Ms Piggy's Great Aussie Break !

It's seems like ages ago that I came back from Australia.  I was there just a few months back to attend my brother's graduation and also visit my cousin in Perth and sister in Sydney.  We took the opportunity to bring my folks to Margaret River (MR) that they missed the last time round.  Overall it was a superb break.  Unfortunately, Mr B couldn't come and Baby A has to stay at home :( *sob*

Nevertheless, some random but interesting photos to capture my trip.

~~ Margaret River - Berry Farm ~~

Avocados on a tree - unseen in Singapore.

 Avocados on a tree - unseen in Singapore. 

So this is how they look like in nature.  Not in crates at the supermarket. 

Chopped wood for cooking?

Delicious raspberries bunch.

Beautiful vast vineyard

I spy grapes! 

No net can keep us out! :)

~~ SYDNEY ~~

 

Great coffee and the best banana cake in town with dulce de leche butter. Totally worth the wait.

 

Breakfast at Mrs S - Poached eggs, bacon, cornbread with maple syrup. Divine!

 

Studio Apartment in Sydney - deluxe holiday !

 

  

Gift for Mr B - Mighty Mug - A mug that won't fall over.  

I should have bought another one for myself!

Good Review Makes Everything Worthwhile

A wonderful customer just made my day by leaving the sweetest and most wonderful feedback.  Receiving such reviews makes everything I do worthwhile.

"Its delicate and beautiful. Thank you Alice. I love how you added so many small little details in presenting this necklace as a special piece. I am not a biblical person, but opening that package all the way down to the necklace says a lot about you, just beautiful...." - Beth from Colorado.

Write a Love Letter with Yahoo!

I have been a Yahoo Mail user for a long time.  Even though there are times when I contemplated of switching providers, but Yahoo Mail continues to surprise me with new features.  The latest one is quite fun to play with. 

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Yahoo has introduced a small heart icon right next to the Compose button. By pressing it, you’ll get some holiday specific letters.

You can have Yahoo Mail auto compose you a message under three categories – “Crazy in Love,” “Friendly in Love,” and “All Out of Love.”

Depending on what you choose, Yahoo will compose an e-mail for you, which can lead to pretty hilarious messages.

While love messages will start with various endearments, those sent under the “Friendly in Love” category will start with phrases such as “Dearest pal” and “To my generous friend.”

Here are some examples of the love letters that Yahoo auto compose for you.

" Dear babycakes,
To know you is to love you. My lifelong goal will be to fulfill your every wish. When we are apart, I am lost without hope. You are my hero. My love-hero.
With tender loving care, XXX "

" To my sunshine,
I can't tell you how glad I am that we met. Your loving support has made me a better person. I've seen you at your worst and it really wasn't that bad! When making my plans for this evening, I'll first ask myself what you would do.
Most sincerely, XXX "

" To whom it may concern,
At least we have each other! All by myself... don't wanna be all by myself. I'm mostly just bummed that nobody will be giving me an adorable puppy wearing a red bow (hint, hint). If you need me, I'll be in the Honeymoon Suite at the Heartbreak Hotel.
Love?! Pshhhht. XXX"

Not sure how long this feature will be available till but it's great to have fun with it while it lasts.  Happy Valentine's Day.

♥ Ms Piggy

Roses for Valentine

Valentine's Day for me every year is always a busy one.  Not with jewelry but with flowers!  Mum is a florist and every Valentine's day, I will always take time off from work to help her at the shop.  You would think after so many years I would know at least how to make a bouquet.  Unfortunately no, I always stick to the sales and delivery department.

This year, due to Baby A and having to just came back from work in January, I am unable to take leave during V-day.  Sorry mum!

As a tribute to my Mum, here is Miss Piggy's V-day List.  It's all about FLOWERS this V-day!

1. Paper Roses with Stems from Book Pages US$20.00 - Gorgeous way to recycle old books and decorate your home.
2. Petite Red Roses Stud Earrings US$9.00 - Small but beautiful.  There is nothing quite like red roses.. especially on your ears.
3. Rose Icing Cupcake US$8.95 - Totally adorable! What about a rose cupcake ring?
4. Rose Flower Floral Wax Seal Stamp US$20.00 - I love wax seal.  Nothing quite like a love letter sealed with a "rose".
5. Rose Quartz Rose Ring US$48.00 - Beautiful and delicate.  Love the thorny branch ring band.
6. Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Red Rose Necklace US$35.00 - A single blooming rose in a glass dome.
7. Crochet Pattern Rose Field Baby Blanket US$7.00 - Love those rose patches . Would make a beautiful blanket for a baby.  Pattern Check.  Baby Check. Now who to sew?
8. Starbucks Rose and Leaf Necklace US$16.95 - Perfect upcycle jewelry .  Now you are enjoy Starbucks and wear it!

