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[Product Review]- OSIM uPhoria Warm, A One-Of-Its-Kind Leg Massager Suitable For Everyone

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OSIM is the global leader in branded healthy lifestyle products and it is the name you can trust for a healthier lifestyle and overall well-being. This year, OSIM is proud to be the Official Prize Sponsor for the Marina Bay Countdown Singapore 2014 and if you have participated in the photo competitions that was organised, you might just be the lucky winner to walk away with some really awesome prizes from OSIM.
Here’s a list of prizes that winners can look forward to for the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2014 Photo Competition:

1st Prize
uDivine (worth S$5,488)

2nd Prize
uAngel (worth S$2,688)

[Image Credits to Our Princess Dana]

3rd Prize
uPhoria + uPixie (worth S$1,036)

[Image Credits to OSIM Inspiring Life]

[Image Credits to OSIM Inspiring Life]

5 x Merit Prizes
uSlender + uPixie (worth S$506)

[Image Credits to OSIM Inspiring Life]

[Image Credits to OSIM Inspiring Life]

People’s Choice Award
uSlender + uPixie (worth S$506)

[Image Credits to OSIM Inspiring Life]

[Image Credits to OSIM Inspiring Life]

5 x Lucky Voters for People’s Choice Award
uKimono Mini (worth S$138 each)

As the Official Blogger for the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2014, we were very privileged to have the opportunity to review one of OSIM’s highly talk-about product; the OSIM uPhoria Warm!

The OSIM uPhoria Warm is essentially a leg massager and it features a Tui-Na massage technology that stimulates key meridian points to promote positive flow of energy; relieving aches and strains at the calves.

With the Calf-Gliding massage system of the OSIM uPhoria Warm, the firm strokes of the Tui-Na provides enjoyable deep tissue massage to relieve aches and improve circulation to the legs to keep them healthy.

The OSIM uPhoria Warm features 8 lifestyle massage programmes for your well-being and they are, Relax; Energise; High-Heels; Toning; Reflexology; Sleep; Sports Recovery and Senior.

Having tried the OSIM uPhoria Warm for about a month now, the OSIM uPhoria Warm is definitely a gift you can consider getting for your parents or spouse. Personally, we really like the OSIM uPhoria Warm because it really helps to relieve our tired feet after a long day at work. The massage technology of the OSIM uPhoria Warm is pretty accurate as it was able to massage the points which needed the most attention. On top of that, the massage felt firm and wasn’t too painful. Compared to a traditional foot reflexology done by a therapist, the OSIM uPhoria Warm is a very good alternative and provides the most comfortable experience. Having tried all 8 different lifestyle massage programmes that are available on the OSIM uPhoria Warm, each serves its own purpose and caters to different needs. As a matter of fact, with the 8 different lifestyle massage programmes, anyone and everyone can use it; whether you’re a lady, an elderly, an active sports person, or a workaholic!

Seriously, once is never enough with the OSIM uPhoria Warm. The foot massage experience can get pretty addictive after the first round and every night, I find myself spending at least half an hour just to get my legs massaged before heading to bed and trust me, I found sleep to be more enjoyable than before.

For the usual price of SGD $798, you can now get the OSIM uPhoria Warm at just SGD $698! Though the OSIM uPhoria Warm is quite a pricey gift but if you put things into perspective, a traditional foot reflexology outside would probably cost about SGD $28 for a half an hour session and if you decide to purchase the OSIM uPhoria Warm, you only need to use it for about 25 times to break even! Hence, it would be be even more value-for-money if you were to co-pay and co-share the OSIM uPhoria Warm with your family members.

The next time you experience a mental block when it comes to buying gifts for your family members, you might just want to check out what OSIM has to offer! 🙂

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NERF-ed Out At The NERF Community Challenge Organised By Bishan Community Club

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Two Sundays ago, we had the privilege of participating in a NERF Community Challenge that was organised by Bishan Community Club [CC] and it was a very tiresome affair [at least for me]. Having not kept my physical fitness up to par, the NERF Community Challenge was indeed challenging but exhilarating.

