Prep + Me time ; DIY paper pompom tutorial

felt pretty disoriented these past couple of days ; no appetite and making bad decisions that lead me to wrong turnings and driving around aimlessly. 

Mom woke me up at 6am so we could get our hair done in the morning (she just has a thing for being early for everything in life and because she needed to get to work). Well since she didn't tell me the night before I kept awake until 3am. My circadian cycle is officially messed up thanks to my nocturnal habits. Somehow, if mom and I spend TOO much time together, we'll almost always end up arguing over the little things like how she wants me to do things her way (and of course, being me ; I find it extremely difficult to give in). At times, I kinda get where she is coming from because I see myself doing the same sometimes. Happens when you care so much about a person that you want the best for them. And the best, well, meant MY WAY. That's why nowadays I try really, really hard to not be such a control freak and let things run its course. Of course, I do wanna have a say but I try to let people have their way too. Because different people do things differently.

So after I got back from the salon, I went straight for my bed and had a good one hour nap. Woke up totally ready for the world (somewhat) and washed up before crossing things off my to do list for today. Made a few calls and drove out to run some errands. And because its impossible to get a parking during lunch hour in Taipan, I drove to Paradigm for very good reasons that I can justify for each one of them. First, it's the least crowded mall (other than Empire). Second, loads of parking ; even on weekends you won't have to wait for hours. Last, the mall is quiet and air conditioned hahaha.

Decided on coffee bean because I needed a workspace and they had bigger tables that nobody bothered using. (yay!) Got myself an iced hazelnut latte (and if I may add, packs a stronger punch than Cosans I had last night lol) and sat myself beside the window.

And in 30 minutes…

VOILA!

; workspace for la pompom 

; looks real, eh? x

basically, all you need to make your own pom pom are crepe paper, floral wires and scissors! first you stack eight sheets of crepe paper and fold them like how you would to make a paper fan. then, tie them together at the centre using the wire and cut the two ends ; rounded or pointy. lastly, slowly separate them one by one from the centre. simple and effortless. 

xo, Rie.

My 15 seconds of fame...

… as a blurred out backdrop!! (woots)

I don't normally laugh out loud watching really funny videos or scenes ; but I do get very easily amused. This video made me do both. Latest video by Grim Film! WATCH IT. SO CRACK. (totally unbiased hah)

xo, Rie.

Cosans Coffee @ SS15 ; just words.

crazy delusional indecisive over-thinking marie has strike again ; this time she picked an iced coffee after staring at the menu board for 5 minutes but decided she wanted a hot drink... after we paid. z stopped me with his usual, "Please ah." 

Iced caramel latte it is!  - not bad. 6/10

No photos this time because I was too shy to take any in front of z's friends but his friends were snapping away so I'm not sure why I didn't just take them. I think I have this inferiority complex when it comes to meeting people for the first (or second, third time lol). Only big groups, if one on one it's usually fine, quite good actually haha maybe I only desire one person's attention and not a herd. I tend to talk less and listen A LOT as in I would observe their behaviours and the way they spoke because I was afraid I would pass off as trying to hard to fit in. I mean these people know each other for a fairly long time so I don't think they would want someone new barging in on their conversations. So I just take a step back and talk when I needed to or whenever I could contribute. I found that to be more my style so I've been sticking to it lol. 

Back to Cosans. Pretty decent place and atmosphere ; very woodland inspired and they have an eclectic set of chairs, stools and some that look like office seats hahaa. I was siting on a cushioned chair that had patterns akin to what your grandmother would sit on while she knitted sweaters for her grandkids in the cold weather lol. 

Their coffee was fairly decent although the drink z tried ; the Nutella Strawberry was really, really below par. Quite bad actually. It tasted like milk and cream infused with sourish strawberry puree. It had no taste of Nutella whatsoever. 3/10, because I like creamy stuff lol.

Mine was the Caramel latte which is pretty good and very kau or concentrated and surprisingly it didnt taste diluted even though the cup was half filled with big cubes of ice (that were still hadn't melt after I finished the drink lol). 6/10, because it lacked caffeine and probably had a lot of sugar.

p.s ; You get the second drink at half off IF you add COSANS COFFEE on KAKAO TALK and show the staff at the counter the digital coupon that you'll receive almost immediately after you've added them. :) Oh well, worth a try la since its 50% off the second one. Other than that, meh.

xo, Rie.

