Mother's Day 2017

To celebrate Mother's Day we went out for a big Japanese sushi lunch. We kind of went overboard! But to our surprise the kids ate most of it! Hungry Japanese kids!!!

I was given very cute crafty gifts :)

Matthew cooked us some delicious BBQ dinner to finish up the special day. 

The NZ wine we had wasn't MAMA but close enough. I am so blessed to be the mother of such amazing kids. And guess what!? My role will continue for a long long time yet!

Lunch Date with my love

We are spending more and more time together just us recently. Having our super helper Gini makes a huge difference when we want to go out. She can pick up the little ones from kindy, feed them snacks and keep them entertained until we get home.

The other day we decided to visit Sky on 57 at Marina Bay Sands. I enjoy going out at night time but I also love having a posh lunch - especially when it comes with a great view!

Well we just couldn't say no to these extremely tasty oysters which are in season at the moment. Matthew and I have very similar tastes. Makes it easy to share :)

After the amazing oysters we both had a business lunch set each. There were quite a few options but of course we felt like eating the same thing!! French goat cheese with green salad.

New Zealand lamb rack - I still think they serve the best lamb in Singapore.

Then the dessert. I wish they had a little more to choose from. I had this sorbet with dried berries - nice enough but I felt like something different. 

After the lunch we walked around the balcony. Nice clear day - this is looking into the Marina area - Can you see a Merlion, a durian and some bananas in the photo below?? 

Singapore CBD area:

Love of my life :) :) :)

While we were there I got text messages from my best friend Rachael who was in town for a short visit from Jakarta. She happened to be lunching with her partner in the Marina area too. So we decided to meet up for a couple of drinks. 

Since we moved to Singapore I get to see Rachael more than ever. It was more than 20 years ago we studied in a English language school in NZ together. 

This photo makes me laugh, we are enjoying each others company but we all have our phones out. 

I think I had my second drink a little too fast. I was feeling quite drunk by the time we left. The restaurant is definitely nice but I also enjoy just relaxing on the sofa looking out over the sea too. 

Welcome back Rach!

Anniversary dinner

We had a very nice 13th Wedding Anniversary dinner at Marina Bay Sands. We enjoyed fresh oysters and delicious steaks at Daniel Boulud's restaurant dB Bistro.

We are always too busy taking photos of our kids and rarely take photos of us together. We must do this more often!

After dinner we had a little walk around the hotel for some fresh air. It is such a stunning hotel complex. 

You always treat me perfectly, my best friend Matthew. I am so lucky to have you in my life and as your partner. I hope we get to go out just the two of us to appreciate each other more often. 

I love you so much and I will love you forever xxx

Fun night in Tennoji

It was so nice to catch up with my old colleagues Yumiko and Chie once again. They are so easy going and we always make sure we get together when I am back in Osaka. This time we met up at our favourite shoe shop Himiko.

It didn't take long at all to decide on our new pairs. We pretty much tried on everything that was in the shop though... I was very happy with my purchases. Basic black and this years trend - pair of silver!

Then off to dinner and some drinks :) We had a delicious Korean dinner. 

Chie had to get home early unfortunately but Yumiko and I continued our catch up. This cafe at the train station was very popular. At 10pm we still had to queue up!

We thought we were very full from the Korean dinner but you know, we can always make space for some delicious Japanese dessert. YUM :)

I am hoping to see them again in June when I have my eye check up in Osaka. See you then!

Spa at Capella

Back in October for my 40th birthday, my lovely friends gave me a spa voucher for Auriga Spa at a luxurious 5 star hotel Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island. I have been wanting to make a day out for my special treatment but hadn't done so for a long time. It was great that my lovely friend Naz wanted a day out in a spa and booked it for us.

As soon as we arrived, the whole world went quieter. I could hear the birds singing, water flowing and I truly felt I was in an expensive resort.

The reception area smelt wonderful with aroma fumes and the soothing music made us relaxed already. This must have been the first time I wasn't rushing to a spa treatment. We had a good one hour before our appointment. We filled out forms about our health and some special requests we would like to make. We had nice herbal tea before we were taken to the changing room.

Here we are, ready for our special treatments. 

The treatment room was very nice with a private garden with some lush green plants. 

I took a detox organic tablet with water with some essential oil to begin my treatment. 

It is interesting that Auriga Spa has a distinctive approach to wellness and beauty based on the cycles of the moon. According to the brochure they only offer it when the treatment corresponds to the Moon's particular stage to ensure the most profound experience. 

The treatment I chose was called NEW MOON, unfortunately when we visited, the actual moon phase in Singapore was close to Full Moon. Since it didn't correspond with the actual moon phase I thought they might say No to this treatment but they didn't seem to mind. Certainly I wasn't bothered at all. I was so excited to spend the next 2 hours totally relaxed!

To start with I got juniper, rosemary and fennel oil foot massage. Then the whole body salt scrub with seaweed and eucalyptus. It was definitely the best salt scrub I've ever had. Then I got the seaweed wrap which was a very interesting experience. I have never done an entire seaweed body wrap before. The mud was warm and almost slimy. Once I was totally covered with it the therapist covered me with a big plastic sheet. I felt like I was a mummy or a dead person.

Once I had a shower to rinse off all the mud it was time for the full body oil massage. It started off with a facial massage during which I fell asleep. The therapist was asking me if I was already in heaven or not. It was just so good. I tried to stay awake for the next hour but I fell asleep a couple of times. It was definitely the number one spa experience I've ever had.

Once my heavenly massage treatment was completed, I was taken to the relaxation lounge where I sat on the sound wave lounge chair and enjoyed some fresh fruits and nibbles with herbal tea. Naz came in not long after me. We had good chats and enjoyed some luxurious time.

Then we went to get changed into our swimmers to relax further in the vitality pools overlooking a beautiful garden. The water temperature was just right for me - slightly cooler than a Japanese public bath. I so enjoyed stretching all my muscles in the hot bath. There were two chairs/beds where you can lay down and get jet bath massage on the side of the pool too. 

When we got hot from the bath we tried two different aromatherapy showers which were again fantastic. And the last facility we used was the aromatherapy steam sauna. We must have been inside for over 30 min. I was sure I lost some weight in there! 

The whole experience cost us over $300 each (!!!) but it definitely was the number one spa experience I have ever had. Naz and I were feeling totally rejuvenated. 

The rest of the hotel was beautiful too. I am definitely coming back. This might be our next wedding anniversary destination in April. (Hint Hint Matthew...)

Thank you Naz for coming along with me. It was one amazing experience and we certainly deserved it. Now back to our kids and hubby!