3 days in San Francisco

In all honesty, I did not have a lot of time in San Francisco to explore the city in great detail. However, that was not going to stop me from making the most I can out of my short trip there. I have been wanting to visit the West Coast for a while now and finally decided to make the trip down! I only had 3 short days there so here is a summary of what I did:-

First up, to get to and fro the airport and the city, you can consider taking the SuperShuttle which is like a pooling system where you share rides with other passengers into the city. It alights you right at your address and is extremely convenient as well.

My friends stay along Washington Street and it is just a stone's throw away from Mymy which serves up some really wonderful brunch fare. Their chorizo hash is possibly one of the best hash I have ever had, with the crispy potatoes and the smoky chorizo. We ordered their crab cakes and fluffy pancakes as well which was also amazing. Go early to avoid the queue as the queue can get pretty long and skip the coffee! You will get better coffee elsewhere.

Another spot you can check out for Brunch is Brenda's French Soul Food. That place is bustling and full of old school charm. I went for the Fried Chicken that came with a biscuit 5 times the size of the one you will get at a regular Popeye's. It is definitely levelled up Fried Chicken!! There are also loads on the menu for you to choose from. This also has a line so go early to avoid the queues.

If you are driving, you can consider driving over the Golden Gate Bridge and across to Sausalito area and visit the Muir Woods. We drove past the forest and made our way to Hog Island Oyster Farm in Marshall, Tomales Bay. It is the perfect place to have a picnic in the sun and shuck some oysters with friends. Read my post about it: Here! (Just do note that there is strictly NO WIFI service there so you are not able to Uber/Lyft there if not you might get stranded whilst heading back). Hog Island Oyster also has an outlet at Ferry Building if you want to check them out in the city.

A few blocks down from Mymy, you can find Mr Holmes Bakehouse! They serve up fresh bakes on the fly and have different flavours of Cruffins every day. You can even check out their Instagram to see what flavours is coming up in the week. Their cookies are also pretty amazing if you fancy one yourself. The Cruffins are definitely a Must-order.

Ferry Building Marketplace is a great place to check out before making your way along the Embarcadero. It is full of local eateries and home-grown retailers offering items like chocolates and cheeses to ceramics and hand-blown glasses. I enjoyed my stroll through there and just taking in all the sights and sounds.

Pier 33 is where you go to to board your ferry to Alcatraz. Make sure to get your tickets in advance online! Some say that it makes the whole experience that more spooky if you purchase night tickets so get them early as they do sell out. I actually really enjoyed my time at Alcatraz. What I like most about my trip there was the interactive audio tour as they bring you around the main prison and tell you all the stories of the past. The audio tour comes in many languages so I thought that was pretty cool. 

When you come back and walk further down along the Embarcadero, you will get to Pier 39 where the famous sealions reside. Watch them basking in the sun and being really playful or lazy. I also stopped for a good old Clam Chowder at Fog Harbor Fish House because I was craving for one. Most places along the pier will claim that they have the Best Clam Chowder in San Francisco so it was not surprising that they have claimed that title for themselves too! It was a pretty good Chowder not to say the least and I slurped it down super quickly.

By the time I got to Ghirardelli Square, it was night fall. I was hoping to actually make it to The Wave Organ or even Crissy Field to get a good view of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset but alas! That's not going to happen. Another side note is that, I walk a lot when I'm traveling, but if you are not a fan of walking so much, you can consider renting bicycles or even PMDs using an app. They are littered everywhere along the pier just like how our Obikes are. 

You can actually get quite a decent view of the Golden Gate Bridge at Ghirardelli Square and I really like that area and can see myself visiting there more often if I just want a good spot to chill or play with my dog on the grass. Ghirardelli Square also has some really cool shops and my favourite is Lola. They sell loads of pretty knick knacks and I left there with a handful of Birthday Cards that I can use for the future.

Another area that you would want to check out is Hayes. I love that area! It is filled with lots of stunning houses like the Painted Ladies and you can already imagine the aesthetics of that area. It is pretty hilly and I was super out of breath by the time I walked there but it was all worth it!

For great coffee, Ritual is your best bet. They have one located right in the middle of Hayes Valley in a container store. If you are near Polk, you may also want to step into Saint Frank for your cuppa joe. It is one that I keep walking across but never had the time to try. I rate a city by its coffee and so far, it is not disappointing.

