[ADVERT] Samsung GALAXY ALPHA 4G+

I was really honored to receive a Samsung GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ (in Frosted Gold) 2 weeks ago from ZALORA and Samsung:







The first thing that caught my attention was how LIGHT the phone is. "That's probably cause you haven't inserted the battery in.", I was told, but it felt almost the same even after I have done so!



As you can tell, the Samsung GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ has a really slim and compact design - at just 6.7mm, it fits easily in one hand, and also slips easily into pockets. That is another plus point for me because I have small hands and I can't stand using huge phones where my fingers can't even reach the other end of the phone (how do people do it?? It's so uncomfortable and painful on the fingers). I also dislike how bulky phones can create unsightly bulges and creases on your clothes.



What I really love about the ALPHA 4G+ is its advanced 12 megapixels camera. Having used the iPhone 4S for the past 2.5 years, it has been frustrating for me especially when taking photos of people. A lot of editing needs to be done especially to sharpen them.

I am really impressed by the colours and quality of the photos taken with the ALPHA 4G+'s camera! Here are some shots I took at home:







My favourite feature of the camera is its Selective Focus function! Take a look at this:



I decided to focus on the apple (Near Focus) so the background is blurred:



After the photo is processed and saved, you can actually still EDIT it to change the focus by selecting either of the 3 focus options:



Far Focus:



Pan Focus:



The camera's Real-Time HDR feature is notable as well, where you can now capture your photos in vivid colours even when you are standing against harsh lightings/in dim settings! No more looking like a silhouette (Y)


What sets the Samsung GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ apart is also its power-saving efficiency that allows the phone to go into a Ultra Power Saving Mode. Most of us would have panicked if our phones were left with 10% battery life, because this means it would most likely shut down any minute.
However, with this power-saving mode, it extends the remaining 10% battery life by up to 10 hours' worth of standby time! The phone does so by turning the screen to black & white and shutting down unnecessary applications:





For video lovers, you must be happy to know that the Samsung GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ incorporates a 4G LTE-Advanced (CAT 6) network technology that allows you to stream music, download games and watch your favourite drama series at an ultra fast speed of up to 300Mbps!

Additional features of the Samsung GALAXY ALPHA 4G+ include Advanced Fingerprint Security that allows login to password-protected sites with fingerprint swiping. In addition, you can keep your files (e.g. certain photos in your gallery) private too!

And for the health/fitness-conscious, S Health with HRM allows checking and monitoring of your heart rate with an embedded sensor.

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Thank you ZALORA and Samsung for gifting me the phone! :)

[ADVERT] Nissin Hokkaido miso Japanese ramen

Fancy having a bowl of Japanese ramen in the comforts of your own home? With NISSIN Foods, you sure can! :)
I was recently sent a box of 4 packets of their ramen (but 3 different flavours) to try out - Tokyo Shoyu, Kyushu Black and Hokkaido Miso:





Tokyo Shoyu has a distinct umami taste, and Nori seaweed is included as its garnish:



Originating from Kyushu Island, Kyushu Black features black garlic oil, which gives a fragrant taste with a hint of balsamic vinegar:



The new flavour, Hokkaido Miso, features a flavourful miso soup base and a special garnish, the Wakame seaweed. Originating from Hokkaido, ramen lovers should not miss this miso goodness!:



Since Hokkaido Miso is a new flavour, I decided to try that first! Mum and I also attempted to make some Japanese lava eggs, and this was our most successful attempt (even though still unsuccessful, LOL), after 2 failed ones hahaha. We added in spring onions as well!:



The ramen noodles were smooth and bouncy, and the miso broth was thick and flavourful. I also love the Wakame seaweed garnish! I like seaweed in my ramen :9







The Japanese Ramen range is Halal-certified and is available in major supermarkets island-wide. They are priced at S$3.85 per bundle (prices may very at different supermarkets).

Thank you, NISSIN and Wei Ying for sending them over! :)

[ADVERT] Daniel Wellington watches - Grace Glasgow

Thank you Daniel Wellington for sending another pair over to me! :)


Website: www.danielwellington.com
Instagram: @danielwellingtonwatches

[ADVERT] Macho Moosely's Granolas

Who loves granolas?? I DO! I like to eat them plain or in a bowl of honey yogurt :9

I was really excited when I received 2 packets of granolas from Macho Moosely, a Singapore brand that bakes their granolas in a NEA Certified Kitchen and uses 100% natural ingredients (no preservatives or dairy!). Granolas are a healthy breakfast food/ snack choice as they contain some essential nutrients and keep you filling full at the same time.

"We specially bake each Macho Pack to-order in small batches – so you’ll enjoy only the freshest crunch. We do not add artificial/pseudo-natural additives, preservatives, refined sugars, or any of those nasty stuff. What really makes us special is that we deliver great value! Our granola mixes are carefully crafted with wide variety of fruits, nuts, seeds and grains to specifically achieve super Brain, Brawn, Beauty and also Balance!"




All Macho Moosely packs are low in fat, are vegan and dairy free. Grains, seeds and nuts are also tossed in the mix (so if are allergic to nuts, this may not be suitable for you).


One of the packs I've received was the BALANCE Pack (S$12.90), which has all you need for a healthy lifestyle plus a wholesome boost! It brings you the best of Brain, Brawn, Beauty. High in Vitamin A and antioxidants, this pack is great for excellent skin and body. It also contains my favourite almonds and walnuts!

