mentos-eruption part 2

a follow-up on my earlier post on the mentos-eruption.... i got so intrigued by it that i went on to search the web and youtube for videos and footages on other people's experiments. (well, i'm not prepared to clear up the sticky mess at home, so no way i'm gonna try it myself... at least not for now)

i'm sure those of us who now know of this mentos-eruption phenomenon would at some point in time be curious about this: is it safe then to consume mentos + cola at the same time?

to that question, eepybird.com has an answer:
"So is it dangerous to drink soda and eat Mentos? Well, a lot of the fizz goes away as you drink. Then when bubbles are released in your stomach, your stomach can expand a bit, and it also has ways of releasing excess pressure. Do not, repeat, do not be stupid and test the limits of your stomach. Don't even think about it....."

as much as i'm curious what would happen if one really consumed these 2 items together, i won't be quite as enthusiastic as this guy who actually experimented on HIMSELF! imagine how dangerous and painful this could be... so i must applaud him for his sheer courage (and insanity) in doing this... hope he's still alive :P
WATCH VIDEO HERE (youtube) - i was holding my breath when he started swallowing those mentos.

kids at home, please do not ever try this on yourself.

it's time for mooncakes! :D

the annual mooncake-munching time has arrived again. this entry is specially timed to mark the 10-day countdown to mid-autumn festival :) this year i've ordered raffles the plaza (szechuan court) assorted alcohol-chocolate flavoured snowskin mooncakes for my granddad/aunt's family - yumm yumm :9

on top of that, i went by the mooncake fair at takashimaya shopping centre last weekend (big mistake.. *tsk tsk*) and couldn't resist picking up these 2 adorably packaged single-mooncakes too (chocolate-walnut & red-bean with mung beans).

note to self: a packaging-sucker like me should avoid big fancy fairs as much as possible ;)

btw, check out this interesting website - 2006 mid autumn splash off. inspired by the mentos-eruption idea, a group of youngsters in hong kong are appealing to people via their website to send in pictures of "erupting cola" to celebrate mid-autumn this year. as much as i'm turned off by the idea of wasting food (or drink/ candies in this case) for unpurposeful reasons, i'm intrigued by the mentos-eruption phenomena.

my brother did mention recently that mentos candies + coca cola = eruption but i wouldn't believe all that nonsense.... until i read about it on wikipedia by chance:

The experiment involves dropping several Mentos candies into a bottle of cola, resulting in an eruption. This reaction occurs because of the rapidly expanding carbon dioxide inside once the Mentos are introduced to the carbonation.

WATCH THIS VIDEO - steve spangler's step-by-step experiment (5 bottles straight!)
incredibly fun! :P

so next time a kid tells you that he can create explosions with his baby food and orange juice, don't brush it off until you see it for yourself ;)

more links:
- steve spangler science experiment
- eepybird.com

sometimes it's ok to not return a call....

please read this letter published on the straits times forums today, about a phone scam:
------------------------------
Don't call back if you get this phone number

Sep 26, 2006
The Straits Times

IF YOU get a missed call starting with +861 (the full number is +8613713467924), do not call back.

It's the latest prank which could incur you high IDD charges unknowingly. My colleague's husband happened to return the call and it was an answering machine. He was shocked to see an enormous phone bill when he received it later. He then approached the service provider, but it could not reverse the charges. He had no choice but to pay up.

On Aug 30, I also received the same missed call. Luckily I did not return the call as it was an anonymous phone number. So, beware of such callers.

Lynn Lee
Senior Staffing Specialist
GMP Recruitment
A division of The GMP Group
------------------------------
i've been following the forum discussion on cozycot for a few weeks, looks like many people have been receiving such calls recently (including myself). fortunately that "+861.........." number showed up as a missed call on my phone (think it was on a weekend some weeks back) and i chose to ignore it. initially i was unsuspicious and thought that was a business associate in china whom i've been working on a project with, good thing i didn't call back.

i've been warning my family and friends about this too. not exactly sure how this phone scam works at ripping off our money, but doesn't hurt to be wary anyway if you receive calls from "+861.........." numbers you don't recognise.

hady mirza - our new singapore idol :)

yay!!! three cheers for our new singapore idol - hady mirza! so happy he emerged the winner tonight :D shows that singaporean audiences still make sensible choices afterall :p this good-looking chap sings well, selects great songs, looks cute & down-to-earth, has good vocals, gives entertaining performances on stage.... in my opinion, certainly the most deserved person to win this competition.

