Tao's Footwear, something I would love to have!

Hello everyone! It's cynnie back here again. Life has been as hectic as usual, with my final semester coming to an end soon, I barely have enough time to chill myself around town or to even enjoy the festive spirit in London. Work has been pretty hectic as well as the Christmas crowd gets bigger every week!

Similarly, my working shifts are also getting longer with 8-9 hours shift every weekend. Lest to say that I go back home with sore feet and aching heels that I desperately need some body scrub to get rid of those nasty dead skin. I have always been one who is willing to invest in good quality shoes because - I don't want to be complaining about my painful shoes or feet while I'm out having fun!

Even when I try going out for jogs, I realize that my feet aches the following day, despite me trying to keep up with a good jogging posture - also known as Plantar fasciitis which the tissues from my toes linking to my heels get inflamed. And it definitely ruins my plans for the rest of the day. Perhaps my shoes wasn't that good enough for jogging purposes and I would need a pair of running shoes that gives sufficient support while absorbing the pressure that my feet undertakes while jogging.

I've tried Clarks, Timberland, Hush Puppies, Nike and many more brands before for shoes. Not just for jogging purposes but also for outgoing purposes. And now, I've encountered Taos' Footwear online, which just might be my next favorite!

Founded in 2005 and designed in Southern California, the influence of Taos' footwear remains tied to the city of Taos in New Mexico, which led to the brand name.

Image Credits to Taos Footwear

What makes Taos stand out from the other brands, is the reputation of their signature footbeds are gives ample support to our feet, making it really comfortable while looking fashionable even for your outfits. If you are someone who needs specific support, you can even get yourself orthotic-friendly removable footbed that contours and hugs to your feet!

These are absolutely some of my favorite picks from their selections!

Image Credits: Taos Footwear

Classic sneakers is my absolute fave! Perfect for any seasons, I could foresee myself wearing it in the U.K. or sunny Singapore! I am an avid fan of sneakers (any kinds!) as streetwear is currently the style I am trying to pull off now - which I have no idea if it even fits me 😬

Image Credits: Taos Footwear

Another pick which I feel its perfect for my mom! She works long hours standing as well, and whenever we head out for shopping, she would always try to find somewhere to rest her tired feet. Besides being fashionable, this pair of shoes is really comfortable to keep you going for the rest of the day too!

Image Credits: Taos Footwear

How can I ever forget about those heeled boots? Loving those minimalistic designs with the utmost comfort, I can fit it in with tights and an oversized shirt - then I'm ready for the day! Designed with the classic suede material, this pair of boots look classier than ever in my eyes! Compared to canvas ones which I've worn before and the color faded off really quickly under the sun. 

Now, now. I've curated a my Christmas wish list with all these shoes listed in my heads now. I can safely get comfortable shoes for myself now without breaking the bank.

It is definitely time for us to Get Up and Stand Comfortable!™ 

Psst... Taos' Footwear was awarded the Best Women's Comfort in the Foot Wear Plus Award 2017,

Sharing this good deals with you now over at Taos Footwear.

Thanks for reading guys, much loves!

x cynnieco.

Hilltop Gardening Dining - Arbora is the place to go!

 Friends who know me would also know me for loving those greenery places. Especially ever since I came to U.K., I am more immersed into the nature than ever. While I did not get the opportunity to attend the opening of Arbora by One Faber Group, I am ecstatic to find out what Arbora has to offer to their customers - like me!

Located at Faber Peak Singapore, this hilltop sanctuary is the next dining destination that I think is perfect for a nights out or even a date! Just imagine you and your company immersing into the beauty of nature, an overview of the urban areas alongside with great food and drinks. I can't say no to the idea of that. With trees being the main surrounding for this restaurant, we can imagine how the name Arbora came about - an eponym for a Latin word "Arbor" which represents trees. If you didn't know, Arbora is formerly known as Spuds & Apron which my friends and I really love!

This place sounds like a great place to hang out anytime or any day to me, perhaps like a great brunch place to go to! Not to forget that they have all-day dining available here with 35 selections, created by Executive Chef Kenny Yeo to delight your palates of starters, entrees and desserts. If you have been to Dusk Restaurant & Bar before, the creator of the European tapas menu is also created by yours truly, Chef Kenny Yeo.

