Stalk my Weekend: Brunch, Soup, Shopping

Oh yeah..... this weekend had been a goodie. I actually did stuffs. People who follow me on Twitter would know that I sometimes tweet that I am incredibly lucky in life. Yeap.. but can you believe this? I sure as heck did not when I received the email. I thought it was spam. I had an email saying that I won the Uni Hill Factory outlet facebook competition. It went to my spam folder - so please check your spam folders in future. I thought yeah right.. the email is probably from Nigeria and wants me to log in with my bank details. I examined the domain name of the email address. I typed it into a new Web Browser... it was right. So what did I win? I won $500 shopping vouchers at a list of stores at Uni Hill. I selected what stores I wanted and how many from each store in terms of $50 vouchers. Nike, Laura Ashley, Cotton On! Then I also won the Kabuki brush from Master Makeup in TheMadeUpMaiden's giveaway. While we are on this subject, more importantly I am also very very fortunate that I have never had to go to a supermarket and thought to myself I cannot buy what I need because I do not have enough money. That's another one of those what I am grateful for this week thoughts.

Cosmetics Fragrance Direct: Ulta goodies

On Sunday we trooped off to Uni Hill as it is pretty much the closest discount store to us. On a WTF note, I actually drove to Southwharf DFO and paid for parking as well to go to Cosmetics and Fragrance outlet. What was wrong with me? There was one with free parking around the corner from me. Check out their store and Ulta goodies. They now have a wall mounted with clear containers filled with Essie nail polishes that are $6 each. I told myself no and walked away!

Pickles wanted to carry the shopping

So with my Cotton On Kids vouchers, I bought 6 long sleeve Tshirts for the boys for childcare. In summer, they wear Threadless short sleeve for daycare but in winter we found that they had nothing suitable! They were on offer for 2 for $20 so I paid $10 for them using my voucher. Also bought some cotton PJ pants with cassette tapes on them for Mick. 30% off storewide that day at Brands United and that included CK bras and underwear that they had. They say that every week they have different offers but I am happy with 30% off. We looked at Nike as I asked for $100 there and Laura Ashley. $60 quilt covers at Laura Ashley AND 25% off storewide too. Hells yeah I love bargains!

Corn Fritters with Avo and Fried Egg

Eggs Benedict on potato rosti

I bring you back to the start of the weekend when we took a train part of the way to go into the city! You cannot imagine the joy the boys had on the train. They felt so special and important going into Melbourne Central. Unfortunately Pickles refused to walk after half a block and had to be carried up the rest of the 1.5 blocks ... uphill. Met up with BFF from work to have a chowdown at this new urban looking Operator 25.
Talk about attention to detail... look at those plates. That one at the top is from Made in Japan! The poached eggs were amazing and having eggs benedict on potato rosti instead of just plain old muffins were brilliant. Corn fritters were yummy and the avo mousse just pretty and so elegant. How good does it look?

D said he wanted chocolate croissant

Boys had their chocolate croissant and Pickles decided he would eat all of his and whatever D left as well. I think he has a chocolate addiction. What a great place this was and would come back. At the same time I am shocked at brunch prices due to eating at cheap Chinese places all the time on the weekend. LOL less than $30 feeds all 4 of us at those places!

After spending all that on just brunch. Frugal Sunday night kicked in and I made Chicken & Corn soup from scratch... read I made the actual stock too. I think my stock needed brushing up but it was ok. I also made Cauliflower & Cheese soup. After all that soup making, Pickles tells me I don't like soup. Fine.. he had leftover pasta. D had several bowls of soup then told me, let's eat the soup together as he starts digging into mine too. There's no pictures of the soup so you'll just have to believe that it happened! LOL

Stalk my Holiday: High End Shopping

This holiday sounds epic right? It's like a perpetual stalk fest. I have not even talked about the tourist activities or food yet!

What does one do when on holiday in Singapore? We go to shops. And more shops. Hell yeah there's a tunnel linking two buildings, Singapore will put shops in there.