i didn't follow through every "piano show" in this singapore idol 2006 season but ever since i heard hady's very soulful rendition of the malay number "lagenda", i knew i'd root for him till the end. fyi, i broke my own record and sms-voted twice for him (never done this before) - once after he sang that malay song (which i didn't understand a single word of), and once last night after the final showdown. spent a total of S$1.20 on him, so i probably contributed 0.000000001% of his success tonight *lol* :P

i'm not that obsessed to follow the idol-contestants all around their island-wide tours, buy their CDs or spend big bucks to go watch the concert at indoor stadium. to me, that S$1.20 was a remarkable feat already :) just glad that a well-deserved (and cute) contestant won the show. hip hip hurray!

retro-chic outfit

i like this outfit put together by M)phosis! it's really funky and pretty! i don't usually dress in stark black-vs-white contrasts but this combination just looks too cute and cool... well-matched layers and accessories, slightly retro yet not over-done *thumbs up*!

now i must go get myself an off-shoulder tunic top like that :D

note: the 2 dresses are not from M)phosis (but le'range/ staplewear). please refer to isetan private sale newsletter (28 sep'06) for details.

math genius

came across this young lady's blog through cozycot, and i had such a good laugh reading her latest blog entry dated 12 sep 2006. certainly my laugh-of-the-day *lol* :D

couldn't stop laughing.... just had to share it here. some "mathematical genius" must have done these algebra/ pythagoras theorem sums.

check it out....


link: holy green guacamole

cosmetics with a twist

i'm attracted to pretty things (don't we all?).... and i'm a big sucker for nice packaging. looks like this beauty brooch from too faced cosmetics is worth a mention :) cute little accessory with somewhat funky-victorian mix of dangling charms, plus lip gloss hidden in that oval-shaped retro-looking trinket - quite unique. selling at US$28.50 each, i feel it's slightly overpriced. anyway, we can't find too faced cosmetics counters in singapore :(

if you're not into brooches, check this out instead - the ring rouge from anna sui deserves huge raves too! not a new product, i received a gift pack of 3 ring rouges (each with a different-coloured rose-scented lip gloss) some 2 years back. they are really pretty and look so vintage!

i love them to bits... but the plastic lid of my 1st ring broke, the 2nd one got lost in a public toilet (blame it on my bad habit of removing my ring when washing hands), so that leaves my 3rd lonesome one sadly sitting behind the doors of my makeup cupboard for now.

louis vuitton meets tintin

i'm not really crazy over louis vuitton bags. i guess partly because i don't have such deep pockets for them to begin with :P i used to think LV monogram prints are a tad bit "oldish" and rigid, not as fun and sporty as gucci's or coach's canvas monograms.

but i changed my mind - check out these upcoming cuties from the LV monogram groom collection (limited edition). the cute tintin-like prints certainly brighten up the classic monogram and give it an entirely different feel. i actually like this :) in my opinion, way better than the monogram multicolore or the limited edition cherry/ cherry-blossom prints from earlier seasons.

said to be launched in LV stores from late-october 2006 onwards, interested ladies, do keep a lookout :)

links:
- ebelle5.com
- ebay.com
- cozycot: louis vuitton thread

clip on your music!

i'm not so much a gadget-girl, gotta admit that i don't even own any MP3 player - the only iPod product i have ever purchased, was the iPod shuffle i got for my brother's 21st birthday last year.

but i just HAVE TO put this on my blog, it is way toooooo cool to be missed! :D
ladies & gentlemen *drum rolls*.... check out the new generation iPod shuffle! (((tada)))

it's a tiny metallic clip-on! OMG, what else can i say? so mini, slim, so sleek, so cool... even doubles up as a regular clip for your A4-notes.. or use it as a tie-pin, money-clip! ;) US$79 for 1Gb, certainly worth every bit of it!

only complaint: it now connects to the computer via a mini-dock, no longer a plug-&-upload USB connector in itself.

eat to live or live to eat?

recently stumbled upon a local food blog - food glorious food, pretty impressive stuff! junie is one of the regulars on cozycot and i've seen a couple of her food-review posts before. didn't realise she has a blog until few days ago. now that i've seen it, sets me wondering what good food i've been missing out all my life? *lol* i guess that's one of the "side-effects" of being out of touch with the local dating scene for so long. somehow i just didn't see the need in dining out that often. besides, i'm someone who would feel the pinch if i splurge on food... still more of a shopaholic kinda girl ;)

back to the topic, i'm really impressed with the extensive listing of food places (mostly local) junie has on her blog. complete with drools-worthy pictures and detailed categorisations, i'd say she can certainly sideline as a contributor for one of those "wine & dine" magazines anytime.

next time i need ideas for new food places, i'd know where to look them up :)

photo bag it

photobags are nothing new. london-based designer anya hindmarch started a celebrity following when her "be a bag" collection was launched in a charity promotion back in 2001. these lovely photobags come in various shapes and sizes, colour-combinations, textures and styles. besides printing your own photo on it, you can also opt for one of the many oh-too-cute ready-printed photobags (mostly of adorable animals or interesting moments).