All participants had to form teams of three and everyone battled it out, displaying fortitude, agility, and teamwork in two exciting categories; the Family Tournament, for participants between the ages of 8 to 55; and the Youth Tournament, for participants aged 15 to 35.

Who says the young ones can’t keep up with the older ones!

Each intense match lasted a total of ten minutes and the team that amassed the most number of points by planting their team’s flag at the opponent’s home base advanced to the next round.

In order to plant the flag, teams must first obtain the license by shooting it down before they can plant the flag.

The blasters used during the tournament were the Nerf Elite Strongarm, the Nerf Elite Rough Cut 2×4, and the Nerf Firestrike. All blasters and Dart Tag darts were provided for by the event organiser.

Teams who participated in either categories stood the chance to walk away with a NERF RapidStrike. The other participating teams also walked away with vouchers from Starbucks, one of Bishan CC’s newest tenants.

Check out a short video of the NERF Community Challenge that I participated at Bishan Community Club

Truly, NERF is fast becoming a community and social activity as seen at the launch of the new Bishan CC. It is not only a healthy activity, but one in which families and friends can be active and have fun at the same time. To be honest, I do have plans to organise a NERF War soon and it will be a format that is somewhat similar to the one that I played at Bishan Community Club.

If you’re still thinking of some really unique ideas for a Christmas Party, why not consider hosting your own NERF Christmas Party? All you have to do is find a big space, gather some boxes to use as covers for protection, rally your friends, and buy some NERF blasters for a NERF-ing good time!

Question is, do you have the NERF for it? 🙂

For more information about NERF, do check out Hasbro Singapore’s Website!

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Betjeman & Barton Online Retail Shop & Christmas Specials

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For all you fans of Betjeman & Barton Singapore, do you know that Betjeman & Barton Singapore has launched an online retail shop where you can purchase your favourite teas with no hassle? Well, if you frequent the physical Betjeman & Barton Singapore tea boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre, you probably would have some favourite tea flavours in mind and ordering them online would now be so convenient!

In partnership with Betjeman & Barton Singapore, all of our readers will be entitled to a 10% discount when they enter the coupon code, “awinsomelife” before “checking out” their online shopping cart. Furthermore, when you make any purchase, yes any purchase, at the Betjeman & Barton Singapore Online Store, you might just be one of the lucky winner to win a Shooting Star! Now, that’s some extra reasons to shop online for some premium tea collections from Betjeman & Barton.

Last week, we were at the Betjeman & Barton Singapore tea boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre and there are some new tea selections that tea connoisseurs can look forward to. If you are an adventurous person and you absolutely can’t wait to try new stuffs, heading down to the physical store would be a good idea but be prepared though; you might be so awestruck by the beautiful and intricately-designed tea caddies filled with the goodness and pleasant scents of the tea leaves that you might want to consider buying the whole tea boutique!

When we were there, Agnès Defontaine, one of the co-owners of Betjeman & Barton, flew specially from France to Singapore and conducted a small tea tasting session and we certainly learnt a lot about tea from her.

Sampling some lovely tea during the tea tasting session at Betjeman & Barton Singapore.

It was overall an enjoyable session with Agnès and should you be interested in such tea tasting session, do subscribe to Betjeman & Barton Singapore’s Newsletter or alternatively, check out Betjeman & Barton Singapore’s Facebook Page.

With exactly 10 more days to Christmas, should you still be cracking your head for Christmas gift ideas, how about getting some premium tea collections from Betjeman & Barton Singapore? We’re pretty sure your tea-loving friends will adore you for that!

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[Advertorial]- Get Creative & Artsy with Naiise

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Feeling creative and artsy today? Having a headache shopping for Christmas gifts for your artsy friends? Well, with Naiise, your worries are over because they have a wide selection of designer products that are not commonly found in Singapore.
Founded in early 2013 by Dennis Tay, Naiise is a company that hopes to better people’s life through design. With the belief that design can be relevant to everyone and that design can come in all shapes and sizes, whether high or low priced, Naiise stocks designer products across many product categories.