Let's talk business, the food is what attracts people to a place alongside with the great atmosphere. 

Think of lamb served alongside with prune sauce (Rack of Lamb - SGD36++) 

A tomato-based seafood broth with tender baby abalones in it (Fisherman's Stew - SGD42++)... how mouth-watering. Especially the Fisherman's Stew is hooking up my tastebuds as the weather starts getting colder in the U.K.

Or perhaps a Wild Mushroom Salad (SGD14++) to get more veggies into your meal? and I absolutely love mushrooms, am really anticipating to try out this place!

and what's better than having a drink alongside with a meal? I find that whenever I'm having my meals, I always need like water or a drink to go alongside with it. As though I have been dehydrated along the process of eating hurhur. If I could choose a cocktail, my go-to drink is always a Mojito. And that preference of mine have never changed since then. But okay, next time I'm going to take a leap of faith and try the the Botanic Roku cocktail which is at SG15++ which I find it pretty decent for a drink.

Visuals: ✓

Price: ✓

Taste: Pending (but if you've tried it please let me know how it tastes!)

How beautiful it is, that I would order it off the menu, if one day I have to decide to be heartless and just forget about mojitos for a nights out. 

fyi: not an alcoholic person!

and with a bit of twist, anise stars on a cocktail. 

well, well, did anyone mention that anise stars is a spice that's usually used for cooking? 

Anise Stars (SGD15++) sounds so magical, almost like a galaxy to me. But just the look of it is appealing to me. I can never imagine how it tastes like, but that gives me another excuse to drink cocktails.

With Arbora's opening, they are giving us a treat!Get a free snack or salad when you order 2 mains from the menu, such as hand-cooked chips (loves!) and Wild Mushroom Salad (loves x2!). Also, you can get your hands on their Arbora craft beers at a promotional price of SGD30+ for 3 bottles (U.P. SGD36++) 

Good things are meant to be shared. Follow through Arbora with their menus and specials to keep yourself updated on what special treats they have to offer!

Visit www.onefabergroup.com/arbora to find out more details on the promotions.

thank you hoomans for reading!

cynnieco x.

*Special thanks to WOM Communications for the details and images, as well as One Faber Group.

[ADVERTORIAL] BATTLE OF THE KFC WINGS: Team Japan VS Team Korea

Are you READY for a Finger Lickin' Challenge?

Who will be the ULTIMATE WINNER?

You be the judge.

Kentucky Fried Chicken Management Pte Ltd (KFC), a household name to all of us Singaporeans, is well-known of their hot, crispy, fried chicken. It is a quick service restaurant which appeals to most families at affordable prices, offering dine-in, takeaway and even home delivery services!

Now, laziness is not an excuse to say you can't get your chicken fix!

Singapore's very first KFC restaurant opened up in 1977(wow that's like 38 years!),

& till date, there are 87 KFC outlets all over in Singapore.

Psst..talk about our love for chicken,

Did you know that there are 19,400 KFC restaurants in more than 120 countries and states worldwide?!

Serving up to 8 million customers each day,

wow we sure do love chicken.

Besides their fried chicken selections, KFC offered up a breakfast menu in November 2007,

with KFC a.m. now offered in 68 outlets.

Talk about Blueberry Pancakes, 

Waffles, 

a.m. Porridge, 

Twisters, 

a.m. Burger...

Don't know what to get for breakfast?

KFC Breakfast could be an option for you!

Talking about that food makes me hungry...when it's 12 midnight.

*KFC is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., Louisville, Ky.

Over the years, the Japanese and Korean culture have played a huge part of our lives in Singapore.
In shopping malls, we see a stretch of Japanese/Korean restaurants.
Singapore is all about that Food Paradise from everywhere.

Being well-known for their Fried Chicken, KFC launches 2 brand new Chicken selections just for YOU!

Freshly breaded in-store, fried to a crispy texture yet juicy & tender on the inside:
coated with 2 different flavours.
The 2 Sauced Wings include:

Team JAPAN - Tangy yet Savoury Japanese Sauce

When the wings were served, I couldn't wait to get my teeth sinked into those crispy fried wings.
It was generously coated with the Umadare sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds on top of it.

