When many found out that I am carrying a son, they thought meat was a huge part of my craving.
I thought that was queer.
From the time I was pregnant till I hit the 6-month mark, I was craving nothing but vegetables and fruits.

I would go off in search of fruits every week.
Juicy fruits.
Watermelon, Pink guavas, honeydew, rock melon, apples/
I would crave for fruit juices. Apple juice and apple-carrot was my favourite.
I would crave so much for vegetables. For quick fixes, I will head down to a Yong Tau Fu stall and grab spinach with kangkung. Mostly spinach.
And that would be it. I would not even eat it with rice or noodles!

Which was also the reason why I was very confident I was carrying a girl.

So, knowing its a boy in me, I found it very weird that I was not asking for any sort of meat at all. Not even chicken!
But I was never a meat person anyway.
During my courting days and marriage days with Alfi for the past 5 years, there was never a moment when I told him I was craving for beef!

Then suddenly, mid last week, I suddenly craved for steak!
*lol*

And the craving hit hard!!!
So within minutes, I planned out where are the places I would like to try. Like I said, I was not into any beef.
So eating steak is a first time to me anywhere in Singapore.

The only beef I ate was Beef Hor Fun and Ribs at KL's Tony Romas. Period.

I hit Le Steak.
At the entrance, we were told that waiting time was 40 mins!
What?!?!?! 40mins just to get a table.
I was hungry!!!

So I replanned the entire craving journey.

First I headed to 89.7 at Changi on Friday night. It was my first steak.
To taste that beef in my mouth was heaven!
Mash potatoes, carrots, corn and broccoli was my favourite!

Price was only $12.90 per dish.



I went home smiling but I told Alfi that I could get used to this.

Two days later on a Sunday night, I was in search for steak again and we decided to go to Spize.
This time, it was a ribeye steak.
I didn't know what was the difference with all of these steak but I was told that grass-fed cows have more tender and sweet meat.



Sinking my teeth into this got me all excited!
Boy was I glad that Rania was sleeping during my meal. I could concentrate and enjoy my steak.
Meat was sweet, sauce was lovely and I love their crunchy corn. I wish I can have more broccoli though.

Price: $19.90 per dish but trust me, I will pay for this kind of quality.

Then, after posting on Facebook, a lot told me to try Botak Jones at Tang Tea House.
I told Alfi,"Come let's do it before we start fasting. I won't disturb your terawih days."
*lol*

So we last night.



They did not have anymore ribeye so I settled for sirloin steak.
For $17.90, I rather add another $2 and have more tender and tastier beef at Spize.

Trust me, blogging about this make my mouth water. I wonder if it is me or the baby inside.

Still, nonetheless, I went home smiling.
3 steaks in a week.
My sister was 'horrified' about my steak rampage but it was nice to hear Alfi said,"Wait till you are pregnant."

So just when I thought I would have had enough, I proposed to Alfi to have steak again on a weekend in Ramadhan.
Supper after terawih.

*lol*

Opportunist!

Eat with your Family Day

Last Friday was Eat with you family Day.
Microsoft employees were given time off at 3pm to go back home early to their family.
Alas I was stuck in a meeting till 4.30 and when I reached home at 5pm, I was rushing for some urgent works via email.

I was actually more eager to get home early and make my way to Motherhood Expo fair with Alfi's godfamily's nephew's wife.
Complicated right?
But our relationship isn't.
*lol*
It helps that I get along with almost anyone and they are very warm and accommodating.

So by the time I reached expo it was 7.30pm and the exhibition was huge.
Alfi was always reminding me to find what I need first! But that is so hard because I will be hopping here and there and then get confused.

So this is what I came back with.
Tons and tons of Pampers. I told you I am making the switch and I am really loving it.



A lot of mummies actually message me via FB and my mobile to ask if Pampers was really the trusted brand.
I stand by it and told them I was not bull-shitting on my blog just because I am getting free stuffs.
We as bloggers can always not agree with their marketing if we feel it is not good enough.

Can you see I even bought diapers for my newborn!!!
I would have bought more if not for the lack of space in my room.
From a 5-room to a 12meter square room, it has become a karang guni place. One more year to go.
My mom's place will be enbloc and it is a good time excuse for me to shift out (without hurting my mom).
We started off staying in that room just the two of us. Then we became 3 and now coming 4.
It is really cramping up!

