I’ve been very active on Instagram these days, and for those of you who follow me at reginachow_sg, you might have noticed that I recently received a beautifully wrapped parcel courtesy of Vanilla Mood.

Vanilla Mood is a sister brand of ClubCouture. If you love romantic lace and floral pieces (like me!), you’ll definitely be in for a treat, because Vanilla Mood stocks an amazing selection of sweet, feminine apparel. It is currently based in Bangkok, but if anything catches your fancy, all you have to do is to drop them an email at hello@vanillamood.me and they’ll be happy to ship it to you, wherever you are!

Keeping the look simple and clean was my objective here, and what better way to do it than with a black asymmetrical faux leather skirt, my trusty Loewe bag and pumps from Australian label, Basque. Since I’ve been wearing way too much black, grey and white lately, I couldn’t resist injecting a splash of colour with a silk foral blazer from Forever 21.  

The black collar, juxtaposed against the floral lapels, creates an interesting contrast and for some reason, the pairing of floral and lace always has a mood-lifting effect on me. Does it have the same effect on you? 😉

I’ll be back soon with more backdated posts, so do watch this space! 🙂

I may be back in Singapore, but whenever I look at photos of my New Zealand trip, I can’t help but smile. 🙂 I’m sorry I took so long, but I finally found time to do up Part 2 of Lake Tekapo!

There are only about 11 restaurants in Lake Tekapo, so there aren’t many choices for meals. Since Kohan Restaurant is ranked number 1 on Tripadvisor, we decided to give it a go.

The sashimi here comes from the salmon farms that New Zealand is supposedly famous for, but I much prefer wild salmon. The texture and sweetness of the flesh is just different! 

The restaurant is run by true blue Japanese, and you’ll be surprised to see that the entire restaurant is filled with Asian patrons. In New Zealand, you’ll see cows, sheep and busloads of Asian tourists everywhere!

 We weren’t too impressed with the salmon, but the tempura here was fried to perfection.

To end off the meal on a sweet note, we ordered their signature creme brulee, which turned out to be great. It came with candy floss too! That pretty much summed up our dinner for the first night.

The next day was slightly gloomier than usual, but we were in high spirits as Karen finally arrived!

With scenery like that, it’s hard not to feel happy. With scenery like that, of course we had to take as many photos as possible too!

Lake Tekapo will not be complete without these gorgeous Lupins in shades of pink and lavender. 

Statue of a sheep collie dog dedicated to the working collie dogs of the McKenzie region

There’s nothing much to do in Lake Tekapo, but the scenery alone is worth every bit of your time. It was a sight to behold, even as dark clouds loomed above us and the raindrops started falling.

We climbed atop a huge rock perched in the waters, just for the sake of taking beautiful photos.

JW and Karen went first while I assumed the role of the photographer. I never intended to follow in their footsteps because of my irrational fear of water, but after seeing the photos, I overcame my phobia and went for it!

See how tightly I was clutching on to JW’s hands? We look sooo loving, but I actually did that out of fear!! LOL

The Church of the Good Shepherd is the most iconic architecture in Lake Tekapo. If you were to google Lake Tekapo, you’ll probably find a gazillion pictures of this church. It looks like any other church in the day, but by night, it transforms into the perfect spot for stargazing.

We didn’t have the right tools to capture the night view in its full glory, but this is exactly what you’ll see when you’re there at night.

 I know, it’s surreal right? We were in awe of the magnificent view!

If you’re interested in my previous post on Lake Tekapo, click on the link below:

New Zealand 2012 Lake Tekapo Part 1

 Good morning! I’m so sorry for the lack of updates as I had a busy week, but you’ll be sure to see more posts from me soon! 

I know it has been a long time since I put up any clothes for sale, so I’ve decided to give you ladies a treat today with this gorgeous little tapestry dress. 😉

It has the perfect combination of quality vintage rose tapestry material, scalloped lace and little gems adorning the neckline. If you love feminine details with a vintage touch, this dress will certainly be your cup of tea! I especially love the slightly poufy cutting as it emanates just the right hint of elegance and girlish charm.

 Unlike most dresses with tapestry prints, which are usually made of thinner material because the design is printed on either cotton or polyester, this electic piece is made of genuine, thick tapestry material, which is especially hard to come by.

Price (excludes postage)

S$ 55 (Note: belt not included)

Measurements

Width: 15.5 inches

Length: 30 inches

If you’re interested in purchasing this dress, please drop me an e-mail at regina.chow@gmail.com!

Those of you who have been to Australia would know about its highly raved coffee culture. I’m not just talking about cafes, but good coffee, which is hard to come by in Singapore. Thankfully, I heard that Chye Seng Huat Hardware serves excellent coffee. Given that it was set up by the same people who established Papa Palheta, JW and I had high hopes for its coffee.

Chye Seng Huat is housed within an old shophouse where one would least expect to find a cafe. Don’t be fooled by its shabby exterior though, for you will be surprised by its modern industrial decor, which completes the cafe’s chic, cozy vibe.

The key to great coffee lies in the barista’s skills. I may not be an avid coffee drinker, but I do enjoy watching the baristas hard at work. If you’re like me, you’ll love the counter seats here.

JW ordered a latte while I had their homemade lemonade. Both were good! To my surprise, JW exclaimed that the coffee here is just as good as what he was used to in Sydney.  Although I thought it would be a waste to taste his latte as my tastebuds tend to be rather undiscerning when it comes to coffee,  I decided to give it a go. My verdict? I was impressed! The coffee was rich, aromatic and smooth. If you’re a coffee lover, this is definitely THE place to go!

