey! This time with my grandma haha!
Accompanied my grandma for her routine checkup at Novena, and I wanted to bring her to a cafe for a nicer meal instead of having lunch at the hospital, so we visited La Ristrettos which is located in Novena Medical Centre. Thanks to Ting for telling me about this cafe, for I wouldn't know where else to go for nicer food apart from my favourite restaurant chain TCC at Velocity.

Well it was quite funny, my grandma kept asking me as we were making our way to the cafe, how can there be a cafe among all these private clinics? And lo and behold, it appeared right in front of us. It was rather hidden and you really wouldn't have known of it if you hadn't passed by it before or making a special trip there like us. It was around 1pm when we arrived and it was really packed. I can't remember if they allow reservations, but it was mostly filled with healthcare staff on their lunch break, and the staff asked us if we wanted to sit outside, if not we would have to wait. So we took the outdoor seats first, and she told us that we could sit indoors when the other patrons leave. We got the indoor seats rather quickly so it wasn't an issue.

Next was deciding what to order. Even though I often look through menus before visiting, I don't actually decide what I want to order until I arrive. I guess it's dependent on my mood and tummy that day hahaha. We were trying to catch the attention of the waiters only to be told that ordering and payment has to be done at the counter. I think that's good, so that when you're done you don't have to be awkward and try to catch the attention of the staff to ask for the bill. Ordered a cappuccino or latte (I really cannot recall) for my grandma and it came with pretty art on top.

Which was quickly destroyed because my grandma likes her coffee sweet.

Mushroom Frittata which I ordered for my grandma. I read that it's an omelette, so I was quite surprised that it came like that. I always had the impression that an omelette has the fillings wrapped up. I tried a little bit and I was kind of disappointed. This is really a dish that is not bad, not good enough. Haha I don't downplay the dish. I'm sure the sour dough bread is nice! My own set also came with sour dough.

Tostino E Arrosto which I ordered for myself! Because it's chicken breast and cherry tomatoes. I started liking sour dough bread after eating the toast at Maison Ikkoku. The chicken was really well done. It didn't taste like chicken breast at all. The portion looks a little small like that but I was full from it.

We enjoyed our meal there. Wouldn't say that it's quiet because there was quite a crowd throughout the time we were there. Also, there is only one large table in the middle of the cafe so there's quite a high chance that you'd have to share the table with many others, unless you don't mind the 'bar seats' facing the window. A nice cafe to visit with reasonable prices really.

Asked my grandma to pose outside the cafe(: I'm so thankful that she is healthy and youthful looking and that she loves western food as well to come with me on cafe hopping trips.

And a grainy photo of us using the front iphone camera.

Oceans (Where feet may fail)

"So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine"

This song reminded me of how much I have to grow as a believer. I didn't understand the meaning of the lyrics initially and was thinking about the lyrics and how it added up. But soon after, the pastor kind of explained it to us. When we have little faith even though God has always been faithful, God does not berate us or punish us. He even forgives us. So I will keep my eyes above the waves and rest in my unchanging Lord, ever faithful, who is the same every day.

Today's lesson

"Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him"

Instead of trying harder, you trust more. You also know you've surrendered when you don't react to criticism and rush to defend yourself. Surrendered hearts show up best in relationships. You don't edge others out, you don't demand your rights, and you aren't self-serving when you're surrendered.

Reflecting on this, I know I've not truly surrendered. I still feel indignant and quick to anger when accused. Today I surrender this again. Like Ps mentioned, how many times have I repented for the same sin. I have lost count of the number of times that I've repented for the same sin, knowing fully well that I will fall again.

But God is faithful. He has faith in me even when I don't have that same faith in myself.

"The greatness of a man's power is in the measure of his surrender"
William Booth

Confession time

I love anything with ruches so I'm guilty of online shopping again. Review coming up soon!

First time ever

I think I can declare The Tinsel Rack's good girl flare skirt my favouritest skirt of all time because of this.

It's my first purple skirt, well, blurple as they call it, even though I feel that purple is a colour that is really difficult to match. I was just attracted to the purple colour the first time I saw all the colours they had for this skirt in denim. And I guess I got the last piece in size M becuase it was out of stock after I carted it out so yay! I think purple denim is harder to come by anyway and I'm glad that I got it eventually because it's my favourite skirt. I like that it's not sheer at all and it's also longer by half an inch.