Coffee Stain by Joseph @ Publika ; 3D Coffee Art.

Okay, so I've got to admit this - I only came here because it was one of the few coffee places that does uh-ma-zing 3D coffee art. Recently, it was also featured in a short by Jinnyboytv ; appropriately titled, Coffee over Conversations. Also, JT's Mirrors is blaring in the background from the tv in my downstairs living hall ; brings back beautiful memories in 2013.

I was being jakun because I really wanted to pop my 3D coffee art virginity. So, I quickly flipped through their wooden clip board menu and asked to order. My friend spotted their special which was their warm milk and coffee cubes concoction whilst I proceeded to ask for their 3D art drink which was only available with their chocolate drink. Oh well - chocolate it is!

And oh ya, I even asked if we could switch from our small two person table in the back to their spacious long wooden table since it wasn't occupied (because it has better lighting hah).

; the milk was warm! that was a pleasant surprise and it melted the aromatic coffee infused ice cubes. 

; opening ceremony after like 10,000 photos (haha) - pouring the foamy warm milk into the cubes.

; the light came after the opening ceremony :(

Surprisingly out of like the 12-15 tables there, most of them ordered this drink. I could see so many of these babies going out from the counter because I sitting right across. Well, they did put this drink on a full page of their menu. Maybe because we aren't really used to the bitterness of the coffee so we asked for the syrup but we only put in like a teeny weeny teaspoon. (the gods of coffee beans would kill us for this). After that, it was purrrr-fect. Not too sweet, not too strong. And the perks of having coffee infused cubes, no more drinking diluted coffee drinks you get at kopitiams (or Old Town, blek). I'd give this a 7/10. :)

Here comes the big boy,

; the drink I've been waiting for. CUTEST. THING. EVUH. maybe because it's so fragile (made out of foam) that even when you carry the cup, the bear kinda wiggles hahaha. 

Definitely worth the drive to Publika and getting lost (even after 10000 times), the drink itself isn't too sweet and you could still taste the chocolatey goodness which tastes a lot like 70% dark chocolate bars. Make sure you GENTLY stir the bottom of the drink with your straw because there's where all the chocolate are concentrated at. And don't worry, if you're careful enough you could still keep the bear unharmed until you finish your drink! heh.

; case in point. and if it's any consolation, it kinda gets cuter as you see your bear drowning (self comforting hahaha)

10/10! 

; serious coffee business.

xo, Rie.

• D4-G3-01, Solaris Dutamas,
• 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Phone : 603-62112022 (Solaris) // 603-21102428 (Parkamaya, Fahrenheit88)

• Email  : enquiry@coffeestain.my
• Websitte : http://www.coffeestain.my
• 
  

Mon : 9:30 am - 9:00pm Tue - Thu : 9:30 am - 11:00pm Fri - Sun : 9:30 am - 12:00 am

Oh my, Lists.

I've always had this (little) obsession with making lists. It helps me visualise the things I gotta get done in a span of a week… kinda therapeutic.

Places I hope to visit in a span of a month and a half….

1. Artisan Roast, Section 13.
2. Coffee Stain by Joseph, Publika.
3. Fuel Cafe
4. Jam and Kaya
5. Feeka Coffee Roasters
6. Quartet, ttdi
7. Butter + Beans
8. Some singapore cafes.

Will be consistently updated. 

xo, Rie.

M.O. for the year.

Looking at my boyfriend while he's prepping for his exam in an hour. He's been coming over a lot before his classes ;  I've been practicing my instant noodles culinary skills so to speak.

I've been told that if I were to go over to Bristol for my final year (2015), I would have to wait until the new intake starts… which is in September. This would leave me with 8 months of doing nothing and everything. So, I opted to skip working/interning for the 2 months I have left of my break this year since I could easily do them next year. To fill out the free time I have now, I'll be updating this space here and visiting as many cafes as I can for the next couple of months! Also, I'm gonna brush up on my non-existent Photoshop and makeup skills. (haha)

While I'll be busy spending time with family in my hometown during the first week of cny…. I'LL BE GOING TO SINGAPORE ON THE 6TH. (woots) ; My first vacay with momsie. More things to blog about! 

Also, when I'm not out uncovering the new, I'll be doing reviews on previously visited places and food. 

xo, Rie.

Let the reviews roll in!

I have tons of photos with plenty to write about. So, why not? :) 

Gonna start writing reviews on food, fashion and places. Some might be old finds and others recently discovered.