Crispy, crunchy on the outside, the wings were juicy and tender on the inside.
You know how some fried chicken gets dry and hard on the inside when it's fried?
I was so glad that the wings were easy to chew and juicy.
The sauce complimented well with the chicken meat, and it definitely did not leave me feeling queasy.
There was a slight sweet aftertaste and chewing on the crispy bits of the chicken skin made it even more heavenly for me.
One word from me: OISHII!

Team KOREA - Korean-inspired Sweet and Spicy

Even though the Umadare Wings kind of got me blown away, this was even better.

I am a spicy food lover, so this definitely caught my eye when it's sweet and spicy!

The best of both worlds for me YAYYYY.

So I took a bite.

Closed me eyes.

Smiled.

I loved it.

I love those thick chunks of fried chicken skin coated with the Korean sauce, it's just so crunchy that I want more!

*Psst..I got the sauce all over my mouth while eating it... Opps.*

The meat was soft, which makes both the textures compliment well with each other.

As much as I love spicy food, the wings were not as spicy for me.

So readers, you gotta try this and see if you could handle their spiciness!

After finishing the wings...

I decided.

I'm on Team Korea!

#kfcmashisoyo!

So, which is the king of wings to you?
You try it, you decide.

BATTLE OF THE WINGS IS HERE, FOR REAL.

At $4.90 per set, you get 4 pieces of Umadare/Yang Yeum Wings.

It's gonna be worth your money & tastebuds(it definitely did for me!)

 If it's not filling enough, fret not!
Asians being Asians, most of us have rice in our proper meals.
So, why not get some rice!

Besides just chicken rice, you get a side salad and the new 7UP Lemon Mint drink!

For just an additional $2, these bento boxes can be bought at $6.90!

Proper meals at KFC?

Affordable prices?

No problem at all!

Are you salivating right now in front of your computer, tablet or smartphone?
Then get yours now at the nearest KFC outlet!

These wings are up for grabs at all KFC outlets
except KFC Sentosa and Singapore Zoo.
For more information, you can visit their website at www.kfc.com.sg too!

So, who's the king of wings in your heart?

Here is what you can do!

Snap a photo or video of yourself on Instagram:

Hashtag #kfcoishii if you love the Umadare Wings

OR

Hashtag #kfcmashisoyo if you love the Yang Yeum Wings!

Pick your side now!

Thanks to NuffNangSG and KFC Management Pte Ltd. for this opportunity!

Thanks & goodbye,

cynnie.

It's time to entice your tastebuds with a whole new Earle Swensen's experience!

My parents and I have this huge fetish over Swensens.

Our usuals would always be: 

a "Topless 5" (5 scoops of ice cream with your choice of flavours)

And not forgetting their U.S. Fries which is one of their best sellers!

But besides all the family restaurant outlets that they have in the neighbourhoods, have any of you tried Earle Swensen's before?

Well I did, and I was certainly tempted to revisit there again.

Thanks to Celine, I tagged along with her for a food-tasting session at Vivocity's Earle Swensen's! 

The session was to introduce some of their new menu items, and just so you know, the menu changes a couple of times annually!

Definitely aroused my curiosity to go back and try those new menu items.

Seated in the restaurant, we were accompanied by a beautiful sight overlooking the exterior view of Sentosa.

Personally, ambience is one of the most important factors that I feel makes the dining experience more enjoyable.

define drinks; 

a liquid to quench your thirst

To give our tastebuds some warm-up, we started off with the Lychee Glacier.

Ice blended into a smooth yet icy texture was sure a tough job, but Earle Swensen's definitely did it right.

Beautiful violet color topped with lychee fruit, I can feel my throat drying up already.

define appetizers; 

food to stimulate your appetite

If you love eating chicken drumlets,

the new Oven Roasted Drumlets are right for you!

Available in Teriyaki & Sriracha glaze, whether you're a sweet or spicy food eater,

this is one that I recommend not to miss it!

appetizers; Breaded Scallops.

Doesn't sound interesting enough?