We went to Marina Bay Sands one day because Mick had never been. I wanted to show him the faux Venice, ours is like a poor man's version and it's hilarious. Marina Bay Sands had a special event on during Earth Hour. Typical of Asia, let's have a light and water show to talk about Earth Hour!! You only go to Marina Bay Sands if you want one thing - repeat after me - high end luxury boutiques. Oh yeah now we are talking.

The conversation went like this. Mick: Let's go to LV. Me: No it's ok. We walk past LV again at another level. Me: Let's go to LV. Mick: I TOLD YOU TO GO EARLIER! I am glad we entered through the bottom basement level because check this out!

LV Maison Island Singapore

Is it Louis Vuitton boutique or is it an art gallery? Oh right, let's just put art in here. Oh wait multi levels Louis Vuitton? Get out.. let's just put a lot of amazing lights here.

ZOMG like ZOMG

I had my eye on a pair of LV flat shoes for ages... It had embossed LV monogram and was not offensive in terms of price tag or the monogram design. When on holiday right? BUY BUY BUY. Anyway, Mick said he would buy this for me. But meanwhile I spy a gorgeous pair of heels. It was just crying out to be tried.. hey it's size 37. That's my size!! I have to say that I have never received better customer service from a LV store and I have to give props to Stefanie who whispered the price of the Sofia Coppola bag that I was eyeing. Spared me the embarrassment of WTFFFF out loud!

So like I own them flats!

I had a very good time even waiting for confirmation on whether LV Ion would hold onto this shoe for me. I had to go a size down to 36 as per adviced - which of course I didn't listen at first. We were offered drinks at LV. GET OUT! I usually get a slanty eye glance at Chanel Melbourne at best followed by we don't have you size while they stare blankly at me. We were sipping hot green tea while they wait to receive confirmation about stock at Ion.

So here is Orchard Ion ... in full glory... I actually really really like this place. Because there is a variety of FOOD, high end and low end shops. It has everything.. and is linked to everywhere else. Like what else do you want people! You never have to leave this building ever. And a bit of history about Ion. There was nothing there. It was a train station facade and nothing else but empty land and grass. 

Orchard Ion

Opposite Orchard Ion is a historical icon called Tangs. Seriously get yourself to Tangs Beauty Hall, it is amazing. Check what is at the front door.

Hello beautiful Tom Ford Beauty Counters

There isn't just one Tom Ford Counter... there are MANY. On the left side of the above picture are the Tom Ford couture perfumes. And the makeup items are on the right. I went with a list of things to buy for someone.. perfume, lipstick.. It felt very fun going up and saying I want this and that but I am not buying today. I am coming back this week, put it aside for me please.

I went back another day with Pickles who wanted to come with me and Mum. Pickles thought he was in heaven being with the girls and trying out makeup. He told Mick later when he went home that we drew on the back of his hand. Everyone was swooning over him as you can expect. 

Mum and Pickles being pretty

And these are the Tom Ford items that I bought.. althought the Violet Fatale lipstick was not for me. I also bought a Tom Ford Noir de Noir perfume that my work BFF had on her list which is SGD$320 for 50ml. Talk about luxury and opulent.

Naked Coral and Violet Fatale

Oh haiii pretttyyy

Let me know if you are already sick of the holiday pictures! Because I have a lot more.

Stalk my Holiday Haul: Dorothy Perkins

Ok so here's one for the fashion folks as requested. I bought 3 pieces from Dorothy Perkins in Singapore.

One was the bird necklace that D picked for me. And I bought a dress and a top. I have to declare that my Mum has the same dress, except in a smaller size. Darn her. The problem with going to a tropical hot and humid island is that you come back with all these lovely Summer items. You arrive back and become unmotivated to unpack. Dude, it's cold. I don't want to look at thin slinky dresses. Unfortunately, this dress will be put away until Summer. :(

I pretty much wore the same 3 dresses while in Singapore and this is a great score. It's loose, cool-ish and easy to wear. I am sorry that I look like an "Auntie" going to the market with that hair. It is hot, very hot and humid, I just wanted my hair off my neck. Did I say HOT?