Bats in January

I received my "Bat heels" in the mail today! I was totally thrilled.  They are my first 'Charlotte Olympia' shoes.  I don't usually buy fancy / branded shoes as I wear out my heels easily.  But when I saw these shoes on sale ~70% discount from the original price @ net-a-porter, I knew I had to have them! ... my precious...

 

[About my shoes] They came in a beautiful box with Charlotte Olympia's signature gold spider web and black spider icon.  Underneath the shoes, you will also find a gold spider web charm.  The shoes were wrapped in spider web decorated tissue paper and a matching shoe bag was included.  There was even a Polaroid photo of the shoes which can be placed outside your shoe box!  Perfect for shoe divas who have TOO MANY shoes boxes to know which shoes are in them!

To complete my day, I am loving these beautiful earrings that I got from one of my best friends for Christmas.  (Thanks J!)  I can't wait to wear them when I go back to work tomorrow. 

New Shoes . New Jewelry

I hope the start of January has been great for you too.

♥ Ms Piggy

{ Hello }

Hello 

I am backkkkkkk.............

It's been like ages since I wrote on this blog.  Lots have changed and much hasn't... 

Changes

1. We (B & I) adopted a baby boy, A.  Totally adorable. We love him to bits.
2. We (B & I) tutored a Primary 4 boy, R in Maths & English.  It was a Community Investment initiative, the first one that we did together as a couple.
3. I discovered DVF. My first wrap dress.  It blew me away.  A current staple in my wardrobe.
4. I attended a personal image class last year and has (hopefully!) made me wiser in my wardrobe choices.
5. My sister graduated with a PhD in Physiotherapy. 

Still me...

1. I am still running Piggy's Little Shop (Woohoo! We are 7 this year!)
2. I am still holding a day job in the same company.  3 yrs in the role.  Love what I do and the people I work with.
3. I am still driving the same car ... same house ...  Basically I am still the same me.

Glad to be back.  Hope this time abit longer. :)

{ Personal } Huey

That's Huey! My brother Josh & Blink (my SIL)'s new puppy. It is a JRT. How adorable! The rest of my siblings are totally excited. However, I can't say the same for my parents. They do prefer grandchildren to dogs. :p

{ Personal } Threadless

Just requested 2 reprints from Threadless. Don't you just adore the designs!

Eggs, Milk ....

Sushi

** Update 29 Nov - The above tees are available on Threadless and they are at $10! :) I took the opportunity to snap them up. Even bought a matching one for B.

{ Personal } Lazy Sunday

Tiny Tiramisu @ Jones the Grocer

Had a really lazy Sunday today. Missed church. Went down to Paper Market @ City Hall and bought some packaging materials for the shop (some pretty brads & Christmas rub-ons). I also managed to buy some macarons from Canele (Yums!). Then we drove down to Cineleisure (B missed the Ion carpark entrance again) and checked out some of the fashion shops. One of my favorite vintage lifestyle shop has closed down. Somehow these shops do not last long in Singapore due to expensive rental. Stopped by at Jones the Grocer @ Mandarin Gallery for a quick coffee & tiramisu. Look at how "big" the dessert were for the 2 of us.. Absolutely tiny. The only thing cute was the cup. Visited another stationery shop, Woodswood. Totally love the place, I never get tired of just checking out each and every new item they have. If only we have more shops like these in Singapore (and survived long enough). Ended dinner at Xin Wang @ Cineleisure. I am so hooked on the dry noodles.. 2nd time there this week. (so not good for me)

Rebonded My Hair!

Aww.. It's been about a week since I last put up a post.. It's been a tough week although I did take Friday off to go to my hairdresser. I badly need a haircut. I have been keeping my hair long for the wedding but since then I have not gotten a trim in a while.

Anyways, I was a Jon's on Friday and I decided to try something new.. So I rebonded my hair! Jon was a bit skeptical at first as he knew that I love curls & waves more than the boring straight hair especially given that I have natural curls. However, to do a ceramic perm / normal perm would require some work maintaining them... which is absolutely not for me as I am a super low maintenance person (aka lazy) when it comes to hair. Thus it is a no-no for me. With rebonding, it basically do not need to go the extra mile of maintaining it! *Hurray*.. so that's what I picked.

The results were great! I think everyone in the salon thought I look younger.. keke.. My hubby thought I looked like a schoolgirl again although my size gave it away.. lol! But having straight hair does make one look younger, don't you think? Well, the most amazing thing is that my hair doesn't look like a mess in the morning and it's super easy to maintain.. I am so glad that I did it! Not sure why it took me such a long time to try it...

Have you rebonded your hair? Do you think it makes you look younger!? For now, I love my look, ... ask me again in 6 months time, maybe I am back to curls again.. lol! :)