Skye Soon
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Hello friends!

We visited the Steeped Tea Bar in Bugis last weekend, and it was the perfect respite from the sweltering heat. 



We selected the two most popular Tea Mocktails.

Grape Oolong ($6.60), with real grapes!

Pear High Mountain Oolong ($6.30) : Incredibly refreshing! 

We preferred the pear oolong to the grape oolong because natural grapes tend to release tannin which will result in a bit of dryness/siapness. The oolong is also of a lighter roast variety, but the subtle flavour works well for their fruit combinations.

What we liked most about their tea drinks:
  • Tea was not siap siap because they are freshly brewed and shaken. It was fun watching the staff shaking the drink and prepare it before you.

  • The fruit flavours complement the tea and do not overpower the teas. 
Thanks to Burpple Beyond, we had two drinks for the price of one. We did a takeaway, which was just as well as the tea bar is a small cosy space.

Things to note:
  • This isn't a bubble tea joint! You can't add pearls or toppings to your drinks.
  • Cakes are available too, so you can enjoy a lil tea time break. 
  • They also serve tea cocktails, like whisky x peach tie guan yin! Wow, I'll be back to try those!
  • Oat milk available for the lactose intolerant. 


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Steeped Tea Bar
2 Tan Quee Lan St, #01-01, 
Singapore 188091
(Bugis Exit D)
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Love,

Skye

Bugis Eats
♡ Waffles, Waffles
♡ Pizza Maru

Almost two months later, I harvested my Xiao Bai Cai! They are not fully grown but I decided to eat them so I can return the planter pot to my mum! In all truth I have lost interest in planting after the snails attacked my lady fingers, and when there was an insect infestation for the XBC. It's too heartbreaking 💔 NEA, you didn't warn us that growing vegetables can be so sad.


Lessons to learn: more soil for deep planters! The ones that grew almost alone had the thickest stems and biggest leaves. Overcrowding is real.


Just a little bit, but still satisfying to pick and eat. Added them to my porridge for lunch. 


They tasted a little like doumiao! Lol!

And that concludes my vegetable plant journey. Wishing you all the best in your crop rearing!

Love,

Skye

Hellooo!

Introducing my weekend project! Other than the Mini Kitchen, I also bought a Paint by Numbers set from Shopee. Paint By Numbers basically means you paint according to the numbers printed on the canvas. I used to think it was lame because it's not 'real painting' 🙊

It's still not 'real painting' in the traditional sense, but it's definitely a fun an easy way to approach painting as a beginner.

And I have my friend Maria to thank! :)

Check out her her PBN artwork:



Hello, cool or what? Love it! Thanks Maria for sharing this new hobby (and video process) with me! 

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So I bought my own set and got cracking this weekend!

The package comes with 

  • A rolled up canvas 
  • 24 colours
  • 3 brushes 
  • wall clips to hang up your artwork.

Here's a close up of what the canvas looks like! It does seem intimidating at first because everything is TINY.


Here's me starting off with the whites and blues. Painting was very alien to me at first. The tips are soft and everything is so formless, as compared to using a marker (my favourite medium).


Slowly I got into the groove, favouring the broad tip brush. The fine tip ones were too small and soft for me. 

Painting is fun for me especially when I get to listen to music as I work. Went through my favourite Paramore, Kimbra and Foster the People albums, as well as ONE OK ROCK, which I recently started to listen to.

Some shading and outlines, working into the night. Yeah it looked so dreary at the start and I won't deny that I was worried hahaha. 

Halfway through I finally understood why people use easels...you don't get a huge crick in your neck. 

After a total of about 7 hours of working from evening to midnight, and finishing up in the morning, I was done! You just have to have faith that it would turn out ok, especially when at the start it looks like a complete disaster. 

The end product! Not so shabby huh?! After a while I said, 'to hell with accuracy' and trying to paint within the lines. Dabbing was so much more fun and looks more natural. 