Can't you tell from the videos I have been posting up about Rania?
*lol*

I keep telling myself it is just a phase.

So anyway, it didn't turn out a quiet eat with your family day. That Friday night, after the fair, we went to get awesome food at Changi 89.7
And it is good to see Rania starting to build relationships with children her age.




Then over on Sunday, this pregnant woman was craving for satay and there we head off to Satay by the Bay. Going on a Sunday was wrong timing. Too many satay orders that the place was awfully stuffy.









Nonetheless, company was great and we ended off the day with Mac'D drive-through ice cream.

Today I am encountering Monday Blues.
Sometimes I wish weekends were longer.

xoxo

Tried and tested

The past few days had been interesting and tiring.
Getting my hands on new things and the fact that Rania was sick again got me really tired and exhausted.

I had my laptop upgraded to a Windows 8. The new thing y'all.
That is the advantage being in Microsoft. It is mandatory for us be on the Windows 8 and the New Office. Awesome isn't it?

So I managed to spend a little bit on time understanding the concept of 'all at once' and having no start button.
I also played around with the settings and put in my favourite colour and choosen design on my desktop. While Alfi thought it is a clutter, I love it!
It is so colourful and vibrant!

It makes me to energized everytime I see my desktop now.



Then I got my mom to buy me a Nescafe Dolce Gusto. Yes, I know I already have an existing Krups expresso maker but Alfi and I planned to put that in our Ang Mo Kio home when we move back. But being the coffee drinkers who we already are and the insufficient space in my mom's house, it was nice to get something small and convenient for daily use. Alfi and I love different kinds of coffee and it is perfect because we spend a lot of time in the room, chilling out.

So when I was at Takashimaya, I was just trying my luck to see what was the offer for this Dolce Gusto. Though the price was ok, I could not justify my budget to buy another coffee machine. But mom agreed the very next second and made me a happy girl!

Disclaimer: Since younger days, I do not really ask for things for my parents. It has always been self-earned.

Anyway, this coffee machine was definitely a want not a need. LOL!
Alfi and I got really excited trying out the flavours of the coffee that we are now in search of buying boxes of our favourite flavor.

Right now I am so addicted with the Chococino and Mocha while Alfi loves the Cappucino and Latte. I would love to get my hands on the green tea and finish trying the rest of the flavours.



Seeing the coffee being made was really aphrodisiac!

Since they were having the offer, the best offer you can look out for, there are so many flavours you can try for free!




Except for Expresso, each drink comes with a coffee based capsule and a milk based capsule. So I placed the coffee based at the bottom of the holder and the milk based at the top holder.



Yes, the holder was given to us FOC! awesome isn't it!
I was actually glad that I did not purchase the CBTL coffee machine because the Dolce Gusto can do tea too, though not many choices. But I need not buy a frother to froth the milk.

It is an awesome machine, built with convenience and without eating up a lot of space.



Cleaning is also very easy! Some parts just needed to be wiped with a wet cloth.
Yes, the capsules does not leave behind any residue!

Awesome. awesome. awesome.

This adds to my Krups family now. Thank you Mom! Heeeee....



Now, all my students will have their cuppa of Chococino (for the younger ones) and Latte or Mocha for the older ones. They will find it a joy making their own drink!

Awesome much?

Remember how I lost my external flash. I had a feeling that someone stole the flash when I was photographing an event at Nanyang Poly. I left my bag under the podium and it must be some organiser kids who took it.. $^%&^*&!!! It was my hard-earned money through tuition classes that I bought that 430-EXII (which is no longer available in the market because they are selling either the lower end or higher end)
I swear someday that person who took it will know how it feels like. That's karma.

Ok enough with the anger. Alfi and I felt very handicapped without a flash.
So we resorted to buying one yesterday and while he was trying that out, I got my hands on the EOS M!! OMG!! I have been wanting to get my hands on it!!

So I managed to try out a few pictures was awesome.
Here are the pictures unedited (IN MANUAL!!). I love the clarity of the camera.





Look how good the Nikon looks with a Canon camera. *lol*



But nothing beats the dials on a DSLR! Even my 1000D!
DSLR dials are a lot more and that makes it more user friendly because you can tweak accordingly.

