I have always been a fan of card games – especially bridge! But it’s been eons since my last bridge game, and my mental capabilities have since been compromised by motherhood.

Monopoly has always been a perennial childhood favourite game, and they have this card version, called Monopoly Deal. You can get this from Toys R Us at just S$8… A good deal, if you ask me, for the oodles of fun it brings!

According to Mel, one deck can support up to 5 players, and for more than 5 players, you can simply add another deck of cards.

The rules sounded a little complicated when I first started playing, but after the first round (and getting soundly beaten by the guys) I quickly got the hang of it! It is a fun and addictive game, great when you’re hanging with friends and want to have a laughing session!

Cos, ya know… I managed to revamp (albeit quite minutely) our blogshop!

I was lamenting to Jerb that I felt a bit bored by our blogshop design.

I know, it’s been just a few weeks.

But still, boredom seldom knows such bounds. Haha!

And it isn’t just a blog facelift, I’ve revamped how we launch the collections as well. Like I said, I’m proud of the day’s work I put in. Hahaha!

Oh, and in view of the Christmas-sy mood’s that is in the air, over here at Shopping Junkies, we too have a Christmas special! If you buy two or more items, you will receive a 10% discount!

Happy shopping!

All thanks for Pastor Yong who kindly volunteered to help us do it up nicely!

Last year, we struggled to put up one lonely tree at the reception area.

This year, he has planted Christmas trees in almost every area in the office!

Pictures are taken by my Blackberry… Pardon the fuzzy look!

Oh, and I was just telling Jer Blinn that I plan to do a mini “makeover” of our Shopping Junkies blogshop! If all goes well, go over this Sunday to see a (hopefully) fresh new look and our latest items! If you need help with your Christmas shopping, remember us! Hahaha!

Tougher than you can imagine.

Despite my best efforts and the best camera (my budget can afford)…

this is one of my fave shots of my baby boy in recent days…

We were first introduced to this place by my sister, who passed me a $10 voucher. Since that time, we’ve ate at this place for four times in the last 3 months! This is a small little Japanese food place, at Playground@Big Splash, called Yoshimaru Ramen Bar.

And true to its name, it has a small but interesting variety of ramen noodles.

Nic has one ‘staple dish’. The ‘All-In Ramen’ which is at a pretty affordable $15 per bowl.

See that orangey slop in the left hand corner? It’s some roe, which Nic says tastes divine. Me? Not so a fan.

My bowl of ramen.

The soft-boiled egg is phenomenal. The yolk itself is soft-boiled but the egg white is hard-boiled. How do they do it?? Yummy!

The beef salad. So-so, though I love the salad dressing.

All in all, I love this place. The service is great, and the food is yummy! Check it out if you’re in the Big Splash area.

Address: 902 East Coast Parkway Block B #01-12 Playground@Big Splash Singapore 449874

To celebrate our dear colleague’s birthday, we arranged to have lunch at Ma Maison restaurant at Bugis Junction.

It was a lovely place, wood-y furniture and great service!

And the lunch set was divine. Each set came with a soup and a salad.

I order the Hamburger Steak set, which was divine!

Jerb and Grace enjoyed the pan fried dory fish set.

And Cyn enjoyed the very yummy-looking curry chicken rice.

All in all, it was a good time chatting with good friends… and as all of us are CGLs, it is inevitable that we will leave these words with each other as we parted ways after lunch…

“We love because He first loved us.”

Hahaha!

What happened to Jay? Read more about it in his blog!

I love the Marina Barrage – most for this gorgeous view of the city from the Garden Roof. And with hordes of people flying kites, having picnics and plain hanging out, it offers a totally different, relaxed atmosphere.

Borders at Parkway has also been our frequent haunt!

I’d love to say he loves to read…

But he prefers just taking the books off the shelf. And flipping them. And then taking another book. And flipping that.

You get the idea.

And yesterday Shopping Junkies was at the Fashionista Event at SMU.

We had a fun time decorating our booth! Thanks to Darel for bringing so much stuff!

Sales was only so-so, cos the crowd was disappointingly slow-going.

Ah well, but it is a fun experience, coupled with working with good friends!

See you at the Fashionista on Oct 31, where we’ll be launching our latest Halloween collection!

Get ready for loads of fun, great bargains and shopping galore!

See some of their posts here. I promise you, it is a great read! Haha! I know, that camera’s that is up for grabs is not for me, but hey, it is good fun still!

Well, here’s my contribution argument reason conclusion as to why I should be inducted as a Scary Mommy.

See Jay’s totally traumatised look? Told ya I’m scary!

I have more makeup than one make up pouch can contain. And my makeup pouch is huge. Kangaroo pouch-huge, I tell you. And in my pre-Jayvonian days, you’d be hardpressed to catch me in specs or baggy comfy home clothes or sans-makeup! Now? I happily trot through nearby shopping malls without my warpaint make up on. And if you dare make mention of it? Grrr….

I have more clothes than my wardrobe can contain. And my boy has more clothes than… well, my hubby! But this doesn’t stop me from shopping for Jay online. In fact, it doesn’t stop me from shopping. At all. Even right now, I can’t wait till Old Navy/Gap offers their summer-y clothes! Hahaha! More sleeveless tops and cool shorts for my boy!

I am anal for all things organic. When it comes to Jay. I personally don’t really care too much for it for my own consumption or use. But as I trudge through the aisles of the supermarkets (and I do so at least twice a week!), the word ‘organic’ draws me like bees to honey. Despite the fact it costs SO much more to buy organic stuff.

In my pre-Jayvonian days, I used to be a movie maniac! I loved watching movies, and would probably catch at least one show a week – and this show would usually be a late-night one. Since the advent of my prince, this has stopped to a drizzle. Late-night movies? I know of ‘die-hard’ friends who never fail to invite me… Thanks… but I will pass.

And the reason? Cos Jay was only very recently weaned off breastfeeding! Yeap… my confession time. I breastfed Jay till only about a month back. That makes it 19 months. 19 months. I think I should have a plaque or something. Or maybe an LV bag. Haha! Well, while I understand the benefits of breastfed babies… a confession: It was more inertia on my part rather than any strong unwavering conviction about breastfeeding!

And to think when I decided to set myself free wean Jay, my mother tried her usual ‘psycho’ techniques by shaking her head and sighing, “The poor baby…” and nope! She wasn’t referring to ME. I incredulously turned to her, and couldn’t stop laughing.

Of course there are many times where I feel quite the juggler. Working full-time meant that I had to hire a domestic helper to help care for Jay. It is a chicken-and-egg matter, where I have no choice but to leave Jay in the care of my helper (but thank God she is a good one!), yet I also want to be there for him and care and discipline him.

But though motherhood has demanded a lot out of me… it has also brought out the most in me. Who knew sleep was so overrated? Who would have thought a common topic behind my hubby and I would be Jay’s bowel movements? Who would have thought I’d be a Scary Mommy? I’d always figured myself to be a Cool Mom. Maybe Awesome Mom?

But looking at this little fella… I’ll happily settle for plain ol’ Mommy!