#Day23: My Heart is where Art is!

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Give me a micron drawing pen and some craft paper and I can be happy for days. I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil. I also hold a diploma in Fine Arts but for some reason, the option of going into design as a career never appealed to me. But my passion for all things creative did led me to pursue a career in advertising and marketing.

Art is something I do for myself, for fun. My illustrations are generally about my mood, food, environment, special occasions, things that inspire me etc. I love playing with color, patterns and textures. And as an artist, I have a fetish for collecting all things artsy. When I say artsy, it doesn’t mean heavy contemporary art, but it means creations inspired by real life situations or surroundings. Things that I can relate with.

Be it a basic utility item like a coffee mug or a professional laptop sleeve, it has to have a design – a quote, a color, an illustration which is an extension of me.  I see design in everything – home decor, stationery, clothes, accessories – everything and I’m always on a lookout for stuff/brands that can quench my creative lust.

And yesterday, while shopping at Bugis Junction, I stumbled upon Typo. Owned by Cotton:On Group which is Australia’s largest value fashion group, Typo focuses on creating quirky, vintage, irreverent creative products that can add spunk to your daily lives. What started as a creative stationery store in 2009 has become a design led lifestyle brand for products across Home décor, travel, office, art and craft and tech categories. Typo’s philosophy is to create products that will enable people to personalize their space and express their individuality through these products. It certainly caters to people like me.

Take a look at their Bugis store and plan a visit soon! Oh stop, they’ve an online store too which makes it even better. Shop here.

Entry Point

Travel Section

Office Supplies and Stationery

Day22: 5 Small Changes to Healthy Eating

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You’ve probably already heard this, but Singapore is truly a foodie’s paradise with cuisines from around the world. The one thing you’ll never run out of doing on this little red dot is eating! Singaporeans have an eating out culture and hence you’ll see food courts, hawker centers, restaurants, coffee shops always oozing with people. And if you eat most of your meals outside, you know the feeling: You walk into the food court and you are filled with food aromas. One look at the Beef Rendang or Carbonara Pasta and your healthy meal-plan goes for a toss. Does the situation sound familiar?

We all have been there. With so many options to choose from, it’s very hard to curb our temptation. I’ve never understood how people chose limp greens and mealy tomatoes over chicken sizzlers and pratas. I eat to my heart’s content and then work my ass off to burn all the calories consumed. But that’s silly!

Eating right is very important for a healthy body and mind. It not only helps you keep a check on your weight, but it is also directly related to your mood. So this birthday, I decided to cut back on those unhealthy foods and choose healthy alternatives instead.

To set myself up for success, I decided to make small changes to my diet instead of making drastic ones:

• Preparing my own meals: Home cooked food is any day better than eating out. Also, it helps you monitor what exactly goes into your food

• Eating salad once a day: It helps me get high amount of nutrients in one low calorie serving, but you’ve to be sure of the correct salad dressing. My favorites: Avacado and Sesame

• Focus on Protein: Eggs, meat, fish, tofu, beans and pulses are a must in my meals these days

• Drinking Yogurt: Yogurt makes for an excellent post workout snack. It’s tasty, rich in protein and vitamins and provides amino acids your muscles need to repair themselves. I go for greek yogurt
• Cutting down on sugar: This is a most difficult part. I have a terrible sweet tooth and no alternative suffices. Well, I’m still working on it and if you have some suggestions, I’ll be more than happy to hear J

One of the most important things about food is taste. According to Ayurveda, if food lacks taste, it ultimately can’t provide nutrition as your palette would never be satisfied and you will always want to have cheat or junk foods. This is exactly why most diets fail. So remember to add spices (use less salt and enhance the taste by adding curry powder, chilies etc and have food that’s light on stomach and yummy on taste buds.

No more excuses!

Day 21: A Birthday to Remember

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Greetings to my lovely loved ones, and a very happy Sunday to you. Before I dive into recapping my birthday, I have to give my sincere thanks to all of the wonderful birthday wishes that came in through messages, email, phone calls, Skype and Facebook. I cannot express how loved it made me feel.

I’m one of those who love celebrating their birthdays. I equate it to a national holiday. I also have a one month countdown where my friends and family participate in my big small celebrations all throughout the month.  But this year was different.

