lifestyle – Regina Chow

Lifestyle

Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE Singapore

July 5, 2016 by Regina Chow No Comments

Are you a fan of L’OCCITANE’s beauty products?

I
am a huge fan and I was so excited when I heard that Four Seasons Hotel
and L’OCCITANE forged an exclusive partnership to establish Four
Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE – also L’OCCITANE’s first Spa in Singapore.

What’s unique about Four Seasons Spa
& L’OCCITANE?

~ World-exclusive Néroli & Orchidée
treatments ~

Besides being the first L’OCCITANE spa in Singapore, Four
Seasons Spa and L’OCCITANE in Singapore offers the world-exclusive Néroli &
Orchidée treatments: the only L’OCCITANE SPA in the world to offer this. Very
apt indeed, given that the Orchid is Singapore’s national flower.

~ Hand-performed Massages by skilled therapists ~

Helmed by a skilled team of therapists with over a decade of experience,
the spa focuses on hand-performed treatments and traditional massage techniques
to bring you authentic spa treatments.

Did you know that visiting therapists from Four Seasons Hotel
and Resorts properties such as Bali and Seychelles would join the team for six
months each time? You’ll never have to step out of our little red dot to enjoy
resort-style massages again!

~ Comprehensive suite of Spa packages for all
your different needs ~

Spa treatments targeted at various need areas are offered, such
as L’OCCITANE’s anti-aging Immortelle facials featuring patented Immortelle
products, signature Shea Butter nourishing treatments, as well as Spa rituals
(encompassing different need areas) for guests who prefer holistic face and
body treatments. Loyal customers can also indulge in Spa packages that bring
great value to their spa experience. L’OCCITANE products can be purchased at
the spa too.

Néroli & Orchidée Relaxing Massage (90
minutes)

I visited the spa recently and was treated to their Néroli &
Orchidée Relaxing Massage, which combines both body scrub and massage
fragranced with the tender floral and fruity notes of the neroli essence from
the Mediterranean and white orchid absolute from Madagascar.

How very timely, as my body was aching from the long and arduous
journey (no thanks to a delayed flight) back to our sunny island after
traveling around China.

I had a wonderful experience. Starting from the exclusivity of
the locker room, to the amazing skills of my therapist Sita and finally, the
sumptuous dessert that lent the perfect finishing touches and ended the evening
on a sweet note.

Their attention to detail is remarkable. Sita, my therapist,
accurately pointed out my pain points – my right shoulder and both my calves. I
didn’t even have to utter a word. She expertly kneaded away the knots, easing
away the tension as I luxuriated in the therapeutic massage. It didn’t take
long before I was lulled into a blissful slumber.

I woke up feeling rejuvenated and energised, all ready to take on
my appointments for the week. I remember thinking – this must be the most
well-spent 90 minutes in my life ever!

Need a quick pick-me-up? I assure you that this is one indulgent
experience you will never forget.

Exclusive One-Day Wellness Getaway at Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE

For a limited time only, Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE is
offering a One-Day Wellness Getaway! There isn’t a better time to take that day
off!

Enjoy a pampering massage and complimentary wellness facilities
(Sauna, Steam room, Swimming Pool & Outdoor Jacuzzi) at Four Seasons Hotel,
complete with either a special 4-course meal at award-winning Chinese
restaurant Jiang-Nan Chun (read my review here) or Mezze Buffet at One-Ninety
Wood-fired Steaks and Seafood (read my review here).

Complimentary car parking
and wifi access is provided too.

$180++ for any 60min Body Massage + 4 course
Set Lunch at JNC OR Mezze Buffet at One-Ninety Wood-fired Steaks and Seafood

$240++ for any 90min Body Massage + 4 course
Set Lunch at JNC OR Mezze Buffet at One-Ninety Wood-fired Steaks and Seafood

including complimentary usage of sauna, steam room, swimming
pool, carpark for the day

From now till August 31 2016 (excluding black-out
dates)

All prices quoted above are subject to 10% service charge and
applicable government taxes

For more information on Spa treatments and bookings, please
contact Club at tel: (65) 6831 7400 or email club.sin@fourseasons.com

Personal Thoughts, Travel

2015 Travel Recap & Priorities in 2016

December 31, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

Happy New Year!!

