3 Instagram Accounts to Follow

Hello! I've finally graduated! Cheryl is still having her papers, so I shall update our dying blog first haha. So sorry Cheryl for being such a lazy partner! I think I didn't update the blog for the whole semester right? My bad!!

Anyway, my last semester was really hectic partly because of my FYP, which was fun! I was attached to Something Old Something New, a social enterprise and thrift store chain that helps patients with psychiatric disabilities, and my team and I got to sell some of their items at one of the flea markets in March this year to help raise awareness of the organisation. ^^ Do check out their three thrift stores in Simei, Pasir Ris and Bedok okay! You can also donate your unwanted items, especially clothes to them! :)

Okay, so I haven't really been heading out these few months and hence I can't really do reviews for anything. However, I have been reeeeally active online, especially on Instagram because it's a good way to take a break from all the work right? Haha. I think Cheryl is even more into Instagram because she was the only one among my friends who noticed the change in the Instagram logo typography. Hahaha so cute. So anyway, the main purpose of this post is actually to recommend 3 Instagram accounts that I think you should check out!

1. The first would be a mummy from Nashville, named James a.k.a. bleubird (www.instagram.com/bleubird). I don't know how I came across her account on Instagram but I'm so in love with her family. She has four beautiful and cute kids with really good dress sense, especially her eldest son! ^^ She is also very inspiring as she home-schooled her children and has weekly nature hikes with them near their home. Plus, she's really pretty and artistic with really cool photos. I really wanna be like her in the future hahaha. By the way, check out her blog as well (http://bleubirdvintage.typepad.com/), she has this 52 Project where she takes photos of her children every week and I really like knowing more about her kids through this. I am so gonna do that in the future!!

2. The next one is also another mummy, Sue, and her Instagram account (http://instagram.com/sueshine) is mostly photos of her daughter, Sammy Lu, who is autistic. From her photos, you can tell how much she loves her beautiful kid with all the fun adventure they had together, such as "snow-skiing" indoors and travelling around the solar system in a basket at home. Sue is really creative and inspiring with such big love for her daughter, and I really love reading all the photo captions because she tends to talk abit more about autism and how she deals with it. I don't think she has a blog yet, so do check out her account and look through all the photo captions if you haven't! :)

3. The last account that I want to recommend is Betty Autier from Paris (www.instagram.com/leblogdebetty). I really liked her since the Lookbook days a few years back because I thought she's really pretty and fashionable. I even went to cut my hair like hers, with bangs and messy tresses hahaha. Her Instagram is mostly photos of her outfits, shopping hauls and food, so check out her account if you like fashion! I think she's a popular blogger too by the way. She blogs at http://www.leblogdebetty.com/en/. :)

Oh by the way, I've changed the sidebar of our blog with the links to our individual Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest accounts. Follow us okay! :) My Instagram is locked though because I can't stand spams, so just feel free to send me a request! And I think you guys should follow Cheryl's account because she takes really nice photos and she is always at cool places! And she has really good taste! Her Pinterest says it all, I swear!! :)

Hope you like the three Instagram accounts that I've recommended! Till then!! :)
-Liwee

Artistry

A relatively new cafe has slipped into the scene in the Kampong Glam area. Artistry is a cafe with an adjoining art gallery and I guess every now and then they have little exhibitions held in the cafe space too. The last time I was there, the theme of the exhibition was something about doomsday with reference to the Mayan's prediction of the world ending on 21 December 2012. Honestly, I thought the world ending seemed like an overly romantic idea and easy escape to life and its suffering which obviously won't come true because life has it's awful way of torturing us before we can go. That is what I think. But don't get me wrong, my life isn't that bad and it is actually something I am very grateful for. I just think that God or whatever supernatural power out there won't let humans get away that easily.

However, do note that this cafe does not offer a lot of tables. Instead, they have one long wooden table that resembles the table you see in Da Vinci's The Last Supper which means that you would probably have to share your table with many others if the place is crowded which is actually not that bad because it is a really really long table. Another small table with a sofa can be found at the side of the cafe nearer to the counter but I guess that is reserved for the early birds! There's also an al fresco section outside which can be nice if the weather is breezy. And having fresh flower arrangements on the tables is definitely a nice personal touch.