Have a sweet tooth or am just an ice-cream lover like me? There is Smitten Ice Cream just around the corner. They churn their ice cream with liquid nitrogen and it whips up into a frenzy. There is also Salt and Straw around the corner that offers up a greater variety of flavours. The lady serving there allowed me to try a whole bunch of flavour and my fav is definitely the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons. Yummm.

If you are looking for a restaurant that sells up Gluten-free or healthier options, you can consider dining at Little Gem. Tbh, we only came here because there was a really long line at a|Mano. However, I think it's worth a shot and the chicken was done so well. If you are up for really great seafood, check out Sottomare and order the Cioppino! It is highly raved out by my friends and will definitely be back to try it on my next trip to SF.

SF is also famous for the windy roads of Lombard Street. There are actual people living along the street and they have to drive that windy road down every day. (or get all these tourists visiting that area) The slopes along SF are so steep that I'm sure even parking is a feat!

Ended off my last night in SF with drinks at Saratoga. It is essentially a cocktail bar that serves up amazing drinks and food. So so delish! I believe I had The Fielding which comprises of Gin, Amaro, Cherry Herring, Lemon and Grapefruit. What a perfect way to end off my trip there.

Till the next time!

Xo,

Amelia

Dulukala @ Island

Just recently, whilst trying to pick the perfect spot for an afternoon coffee and sweet treats kinda place, and after having seen quite lovely photos from Dulukala@Island, I thought why not give it a shot? It is located conveniently in town and I was surprised to see it relatively quiet on a scorching afternoon. Not to mention the awesome light pouring through. I might have just found my new fav spot to hang out and catch up with friends.

Their Nonya Kueh Set is extremely worth it! Comes with 2 coffees (Flat White or Long Black) or 1 pot of tea of your own choice. It is also just the right amount of sugar intake if you are feeling peckish on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I'm generally not very much a Kueh-eating person as I find them slightly too 'jelat' (the Singlish equivalent of describing something being borderline 'cloying'). However, I find this just nice being shared amongst two people.

We also ordered the Ayam Buah Keluak Rice to share and it was straight up good Peranakan food. I lovelovelove anything with gravy or curry so this dish is right up my alley. The gravy had a slight kick of spice from the chili padi and it was so good!

Overall, I highly recommend this place and definitely see myself revisiting again plenty of times just for the ambience or the Nonya Kueh Sets as I find them really value for money.

4F Tangs @ Tang Plaza

310 Orchard Road

Singapore 238864

Tel: 6734 6077

Xo,

Amelia

The Aesop Edit

 

Aesop is a brand that I have absolutely adored since my early Adult years and a luxury beauty brand that I have not been willing to splurge on myself until the recent years. Not only do their products smell amazing, they also have the most Chic-est Instagram worthy looking packaging ever! You just need to have one by your sink or bedside and BOOM, instant chic makeover. (I am sucha sucker for packaging and branding). Not to mention that most of their store-fronts are simply aesthetic goals.

I want to talk about my absolute favourite first.

If you tell me 5 years ago that I would one day fall in love with a hand wash that sets you back 40 dollars a bottle (yes, you read that right - hand wash), I would not even hesitate to say something along the lines of... "Are you out of your mind?" or "that's totally crazy!". Well, you better believe it when I said that I am totally head over heels over one of the best smelling hand wash in the entire world!

Literally, there is nothing that a small whiff of the Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash can't do to instantly lift my mood up. You don't need much - just a pea-sized amount. Or perhaps that is my scrimp and save mentality is coming into play with this particular hand wash. ((It is precious! Use it sparingly!)) Probably have been guilty of hiding the hand wash in an obscure spot in the bathroom before in the hopes that no one would spot it. In my opinion, this is the Best hand wash I have come across to this day. Definitely a hard one to beat on my list.

Recently, I got gifted this mini Ginger Flight Therapy that comes in this tiny roller-ball. Looking at the ingredients listed on the packaging, I was immediately drawn to the fact that it contained Lavender just because, it is one of my fav. scents (cue Kiehls' Midnight Recovery Oil - which is one of my holy grail). Just a little skeptical about how it would blend in with ginger root. It says that it is meant for jaded travellers and weary workers which got me chuckling yet I can totally see why. You rub a little on your wrists and take a whiff and there is an instant calming effect. There is a slight hint of ginger in it but it does not overpower the lavender scent. If you're a fan of Lavender like me, you would love this as much as I do.

