Water Marbling with Bro

About a week ago, I stumbled across a blog site that showcased different nail colours and varies nail colour brands. The site also showcased nice water marbling medicure! So what is water marbling?

Marbling comes from the word Marble. Like the patterns on a marble, water marbling medicure imprints the random marble patterns on my nails! Like this:

An example of water marbling medicure, taken from the net

I was fascinated by the video tutorial on water marbling. The lady in the short clip make the all process seems easy, so I wanted to try it out on my own. The lady in the video had sticked scotch tape around the skin of her cuticles to prevent the polish stain around the skin of the nail. But I feel it’s a little troublesome, so I browsed through other videos on YouTube to see what other people use or do to prevent stain of the skin around the nails in the process.

In a clip I saw, the girl use Vaseline, apply a thin layer around her cuticles. I think that’s less troublesome. The oily texture of Vaseline makes the removal of the nail polish stain much easier to remove. Before we start to do this water marbling process, the items we need are:

Clockwise: Nail Polish Remover, Any nail colour that you love (need not just be 2 colours), Vaseline (IMPORTANT ITEM), a cup of bottled water or filtered water, lastly toothpick

So with all the necessary items, we can start water marbling. Basically I watched the water marbling tutorial like a few times before I got into the hands- on action. I believe the tutorial is pretty self- explanatory, so here it is:

This lady use scotch tape instead of Vaseline, so it;s up to you- whatever you are comfortable with. 🙂

Tips when doing water marbling:

1. As mentioned in the video tutorial, use filtered water, so the polish can be spread easily.
2. Always clean the surface of the water after using it. By cleaning, I mean drip a layer of polish and wait for it to dry. Remove that layer. (As seen in the first few seconds of the clip) Cleaning the surface would make the polish spread easier- by my experience.
3. If cleaning doesn’t help, maybe you might want to change a new cup of water.
4. Change the toothpick after it’s stain too much with the polish, the dirty toothpick may hinder the pattern making.
5. After you lift your finger from the water, quickly use a paper towel to wipe off the excess polish on the skin around the cuticle before it drys. With the Vaseline on, it make removing much easier. If you have scotch tape on, just peel it off.
6. Don’t do your water marbling under a fan. It will quick dry your polish surface, leaving little time to design the patterns, and makes designing it harder too

Honestly, I did not do the water marbling by myself. I had external help by the person least expected to partake in this process-my brother, yup UNEXPECTED. I reckoned he is just trying to get away with the fact that if he helps me, he need not do his schoolwork. But I have to say he did a great job is creating the patterns, and all. 🙂

Here are the final products for water marbling- my ever 1st designed DIY medicure with help from my bro:

Left column: Left Hand, and Right column: Right Hand

Water marbling can be fun! A nice DIY medicure that you can do it at home with your girlfriends or sisters. Just remember to have lots of paper towels at the side, because you are definitely going to need them. I know I did!

Peace.

Buffetlicious Trip to Zhou’s Kitchen

This was supposed to be a Mother’s Day meal, but since it was a week belated- well, it doesn’t have a Mother’s Day vibe anymore. So basically, it was a nice family dinner at a place other than a hawker centre nearby our flat.

I have never eaten at this restaurant before, nor did I even heard of it before ( yeah, I know what you’re thinking).

The food there is really delicious! My favourite of all the dishes would definitely be the Pan-girlled Miso-marinated Beef Tenderloin! The beef is well sliced (thin slices), hence eating the meat is not so tough and difficult to chew on- really tender! That is just the nicest meat I have tasted. We ordered lots of dishes like Deep-fried Prawns with Crispy Oats, TungLok Chilli Crab, etc.

Here are some pictures I have taken:

Coffee Pork Ribs with Almond Flake

Braised Beancurd with Minced Pork in Black Bean Sauce

Sauteed Prawns with seaweed and Wasabi Sauce

Steamed Red Tilapia

The sliced tender beef is on the right

In Zhou’s Kitchen, we had an ALA CARTE DINNER BUFFET. So what is this about? Like the word ‘buffet’ suggests, we can eat to our hearts content! This is definitely done in a big group (bigger the better), as you can try many different types of food.

