My Favourite Ice Cream Cafe in Singapore, The Daily Scoop

Wishing all readers and fans of Lace And Buttons a Merry Christmas!

Here in Singapore, although we don't have snow, a great a way to feel the cold is to ....... have ice-cream!

And that was what I did yesterday at one of my favorite ice-cream haunts, the Daily Scoop, at Holland Village.

It is hidden away from the main road along the shophouses near Chip Bee Gardens.

I love the ambience of the place... cosy and happy.. Just look at the type of deco they have.

They serve many special flavours not found at other ice-cream parlors, for example chilli chocolate and salted ice-cream, just to name a few.

I love their Durian Ice-Cream! It is made from "Mao Shan Wang" (a top grade Durian species) which explains its rich flavour. The texture is smooth and creamy, and does not melt too quickly, which appeals to me. I personally do not like ice-cream that melts before I can even enjoy it. I can actually eat bits of the Durian when I'm munching on the ice-cream!

Only $4.00 with cone

My hubby ordered the ice-cream waffle at $5.80 with a chocolate flavoured ice-cream, the Kookie Monster. He loves chocolate to go with his waffles so the chocolate sauce completes the dessert.

I love this ice-cream parlor so much, I've made trips down to Holland Village just to eat the ice-cream!
So here's the address for all ice-cream enthusiasts out there!

#01-78, Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278115.

Party Dresses Special for this Christmas

Have you gotten your party dresses for this holiday season?

We are offering over 50% discount for selected party dresses from 20 - 23 Dec, as well as additional discount for many other designs with limited pieces left

If preferred, self collection at Jurong East (Jcube) is available so you can receive your items on time. Email us at info@laceandbuttons.com for more information. Visit us at www.LaceAndButtons.com now to get this special deal!

Yummy Porridge Buffet At Rajah Inn

I was really busy recently so am delighted to finally get some time off to have a nice porridge buffet at Rajah Inn restaurant at Tiong Bahru Plaza yesterday. Have been a fan of this restaurant for a few years now as it serves relatively decent lunch time only porridge buffet at only $7.90++ per head!

Mince pork, Curry Chicken, Stewed Pork, Steam Egg with Crabstick, Fish Cake, Fried Fish Fillet, White Cabbage with Carrots, Stewed Bean Curd Skin ETC.

Enjoying my meal! Wearing the Aztec Basic Top from Lace And Buttons

The range offered by the porridge buffet is adequate though not extensive. I would said most of the dishes are home cooked style favorites among the Chinese and very rich in flavor so that it goes well with Teochew style sweet potato porridge which is bland with a mild sweet taste. The restaurant also serves mini steamboat buffet or you can opt for their steamboat set meal at less than $10 per head.

Mini Steamboat Buffet Menu

The porridge buffet is available everyday from 11.30am to 2.30pm. So if you are in the mood for some porridge, this is definitely one place you can visit. 

Lace and Buttons Festive Sale!

To celebrate the festive season, Lace And Buttons is having a sale for selected apparels, including party wear and work attire.

Limited quantities left for many sales items, so grab yours today!

"Like" us on Facebook to get a discount code which can used on regular priced items straight away too!

Trend Winter Fashion with Pullovers

I have recently fallen in love with pullovers.

It's not like I have never worn any pullovers before but I have a new found love for these sort of designs recently. As it is the winter season in many countries right now, the local fashion trend includes knit wear and pullovers of many designs. Personally, I never thought of adding pullovers to my wardrobe as I thought Singapore is too hot and humid. I changed my mind soon enough. 

I love pretty colors and realized many trendy pullovers or winter wear often carry gorgeous shades, which complements their classic shape perfectly. These fashion pieces are not only practical (keep us warm in cold weather and air-conditioned places!) but also add some cheer to the otherwise gloomy weather in winter with their beautiful colours.

It has been raining quite a fair bit in Singapore and that is when I decided to bring in some pullovers for my rack at Multi-label boutique, Miyoc JCube.

Really adore the three pastel shades (salmon, green and pink) of this basic oversize pullover! I have a great time taking photos in these lovely pieces. More photos can be found here.