Font and Back

Please ignore the scar on my forehead as well. When on holiday I did not bother with makeup. I do not think there is anything worse than makeup in the humidity. Also a lesson about Singaporean friends, they will point it out to you and ask what happened to your forehead. And don't take offence because they ask as they care. Just be prepared for, "what happened to your head? Did you burn yourself with a straightener?"

Boys eating their tarts

I also bought this top because they were giving out vouchers and I think I was $2 short of a discount and tops were 20% off. It actually has a cut out at the back, nothing too raunchy but still. I kept my Rachel Zoe jacket on, also it has been freezing in Melbourne. Look .. coming back from Singapore, this place would be absolutely freezing.

Mandatory yellow lighting tinged OOTD bathroom shot

Do you like the funky sinks at our office bathroom? Hells to the yeah. The Dorothy Perkins top is sleeveless too.. Yet another Summer number.

Birdie Necklace Tweet Tweet

Here's the bird necklace on closeup and is a bird on both sides. It actually opens up as the feet is a hinge. Pickles has started grabbing it and saying tweet tweet. Tweet tweet to you too Pickles.

Pondering and selfies go hand in hand

I am sitting here posing and pondering my next post. I have the most lopsided face like evahs and my glasses obviously need adjusting or my face is screwy and unbalanced. Anyways, I'm pondering mmmm what should I blog next? Sorry, I might have to go back to the makeup. Have a stab, what lipstick am I wearing? The name starts with T and F and who else can charge $300 for 50ml of perfume in Melbourne? Yeap... our favourite designer once at Gucci and YSL. Now THAT was a fun shopping outing as I had a list of things to buy for other people.

Stalk my Holiday: Drugstore Haul

How good are Asian drug stores? You can randomly find Korean/Japanese makeup like Dolly Wink alongside European brands like Nuxe. Watson's and Guardian are everywhere in Singapore. Did I say everywhere? I always go in to have a quick browse. The aisles are always narrow in Singapore and the products always jump out and say BUY ME!!

I am including some items that I picked up for other people as they are so cute! And other items that I bought .. well just because it was so much cheaper in Singapore.

Oh Hurro Kitty!!

Who can walk past any drugstore in Asia and not buy anything branded Hello Kitty! Hurro!!!
This is the emergency medical kit for a friend. Includes Hurro Kitty bandaids (D calls them bandjades) and a Cold Pack. Zomg how cute!

Silky Girl who knew of this brand?

I thought I would pick up something cool, cheap and an "unknown" brand called Silky Girl for Vita. It was also reduced and on sale at 25% off. I picked up a lovely colour called Sugar Plum as she loves purple anything and can pull of lilac lipsticks! Turns out.. she already knows of this brand. DUH.... I was also asked to check out Silky Girl BB compact for her and to get a light yellow based beige. This is in Ivory which is the lightest shade. It says it's formulated for Asian skin though. LOL so I hope it works wonders for Vita!

Lip Butters Macaroon, Cherry Tart, Sweet Tart

I had 5 minutes before my massage appointment and what else do I browse but Watson's again. Wait wait... Buy 2 get 1 free? And Revlon Lip Butters were $15.90 each. So it's about $12 each which meant I paid $24 for these 3 lip butters. I have always wanted lip butters. I would browse on eBay and sort of never proceeded to purchase. So I grabbed these 3. I have a feeling that Macaroon is a mistake but I will live with it at $8. But is it me or does everyone love Sweet Tart?

Sunscreen a Must in Asia ok! Repeat after me

So guess who got sunburnt in Singapore at the Zoo.. yeap Mick did. He was the white caucasian tourist walking around sunburnt and all red for a week. LOL.... I should not laugh as it looked so painful. There is a massive waterplay area at the zoo. Think water slides, big fountains, small fountains spraying water, water guns and big structures that dumped down water at kids waiting below. The funny thing is, he had rubbed some sunscreen that was left on his hands after applying on the boys on his upper shoulder. There was a "M" mark left there. As we were also using the toddler sunscreen - yeah we are hopeless - I bought this cute little bottle of Nivea Toddler sunscreen. It was easy to apply and smelt great. I'm sticking to stealing the kid's small tube of sunscreen for awhile.