Best paired together with their whole new Salted Egg Yolk Dip!

Crispy on the outside, soft & pipin' hot on the inside.

It was pretty much a 7/10 rating for me though, as I pretty much prefer a stronger taste for the dip.

appetizers; Popcorn Squid

With Salted Egg Yolk Dip again!

This was the bomb, in fact I liked this more than the scallops!

The baby squids were well coated, every bite is filled with a crunchy texture.

And since it's popcorn-sized, it doesn't hurt to have more than one..right? ;)

define mains; 

the highlight of all the dishes.

Smoked Salmon Pasta

If you've ever dined out with me before, you would know that I am never a fan of cream based pasta.

It kind of makes me feel sick of the taste within a short period of time.

So to play safe, it's Aglio Olio or tomato-based.

But this definitely got me blown away.

With a slight saltiness from the smoked salmon, a light cream sauce, smooth linguine pasta and mushrooms, it definitely made me want more of it.

The tinge of saltiness from the smoked salmon made the cream sauce much more flavorful, without making the entire dish over creamy-like.

I finished everything, including the sauce.

This shows how good it is!

A must-try!

define desserts;

a sweet treat to end the flavorful meal.

Stylo Milo Sundae

Are you a malt fan or not?

I am someone who will always look forward to the desserts at the end.

No matter how stuffed I am.

I guess this is what they mean by all females have 2 different stomachs for savoury and sweet treats.

Not all, but I definitely am :p

All Swensen's ice cream are now changed to gelato, making it a healthier option for all of you sweet-tooth people out there.

The texture of the gelato was so smooth and has a slight creamy texture, glides through your throat when you swallow it.

I love how all the sundaes always looks so pretty and appetizing *heart flutters*

Together with the cereal crunch sandwiched between the scoops of ice cream, a creamy and crunchy texture made this dessert a pleasant one.

The con of the gelato, was that the milo taste was not strong and distinctive enough to taste it, unless it goes together with the cereal toppings.

Nevertheless, I finished it too as the milo taste gets stronger till you reach the bottom of that sundae :P

Earle Swensen's still never fails to surprise me with their new dishes and the same old favorites that I have.

A big thank you to Celine and Earle Swensen's for this amazing food tasting session!

& not forgetting;

my readers who have to endure my lengthy descriptions.

goodbye & have a slurpin' good time,

cynnie.

Have you Viber-ed yet?

Have you Viber-ed yet?

This year is definitely significant to Singapore.

Remember how 50 years ago, Singapore grew independent and we became a country on our own?

This year, let us rejoice for SG50!

If you have been an avid user of Viber, all these stickers should be on your phone...NOW.

And if you're not, read on and away~!

To join in the celebration of SG50 which has been ongoing the entire 2015 in Singapore,

Viber is ready to share their love for Singapore through fun and cute sticker packs!

These sticker packs, also known as "Singapore Shiok!" & "Fun in Singapore!"

you can save your time off from typing those words and simply express it with all those cute cartoon images just at a tap on your phone!

Such convenience when our phone dimensions just keeps getting bigger and bigger..

which sometimes I have troubles typing while I'm commuting via public transportation

:(

Tell me about the woes of short and fat fingers.

How true is this?

Just look at all these cute cartoons with all our daily Singlish languages!

I can't stop staring at all these cartoons when I first saw it, honestly.

I wish I could make them into plush toys and flood my house with it!!

Okay, my favorite got to be that cat lying on Sentosa beach in a bikini.

Places of attraction in Singapore, I guess Viber got that all covered ;)

If you need this to hit on someone.

And this is how you get your messages going!

Why make your conversations boring and all with texts when now you can have it all colored up with these images?

Time to download these sticker packs if you've not done so!

OR

It's time for you to get VIBER!

I was absolutely elated to receive this campaign pack from Viber!

Thanks to Joyce ;)

Those images did came to life...in stickers form!

Now I can stick these stickers all over my notebooks,

it was so cute that my dad even took 2 away from me!

:p

Even Viber candy existed!

Such sweet thoughts put in by the Viber team ;)

Talk about our daily lives, these sticker packs definitely reflected how unique Singapore is.

