Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty & Travel Blog
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International Giveaway: Nail Vibe Discount Vouchers

April 8, 2013 by Regina Chow No Comments
I apologize for the lack of updates on my blog. I have just returned from a short trip to Taipei and come tomorrow, I’ll be heading to China for work the entire week.
To make up for my absence, I’m throwing a giveaway for all my local AND international readers hosted by Melva, the lovely owner of Nail Vibe! 
If you love nail polish, you have to visit Nail Vibe because the nail polish brands (OPI, China Glaze, Essie etc.) stocked by them are so reasonably priced, you can gain huge savings of at least 50% by shopping with them! 
  
The best part is, they ship internationally so you can get your nail polish fix anywhere, anytime!
Nail Vibe has a
physical store at China Square Central, and in conjunction with their
2nd anniversary, 3x 15% discount vouchers will be given away to 3 lucky
readers of my blog! 

The vouchers can either be used at the Nail Vibe store at China Square or online at Nailvibe.com!



Here are the steps to participate in this giveaway:
1. Follow me @reginachow_sg on Instagram
2. Follow @NailVibeSG on Instagram
3. Register as a user on Nailvibe.com

After you have done the above, please e-mail me at regina.chow@gmail.com with:
1. A screenshot of your instagram account showing that you have followed @NailvibeSG and @reginachow_sg
2. Quote your customer ID from registration on Nailvibe.com as a user (This is important because Nailvibe will be sending out your vouchers!!)
Terms and Conditions:
1. This giveaway is open to all my international readers.
2. The deadline for participating in this giveaway is 29th April 2013.
2. Winners will be selected randomly and notified via e-mail.
3. The discount vouchers will be sent out by Nail Vibe.
4. For other terms and conditions, please refer to the image below. (Click on image to enlarge)

Hope this drives your Monday blues away! 
Have a great week ahead and remember to participate before the deadline is up!:)
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Touch of Gold

March 27, 2013 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
I haven’t had the time nor energy to do outfit posts these days, but last weekend, I finally decided to pull myself out of the rut and get back into the groove of dressing up. 
I’ve had these floral print palazzo pants in forever but have never found the opportunity to wear them out because nothing in my wardrobe seemed to go with it. Then as I was going through my rack just last week, I found this old sequin top from Bangkok that happened to go really well with them. I love how it also adds a touch of glitz to these granny pants. 😛

The rest of my accessories were mostly in shades of nude and gold as I didn’t want the outfit to be overshadowed. The nude wedges c/o of Bata did however add a spot of neon to the outfit. Me likey!  
On a related note, I am one of the 4 winners for the Bata Spring Summer Bloggers’ Style Contest. Here’s a BIG thank you to all of you who voted for me!! 🙂

Accessories from Hermes, CCSkye, Diva and Accessorize
Vintage pearl belt from my mum’s closet
Lunch bag clutch from Wisteriea
Shoes from Bata
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Joe’s Kitchen

March 26, 2013 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

Authentic Thai cuisine is hard to come by in Singapore, so if you’re looking for authentic Thai cuisine in the heartlands, you have to try Joe’s Kitchen. Located in Bukit Merah Lane 1, opposite Alexandra Hospital, it is a gem that I unraveled during a recent food review with Karen, Jasmine and Ruiying. 
Joe is Thai (in the blue t-shirt below) and he’s the
wonderful chef behind all the sumptuous delicacies that you are about to
see in this post. While Joe whips up a storm in the kitchen, Jamie, his
wife, is always serving customers with a warm smile and making sure
that everyone is well taken care of. 


I really liked the restaurant’s non-pretentious, homely ambience and the friendly service, which made me feel right at home. This is a place where you can let your guard down and unwind after a long day’s work by indulging in delicious Thai food!

Thai Iced Tea (S$2.50)
I like that the Thai iced tea here isn’t overwhelmingly sweet. It’s very refreshing and one of the best that I’ve tried. I can’t take caffeine because
it keeps me awake all night, but I have to order Thai iced tea whenever I
have Thai food. Now you know what my favourite drink is!

Mango Salad (S$7)

The mango salad appetizer has just the right mix of textures and flavours to awaken your tastebuds. The nuts add crunch and do a good job of balancing the sweet, sour and spicy flavours. In general, this appetizer is a pretty spicy one and will definitely not disappoint those of you who love spicy dishes.

Thai Prawn Cake (S$2.50 per piece)

The prawn cakes here are fried to golden perfection. The batter was light and crisp, just the way I like it. I would definitely order this again on my next visit!