In lieu that Christmas is fast approaching, we have shortlisted 5 really cool, functional, and unique gifts that you might want to consider getting for your family and loved ones!

Velity Cubed Whiskey Stones Set, SGD $29

Enjoy a few drinks without the dreaded dilution with Velity Cubed Whiskey Stones! With the Velity Cubed Whiskey Stones, alcoholics can now say no to watered down spirits and yes to mouth watering flavour! These soapstone cubes are non-porous, so they won’t absorb any substances that come into contact with them! Perfectly designed for everyday, the Velity Cubed Whiskey Stones Set makes a suitable gift for all your alcoholic friends.

Rei Camera Bag by Aide de Camp, SGD $349

Aide de Camp bags are designed to combine both style and utility, supporting the modern woman and her busy lifestyle. Designed by Michele Ng, Aide de Camp camera bags are lightweight and comes with spacious compartments and removable padding, ideal for women who want to carry camera gear and personal items in a discreet and fashionable way.

Rei Camera Bag boasts a sleek silhouette, ideal for stylish dinner parties and evenings out. This sleek, compact bag still makes room for a DSLR camera or a mirrorless four-third camera and lens. Get the stylish and fashionable Rei Camera Bag for your female shutterbug friend.

Lazerwood Keys for Apple Wireless Keyboard, SGD $64.90

Started in Seattle by designer Erick Waldman, Lazerwood is the first maker of beautiful, real wood skins for your favourite gadgets such as the iPhones, Beats headphones, and Apple Keyboards, all without detracting from the gadgets’ beautiful design.

Available in walnut or cherry wood, these thin adhesive-backed wood pieces adhere to the keys firmly and the characters and symbols are laser cut with beautiful precision. A suitable gift for the Apple fanboy/fangirl.

Snakkes Wall Lamp by Danish Design Co, SGD $569

Snakkes is a wall-mounted LED “speaking” board that is created to light up the wall and to write a text or comment on with a white board marker pen. With Snakkes, you can now save the planet, express your mood, and say it with light! “Snakkes” in Norwegian means “talk to you later”. It would be something you would say to someone when parting from them or leaving a message. An extremely pricey gift but a suitable one for your very artsy friends whom have just gotten his/her Build-To-Order [BTO] flat.

Havana Breeze Shoe Bag by Shubacs, SGD $35

Shoe bags need not always look drab. With Shubacs’ collection of shoe bags that are specially designed to complement your fashion sense while bridging the different roles you play in life; whether from work to gym or from school to the soccer field; it’ll fit right between work and serious play. Constructed in hardy canvas, this shoe bag is perfect for sailing the high seas, with enough room to carry your footwear and some extra space for a towel and a change of fresh clothes. Now that’s something to get for the fitness buffs!

Happy Shopping!

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Fly Away With iFly Singapore at Sentosa!

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Flying has always been a childhood dream for many, even for me. Although I have yet to earn my airborne wings, the very thought of flying has always send my adrenaline pumping.
Just 3 days ago, an opportunity to fly was presented to both Jacqueline and I, and we found ourselves at the iFly Singapore for a Christmas Party that was full of unexpected thrills and excitement.

Christmas Party with iFly Singapore!

After registering ourselves, we took a short tour around iFly Singapore and saw professional skydivers honing their stunts in the wind tunnel. From the outside, flying looks rather easy but we found out much later that it wasn’t when we were in the wind tunnel ourselves.

Truly, iFly Singapore has painstakingly taken all measures to ensure that guests will get the closest experience to an actual outdoor skydive. The interior wall features coupled together with the visual and sound effects certainly make the whole flying experience a very exciting and immersive one.

As safety is of paramount importance at iFly Singapore, you can be rest assured that professional skydiving instructors will be onsite to guide you through your flight.

