Today i'm gonna share a little thoughtpost and bring you guys along with me as I walk down memory lane and look back on the past few Valentine's Days with Matt.
What Valentine's Day is to me?
To be honest, I used to be that typical girl that always wished for a prince charming to appear in my life, sweep me off my feet. A bad guy that would do all sorts of cool things, but yet be willing to change and settle down for a simple yet happy life with me.
So when I was younger, I always envisioned Valentine's day to be one where I'll be receiving lots of gifts, being treated like a princess and it would (or rather, should) be a day I would get away with any requests I had, hehehehe.
Watched a little too many Korean dramas over here, oops! *laughs*
But in all honesty tho, as I grew older my view on this day changed.
Now, I feel that Valentine's Day is a day that gives us an excuse to show our appreciation to a special loved one. Be it your mom, your dad, your other half, or even your friends.
Valentine's Day is not a day solely for couples that are engaged in the romantic kind of love, but love, in general.
Valentine's day is a day about LOVE, and all kinds of love should be celebrated!
So, how has Valentine's Day been for the Mnmcouple so far?
If you guys don't already know, Matt and I gave ourselves the name "mnmcouple" because we desperately wanted to come up with a hashtag to document our exchange travels on Instagram back then in Uni. So, I came up with the name "mnmcouple" because both our names start with the letter "M" and it was just catchy so we adopted that name for ourselves!
Matt and I have been together for almost 5 years now, and while my memory of the past Valentine's Days we've celebrated are somewhat a blur now, I remembered them to always be pleasant ones.
Of course, with this being our 5th Valentine's Day together, the surprises get lesser, dinners get more "chin-chye" and dates are more impromptu now. I mean, it's pretty understandable because that's how most relationships work, and I can't blame him when I myself put in less effort each year as well HAHA.
This year, we celebrated our Valentine's over dinner on the 5th of Feb, a whopping 2 weeks earlier than the actual date because we wanted to avoid the skyhigh vday menu prices LOL. My friends all couldn't believe that I actually asked for that! But honestly at this stage, all I care about are the intangible things like communication, being each other's priority, and creating wonderful memories together as a couple. It's no longer about superficial and fancy dinners anymore.
Oh no, are these signs that I'm getting older? :/ Haha.
What are some of the odd and funny Valentine's Day gifts I've received from Matt?
HAHA. When I was asked this question I literally laughed because I can't believe I can actually get to share this story on my blog with you guys!
I'm a girl that is blessed with the loveliest pool of clients and sponsors and I get a ton of clothes, accessories, shoes and make up to review and try, so I don't usually need anything else anymore. Because of this, matt always finds it a struggle to get me anything fearing that I already own something similar in my collection. So most of the time, I'll tell him that if I were to come across anything I really need/want, i'll let him know.
(evidently, I've given up on receiving gifts as surprises HAHA)
So as the years went by, he just naturally (and very conveniently) not get me anything until I told him so.
Last year, I was shopping alone in Sephora one afternoon and I was texting him telling him about my day. I casually mentioned that I was checking out a make up sponge at the store and he just replied "oh, i'll pay you back for it tonight ok? I still owe you your Vday present for this year"
AND HE REALLY DID LOL.
SO YES, I bought the make up sponge and got a reimbursement from him at home for Valentine's day last year.
I don't mind, don't get me wrong guys. At least it is a very practical gift that I would definitely use! Hahha just thought it was a funny story to share with you guys... anyone here experienced the same with their boyfriends? >.< hahaha
NOW, to all you CLUELESS BOYFRIENDS/PEEPS that have no idea on what to get for Valentines...
I've got a perfect gift recommendation for you guys!
The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ! This is a gift that would definitely and I mean DEFINITELY make the other person receiving it super happy because it is an awesome product that some of us use daily.
Even if you're buying it for a guy, you can opt for the white/grey version that looks more masculine. And a hair dryer is a unisex product that all men and women use. Matthias loves my Dyson Supersonic and have been using it as well, so it is a very good investment that goes a long long way with its superb quality!
As if I haven't raved enough about my favorite hair dryer of all time.. you can check out the reviews I did on my youtube channel, in these videos respectively.
In summary, here are few main reasons why I love the Dyson Supersonic
- It is super light, small and compact. Making it amazing for
travels
- Powered by the Dyson
digital V9 motor that measures the temperature 20x a second to make sure that
your hair doesn't overheat and prevents damage.