If
you don’t already know by now (I’m guessing many of you do if you’re
following me on instagram @reginachow_sg), I have been shuttling between
Singapore and China in the recent months as JW is currently based in
Nanjing.

Over these few months, I had the opportunity to explore Nanjing and new cities such as Hangzhou (courtesy of Che’fle Canal Hotel Hangzhou – do watch out for my review soon), Suzhou, Kunshan. I also revisited Shanghai, one of my favourite cities in China.

The Bund, Shanghai

Che’fle Canal Hotel Hangzhou

Beautiful autumn foliage in Hangzhou

Lingering Garden in Suzhou

Much to my surprise, my experience thus far has been fairly pleasant. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone yells at the top of their voices (these are usually farmers from the rural areas) and the habit of cutting queues is also fast-becoming a phenomenon of the past. I am honestly very impressed by how civilized they have become in just a matter of years. The service quality, especially in restaurants, is excellent. We have been getting the royal treatment, and I am not even exaggerating. I am also particularly drawn to the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage as it gives me deeper insights into my ancestry and roots. Of course, it helps that the scenery doesn’t disappoint and is particularly mesmerizing during autumn.

West Lake, Hangzhou

Autumn in Nanjing

Xiema Bridge Ancient Village, Kunshan (Read more about it here)

The past year has also taken me to Bangkok, Gold Coast

(courtesy of Scoot who sponsored the SAF50 bloggers contest winners – click here to read more about my adventures in Australia), Copenhagen (click here to read more about my trip) and London.

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Burger & Lobster, London

Traveling is a big part of my life and I truly believe that traveling together with your partner and loved ones helps to forge closer bonds. Uncertainties abound when you step foot in a foreign land and to overcome these challenges as a unit while still managing to have fun is no mean feat.

For 2016, my key priorities are to travel and to lead a healthier lifestyle. More traveling
awaits in 2016. My first stop is Tibet in end January with JW before
jetting back to Singapore for Chinese New Year, and then to Bangkok in
February for a short getaway, followed by girly
trips in April and July. The other months are blank canvases for now,
but a little spontaneity never fails to spice up our lives right? In a bid to lead a healthier lifestyle, I
have been attending yoga lessons, attempting to eat clean by
including more organic food in my diet and trying very hard to go to
bed earlier (still not happening unfortunately).

What about you? What are your priorities?

Whatever your priorities may be, may you be blessed with good health, happiness and a fruitful year ahead!

Beauty, Uncategorized

Kotex Luxe Ultrathin Pads Review

October 20, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

I have to admit that I am superficial, even when it comes to buying sanitary pads. I am drawn to beautiful packaging and more importantly, brands that claim to be thin yet highly absorbent, especially for overnight pads. Kotex LUXE Ultrathin Overnight Pads (32cm) and Day Pads (24cm) stole my heart way before this review came along and I have been a loyal supporter ever since.

Most, if not all ladies experience heavier flow during the first two days of our menstrual cycle and all we want to do is to feel comfortable and dry all day long without having to worry about leakage at any point.

Don’t we all worry about leakage when we are out or when we head to bed? The Kotex LUXE Ultrathin Overnight Pad takes it upon itself to free you from leakages and give you the comfort you deserve with 3x faster absorption. It is the pad that will help you realize that overnight period leakage is never your fault and I speak entirely from experience. I use the Overnight Pad during my heavy flow days and I have nothing but praises for it.

Appearance matters. The sleek black packaging and individually wrapped pads in an array of fun vibrant colours lift up my mood instantly. Gone are the days when you have to hide and feel ashamed of your thick, clinical-looking, diaper-lookalike pad.

The paper-thin pads also come in pretty pastel floral designs that will set your heart aflutter. Indeed, times have changed and aside from its chic packaging, here are more reasons why Kotex LUXE is a notch above the rest:

1) New Honeycomb Liquid Locker

The blue portion of the pads that you see in the pictures below is the new honeycomb liquid locker that is specially designed to absorb and lock away fluids to prevent back flow, keeping your skin dry and comfortable all day.