Apart from attempting an indoor skydiving experience for the very first time, we had the rarest of opportunity to watch home-grown local indoor skydivers whom attempted to break new Guinness World Records for the most number of backward somersaults and the most number of two-way verticals; both done while flying mid-air!

12 Year Old Kyra Poh Attempting to Break the Guinness World Records for the Most Number of Backward Somersaults

We were also quite heartened to hear from Mr Lawrence Koh, Founder and Managing Director of iFly Singapore, that iFly Singapore will be conducting education programmes for schools in Singapore. Students will have the opportunity to learn about science, physics, aerodynamics and the mechanics of how the wind tunnel works, with the practical component done by flying in the wind tunnel. Because of the unique edutainment and sports elements in indoor skydiving, indoor skydiving is indeed an exhilarating sport for flyers of all ages and skill levels, and students will get to experience the sensation of skydiving from 12,000ft without the high cost and risks of jumping out of an airplane, in a safe environment.

Team Firefly Putting Up A Splendid Indoor Skydiving Performance For the Audience During the Christmas Party at iFly Singapore

On top of the education program, iFly Singapore also plans to develop this internationally recognised sport in Singapore through the Sports Education Programme so that students can become technically proficient with the sport. In addition to providing students with an unconventional healthy and educational activity, the iFly Singapore Sports Education Programme is also designed to identify and groom students into professional indoor skydivers. Those that display exceptional performance and are adept with the different highly skilled manoeuvres would have the opportunity to participate in the Indoor Skydiving Championships including quarterly competitions in Singapore and the Indoor Skydiving World Championships around the world.

At the Christmas party, iFly Singapore also launched the proFLYER membership packages to offer both the young and old the opportunity to pick up indoor skydiving in a progressive manner. The proFLYER packages come in two tiers [Basic and Premium], each providing interested indoor skydivers with the opportunity to plan with an iFly Singapore instructor a training schedule to guide them and help them best optimise time spent in the wind tunnel. The iFly Singapore flight instructors, certified by the International Bodyflight Association [IBA], can also assist flyers in monitoring their performance and provide the necessary onsite coaching to help indoor skydivers turn from novices to pros.

Since opening in 2011, iFly Singapore has hosted over 120,000 visitors and held the world’s first Indoor Skydiving World Championships in 2012. We will definitely be visiting iFly Singapore again to fly and if we can fly, so can you!

Head down to iFly Singapore this Christmas season!

Even snowman enjoys indoor skydiving at iFly Singapore.

Tip: It is better for you to pre-book your first flight experience with iFly Singapore Online rather than walking-in as flight slots are limited.

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[Christmas Giveaway]- Win A Set of 3 Grimbergen Beers for the Christmas Festivities!

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If you’re reading this, we’re happy to announce that we will be giving away two sets of Grimbergen Beers to celebrate the upcoming Christmas festivities! However, do note that this Christmas Giveaway is only open to those whom are aged 18 years old and above.

Grimbergen is a contemporary abbey beer, the outcome of passion and authenticity, whose roots go back to medieval abbey life. The traditional values have been translated into a contemporary context. Grimbergen’s origins can be traced back to 1128 when Saint Norbert founded the Abbey of Grimbergen in the village of Grimbergen near Brussels in Belgium.

[Image Credits to Wikipedia]

The Abbey’s Norbertine Fathers helped those in need, primarily by offering food, drink and shelter to passing pilgrims. The area surrounding the Abbey produced hops and barley of the highest quality and over a number of years the Father’s perfected a range of Grimbergen recipes that were eagerly drunk by patrons of the inn attached to the Abbey.

Today, the Norbertine Fathers continue to conduct charitable work in the local community surrounding the Abbey of Grimbergen. The license to brew and distribute the Grimbergen brand was acquired by The Carlsberg Group as a part of the Scottish and Newcastle acquisition.

