Urban Remedy Detox

I decided to do a detox program prior to my trip to HK because if I may confess, I have been on a diet since Jun this year. The diet is not a strict one but merely to cut out fast food and carbs. It was worrying on how much food I would be stuffing my face when I go to HK so why not give myself a full cleanse for 3 days before hand?

I also managed to score $20 off by linking them to my FB. It is not cheap though. even after discount, each juice works out to be just over $10. I was delivered 3 days worth of juices with a cute cooler bag. You have 6 juices per day and you drink them according to the numbers every 2 hours.  My personal summary of the juices are per below:

Juice 1 - tasted healthy with slightly gagging factor. I think it could be de to cucumber... (consists of apple, lemon, cos lettuce, celery, silverbeet, parsley, cucumber)

Juice 2 - Very nice and sweet. (I would love to have more mints, very refreshing, consists of pineapple, apple & mint), This juice is def something I would love to make myself in future for summer.

Juice 3 - I can't work out which I like less, Juice 1 or Juice 3?( consists orange, acai berry, cucumber, pineapple, carrot, broccoli) really not liking carrot and cucumber.. ewww

Juice 4 - This looks quite scary but I actually like it because I like the taste of beetroot. (Consists of beetroot, carrot, aple, lemon, spriulina and ginger) again, I would love to have more ginger. This is prob my 2nd or 3rd favourite.

Juice 5 - this tasted like lemon water to me, I kept on wanted to heated it up and add some honey. (consists lemon, water, agave nectar and cayenne pepper) This juice is good to drink during the afternoon when you are thirsty. 

Juice 6 - I have to say I did not drink much of this juice... because I wasn't very hungry by then. It has raw cashews, cinnamon, coconut milk, agave nectar, vanilla bean and water.

During the whole time, extreme hunger didn't really hit me.  I am not sure why... I like some juices alot but some of them I really have problem finishing.

I also felt very cold all the time because the juices have to be refrigeratored to keep fresh and I decided to do this at winter... Another problem was the constant visits to the toilet... But that is flashing your toxin out. 

I actually stopped on the 2nd day after juice 4, I was determined to do this detox and not cheat at all. However after I finished juice 3 on day 2, I felt really cold as well as this gagging sensation. I thought I would have Juice 4 sooner because I like the taste it. And somehow very soon after juice 4, the feeling on gagging got worse and I ended up throw up in the toilet. Warm beetroot juice definitely didn't taste good :(

The only explanation I can think of is because I drank the juices too quickly one after another. I pretty much have them 1.5hr apart. Or maybe I am not suitable drinking this many varieties juices.... So I quit the detox there and then. Went to Izakaya Den for dinner... yummy!!

I liked the detox idea, and to be honest, I would still consider doing this again in summer because it would be alot easier and refreshing. I hope there is an option for ppl to choose opting some ingredients out. I can force myself to drink juices I don't like so much but if my body rejects them and I ended up throwing up, it is better not to include them in the firs place...

Oscar, we were not meant to be....

Beautiful Navy box tied with black bow arrived one day.

Revealed my pretty...

The exquisite embellishment and the exotic snakeskin leather.

But it was only a dream.... 
When I woke up eventually;
They were gone...




damn size 36!!!


(Oscar de la Renta ballet flats)

Melbourne sun rays are deceiving. Sunny but freezing....

Just a quick recap on the past weekend, we visited some friends who were staying at Rye, we were meant to stay as well but I decided to stay back at Melbourne spending sometime with my parents before they fly back to Asia. It was a really fun day, we visited a private owned garden full of maze and compete in teams... Tried lavender ice-cream and it really tasted odd to me...

On Sunday we were running errands for my parents and I wore the below:

(Thurley wool top, Manning Cartell silk top, Siwy jeans, A.Wang Rocco Mini bag)

I love my Rocco Mini but the bag is really becoming very dirty... The photo looks really weird because it was too yellow and I was changing the color/contrast. Very bad job indeed.



I don't know if I have mentioned this but since August this year my weekends have been filled with different activities and it really contradicts my version of "weekend"..


I remember reading an article once about how it is very modern that people fill their weekends with different social activities and packed all to the max. I was thinking to myself that I would never do that because for me, weekends are for sleeping in and laze around... doing things at my own pace. And little did I know, I am becoming one of those when my friend wants to do a quick catch up, I would be like "when? oh let me check my blackberry.... hm... I have a lunch then busy at night, how about we do a 2hour coffee/shopping in the arvo?" that just sounds so snobbish! Anyway, I think as the weather gets warmer I probably will have less time to myself. Maybe I just have to get used to it. 