Seafood Tom Yum Nam Kone (S$5.50/S$9.90/S$13.90)

The tom yum soup here packs a punch of flavours, complete with a lingering spiciness that makes this dish unforgettable. No wonder it is touted as one of the top 10 best tom yum soups in Singapore!

Mixed Vegetables (S$8/S$12/S$16)
 The sliced chilli padi peeking out from all corners of this seemingly innocent dish promises to stimulate your tastebuds in the most unexpected ways. This dish is certainly not as bland as it looks. In fact, it is so flavourful, we finished the dish in minutes.

Black Olive Rice (S$8/S$12/S$16)

 I have a penchant for olive vegetables in general and I liked that the black olive rice here is very fragrant and tasty. Yummy!

Thai Style Steamed Sea Bass (S$24)
The best way to test if a fish is fresh is to steam it, and I must say the fish here is really fresh! Infused with a blend of thai herbs and lemongrass, the fish is sweet, succulent and flavourful. This is another dish that I would highly recommend.

Claypot Crab with Vermicelli (Seasonal Price)
I love crabs and vermicelli so you can imagine how my eyes lit up the moment this dish was served. The glutton in me manifested and I devoured everything in no time.

Thai Red Ruby (S$3)
What better way is there to end a spicy meal than with a bowl of ice-cold Thai red ruby? This dessert is delicious and great for cooling down your palate. 😉

Tapioca with Coconut Milk (S$4.50)
I didn’t think I would like this dessert very much, but I was wrong. I LOVED it! The soft but firm texture of the tapioca went really well with the mild flavour of the coconut milk. Among all the desserts that we tried, this is my personal favourite.

Mango Sticky Rice (S$5.50)
Jamie told us that the mango that day was sour, but all of us were yearning for mango sticky rice that day and she was so sweet to accommodate our request. The glutinous rice was good, but as we had expected, the mango was sour. I’ll order this again when the mangoes are sweeter!
I thoroughly enjoyed the Thai cuisine at Joe’s kitchen and I’m very sure that I’ll be back again when I next crave for Thai food. If you’re looking for authentic Thai food in a cozy, homely setting, Joe’s Kitchen is the place to go!
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Outfit of the Day and Jeffrey Campbell Foxy Spike

March 15, 2013 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
I’m plagued with problem feet thanks to bunions (birth defect, not due to high heels) and a much longer second toe, hence it is an absolute pain for me to buy shoes from online stores without trying. As much as I longed to buy Jeffrey Campbell shoes, I had to resist the urge to give in every time because it’s hard to get hold of them in physical stores here, which means my best bet is to buy them online, which is not a problem if my feet weren’t this problematic. Thanks to my feet, I can never gauge what size to buy unless I get to try them on in real life!

So one fine day, I chanced upon a shop in Cineleisure by the name of P.V.S and there, sitting on the racks were Jeffrey Campbell shoes in different styles. It was a dream come true for me!

I’ve been eyeing Foxy Spike for the longest time. Hello there.

I always thought it would be impossible to wear shoes this high, but the raised platforms in front lower the arch significantly and make this a breeze to walk in.
I’m always in shorts during the weekend, and these shoes are the perfect complement to my weekend attire.

The spikes behind are exceptionally sharp though, so if you’re thinking of getting this pair, please be careful! However, if you look on the bright side, these shoes actually double up as weapons. If anyone tries to attack you, all you have to do is give them a kick and I’m pretty sure it’ll send them to the hospital. 
In case you were wondering, no, I wasn’t kidding when I said that. 😛

 

Mini spiked bangle from CCSkye (Shopbop)
Anchor ring from Accessorize

Chain bag (Gift from Jun)
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Carpenter & Cook

March 14, 2013 by Regina Chow No Comments
Ever since we got back to Singapore, JW and I have been on the lookout for great cafes. I’ve heard about Carpenter & Cook from a couple of friends and was pleasantly surprised to find out that it’s just a stone’s throw away from our home! Finally, the cafe culture is starting to permeate the western part of Singapore!

  I was mesmerized by the decor
the moment I stepped in. I love retro and vintage items as they’ve so
much character. Check out those retro clocks. They make excellent
conversation pieces don’t they? The best part is, these vintage items
are up for sale!

Who would have thought that kitchen utensils could look this good on the wall? I thought this was a pretty novel idea for storing pots and ladles.
Now, on to the food! We were a little disappointed with the menu as we were expecting a comprehensive menu or at least one with sandwiches or pies to fill our growling tummies. If you’re thinking of coming here for a meal, do note that this cafe only offers pastries and muffins for tea. 
I settled for the scone (S$4) and a bottle of lemonade. The scone was good!
JW liked the coffee too, although he opined that the coffee at Chye Seng Huat is much better. Here he was, trying to take an artistic shot of the coffee cup. It’s amazing what boredom does to a man. LOL

One thing that I didn’t quite like about the cafe was the limited seating capacity. They’re very packed during the weekend and it’s not uncommon to see patrons sharing seats at the larger tables. I prefer a cozier atmosphere where I can chat with friends without having strangers eavesdrop on our conversations, so the lack of personal space didn’t quite cut it for me.