So if you are contemplating whether you should get a nice pullover, I would say go for it! Get one that you are likely to use often in air-conditioned locations and which makes you look good.

With so many designs on the apparel market, you are bound to find something that suits you.  

12 Days of Christmas Collection has launched!

Lace And Buttons new collection is out now! Choose from 20 new designs spanning 12 different looks.

Bodycon Splash Dress

A figure enhancing design with bold and eye-catching splash prints. Stand out from the crowd in this gorgeous number.  Made of stretchy cotton material.
 PTP: 14.5" - 16.5"  Waist: 26" - 30"  Hip: 30" - 35"  Length: 31"

$28.90

 **

Embossed Bodycon Dress in Coral

A classic and body enhancing design with unique embossed wave patterns. Look svelte and charming in this gorgeous piece.  Made of stretchy cotton material.
 S size  PTP: 13.5" - 16"  Waist: 25" - 27"  Hip: 35" - 36"  Length: 33"

 $27.90

 Larger sizes are available upon request. Difference in measurement is approx 1" apart. Ask us for more information.
Also comes in Blue
 **

  Sparrow Sleeves Dress in Black

An ultra pretty dress with dainty flying sparrow prints that are sure to warm your heart. A great dress to wear out for various occasions, be it to the office on a casual Friday, to school or even for a date.  Made of stretchy cotton material.
 PTP: 13.5" - 16"  Waist: 25" - 27"  Hip: Free Size  Length: 30"

$27.90

 Also comes in White
**

Find more designs at www.laceandbuttons.com

See what Straits Times Urban has to say about us …

To add to the festive mood, we will be giving away 2 sets of 3-piece miniature OPI nail polishes in 5 different shades, and 3 sets of $10 Miyoc discount vouchers to 5 lucky winners.
Just LIKE AND SHARE this album on our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/LaceAndButtons !
And remember to comment: ''I love 12 Days of Christmas Collection from Lace and Buttons"

Lace and Buttons 12 Days of Christmas Collection Launches on 30 Nov

Lace and Buttons brings you 12 different looks to cater to all your parties, events and functions this holidays.
Choose from sweet dresses for that simple luncheon to that sophisticated look at a dinner party.

To add to the festive mood, we will be giving away 2 sets of 3-piece miniature OPI nail polishes in 5 different shades, and 3 sets of $10 Miyoc discount vouchers to 5 lucky winners.

Just LIKE AND SHARE this album on our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/LaceAndButtons ! And remember to comment: '' 12 Days of Christmas Collection launch at Lace and Buttons on 30th Nov!"

 

New apparels available at Miyoc JCube now.

One good thing about being an entrepreneur is that you often get the opportunity to do something that you have always wanted to do, but which is unlikely to ever happen if you did not take the leap of faith.

Recently, I have taken up a physical rack with Miyoc, a multi-label boutique, to sell apparels to walk-in customers. The rack allows up to 100 apparels and that determines my fate to add on new designs almost every week. Most of these designs are not available for sale online. Feeling strongly that it is a real pity not to let more people see what designs we have in-store, I decided it is time for me to present what we have available by being my own model. Being a model is a thought that has always been interesting to me, but which I know is not going to happen in a million years! Nevertheless, several friends have been encouraging me to try modelling my own apparels so I thought maybe it is worth giving it a go.

Much as I want to, I do not have a model's figure and height. But I do think I look more realistic as I  have the figure of a "REAL" woman, and not of someone who just walked out from a fashion magazine. Like most women, I have to always keep my weight in check and I love to indulge in great (and sinful) food every now and then. So I hope that I can serve as an inspiration to others that one do not need a perfect body to look good.

Here are more pictures of me in apparels carried by Lace And Buttons. Hope you like them!

  

"Chicken Soup For The Soul" - The New Paper New Face Contestant Who Lost 45kg!

Have you ever have to struggle with weight issues or find that you have limited motivation to lose weight? If your answer is "YES", I believe you are like many people out there (myself included!) who find it really challenging to shed some extra pounds. Blame it on the affordable and delicious food we can find almost everywhere in Singapore! So how about some "Chicken Soup For The Soul" story to motivate yourself to lose weight?