2) New Ultra Comfort Cover

The soft cottony surface offers intimate care for your skin to ensure that you get the best of both worlds – comfort and dryness.

In my opinion, the level of comfort and dryness is unrivaled even during heavy flow. Both the Kotex LUXE Ultrathin Overnight Pads (32cm) and Day Pads (24cm) are extremely thin and soft yet so incredibly absorbent, they do not irritate your skin and you’ll feel like you are wearing next to nothing.

3) New Surround Lock Protector

Do you see the surrounding embossed star contours? They offer additional leakage protection and security, so you’ll never have to worry again.

I applaud the Kotex LUXE Ultrathin range’s well thought through design and how it goes the extra mile to deliver both comfort and performance is highly commendable. If you have yet to try it for yourself, I strongly recommend that you do. I did, and I never looked back!

Try a free sample of Kotex Ultrathin on Samplestore.com or head over to Kotex’s Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/kotexsingapore to redeem your free sample!

Fashion, Uncategorized

Fashion Fridays: 5 Tips for Styling the Little Black Dress for Fall

October 16, 2015 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

One of the perks of living in a country with four seasons is the endless recipes for personal style. As temperatures dip in Nanjing, I’m all ready to welcome early fall with open arms as it marks the start of the layering season. If you’re interested in how I go about styling my fall and winter outfits, do stay tuned to my Fashion Fridays series every week.

This week, I’ll be sharing more about how I styled everyone’s favourite little black dress for fall. In early fall, temperatures in the day range from 21-26 degrees while temperatures in the night are within the range of 13-18 degrees.

How do you wear the little black dress out without catching a cold at night and still look presentable?

Here are 5 tips from experience:

1. Go for light knit dresses

Light knit dresses are more versatile than their thicker counterparts as you can roll up the sleeves easily in the day when it gets too warm. Another bonus point – you won’t look like a dumpling even after layering when it gets colder.

2. The devil is in the details

This
little black knit dress featured here has cut-out details at the
shoulders (i.e. cold-shoulder style) that add interest to the outfit.
Wear it on its own in the day and throw on a jacket in the evening for a
different look (and also to brave the cold winds of course).

3. Wear a hat

Always
wear a hat out during fall. It helps to shield your face from the sun
in the day and also keeps you warm at night. Plus, it amps up the chic
factor.

4. Wear slightly sheer stockings

Don’t go for the full-on fur lined stockings for fall or you’ll risk sweating buckets in the day. I
prefer to pair slightly sheer black stockings with my little black
dress for both style and practicality. The juxtaposition of opaque black
against slightly sheer black lends dimension to the outfit, so even
though you’re clad in black from head to toe, it doesn’t shout
b-o-r-i-n-g.

Gentle
reminder – don’t go for stockings that are too translucent unless tacky
is your thing and you are not afraid of the cold at night.

5. Go for genuine leather footwear

Genuine
leather footwear is not only more comfortable, they are also more
breathable and versatile. Leather shoes keep your feet cool and dry in
the day, yet sufficiently warm at night.

Coming
from a country that is sunny all year round, I have to admit I am still
wrapping my head around the basic principles of layering, especially
when there are drastic differences in day and night-time temperatures. I am learning as I go along and I hope this post will come in useful for those of you who are traveling to colder countries at this time of the year. If you do have
any other tips, feel free to share them with me too!

Happy Friday and here’s wishing everyone a great weekend ahead!

Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Florida's Natural Juices (Giveaway Winners)

May 17, 2015 by Regina Chow No Comments

I have always been a loyal fan of Florida’s Natural juices and my favourite is their Orange Juice with Most Pulp (Product of USA). Squeezed from Valencia oranges and not from concentrate, it is the next best alternative to having freshly squeezed juice.