That said, I would still revisit this cafe to try out the other snacks. This time, I’ll probably head there on a weekday. 😉
Carpenter & Cook
Address: 19 Lorong Kilat #01-06, Singapore 598120
Tel: 6463 3648
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Bata Spring Summer Collection 2013 — Win a pair of Shoes and Bag from Bata!

March 12, 2013 by Regina Chow 1 Comment

Bata is no stranger to most Singaporeans as many of us grew up wearing their white canvas shoes for school. What many of us probably don’t know is that Bata offers a myriad of shoes that caters not only to school-going kids, but to trendy youths and working adults too. 
I was invited to Bata’s recent bloggers preview for their Spring Summer Collection 2013 and it was quite an eye-opener for me! I was surprised to see how Bata has transformed into a haven for shopaholics like me who adore shoes and bags in cheerful candy colours!

That’s Rachel kicking off the preview with an introduction of Bata. Did you know that Bata hails from the Czech Republic?
In fact, Bata was founded by Thomas John Bata (which explains the name of the shop) in 1894 and the first Bata shop in Singapore was established in 1931.

After a detailed introduction on the various shoe lines that Bata carries, we were treated to an up close and personal experience with the bags and shoes. All the bloggers could choose a pair of shoes and a bag each to take home with us!


I fell in love with their collection of wedges because there are so many colours and designs to choose from. When it comes to footwear, I personally like wedges the most because they’re so comfortable to wear and you don’t have to compromise on height!
If you’re curious about what I picked that night, here they are!

 
A beautiful bag is the finishing touch to any ensemble and this is the
perfect bag for me! Add a punch of panache to your party ensemble with
this vibrant satchel or convert it into an elegant clutch for a date
with that special someone! If this isn’t the epitome of versatility, I
don’t know what is!
Want a pair of shoes that’s comfy, trendy and versatile? This pair of
nude wedges from Bata’s S/S 2013 collection matches practically
everything in my wardrobe. I also love how the bright neon orange soles
add an element of surprise and a pop of colour to any outfit! 

Now, here’s the final look. I love mixing colours and prints for an unexpected twist. The gorgeous
shoes and bag from Bata complement my outfit perfectly, lending a subtle
dash of edginess without compromising on style! The best part is, they
go so well with everything, I can already think of a dozen ways to mix
and match them with the rest of my wardrobe!  

Do you like my outfit? 
Bata’s running a bloggers FB contest right now,so it’ll be great if you could help  “Like” my photo to vote for me at this link:
By voting, you’ll also stand to win a pair of shoes and bag from their Spring Summer collection!

Contest ends 22 March 6pm!
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District 10

March 11, 2013 by Regina Chow No Comments

I always try to find time for a leisurely brunch during the weekend and it’s great that most restaurants these days serve brunch till 4pm or even all-day brunch. I’m always on the lookout for new restaurants that serve brunch, so you can imagine my delight when Karen invited me for a food review at District 10 together with Calvin and Darren.  

Located at the boundary of the
CBD district at UE Square (how strategic!), District 10 is a quiet
restaurant with a wonderful chillout vibe, perfect for losing yourself
to a couple of hours well spent.  

Look at the wine bottles on display! Yes, you can also head to District 10 if you’re game for drinks after work on weekdays!




 
 Losing ourselves to a delightful spread of breakfast varieties complete with desserts and drinks was precisely what we did on a lovely Sunday afternoon!


I have a huge soft spot for Eggs Benedict (S$24) – as Karen rightly pointed out, and I almost always order this when I’m out for brunch.

I love the spanish Jamon Iberico Ham that accompanied the poached eggs topped with hollandaise sauce. I was also pleasantly surprised to see crispy hash browns on the plate, which is a breath of fresh air for a dish like Eggs Benedict. I adore hash browns and having all my favourite breakfast foods in one dish is enough to make my day.