- Powerful blade-less
technology that dries my hair in half the time I usually take
So guys (and girls), if you're still looking for a Valentine's Day gift, why not consider the Dyson Supersonic that is bound to make your special loved one grin from ear to ear?:>
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!
Sending lots of love over from the Mnmcouple <3 p="">
Love
Mong
Location: Hotel Jen Tanglin
Valentine's day is just right around the corner again (where are all the time flying to????) and it seems like we all get busier and busier each year. Shoots are significantly harder to plan now that everyone has entered different phases in life - matt into the corporate world, me becoming more caught up with work, and Joel with his exchange in the States.
But i'm glad we all made this shoot happen. Our yearly Valentines Day shoot with Joel has been, and still is, one of the highlights we look back on every year.
For all of my new readers and followers that don't know, Matt and I have been shooting with Joel every Valentines since 4 years ago and we have made it into a tradition we hope to continue doing for years and years to come.
If you're interested to see the other photos and rambles from the past few years, you can check out my old posts here:
I also documented a long and lengthy read about how we met and other topics like our first impressions of each other, which you can read in this post here, if you're interested hehe.
I still dig out these posts and read them from time to time and I can't believe the things i used to write about haha! Look how far we've come and how much we've grown. My dear readers, did you all grow alongside me too? :>
I hope you guys enjoy this year's pictures!
Joel and I wanted to channel a more "matured" version of the Mnmcouple and that was the inspiration behind the bedroom themed shots. A more laidback, bare and stripped down feel in the comfort of a cosy setting (also hoping that you guys are sharing the joy about us counting down to becoming homeowners in the next few years!) together, sipping on a cuppa warm coffee on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Of course, the location couldn't have been more perfect, we are so blessed to be able to have Hotel Jen Tanglin onboard this shoot as our location sponsor, despite requesting for it at the last minute. Thank you Kristin! Here's a kiss for you :*
If you guys are looking to celebrate Valentines day in an awesome, cosy setting that won't set you back too much, why not plan a staycation for that little getaway?
I love staycations because it makes me feel like i'm on a holiday, which is very well-needed usually. On top of that, I get to spend private, alone time with my partner, away from the stress from work, home, or school.
Hotel Jen Tanglin is now offering rooms at an incredible rate!
Also, check out their Promotions Page for ongoing Vday promos for you and your partner, which I find pretty good because you'll be able to get everything you need at one place, from Food to romantic dinner to even facial!
They are running these 3 main promotions:
1. Seafood and Live BBQ at J65 at SGD78++
2. Ah Hoi's Kitchen Dinner at SGD 99++ per couple
3. Vday Staycation at SGD 399++ inclusive of stay, dinner and facial
Hope you guys have a wonderful and romantic Valentines Day!
Sending lots of love over to you guys,
Love
Matt and Mong
I hate thinking of what to do on weekends, because let's face it, apart from eating and doing the usual activities like watching a movie, there really isn't that many things to do. I'm talking about a chill activity that is, I'm not the kind to go hiking or scale mountains especially after a long and tiring week. HAHA
So one afternoon, Matt and I decided that we should do something we haven't done before. I've always loved brush-lettered prints and have been ordering them online.
These are good for decorating your space with inspirational quotes that speak to you, or as gifts because they add so much of a personal touch to it. And since I love it so much... I decided to sign up for a Basic Brush Lettering Workshop via Naiise !
Dragged Matt along with me too and he ended up enjoying himself so much :)
For those that haven't heard of Naiise , it is a one-stop destination for anything with beautifully designed products. They started off as an online site, and have now expanded to 6 retail spaces in Singapore, with over 150,000 products stocked in-stores from over 890+ brands all over the world.
I love the ambience at Naiise because it reminded me so much of a playground - for the creative and curious minds.
But did you know that Naiise also organizes a ton of hands-on workshops ?
Find workshops ranging from baking to making your own leather bags to even learning brush lettering, like the class I attended!
So the class started with practising the basics of Brush Lettering. We were given a little course sheet and all the materials needed - brush, paper, ink, lettering guide etc
It's definitely not as easy as it seems! As you can see, even drawing letter "O"s are so difficult, hahaha but it was REALLY fun. Matt and I haven't enjoyed ourselves or did something we both enjoy so much together in a long long time.