Not only with our languages, but also some of our daily life moments and iconic landmarks.

All these are what we have built up in the 50 years,

& not forgetting the hard work of our Founding Father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Let us make this year a memorable and eventful one!

As we do that...

have you Viber-ed yet?

;)

goodbye,

cynnieco.

Everything with biscuits and chocolate..is just delish to me!

I'm back guys!

how have you guys been doing?

I pretty much miss my life as a blogger nowadays... attending events, meeting new blogger friends and enjoying every single moment of those interactions.

For studies, sacrifices had to be made unfortunately.

But I was glad to be able to tag along with Chloe the other day for a really special event which I believe and will categorize as one of my most amazing media event.

I love sweet, floury, crunchy stuff.

So I love biscuits.

& I love chocolate too.

Those chocolate just got to be purely good stuff on its own.

Where to find?! :(

Before I land myself into depression mood...

I'm glad Julie came into my life.

And Julie brought a new friend called Hershey.

So what do you have?

Julie's biscuits X Hershey's chocolate.

My chocolate biscuits finally existed!

One of those damn good stuff - Chocolate Fudge cookies.

one of my love from all the other flavors because it's just so chocolate-y!

*erh hmm as I'm blogging, I'm munching on it.*

Don't be jealous because... I will tell you where to get it later :)

Sneak peeks of the event location!

Just look at those boxes and boxes of cookies.

I need those Christmas Trees made with cookies.

Okay I got to admit.

I used to hate cookies.

And now I love it.

Probably I always end up can't finding my favorite bread pudding at buffets in the States..

I had to rely on cookies.

AND DID I MENTION THOSE COOKIES ARE AMAZING?!

It just taste different.

So now I'm glad, I can find other cookies to substitute it besides Famous Amos.

Yes, that's gorgeous Chloe.

Ultimate beauty and I'm glad to know her like really!

And courtesy of Spinelli as our event was held there!

I wish that box in my hand can be brought home.

Oh yes, please smile when you eat those cookies.

because these cookies are meaningful.

Mr Martin Ang from Julie's company who made his appearance to introduce this new product!

What he said, made me had a resolution to love Julie's and Hershey's even more.

Part of the profits from Hershey's goes towards helping out the children in the United States, creating happier places for them such as Hershey's Theme Park, schools etc.

Julie's likewise, is a household brand of Malaysia. And every biscuit is baked with love.

I believe so when I ate them.

I could feel the love and so I hope you do too.

Trust me, these cookies will make you want more.

And the best surprise of all, X'mas is approaching and they even prepared X'mas gifts for us!

All nicely wrapped.

If this isn't called Sincerity, I don't know what else does.

With all the other bloggers!

They were all really approachable and nice to interact with.

And that definitely forced me out of my turtle shell.

Bloggers at work.

Hahaha :D

sO long since i tried taking close up shots of sweet treats with my DSLR...

so these are some random ones.

And wonderful thanks for the buffet offered!

Remember the gift that they gave?

Powerbank with love.

It was unexpected and even though Julie's biscuits are something that we buy off the shelves not like a restaurant, the customer service itself is amazing this way.

Tadah! Finally, meet the 4 Heavenly Kings co-created by 2 companies filled with compassion for the society.

Introducing Chocolate Waffles, Chocolate Fudge Cookies, Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies and Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies.

If you always loved butter waffles biscuits, this is a must try!

A twist to our ordinary butter waffle biscuit, simply chocolate-licious!

I love nuts. Peanuts, Almonds, Macadamia nut...

how can I afford missing HAZELNUTS?

Yes I am nuts now talking about nuts.

And if you think chocolate is like your world, you wouldn't regret eating this.

Because I didn't.

For the healthier option, choose oat!

They are now available in all local supermarkets so visit the nearest one, grab one and start munching!

I love indulging in this because it really makes me smile thinking about the happier kids in the States, and how satisfied my tummy really is for the chocolate-y goodness.

But my biggest regret and apologies to my readers...

I always finished it before I could take a shot of how it looks like....

:(

I will take the shots next time!

Meanwhile, let me grab another packet.

Goodbye and continue eating with love,

cynnie.