This weekend, I am calling out all IG-ers or an Instagram fanatic like me to tis' the season. I love Christmas season solely because there are always Xmas Specials.
Food, gifts, ornaments. They are all so pretty and nice.



So if you have anything about Xmas that you are instagramming, don't forget to tag #velvetchronicles and have it shared with my wonderful readers on Monday.

Till then, happy weekends everyone!
And yes, if you would like to share what you did over the weekends, do write to me at Nuramima[at]Hotmail[dot]com.

xoxo

Hearty weekend

It was a hearty weekend for me because for 2 consecutive days, my family was treated to sumptuous SEAFOOD!!
Plus, it is always a warm feeling to have family gatherings are held at the dining table. There are great people, great food (plus point for not having to cook), full of laughter and chit-chats.

The Saturday, we had our seafood in JB which I forgot the name of the restaurant. I was tired taking care of Rania who was sick and I just went for my nebulizer earlier before heading to my cousin's wedding!



Plus during the dinner, Rania was pretty clingy and refuses to sit still.
That's what happens when kids get sick. Nothing feels right.

The following day was my Lil Sister's birthday. It is her first birthday without her daddy and we were making every effort we can to make her as happy as we can.
She treated us for seafood lunch at Fisher's Tavern at Pasir Ris. The food is really nice but not as nice as the one in JB, plus do not ever go there in the day like we did.



It was scorching hot!
I think my blood pressure went up and needed to head to the car for a while to cool myself.

Here were the dishes we ordered









The highlight of the dish apparently was not this Chilli Crab



It was the salty egg crab.
Even the hubby was licking his fingers.



They charged us $40 per crab.
Total damaged on Lil' Sis; $180.

It still beats eating at Carousel for a change (except the no air-conditioning part)
It was really makan besar I tell you!

Here were the family!







After that we retreated to Orchard Road to get a gift for her. Still, the air con does not seem to be working because there were so many people in town!!!
I felt stuffy - even in Takashimaya!

We surely made her a happy little girl.



I think it is amazing how everyone in the family matched with the Christmas tree.
Denim with white top was the birthday girl's request. I told you we listened to her.



Happy birthday my little sister. You are always a gift given to me and I will treasure you for the rest of my life. You are God-sent and I can never thank Him enough for letting you be my sister.

I love you. May you always be blessed and while people may see that your life is not complete, I always believe that the one who laughs last laugh best.
I had the last laugh and I enjoyed it.

Everything will fall into place for you when the time is right.
Believe me. So sit back while you still can.

I know you enjoyed yourself and I am glad.

xoxo

Iftar at Gurame is a MUST!

Isn't it nice to have a break in the middle of the work week.
Though getting back in pace to go to work the next day will be quite tough.
For the lucky ones, they will take Friday leave and then enjoy the long weekend.

For myself, the National Day holiday was well spent with the family.
I am very family person so I really love these kinds of bonding time.

I treated my family for buka at Gurame at NSRCC.
I never tried the food there until my husband's "half-brother" had a wedding there and we were the lucky ones who get to go for food tasting.

*lol*

Free food is always awesome isn't it?

So yesterday I brought my whole family to iftar at Gurame.
Nasi ambeng buffet per pax was $5 nett!!
The includes plain white rice, beef rendang (which is really to die for), ayam gulai, sotong sambal, tahu and tempe with seronding and sambal belacan.


Desserts are also served.

Of course you can order their additional dishes, which we had their signature Gurame fish and kangkong belancan.
Drinks are not included but you can order in jugs.








The view there?
Breathtaking!



All pictures were taken with my HTC One X, with a plate and fork and spoon on the other hand, a sleeping princess in the carrier and balancing on heels!

The after effect of iftar?
We took a walk at the airport and had coffee hoping to bring the food down.





Mum was very satisfied that she plans to bring the whole family again on Sunday.
Hope to see you there!

xoxo

p.s: I have received emails from wonderful ladies who wrote to me to join the Small Talk. There are also many who wanted to write but did not know how to express. Like I said, I know it is hard. Talk it out with me and hopefully we can attain the outreach.

Again, calling out all enthusiasts. Business enthusiasts, photo enthusiasts, food enthusiasts or just someone who would like to share, email me!