Toby's Estate, Robertson Quay

Toby's Estate would be a familiar name to many Australians and just the mere mention conjurs images of smooth as silk liquid gold for me.

When I discovered that Toby's Estate would be opening it's first Singapore branch close to where I live, I knew that I would have to hotfoot it down there soon after opening and sample it's wares.  I love me some coffee, and especially good coffee, and I was dreaming of sitting serenely at a table (sans BuBba), lifting up the cup, inhaling in the delicious coffee aroma and taking a long, blissful sip of Toby's Estate.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...  Heaven.

In reality, the scene played out a bit differently.  BuBba was with me so we perched ourselves at one end of a long communal table inside and I ordered a skinny flat white and a croissant for the little fella.  More substantial food was not available yet but I was informed that a new menu would be available in a week or so, so I'm guessing this week or next.

After receiving my coffee, I set BuBba up to make a ginormous mess with his croissant and took my first, much anticipated sip of coffee.  Delicious but.... not hot... just warm.

I was a little disappointed with the temperature of the coffee but I guess every new joint has it's teething issues when it's just opened (I went on it's second day of opening).  I also observed a couple of other orders getting mixed up and given that the cafe wasn't at full capacity, I hope they can iron out these service issues quickly.

Having said all of the above, I will be back because I want to try their new menu and I think everyone deserves a second chance.  

I just love a good (Australian owned) coffee too much.


Toby's Estate Coffee


Location: 8 Rodyk Street, #01-03/04, Singapore, Singapore 238216

Hours: Mon-Sun 0700-1800

Happy Birthday Singapore!

Yesterday marked 46 years since Singapore gained independence as a nation.  

To celebrate, there was a plethora (don't you love that word) of things to do such as shop special National Day sales, visit museums for reduced rates, stroll around the marina and at the end of the day, sit back and watch a massive performance spectacular completed with huge fireworks.  And just like Australia Day is a public holiday, National Day is a lovely excuse for a holiday too.

Super fast jets (no idea what they're called) zooming over Marina Bay Sands

Down the bottom, to the right of the radio tower, are 3 helicopters flying the Singapore flag (click on the picture for a closer view)

We spent the day lounging around the pool, eating fresh prawns and drinking beer and then gathering a few friends (6 children and 6 adults!) later in the night to watch the fireworks from our condo balcony.  

Cheers!

Overall a beautiful, relaxing family day to celebrate Singapore's birthday. 

Buffy x 2

Yay to the hey!  Sarah Michelle Gellar is back in a new drama starting in September called Ringer.

This preview was shown at Comic-Con 2011.  Enjoy :)

Friday Drool

Check out these little babies that are available courtesy of shopbop.com

Oh how I love you Missoni large zigzag ballet flats.  If only you weren't $USD425.

Le sigh...

You Say Risoni, I Say...

... YUM!

Every week I get Honeycombers "ultimate guide to everything fabulous & fun in Singapore" sent straight to my inbox.  It includes great ideas for weekend getaways, things to do with the kids and up and coming bars and restaurants and more!

There was a lonely packet of risoni hiding in the back of the cupboard because to be honest, I didn't know what do with it so when I saw the Recipe of the Month I decided to try it out.

Spicy Sausage & Lemon Risoni

One word:  delicious!  Try it out, you won't be disappointed.

Oh and for the record, I didn't have any wine available but beer was a great substitute :)

Ubud - Bali Part II

We did a couple of half day tours whilst in Bali to get a feel of the island.

Ubud was our first stop.  A small town in the centre of Bali, it exudes a sense of calm and magic as soon as you set foot on the ground.  We parked outside the Monkey Forest and gave that a wide berth.  Monkeys don't particularly excite me and I've heard they're cheeky opportunistic buggers that will steal anything they can get their puny little hands on.  The thought of rabies also puts me off tenfold.

Off we trotted up and down the hilly main stretch, cruising quickly past the tacky souvenir shops with "I ♥ Bali" shirts and wooden penis bottle openers (ugh!) and taking our time to inspect the local handicrafts.  Our time was limited but we managed to fit in a bit of shopping, a bit of local cuisine and a touch of sticky beaking down the alley ways and in to gorgeous, posh looking villas.

After leaving, I immediately got the feeling that we hadn't even scratched the surface of the beauty of Ubud and it's surrounds.  The drive there (just over an hour from Seminyak) was picturesque and amusing.  Bali drivers and traffic are hilarious but that's a post for another time :)  

I can't wait to go back.  Next time I think it will be a great idea to go with some other families and rent a large villa.  Ubud will be our base to explore the magnificence that is Bali.

Tuesday Tunes

This song never fails to lift my mood and make me feel like dancing in public.

Happy Tuesday!

Friday Drool

Two of my most favourite (actress) girls in the world.

image

Who knew that Rachel Bilson would become such a style icon after her OC days were over?

And Sarah Michelle Gellar.  Well I've loved her ever since the beginning of her days as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Now that she's a Mummy and with a spunky husband to boot, I just love her even more.

Looking good Summer & Buffy! 