My travel outfit and essentials

I really don't fly that much but a recent trip to HK got me thinking about what items do ones really need when they fly. As I don't have the luxury of flying business or first class...yet! (one day... one day.... ) I don't get to have a roomy seat (or should I say roomy bed?!) and have to endure almost sitting up the whole flight. I have tried to pack items that will make my flight as comfortable as it can be. 


I have no patience when it comes to flying and any tiny thing will have me very frustrated. One of the biggest frustration for me is sitting close to a crying baby.... On my flight back from S'pore to Melbourne, I had not one not two but FIVE babies around me and they took turns cry and scream. I can totally understand  there is really nothing you can do because that is what babies do. But it was pretty frustrating for me to even fall asleep with all these crying around me for a good 8 hours... and I had earphones on! 


Anyway rant over, so this is what I wore at the last HK trip:

(Witchery crop jacket, Temt navy harem style pants, Chanel CC necklace)

* The harem pants are so comfortable and lucky sweat pants/harem pants are in this year, so I can wear it w/o being too casual. I don't know I still feel uncomfortable flying in trackies...
* I would always carry a light jacket even to a tropical country, this 3/4 sleeve crop jacket is from Witchery SS10/11 I will bring a shawl for extra warmth and socks to wear on the plane as my feet always gets cold.
* Witchery top again very comfortable and the Chanel necklace IMo kinda style up the outfit so it is not too meh.
* trusty YSL Downtown not shown in the photo it fits so much and extremely light...

(I don't know why such face... stupid much?) 

For my other essentials in the bag, other than the passports/glasses/phone. I will pack the below. I used an A5 document bag which is much more durable than what they give you at the airport)

(By Terry Light expert, Smashbox under eye brightener, Nars Super Organsm, Make-Up Forever aqua eyes, Rosebud slave, Prescrptives super flight cream & Neutrogena fine fairness uv lotion)

* By Terry light expert: love this dewy foundation even it is expensive for the amount the tube holds. It is portable and easy to blend. I use very little just to even out the skintone and it smells great.
* Smashbox under eye brightener: Must cover the dark circles, I don't know anyone who doesn't have dark circles after a long flight. This is a sample I got. Don't love it but does the job.
* Nars Super organism: can be a bit over the top during normal days but really comes in handy when I need to brighten the face up esp make up is so minimal.
* MUF eyeliner: best one I have used, glide on easily and doesn't smudge.
* Rosebud Slave: I used it on my lips, cuticles or dry patches on the face. Love the rosy scent.
* Prescrptives super flight cream: especially formulated to nourish and revive climate - drained skin. It can be used as mask or moisturiser. Perfect. I usually lather a heavy layer as mask after cleansing my face. It is safe to use around the eyes too. This cream really makes a difference for my skin. (my face still look horrible with the dark circles. damn no sleeping)
* Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV lotion (SPF 50+ PA +++): I think you can only get this from Asia. I love the high SPF and it is very light & watery. Might be a tad too dry for Aussie land but perfect for hot humid HK. Always crucial to have sunscreen on.
* Neutrogena make up wies: (not in photo)I really love this product because my face feels so refreshed afterwords compare to other brands I have tried. This is especially handy when I am stuck at the window seat and too lazy to get out.


Voila, time for holiday. :)


I tend to try drinking as much water as I can without visiting the toilet because I hate to keep on asking people to let me pass through. I usually give the air plane food a miss also. And it might come as a shock from me but I don't drink alcohol either for my skin's sake. I tried to sleep and immerse myself on the in flight enterainment. I think the best scenario for me would be, onto the plane, have water, clean my face and put mask on, sleep and wake up on arrival un-interrupted. But this never happens..... boo........ 


This a a long post... maybe I will end it with everyone's favourite, Mr. Muffie. He was watching me taking photos for this post but I think he got so bored so he dozed off....

I have to show you this

it is too cute for words!

(baby w my godson, he kicks his legs when he is happy, so cute!)

I always heart thee

Oriental pearl, forever charming. I just love the buzz.
Managed to have 5 days break to Hong kong. I was so glad that I can escape the cold/rains/hails in Melbourne and meet baby from his way back from his India business trip.
It was end of Summer in Hong Kong. So Stuffy and Humid.
I love it. 
I feel like home. 
I can't deny all the loud noises jolt me and I was even scared to cross the road if it has no traffic light. 
But it just felt so comfortable and I was feeling like I was walking on the clouds. (literally because I was dizzy the whole time...)

Also managed to caught up with a couple of my girlfriends via High Tea at Four Seasons. It is sad that all 5 of us are scatter around the world and we actually have to find a 'middle point' to meet... it was always so sweet seeing how my babes.


And who can overlook the food!! I had japanese 3 nights out of 5. 
I was so happy. Too Happy.


I might put on another post just about food.

(roast goose from yun gi)

Last but not the least. My bestie and my god son. He is an angel. I was experiencing withdraw symptoms when I got back to Melbourne. I can't stop thinking about his cute face!! 