Nothing else comes close, and naturally, I couldn’t conceal my excitement when I had the opportunity to be a part of their latest campaign, where I got to find out more about Florida’s Natural range of juices and their multiple uses through 3 challenges (hidden within the envelopes labelled A, B and C in the photo below) that were posed to me.

If you follow me on my Facebook page here, you may already have participated in my recent Florida’s Natural Juices Giveaway where the winner will receive 1-month’s supply of juices from Florida’s Natural. I asked you to choose the sequence in which I should open the envelopes which would determine the order of the challenges that I take up.

Which sequence did I pick in the end?

Who is the winner of this giveaway?

Sorry for keeping you in suspense for so long! The winner of the giveaway will be revealed at the end of this post, but meanwhile, read on to find out more about each challenge.

Challenge B: Cooking (Orange-Sesame Noodles with Grilled Shrimp)

I started with Challenge B, a cooking challenge using Florida’s Natural Orange Juice.

Yes, that’s right. Orange Juice.

Before you start frowning at the idea, I have to tell you that I have tried using freshly squeezed orange juice to marinate shrimps previously. However, this was my first time using Florida’s Natural Orange Juice or any juice straight out of a carton for that matter as a sauce for soba noodles and I wasn’t so sure if it would taste good.

Here’s the recipe if you’re interested in recreating this dish:

Ingredients

1/4 cup fresh orange juice (I used the Most Pulp version)

3 tablespoons tamari

3 tablespoons peanut butter (I used organic unsalted peanut butter, but I think the sinful version would taste better)

2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger

2 teaspoons grated orange zest

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

10 ounce soba noodles

1 cup snow peas

1 carrot, cut into matchsticks (I used baby carrots as they’re sweeter and there’s no need to cut them up)

1.5 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (I used ready cooked frozen shrimp for convenience)

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

Preparation

1. Combine first 7 ingredients in a large bowl to make orange juice sauce.

2. Boil noodles according to package directions. Before draining, add snow peas and carrots to cook for 30 seconds.

3. Drain pasta, peas and carrots and toss immediately with orange juice sauce. Set aside.

4. Brush shrimp with sesame oil and grill over medium-hot stove for 3-5 minutes

5. Arrange pasta on serving plate, topped with shrimps.

And here’s presenting my final dish! I was surprised that it actually tasted better than expected. It had a pleasant nutty taste accompanied by a refreshing citrus flavour. I used organic unsalted peanut butter but I have a gut feel that this would taste better with the more sinful version.

Challenge C: Flatlay (What’s on my table?)

My next pick was Challenge C, which also turned out to be the easiest challenge for me as I love flatlays. I did a flatlay of my favourite beauty products, accessories (the lovely people who packed my challenge chose this gorgeous floral wreath and floral ring for me), and not forgetting Florida’s Natural Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice.

Since we are on the topic of beauty, did you know that grapefruit juice promotes a healthy complexion and helps with weight loss too? It gives you more energy at the same time and decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease too.

Now, I’m sure this gives you ample reasons to start consuming grapefruit juice! I have just started taking grapefruit juice during breakfast every morning so I always have a carton of Florida’s Natural Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice in my fridge. You should try it too!

If you prefer something a little sweeter, you could give Florida’s Natural Cranberry Ruby Red Juice a try. Cranberry juice acts as a sweetener and promotes urinary tract health too, which is perfect for us ladies.

Challenge A: Upcycling (Juice Carton Desk Organiser)

I wished the challenges were as easy as ABC (in that order), but the truth was, I was stumped by Challenge A. I was tasked to upcycle an empty carton of juice and in a nutshell, what this means is I had to make a useful product out of waste materials. I have to say it is a very meaningful task, but handicraft is definitely not one of my strengths.

Thankfully, with the help of my brother who loves art and craft, we managed to convert the juice carton into a desk organizer to store my girly stationery. As frivolous as my pens may look, don’t you agree that they’re so adorable? Looking at them brightens up my day instantly.

If you’re interested in making your own desk organiser, follow the instructions below:

What you need

Empty juice carton

Craft knife

Hole punch

Preparation

1. Thoroughly wash and dry the interior and exterior of the juice carton. Use your craft knife to cut out an entire flap on the side of the carton.