And on to the food! They serve locally roasted Liberty Coffee and some pastries and cakes. I'm guessing their pies are from Windowsill Pies. Windowsill Pies are really good, bought two of the pies the last time I was at Saveur. Recently, Windowsill Pies opened their own cafe in the up and coming hip neighbourhood of Jalan Besar. Will do a review of that when I can find time to pop by that place. And so... back to Artistry's food. I had the latte and poppy seed cake that day. As you can see from above, the poppy seed cake came with a blob of lemon curd. The lemon curd was a nice addition as it definitely adds a kick of citrus tang to the subtle-tasting cake. Personally, I like the tiny pop pop effect of poppy seeds but I don't know is it just me imagining the popping effect or they really do give that sort of sensation. Latte was also pretty good but I'm not a huge coffee drinker to be honest so I'll probably opt for the tea the next time.

With more than decent food and drinks, Artistry would be a good choice when you're looking for some place to chill that allows you to soak up artistic vibes. No art history knowledge required! And nope, not all art works require you to work up your imaginative and interpretive juices as some of them proved to have a humourous side to them as well so it's really accessible and understandable stuff. ;)

P.S. You need to go to their toilet. Very awesome stuff. Nuff' said.

17 Jalan Pinang, Singapore
Tue-Sun: 10am-7pm
www.artistryspace.com

-Cheryl

Alt-J

Going to share another la blogtheque take away show video. This one is featuring up and coming British band, Alt-J, which recently won a Mercury prize. Besides being totally in love with the cute xylophone player named Gus, their music is delightful in the strangest way and I think it comes across strongly in the second song with the tinkling of the xylophone. As all take away shows usually are, the versions that they show are usually the acoustic versions of the actual song. After listening to their album,. I think their songs are really good to dance and head-bang to. Once they get into the catchier part of the song, you will find your head bobbing unknowingly to the strong beats. Each of their songs are so complex comprising of intense guitar riffs at times, heavy drum beats, amazingly synchronized vocals and the keyboard for added dramatic quality. It's like each song is almost like a little epic story with their quiet build-up, boisterous climax and endings with clean raw sounds. A friend once asked me to name bands that sound similar to Alt-J and I honestly had no answer for her because their sound is so unique I find it hard classify them in any way. However, that could also be due to my limited music knowledge. Despite them leaving a fresh and unique imprint on the music scene, they are also often compared to or claimed by the media as the new Radiohead. But I really beg to differ because I think they really don't sound like Radiohead at all (p.s. I love some of Radiohead's songs too).

After performing for the first time in Singapore during Laneway Festival last week, you can be sure that they have just gained more fans than ever in this side of the world. To know what all the fuss is about this new upcoming band, go ahead and press play!

-Cheryl

Symmetry by Mew

This song is so hauntingly beautiful with a certain ethereal quality from the two lovely yet delicate voices. You may want to avoid the video if it's late at night on your side because all it really shows is just a girl singing in a dark space.

-Cheryl

The Kings of Convenience - Soirée de Poche #11

I have a lot of favourite bands and yes, I do love them all very much. But the band that is most played in my ipod and itunes is definitely Kings of Convenience. I can't even tell you in words how much I love them. The very first time I heard about them was in 2005 when the music video of I'd Rather Dance with You was playing on mtv. It was almost like love at first sight, but in this case it should be love a first sound? I totally enjoyed how they manage to blend acoustic sounds with a slightly bossa nova beat that was all so soothing and yet very bright and happy. And not long later, I saw the tv playing the video of Misread and that just totally confirmed my love for them. All I had to do next was just to google and get in touch with all their other songs. Their second album was my first album of theirs which I received as a birthday present. I think I listened to it like a trillion times already and if walkman was still the only portable type of music player existing at that time, my cd would have thinned out and it would have been imperative for me to get another copy of their album. I love how they can have songs that gets you all nostalgic/emotional/sad/mellow and also songs that get you all happy/dancey/peaceful (in a way that it leaves a slight smile on your face). 