As I was feeling a little peckish, we ordered french toast to share. It was pretty decent although it may not be the best that I’ve tried. I’ll give it top marks for presentation alone!

I’m sure we’ll be heading down to Chye Seng Huat again soon. If you’re yearning for a cup of good coffee, I would highly recommend that you try out this place for your coffee fix!

Chye Seng Huat Hardware

150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore
 

Nearest MRT: Lavender or Farrer Park
 

T: 6396 0609
 

Open 09:00-19:00 Tues-Thurs, 09:00-22:00 Fri-Sun, closed Mon
 

www.cshhcoffee.com

After I shared that I’ve stopped using powder foundation on my face, I started receiving enquiries about the face make-up that I am currently using. Today, I’ll share more about these products with you. 🙂

1. Jane Iredale’s Powder Me SPF 30 (Translucent)

My skincare routine has not changed in years (I use DRx products) but in place of their tinted sunscreen, I have switched to Jane Iredale’s Powder Me SPF. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked DRx’s sunscreen, but the thick texture made my face look greasy all the time when I’m in Singapore. However, it is great for drier climates as it is very moisturizing, hence I would still use it when I travel.

Jane Iredale’s Powder Me SPF, as the name suggests, is a powder sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. It’s actually skincare, as it is made of Titanium Dioxide (as with all sunscreens) and a unique clay that contains minerals to nourish the skin. Karen first recommended this product to me and I fell in love with it the moment I tried it on. I use this like any other powder, after primer and concealer, before applying blusher. There is no greasy after-feel and the best part is, it is water resistant, made of natural ingredients and doesn’t clog pores at all! This product is highly recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as well. My mother-in-law bought this for me from her regular facial salon. You can also check out their official facebook page for more information on where to get their products in Singapore.

2. Loreal BaseMagique

Loreal BaseMagique is great for minimizing imperfections such as pores and fine lines. You can use this all over your face alone or under make-up, but I only use this on my undereye circles before concealer. Not only does it help the concealer to go on smoothly, it also ensures that eye make-up lasts longer without caking. I have tried this on my forehead as well, where I’ve got some fine lines, and lo and behold, the lines vanished miraculously upon application! 

3. MAC Blusher and Mineralize Skinfinish Make-up

I use MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark for contouring my cheekbones, jawline and forehead. I also use MAC’s sheertone blusher in Pinch O’ Peach. This is the last step of my face make-up. 🙂 I generally like MAC products as they are very pigmented.

4. YSL Touch E’clat and Ettusais Medicated Acne Real Concealer

I turn to my Ettusais medicated concealer on days when I have small zits as it has healing properties and SPF 12. I also like that it’s extremely versatile! I use it together with YSL’s Touche Eclat in shade no. 1 to conceal my dark eye circles as well, and this formula seems to work pretty well for now.

So there you have it, a list of all my face make-up products!

We made our way to Star Vista one rainy day last week and by some stroke of luck, we found a sheltered walkway where these pictures were taken. If you’ve not been to Star Vista, you aren’t missing out much because there are hardly any retail stores there! It does however boast a wide variety of eateries and cafes. You’re bound to find something that suits your palate.

The name
smorgasbord came about because this outfit reminds me of a buffet of
colours, textures and prints. Blue and pink shades take centerstage
here, while white and nude hues assume a supporting role. The name is especially apt too, because there are so many things going on in my life right now.

I have since returned to work full-time and I’m enjoying every minute of it. It is wonderful to reunite with colleagues who’ve since become more like friends and family to me.

On the family
front, my dad hasn’t been particularly well lately and I’ll be taking
him to the specialist next week for a thorough check-up. We’re all
keeping our fingers crossed that it’s a temporary condition, and I would
be very grateful if you could keep him in your prayers.

Jacket, shirt, shorts and shoes from random shops in Singapore

Necklace given by my mum

Bag from Hermes

 On
a more personal note, I generally like to focus on the positive aspects
of
life, and I hope that my positive attitude will put a smile on
everyone’s faces (remember my new year resolution?). We come across new
faces and personalities all the time, and sometimes it’s inevitable to
become a victim of gossip, for reasons that may not be justified.
I prefer to steer clear if possible, because what good do you get out
of all this negativity? Having a clear conscience is the most important
thing to me, because that is the surest way to ensure that I have
nothing to fear.

Always remember this – The only reason why people talk behind your back, is because you’re already two steps ahead. 😉

Have a great weekend guys!!

The perfect black biker jacket is hard to come by, but luckily for me, I chanced upon my dream jacket at Dip Drops recently. It was marked down by 30%, with an additional 10% off for VIPs! While I don’t foresee myself wearing this much in balmy Singapore (except in December when it’s much cooler), I figured this could also double up as autumn/winter wear when I travel overseas.

What I like about this jacket is its smooth and luxurious pleather material. In fact, it feels just like leather, sans the high maintenance required for leather products. I love the biker chick look, but as much as I like it, I can’t seem to ditch my pretty tulle skirts and frilly tops. So, what do I do? I compromise and incorporate both styles in the same outfit. Biker jackets like this one are great for toughening up a feminine ensemble as they add a touch of spunk to an otherwise sweet outfit.

Black biker jacket from Dip Drops

Tulle skirt from Snidel

Blouse from KandyKayne

Bag from Chanel

Boots from random store in Sydney

Before I end this post, I’ll like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May you be blessed with health, happiness and success in 2013! My only resolution this year is to be happy and to be able to put a smile on someone’s face everyday. Life is too short for grief, worries and unhappiness, so my only wish is for me and my loved ones to be happy. 🙂 

What about you? What are your new year resolutions?