2. Use your hole punch to punch several holes all over the flap that you cut out. Note that you have to use a hole punch that is able to create larger holes. The usual puncher does not work as well, so I used this hole punch that I purchased from Art Friend instead:

3. Use blu tack to stick the reverse side of the flap back onto the side of the carton.

Here’s a close-up of the final product:

I had a lot of fun with these creative challenges and I certainly hope this post has given you a better idea of what you can do with your Florida’s Natural juices.

And now’s the time for the big reveal.

Did you guess the sequence of my challenges correctly?

For those of you who guessed BCA, you could very well be my giveaway winner!

Giveaway Winner Announcement

There are two winners for this giveaway and they will each walk away with 1-month worth of Florida’s Natural Juices.

The winners are:

1) Serene Tay

2) Tan Bee Leng

Please drop me an email at regina.chow@gmail.com. Florida’s Natural will get in touch with you directly to make the necessary arrangements.

Thank you once again for participating in this giveaway. I took a while to sieve through all the comments as there were more than 100 responses!

Missed this giveaway? I’ll be holding giveaways regularly, so do follow me on Facebook here for more updates!

Uncategorized

GROHE Rainshower Flower Collection

December 31, 2014 by Regina Chow No Comments

GROHE is a brand that is synonymous with quality and style when it comes to luxury bathroom fittings. Commonly found in some of the best hotels around the world, many of us would have had the opportunity to experience GROHE during our travels. Being able to replicate GROHE’s unique sensory experience in the comfort of my home has been on my bucket list for a while now, and with GROHE’s new Rainshower Flower Collection, I am finally a step closer to ticking this off my list.

Inspired by tulips, sunflowers and orchids, GROHE’s Rainshower Flower Collection is bound to set your hearts aflutter. An extension of the brand’s popular Rainshower Icon series, this collection features a petal-shaped bumper around the shower head in addition to the trademark halo shower head design and coloured spray face.

If you love flowers or simply wish to inject a splash of colour to your day, this would be the perfect addition to your bathroom. This fresh take on shower heads would resonate well with children and young adults too.

There are six colours for you to choose from, so you can easily pick one that matches your bathroom decor. The “Tulip” model comes in vibrant shades of red and yellow, while the “Sunflower” version combines cheerful shades of orange and yellow. “Daisy” is a mix of white and yellow while its sweeter counterpart, “Orchid”, is the epitome of femininity with a pastel pink halo and white edges. If you prefer darker colours, “Lily”, which comes in white and purple, and “Bluebell”, a combination of white and dark blue, would fit the bill.

I picked “Bluebell” as it complements my bathroom’s grey colour scheme. I love how the flower shower head adds a touch of playfulness to the otherwise sombre surroundings. It definitely perks up my mood in the morning and after a long day at work.

On days when I prefer something different, I can also choose to remove the petal-shaped bumper to reveal GROHE’s signature halo shower head design.

Design aside, my shower experience has also improved by leaps and bounds. My bathroom is equipped with a rainshower that was installed separately, but it pales in comparison to the GROHE Rainshower Flower. Personally, I feel that the water flow from GROHE’s shower head is much gentler and more soothing.

Listening to the pitter patter of raindrops as they give my body a pampering massage is such a relaxing and indulgent experience, I can certainly foresee myself taking longer showers from now on.

All Rainshower Flower Collection models are manufactured using GROHE’s DreamSpray technology, which is the same technology used in all its Rainshower variants. They also share the GROHE StarLight chrome finish, which ensures that they will retain their sheen for many years to come.

GROHE’s Rainshower Flower Collection is now retailing at S$177 at all authorized GROHE outlets.

Uncategorized

All-New 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis: The Legend Redefined

September 2, 2014 by Regina Chow 3 Comments

Despite its
sleek exterior, the essence
of Toyota Corolla Altis actually lies in its functionality – which is what I
appreciate even more amidst a hectic lifestyle. Attending events, meeting
friends at different corners of Singapore and running errands are just some of
the activities which I have to juggle from day to day. Not to mention the frequent
traffic jams and the maddening crowd on public transport, which makes hassle-free driving
so important for me.