I love how it turned out! Amazing how following number instructions can translate into this. Consider me awed. It's also nice to pretend to be an 'artist' for a night. 

I gained a new level of respect for artists overnight. To get their masterpieces they really put in a lot of effort and thought behind each stroke. My art work will not stand the scrutiny of closer observation but theirs definitely will! 100% props.

A gif of the process:

I hung it by my desk. I quite enjoy looking at it! Killed two birds with one stone with this activity because I've been looking for a painting to hang on my wall. 



My takeaway from this art experience is : Don't knock it till you try it!

I recommend this to friends who don't mind tiny details and a long process. I'm a person who likes to do things in entire sittings but you don't have to - you can spread it out over days or weekends as you prefer :) There are also easier 'pop-art' version if you don't like landscapes like these.

I guess we might be trying embroidery next? We'll see!

Love,

Skye

P.S. Subscribe to my posts by email here ♡


Hello there! How are you? I took this photograph outside Two Men Bagels because I found the image really cute. 

Last week I scored some cheap Jin Ramen! 6 cups for $4. It expires in 2021 January, which is more than enough time for me to finish them (as of today, there are only 3 cups left.)


There was another promotion going on for Shin Ramen, and it was a one-for-one deal at only $4.60! But the ramen expires on 26 October. Maybe it's alright to stretch the expiry of dried goods but I'll avoid it if I can. 

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Did some swimming and yoga this week! Did a very simple 20min beginner yoga video to just get back in touch. I am prepping myself because my friends and I are going to be using Classpass next month! The stretch felt good and set me up for a productive morning. 

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Been watching a whole slew of CNA documentaries! They are very interesting and provide much insight. I really recommend them! Here's a list:

  • Look Ma! I'm a Kid Influencer



    This one covers three kid influencers in Singapore. They model clothing, and promote products from toothbrushes, groceries, face masks, and of course, toys. Apparently the 'peak' of young IG influencers can be at 7 years old when they're not so small and "cute" anymore. Reality hits hard and fast.
    The parents manage the social media account, but people still send disgusting things like 'I like your armpit'. Yucks ok.

    Being a kid influencer also opens up a huge can of worms and is a very divisive issue. As seen in the comment section, there's a huge angry army of people thinking about how kid influencers are exploited, while the other camp thinks that it's fine as long as they enjoy it. What do you think? Really thought provoking video.

  • Young and Boss: 16YO Entrepreneurs



    I enjoyed this! This video features a hardworking slime maker and a teen who flips sneakers for a whole lot of $$$. Running your own business is not easy and it's really heartwarming to see people who put in their all. The girl can make 6k a month selling slime! Wow. There's a lot of sacrifice involved, but you can sense her satisfaction and pride in her business. I dig that.

    She also mentioned that it felt great using her own money to treat her parents, and also to bring them out on a short trip. Love that, so sweet!

  • The Hidden World of Non-Consensual Videos

    This one is particularly horrifying.  

    CNA got a spycam seller to install spycams around the room. No one could find all 6 cameras, and when they replayed the footage of themselves searching, the footage was extremely HD. Very disturbing and not for the fainthearted. This is the world we live in now, having to worry about mini cameras everywhere. I don't think hotels check their rooms so thoroughly every day? It's very scary!!! Someone could just set up multiple cameras and stream undetected for weeks. It makes me feel SICK and unsafe. (PSA: turn off all the lights in the room and look out for a faint red light. Using a flashlight may help you detect these too. Obvious places to check: TV, remote controls, pens, anything with a clear view of the bed/toilet. That includes the SOAP DISPENSER in the shower omgah)

    Victims of leaked footage and doctored photographs were also interviewed, but the one that takes the cake is the interview with a dude that took a shower cam. "I was shocked when I was caught, because I thought, so many people post but why me?" (Paraphrasing here, but he's not even sorry!!! He's just sorry he got caught!!) Grr. His reason for doing it also STANK.

