Monday Bits and Bobs

Happy Monday- I hope that all of you had a lovely weekend. As the weekend came to an end there were a few things on my mind that I wanted to share.

I wanted to let you know that Lola's Secret Beauty Blog was named one of the Top 20 Beauty Blogs of 2013. I am very honored to be included on this list! The press release was announced here.

I think perhaps there is something inherently wrong with

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog Makes the Coveted Top 20 Beauty Blogs of 2013!

I wanted to let you know that Lola's Secret Beauty Blog was named one of Top 20 Beauty Blogs of 2013. I was very honored to be included on this list! The press release was announced here.

This is how I was described,

With an art history background, Lola Seicento gives skincare and makeup tips and reviews to make beauty a true artform.



I am unbelievably flattered, honored and humbled!

Black Sheep Cafe | A Re-Visit

10th August 2013
Posted by Xin Li and Mu Yao. Photographs by Mu Yao.
Just about a couple of weeks after the visit to Black Sheep Café, I was back again to try some of the new items on menu and their lunch set menu which cost 26 – 29.50 SGD depending on whether you are getting 2 or 3 courses. Both comes with tea or coffee from Puro (:

Before I move on to the new items, I just got to order the Cheeky Pork on Sauteed Greens and Pear with Orange Glaze (28.50 SGD). It was good, the pork itself was very tender and the wrapped around the tender flesh is a crispy (but rather fatty) pork skin. Together with the orange glaze, it was really good.

Mu Yao:
Had nothing to say other than the fact that I'm a sucker for savoury and sweet things mixed together. The sweetness of the orange glaze was saccharine enough to balance the rich savoury taste of the pork, which is brilliant.

The set lunch menu was too heavy on the palate in my opinion, both starters, the Goat Cheese Salad and the Mushroom Soup (originally asparagus but it ran out so it was changed to mushroom) were rather quite heavy in terms of flavour and texture.

Mu Yao:
I loved the Goat Cheese Salad as a starter because I am quite a sucker for cheeses. The rich, heady creaminess of the goat cheese arrested me with a slight smokiness, complemented wonderfully with the tart tomatoes and the mesclun salad. The walnuts were a lovely touch as well, sealing in all that dairy creamy goodness with a smoky nutty taste and texture.

For the choice of mains, you could opt for the Duck Confit Crepe, a cream-based pasta or the beef fillet which are again heavy dishes in my opinion. All of my friends had the Duck Confit Crepe which proved to be underwhelming in the sense that the dish doesn’t do justice to the actual duck confit that Chef Ratha serves, the duck here was not as tender and while the mushroom cream sauce was pretty good, the dish gets monotonous towards the end. The addition of relish and cherry tomatoes helps to compensate for that but more variation in textures could have helped.

Mu Yao:
What I really appreciated was the sweet and spicy cherry tomato/pepper relish by the side, which broke the monotonous creaminess of the sauce. It was very uniform, and got a bit sick of it after eating everything, and I would have appreciated more flavours enticing my mouth. It was pretty underwhelming, and the heavy sauce sort of drowned out the actual taste of the duck itself. While it wasn't dry, it was slightly sinewy as well. I definitely recommend his mains, which I think, are much better.

In the original lunch set menu, the dessert was supposed to be a Crème Brulee, another heavy dessert. Thankfully we were able to request for a change to a Pear Crumble beforehand because one of my friends was a fan of his crumble dessert the last time we had a celebration at Black Sheep Café. Thankfully the desserts left a good overall impression, my friends enjoyed their Pear Crumble with Rum and Raisin Ice Cream a lot.

Mu Yao:
This dessert was a hit because of the slightly over-ripe pears inside that made the difference — a creamy sweetness and tenderness that melted into the rest of the crumble so well. I appreciated the wonderful fruits and that provided nice flavour contrasts, which are always a good thing.

For me, I had the Chocolate Boudini (9.50 SGD). Both Mu Yao and I think it is supposed to be “boudin” which means “pudding”. This dessert is probably Chef Ratha’s re-worked Flourless Chocolate Tart. It is like a lava cake embedded with grilled bananas and berries, topped off with a scoop of quality rum and raisin ice cream. I enjoyed it a lot. The fruits really help to balance the rich chocolate content in the dessert. Chef Ratha is still working to improve on this chocolate gem.

Overall, Black Sheep Café is still settling into its new haven at Thomson V, while the ambiance has been great and the food was pretty delicious, there are still things to iron out such as the set lunch menu which Chef Ratha is aware of . As of now, he is working to roll out a new set lunch menu in the near future.

Black Sheep Café
Thomson V, Basement 1
11 Sin Ming Road
Singapore 575629

Bistro @ Changi | Through Mu Yao's Lens

29th July 2013. 