The classes are all sorted by dates, so if you're looking for a fun and interesting activity to do with your friends or even family / partners, I would really really highly recommend looking through their list of workshops because they are all super unique and interesting.
We even got to bring home the materials to practice! So the prices paid was very worth it, IMO because the longevity of the fun extends all the way back home. Matt and I have been practicing our strokes on some nights, it has now become our after-dinner activity!
Pardon all the not-up-to-standard lettering >< we literally learnt it for 2.5 hours haha
Thank you for having us, Naiise !
Brighton, bath, what can I say?
I know you guys are probably tired of me repeating these words over and over, but looking and editing my travel photos always make me miss travelling. Despite the physical fatigue from travelling, nothing else seem to be able to curb my thirst to travel the world. With that, I booked my next trip in less than a month's time, guess where? :P
We explored two places over the weekend the other time, first being Brighton. Sarah visited Brighton before and told us that it was a must-go, even though she probably said that because she's a huge fan of Zoella who lives in that town LOL.
I wore this choker top from Carrislabelle, and boy the choker trend doesn't seem to be dying yet ain't it!
This one is made of stretchy cotton, is super lightweight, comfy and not to mention, flattering as hell.
Choker tops like this help separate your neckline with your chest area, exposing your oh-so-sexy collarbones. A woman's collarbones are meant to be shown, so don't hide it!
Shop Choker Off Shoulder Top (Grey) Here.
The Brighton beach was amazing as usual.
I chose this Buttons Basic Dress for the beach because I didn't want to fuss over styling my outfit. Guys, if I had to pick my favorite outfit for the ENTIRE london trip, it would be this dress.
It was so easy to match with, comfy, flattering and really suitable for summer weather. Besides, grey is such a neutral colour that goes with almost everything. Yes, even colorful houses like the brighton beach boxes, even though I personally preferred the Melbourne ones better!
Shop Buttons Basic Dress Here.
Cotton Candy Skies, what a great sight.
Apart from the brighton beach and shops, Zoella mentioned that Boho Ice Cream was her favorite place to get her ice cream fix so us being the curious Singaporeans that we are, actually went to queue up for 45 mins for it LOL.
Verdict? Don't bother queueing if the queue is too long because it was pretty average. They've got interesting flavours like the Lime & Pistachio, Sour Cherry and more. Only try it if there's not a long queue! haha.
On sunday, we booked a coach to Bath, a medieval town located 2.5 hours away from Central London by bus. Coaches are easy to book and there are aplenty, with one coach departing from Victoria Coach Station every 30 mins.
Bath is a must-visit! I've said in this and this blog posts why I really really enjoy bath and why it still remains as one of my favorite places in the world ;)
I've been to Bath 4 times, and Matt twice, so we decided to hunt for good coffee since we read reviews that Picnic Coffee served good ones.
We ordered ourselves coffee, cake and some tea, sat by the windows and contemplated about life. I'm really glad to have those 2 in my life :')
I wore this high quality High Neck Knit Dress in a really gorgeous shade of Nude. I figured that i could only pull off certain shades of nude and this really fit my olive tan skin to a tee. Raise your hands up if you're as brown as I am LOL.
Featuring a high neck, incredible fit and quality, what is there not to love about this dress?
Shop High Neck Knit Dress Here
We sang our hearts out on pavements, caught up with each other while the rest played Pokemon Go. It was a good good day :') I'm truly blessed. x
All outfits featured in this post can be found in their links above, or on Carrislabelle.
This post concludes my last update on London 2016, it was such a blast to be working with my favorite brands and modelling their pieces all over the world. London still has the spot as my Favorite City in the world - Behind Singapore of course!
Do check out my VLOG that lands on Youtube today, so subscribe to me over there if you haven't already! I'm gonna be holding a giveaway (a nice and fun one) once I hit 10,000 subscribers (I know right, theres almost 9.7K of you there now, it's unbelievable how many of you have so much patience to listen to my rants LOL)
SO YES GO OVER THERE LIKE NOW!
boyfriend
London 2016: Day 1 to 3 - Flat Iron Steak , Covent Garden, Monmouth Coffee
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Hello guys!
I'm sure you all should know that I'm in London by now, and after the whole episode about the Instagram hacking and such, i'm even more determined to make sure that I become more diligent at sharing the photos I've taken across a few different platforms in case one gets erased. What a scary thought that would be, and that was exactly what I was most worried about when my account got hacked - that they would delete all the hard work and memories, but thank God, they didn't.