there is a anya hindmarch boutique in singapore (used to be at paragon, it's currently closed - heard it's in the midst of relocating to takashimaya) but unfortunately carries only a very limited range of designs for the ready-made photobags. the other "unbaggable" fact of course, is that these customisable photobags don't come cheap. priced between S$500 - S$800 on average, i'm happy just keeping my favourite photo tucked inside my wallet for now :)

last weekend, i chanced upon a makeshift counter at takashimaya shopping centre that was promoting something similar called bag-it! - generally same concept as that of anya hindmarch's "be a bag" collection, but cheaper (made of canvas & satin) - S$248 for a regular landscape or portrait tote bag; S$268 for the bigger-sized diaper/ messenger bag. you submit your selected photo, choose the style/ colour/ size/ straps of the bag, and the company prints it for you. according to the sales assistant, production time takes approximately 4 weeks. so if you intend to start christmas shopping earlier this year, perhaps you might want to check this out...

i like the buckles series :) check out the gallery here.

insomnia

sleep is such a luxury - good quality sleep is heaven!
all living creatures sleep (or at least rest) everyday. it is something we do so naturally at the end of a workday, that we don't give much thought to.

the other day, i was dead tired. by the time i hit the sack at around 12:30am, i could feel every single muscle and cell in my body leap in joy. i could almost hear them go "ooohhh ahhhh...." in unison, as my head laid down on the soft fluffy pillow - sheer bliss! to be able to enjoy sleep like that is such a blessing.

last night, i got to bed at 2:00am. tired as always, it didn't take me long to be totally knocked out. but at around 4:00am, it felt like i was sleeping in a sauna room. even though the fan was oscillating at the end of my bed, the heat was unbearable. dragged myself up, went to the washroom and then came back to stand in front of the fan for a few minutes before returning to bed. for some reason, i just couldn't get back to sleep. tossed around for a while, and the next time i looked at the clock, it was already 5:00am! how did all that time fly by so fast? i never understood. anyway, i reluctantly got out of bed again, switched on the tv, grabbed a book from the shelves and attempted to read. in no time, it was 6:00am and i was still unable to sleep. this time, i switched off the tv and lights, dumped the book and started playing solitaire on my mobile phone. on hindsight, that was not such a good idea cuz i think that actually made my mind more active and harder to rest. anyway, i completed the game over and over again for about 20 times, until i felt cramps in my fingers and right arm. of course my eyes were terribly weary too. finally got to sleep some at around 8:00am. woke up briefly at 10:00am and then let myself sleep a little more till noon.

needless to say, i woke up looking like such a panda today. didn't help that the neighbour's baby starting wailing non-stop from 8:30am onwards. i must go to bed early tonight. hopefully no more insomnia for me. peaceful sleep is precious, don't take it for granted.

itchy itch

i've got hives (also known as "feng mo" in chinese) - itch like crazy!
wonder what caused the reaction - can you believe i was woken up by the itch in the middle of the night at 3:00am??! got out of bed to inspect and found rashes all over my thighs, calves, upper arms, back and at the sides of the waist! eeeiiiks! figured it could be due to the heat (been quite hot and humid these days) or some allergic reaction to something i had eaten, or maybe dust. yea, i got into a sudden "clean-the-room" mood yesterday morning, so i spent the first 2 hours in the morning sweeping, mopping, dusting, cleaning, wiping etc. worked myself into a sweat.... so much for trying to keep the room clean, ended up with hives *sigh*

the itch got a little better this morning, also helped that i tried not to scratch. but by evening time, for some reason, the itch came back again. now i'm trying hard to resist the urge to scratch. if it doesn't get better tomorrow, i'm going to the doc. or pharmacy to get some antihistamines. i just don't like to spend money seeing the doc. over such matters. oh well....

a joke about my earrings....

if you had read the earrings post right before this, you'd have seen the lovely rose earrings i'd bought few days ago. the other day, i was all dressed up to head out for work. picked out the yellow-brown paper earrings and put them on, all happy and satisfied with the way they matched my outfit.

i went to burger king for breakfast that morning and the phone rang.... then came the problem. i couldn't hear the other person clearly! didn't take me long to realise that the paper-earring, being fairly big and 3-dimensional, made it impossible for my phone to rest flat on my ear (no matter how i shifted it around), so that somehow obstructed my hearing :P

oh well... so much for pretty earrings *lol*.
in the end, i had to put the call on hold for a sec. while i removed my earrings, just so i could have a proper phone conversation. hehehe... felt so silly. the rest of the day, that pair of rose earrings remained sadly hidden in my handbag.

