Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty & Travel Blog
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Streetdirectory Mobile App: Singapore Maps

November 30, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments
Streetdirectory.com is no stranger to Singaporeans. Singapore may be a small island, but thanks to the addition of new roads and changing traffic conditions, it’s always useful to check out how to navigate from Point A to B in the shortest possible time!

Now, with Streetdirectory’s latest app, Singapore Maps, all iPhone and Android phone users can enjoy the convenience of road navigation with the touch of a finger! Road directions aside, the Singapore Maps app also comes with a slew of brand new features that promises greater user satisfaction and ease of usage!
Here are two new features that I find particularly useful:
1. Offline Maps
This new feature that enables you to download street maps of not just Singapore, but that of Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines too! Internet access is not required, so you’ll always know exactly where you are and where you’re heading to. That means you’ll never get lost when you’re overseas. 🙂
2. Business Directory
Looking for the nearest restaurant or the location of a particular hair salon? The information is now right at your fingertips! Just click on the “Directory” tab and you’ll find a comprehensive list of businesses categories to help you with your search process.

I particularly love the Women category, which is further broken down into subcategories that cater to your every whim and fancy!

The Singapore Maps app allows you to make free calls to businesses that are listed in their database. Need to ask a question or make a reservation? All you need to do is leave your number and you’ll receive a call from the store.
The app also
automatically maps the store’s location on your street map, which means
you can immediately locate the store and get directions there! Talk about convenience!
3. Sharing Tips

Getting timely traffic updates or reviews on the latest deals/stores/food has never been easier with the Tips tab. You can also share pictures, comments and your location with friends. I especially like the up-to-date traffic alerts. Now, I’ll always know which roads to avoid when I’m in a hurry!

Here’re the links to download this app:

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Palm Beach & Avalon Beach

November 25, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments
We’re leaving Sydney very soon and while I do miss Singapore very much, I know I’ll really miss the pristine beaches, many of which remain untouched by commercialization.
Two of such beaches are Palm Beach and Avalon Beach, tucked safely away from civilization in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney.
We were the only visitors at Avalon Beach that day. Time seemed to stand still as we watched the waves crashing against the beach and felt the soft sand beneath our feet.
Secluded beaches like this are hard to come by these days, and there are times when I wonder why Australians venture abroad to Bali etc. when there are so many gorgeous beaches right at their doorstep.
The Palm Beach vicinity may be home to the rich and famous, but likewise, the beach is untainted by any signs of development and absolutely perfect for relaxing on a sunny afternoon.
Monokini from Valleygirl

The beaches at Manly and Bondi are immensely popular spots for people watching, but if you crave a little quiet time alone, away from the hustle and bustle, Palm Beach and Avalon Beach may just be your cup of tea. To me at least, these are the best kept secrets of Sydney. 😉
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Mentaiko Pasta

November 21, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
 
I haven’t been cooking much in Australia, but ever since I tried the mentaiko pasta at Porcorosso, I’ve been curious about the possibility of making it on my own. This isn’t much of a recipe actually because lazy me would never make sauce from scratch. I went to the Asian supermarket to get prepacked mentaiko sauce just to try it out.
Each pack (priced at A$4.20) comes with mentaiko sauce and seaweed (2 packets each) and makes a great meal for two!
I tend to be very picky about the texture of my pasta, so these are the steps that I would usually take to ensure my pasta tastes exactly the way I like it:
Step 1: Boil pasta in water together with a dash of sea salt and olive oil
Step 2: Drain pasta with strainer the minute it is cooked, douse it in cold water before draining it again
Step 3: Finally, fry pasta with butter in the pan together with prawns
 What I love about the prepacked mentaiko sauce is, after cooking your pasta, all you have to do is mix in the sauce (without cooking), top it off with the seaweed provided and voila, you’re done! 
 