In retrospect, so much has changed in the last one year.  I got married, moved countries and celebrated my birthday for the very first time without my friends and family. It’s a strange feeling. But this was also my first ever birthday celebration with my husband and he made sure I did not miss a single thing.

The celebrations started with a riverside dinner date on the 18^th night.  Just him, me and a bottle of Chardonnay. There’s something about dressing up in your birthday outfit and heading out for a night of dining and wining that has fancy written all over it. It was a perfect setting for the mood and I loved it thoroughly.

19^th was a Saturday and to my understanding, we were booked for a dinner followed by clubbing in the evening. Throughout the day, I attended phone calls from family and friends back in India and that in a way made me feel homesick.  I’m a very social person and I have always had large social groups. All my birthday parties back home were big with a lot of people. Here, it was just going to be me and him. I was missing home but I kept a straight face as thinking about it was only going to make it worse.

As we drew close to the evening, we started getting ready per the plan. I just wanted to head out of the houses to a place full of people.  Moments before we were supposed to leave rang the doorbell and to my surprise, we had a gang of friends at our doorstep singing the birthday song. And rest is history.

So my husband planned a surprise and had our entire expat group together for my birthday. Chardonnay and Chivas flowed all night. We stayed talking and dancing and drinking into the night. I was so touched and overflowing with joy that I had a smile plastid on my face all throughout. And I could see another proud one on my husband’s face too. We culminated the night enjoying India’s victory over Pakistan in T20 cricket match.

The expat friends are always a luck of chance. And we consider ourselves to be lucky to have found many wonderful people here. More than that, I feel lucky everyday to have found a partner who reads my mind each time and makes my life so beautiful.

Peace, love and blessings!

Day 20: Adorned by Monochrome

Style is a very personal thing. It’s an extension of who you are. It defines you. It showcases how you feel even without you saying it. The way you carry yourself expresses a lot about you. If you feel bold, you’ll dress bold. See Rihanna for instance.  If you feel cute, you’ll dress cute. Taylor Swift always manages to look fresh and cute with her style statement. It is an individually distinctive way of putting yourself together.

When it comes to my personal style statement, it’s black, white and chic all over. Of course I love colors. But no matter what colors or style I experiment with, I always keep going back to the timeless, chic and classy monochrome. I love the effect of these two contrasting colors – black and white and how if done right, is perfect for every occasion.

It’s my birthday and in the next 2 days and I was out shopping at the Orchard Road yesterday.  As I commence my journey to another colorful year, here are some of the blacks and whites I chose to add to my wardrobe:

Outfit 1: Crop Top and Crisscross Skirt
Brand: H&M, Orchard Road

Outfit 2: Plus size Grid Print Crop Top and White Culottes
Brand: Purpur, Bugis Junction

Outfit 3: Black & White Striped Blazer
Brand: Vero Moda

Let me know how are you adorned by monochrome in comments below.

Love,
Cee

Day 19: Hiking Hacks For First Time Hikers

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Last weekend, we planned a brunch scene with friends at Mushroom Café which was followed by Kayaking at MacRitchie Reservoir.  The weather that day was really kind, so we decided to hike instead. We chose the longest and the most adventurous trail to the HSBC Treetop Walk. It’s a 250 meter free – standing bridge that crosses between two highest points at MacRitchie.  At its highest point, you will be 25 meters above the ground – that’s up to 7 storey high. Do I see adrenaline pumping through your veins?

This was my first ever hiking experience and I got super excited on the thought of it. Only to be carried out like a corpse later. We entered the trail from the Venus Drive and walked into the forest through the steep roads covered by trees on both sides.

Serene, isn’t it?

But who knew what started as an adventure will soon turn out to be a nightmare. Since we started empty stomach, I started feeling dehydrated after a while and by the time I reached the top, I was so sick that I had to be piggybacked out of the place.

