Day 17: old school biscuits

I remember going to the market as a child and going to a shop with rows of large tins filled with various biscuits. I was often allowed to choose a biscuit that I wanted, and the old aunty would pry the tin open with a metal spoon and fish out the amount I wanted. Most of the time, I would choose the little gem biscuits with colourful icing on top. I also grew to love the wafer biscuits and durian biscuits. I never did try the other 90% of the biscuits though.

The biscuit shop sold coffee powder as well and it would always smell like freshly ground coffee. The connection between biscuits and coffee power has eluded me to this day.

I don't remember when I stopped going to the shop, or if I had stopped going because the shop had closed. I don't even remember which neighbourhood market this memory came from. But remains a fond memory from my childhood.

So it was a pleasant surprise to stumble upon a biscuit shop today (Sin Tien Lin Trading Blk 87 Whampoa Drive #01-879). For old times sake, I bought a packet of durian biscuits which I haven't had in years. The friendly and chatty aunty was so kind to let us take photos as she recognised that there were not many of such shops around any more. She said I should ask my friends to visit her shop too, so I told her I would help her advertise about her shop on the internet. She looked very pleased at that :) So if you decide to head down, tell her you read about her on the internet. Please also help me say hi to her for me!

Sin Tien Lin Trading Blk 87 Whampoa Drive #01-879

Happy with my purchase

Today's out fit:

Purple button up dress from a shop in Far East

Belt that came free with a pair of pants

My most comfortable shoes :) You can't see in the picture, but it has tiny orange hearts on them

0 comments

at 10:25 PM

Day 16: Reading Class for 5 year olds

I take about 1.5hrs to get from my office to Teban Gardens for my reading class (if i cant get a ride), and a little over an hour to get home after. I take the class for just an hour.
In that hour the 5year olds cannot sit still for more than 5 minutes and oscillate between fighting for attention and disappearing into their dream world.
So what keeps me doing this crazy thing week after week?
It is the amazement at God's work of creation and His sovereign plan for each one of the children as I see them learn and develop.
It is the joy in being given the privilege of being part of this work that God is doing in their lives.
It is the recognition that I've been blessed beyond measure and the hope that they will come to know His love as well.
It is the grace of God alone.

I do this once a week for just an hour. But teachers do this everyday, plus marking, extra classes, admin work, co-curricular activities, counseling, the list goes on. You guys are amazing, and I hope that in the midst of it all, you do not lose sight of the bigger picture of God's perfect plan for each one (you included).

This is a horrible pic of me, but it shows the kids and their various stages of attention perfectly. Today's outfit is a purple tank top from years ago and a hand-me-down pleated black skirt. 

0 comments

at 9:23 PM

Day 15: Dress Shopping

With the best friend's wedding coming up at the end of the year, we went bridesmaids dress shopping today!

I was all prepared with my outfit:
Simple slip on grey shift dress (I have many grey shift dresses) Super easy to slip in and out of in fitting rooms
Sunset shawl for a pop of colour
Black leather heels to test the length of dresses

I was so happy to hear all about the wedding plans too. It's gonna be a beautiful and fun wedding. Can't wait.

To the best friend, I'm glad God has brought the two of you together :)

0 comments

at 9:55 PM

Day 14: The Weekly Round Up

Today's outfit is simple. A purple dress I got from a flea market.

And here's the weekly round up:

It has been 14 days since this Different Outfit Everyday challenge started. Here are some of my observations so far:

1. I'm no fashionista. My wardrobe consists mainly of simple dresses and a few other basic pieces. I don't even accessorize beyond earrings. 

2. I'm no model. Posing for my daily outfit photos have been my least favorite part of this challenge. I always feel a little awkward standing in front of the camera.

3. My style has not changed for many years. I still wear some clothes that I wore when I was 16.

4. I have more than enough. I am greatly blessed to have so much.

I was at EXPO today to check out a home furnishing fair and the Robinsons sale was happening at the hall next door, so I trotted in to check it out. Temptations were everywhere! There were several good quality dresses going for cheap. But as I contemplated bringing them to the cashier, I thought of the many other clothes that I still had back home. Then I realized, I have more than enough. Since i would have been willing to spend that money on dresses i didn't need, i thought of what else the money could go to. And I remembered the lesson we learnt at church today about remembering the poor. So that's what I will do in the week ahead: remembering the poor in practical ways with the money I would have spent.

This challenge is doing me some good after all.

I hope we all try to bless others this week, just as we have been abundantly blessed :)

0 comments

at 9:11 PM

Day 13: The Pop-Up Dinner

The 1st Kwek Kampong Pop Up Dinner was a success! (If I may unabashedly declare so myself)

The concept of my pop up dinner is simple. I let all my friends know on Facebook that I'm hosting a dinner on a certain day and the first few people who respond get invited. And they are allowed to bring 1 friend each. 

Today's dinner was a lovely time of catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. All over a bubbling steamboat. Even in the sweltering heat of Singapore, I love having steamboat. It's healthy since there's no oil, salt or preservatives added. It's interactive as everyone sits around the pot talking and cooking our food together. And for a pot that essentially just boils everything, it's immensely yummy. 

Thanks for coming guys! And for so sweetly doing all the washing up. For those who missed it, there will be another one popping up again in the future :) Keep a lookout on Facebook or this blog. 

Today's outfit had the pop up dinner in mind:

Pink dress from Dubai. This is my current favorite dress, and it is brilliant! The spaghetti straps are perfect for singapore's weather. The sweetheart neckline fits perfectly, so it's not too revealing. It is fitted at the waist and explodes into a flare skirt which hides any tummy from over-eating. And it has pockets! 

White loafers from Edinburgh 

Polka dotted bag, a Christmas gift

Happy weekend everyone!

0 comments

at 11:04 PM

Don't be a Stranger

This week, my path crossed with some people I used to know. Some former colleagues and old schoolmates. Some of them were people I used to call friends, but our paths somehow diverged as we each wandered into our own forests of life.

Each chance meeting brought back memories of the experiences shared. The long dreary days at school, the commiseration at work and bosses, the talks filled with our youthful dreams, the salt water in our hair and sun on our cheeks.

The brief chats in the moments out paths met again were precious, seeing how lives have changed since the last intersection, and leaving me with thoughts of where your paths may have brought you. 

I hope it's not too long before we meet again. And maybe next time, it wont just be an intersection.

And if our paths have crossed at some point in time, if even for a moment. And you remember that time with fondness. Well, don't be a stranger.

0 comments

at 2:23 PM

Day 12: casual Friday- sew happy!

The wrap dress is supposed to be the universally flattering dress. A Diane von Furstenberg is way out of my price range and I didn't like the lycra or garish prints on the cheaper options. So I sewed one for myself. 

The blue and white printed cotton, that I had bought in China awhile back was the perfect material.

I must warn you that the wrap dress is one of the most difficult things I have attempted. It is not for the beginner seamstress. As it is cut on the bias and my soft cotton seemed to expand continually! Thankfully I had a sewing teacher with a wealth of experience who saved my dress. Today's outfit is the end product. 

White and blue printed wrap dress from Gan Ann's sewing room

Dark blue ballet flats from Bata

Notice how everybody is glued to their mobile phones on the train nowadays? 

Hope you all have a beautiful weekend! I'm super excited about the 1st Kwek Kampong pop up dinner on Saturday. I've been wanting to have steamboat for the longest time. Let me know if you want to pop by too :)

0 comments

at 7:44 AM