    I felt quite nauseous after this video. It was a heavy one indeed. Honestly seeing the light go out of bellywellyjelly's eyes is also very heartbreaking. In every interview I see her in now, you can tell how affected she is, as if she can break down anytime. She was really such a chirpy and bubbly girl and I'm sorry she had to go through this. Grrrr. 

  • When Children Need Protection from Parents
    This video is also hard to stomach. Starving children, children who are hit and abused, children who grow up watching their mothers crush and pack drugs. This video gives you a look into how Child Protection Officers work, and how the court can sometimes disagree with their cases. You can see the fear and worry in their eyes when the case is rejected. You also see how aggressive parents can be towards the officers...sigh. Heart was super heavy just watching part one of this series.

    Watching this boy stuff fries into his mouth broke my heart. He and his brother often go hungry and sometimes have to go to their neighbour for food.



    His brother balls himself up and makes himself as small as he can. This pose is really heartwrenching too, because maybe he does this too when he is getting hit etc.


    Officers talk to children and draw with them, getting some information from them. Sometimes kids get slapped and kicked, and some miss school. Others have large cane scars on their face. 



  • Inside The Hospital Mortuary
    For the curious. It's interesting to hear the account of how the uncle who worked there talk about how he used to be afraid when he just started the job. Turns out there's more heartbreak than scares involved.
I think this post is long enough yeah? Plus it got real heavy real quick. 

Ciao!
Skye

P.S. Subscribe to my posts by email here 
♡

After my first brush with DIY homes (See my mini Rabbit Town Box) I gave myself a 10/10 treat and bought a DIY Mini Kitchen kit from Shopee. 

It arrived quickly.

There are also other scenes like a living room, a study, and a bedroom. Tons of other designs available too, including cafes, book stores, plant shops and bungalows with pools etc. Very cute.

This kit didn't include batteries, glue nor tweezers, so I simply reused those from my previous kit. White glue doesn't work... craft glue with a consistency like UHU glue works much better.

The furniture was much smaller than I expected! I thought it would be easier than the Rabbit Town. I guess not. There's also a lot of paper and wire work to do, and because they were so tiny, my finished products tend to look messy.

A lone stool 

Some process shots... and grumbling. Look at those mini wire handles on the cabinets, those killed me. I'm not very good at cutting cleanly with a penknife either. Cutting perfect circles are near impossible. Glossy paper also does not stick easily. (So many complaints and excuses haha!) I do love the wooden furniture they provide though. Setting up the circuit is also a breeze thanks to coloured wires.

 
My finished product!! I think the food is very cute. Check out the latte art!



Lighted up. Sense of satisfaction surging in 1..2..3


J'adore!!! the little forks. The toaster, pot, and anything that involved was really challenging. There was a transparent dust cover box that you can make, but I ended up getting glue everywhere and it wasn't very pretty... so no photos of that. Haha!

Here's a video/gif!!


I think this marks the end of such mini dollhouse projects. I just had to scratch this itch after looking at these cute mini dollhouses online for YEARS. I bought one more item during the 10/10 sales though, and that will be my next project! Wanna guess what it is? :-)

Love,
Skye

Yoooo!

I have an exciting post to write today! We visited dumplings.ru, a restaurant that offers Russian dumplings and cuisine. They were previously called 'angmohdumplings', a name that tickles me too. The restaurant is opened by a couple who has lived in Singapore for 16 years.

Let's check out the cute interior.

We're here for the 12 Course Russian Experience Set!

Upon arrival we are served with two large mugs of 'Kompot', which is their in-house brewed fruit punch. It reminds me of fruit vinegar drinks.

Appetisers! I enjoyed the simple and peppery Spicy Carrot! I don't really like eggplant and beetroot hahaha. The Eggplant somehow reminded us of a black bean pork dish in Chinese cuisine. 


Next, enter the Ukrainian Borsch soups! It consists of Russian classic pork, cabbage, beetroot, tomatoes and potatoes. Warm and hearty!