The Toyota
Corolla Altis has been thoughtfully built to make driving much simpler. The intelligent
functions will automatically turn on the car’s headlights when it is dark,
activate the wipers when it rains (even adjusting the wiper speed to the level
of rain) and dim the rear-view mirror when it detects glare from the cars
behind. Talk about convenience at your fingertips! The Nanoe auto-climate aircon is another well thought through feature which eliminates odour and cleans the air as it cools.

The Toyota
Corolla Altis certainly keeps up with technology, which has increasingly become an integral part
of our lives. The touch-screen multi-information
display, Bluetooth and USB port are part of the package too. Personally, I really appreciate the in-built GPS and rear-cam which comes
on in reverse gear. The keyless sensor is also extremely useful for me, especially when I have to
carry numerous items for my weekend fashion shoots. For once,I don’t have to fumble for my car key
to unlock the door!

The car’s spaciousness is another feature that I fell in love with. My male
friends
who sat at the rear of the car commented on the abundant leg-room, and I
found out
that it is because Toyota increased the vehicle wheelbase by 100mm as
well as
moved the rear-seat back by 75mm and adopted a slim front seat back.

The
middle
spine, which is a huge inconvenience to ladies wearing
skirts,
has also been flattened by re-routing the exhaust pipes beneath the
vehicle.

Did you know that the 470-litre boot space is also able easily contain 4 golf bags? More amazingly, you can also expand the boot further by lowering the rear seats, which translates to more luggage space and room for
my shopping!

Despite the extra room, Toyota actually managed to reduce
the turning radius to
a mere 5.4m which is great for executing those ridiculously narrow U-turns near my home.

Finally, let’s talk about the car’s performance, which I dare say is truly
commendable.

Although its
engine is only 1.6 litre, it boasts power output of 121 bhp and 154 Nm torque –
making it one of the most powerful 1.6-litre Asian sedans on the road. I can sense the smoothness as I cruise along
the expressways, but I had to be careful as it already hits 110km/h at 2000rpm
and it doesn’t even feel so fast.

Plus, that speed is achieved with an
impressive fuel economy of 6.5-litre/100km, which means you can easily cover more than 15km mileage
for every litre of fuel. Given the high price of COE, you really need other
cost factors of car ownership to be as economical as possible.

Toyota cars have always been known for their fuel efficiency, but even then, this is no mean feat. I had to be in multiple locations all over Singapore for a fashion shoot, family gatherings and meet-up with friends over the weekend and despite driving from morning till night for two days, the fuel tank was still full!

If
functionality is your key priority when it comes to car hunting, you
can be assured that the Toyota Corolla Altis is well placed to meet, or even surpass your
requirements. This baby certainly exceeded my expectations when it comes to practicality and I had a wonderful time driving it around all weekend!

For more information on Toyota Corolla Altis, do visit the Toyota Corolla Altis website.

Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE Singapore

What’s unique about Four Seasons Spa
& L’OCCITANE?

Néroli & Orchidée Relaxing Massage (90
minutes)

Exclusive One-Day Wellness Getaway at Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE

2015 Travel Recap & Priorities in 2016

Kotex Luxe Ultrathin Pads Review

Fashion Fridays: 5 Tips for Styling the Little Black Dress for Fall

Florida's Natural Juices (Giveaway Winners)

Sponsored Video: #changedestiny Beyond the Limits of My DNA – Misa Kuranaga

GROHE Rainshower Flower Collection

All-New 2014 Toyota Corolla Altis: The Legend Redefined

About Me

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What’s unique about Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE?

Néroli & Orchidée Relaxing Massage (90 minutes)

***Exclusive One-Day Wellness Getaway at Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE***

About Me

Searching for a post?

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

What’s unique about Four Seasons Spa
& L’OCCITANE?

Néroli & Orchidée Relaxing Massage (90
minutes)

Exclusive One-Day Wellness Getaway at Four Seasons Spa & L’OCCITANE