Recently, I read about the story of Kylie Yuen, the first runner-up and winner of Ms Levi's for The New Paper New Face Competition 2012. Despite having done so well in the contest, I would assume that Kylie is a very "average" girl in every aspects until she decided to lose 45kg! According to what I read, Kylie used to weigh 100kg and it took her 2 years of determination and perseverance to reach her current weight of 55kg. Impressive yah?

There is even a before and after picture:

Picture credited to yourhealth.com.sg

According to a report on The New Paper official website, Kylie's typical meal consists of healthier options such as stir-fried vegetables, pork rib soup / veggie soup and steamed fish. Although she does indulge in sashimi buffets once in a while, she adheres to a strict diet which is high in fibre and protein in general. Of course, it does really help that Kylie enjoys her food and does exercises like jogging and taking the stairs.

I thought Kylie is a true inspiration to many girls and women out there who are trying really hard to lose extra weight and was so impressed by her achievement that I decided to approach her to model for my company's new collection. Really happy that she agreed to do so! I hope that her looks in Lace And Button's apparels will serve as a motivation for all women to achieve a similar feat. 

To end off, here are some pictures of Kylie for Lace And Button's photoshoot. Enjoy!

 

Tribal Prints in Fashion - My Experience

I was twelve years old when I visited Yunan, China for the first time. Apart from the picturesque scenes, what stuck in my memory the most is the beautiful head gear and costume of the "White" tribe of Dali, Yunan Province:

Bai woman wearing a colourful traditional Bai costume. Image from westheimphoto.com

I remember feeling really excited about having the opportunity to wear the Bai costume in one of the tourist attractions (can't remember the actual place but I have an impression that it might be the Kunming World Butterflies Garden). As a teenager, I am already very passionate about fashion, even when it comes to traditional costumes. I love the vibrant colors and exquisite embroidery on these costumes as they are really attractive in my opinion. In fact, I think these decorative embellishments really made the costumes come "alive"!

Recently, I became familiar with African prints as it is the ongoing and raging trend in fashion now. Unlike Chinese tribal prints or embellishments which focuses more on a woman's femininity and beauty (as reflected by the use of extensive floral decorations), African prints are more quirky, bold, and even unorthodox. It is really amazing how designers managed to use this genre of prints in casual everyday wear, as the "loud" nature of African prints are found more commonly in party or beach wear. Kudos to the designers behind this inspiration!

To end off, let me introduce some of the African print everyday apparels that my online store is currently carrying:

 Gorgeous aren't they? Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do :)

 

Support Breast Cancer Awareness - Pink Collection And Tote Bag

Breast cancer awareness has always been an issue close to my heart as I had a close aunt who passed away due to this life-threatening disease when she was just in her 40s. I was only fifteen then and did not know too much about breast cancer. Ten years later, I joined Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) as a staff and was able to learn more on this topic. In fact, I was given the valuable opportunity to speak to members of the public on breast cancer and therefore, able to help spread awareness.

Now that I am a business owner, I felt that it is imperative to be able to contribute to society in some way and be a positive influential force whenever possible. As such, I was really happy to be able to invite Moonberry, a well-known lifestyle and beauty blogger, to be the guest model of Lace And Buttons' "Pink Collection". The concept behind this collection is derived from my wish to encourage more women to wear pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. It consists of seven sets of pink apparels and part of the proceeds from the October sales of this collection as well as other designs available at my online store will be donated to the Singapore Cancer Society.

Some designs from the Pink Collection:

 
I really enjoyed this photoshoot with the gorgeous Moonberry, as she is very friendly and easy to work with. Significantly, Moonberry is also someone really passionate about breast cancer awareness, as can be seen from her blog articles regarding this topic. From my conversations with her, I can tell that Moonberry shares my belief that breast cancer awareness is important for everyone, regardless of age. Although women who are forty years old and above are more likely to be inflicted with breast cancer, everyone should be concerned about awareness in this disease as we all have women we love, be it our mothers, sisters or friends.

Apart from the Pink Collection, I have also arranged for the manufacturing of limited edition golden retriever breast cancer awareness tote bags to be given away to customers who make purchases from my online store.

Great as a shopping bag and really cute doggy yah?