I hope to post some of the fashion buys soon! They may include the family purchases and not just mine. Bear with me!

Christmas break meant Shopping Overload

Shu Uemura Boxing Day Sale Goodies

One of problems with being on leave over the Christmas break was the Boxing Day sales. Online, Instore, You name it.. I was there (mostly online)! So here are some of my shopping haul. I have to admit I am declaring myself now on shopping ban ... for like 2 months minimum. This is insane. I did send a lot of stuff (one of which is lost in the mail, thanks Australia Post) back for returns as they were not suitable. First up there was the Shu Uemura purchases. I bought the Soft Coral cream blusher and the Karl Lagerfeld eye palette. I think I have mentioned this before on the blog so I will fast forward. But the good thing about being shameless is, I asked for samples. I said give me any samples that you have. So I got this ... the powder foundation. Now Iris the MUA is smart because now I want this as well. 

OMG NEW LEMMING

Then someone on Twitter said ZOMG 50% off Forever New Sale items. Girlfriend was so there! I bought these embellished flats and a pair of white shorts at $15 each. Yes white shorts. I also underestimated what size I needed to be. Ok, so I could zip them up but they were a little too snug. Returns are allowed in the store and there was nothing that I wanted off the sale rack so I asked for a return to my credit card. Ok win for $15 into credit card. I also thought it was artsy to take a pic in the sunlight but it also meant that there were shadows. Forgive those shadows please.

Forever New Embellished Flats

Then again.. I was on Neiman Marcus (I told you what I do when I am alone on Friday nights) .. I put Miu Miu glitter booties in size 37 into my basket and removed them. They were about $350 AUD. Yes.. you read that right. But I removed them. I went the practical route and bought a Rachel Zoe Navy Hutton Jacket. I also bought 7 for All Mankind jeans for Mick - I told him he had to model for me but he has not altered them yet in length to fit him. So we shall leave this aside for now. A few people asked to see the jacket on me. So look at me! I put the jacket on and took pictures for once!

D wanted to be in the picture

Rachel Zoe Hutton Jacket & Target Top

The sleeves were a little long for me so I folded them up instead. Do you remember the Queer Eye days where you were suppose to tjuze up the sleeves of your blazers? Do people still do that? I went back to the model of the jacket and it looks like it was cut a little long on them too. So I am not just the weird one with short arms. I can confirm after looking at these pictures that I need a colour stat, I has regrowth like you won't believe! Hence I cropped my face out! 

Grace Hill Ezibuy Dress

Then there was the Ezibuy.com purchases. I don't know why I purchased Next Direct through Ezibuy it just took epic long to get to me. I bought a pair of boys jeans for Pickles but it appears D has claimed them. Anyway, I also bought two dresses during the Ezibuy supposed one day sale. I did go back a week later and prices had gone upwards, so maybe it was a one day sale. I kept this dress but returned the other one. This is the package that is now missing with Australia Post. I have started an investigation but lord knows what would happen. There's $70 right there ...

So there were other boring purchases like ya know Priceline concealer and bits and bobs. I also returned 95% of my purchase to Bonds. Sorry Bonds, the trackies looked cheap and terrible and I erm stupidly bought the wrong item (5 of them!). That was returned via reply paid label. But lord knows if they will receive it. I wait for my credit to come through! Then there were also 2 MAC lipsticks.. Ooopsss.. Now if anyone wants a Nicki Minaj Viva Glam, please let me know as I don't know why I bought it!

Targeting my wallet with $15 shoes!

I received a Target voucher recently for entering Sarah's blog giveaway for $50 Target voucher. I pretty much jumped with joy when she told me that I won as the first prize winner did not respond to her.

So far this is what I bought from Target. These shoes are $15. Yes $15 and this is not a sale price.
They were in the "Youth" shoes section -> so shoot me -> I am mutton dressed as lamb. LOL
But in all seriousness, these are the softest shoes that I have ever worn. Cushie feet are happy feet.