I missed their concert the first time they came because I was young and it was hard to convince anyone to go with me. But I managed to go for their concert they second time they came and I managed to sit all the way at the front. :D I was so happy that I finally get to see them live in person that I was secretly shaking in my seat. All those years of watching their live videos on youtube, I finally get to see them in person and breathe the very same air and listen to the exceptionally beautiful music that they make. Kings of Convenience is one of those bands that can make you listen intently in your chair and listen to them blend their two voices harmoniously and watch the intricate work they do on their guitars. The chemistry between the two of them is astoundingly amazing. Every strum and every harmony just comes together perfectly. Despite being outstanding performers in the rather acoustic sense, they are also one of those few bands which can make acoustic music come alive just like any awesome rock concert! I think this largely has to do with the stage presence and charm that Erlend Oye has. All the dancing and the singalong really makes you all high and ecstatic. During those very moments, I become extremely fangirly and secretly hope that Erlend Oye would pick me as his dance partner and give me a great hug later.

Posted this video of them doing the soiree de poche series for la blogtheque. You need to watch them to know how good they are. This is even more obvious when they are performing in such a small and intimate venue and at the very end when they do Free Fallin', their rockstar quality would come shining through.

If I had to die listening to one band. It would be the Kings of Convenience. Simply because they are like what they sing in Homesick, "two soft voices, blended in perfection".  

-Cheryl

Taste Paradise @ Ion Orchard

Hello! Was craving for dim sum so my bf and I decided to visit Taste Paradise last Tuesday because according to Ladyironchef, it's one of the best dim sum restaurant in Singapore. Haha.

We reached at 11.45am and were told that our session would last till 1pm, which is sufficient for us since we are fast eaters. The restaurant is really classy and oriental and the service is really good! The moment we sat down, the waiter came to our table and took our order for drinks and throughout our meal, the waiters and waitresses would refill our tea and iced water without us asking. I think I sound really sua-ku but I think many restaurants are lacking this basic service. Anyway as usual, we ordered way too much but overall, everything we ordered were very delicious so I guess stuffing ourselves silly with all the dim sum was worth it. ^^

Jasmine tea

Deep fried taro puffs

This is the first dish that was served. I really like taro puffs so I really like this! It's crispy and yet not that oily, and there's a lot of fillings inside! I can't remember what's inside and I didn't take note of the name, but I guess it's chicken meat. A must-try especially if you love yam! :)

Char siew puff 

The char siew puff is another must-try! I am not a pork or meat lover, but the char siew inside is really sweet and just different from those you find in cheap char siew puffs! The pastry is also very buttery and flaky I really like it so much!

Taste Paradise famous XO carrot cake

This is the most expensive dish among all those that we've ordered! $7.80 for such a small portion with only around 6-7 rectangular pieces of carrot cake and lots of tau gey and egg is not really worth it in my opinion. However, it is really very tasty! Probably the best carrot cake I've tasted in my life haha. It's really fragrant with the XO sauce and it's very crispy on the outside too. Probably won't order this again but it's worth trying once! :)

Xiao long bao

I didn't try the xiao long baos because I don't really like them, but my bf who ate them said that there was not much soup when he tried the first one. He wasn't really impressed by this I guess but I've read many reviews that raved about this, so I guess he's just unlucky to get the drier ones.

Mini egg tarts

The mini egg tarts are really very yummy! You must order this! It's so flaky and buttery like the char siew puff and everything will just crumble in your mouth. The egg custard is also very "eggy" so I guess it's really worth the price ($3.90 for 3 of them I think) even though they are mini! ^^

What's on our table

Siew mai

I think this siew mai tastes normal? It's like the same as those I usually buy from coffeeshops, so I think I will probably skip this the next time I come.

By this time my stomach was already filled to the brim :/

Yeah, seriously by the time our 5th dish was served, I was really very very full. I think it's because I started my meal with those flaky pastries? :( So yup, try not to eat the taro puffs, char siew puffs and egg tarts first!!