(Mr. fashionsta is spotted with vintage H&M tee)

I know it has been too long since I blogged. 

I will try to catch up. For now, I need to try to knock myself unconscious as I only slept about 4 hrs each for the last 3 nights...

Wish to be amazed @ Maze

It has been ages.... like way too long.
Last time I entered an entry, the weather was still bearable.
Now the average temp is around 12 every single day teaming with rain, hail & icy winds.
Winter has set deep in indeed. It is a very cold year this year.
I am feeling so uninspired about blogging.

Oh and that I am using my really shitty Sony Camera...
The photo editing afterwords drive me insane. Have to make myself bring out the D90 next time instead of pulling my hair out while editing photos on ACDsee (another reason annoys me but let's not get into that for now.)


Not that my life has been boring.
Actually I ate out quite a lot in the last few months,
I think I just can't be bothered to blog about it.
Thought I would try to get back in by adding my last night's experience dining at one of the latest creations by Gordon Ramsay - Maze Restaurant.

I was very excited about this dinner because the reviews I came across have been mainly positive and their degustation is so reasonably priced... I used the online booking which instantly confirm the availability and really appreciated that. I am mildly annoyed with all these casual-hence-do-not-take-booking dining venues popping up in Melbourne these days because they are so popular (due to the food not the no booking policy) it is a norm to wait between 30min to 1.5 hrs... on week nights! (Mamasita anyone?) which I think really defeat the whole 'casual no-booking' policy. Maybe they just want you to keep on drinking while waiting at the bar... Anyways...

We opted the chef menu and started with fresh bread (of some sort) and seaweed butter which everyone raved. The seaweed taste came through beautifully but I exercised self control knowing we have 7 dishes ahead.

Marinated beetroot with goats curd, cabernet sauvignon vinaigrette, toasted pine nuts: The combination of beetroot with goats curd are really nice. The tang of the beetroot made my mouth water and really get ready to enjoy the dishes later on.

Applewood smoked kingfish, fennel puree, pickled celery, globe artichoke & finger limes: first of the 3 courses diner can choose between 2 dishes. I purely chose this because babe opted for the other. Tasted lovely but didn't really impress me.

Seared yellow fin tuna, white radish, yuzu, enoki mushrooms & black garlic: the other choice other than Kingfish. This was probably the best dish of the night for ALL of us. The melt-in-your-mouth tuna teamed with what I thought being miso sauce (mayb it is yuzu) was just simply divine. Love this!

Pan seared scallop, caramelised kelp, samphire, mussels & champagne foam: famous dish of Maze. Quite nice probably my 2nd favourite. The scallop were actually from Canada which surprised me a bit because GR is all about fresh local produce isn't it?

Pan roasted barramundi, butternut squash, compressed cucumber; pumpkin seeds: 2nd choice to do of the night. I didn't choose this even though barramundi is probably my fav fish atm. I cook them alot at home myself. Actually I think that is why I decided to go for the quail. I only had a bite and it was ok if not a tad dry. I was told the fish skin were very crispy. 

Quail with vegies: errr just realised this dish is actually not on their site hence my poor description. The quail has fast becoming a favourite ingredient of restaurants in recent years. I had tried the best one ever from The Press Club and I just thought I would give it a try again. (not a big fan of quail esp done Chinese-canton way). Beautiful platting and I think they only take the best parts of the quail and lightly fried. (they were from Bendigo btw) Very tasty but not as juicy as I hoped. Maybe I should just go back to The Press Club... 

Lamb Cannon; shoulder, cauliflower puree anchovy, stinging nettles: last choice of the night for us to make which is not mine as I am not a big fan of lamb. And turned out a bit too lamb-y for everyone's liking. I only had a little bit.

Ox "tongue & cheek" caper; raisin, carrots; horseradish pomme puree: my last savoury dish and it is hm.... alright. Tasted very much like braised beef that my mum makes but with western sauce. The tongue has been braised for perhaps too long and lost its special texture that you go for when you order tongue... the carrots was actually very sweet. 

Have to say... something about the main courses, each components just didn't seem to compliment each other well enough IMO... Moving on to deserts, please excuse the blur pix, actually please excuse the shit photos, the dim lighting and my crap camera produced the worst possible photos. My Sony has this amazing ability to take blur photos even I have turned on: close focus, dim-lighting, auto-focus-at-nights. go figure.... argh!

another dish not included on the web menu. I remember it being passion fruit sobert and merigue with some fresh fruit: they are nice and sour which I love in a desert.