The verdict? This recipe promises to tantalize your tastebuds with every bite, even if you weren’t a mentaiko fan to begin with! JW
is now a mentaiko pasta convert, and as for me, I would never splurge on
another plate of mentaiko pasta at a restaurant again!
Trust me, this home-cooked mentaiko pasta tastes just as good, if not better. 😉


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Arm Cuffs – The Alternative to Bangles and Bracelets

November 20, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
Before you think this post is gonna be about something remotely kinky, please get your head out of the gutter mister. 😉
Sorry to disappoint you. I actually just meant to show pics of my latest accessory, a matt gold arm cuff from Diva. I’ve been wearing a lot of basic tops lately, which makes accessorizing a necessity, and I’m absolutely loving how a simple geometric arm cuff like this adds panache to my otherwise plain outfit. It makes a great arm swag and the best part is, you don’t have to think about coordinating your stash of bangles and bracelets. How convenient!
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Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Eyebrow & Nose Powder

November 19, 2012 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
One problem that most Asians face when it comes to lightening our hair colour is the stark contrast between the colour of our hair and brows. Some people have very black brows, which means the only way to get their brows to match their hair colour is to dye them as well. For those of you with sparse brows or brows that aren’t very black to begin with, an eyebrow powder could very well be your perfect solution.
Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Eyebrow & Nose Powder in #01 Light Brown is such a lifesaver. It can be purchased at all Watsons stores and I’ve been using it for a while now.
The medium and darker shades are meant for filling in your brows while the lightest shade is for contouring your nose. This palette also comes with a small brush with an angled brush (for brows) on one end and a wider, fluffier brush on the other (for contouring and blending). 
I typically fill my brows using just the medium shade because it matches my hair colour very well.  To contour my nose, I mix the lightest and darkest shades together before drawing a line down each side of the nose starting from the brows all the way to the nose tip. It’s important to smoothen out any harsh lines or you’ll end up looking like a freak, so remember to blend those lines gently with the fluffy brush provided. 
Contouring the side of your nose will create the illusion of a raised nose bridge, and the effect is especially obvious in photos. Now all you need to do to complete the look is to use a white eyeshadow to highlight the nose bridge and there, you’re done!
What I love about this product is its versatility. Not only does it work as an eyebrow shadow and a contour powder, you can use it as an eyeshadow too. 😉 The colour is very pigmented too, so a little goes a long way. All in all, this is one gem that I’ll definitely repurchase! 
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Ways to Wear a Tweed Jacket

November 16, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments
 Tweed jackets are usually meant for the office, but all fashion rules are meant to be broken and tweaked to your advantage. Spice up a t-shirt and jeans combo with a tweed jacket and you’ll not only look chic, smart and absolutely stylish, you’ve also given your office wear a new lease of life. Talk about wardrobe optimization!
 You can even pair it with a simple tee and shorts! It’s amazing how a colourful tweed jacket like this mint one from Zara can transform a white tee and shorts combination into a fashion statement. And there, we have another combo to add to my How to Wear a Basic Tee post!
If you prefer preppy or more feminine styles (like me), perhaps you could try wearing your tweed jacket like this:
Korean tweed jacket
White peter pan collar blouse from Dip Drops
Floral skorts from Liz Lisa

I also added a monochrome statement neck piece to match the black trimmings on the tweed jacket. In fact, everything else besides the floral skorts is in monochromatic shades to pull the entire look together. Hope you like this look as much as I do!

image credits: fabsugar.com
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Decorating with four&twenty!

November 14, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Looking for the perfect accessories to complement your home or office decor? Adding that extra oomph to your home or work station with accents that echo your personality and interests has never been easier with fourandtwenty.sg!
fourandtwenty.sg offers a selection of design-led products that marry form with function. Their keen eye for high-quality objects with clean lines led them to gravitate towards exquisite, hand-crafted designs by alternative designers with a unique vision. 
 The current collection hails from Denmark, the USA, Japan and Thailand. Delivery is free within Singapore!
To say that the products are gorgeous is a huge understatement. Don’t believe me? I’ll show you some of my favourites:

  Oscar by Hans Bølling

Meet Oscar, the cute little dog that sits, stands and begs just like a real dog. This one however, is lovingly handcrafted in solid beechwood with leather, maple wood and wenge wood accents.
Designed in 1953
by renowned Danish architect Hans Bolling, this beauty has evidently
withstood the test of time and is a Scandinavian design classic.
Place Oscar on your workstation at home or your office, and let this playful dog light up your day!

 

BIRD by Kristian Vedel

BIRD, designed by famous architect Kristian Vedel in 1959, is yet another Scandinavian design classic.
One of the most
successful wooden designs in the 50s, BIRD is the perfect companion for
your side table, or better yet, get a family of BIRDs to perk up your
coffee table!

