While I was in a new eco mall over the weekend, I saw this bunch of strange flowers and butterflies on signboards at various spots:

Shoes.

Ice cream, sushi, kueh butterfly, pizza + sausage butterfly.

Notebooks.

Cameras and shades.

Electric kettles.

And makeup brushes (my favourite)!

It was past 11pm. I was in a very long but promising queue at a checkout in a supermarket (which opens all day all year round). I had a long Sunday and grocery shopping had to be pushed to the end of the day.

What drew my attention while waiting in line (other than the less-sodium chili sauce) were the lanterns decorating the store for the coming Chinese New Year. These aren’t the best shots really. They look much sweeter in person.

On Saturday night I was in a crowded Xin Wang outlet for supper after a movie (that being the awesome witty Sherlock Holmes), and I couldn’t ignore the restaurant’s steaming interior, which was especially apparent from where I sat.

Last year when I came across the kikki.K store, I quickly bookmarked it under my “shop finds” folder, lest I forget.

Fast-forward to early this month after a dental appointment, I was out window shopping in one of the newest malls in town, Ion. Can you imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when I saw a kikki.K shop in front of me as I emerged from the subway station!? Though I wasn’t sure about the number of “k”s in its name but I was pretty certain this was it. Perhaps it’s the distinctive Scandic flair that made it easier to recognise. kikki.K’s founder, Kristina “Kikki” Karlsson was born in Sweden and resides in Australia. The shop in Singapore is its first outside Australia and New Zealand.

It’s great to see a fabulous selection of zakkalicious wares in person. Care to take a peek into the Christmas gift guide booklet?

What if I tell you that as I’m typing this, I suddenly had a flashback that in a 2007 back-to-school swap, I was given a kikki.K pen and pencil from my swap partner?

Caught sight of this limo travelling beside us the other day. I read later that night that it is more than 8 metres long, seats up to 9, and is for rent.

It was quite a challenge to capture its whole length because we were due to turn into a carpark a few seconds after taking this shot.

Hub and I recently went for a hike in Labrador Nature Reserve. The place is part forest, part old British fort (with 2 tunnels), part rocky shore, part coral reef and part recreation park to relax/exercise/fish/bbq. Restaurants are also around the vicinity.

If you catch me making a *bin it* remark from this day forward, you know where I had seen it.

My family and I went up Jurong Hill to a hilltop restaurant for teppanyaki recently.

Though it’s not a big hill, there are 2 carparks – one at mid-level, the other at the peak and whichever one it is, the restaurant is still close by. We headed straight to park at the peak, which was for most of us our first time on top. We usually settle on mid-level.

What’s interesting up there is a sign that says “Garden of Fame” and looking around us, we saw many trees with plaques on the ground.

So if something’s worth plaquing then it has to be something significant or historical or both, right? And since we are ardent plaque readers, we went under different trees asap. Soon we had a list of countries where their leaders and dignitaries planted a tree on this plot to mark their visit to Singapore, mostly during the 1970s.

So who came and did the gardening?

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and others arrived from Sweden, Norway, Iran, Tongo, Barbados, Japan, Canada, US and Indonesia. There is also a tree planted by our president Benjamin Sheares.

Isetan has become the new place to expect a few Le Creuset cast iron pieces going at heavily-discounted prices. In fact such occasional discounts are even better than during private sales (though prices during those close-door events are pretty attractive as well).

Several months ago, I bought a 16cm skillet for less than $66.

Currently the 2-quart/18cm round french oven is going at $159 (UP $359). More than 50% off! So 2 days ago I pulled out my Isetan credit card which granted me a further 3% off and invested $154.23 for my first cast iron pot. I have been pondering about getting a non-steel pot after that experiment I did and this french oven does meet my needs. Also, I don’t have to worry about building my triceps just trying to lift it. It’s still manageable.

The buffet casserole is also at a very reduced price. The sale ends 22/04. Only at Isetan Scotts.

(Prices in SGD)