Enough of the negative things, let's lift our spirits up by recapping on the past few days!
We checked out the streets and cafes nearby and I'm really so amazed by how blooms thrive here.
Is it the weather? or the people taking care of it!
We encountered something really heartwarming while chancing upon this pub hidden behind the alleyways at borough. Obviously I was drawn to it because of how vintage and pretty it looked, so Julia and I decided to stop for a bit to shoot some photos. One of the residents stopped by on his bike and spent a good 5 mins chatting with us, asking where we were from, and how we've been liking London so far.. It was through him that we found out that Gladstone (the pub) was about to shut down because a residential company had bought over the land the bar was sitting on and raised the rent that had them to cease business. He told us to "save the bar" and to spread the word, what a heartwarming sight to see how the individual locals put in so much effort to protect something they all love and believe in :>
So for my outfit, I wore the Not So Basic Tube Top, paired with The Versatile Knot Skirt
Both come in a wide selection of colors and what I love about this outfit is how versatile these 2 separate pieces are. Take off the collar from the top and it instantly changes the look completely. And did you know that the knot skirt can also be worn as a tube top??
Skirt: The Versatile Knot Skirt
Bag: Charles and Keith
Shoes: Wildpeonies
MONMOUTH COFFEE
So far, the best coffee I've had in London. I love my coffee strong and slightly dense, which I find only Monmouth has given me the consistency and taste I like so far. Other english cafes usually serve their coffee with lots of milk and water, making it a lot more diluted.
If you're in for good coffee, try monmouth! There are a few branches across London, but you'll probably have to join the line of queue filled with tourists, of which 30% of them will be Singaporeans, LOL
DAY TWO
It's covent garden time!
It was a saturday when we decided to head to covent garden to look look see see (haha), so it was pretty crowded! Covent Garden is good for shopping, and really to soak in the London energy because there are lots of buskers lining the streets, street magicians etc.
And if you're not up for shopping, you can EAT over there! Lots and lots of good restaurants are there.
We went to FLAT IRON of course, I've heard too many reviews about it to resist. Who can resist 10 pounds steak man?! Okay so we went there quite early in the afternoon and realized that we were another 30 mins to go before the restaurant opened.
Usually I'll be so grumpz if this happened in singapore because our weather is so ridiculously bad and humid and I'd hate myself so badly for not checking the opening hours beforehand.
But in london, boy... the weather is so perfect I could sit there all day! And each shop has a bench placed outside for others to chill there, so no complaints.
I'm wearing
Top: Twisted Knot Spag
Jeans: Almost There BF Jeans
This twisted knot tube top is the most flattering piece I brought on this trip i think, I wore it out for 4 times already! Paired it with the Almost There BF Jeans which is slightly cropped and ends slightly above my ankle. This crop effect gives an illusion of longer legs and it makes you look taller because more skin is shown! I fit size S perfectly.
Now FLAT IRON, Im salivating already.
I ordered the usual flat iron steak (GBP $10) and matt ordered the daily specials - The Denver (GBP$15) . His was a better cut of steak so it was tastier, but mine was so soft and tender too. I wouldn't mind having it everyday.
And look at the cutest knife to eat with! I'm sure many other diners were also very intrigued by the mini butcher knife, they had signs all over the menu to tell customers not to bring it home LOL
you can purchase one from them at GBP$10 !
DAY THREE
We spent the early part of Day 3 walking around Covent Garden (again) hahahaha before heading to Bicester Village in the afternoon. We headed back for some cosmetics shopping - They have KIKO and Charlotte Tilbury there! And here's the outfit I wore to keep me nice and snuggly.
Skirt: Black Slit Midi Skirt
I love how romantic and feminine this combination is! Hardly saw anyone in midi skirts over here in London so this outfit felt quite special, like it helped me stand out from the crowd or something LOL!
Decided to pair the skirt differently this time, the slit at the front instead of the back for a more casual look.. and it helps with walking long distances too!
Hope you guys are all well and happy.
I'll check back soon when I can with more updates!
First 3 days outfits are all from Topazette, so if you're interested, check them out and sign up for their mailing list to be alerted on future new arrivals and sales.
Peace,
Mong