"Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!"

“Champagne makes you feel like it’s Sunday and better days are just around the corner." (Marlene Dietrich)


Champagne brunches on a Sunday in Singapore are an institution with all the major hotels hosting at least one. Starting between 11am and 12pm, and going on for 3 to 4 hours they are more 'unch' than 'br'.



With a variety of buffet stations invariably including seafood, sushi, roast, omelette, cheese and pudding sections there is food for all pallets. Also included is free flow champagne, red and white wine and fruit juice along with speciality drinks depending on the venue such as champagne cocktails, bloody marys and martinis. Thankfully, there's a cool website that researches all the best places for us! http://www.singaporesundaybrunch.com/

A photo of one of my courses - the full Sunday brunch with Yorkshire puddings, gravy, roast beef!
My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne." (John Meynard Keynes)

Not wanting to have regrets in life, we've jumped into the brunches once a month. For us girls, it's a good chance to get together, talk, quaff champers, and stuff our faces with fine food! For the first brunch, we hit Senso...smaller then the big hotels but with an extra hour for the Proseco. Delicious!


This past Sunday, we upped the glam and hit the Ritz Carlton. FANCY! With over 50 cheeses to choose from, a seafood spread, and Moet and Chandon on FREE-FLOW, we were in heaven!
"Three be the things I shall never attain: envy, content and sufficient Champagne." (Dorothy Parker)

Bond...James Bond!

599 movies are released into cinemas every year...that doesn't include the made-for-TV movies or the Bollywood films; we are flooded with things to watch and with CSI on almost every night, it's a wonder anyone has time for anything else.

Going to the cinema is fun. The popcorn, the previews, the martinis! Wait; what makes me excited are events! Events with martinis are even better. Events with martinis, dresses, tuxedos and...James Bond! What a brilliant night!

Held at the Mandarin Oriental (swish, just like Bond!) I met up with my friend Rebecca. She invited me to a great event: James Bond, Quantum of Solace in Singapore!

We met at a meditation class. We can meditate ANYWHERE!

We ate canapes, we drank themed martinis (Dr. No, Goldfinger, Casino Royale) and then we took a bus. All of us - in our tuxedos and Bond dresses!

Then, we watched the Quantum of Solace in Gold Class. Gold Class is the best way to watch movies; you have a waiter on call, a blanket, a recliner and a huge screen...plus a long list of drinks, food and surround sound.

This event was organized by my new friend Per. I don't know if he wants to be friends but we are kindred spirits by the fact that we like to get people together and plan things (in our free time/at work) for them to do.

This is Mark and Simone...some glamorous friends of Per's that came along to the event. They are now my friends. See how easy it is! People love events!

Most of this crowd works at DHL. (Good use of office time Per!) Now, I'll include them in my events!

The movies rates in at 7/10 but the party was a definite 10/10!

Bobbi Brown

Had a lovely evening getting glammed up with Bobbi Brown! For $80, you got a free make-up session, hair session and then a photo with a luxury lifestyle car. Plus, an $80 voucher for Bobbi Brown products! Seemed like an excellent deal to me...

Had the cutest Singaporean doing my make-up who noticed that yes, white people like to look more bronzed and Asians like to look more white. No, I did not want to bleach my skin.
Then, had the photo session with the yellow Saab - a fun car to have! Did I mention that this was held in the middle of Vivo City...one of Singapore's busiest shopping malls on a Friday night?! Keep smiling!

Nadine's Cookies

Heavenly cookies first given to me by my lovely friend Nadine. She also kindly passed on the recipe. I love it when people are generous with their secrets! I made a few yesterday for Pene's birthday - she loves a good sweet too! The cookies are nice and chunky - the rolled oats gives them substance while the chocolate and pecans make them decadent. Perfect with a coffee!

Nadine's Cookies

1 1/3 cups rolled oats (try to get Sanitarium brand as they're the best)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup (113g) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 c)Grease cookie sheets

In a medium bowl, mix together butter, egg and vanilla. Stir in all other dry ingredients, you may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut size balls.

Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 11 -13 mins. Cool on wire racks

Thirty One-derful things about me!

1. I've read every Nancy Drew hardcover (yellow!) and treasure my 50 N.D. Files series.
2. I started wearing glasses in Grade 4.
3. I believe a little glitter never hurt anyone or anything.
4. I love coffee and cupcakes any time; breakfast is a good place to start.
5. I could go to Bali every month for the rest of my life.
6. My favourite martini is an icy-cold dirty martini with extra blue cheese olives.
7. I love paper! Cards, textured paper, scraps, patterns, wrapping,...
8. My favourite teacher was Mrs. Friesen in Grade 4. I phoned her when we went on a family trip...just to see how she was doing during the school break.
9. I am a first born.
10. I enjoy a little Guns and Roses to get the party started.
11. One of my first crafts was a beautiful piece of shiny paper I got from a chocolate bar. I made it into a hairclip and wore it to school. It looked lovely until the boys in my class said that I was wearing garbage in my hair.
12. I eat pickled herring out of the jar.
13. I love the desert and have been to see 3 major ones.
14. I'd like to get a French Bulldog. His name would be Monsieur Gaston Bow-wow.
15. I made a pair of Hammer pants. And wore them to a school dance. With a matching scrunchie for my side ponytail. You can't touch this!
16. Abba and the Beatles make me retch.
17. I like to make lists. Preferably with things already completed that I can cross off.
18. Steak and red wine is an excellent meal.
19. Tiffany was my first concert.
20. Childhood heroes - Elizabeth Manly, Princess Leia, Nancy Drew, Murphy Brown.
21. Adult heroes - Jimmy Carter, Tamara Mellon, Angelina Jolie, Melissa Banks
22. My "Taste of Africa" wine party ended with dirt being thrown.
23. My "White and Bling" party ended with 30 people in the swimming pool.
24. My first fondue party started with the tablecloth being lit on fire.
25. I've finished 24 out of a 100 homes I plan to build/help out with Habitat for Humanity.
26. I don't like ice cream.
27. I'd love a winter wedding, with all the trees covered in hoar frost, so I don't have to go out there on the day of it and spray them myself.
28. I've been reading magazines for 15 years and still love them, collect a few and think I should work at one (free magazines!).
29. I love the smell of Beautiful perfume.
30. I used to crimp my hair.
31. I'm only just getting started!

"Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself."
- Rita Mae Brown

Some kind of wonderful!

Thirty one-derful that is! I'm into a new year and it's going to be great. I'm living in a cozy cottage, right in the heart of the city, where I can craft to my heart's content. I am getting lots of work as a supply teacher, am working part-time at the Holland school, tutoring and am dreaming up a few other ideas too. My friends are all doing well with good news in their lives - babies, apartments, big contracts, weddings, etc. It's the start of a wonderful year!

The birthday was celebrated with a small group of good friends at Broth - Bistro Restaurant On The Hill. Attentive service, decent portions and nice decor. A hit with us! http://www.broth.com.sg/

I hope this space gradually improves as I learn the tricks of the trade, add more photos, martini recipes and news.

I plan to end each post with a quote. Today it's one of my favourites,
"Never date a man whose belt buckle is bigger then his head."

Getting Started!

This Girl About Town has so many ideas zooming around her head, she doesn't know where to start. Many an hour has been spent reading Miss Saucy's blog and loving every post. More hours have been spent exploring her recommended sites, Miss Jessica's personal site and blogs in general. I'm going to jump into it!

"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful." - Mae West