Our second soup is called the 'Solyanka', or salami sour soup. It's a thinner soup with plenty of herbs, bits of sausage, salami, and rice inside. Next to it is the Smoked Salo, or Pork belly with rye bread and hot mustard.


Dumplings time! We played a game trying to guess the flavours. I've only named some of the dumplings I'm certain of in the pictures! I think the unnamed ones are pork dumplings and potato dumplings. Heheh. We loved the 'Black Bull' best, with its strong beef flavour. 

The dumplings have a slightly thicker skin than Chinese dumplings that I'm used to, and are served with sour cream. Chinese dumplings also tend to be soupier! 
(Chinese food is our reference point because we're Chinese and that's what we eat most of the time...)



Meat Stew, with potatoes, meat and vegetables! Yum. Getting really full now...


Throughout the meal I tried to think about all the Russian fiction (Anna Karenina, The Gambler, andif you accept an American author, maybe The Bear and The Nightingale) and Russian history (USSR, Cold War, Tsars etc) I know. The characters probably grew up on such fare! 

Time for some drinks to round off the meal. We chose a Russian softdrink called Tarkhun, and a Blackcurrant Vodka shot. The Vodka was fiery, and you can choose from fruity flavours like lemon and cherry, and Chilli for the adventurous.




It's my first time having this fizzy drink. which is apparently the Coke or Pepsi sub in Russia! It's a soft drink made with a herb called Tarragon. It's a funky Frankenstein green which is perfect for Halloween, and tastes bubbly with a light tinge of herb/minty-ness. 

Can you guess my favourite course of the day? Of course, it's dessert!

This is the Medovik, a multi-layered traditional honey and condensed milk cake. I've seen this on a Russian artist's IG story and I really wanted to try it!!! I love it.

That concludes our Russian food experience! It's yet another new experience for us since we can't travel. Some dishes like the sour soup reminds us of our trip to Poland last year. Perhaps we'll go for a Japanese Omakase or sample some French food the next time!

Here's the link if you're keen to try this 12 course Russian meal. You have to make a booking (via Whatsapp) if you choose this 12 course set on Fave. Our bill was $66 after GST! 

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Dumplings.RU
32 Maxwell Rd, 
#01-05 Maxwell Chambers, 
Singapore 069115
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#notsponsored 

Love,
Skye

Holla!

Today's photographs are taken by the most talented leelee  (@lsiminnn). We had a mini escape from work at Holland Village. Used to come here more often when I was studying in university, often having ice cream with friends from Island Creamery and The Daily Scoop!

First stop, bagels for lunch at Two Men Bagel House! The shop has a really laid-back, aussie/safari vibe. The staff are very enthusiastic, friendly, and have loud ringing voices. I have been eyeing this place since forever and I was very excited to finally try their bagels!

Mademoiselle Chantal with Garlic Bagel ($11+ $3)

This is my bagel! Love the sauce, love the bagel, love the flavours. The garlic bagel has fried garlic bits too! 

Sausage Fest with Cheddar Bagel ($9 +$3) 

Look at the beautiful cheese pull. The sausage patty is really thicc and juicy! The Cheddar bagel is also slightly crunchy. Double yum.

You may get a bit of Mcdonalds Mcmuffin deja vu vibes in regard to taste, but with a couple more bites you will find that their flavours and textures are much better of course. Totally worth it! Expect some queues and limited seating in the current covid situation.

We picked up some baked goods at Tai Cheong Bakery (again, more queues) before heading to Arabica across the road. Leelee tells me that this one of their rare Arabica cafes that serve food. The cafe is beautiful in its white, airy interior, and super busy too! 


Did you know what the % symbol stands for? Leelee tells me that it's supposed to be the coffee bean hanging from the plant. Never knew that hahaha. I like this branch because the others at Orchard and Bugis are insanely PACKED. 

It's sooooo nice to head out for a leisurely time. Looking forward for peak period to be over so I can get started with some old and new hobbies!

Love,
Skye

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Skye Soon : lifestyle blogger in Singapore, street busker and enthusiast of chocolates and books

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