 


If you prefer a hearty breakfast with the full works, go for the Grease Spoon District 10 breakfast (S$26). It comes with bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns, tomatos and baked beans. If this is not enough to fill you up, I don’t know what will. 😉
The Spanish Omelette (S$18) is an interesting addition to the breakfast menu. Chock full of chorizo sausages and nutritious vegetables, this dish certainly packs a punch!
Aside from egg dishes, Karen decided to order something out of the ordinary – Wagyu Meatballs (S$24)! I thought the meatballs could be a little more moist but I absolutely loved the crispy shoestring fries which were fried to golden perfection.  
The brunch ended off on a sweet note with delectable desserts.  The Sour Cherry Pie (S$12) that came with a dollop of pistachio ice-cream tasted great. The ice-cream flavour was very unique and complemented the cherries, which had just a tinge of sourness.

The Bitter Chocolate Tart (S$12) was my favourite of the lot. I generally like chocolate desserts and this was no exception. This lovely tart was made of delicious, rich dark chocolate that literally set my heart aflutter.


The Warm Apple Crumble (S$14) was equally good and every spoonful brought moist apple chunks lightly sprinkled with crumble to my mouth. Coupled with the sweet, lingering taste of creamy vanilla ice-cream, this dessert was very satisfying indeed. 

I love meringue and pavlovas, so it was no surprise that I ordered the Pavlova (S$12) here. I liked the tangy flavour of the passionfruit ice-cream, which went really well with the meringue.

We were bursting at the seams by the end of the meal, but we had a lot of fun chatting and savouring all the different dishes at the restaurant!
District 10 Bar & Restaurant

Address: 81 Clemenceau Avenue #01-15/16/17 UE Square Shopping Mall Singapore 239917
(corner of Unity Street and Clemenceau Avenue)

Tel: (65) 6738 4788
Fax: (65) 6738 4013
Email: contact@district10.com.sg

Operating Hours:
Sundays to Thursdays

11.30am to 12 midnight (Last food order: 10.30pm)

Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm
Tea-time menu: 2.30pm to 5.30pm
Dinner: 5.30pm to 10.30pm

Fridays and Saturdays

11.30am to 1am (Last food order: 11pm)

Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm
Tea-time menu: 2.30pm to 5.30pm
Dinner: 5.30pm to 11pm

Parking Facilities:
Available at UE Square Shopping Mall, Unity Street and Robertson Quay


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Making a Statement with Statement Jewellery

March 4, 2013 by Regina Chow 2 Comments
I’ve taken a
liking towards statement jewellery and I’ve been trying my hand at
layering them in different ways. For a person who doesn’t own that many
pieces of jewellery, this can be a rather daunting affair.  
Beautifying your wrists is probably the easiest way to start experimenting with statement jewellery. I’ve seen how fashionistas and celebs alike have gone all the way with layers of chunky bracelets and bangles, but given my tiny wrists, I prefer to keep the look simple with just 2 bangles.
Mini gold spiked bangle from CC Skye (You can get this from Shopbop)
Strangely, I am a little more adventurous when it comes to necklaces and I love how they instantly add panache to a bare neckline, transforming my otherwise plain attire into a glamorous ensemble!
This was my first attempt at layering necklaces. The baroque choker was from Vera Moda during my work trip to Beijing some time back, the spiked crystal necklace and long bauble chain were gifts.

This is my chunkiest statement necklace to date. I love how it dresses up the neckline so effortlessly. The amazing thing about this is despite its chunky appearance, it is surprisingly light as a feather!
Here’s yet another statement necklace that I acquired recently from a supplier. I had an additional piece which I put up for sale on instagram and it was sold in minutes!


Besides necklaces and arm candies, my attention has turned towards statement rings as well. One of the rings I love most is the YSL arty ring, which has probably found a place in every self-respecting fashionista’s home to date. I don’t own one yet unfortunately, but I’ve got my eye on another ring, the Angelica ring from Lucien Elements.
All the colours are incredibly captivating, don’t you think? 🙂

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New Additions to My Skincare Routine

February 24, 2013 by Regina Chow 6 Comments

I’ve been using a number of newly discovered facial products for a few months now, and I thought I’d share the products that worked for me. I don’t usually like to try new products on my face, but I succumbed to these after my friends strongly recommended them to me, and I’m happy to report that I’m pretty impressed with these products!

1) Likas Papaya Skin Whitening Herbal Soap

The most unexpected find among this stash of new products which I’ve incorporated into my daily routine is the Likas Papaya Skin Whitening Herbal Soap, recommended by my good friend Veron. 
At just over S$2 (yes, you’re not seeing things here!), Likas hails from the Philippines and is well-known for being the country’s first organic herbal soap. It is enriched with natural papaya enzymes to whiten your skin and can be used on your face and body. I’ve been using this soap as a facial wash everyday and I like how it makes my skin feel so smooth and clean thereafter. I was darker when I first used it thanks to my New Zealand holiday (everyone asked if I got a tan on purpose!), but now I’m almost as fair as before!
For those who are interested, you can find this in any of the shops selling Filipino products at Lucky Plaza.