The portions of the dishes comes in a form of a Chinese wedding dinner. A big plate, and the entire table of people shares it. Unlike any international buffets, or western kinds, in which the patron has to go to a counter filled with mouth-watering goodies, and stuffed his/her plate with mountain of items. In Zhou’s Kitchen-buffet style, the patron tells the waiter what he wants and then the chef cooks it. The dish is then delivered to the designated table! No walking or what so ever to get the food. Isn’t that great? Less walking, More eating! Yay! 😀

So I said this is a buffet right? You can order anything on the menu. Well there are 4 dishes which you can only order them once (per table, that is). Items like:

1. Beijing Roast Duck
2. Poached Prawns with Spring Onions and Ginger in Superior Stock
3. TungLok Chilli Crab, served with Deep-fried Buns
4. Braised Shark’s Fin Broth with Diced Seafood and Bamboo Shoot ( Complimentary)

This ALA CARTE DINNER BUFFET’s menu is different from the main non-buffet menu, I don’t know what are differences because the waiter took away the main menu before I had a chance to glance at it. But judging on what the other patrons who did not go for the ala carte dinner buffet ordered, I don’t think we missed out on a lot.

According to my brother, NOT ALL Zhou’s Kitchen serve ala carte buffet. So remember to get the facts right before heading now to avoid disappointment. Make a reservation too, it can get crowded. For us, we had our meal at the outlet in Far East Square, near Chinatown. Prices are at $29.80++ (weekend-adult), and $27.80++ (weekday-adult). Dinner commences at 6pm and ends at 10pm.

A small appetite like mine, I had to wave the white flag much earlier than my other family members. But is was a nice experience you can share with your family! 🙂

Here are some pictures of satisfied patrons, and the after-eating:

My Fam

Outside the Restaurant

Peace.

The Buying has to STOP

I am so into skincare, to a point that my mother is sort of afraid of me buying any more. I’m insane I tell you. In just 1 month, I can buy 2 different brands of products- NONE OPEN. There’s got to be something really wrong with me.

I am currently using a mixture of brands for skincare- Lo’real, Neutrogena, etc. About a month or 2 ago, I so have to stumble across Za skincare products in a Watson outlet near my place. Now, I know most would say Za skincare range has been around a long time, and me discovering it recently- well it’s a little updated isn’t?

But I honestly didn’t know that since Za shelves were actually under the cosmetic section in the Watson store! So naturally, I thought Za was into cosmetic! Anyway, the first product that caught my eye was Za True White Lotion. And Why?? It states that it will diminish acne scars. I have breakouts, and the time for the scars to lighten and disappear is torture! So this product has already captured my attention to pick it up and read the labels behind the bottle.

What was worst, was the fact that it was on 20% or 30% discount! Argh! I had to buy it! So in the end I took the green Watson basket, and loaded my goods in. I told myself I will finish all my products at home, and then I can start finish with my new Za products! Yay!

In the end I spend SGD 70 plus! It’s okay, I told myself, these can last me like what- at least half a year or longer? Of my entire life, I have never spend that much on skincare in one go. Well, maybe I did spend that much but never at one go. So I had a little heart ache. BUT I was happy. So that was all that matters right? Hmmmm

Here are the Za products that I have gotten.

Sun Screen- A must before leaving the house

Night Cream

Day moisturizer with spf

True White Lotion that caught my eye

All these costs about SGD 70

About a week or 2 after I bought my Za range from Watson, I went to town with my mum. There was a sale promoter at the Vichy counter of Watson. She promoted items suitable for my mum- brown spots/age spots, etc. She my mum gotten. And me? She introduced this green range- Normaderm. And of course, without thinking that I already have my recently bought Za products UNOPENED at home, I decided to buy. Yup, that’s me! I bought some Vichy products from Watson, and since Guardian was just in close range, I decided to popped in to check out the price- whether its comparable. And yeah, a sale lady was there. Being me, with any sale person around, I would never leave empty- handed! WHY??