The Grimbergen Abbey

[Image Credits to Wikipedia]

Founded in 1128, Grimbergen Abbey was destroyed in a terrible fire in 1142, then again in 1566 and 1798. Every time it was destroyed, it was rebuilt. As such, the phoenix was chosen as a fitting emblem of the Abbey, a sign of their Abbey’s perpetual rebirth and adopted a motto in its honour: Ardet Nec Consumitur, burned but not destroyed.

[Image Credits to Beer Beer]

The phoenix has marked civilisations throughout the ages. Persians, Greek, and Romans regarded it as a symbol of rebirth and serenity. For centuries, its mythical powers inspired men who longed for freedom and sought to reinvent themselves.

From this time through to the present day, the phoenix, together with the motto, “Ardet Nec Consumitur” were featured on the Abbey’s coat of arms and in its stained-glass windows. Both the phoenix and motto form central elements of the Grimbergen brand identity to this day.

Grimbergen Beer

[Image Credits to The Dining Table]

Grimbergen’s recipe for beer has withstood the test of time, making it a lively beverage with unmatched character. Authentic, unique, and complex with multiple aromas, the beer of the phoenix gives rise to unexpected flavours that reveal themselves with each sip.

Here are some details of the types of Grimbergen Beers that we will be giving away!

La Blonde

[Image Credits to The Dining Table]

A top-fermented beer; the Grimbergen Blonde boasts a lovely golden-yellow robe, with ochre glints. It is round and harmonious in the mouth. Slightly fruity, it offers the perfect balance between sweet and bitter tastes, and just the right amount of fizz. Its subtle flavours of spices are uniquely Grimbergen Abbey.

La Double Ambree

[Image Credits to The Dining Table]

Born from double fermentation, the Grimbergen Amber is a generous beer with a dark robe, thanks to the mixing of different malts. It is rich, deep, and ample in the mouth. This amber beer boasts flavours that are both sweet and bitter; with subtle notes of caramel.

La Blanche

[Image Credits to The Dining Table]

A classic white beer, the Grimbergen White is pale-yellow and cloudy in colour. Its creamy head, fine bubbles, and fruity aromas with citrus notes make it a particularly refreshing beer. Its subtle flavours of spices and bergamot are uniquely Grimbergen.

If you are interested to win a set of the Grimbergen Beers, all you have to do is the following:

1. Visit https://testmoz.com/227423/ and take a really simple quiz
3. Enter your [email address] in the [name column] and key in [awinsomelife] as the [passcode]
2. Follow the instructions and answer the questions that follows
3. Send a screenshot of the the completed quiz to us at admin@awinsomelife.org

*The first two participants whom got all questions correct will receive the set of Grimbergen Beers! Results will be announced via our Facebook Page @ A Winsome Life.

All the best and hope all of you will have fun in discovering the long history of Grimbergen Beers!

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[Post-Event Review]- Sundown Festival 2013 @ F1 Pit Area

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Thanks to Jabra Singapore, we were at the Sundown Festival 2013 that took place at the F1 Pit Area two Saturdays ago and we had a blast listening to all the awesome hits by the various bands from all over Asia.

Of all the performances, our favourite singer and band has got to be Yoga Lin from Taiwan and No More Tear from Thailand.

Yoga Lin, Taiwan

[Image Credits to Sundown Festival 2013]

Yoga Lin’s claim to fame was as the winner of the first season of Taiwan’s reality TV singing competition, “One Million Star”. In the competition, Lin impressed the judges with his vivid interpretation of “Steel Rope Walker”, originally by James Li. After beginning his 2012 to 2013 concert tour, “FUGUE”, his latest Jazz-inspired live performance compilation album, “Jazz Channel”, was released on 5 February 2013.

No More Tear, Thailand

[Image Credits to Sundown Festival 2013]

No More Tear is a female-fronted pop-rock band from Thailand and it is currently made up of FukFang the vocalist, Chay the guitarist, Ice the drummer, and Tae the bassist. Not quite a band that wants to be pigeon-holed into a particular music genre, band leader FukFang hence defined one for her band, Power Pop. According to the pint-sized dynamo, it is a kind of rock that is super energetic, upbeat, and one that just wants to make everyone get up and dance.
audience.