Therefore, I decided to share some of my learnings with other novice hikers. Here are 5 hiking hacks for my fellow hikers:

1. Never underestimate the power of a good breakfast:
   Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day and you need to consume the right amount of carbohydrates for energy on the trail. We decided to have brunch at the Mushroom Café, but we reached past the breakfast time, so we skipped it. And it was later we realized that it was the worst thing we could do

2. Two Quarts a Day, Keeps Dehydration Away: You need lots of water when you’re exercising. Your body functions better when you’re well hydrated. As a general rule, one should carry 2 quart size bottles and keep consuming it at regular intervals. Refill, whenever necessary!
3. Wear the Right Shoes: Leave the fashion queen in you behind. I didn’t and hence the suggestion. Heading out in lifestyle shoes or uncomfortable flip flops is a recipe for disaster. I wore lifestyle shoes and after a point, I had to walk bare feet wherever possible. It took me a week thereafter to get rid of blisters and toe puffiness. Running sneakers, trail shoes, or light hiking boots are the most preferred
4. Fueling Your Body: Keep up your energy levels throughout the day by nibbling on nutritious fruits and nuts. You can also carry energy bars like snickers to intake enough amount of carbs during the hike

5. First Aid supplies: Prevention is better than cure. Simple things like bandages, cotton, doctor’s tape, antiseptic lotion, antibiotic ointment, tweezers and pain relievers are the basics. Many medical stores also sell pre-packed first aid kits that include these essentials
6. Toilet Paper and Hand Sanitizer: Most of the hiking trails are left virgin which means you wouldn’t find toilets all along the way. And even if you do, don’t expect them to be clean. So be prepared for the time when nature calls

Do you have any weird first time hiking experience too or suggestions to add to the kitty too? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below or tweet at @SG_100days

Day 18: Restaurant Review: Bangkok Jam

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It’s that time of the year when I get anything I desire for and all my friends and family bow down to all my whims and fancies.  No marks for guessing, it’s my birthday week!

For all my readers who don’t know me personally, I get excited like a child on my birthday and my friends and family make sure that they keep the excitement going. It’s not just a day long affair but my birthday celebrations are usually spread over weeks. Sounds crazy? Wait till you meet my family. 🙂 

So as a part of my birthday shopping tradition, my husband had to take me out on a little retail therapy and we decided to go to Bugis Junction. But as soon as we entered the mall, hunger pangs struck us. So we looked for the best possible deals on our newly discovered reservation app – Eatigo (more on that later) and decided on Bangkok Jam for two reasons: a) It was offering a 50% discount on food b) We are suckers for Thai food.  

RESTAURANT REVIEW:

Décor and Ambiance: Step into the restaurant and you’ll be blown away by its modern bistro styled interior conveying the beat of Bangkok – The city of angles. The doodle wall showcasing the iconic elements of a typical Bangkok street with overhead wires, lampposts, traffic lights and road signs immerses you in the experience of dining in the very heart of Bangkok.

Menu: The menu is quite extensive featuring a range of Tom Yum Soups, Seafood Salads, Thai Street food, noodles, rice and spaghetti with coconut flavored curries.

 

What we Thai-ed:

1. Marinated Pandan Chicken Skewers : Pretty average

2. Mixed Vegetables with Oyster Sauce : Light and flavorful. Recommended

3.Thai Style Massaman Chicken Curry with Homi Mali Rice – Definitely recommended
It tasted so good that I slurped it all up before I could take a picture. 

Avg. Cost for two: 50SGD but since we had a 50% off on food (drinks excluded), we ended up paying 35 SGD

#Tip: The service is extremely slow, so make sure you visit only if you have a lot of time on hand.

Day 17: 5 Life Lessons to learn from Kung Fu Panda 3

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Remember when we were kids, how those ‘Once upon a time’ fables, fairy tales, legends and folktales always carried underlying moral messages? I would always love the way ma would explain the ‘moral of the story’ at the end. Yesterday I went to see Kung Fu Panda 3 and it brought back the memories of my childhood. The movie has full of inspirational messages and wise lessons from the beginning to the end like stories of Panchatantra. Here are 5 messages I picked up from the movie: 

1.Never underestimate the power of a dramatic entrance. ~ Po
First impressions make all the difference. It takes just a quick glance for someone to evaluate you based on your appearance, body language, mannerisms and how you’re dressed when you meet for the first time. So make sure your first is the most lasting one

2.Before the battle of the fist, comes the battle of the mind ~Master Oogway
In a theatre when you make a dramatic entrance, you set the tone and create expectations. Similarly in real life when you create great first impressions, half the battle is won  

3.There is always something more to learn, even for a master ~ Master Oogway
Learning is a lifelong process. Everyday life teaches you a new lesson and no matter how learned you are, you’re never too smart or too invincible to stop

4.If you only do what you can do, you’ll never be more than you are now ~ Master Oogway
You are confined by the walls you create for yourself. Be open to discovering new things, move out of your comfort zone, push your limits and you’ll be surprised to see how much more you’re capable of.