2) St Ives Green Tea Scrub 
 
Besides the Likas soap, I’ve also been using this St Ives’ Green Tea Scrub which I bought from Sydney before heading back to Singapore for good.

I’ve been trying to cut back on products that are artificially enhanced by chemicals, and this paraben-free scrub totally fits the bill. This green tea scrub is meant for acne prone skin but it’s great for preventing spots too. The tiny exfoliating beads are very gentle on the skin, which means that the scrub can be used on a daily basis to stimulate cell renewal. If your skin is sensitive, then it’s probably best to just use it once a week. My sis-in-law was the one who uncovered this gem of a scrub when she went over to Sydney to visit us. I haven’t been able to find this green tea scrub in Singapore, so if you know where I can find this, please let me know!
I switch between the Likas soap and this St Ives scrub everyday. Sometimes, I’ll even use them together. I know it sounds harsh to double cleanse like this, but I find that this method has been effective in keeping my skin zit-free. This routine also helps to even out my skin tone. That’s the reason why I no longer require tinted sunscreens. Now, I just dab on my Jane Ardell powder sunscreen (which is translucent) and I’m all ready to face the world!
3) Etude House Daily Masks

I know there are
many brands of sheet masks around. I’ve tried a number of them and some
are either too rich, which leaves your skin with a sticky after-feel,
while others just didn’t have much effect on my skin. Well, that was until I tried Etude House’s masks.  
 
Grace first got me hooked onto Etude House’s Daily Masks when she got me a pack of the ginseng masks as a gift. Each box comes with 20 sheet masks and I’ve since finished my first box. There’re three different types of masks to target different problems such as whitening, hydrating or acne. I’m now on my 2nd box and I’ve decided to give the yeast and Vit C masks a try this time.
The yeast and vitamin C masks are meant for acne control, skin tone correction and anti-aging. I was drawn to this for its whitening and anti-aging properties, and I love how supple my skin feels after masking. Yeast has oil-control properties, which is good for acne prone skin or if you have oily skin/T-zone like me. Vitamin C has whitening and anti-ageing properties, which is great for maintaining your skin texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines. 
These 3 products that I shared today are probably the most inexpensive skincare products that I own, but in terms of efficacy, I can safely say that they have surpassed many of my more expensive skincare items. 
Whoever said that good things don’t come cheap certainly didn’t know what he/she was talking about! 😉
 

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Year of the Snake Outfit

February 15, 2013 by Regina Chow 1 Comment
I’ve been hunting high and low for a yellow or green tulle skirt for the longest time and funnily enough, I came across one that I really liked when I was shopping for a friend’s baby at Gingersnaps. Gingersnaps may be a children’s boutique, but its Raffles City outlet stocks the same clothes in larger sizes (up to 14 years old). Needless to say, I got myself this pretty little tulle skirt in the largest size.

You can’t see it here, but the hems are manicured with a row of rosettes which gives the skirt an added flounce. I felt just like a ballerina!

Skirt: Gingersnaps
Accessories: Hermes and Elitrend
Bag: Forever New
 
Yellow is supposed to bring my Chinese zodiac sign good luck in the year of the Snake, so it was only natural that I wore this skirt on the first day of Chinese New Year. Besides, yellow, I’ve been wearing a lot of black. Contrary to popular belief that one should wear bright, vibrant colours for Chinese New Year, black is apparently another lucky colour that bodes well for me this year. I guess that works well to my advantage since 80% of my work wardrobe is made up of black and grey pieces. Don’t take me too seriously though, I just find these predictions very entertaining and since there is no harm in abiding by these “rules”, I thought, why not?

What about you? What are your lucky colours for the year of the Snake?

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About Me

Hi! My name is Regina and I am a style, beauty and travel enthusiast who enjoys writing, photography and letting my creative juices flow.

My blogging journey has been nothing short of exciting. I was recently named the winner of Her World Magazine’s Estee Lauder Style Superstar Awards 2016. My blog was also awarded Best Fashion Blog (Grand Winner) at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014. The year before that, it won Best Online Shopping Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013.

Additionally, it is listed as one of the 10 interesting blogs on Singapore by AsiaWeb Direct (http://www-singapore.com/blogs.htm). I was also featured on both local and international mainstream media for my views on style, fashion and online shopping:

The Straits Times (14 Oct 2014)

The Business Times (14 Oct 2014)

My Paper (13 Oct 2014)

CNBC ("Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online" - 28 Dec 2014)

For advertorials/partnerships, feel free to contact me at regina.chow@gmail.com.

Thank you!

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