guess next time i wear one of these 3D earrings, i'd have to make sure i have the headset/ earpiece plugged into my mobile phone ;)

earrings fever

sometime back, i chanced upon pictures of adorable earrings some ladies had posted on cozycot. since then, i've been dying to lay my hands on them but somehow just never got to even see them.

this particular shop supposedly sells cartoonish-cute earrings & accessories at really pocket-friendly prices. maybe those earrings and i are just not fated to "meet". i have already made 3 separate trips to bugis village in search of that shop, but all in vain *sigh*. 1st visit - i couldn't locate the shop; 2nd visit - i was there with a friend after dinner, most of the shops were closed; 3rd visit (today) - i was there at 1pm, and guess what? most of the shops were not open yet *roll eyes*... oh well, just my luck.

so... to temporarily cure my itch (for cheap earrings), i stopped by this other accessories shop at bugis village and bought myself some pretties :) not exactly what i'm looking for, nonetheless cheap-&-nice. there must be over 1,000 pairs of earrings/ ear-studs displayed at that tiny corner-shop (if you really count).... comes in all shapes/ sizes/ textures/ colours etc. but i was just obssessed with these rose-shaped ones! *thumbs up* had a hard time deciding on these 6 final pairs.
total damage = S$10 :D


the quest for more cute and cheap earrings continues.....

make fried-rice the "cheat" way

fried rice is easy to cook - everyone can make fried rice in minutes, tastes especially good with overnight/ chilled rice. by chance, i found a "cheat" way to make fried rice taste good easily. that is to save your leftover rice from those takeaway economic rice (chup chai beng) stalls, especially if the stall-owner generously poured dark gravy or curry sauce over it *yumm yumm* :9

it's also a very good way to "recycle" rice that you just can't finish from lunch... hehehe (happens too often for me, cuz i tend to order lots of dishes, eat less rice). however, please do this only for takeaway portions, NOT those you had for lunch at the coffee shop and get uncle to ta-bao (wrap up) and then left for hours on your office desk... no no *shakes head*.

i made fried rice from my leftover-rice (from lunch) for dinner tonight. the stall-owner gave me so much rice, even the leftover portion was huge. i'm stuffed now! ;p this is such a fool-proof way to make fried rice cuz the gravy had already been completely absorbed into the rice, making it taste effortlessly good even without adding seasoning. so i just stir-fried some dried scallop, ikan billis (dried anchovies), fresh seaweed, mixed peas and egg, along with the chilled rice. nothing else added... tastes so good and looks not too bad either erh? hehehe... my "cheater" fried rice ;)

woof woof

i love this new doggie-shaped keyfob from coach! another love-at-first-sight ;p

this year, i bought my very first coach tote bag (from the spring hamptons patchwork collection) + a mini skinny coin pouch from the US :D love them to bits. i have not bought anymore "luxuries" from coach since then, though i'm like constantly drooling over coach's every new collection... *tsk tsk* not healthy for my bank account ;p

i would love to buy myself this doggie keyfob - if only it's priced in singapore dollars, NOT US$38 (comes up to about S$65 incl. tax). more bad news, singapore coach boutiques typically mark-up prices by another 30-40% *faint*... i would be insane to pay that much for a keyfob. so *boo hoo* no adorable keyfob for me, shall just continue to browse and drool ;)

my day...

i'm so dead tired right now. been sitting in front of the laptop literally from the moment i stepped out of bed till now. my hair's in a mess, i haven't changed out of my sleepwear... and did i brush my teeth this morning? (hmm.. yes i did) ;p fyi - it's 7:00pm here. one whole day flew by in my slouchy attire.

many of my friends envy me for being able to work from home on some days (like today), as much as it sounds relaxingly wonderful, i have to tell you... this sometimes also means more gruelling hours of work. really. take all that time you spend dressing yourself up, putting on makeup, selecting which top to go with your skirt and then which pair of shoes to match your entire outfit, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, the bus/MRT ride/ walk to your office.... convert all that into non-stop hours fixated in front of the laptop.... well, not exactly a bed of roses afterall. ok, i'm not really complaining :)

today's been a really productive day. besides stopping for 40 mins. to get myself lunch, all day i've been typing tons of emails, making business phonecalls, troubleshooting problems, managing project timelines, handling 101 matters at one time! everything was happening so simultaneously, i actually got a high on that! (not that i crave this kind of "highness") *('_')* but it's great to see productivity translate into real work done at the end of the day.

my body's aching now, esp. the neck & back. my eyes are so tired.
wish someone would give me a back massage, that'd be lovely :)
ok, no more work for today - time for tv & dinner! yay!