5.Your real strength comes from being the best you you can be. Who are you? What are you good at? What makes you, you? ~ Po
God made each of us unique masterpieces. He really did break the mold. There is no other person who is exactly like you. You are an original. Isn’t that fact enough for you to appreciate your uniqueness? Don’t get into the trap of insecurities and self-doubt. A fish cannot learn to fly. Focus on YOUR strengths. Build up on it and weaknesses will gradually take care of themselves. Believe in yourself and be the best version of you!

Day 16: It all starts with a Hello!

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I love talking. I always have. I still remember the time when I was a child and one thing that was common in all my annual report sheets was a remark – most talkative. Years changed, numbers changed but this was constant.  I love talking to people and hearing their stories. Everyone’s got something to tell, and when you sit down with someone and really talk to them, you can learn so much.

But moving to Singapore was my first move ever and I had no clue where to meet new people. Initially there were days where my daily adult interaction was with the supermarket checkout person or the security guard at the condo gate. And then I realized that I need to drop my inhibitions and be that curious child again. Start with a ‘Hello’ and let it flow. People may ignore you. Or you may end marrying them. And that possibility is worth that one word.

I’ve met some wonderful people in the last couple of months by striking up random conversations. Some of them helped me professionally and some introduced me to new things. Some boosted my spirits on days when I wasn’t too sure of myself and some lifted me out of a hiking trial after I was dehydrated.

I wouldn’t shy from admitting that I haven’t made any best friends yet, but I don’t want to desperately find friends in my first few weeks and then spend next few in shaking them off. For me, friendships cultivate naturally, but sometimes saying a hello is all it needs. 🙂

Day 15: Finding your own tribe

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The process of moving to another country is often accompanied with the stress of starting all over – finding new work, friends, a routine can be quite overwhelming. There will be days of joy, excitement and exploration and then there will be days of fear, loneliness and homesickness. And there’s this one thing we’ll need in right proportions to have that grip on our situations and that’s “Confidence”.

The best advice I could give basis my experience is to start building your network immediately after you’ve settled down. Start with having a small talk with people living in your apartment/complex. Greet the watchman every time you walk past the main gate. Engage with the man at the food court you go to everyday. And last but not the least, connect with people online – bloggers who share similar interests as you do, professionals who are from the same background as you are, recruiters who could help you professionally. It might seem a little hard in the beginning, but trust me! You’ll always find people who you can resonate with.

Unfortunately when I first moved to Singapore, I had no one in my close circle who could introduce me to people here. So I wrote to people. I connected with them on social networks, especially LinkedIn and I was surprised to see the response. Contrary to my reservations, people were willing to meet and help in whatever way they can. All I needed to do was knock the door.

In fact, yesterday I wrote to one of the recruiters who introduced me to another social network website called meetup.com. Meet is a community that lets you connect with like-minded people near you and meet them face to face. Call it old school, but meetuppers use the internet to get off the internet. The one I attended last evening was a knowledge sharing digital marketing meetup where I networked with some wonderful people and spoke business, but there are meetups for almost everything – cycling, hiking, blogging, traveling… You name it and they have it! And if you’re just beginning your journey in Singapore, what better way to make connections with like minded people than this?

And the best part about Singapore is that it lets in a lot of foreigners who are miles away from their homeland waiting to have realistic conversations with people who think alike. You’ll connect with some & some will freak you out. But in the end, you’ll find your own tribe – regardless of any cultural or language barriers.

Day14: Thank you for making the women I am.

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In all this craziness about women and empowerment, I just want to thank all the men in my life that I am lucky to have. You keep me safe. You make me laugh. You make sure I live a good life. You know who you are (some some close and some so far) and I want to thank you for making me the woman that I am. You guys don’t get enough credit.