To go or not to go?

Have been traveling over the past few weeks. Visited Malaysia - KL in end of Mar and Europe during Apr. If not for the earthquake in Japan, I would have been making a trip to Japan instead of Europe in Apr to see the Sakura and visit the Alpine route.

Know a few friends who would be visiting Japan in the coming month and the following month by taking the airfare promotion from Singapore to Japan offered by SIA.

I am very much tempted to visit Japan again soon. But in my heart, I am struggling with that thought of going and not going. I know my parents would be concern about me going to Japan, a place that they perceived as dangerous. However, knowing the situation in Japan now, I feel that it is still as relatively a safe place to visit and not as dangerous as my parents think. 

To go or not to go is a tough decision... :(

Earthquake and Tsunami in Tokyo

Was watching news about the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan Tokyo and keep up with the updates in Japan through NHK World website. I was very sad over the loss of lives and the damages to the buildings as a result of the Earthquake and Tsunami. 


My sincere condolences to those affected and wish that with supports from all over the world, Japan should be able to rebuilt what they have lost in this disaster.

Shappo from Sentimental Circus... finally I found her. :D

Happened to see Shappo when surfing a Japan website last Nov and have since been looking to buy a Shappo Plush in Singapore and finally my dream is going to come true. 

Ordered her from a friend and would be looking forward to collecting her this coming Sat. For those interested to get her, you can visit my friend's site is www.benbenshoppe.blogspot.com. 

Shappo's pictures: 

Shappo and Toto. Loves the way she looks, so blur looking.

Loves her shade of pink, sweet and romantic

For those who do not know what is Sentimental Circus, it is a new range of characters created by San-X and it is gaining popularity in Japan. The themes seem to focus on a mystical circus formed by a group of abandoned stuff animals. The ring master is a pink rabbit looking plush, known as Shappo.  

Celebrating 14th Feb in advance

As 14th Feb is on a Monday, so decided to go for a nice dinner on Sunday to celebrate in Valentine Day in advance. Decided to try the special menu at Sakae Sushi  for the month of Feb as I was very attracted to the promotion poster outside the restaurant. 

After running through the special menu, we decided to try the enchanted forest. Here it is:

View from the top

View from the side. Does this look like a tree?

We waited for quite a while for this dish. When serving the dish, the waiter apologized for the delay and told us that the chef took a lot of effort to make this dish hence the waiting time. Overall, I give a thumb up for the creativity in coming up with this dish and also the effort of chef in preparing this dish. 

I also have my all time favourite - The geisha gozen:

Where I am going to spend my ang bao (red packet) money

The Chinese New Year celebration has more or less ended with the start of the working week. And it is time to get back to my busy work schedule after the long break. 

Already made plan on how to spend the little ang bao (red packet) money that I got from my relatives... new momoko doll - wakeup momoko dolls no 7 and 8. Wakeup momoko dolls are basis momoko dolls released with minimal clothes and they also do not come with shoes.

This coming series is one of my favourite so far.

祝大家新年心想事成

Happy Lunar New Year..

Blythe Sale Event - Snowflake Sonata Singapore Pre-Order Event!

Blythe Sale Event at Cathay Cineplex

Blythe Sale Event at Cathay Cineplex, Level 6

Fans grabbing Blythes at the event

Presenting CWC Exclusive for Asia Distribution Neo Blythe "Snowflake Sonata." ... 

Snowflake Sonata Neo Blythe

Actual Doll

Close up of Snowflake Sonata

Customize-made Blythe dolls at the event:

My Momoko Happy Box 2011

Finally, my momoko Happy Box has arrived this morning. As only the CCS momoko doll - Sweet Choco was selected by me, the rest of the other items in the box are unknown. It is a great and fun way to start this morning to open the box and see what surprises are in store for me.

What I got from my box:

Dolls

- 06AW Sweet Choco

- CCS-Momoko 10SS Home Mint Jelly 

- 1x  Nikki (purple)

- 2 x mame momokos

Clothes

- 1 x Back to Basic sun-dress wore by Sweet Choco

- 1 x Kimono of CCS-momoko 07SS Yukata

- 2 x pairs of shoes [the yellow boot is the same as what Mint Jelly has, so I have 2 pairs of the same yellow boots.]

- 1 x knit bag

- 1 x hairband

- 3 x tops

I was a bit disappointed with the combination of the clothes items I got. But the CCS momoko make up for the disappointment. I already have Peach Smoothie and Z with Lemon Sorbet, and Mint Jelly will be a great addition since it is a sister reunion for them. 