Namaste - Bali Part I

We've just returned from a lovely little sojourn to Bali.  The weather was very similar to Singapore but the environment completely different.

Our home for the last week was a gorgeous villa in Seminyak, not far from the main street.

The entrance, complete with a goldfish pond

Private plunge pool

Open air bathroom

Main bedroom with accompanying mosquito net to keep the buggers out!

Breakfast smorgasbord

Breakfast was a definite highlight.  At a pre-arranged time, staff would arrive at our villa and proceed to cook up a storm from our selection of eggs, pancakes or local dishes like nasi goreng or nasi lemak.  Pastries and fresh fruit were also plentiful.

I really could have got used to that!

A short long weekend

Sadly the long weekend is over here.  There is no public holiday for Easter Monday and of course there is no Anzac Day.  

There is still remembrance and reflection happening though.  Both my grandfathers fought in WWII and both came back broken men.  Hard not to really when you try and imagine what they must have experienced.  Both passed away when I was of a young age but that does not stop me from reflecting on the sacrifices they made for themselves, for their families and for their fellow countrymen.

Now on to the weekend just been.  Our plans to meet up with friends at the beach fell through due to illness (theirs not ours) so we found ourselves faced with a weekend of NOTHING!

Bliss

So we ate a few of these...

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Drank a "couple" of these...

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Did a bit of this...

And nibbled on some of these...

Happy Easter!

Friday Drool

How far would you go for the perfect pair of swimmers?

Search every swimwear shop in town?

Scavenge through every conceivable online retailer?

Get your mother to check out the stores around her locally?

Yes, we are talking about me but when you see these pretties, you will understand why.

All the above options came up with nada in my size.

Until...

The mother called and said there was a brand new pair on eBay.

The Seafolly Plume maillot retails for around $SGD 190 and I won them for FAR less.

They're currently on their way over to my hot little hands and I am eagerly checking the mailbox every day.

<3

Bridesmaids

Most of us have been there, either as a bridesmaid or having been the bride so I'm sure we can relate to this new movie coming out soon.

I literally laughed out loud at the end scene.

I will definitely be seeing this movie when it's out :)

Whoa!

The beautiful January Jones graces the cover of W this month and wow, just wow!

image via Just Jared

Seriously, are those pins for real?  Holy freaking cow...

AMAZING

GORGEOUS

VA VA VOOM!

You can read more about January at wmagazine.com

Heaven Help Me

The little dude is teething.  Not one, not two, no, not three but FOUR freaking teeth!  All at the same time.

He's a bag of misery.  Sleeping little, whinging and crying lots and refusing to eat.  Oh and also doing the most foulest poops ever!

image via

I'm feeling a little Britney but just keep reminding myself that I sure as hell would be feeling exactly the same if I had four teeth trying to escape from my gums.

I'm here, I'm HERE!

Wow, has it really been over a month that I've been MIA... again.  Things have been totally crazy town in the land of BuBbles during the month of February.

Perhaps I should do a little synopsis of what's been going down:

• My birthday - yay for 34! (not)

• My parents came to visit
• Holiday at Kota Kinabalu (click here to find out where the heck KK is)
• Got up close & personal with orang-utans

• Mega sightseeing in Singapore (Marina Bay Sands SkyPark; bum boat tour of Singapore River; shopping at Bugis Street etc)
• An absolutely divine couples body scrub and massage - heaven on a stick!
• Breakfast with the animals at Singapore Zoo
• Returned to Brisbane for 2 weeks with BuBba, when my parents flew back home
• Met my lovely best friend's gorgeous, gorgeous twins

• Took complete advantage of the free babysitting (thanks Mum & Dad) and had quite a few nights out sans child
• Caught up with many old friends when back in my hometown
• Drank far too much alcohol and ate far too much food and am now paying for it with a few extra kilos.

So that's just "some" of what I've been up to while I've been away from the blog.  Living it up and enjoying one hell of a fabulous February.

I'm hoping to write in more detail about the places I've visited and share some of the photos that I've taken in the near future so stick around!

Point + Shoot

It's been non-stop raining since Saturday and the rain continues to pour today.  I'm feeling a little stir crazy, as I'm sure BuBba is too but I just can't face dragging myself out in this weather.

Luckily, Daddy BuBbles dragged me out on Saturday night for our first date night since hitting Singapore shores.  The babysitter was arranged (but cost an absolute bloody fortune) and off we tottered for dinner and drinks at 1-Altitude.  The weather hampered our plans for drinks and dinner with a view but it was an absolute pleasure to be out sans child.  (That sounds so wrong but I'm sure you know what I'm getting at.) 

We followed up with some after-dinner drinks at New Asia Bar on level 71 of the Swissotel.  Again there were no views to be had so instead we played silly buggers under the changing lights.  

Hey, you have to make your own fun, right?

Play along with Point+Shoot over at Fat Mum Slim

Win a $100 ShopBop Gift Card!

Did I get your attention?

Then get yourself over to Table Tonic quick smart and leave a comment for your chance to win a voucher for $100 worth of goodies from ShopBop.