Left: Custard buns; Right: Har gao

Sorry for the blur photo but it's supposed to be a mandatory salted-egg-custard-oozing-out photo! Hahaha

Haha how can anyone having a dim sum feast not order custard buns right? The salted egg custard is sweet yet salty but I felt quite jelat after eating one. Also, I've only tried custard bun once from Kungfu Paradise which is also under the Paradise group, so I guess that explains why I think the custard buns from Taste Paradise were not exactly noteworthy as they taste about the same to me. But it's still yummy and my bf who has never tried those from Kungfu Paradise really loved it. :)

Har gao

I love har gaos but I don't really think this is a must-order from Taste Paradise but then again, I was really full by the time this was served, so maybe that's why I wasn't really interested in this. Anyway the skin is thin and  the prawns in each of them are huge and fresh! I find it a tad too dry though but I think I will still order this again.

Cheong fun with scallop filling

Last dish to arrive, cheong fun with scallop filling. It doesn't really look appealing as compared to the others but it's delicious! I can't taste the scallops, but the cheong fun is really bouncy yet sturdy, instead of those slippery and easily breakable kind from the markets. :)

Okay that's all haha. We ordered 9 dishes because we thought it's not enough, like each dish only has 3 small dim sum but nooooo all of them are so filling we wanted to die from trying to finish them all! In the end we left one har gao, one siew mai and 2 pieces of cheong fun untouched. And like what I've mentioned about the good service, the waiter asked if we want to takeaway the leftovers. :') So nice!

Anyway, I didn't really take note of the prices but most of them are around $4.80 per dish, except for the mini egg tarts ($3.90), scallop cheong fun ($5.50) and XO carrot cake ($7.80). Our bill added up to around $65 which I think is quite reasonable since we ordered 9 dishes with a pot of tea haha. Not really sure if this is the BEST dim sum restaurant as I haven't try the rest but I would definitely be coming back on special occasions or if I'm feeling slightly richer. :)

/edited on 4 May 2013: By the way, Cheryl went recently at around 2pm and some of the things she wanted to try such as the custard buns were out of stock already! Remember to go earlier! :)

Taste Paradise Ion Orchard 
2 Orchard Turn #04-07
ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6509 9660 | http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/?page_id=131&mn=tp

-Liwee

Ruby Sparks

Haven't exactly been watching a lot of movies lately. Am finally free now after cramming deadlines and studying for finals. Am relatively freer. Because I actually still have my ongoing graduation project to deal with during the holidays. Watched this movie when I was supposed to be churning out an essay simply because the trailer is just so alluring that I cannot bear to not watch this movie and get on with my life.

An unconventional love story. But isn't "unconventional" the buzzword nowadays? Well, some aspects of it do remind you of Stranger than Fiction. The story focuses on a writer, Calvin, who had a successful book written when he was a teenager which propelled him to be a famous writing prodigy. However, he struggles to write another book as he deals with the darker sides of life which includes the death of his father. As a task given by his therapist, he delves into writing again when he starts dreaming of a mysterious girl which possessed qualities that greatly appealed to him. She was almost like the ideal person that he has been looking for all along. As mentioned by the title of the movie, this girl is Ruby. Ruby is a free-spirited and lovely freelance artist who met Calvin while he walks his pooch (which apparently pees like a female dog). Okay, I should probably refrain from revealing the whole plot. Basically, the story revolves around how Calvin discover that all his writing on his really beautiful typewriter (but seriously, writing on a typewriter is not exactly the most practical thing to do today and probably without the typewriter there would be no Ruby Sparks at all) actually brought Ruby into his real life. However, he realized his writing actually affects how Ruby is in real life which led to complications in his relationship as he types away to create his ideal lover.

Anyone who loves a quirky romantic comedy should definitely check this movie out. Other than the fantasy and comedic aspects of it, it also demonstrates how often we try to make our partners live up to our own idealistic notions which can prove to be highly detrimental in a relationship. Hopefully the trailer below would entice you to watch this lovely movie. :)

-Cheryl