Even though we had a hard time trying to appreciate the performance by SCREW, we saw tons of fans head-banging to their music and expletives.

Prior to the performances taking place, we took the liberty to pop by Jabra’s booth and we took a look at some of the wireless Bluetooth products that Jabra is offering. Designed for sound, engineered for life; Jabra’s products are definitely eye-appealing and one of Jabra’s products; the Solemate, an Ultimate Portable Speaker has certainly caught our eye.

Portable in size but massive in sound, the go-anywhere, do-anything portable wireless speaker with massive Dolby® Digital Plus sound allows users to share their music everywhere. Its durable design is dust and splash resistant and the rugged rubber sole can handle the bumps and knocks while on the move.

With Solemate, users will always be well-connected as they can pair it wirelessly via Bluetooth or NFC [near field communication]. Solemate also works with a 3.5 mm audio cable or USB cable. With the exclusive Jabra Sound App, users can also get an enhanced music experience. The app will gives you the full Dolby Digital Plus sound and you can use the App to create and browse through playlists, share music, and adjust the graphic equalizer so that you can play your tracks the way you want to hear them.

Well, with Christmas just round the corner, the Jabra Solemate is a suitable gift that you can consider getting for your techie/geeky friend who loves to share their music with others, and since we are on the topic of gift ideas; we will also be publishing a few more blog posts about some other recommended gifts that you can get for all your loved ones and friends so do look out for that. 🙂

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How I Enjoy Music On My Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds While On The Move!

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Offering very good mid and high end sound quality, listening to my favourite hits while on the move with the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds has allowed me to enjoy life more comfortably. Whether at work, at play, or even at home, the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds has given me space and time to enjoy music wirelessly; no matter where I may be.
Jamming to my favourite hits with the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 Earbuds

Listening to some soothing music while working on my laptop.

I really enjoy my weekly runs and gym workouts ever since I’ve gotten the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds. With the P2i military-grade nano-coating on the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds, it effectively waterproofs the headset and protects it from sweat and other moisture. Hence, it allows me to run and gym with a peace of mind knowing that my Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds is well protected no matter how much I sweat it out during my workouts. With the ability to pair with up to eight devices instead of just one, I can conveniently switch from one device to another with no hassle.

Coupled with the battery charger cum carrying pouch that comes with a short micro USB cable, the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 can be plugged in to add an additional 10 hours of listening time. A small button and two LEDs on the pouch indicate the pouch’s charging level and if it is charging the headset.

With so much to offer, you definitely can’t miss the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds!

If you enjoy music the way I do, go grab your very own Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds now! And with Christmas fast approaching soon, the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Earbuds certainly makes a very lovely gift for the techies!

Here’s 5 easy steps to purchasing your very own Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 earbuds with 15% discount off!

Step 1: Go to http://mbpr.sh/1cjnw0k and you will land yourself at this page.

Step 2: Scroll down, key in 15omymelee in the promo code field, and click “Apply”.

Step 3: You will see the discounted price and thereafter, click “Pay Now”.

Step 4: You can pay through your PayPal Account [if you have] or you can also proceed without having a PayPal Account.

Step 5: If you’re paying without a PayPal Account, you have to key in your details and then click “Review & Continue”. Thereafter, you can make your payment and that’s it! You now own the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Bundle that consist of the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 earbuds and the portable Charging Case!

Do note that the 15% discount is only valid for the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Bundle [Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 earbuds + portable Charging Case] that cost SGD$199 and not the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 standalone earbuds that cost SGD$159.

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L’ILE AUX ASHBY’s Spring/Summer 2014 Women’s Wear and Men’s Wear Collection

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Last Sunday, we were at the Digital Fashion Week at the National Design Centre to catch the runway showcase of L’ILE AUX ASHBY by Rayson Tan and we got a glimpse of the stunning Spring/Summer 2014 Women’s Wear and Men’s Wear Collection that are now available at ASOS Marketplace.