Posted by Xin Li. Photographs by Mu Yao

A few days ago, I posted about Bistro@Changi. Mu Yao and another friend were with me too and here's Mu Yao's perspective!

Mushroom soup. Yum.

Satay! Not too bad, quite like this.

 Lamb. Was the best dish of the day.

A wonderful dinner at Bistro@Changi.

Bistro@Changi

260 Nicoll Drive

Changi Beach Carpark 1

Singapore 498991

Operating Hours

Mon - Thurs             12pm - 11pm

Fri, Sat                   12pm - 1am

Sun                       10am - 11pm

How to Get There:

Bus Services : - 89, 19, 9

Alight at Changi Beach CP 2 Bus Stop.

5 Japanese Fashion Trends You Wouldn't Expect-The Nectar Collective

We're baaaack! Unfortunately. Why does it always seem like vacation is just one day too short? I can't complain though, we had an amazing time exploring Cambodia and getting some much needed R&R, a rarity for us. So while I recoup...and catch up on the laundry and cleaning...I have a good blogging friend of mine, Melyssa filling in for me. Have you met Melyssa yet? If not I strongly advice you go check out her page (as soon as you read her post below of course). This girl is like a ball of sunshine and is quickly spreading joy through the inter-webs through her posts about positivity and DIY projects that can't help but put a smile on your face. She also has a pretty awesome link up and is my partner in crime for the Snail Mail Collective (which the pairings are now closed but you can always sign up next month!). But enough of what I think, let's get on with the main even! Below Melyssa shares some...unique fashion trends of Japan.

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Hey everyone! My name is Melyssa and I blog over at The Nectar Collective. I'm a California girl currently living and growing in Tokyo, Japan with my dog, Monja. I blog about all sorts of things, but generally stick to travel and positivity. I'd love for you to join me! Now that I've lived in Japan for a couple years, I've caught onto a lot of the fashion trends and traditions that pervade this little country. I also think Japanese city-dwellers generally have impeccable style and sometimes I find myself in Harajuku observing how much more swag everyone has than me. However, there are some other fashion trends in Japan that you might not have expected or known about. Today, I'm sharing five of those lesser known Japanese styles so that if you ever come to Tokyo, you'll fit in like a native (I'm still working on that one).

1. Scrunchies

via

I'm pretty sure if I ever rocked a scrunchy in California, someone would utter the words, where'd you get that? The 90s?  Unfortunately in the States, scrunchies are still associated with Lisa Frank and teeny boppers (the Huffington Post even wrote an article when Hillary Clinton wore one), but in Japan, if your ponytail doesn't have a scrunchy, then you might as well just not wear clothes because girl, you're already naked. Scrunchies are everywhere and people typically buy big, fluffy ones to match their outfits. When one of my students graduated from my school last year, she even gave me a homemade scrunchy as a parting gift. I haven't really bought them yet, but trust me, the temptation for a big teeny bopper head is real, folks.

2. Skin color tights

via

In the States, I can't imagine one occasion where people would opt for nude, or skin color tights. But in Japan, oftentimes if people show their legs (with skirts, shorts, etc), they will wear nude tights. I'm not sure whether this is to make their legs look more even toned or because Japan is a pretty conservative society. Probably both. But sometimes when I wear skirts to work, I feel kind of skanky if I'm not at least wearing some beige tights. The struggle is real.

3. Heels

via

Women in Japan tend to be on the shorter side, maybe 5'2" or 5'3" in general. However, just like the rest of the world, being a little taller is usually favored. This means that pretty much every Japanese woman wears heels. All.of.them. I see people rockin' six-inch pumps on their way to work like it's no big deal. It's also nearly impossible to find pure flats (i.e. shoes without a small heel or wedge). And shoes are generally small. The biggest size you can find for women's shoes is about an 8.5 or a 9 in US sizes. I'm 5'9" and wear a size 10 so basically I'm a gigantor in Japan! This both means that I don't wear heels because I already tower over everyone and that I can't find shoes here because they're all too small. Shoes and I are still trying to mend our broken friendship. I'll let you know how it goes.

4. School uniforms

via

You know that stereotype about the "sexy schoolgirl"? It's kind of real. Every Japanese school, public or not, requires its students to wear a uniform to school. (Sidenote: these uniforms cost hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars). But Japanese kids take it a step further. I see them wear their school uniforms all.the.time. It's like their skin. Lots of schools, like the one I teach at, have kind of maternal uniforms with knee-length skirts and hi-cut blouses. But you'll still find plenty of schools with uniforms that look more suitable for a sorority party than a classroom. You'll also see school uniforms all over the place in general, since students and even adults often wear them on weekends or buy clothes that resemble uniforms because that sexy schoolgirl stereotype lives in Tokyo, too (don't believe me? Here's proof).