 

wrapqarw [wrap wrap] Cable Organizer by Naoto Yoshida

Keep those unsightly cables neat and tangle free with wrapqarw! Not only do they look elegant, these cable organizers are eco-friendly too as they are made of quality scrap wood from the furniture industry in Japan.  
You can always trust the Japanese to come up with innovative, functional designs. 🙂 These are great as gifts too!

KAMI and Cara Series by Hidetoshi Takahashi

These wooden cups are wonderful additions to your kitchen or work desk as each cup is individually handcrafted by master-craftsman Hidetoshi Takahashi. Gosh, such dedication is hard to come by these days!
I love the simple and clean design of these cups. And the best part? They’ll never go out of style.

Porcelain Disc Chimes

These porcelain discs on a deerskin lace cord are designed to clink gently in the breeze. Handcrafted in Portland, USA, by Pigeon Toe Ceramics, the beauty of this wind chime lies in its simplicity. 


“Founded in 2009, Pigeon Toe’s aspiration is to provide mankind with
everyday beauty. Each piece is handcrafted, taking an average of three
weeks to complete the transformation from clay to finished work. With a
focus on craft, handmade and homespun goods, each Pigeon Toe piece
represents a story woven with rich heritage.”
Pigeon Toe’s products are exclusively sold via fourandtwenty.sg in Singapore. 
Here are some other products from Pigeon Toe:

Porcelain Tripots

 

  

Rocking Votives




Folded Porcelain Bowls



Specially for all readers of Shopping Queen’s Haven!


From now till end Dec 2012, all my readers will get 10% off all purchases over S$100. 
Just key in the code SHOPPINGQUEEN10 during checkout!
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Dress up your Denim Shorts!

November 12, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments
Denim shorts


Spring has sprung, and it’s time to bare those gorgeous gams. And what better way to begin than with a pair of classic denim shorts! Everyone has a pair of denim shorts in their wardrobe because they never do go out of style, do they?
Instead of pairing denim shorts, especially cut-offs (my favourite!) with the quintessential white t-shirt, or the much sought-after midriff top this season, here’re 3 ways to dress up your denim shorts and NOT look like you’re heading to the beach!


1) Wear it with a Tailored Shirt

Nothing says chic like a tailored shirt worn with rugged denim shorts. A pair of pointy mules or studded platforms pulls the entire look together. Notice how the casual vibe remains but the style meter has shot up by leaps and bounds?

2) Wear it with a Feminine Blouse

Take a cue from editor Miroslava Duma (who always looks effortlessly stylish by the way) and match your most feminine, billowy blouses with your grunge denim cut-offs. These two unexpected styles work like a dream together, don’t you think? Prettifying your rugged shorts has never been easier. 😉
3) Wear it with Bold, Graphic, Crazy Prints
If the previous 2 looks are too mild for you, jazz up your denims with the craziest prints you can find in your wardrobe, ala style icon Miroslava Duma (yes, again!). Load up on edgy accessories in complementary shades to perfect the look!


Now, which of the looks do you like the most? The last look is my favourite because I love the element of surprise created by the mish mesh of prints, colours and denim. The entire outfit screams “Look at me!”. In a good way of course.
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Finally, here’s my take on dressing up my denim cut-offs for a casual weekend lunch.
 
Printed collar sweater from Dip Drops (www.dipdrops.jp)
Vintage denim cutoffs from Glebe Markets
Black booties from Bondi
image credits: www.cosmoplitan.com.au, www.pinterest.com



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Passion Nails Nailed It!

November 9, 2012 by Regina Chow 2 Comments
 Passion Nails is an established nail salon conveniently located in Far East Plaza, right in the heart of Orchard Road. I know we ladies can shop at Far East Plaza for hours, but squeezing in some time to take a break from shopping is always essential, and what better way to do that than to pamper ourselves with a manicure/pedicure session? Well, that was exactly what Karen and I did when we stopped by Passion Nails one afternoon!
I love getting my nails done professionally because this is one of the rare occasions when I can just put the world on hold and indulge in an afternoon of unadulterated bliss. I always feel completely relaxed and revitalized after a trip to the nail salon.  
 We were introduced to Ms Tran, the owner of Passion Nails, a gentle and friendly lady who takes the art of beautifying nails seriously.