The Door Gifts [Instant Photo Prints] at the Digital Fashion Week is a pretty interesting affair!

What’s L’ILE AUX ASHBY [pronounced as “L” “OR” “ASH” “B”]?

L’ILE AUX ASHBY is a fashion label by Rayson Tan for the discerning urbanite. With designs that encompass three distinctive attributes; quality, detail and exclusivity, it is no surprise that the masterpieces of L’ILE AUX ASHBY by Rayson Tan have been featured in the local and international media including VOGUE, VOGUE Italia, Glamour UK, Surface Asia, W Korea, Highsnobette.com, CNNGo, and Refinery29.com.

Rayson Tan [far right] with Elim Chew [in the middle], founder of 77th Street.

Entitled “Till Genesis Comes”, the Spring/Summer 2014 Women’s Wear and Men’s Wear Collection from L’ILE AUX ASHBY by Rayson Tan celebrates the idea of vitality in life and the tangible strings of existence in nature.

Its immerse focus on digital prints are engineered to tell the story of rebirth and creationism, from morning to noon, and thereafter to night, and how the cycles of day and the notion of time ignites the hope of new beginnings.

Taking a minimalist approach amidst the illustrative printed fabrics, the colours for the collection range from the brighter scale of bold fuchsias, orange, and sun yellows to showcase daytime. They are juxtaposed by contrasting darker shades of Persian blues and quintessential black in solid forms to signify the closure of day.

Made with a diverse mix of comfortable yet luxurious materials, the collection is in essence, an exploratory realm that is constructed for the sunny days ahead, with new beginnings, processes, and hints of rejuvenation instilled in all stylistic aspects.

This has got to be my personal favourite for the Spring/Summer 2014 Men’s Wear Collection and I am really hoping to buy it from the ASOS Marketplace soon!

Truly, the products of L’ILE AUX ASHBY are delicately made with full emphasis details of a work and because all these designs are limited in pieces, it gives access to a privileged minority. This allures the exclusivity of L’ILE AUX ASHBY.

What goes on behind-the-scenes in order to make L’ILE AUX ASHBY’s runway showcase at the Digital Fashion Week a success.

Rayson Tan, founder of L’ILE AUX ASHBY, believes that design is the welcome mist of air in our environment. Quoting him, “Design envelopes us, creating an impact in our daily routine. I have a strong desire to create the best designs that will hopefully revolutionize the way people perceive their surroundings; my intentions are to unlock the eyes and provoke thoughts. I am often spellbound with the world around me and that is where I find my inspiration.”

A closing photo with our dear friend whom was involved in helping to coordinate the runway showcase for L’ILE AUX ASHBY. 🙂

To discover more about Rayson Tan or L’ILE AUX ASHBY, do check out Rayson Tan’s Website or L’ILE AUX ASHBY’s Facebook Page!

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[For All Tea Lovers]- Betjeman and Barton Opens In Singapore @ Raffles City Shopping Centre

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Betjeman & Barton is a tea boutique that was started in France in 1919 and they sell over 200 varieties of tea. With over 20 outlets across France, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada and even Japan; Betjeman & Barton is more than a century-old name.
For many years, Betjeman & Barton relied on pioneers with an entrepreneurial spirit and they have established the company’s reputation and credentials of tea “à la française”. If you’re wondering what’s “à la française”, it basically means “in the manner/style of the French”.

Offering the finest teas from the world’s greatest gardens and plantations, tea lovers like yourself can now enjoy the wide range of tea selections from Betjeman & Barton right here in the little island of Singapore!

Located at Raffles City Shopping Centre [#B1-33], the shop front of Betjeman & Barton exudes a very charming and welcoming Parisian outlook and upon stepping in, you can see rows of interesting and colourful tea caddies that are all neatly lined up on the shelves.