Cooking made easy by Rilakkuma. :)

Saw this Rilakkuma container from San-X online shop in Japan. I am amazed at what a simple container can do. 

The hole at the right corner of the container allows the user to measure the amount of pasta needed for cooking. There is also a indicator to tell the user how much water is needed for cooking the pasta. Another design on the left of the container to allow the draining of the water after the pasta is cooked. Are you equally amazed by that as me? 

Other than this pasta cooking container, they also have a rice cooking container and a raman container that allow users to cook rice or raman using a microwave. [See images below. ]

Who need a gas cooker with such cool inventions!!! 

Happy 2011

Finally 2011 is here... a lot of plans await me for the new year... 

This year is going to be a time for travelling. I just got my passport renewal last Nov and this year, I am planning to execute my travel plan to Malaysia KL, Japan Hokkaido and maybe going to Tokyo for the Momoko 10th anniversary event. 

Also I am going to re-learn my Japanese language again. I have not touch my Japanese language since I completed my Elementary lesson and I almost forget most of the things I learnt and it is time to re-fresh and re-learn. 加油！

I also starting my own mini business this year in partnership with a friend. Everything is still in the planning stage now, and I hope that everything will work out fine for me. 

Lastly, to start on my weight loss programe AGAIN. I hope this round I can be more determined. :)

As for dolls, I am looking forward to:

-> Happy Box 2011...  yes, I managed to get one yesterday from Petworks Online Store

-> DHEX Repro (DHEXs / DHEXl) to be out on 17 Jan 2011 for ordering on Petworks Store

Hope that 2011 is a year that I can accomplish my plans and everything is smooth sailing for me. 

Headcount

The new year is coming soon and I was busy with tidying up my room starting last weekend. Of course, since I tidying up my room, might as well do a headcount of the number of dolls I have so far:-

1) 24 x momoko dolls!!! 

With the number of new releases from PetWorks, I think my army of momoko dolls has increased the most compare to other dolls. I am now having a tought time selecting who to sell off.

2) 2 x Neo Blythes

A small sensible size considering that I sold most of my collection.

3) 2 x Petite Blythe 

If not for the price hike in the recent new releases, I think I may end up getting a few more to my collection. 

The retail price of a CWC exclusive Petite Blythe used to be around 3,675yen (like the "Secret Midnight Tea Party" and "Mademoiselle Chocolat de Q-pot."), now it is going to retail around  5,250 yen (recent release of "red apple" and "baby buttercup" are retailing at 5,250 yen). With a 42% price hike, I guessing that the collection is just going to be stay at 2.

4) 1 x Little Dal

Bought this little Dal few years back from a Hong Kong seller on ebay. I always find Dal interesting with its angry and piss off expression, so I bought one to add to my doll collection.

Merry Christmas and a happy holiday ,Everyone

2011 Happy Box from Petworks

==Yes, finally PetWorks is releasing Happy Box again.  I started collecting Momoko dolls in year 2008 and PetWorks has not released a Happy Box since. This is going to be my first time and of course, I hope to be able to purchase at least one Happy Box.  In case you do not know what is a Happy Box, it is actually a 福袋concept in Japan where company sells a combination of their products in a package and the contents of each package is unknown.

For this year Happy Box, it will consist of 10 items: - 2 x momoko doll (1 “CCS-momoko for HAPPY BOX” & 1 momoko ) - 1x Mame-momoko - some outfits and pairs of shoes
Unlike the past years where the Momoko dolls in the happy box is randomly packed and the buyer is not made aware of the doll that he/she purchased, this year the collectors have a choice to choose the CCS-Momoko that they want in their happy box. 

The CCS-Momoko that we can choose from are: 

I am still deciding on which one to buy. Considering that the old release of momoko dolls are very hard to find and even you find one, it will be at a very expensive price and it will be a good time to get them through the Happy Box now. 
However, I do not have the money to afford to get all the 27 of them... what a headache!!

CWC Exclusive Neo Blythe "Vinter Arden"

I have not look at Blythe official website for the past one month. Went in to take a peek at the latest news and update and of course to also check out the new dolls that are coming out.

Hooray, they releasing another Middie soon, but  yet again, another CWC exclusive  doll in collaboration with a Japanese Fashion brand - MILK with a price tag of 13,440 yen. Pre-order starting on 15th Dec 2010.

I wonder when will they release a regular Middie that would be more affordable.

They also have new CWC exclusive Neo Blythe - Vinter Arden. Simply love her, hair colour, the green eye shadow and her boots. So tempted to get her. But I promise myself not to buy new dolls due to over-crowding and lack of space for display. Dilema!!!