These will go well with your coloured skinny jeans this summer. :) Do not say that I don't love my blog readers. Repeat after me. Target Youth Shoe section.

Shopping Haul: Lovisa

There's a neon party on my arm

I am walking through Melbourne Central on my lunch break after 2 meetings that finished at 1pm. Yay I'm going shopping. I actually stepped into Cue for the first time in many years.... many! Did I say many! Ok I am used to Target pricing these days, even the sale items made me go huh! So I promptly left and kept walking to wards my ramen shop. Then I walk past Lovisa.. big signs holler out to me. 3 items for price of 2 ... I am in.

Oh hai look at those marks i leave on your arm

Everytime there is a 3 for price of 2 kind of deal. I have this struggle to find #1) 3 items and #2) 3 items of equal or thereabouts value. You cannot have one item that's so super cheap along with one that is so much higher. Learn it right here with Queen of shop smart Ling. So I skipped past necklaces because I wanted this ring below. So I ended up with 2 of the same bracelet (they stretch) in different colours and the ring below.

Collette for Lovisa ring

I asked the girls at work if they wanted to see my Lovisa bling. One said my bracelet is not from Lovisa. I'm not sure where she thought I got it from. I showed her the dangling tag... she goes Oh! Maybe it looks totes expensive.

Kaching ... $34 for 3 items. Yay!!! Can't wait for their big sale and I will take D in to help me choose. :)

Daiso Melbourne CBD

Daiso Melbourne CBD Entrance

Does everyone else love Daiso as much as me? I see lots of nodding heads. My friends in Singapore are shocked that we have Daiso in Melbourne. This is because they think we live under a rock. It is $2 in Singapore but in Melbourne it's $2.80. We get ripped off again. It is a shop where you walk in and think what stuff will I buy that I don't need. Oh yeah.. I don't need these stickers but I will still get them. $2.80! Woohoo. There are good bargains in the makeup department. A big packet of sponges would be $8-9 is $2.80 in here.

Oh hai adorable cutlery set

There is nothing better than being able to browse each and every aisle in Daiso on your own. Yes all of you mothers would relate to this. So this is my Daiso haul.

Daiso Haul

If you want crayons, these soft crayons that I bought are incredibly good. This is the second box that I have and I bought this for the boys' family daycare provider. The 2 sponges are so cute! When I went home with them. The boys were in the bath so I handed it to them. Priceless moment.. D says to me. Thank you for my sponge Mummy.

The rice crackers were prawn cracker flavoured and the boys call them big crackers. They are really yummy to be honest. Make sure you look for them. 

Daiso in Melbourne CBD is bigger and more spacious than Doncaster. :) Can't wait to go back. Woohoo.. I might already need to go back as we are missing one fork from the cutlery set already.....

Stalk my Weekend: Miu Miu and Deck Garden

Ok I am not ashamed of this. I am a 30 something year old that happily takes handbags from her Mum.

Ready for Spring? Miu Miu makes me egg cited

Mum went to Rome recently and she went crazy. This is what she bought for me. The Miu Miu mock croc wallet and the little bow satchel. I said that there is a new design for this. It probably got lost in translation in Italy cos this is not the new one that I saw. But anyway!! I will not complain.

D calls this his farm 

As the deck sanding and oiling has finally finished - I will have to post before and after pics soon. But seriously who would want to look at before and after pics on here? I think I will stick to the clothes and stuff. This is what D calls his farm. Mick bought some herbs and potted them in these old pots that someone threw out on the side of the road. He had tipped the overgrown old plants out and bleached them ready for the 'farm'. D was really enthusiastic to help with mulch and watering the plants. Pickles just basically ran around hitting me with some unidentified plastic thing. He did want to clean up the deck with a giant adult sized broom as mulch went everywhere.

Giant Nutella anyone?

Lastly... if anyone is after a 5kg tub of Nutella. You can get them at a SPECIAL price of $70 at Colonial Fruit and Veg store in Doncaster. :) Lord I love this shop. Barilla pasta is perpetually on sale here! And they stock Gippsland South eggs which is amaze!