In my defense, the lady was so nice! She gave my mum so many free samples- be it in sachets or in small travel size. She even gave my mum a night cream is a bottle- which looked like retail! How awesome is that! So I bought another batch of Vichy. I was determined to quickly finish my current skincare products, and then use Za, and then Vichy. I’m crazy. I don’t think I was in a mental sane state! Why in the world did I buy so many? Now in my upper bedroom cardboard lies unopened bottles and tubes! My mum said I’m crazy, and spendthrift. She’s right! But I was happy. I love Vichy!

I’m thinking of sticking to Vichy after I finish all others. Please don’t let me go near another sales person, if not I would think otherwise. I was easily convinced! Oh man!

Here are the goods in total that I have gotten from Vichy. Some of which are samples.

I don't even want to count the exact amount I have spend on them

The many samples that the nice lady gave ( there is more not captured on camera)

I need to have some self-control! Really. Or maybe I have someone who is firm enough to STOP me. But ultimately, I still happy that I have bought Vichy! 🙂

I have the Post- Taiwan Syndrome

Like anyone who had such a great time overseas, coming back to reality, seems well- WHY???

I have this syndrome every time I get back home from a nice reality-free vacation. AND this time, the journey is to amazing Taiwan.

Taiwan is such a joy to be at. The people there are a joy to be with-kind,helpful, and definitely not LOUD! Taiwan is really a food paradise. The food there is just marvelous, and it doesn’t cost more than what you pay for in SG dollars YO!

Take a plate of beef steak served in a nice restaurant like ambiance for example, it costs TWD 180 (approx. SGD 7.90). It tastes even better than Jack’s Place too! Bearing in mind, TWD 180, includes salad, soup, garlic bread and a drink!

Restaurant Sign outside the restaurant

Menu Cover- Isn't it classy!?

Just a 2 page menu

We ordered from this side of the menu- Beefsteak is what we want.

Started off with a light salad

Beef Soup to get our appetite working

And garlic bread too!

Long awaited main course- Beefsteak!

For those who can't have beef try pork! Its as delicious too!

Arabic-like sauce holder containing black pepper sauce- on the house for those who order the Pork Set. A tiny tip, try pouring the black pepper sauce on your beef too, it just taste awesome.

The shopping in Taiwan is also amazing. Not too much of the bargain, like other shopping paradise Bangkok, but the price is quite reasonable. I bought shoes, tops (lots of them), bags, and some small accessories. All my items are less than SGD 11. None exceeded SGD 11, as the amount of dollars I brought with me did not allow me to spree like there’s no tomorrow. And I’m proud of myself that I am able to get such good steal. I mean bags and tops that cost SGD11, shoes going at SGD 8.70, one will be proud to find such wonderful loots!

There are some of the items I got from Taiwan.

Navy Blue Evening Bag

The interior of the bag

Checkered bucket bag

Flower-printed bag

The interior of the flower- printed bag

Bought the flower-printed bag and the checkered bucket bag from tian lan xiao bu

Day dress from WuFenBu Night Market

Dress on Me. Self- taken picture is definitely tough. All the pictures taken were distorted. I admire those who can do it.

Kneaded cardigan with light pink and white horizontal strips, blend right in with my wall

The many pairs of shoes I bought

Taiwan’s Theme Park is beyond your wildest imagination. We went to LeoFoo Village Theme Park. The rides are thrilling (up to my standard, I must say). There was a particular ride that was pretty much the scariest I have since so far in my life, and I would think twice before getting on it. My girlfriends and I didn’t get on that ride though. Maybe next time we would? I mean, if I could find someone brave enough to ride it, maybe I would *winks*.

Took a cab to the Theme Park, which is about the same price as taking a public bus from the train station to the theme park

Welcome to LeoFoo Village Theme Park YO

The entrance for the brave hearted ones

This is the ride (SCREAMING CONDOR) that I would consider twice before sitting unless I have someone brave enough to sit it with me. AND I have no idea what is the American flag doing there.

Screaming Condor Q-ing area for the brave souls

Watch how the brave people scream their lungs out. How awesome!

There is so much about Taiwan like the nice gorgeous mountains and clear blue waters that I haven’t yet to see- maybe someday. Not forgetting the Taiwanese delights I have yet to try.

Oh man, I miss YOU already.