To end off, here is a link to instructions on how to perform a Breast Self-Examination from the BCF's website:

http://www.bcf.org.sg/awarenessEducation/breastSelfExamination.html

Do find out more as these simple procedures can potentially saves lives!

  

Lace And Buttons, the Clothes Online Store, has launched the 5th Mini-Collection

Lace And Buttons, the Clothes Online Store, has launched the 5th Mini-Collection.

If you are looking for apparels suitable for both work and play, you may find the designs in our mini-collection V suitable :). Have fun shopping

Inspiration of the week: Dressing up to become another person?

Saw this video recently and feel what Hofit Golan says is true. More often than not we dress up in beautiful clothes to escape "reality" and for that few hours become someone we want to be.

It's takes the pressure off our daily routines and let's us enjoy life itself.

Hofit Golan for Kmag - Photoshoot in Poland

My Trip to Penang - The Food Paradise!

I went to Penang with my hubby recently and came back feeling really refresh, though it is only a three days trip :). Penang is really a great place to visit if you are looking for yummy food at a good price so please bear with me as I am going to post a lot of pictures of the food we tried over there! We stayed at the Cititel Hotel Penang, which is just opposite a relatively well-known night market, Red Garden.

This night market serves a variety of local cuisine which includes familiar dishes common in Singapore. However, the taste does differ in some ways, with the Penang local flavor infused in the food.

One of the best oyster omelet I have tried! Quite pricey at 8RM as the serving is very small but really delicious!

Penang Lor Mee. The type of noodle used and taste of the sauce are different from the ones found in Singapore. Also, prawns are used as one of the ingredients

Satay with peanut sauce and bbq chicken wings. Quite similar to what we find in Singapore except that the taste is sweeter

Penang Char Kway Tiao. Lots of bean sports and more whitish in appearance compared to the Singapore version. Not so oily. Yummy!

Hawker style fine cusine! Seafood soup bowl at a night market. Too interesting to miss :)

Apart from the wide selection of local food, the Red Garden is really popular because it offers live music and performances by professional singers who took to the center stage every night.

Singers performing for customers who are enjoying their supper at the night market. Really an eye-opener for me as I have never seen this in a hawker environment setting

If you like the food at Old Town White Coffee (a Singaporean Cafe which offers Hawker Food and with branches located in some parts of Orchard),  you are going to like my next recommendation.

Georgetown White Coffee. The founder of this Malaysian Cafe set up this "one-stop" outlet serving Penang cusine in conjunction with the celebration of George Town being formally inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Curry seafood (prawns and cockles) and vegetables (brinjal and long beans) with rice. Interesting dish not seen in Singapore

Sambal seafood fried rice with chicken wing. Nothing really unique about this dish but like the presentation :)
Great for those who like spicy food.

Super delicious signature white coffee and tea!

One thing I am not too happy about this cafe is the service of the staff. The cafe offers special discounts for specific dishes on particular days of the week and the staff does not seem to be aware of this discount at all (or chose to ignore). We ordered the curry seafood with rice which is supposed to be discounted on a Monday (the day we visit) but was charged the full price! Too bad for us as we only noticed the display banner which features the promotion outside the cafe the next day when we incidentally walked past. So if you intend to dine there, do look out for the discount and make sure to point it out to the staff there if you order a promotional dish. As shown in above picture, there is a mini stand displaying the dish on discount. BUT the discount is not stated in the advert here. It is only make obvious on the much bigger display banner placed in the alfresco dining area of the cafe. 

The last dish I am going to recommend is a dessert.

Tower of five - Five flavored pancakes including strawberry, New York Cheese, Oreo, Peach & Coconut and Banana & Raisin topped with a scoop of Vanilla ice-cream and honey. Perfect for the sweet tooth!

Quite a good deal at RM 19.90++ and the dessert comes with 2 drinks as well! Forgot to jot down the name of the restaurant but it should be easy to find as it is the only restaurant serving pancakes (as the main course) at the outdoor dining street of Gurney Plaza. In case you have not heard of Gurney Plaza, it is a mega Malaysia Penang lifestyle shopping mall owned by CapitaLand.

Hope you like my recommendations and if you have some interesting places to recommend as well, feel free to share with us!