Current Lemmings: Bags and Nails

I have just been complaining how much money I had been spending lately. And then boom..
Shopbop you know I love you.. Thanks for the 20% off code. But really your timing is so bad. I tried to tell myself to stay away. But I had been eyeing this shoulder bag for ages. I only have totes or clutches and honestly totes are too big for the weekend but clutches too cumbersome if I have to carry a child. My DIG BFF asked if I could recommend a shoulder cross body bag for her recently and I thought of Rebecca Minkoff and Marc by MJ immediately. I had a happy customer with Rebecca Minkoff. The problem was, I also wanted one. Good thing I do not buy retail price for many things and I held off. So this is getting on a plane for me now. But that is if DHL can deliver .. lol. Let's not go there.

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac Navy

Then there's the ever growing lemming for pastel nail polishes. I have been intrigued by this ever since I saw them on Makeupnet's Twitter and Facebook feeds. These are very claw colours don't you think? $65 for all 7 colours from www.makeupnet.com.au

Lime Crime Lemming Image via http://makeupnet.com.au

And been wanting this foreverrrrrr... I think i love all the pastels this year and I haven't got any YET!!
BTW is anyone else liking the OPI Man with the Golden Gun? How amazing does it look?

Image via http://hellodarling.com.au

Random Score: Mel Jelly sandals!

A girflriend asked if I wanted to have lunch.. sure thing! Should we also go to Myer to have a browse? Of course you would!

You know how you walk around aimlessly without any plans to buy anything and then BOOM.. random score? Holler... We were looking at Mel shoes that were about $45-50. I didn't know that Melissa had a cheaper sister range called Mel. There you go.. you learn something new.

Mel Jelly Shoes

I was wondering around the discount section of Myer as you would! And I saw this shoe with no price tag and no indication if it was on sale or just dumped at the wrong section. By some random luck it was my size. So I said that I told the lady that I would buy them. You pretty much have to stalk someone and just stand next to them until she is available to serve you in Myer as you would know.

When she scanned them, they were reduced by an additional 30% and was $20. Yeah ok I'll take them! I wear them to take the boys swimming as all the fighting and yelling means sometimes I have to stand really close to the water and used to get my sneakers wet. It is still slightly yucky when you have wet toes but because they are jelly they dry really quickly. Yay!! Random Score shopping rocks.

Shopping in Issa Ivanhoe

I had not been in this shop for ages! Last time I was in Helena was showing me Elk's winter collection catalogue. Now she is showing me the summer collection! Heads up Elk fans, there are lots of silk dresses! There was guilt on my face... I don't know why I had been in. I think I changed my lunchtime grocery shop routine to go to another place instead.

Display table of soaps

Check out the display table for soaps! And those are not prints, they are original watercolour paintings but framed. I want them!

Display shelves

The problem with going into this shop is that you want everything.. everything.. did I say everything? Then you see this ... And you must have it.

Flamingos WANT

I have wanted flamingos in the garden since forever. Mick said no.. so what do I do? BUY BUY BUY. I bought these and another Lovebird Candle in French Vanilla and Hazelnut. The smell omgawd.. yummy.

Pink Flamingos

I ran home and got so excited, I had to set them up!! Look it comes with instructions for people like me. LOL! Except I could not insert metal legs and I had to call them for some SOS on it. It turns out you had to jam one of them in. So jam it in I did.

Camp as Rick Martin in a row of tents 

Check that out! I have set them up near the front door in case someone decides that they want a pair too and will help themselves to them. They are NEON pink! OMG!! D calls them eagles and Mick's love for them grew too. He has now decided to drill a hole in the bum and stick lighting in them. :O

Remember that porcelain ring that I got from Mick? Check out the matching earrings!

Love Heart Earrings

Lastly.. I leave you with this item from Issa. If you are looking for a baby shower gift. Check these out! You pull the cord and the old fashion music box style type of lullaby plays. This one plays Over the Rainbow. You cannot really see it, but there are silver tears in the grey cloud. :)

Baby Shower suggestion