And what would I spend the $100 on if I were lucky enough to win.  Well I love love LOVE the whole House of Harlow 1960 range by Nicole Richie so I think I might just have to put the gift card towards the purchase of this little beauty to match my enameled tribal wrap ring...

Enameled tribal wrap cuff

Happy Australia Day!

Aussie music was playing, the sausages were sizzling and the VB was on tap. 

This is how we celebrated Australia Day - Singapore style - last Sunday.

(Pseudo) Aunty

At 3.30am this morning I received a text from my bestie.  A call or text at this time is usually something to become alarmed at but not this time.  I've been hanging out for this message.  

"Sorry to wake you" she said, "but my waters have broken!"

A mere 8 hours later, my gorgeous best friend gave birth...

...to twins!!!!

I am so so super dooper chuffed that I am almost lost for words.  We've been through thick and thin together, good times and bad and I'm just incredibly happy that she has been blessed with a wonderful husband and now a gorgeous baby girl and baby boy.

Only three weeks to go until I get to meet her precious bundles in person.

Let the countdown begin!

Friday Drool

Have you ever heard of the store called Daiso?  Chances are no unless you've recently been to Singapore or Japan.  Well let me tell you about the bonanza that is Daiso.

Daiso is a Japanese store that is full of all sorts of various delights at the bargain basement price of $2.  That's right.  Everything, no really, EVERYTHING is $2!

You can find things for the garden, cosmetics, food & drink, wrapping paper, stationary, detergents, chopsticks, dinner plates, kitchen utensils, car items etc, etc.  Phew!  The list goes on and on.  They even have a Hello Kitty section if you're in to that.

Initially I had a little look see with BuBba in tow but found this was not the ideal shopping experience.  The aisles are not particularly wide so totally not conducive for shopping with a pram and little hands were quick to snatch whatever they could from the shelves given the chance.

Cue Take Two.  I went on a solo mission and got there shortly after opening time so as to avoid the crowds.  Brilliant!  I got to casually walk up and down all the aisles (and there's lots of them) and pick and choose what I wanted without having to worry about keeping BuBba occupied or worry about squeezing my way around other shoppers.

The shopping basket quickly became heavy on my arm and almost full to over-flowing.  The ladies at the registers tallied the items and off I tottered home. 

Check out my loot.

$40 meant 20 items and a happy BuBbles.

Friday Drool

Wowsers, it's been a while since I've done a Friday Drool post.

Today I just had to share my latest purchase with you all.  Jen at Made By Girl alerted me to this baby and as soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to have it.  

The gorgeous Michael Kors wallet case for iPhone in python.  Drool!

My old iPhone case was a bit ratty looking and I actually removed it last week so the timing is perfect.  Daddy BuBbles was also due to go on a work trip to San Francisco at the end of the month so I quickly shot off an email to him with the link and one word - "WANT!".  Yes!  He could pick it up while he was over in the US.  Just a day after I sent the email his work trip was cancelled.  Bummer.

Hmmm, what to do, what to do.  Bingo!  They're available in Australia too and the parentals are coming to visit us in a few weeks.

Wahoo!  You shall be mine, my pretty.

It also comes in black patent (I'm a sucker for patent) which I love too.  

Maybe I could get both...

Talk of the Town

It's definitely the celebrity news on the tip of everyone's tongues today but that's because it's just so HUGE!

There's another gorgeous Beckham on the way and apparently Victoria is hoping for a little pink bundle this time. 

image via here

I can't wait to check out Victoria's maternity style.  

Maybe Faux Fuchsia can get some fashion tips before mini FF comes along because I know she's been struggling with the horrid maternity clothes out there :)

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year etc etc...

Yes, I admit it... I'm a very slack blogger of late.  I've heard of losing your blogging mojo before and poo-poo'ed the idea but here I am in a bit of a funk.  There's been a lot going on in BuBble's land and that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :)

Let's go through the last couple of weeks in bullet points.

* Christmas Eve

I want chilli crab now!  Our new Christmas Eve tradition

*  Merry Christmas!

BuBba freaked out at seeing Santa

*  Happy New Year

The view from our condo

Sitting on our balcony (literally) to see in the New Year

Welcome 2011!

And finally

*  Happy Blogiversary to me!!!

 

One year ago (yesterday), I started this humble blog as one of my new year resolutions.  The resolution stated that I would continue it for "at least" a year, and although I've petered out a little with the blog posts in the last month or so, I made it so HIGH FIVE to me!

My other resolution was to improve my photography skills.  I must admit that I probably didn't succeed with this one.  I'm still a noob and use the auto function far too often but just yesterday I unpacked my manual and put it beside my bed for a little reading prior to nodding off for the night.  Maybe I'll just carry the resolution over to this year.

For this year, I resolve to not put so much pressure on myself to post blogs frequently.  I'll still be here and will still be posting random tidbits, fave music clips and celebrity break ups.  But just not every day.  And the mojo will return.  I'm sure of that.

2011 is shaping up to be a very exciting year and I hope you stick with me for the journey!