A regular release Neo Blythe - Prairie Posi. Her hair reminds me of one of the housewive from one of my favorite drama series - Desperate Housewive. 

Mad about Rilakkuma

Saw a lot of rilakkuma things when shopping for chirstmas gifts over the past weeks. He is getting popular here in Singapore. =D

My friend in Taiwan told me that the 7-11 stores in Taiwan is having a promotion where you can get a cute rilakkuma or korilakkuma charm.

Found the 7-11 advertisement on youtube. Almost want to cheong (rush) to Taiwan now and buy them back.  

Heard about someone who travel to Japan and won a Rilakkuma plushie (see picture below) from eating Mister Donuts, yes a lot of donuts   -__-'ll

I also find a site that give free template to make paper 3D Rilakkuma and I am so tempted to try it out during the Dec holiday period. Will update photos of it on my blog with my end products

CWC Exclusive Middie Blythe - Macaron Q-Tea party

Pictures of CWC Exclusive Middie Blythe - Macaron Q-Tea party. She is not mine. 
This little cutie belongs to one of my friends and it is so kind of him to let me have her photo for posting here.

A teacup as a hat

Macaron Earrings and necklace

Close up of her Macaron earrings. One side is green, the other side is pink.

Her head can be move from left to right

Reflection

Disclaimer: This post may be out of topic with my other blog posts. It is just that I feel very emotional over something that happened and I want to find a channel to release all those emotions. 

A lot of things happened the two weeks. It all started from an unexpected call from "MP" that I first contacted more than one year ago. It came at a time when I am making a decision to leave the place which I may feel that I have overstay. It is like destiny calling. Yes, I still enjoy the feeling of being able to help my "customers". I also like my bosses and the working environment. However being on the same job for the past few years is making me losing the passion in my work and I no longer feel excited over things happening. This coupled with  the disappointment over certain management decision resulted me to go for the job interview arranged by "MP".

Before "MP" get back to me on the status of my job application, I know of something else (Little Ms Giggle is leaving in Dec and my coming transfer) that make me want to re-consider the decision again. I asked "GYM", who advised me to take up the offer and she said as long as I leave, everything would be good for me and I should not worry too much.

Having lady luck by my side as always, I got the offer from "MP" with a 25% increment (maybe even up to 30% increment, if I want to push for it). I must say that it is an attractive offer both in term of salary package and career development. I do not know whether I would be able to find another similar offer anytime soon. 

I rejected the offer after much consideration. The main reason is that I know I would feel guilty toward my bosses if I choose to leave at this time as I would be the 3rd person leaving within the short span of 1 month. Plus I am suppose to cover Little Ms Giggle's work when she is gone and with me gone, I wonder whether my bosses could cope or not. 

After making the decision, I cannot help to wonder whether am I being too kind to my bosses? Would they appreciate the effort at all? They could be nice to you because they need you now especially when Little Ms Giggle is leaving and when they do not need you, maybe they would kick you aside like a ball. They promoted Little Ms Giggle and planned to let her do the project, yet she decided to go off just like that. And here I am picking up the pieces and without any chance of a promotion in sight because they think that I'm lacking that quality (I am not able to "3 leg" the Big Boss on the top) to move up.

 I hope I would not regret my decision to stay on in the organization and not to take the job offer.

More pictures of a line momoko

Simply love her hair and her outfit. 

New Momoko! Her name is 小贤。

Finally she arrived. More pics to come! :)

Pho Hoa - Vietnamese dining at Suntec City

Pho Hoa is actually a franchise restaurant from the United States. I remember seeing an outlet in Holland Village, but I don't know if it is still there as I have not been there in a long time. We dined at Suntec City, and we had eaten here a few times before.

We ordered two dishes. First up was the spring roll. The skin is like one big piece of kuay tiao, wrapping up various vegetables. You can dip it in peanut sauce for more flavour, the peanut sauce is creamy and its texture is like peanut butter. Or if you are adventurous you can try their very spicy chilli O_o. 

Second dish was the chicken pho (pronounced "fur"). Z has been to Vietnam before so he learnt how to pronounce the name of this very basic noodle dish in Vietnamese. If not,  I may end up calling it "Po" or "Ho". The soup is light and clear, but still flavourful. Very sweet. The noodle is actually very thin strips of kuay tiao, and there are chicken shreds and onion in the soup too. It comes with a side dish of raw bean sprouts, but I would prefer not to add it.

Like their website mentioned, Pho Hoa is indeed a health conscious choice. There is a large variety of light food that you can order here. Skipping those fried food can go a long way in living a healthy lifestyle :)