Maze "lamington", rosella jam with coconut sorbet crisp teamed with chiffon cake: a slight variation from the website again. Lamington is rich in chocolate and my favourite parts of the dish were the coconut sorbet with the crisp. I actually didn't finish this dish because a chocolate desert has to be amazing to make me finish all. (like that one from Jacques Raymond)

A pleasant surprise at the end, I think it is strawberry ice cream coated with white chocolate. I really liked it actually. Wish I could had 2 or 3. We were also given a little bag with sugar/chocolates to take home.

All in all, I think the chef's menu of $95 for 7 courses is really good value for money. However the whole menu lacks certain something to really impress me... 15hours on, I can only remember beetroot/goats curd and the tuna. I recently visited Embrasse whom proudly procure many local produces in their dishes and they were simply mind-blowing. I think I am slightly confused at what Maze is trying to achieve as it is not really a casual dining joint, yet the dishes are slightly too simple for a fine dining restaurant seeing its very modern deco/ formal service. 


Furthermore, apparently all the dishes are designed to be shared OR order more than just your usual entree/main/desert. But the serving sizes are leaning to the petite side...even for degustation. The boys actually commented on how they ain't very full after all 7 courses + bread. And to be honest, with $95 p.p budget, I can get an amazing entree and descent steak from Rockpool Bar&Grill. The service is friendly however I felt a little rushed at times perhaps I just eat too slow. 

I never think my blog is a foodie one and I don't think I am capable reviewing the food like a pro food critic esp with my fobby English.  At the end of the day I just want to record the food I have because my memories are getting really rustic. I feel I was perhaps expected too much from GR/Maze but I had a fantastic time with babe and 2 dear friends. That is what matter the most.  After dinner we walked to Crown and shops were still open so we went shopping. You can't get any better than that. :)

maze Melbourne
Level 1, Crown Metropol
Corner of Whiteman and Clarendon Streets,
Southbank, Victoria 3006 

sleepless night... yet again!

awww so pissed right now... 
I did a post and something happened..
so the whole editor only left with the letter 'n'
!!!!


Great this makes me even less sleepy. Just Great. 
Someone come over and smack me unconscious. 
These sleepless nights are getting too much.
I have been experiencing difficulty to sleep well in the last couple months.
Not every single night but most nights I would toss and turn for hours.... sometimes still awake at 4 or 5 am... on a Work Day.
Despite my no-intake on caffeine.
I really don't understand why esp I used to be someone who sleeps ALot. 


Vaguely... I think I know what is happening.
My life has changed fair a bit this year... 
I cannot say for better or worse... 
but whatever happening around has made me very anxious about my future
This covers almost all aspects...
Of cos instead of worrying I should really just get onto them but I have to admit. 
I am not moving things fast enough.... almost procrastinating even...
I don't understand... 
It is not me afraid the unknown but I am afraid of something I do not know.


Anyhow... no point stand in one spot and worrying. I should really get onto them!
Not that I have more years to waste on my hands... 


To finish this post on a happier note, 
here I present you a series of photos of one of Muffie's fav past time
The reason I said it is one of his favourite is because he doesn't do much apart sleeping all day
so I can only guess the remaining activity being one of his favourite...

Muffie: time to start grooming

Muffie: it is important to check where extra attention is required

Muffie: hard working is me!

Muffie: close the eyes and enjoy the moment

Muffie: time to sleep as soon as I am done.

Like the beat beat beat of the tom-tom

      

         

When the jungle shadows fall

Like the tick tick tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall
Like the drip drip drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you
Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon or under the sun
Whether near to me, or far
Its no matter darling where you are
I think of you


Day and night, night and day
Under the hide of me
There's an oh such a hungry yearning burning inside of me
And this torment wont be through
Until you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night.
~~ written by Cole Porter


Yup it has been 3 weeks. Since the last long weekend.
I have been holding myself back really really hard.
But for how much longer??


Alexander Wang Baby/Mini Rocco
photo credits: tpf 

patterns and frills can actually match

Anyone who knows me would totally agree with me that I love frills. 

I always pick up frills when I go shopping so I have really restrained myself not to buy them so often

Came across this lovely Karen Walker dress a while ago when I was shopping for The outfit for babe's bday party.

I loved it but didn't ended up getting it as it wasn't cocktail enough for me

Destiny led me back to him a few weeks ago when I drop by Green With Envy (yes I do happen to drop by and that is My story and I am Sticking to it!)

I met him again and somehow he told me he is 50% off so I have to take him home.

Karen Walker A/W 10 Gypsy Tea Dress (look 35)

Just realised it looks so much nicer with the belt. Maybe I should try that. The above is actually the back of the dress and I think the gold zip adds something extra. The patterns make the frills almost hard to recognise IRL.

          

Wore the dress to H* birthday dinner a couple weeks ago with Asos over the knee boots. So comfortable and the 3/4 sleeve black jacket is from Rodeo Show. (gosh I take terrible outfits photos of myself... bleh..)