I got it in size M and it fits well. I don't actually wear it super high waist but a little bit lower so the measurement of 13" across fits well. It felt more fitting after a meal so it can act as a control when going for buffets right? Hahaha. And I guess it's more flare compared to the chiffon polyester ones because of the material. But I really really like it! The back has a lot of pleats which I didn't really notice from the chiffon ones since those are flowy so it looks quite 'pong' from the back. And I tried to be more careful so as not to crumple it when I wore it out and I feel that it's do-able! Haha! My skirt wasn't that crumpled when I got home. Oh and an interesting thing to note is that when ironing the skirt, the purple changed to a different shade, and I was quite alarmed at first but it became the normal colour after it cooled down. If you ask me, I feel that the version one in brick one creases the easiest.

Haven't worn my salmon pink and white ones out. It's time to wear them out! Awesome skirt that skirt lovers should own in at least one colour or material. I just realized that I've got them in all 3 versions, the first toyland gold buttons skirt in brick made of cotton polyester, the chiffon polyester ones in mint, salmon and white and the denim version in blurple. I was actually tempted to buy the chiffon ones in all colours. I still like the cobalt blue one a lot but I guess I won't have much tops to match it with because most of my tops are dark colours.

Must change my new habit of buying the same item in multiple colours, something my mum taught me, no joke, hahaha.

Cafe hopping days (I)

This cafe has got to be the one the serves the nicest brunch around, according to my standards. It's one cafe that I want to go and try every single item on the menu, but yet I'd be tempted to stick to my favourite all the time because it's really that good.
My friends introduced me to this cafe and I brought Steph there on a chilly Saturday afternoon and met my friends there again. Reservations recommended though! Steph and I were really lucky to be able to get a small table that wasn't reserved at all. So we could sit until we wanted to leave.

We decided to share so that we wouldn't be so full and so that we can try the french toast that was sold out previously. Also, the portions are quite huge so I say share if you aren't feeling that hungry.

Twisted french omelette
I try not to take too many eggs because it's not good for the health but I just had to tell Steph that we had to order this. My friend Cheryl ordered this previously and it looked too good. Tasted awesome as well. Don't think it's just any ordinary omelette like it looks. Hidden within is melted cheddar cheese that flows out when you cut it open. The cherry tomatoes, or maybe it's just small tomatoes were larger than usual. A really nice omelette that I would order again, but I definitely cannot finish one on my own. The bread that came with is not the usual store bought kind. I think they get their bread from a bakery since I saw the bread being delivered while I was there.

French toast with berries and vanilla flavoured mascarpone cheese
Well, I don't usually fancy french toast because I like my bread plain, but since my friends told me that it's good, it was worth a try. And yes! It was so good! The bread they used was sour dough. I'm really starting to like sour dough bread that I might go and buy sour dough bread for my breakfast. The berries  together with the french toast and maple syrup made for a great combination, not forgetting the cheese. Definitely very sweet, but since it's not an everyday thing and that it was shared, it isn't too bad, right? They have two flavours for french toast, the other being caramelized bananas and walnuts. I suppose that would be nice too but berries are more natural and healthy compared to bananas that have been caramelized right? Hahaha. Steph is the only one who would listen carefully to my grumblings about calories and healthiness in food. I know my other friends totally go 'ahhhhhh you, thinking so much again' and have to wish to listen to all those. But it's true that whenever I order something, I try to weigh the nutritional benefits and choose the healthier one even though it might not turn out to be healthier.

Hot chocolate with low fat milk

The best hot chocolate I've ever had. The low fat version definitely pales in comparison to the full cream milk  version that I had previously, but one has to give allowances for healthier choices right? It still turned out very chocolatey. I'd say chocolate gao gao. Steph didn't agree that it's the best hot chocolate initially but towards the end she agreed because of the thick chocolate at the bottom.

They serve cakes and cupcakes too but we were too stuffed to stomach any more. I tried the strawberry shortcake previously but it's not really my type of cake because I prefer the chocolatey or cheese cakes. That is not to say that it is not nice! Hahaha, but as always, cakes are best shared to divide the calories and I always feel happier sharing and eating it together with a friend.

Steph would agree that this is a cafe worth visiting because she told me that she wanted to come back again. Really glad that she liked it!

Maison Ikkoku
20 Kandahar Street 
Singapore 198885

I'm always torn between going back to cafes I've been to and visiting new ones, but I saw that Maison Ikkoku is only serving eggs benedict for the month of September.. Time to visit other cafes then cos' I'm not a fan of eggs benedict.

A photo with pretty Steph! We headed to Kissjane to try clothes after that with a full tummy. Certainly, we've come a long way. More to come, surely!

I spend my life to know and I'm far from close to all You are
The greatness of our God.