For the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique in Singapore, they carry 100 over varieties of tea collections and there are plans to bring in even more varieties. The tea collections from Betjeman & Barton are mainly grouped into 4 different types; the reds, the greens, the blacks, and the whites. If you have problems deciding on a particular tea blend, knowing your personal tea preference would help you make a better decision. However, if you are unsure and you need some recommendations, the service staffs from Betjeman & Barton will be glad to assist you.

If you are new to tea or if you belong to the Millennium Generation, your idea of tea would probably be those that come in the forms of tea bags for example, “Lipton”. Now, those type of teas are sometimes considered inferior because the tea leaves used are of a lower grade and quality. However, we’re not saying that all teas that come in tea bags are inferior. For Betjeman & Barton, the tea leaves used in their nylon tea bags are of the same type and quality as those that are in the tea caddies. Each of their tea bags contains 2 grams of tea leaves to be exact and that is the same amount of tea leaves used for steeping even if you purchase loose tea leaves. Hence, you get the same type and quality of tea, whether you purchase loose tea leaves or the tea bags.

For the tea connoisseurs, you would probably purchase loose tea leaves and if you’re the sort of person whom enjoys hosting tea parties at home, you might want to consider getting the intricately-designed caddies which you can display at home to impress your guests with your other extensive collections of tea, while at the same time, use it to store your loose tea leaves.

In case you’re wondering about the storage of tea leaves, they can be kept for 2-3 years in a cool and dry place. Do also make sure that the tea leaves are not exposed to light. If you are serious about keeping your tea properly, you can also purchase a tea storage box from Betjeman & Barton!

Apart from tea leaves, the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre also carry teapots and tea accessories such as tea infusers and tea strainers.

Tea Infuser

Tea Strainers

The hand-crafted teapots are directly imported from England and they are unique because no one teapot is the same.

And since Christmas is just round the corner, we’re pretty sure you will be able to find a suitable gift that will delight all your tea-loving friends.

If you are still clueless about what teas to get, here’s a list of the 5 best-selling teas at Betjeman & Barton; they are:

1. Pouchkine

The recipe is secret since its creation 40 years ago. Like a magical elixir, its taste is a reminiscence of Russia and it is forever the oldest and most enjoyed Betjeman & Barton tea; loved by the company itself and its faithful customers throughout the world.

2. Autumn Blend

One of Betjeman & Barton’s most successful creations ! Figs, grapes, quinces, nuts, raisins and sunflower petals create a warm and intimate atmosphere on a base of black teas. It is a tea you will enjoy by the fireside, while looking at the falling leaves.

3. Parlez Moi d’Amour [Speak To Me Of Love]

When the heady jasmine, velvety raspberry, sunny orange flavours and ylang-ylang essential oils are combined with a green tea, it is more than an intoxicating potion for a night of love. As Lucienne Boyer used to sing it, they are “tender things” and we are never tired of “hearing” them. Truly, this is a tea to be savoured together!

4. Rooibos Stracciatella

Red tea from South Africa perfumed with chocolate, vanilla, pieces of dark chocolate, and coconuts.

5. Lundi Light! [Monday Light!]
This unique tea combines green tea, oil of lemon, ginger and lemongrass from Mexico. Perfect for reviving your energy and peps and for driving away the blues! A real delight when drunk iced!

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A brand of excellence tinged with originality and coupled with a desire to offer products that meet the most intimate wishes of each visitor, Betjeman & Barton definitely has a multitude of teas to delight and enchant! Do feel free to browse around the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre and take a whiff of the blended perfumed teas that are available.

Also, for a limited time only, you will receive a complimentary Tea Pouch with every purchase; while stocks last!

Hurry & go check out the Betjeman & Barton Tea Boutique at Raffles City Shopping Centre to get your tea-cravings fixed and if you would like to be kept updated about the latest promotions and offers, don’t forget to “like” Betjeman & Barton Singapore’s Facebook Page!

Happy Tea-ing!

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