Ingredients: Rolled Oats (45%), Almonds (8%), Walnuts (8%), Apricots (6%), Sweet Potatoes (5%), Pumpkin (4%), Chia Seeds (2%), Millet (2%). Plus our delightful mix of Organic Golden Ground Flaxseeds, Olive Oil, Pure Honey, Brown Sugar, Sea Salt and Coconut Flakes (20%)







Next up is the BEAUTY pack (S$12.90), which has all you need for a radiant glow. I love this pack especially because of the berries which are really nice to chew on, and they are also packed with antioxidants and Vitamins C & E.
I don't really fancy the pumpkin tastes within though... but I guess that can be overlooked since they contain Vitamin A which is good for skin and eyesight hehe.

Ingredients: Rolled Oats (45%), Hazelnuts (8%), Cashews (8%), Cranberries (6%), Blueberries (5%), Pumpkin (4%), Pumpkin Seeds (2%), Millet (2%), Organic Golden Ground Flaxseeds, Olive Oil, Pure Honey, Brown Sugar, Sea Salt and Nutmeg (20%)





At the back of every pack is a "Best enjoyed by:" date stamp. Once the pack is opened, it is advisable to finish the contents up within a week:









All their packs are priced at S$12.90, which is a really reasonable and relatively cheap price (for such a huge bag) compared to those you get in cafes/supermarkets.

Thank you Macho Moosely for sending these yummies over! :)


The Macho Moosely packs (BRAIN, BEAUTY, BRAWN, BALANCE) can be purchased via:
1. their website - www.machomoosely.com
2. their lovely retailers @ Delcies


Facebook: www.facebook.com/mooselygranola
Instagram: @machomoosely

[ADVERT] Pezzo Pizza x National Day | Daylong Sunblock

Pezzo has launched 2 new local flavours in conjunction with Singapore's 49th birthday last month - Chicken Rendang and Singa Laksa. Both of these flavours has been incorporated permanently into their menu.

I was invited down to celebrate this occasion on the Singapore River Cruise earlier in August, and I love how the team has decorated the boat with balloons and colours to suit Pezzo's carnival/circus theme!



























Singa Laksa (S$4.90 per slice / S$24.90 per full pan) - this authentic laksa-tasting pizza consists of fresh crab meat, squid, tuna, prawn and taupok (!!!). Laksa leaves are also added to enhance the flavour. The toppings are generous and I really love this seafood combination a lot. I even da bao-ed a few boxes back for my family and friends to try hahaha:



Chicken Rendang (S$4.50 per slice/ S$24.90 per full pan) - with red capsicum, green capsicum, white onions, oregano chicken and Rendang paste. Supposedly spicier than Singa Laksa, but I found it otherwise. There could be more Rendang paste too in my opinion:



It was my 1st time trying Pezzo's pizzas and I was really impressed!:



Thanks Pezzo and Jaslyn for the invite :)


OOTD! White Gingham Midi Skirt c/o As You Are:











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And 2 weeks ago, I was invited to Swiss label Daylong's event held at Halia @ Botanic Gardens. Daylong, brought to you by the expert dermatological company Galderma, has set foot in Singapore with their range of sun protection products suited for everyday use.

For 24 years of my life, I have never cared about applying sunblock because I hate the feeling of a layer of 'something' on my face (which also explains why I dislike makeup so much). But after hearing the talk that day on the risks and harmful effects of the sun, I have been trying to incorporate sunblock into my skincare routine!





Daylong provides daily sun protection for diverse skin types and conditions with their 6 new products - Daylong SPF30 Spray-Lotion, Daylong SPF30 Gelfluid, Daylong SPF50+ Gel, Daylong Kids SPF30 Cream, Daylong Kids SPF50+ Lotion and Daylong After Sun Repair.

These products are also designed without additional preservatives or perfumes, are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and dermatologically tested.







What was for lunch!:



Ginger Jive - an ice blend of fresh ginger, fruit punch, orange and honey. Not a fan of ginger but this was very very refreshing I couldn't stop drinking it. The ginger taste was mild, but enough to enhance the flavour of the drink:





Caesar Salad - with shaved parmesan and 62 degrees Celcius hen's egg. I'm never a fan of Caesar salads because of the cheese (ugghh), but I attempted a few pieces of veggies just to be polite lol. Wanted the egg really badly but there wasn't a spoon and I wanted to eat it whole.... so too bad:



Roasted Asian Spice Soy-braised Kampung 1/2 Chicken - with house salad, plum salt and calamansi. This was really yummy it only took me awhile to devour this, especially with the plum salt.
I have no idea why my plate was so wet though (the rest of the ppl at my table had okay plates) so everything felt a little moist and a portion of the salt has already dissolved :(





Frozen Ginger Nougat Parfait - ginger nougat, spiced pineapple sauce, ginger crumble and crispy crackers. I've been to Halia about 2 years ago and I remembered loving their chocolate dessert a lot, and the same goes for this! It felt a lot like eating really cold Macadamia Nut ice-cream with the bits within, except this was ginger-flavoured. It was fluffy and crunchy at the same time:



Thank you Daphne and Daylong for having me! :)


Daylong offers all-around protection for ultraviolet radiation as well as infrared radiations.



It is easy to apply and is light, unscented, fast-absorbing and very water-resistant. Also contains aloe vera and Vitamin E which are beneficial for our skin.



Daily use of sunscreen slows down the ageing process and results in skin that is more resilient, smoother, more elastic and less wrinkled. It also significantly reduces the risk of skin cancers.










Daylong is available in selected pharmacies (at an average price of S$35) from mid-September 2014.