5. No tattoos

Yakuza had full-body tattoos like this. via

In California, I feel like everyone has a tattoo. Because of this, they're generally accepted, at least among our peers. But in Japan? Well, tattoos are still associated with the Yakuza, which is basically Japan's mafia. Because of that, no one really has tattoos and they are not looked at in a positive light. Some establishments, like onsens (public baths), might even turn you away if your skin is tattooed. Of course, there are still the rebels who do have tattoos (though usually small and easily hidden), but this is still pretty rare. Basically, that sunflower you always wanted to tattoo on your forehead may not fly in the land of the rising sun.

Thank you so much for having me, Chelsea!! If you want to learn more about my adventures in Japan or want to figure out how to infuse your life with positivity, then come say hello on my blog, The Nectar Collective! I'd love to meet you. :)

Now, tell me, what did you think about these Japanese fashion trends? Are there are trends in YOUR country that aren't popular in other parts of the world? Let's chat in the comments!

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HYD For Men: Shave Cream, Buffer Stick & Razor Shield Review! 20% Off for Lola's Readers!

Press Sample
When I had the opportunity to receive the HYD For Men Shave Cream, Buffer Stick & Razor Shield for my husband to try out- I jumped at the chance. Not only does this mark the very first review not written by me, but it also marks his first blog post! Enjoy!


HYD For Men Shave Cream ($12.99 for 5.07 oz.) "allows your razor to glide effortlessly across your skin, resulting in a

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup: August 11, 2013 Edition

Fun Fierce Fabulous Beauty Over 50!: Find out why Sephora's $16 Black Magic Palette is getting rave reviews!
Mama Fashionista: Quinn shares her latest and greatest favorites from Smashbox Cosmetics!
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: The Organic Pharmacy Rose Plus Marine Collagen Complex is a potent and highly effective anti-aging product that REALLY beats the competition!
BeautyTidbits: A

The Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup: August 11, 2013 Edition

Beauty by Miss L: Miss L is loving Queen Helene Mint Julep Natural Facial Scrub which is mechanical scrub, but doesn't feel harsh on your skin.
Mama Fashionista: Quinn shares a new way to use your facial exfoliating pads for beautiful, summer skin!
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Love a gorgeous ethereal glow? Then Burberry Fresh Glow is a brilliant choice, and it is back in stock!
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Back from Paradise

We're baaaack!!!! We arrived home early Saturday morning and were greeted with a cool 93 degree weather in our no air con car....it made for a lovely ride home from the airport. Although, I must say, we didn't care much seeing as how we're still on vacation high from all the things we've seen this past week. It was also nice to be able to just unplug, relax, and spend time 'in the moment'.

Zhujiajiao region in Shanghai

I now know why people fall in love with Cambodia when they visit. It's such a vibrant culture, with fantastic food and even kinder people. We actually started scheming ways that we could move there. It's a habit of ours anytime we travel abroad. Some people call it fickle, we'd like to just think of ourselves as dreamers...and indecisive.

I can't wait to fill you all in on our adventures wandering the streets of Shanghai (which the photo is of. Since we had a 10 hour layover there we decided to go and explore a surrounding area), venturing through temple ruins in Angkor and our motorbike trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (which I'm just now starting to get the feeling back in my bum from being on a bike for that long). So stay tuned these next couple weeks!

In other news....

SNAIL MAIL COLLECTIVE AUGUST PAIRINGS!

And FINALLY, in case you missed it on Ms. Melyssa's blog, here are the August pairings for the Snail Mail Collective! By now, I hope that most of you have seen these and contacted your partner, but if not, go check up on the rules and contact your new blog friend! Remember, this month's theme is 'Under the Sea' get creative and have some fun with it!

Pikachu (Birthday) Makeup Tutorial!

A couple of week�s ago I went to a fancy dress party and the theme was �Favourite Childhood Characters�.  It really wasn�t a difficult decision at all for me who I adored growing up (apart from Count Duckula) it was of course Pikachu.  I have been obsessed with Pokemon since it hit my TV at the age of about 13, I have every episode of the original TV series on DVD and have completed both red, blue, yellow and diamond editions of the game on my multiple gameboys. 

Now, being as it�s my birthday today (I�m 25, so old!) I decided to upload my Pikachu tutorial in ode to my childhood.  If you are ever in need to look like a pokemon, look no further!

Pikachu!

I really hope you enjoy this video.  Do subscribe to my YouTube channel (it�d make my day) and let me know what your favourite Pokemon was, maybe I�ll do their tutorial next!  For now, I�m back to birthday celebrations! 

Who was your favourite childhood character?

xxx

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