The salon is divided into two sections. Upon entering, we were greeted by a row of comfortable cushioned seats accompanied by nail colour and design samples neatly arranged in pretty lace containers. 
“Are OPI colours used here?” The answer to your burning question is, yes they are! 
In fact, Passion Nails boasts such a wide array of OPI nail polishes, you’re bound to be able to find a shade that tickles your fancy.

Just when we thought of taking our seats, Ms Tran led us to the next section of the salon. Lo and behold, that was when our eyes lit up! Luxurious leather massage chairs appeared right before our eyes. We were in for a treat, that’s for sure. 
I really liked the massage chair. It applies just the right amount of pressure at the correct spots, and is very effective at relieving body tension and knots.

That’s not all. You can also get your dose of entertainment from the flat screen TVs installed in this section. Great for TV addicts like me!

Time to start our pampering treatments!

 Our manicure and pedicure were done simultaneously by the lovely ladies at Passion Nails. Truth be told, there’s nothing better than being fussed over like princesses. 

I chose a red Cath Kidston
inspired nail design for my classic manicure but I wanted it to be done
in sweet shades of pink instead. Ms Tran who did my nails personally, listened attentively and carefully selected the colours based on my
preferences.  

Needless to say, she achieved the final design that I wanted quickly and effortlessly! I’ve been to other nail salons where the manicurists are so poorly skilled, they take hours just to complete a simple nail art design, which is extremely exasperating, to say the least. 
With Passion Nails, you can be assured of both quality and efficiency. What sort of quality am I talking about? In my opinion, quality refers to both durability and aesthetic value. A durable manicure is only possible if your manicurist is very skilled in nail polish application, which is an art in itself. Aesthetic value is akin to how beautiful your nails are and that again requires a manicurist with a keen sense of aesthetics. 
I was very happy with the final outcome. Most manicures only last me about 1 week, but in the hands of Ms Tran, my manicure lasted me more than 3 weeks without chipping! 

Karen did the gelish manicure instead. We didn’t discuss about our nail art designs beforehand, hence both of us were very surprised that we ended up choosing pretty similar designs! Talk about telepathy!
Here’s another photo of my nails. Love them to bits!
I chose a nude base with dark blue glitters at the tips for my classic pedicure, and 3 weeks on, they still looked as fresh as the day I stepped out of the salon!

Tempted to try Passion Nails’ services?  I’ve good news for you! 
Passion Nails is having a promotion for the month of November! 
Just present the image below or mention the promo when you book an appointment and you’ll get to enjoy either:
1) Classic Manicure and Pedicure at S$45 (usual price $55); or
2) Gelish Manicure at S$50 (usual price S$70)

Passion Nails
Website: http://www.streetdirectory.com/passionnails/

Address: Far East Plaza #04-29A-B, 14 Scotts Road, (S)228213
Contact No.: 6733 1469 
 
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ClubCouture Mystery Bag

November 8, 2012 by Regina Chow No Comments

Have you heard of ClubCouture’s Mystery Bag? 
For just $15, you will receive a mystery bag containing 1-2 items from ClubCouture! It could be anything ranging from a retail value of $29.90 to $200, and yes, they’ll come in your size!
I just had to share this with everyone because it’s such a good deal. The items that you’ll receive cost so much more than what you’re paying for, you definitely won’t find a better deal out there!
Here’re more details:

 ClubCouture’s Mystery Bag deal just launched today, and already, they’re selling like hotcakes. So hurry, click HERE to make your purchase now to avoid disappointment!
 Here’re some of the items that you might receive in your mystery bag:

 

 
Get your ClubCouture Mystery Bag now before stocks run out! 🙂
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About Me

Hi! My name is Regina and I am a style, beauty and travel enthusiast who enjoys writing, photography and letting my creative juices flow.

My blogging journey has been nothing short of exciting. I was recently named the winner of Her World Magazine’s Estee Lauder Style Superstar Awards 2016. My blog was also awarded Best Fashion Blog (Grand Winner) at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014. The year before that, it won Best Online Shopping Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013.

Additionally, it is listed as one of the 10 interesting blogs on Singapore by AsiaWeb Direct (http://www-singapore.com/blogs.htm). I was also featured on both local and international mainstream media for my views on style, fashion and online shopping:

The Straits Times (14 Oct 2014)

The Business Times (14 Oct 2014)

My Paper (13 Oct 2014)

CNBC ("Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online" - 28 Dec 2014)

For advertorials/partnerships, feel free to contact me at regina.chow@gmail.com.

Thank you!

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