This is something that I have been using every single morning before my skincare routine. I have opened and closed it so much that the cap has become slightly wonky. Aesop does a few different types of toners for various skin types so it is best to consult with their in-house beauty consultant first as to which type of products best suits your skin. As I have oily-combination skin, I was being recommended the Bitter Orange Astringent Toner. The product itself has a citrus-y scent to it and I like that it removes any excess gunk on my face before I start layering up my moisturiser, sunscreen and makeup.

I have come to realise that I generally do not like creams in general because I do not like that they usually feel heavy on the skin. Basically speaking, I am lazy with creams and always finding an excuse not to use them even though they are probably really good for you (and I really ought to start using them more religiously!!) This is the Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream, recommended for normal to combination skin. It has a thicker consistency, which is why I am typically not drawn to it. Yet, I have decided to add that into my nightly routine and I will let you know how I get on with it.

Another item from the brand that I am not particularly attracted to is the Fabulous Face Oil. I probably only bought it because the beauty consultant said that it is good for my skin type and I am sure it is... however, I am not liking the smell of it. I did say I was really sensitive to scents didn't I? That being said, it is probably a scent that you need some getting used to. It contains Juniper Berry, Ylang Ylang and Jasmine Petals, perhaps the combination of the first two ingredients that I do not get. The scent does put me off but occasionally I will use it and it is supposed to soften, hydrate and balance patchy skin, which sounds amazing! Also another product I will report back on.

Some other products from Aesop that I definitely want to try are the Resurrection Hand Balm as well as something from their Parsley Seed range as it is full of anti-oxidant products.

Let me know what are your absolute must-haves from the brand!

Xo,
Amelia

Turning 30!

You celebrate all the birthdays in the world, yet none of them will ever be like your 30th milestone. It marks possibly 1/3 of your lifetime and it's the start to the best times of your life. I did not get to throw a party when I turn 21, just a casual fun one where my closest friends planned a surprise party for me and strapped me to a reverse bungee blindfolded and it was simply perfect if you ask me. However, I really wanted to throw a bash on my 30th cos, when else will you get to throw another party like this eh?

Really glad that the boyfie managed to help source and chanced upon KARA Moments run by KARA Cafe & Dessert Bar who are the lovely team behind Sogurt.  The space is so gorgeous and well-lit and ticked off all the boxes I would want in a venue space. Liping, who is the owner of KARA, is also kind enough to show me around the space and just simply a wonderful person to talk to. Kara also provides a dessert menu etc if you would like to obtain catering from them!

The venue itself is a 2-storey loft which I'm obsessed with because it means that it has high ceilings and I love myself a good loft. The tables and chairs are provided for you and modular so that you can reconfigure it however you want, should you need the space for various workshops or intimate seminar/networking sessions. Location is also fantastic, right smack in the middle of Bukit Timah, except you probably have to park at Coronation Plaza if you are driving. Another thing to note is that, the venue starts on the second storey, up a flight of stairs, so something to consider as it might be inconvenient for individuals who are handicapped (like my grandpa haha). He is such a champ though and conquered that flight of stairs!

Loving all the balloons and the decor with styling and set-up help by my lovely friends and family. Considering the fact that I managed to put this party together in less than 2 weeks was already a feat in itself! Would say that most of the decor items are from my own stash at home, many thanks to Lishi for lending me the beerpong table. The balloons and sweet treats are bought and delivered, if you're ever thinking of putting together a party at the last minute as well.

  

  

This beautiful blush pink cake is baked by my friend Huiyi who owns Bloomsbury Bakers! They specialise in baking customised cakes and do setups for dessert tables as well. I absolutely adore her cakes but never had an occasion of my own that I actually can get her to help me with a cake of my own. This is what her and her team came up with! It is a chocolate cake with fresh cream and a brittle sort of crunch in it. Everyone at the party raved about the cake and it could not have been a better choice. I highly recommend!

  

  

  

Thank you to all my closest friends who came to grace my birthday (did I mention that it was the date of my actual birthday as well?) and dressing according to theme! (:

  

Also to the best family in the world. Thank you for all the laughter in my life and being the constant support of pillars in my 30 years of existence. 

Earlier that morning, J and I went to volunteer at Willing Hearts which is something I have wanted to do in a while now. We got down and dirty and scrubbed down grimy pots and pans that were big enough to cook me in it. Thank you for being in my life and for the love.

  

So reluctant to cut the pretty cake but I had to! It was such a special day and I loved every moment of it. I was THIS close to not planning anything but I'm glad I decided to do it cos these will definitely be great memories in many years to come.

  

  

Till the next birthday milestone!

Xo,

Amelia