Singaporean Gift Guide ( Christmas 2016 )

Christmas will be upon us in a few weeks time and getting gifts for people you care for can be quite a challenge. What do they like? What if they dislike the design or colors? And when you do find the perfect gift, the price just makes you think twice.


For general gift ideas for His and Her, i'll try to make it budget ( wallet-friendly ) whereas gift ideas for the parents will be whatever i think would be practical and meaningful. After all, they raised you so hard all these years, you shouldn't scrimp on their annual christmas gifts amiright.

I'm going to separate this post into sections such as:

• Gifts for Her

  - For the clothes lover

  - For the makeup enthusiast

• Gifts for Him

  - For the fashionista

  - For the athlete

• Gifts for the Mom

  - The shoe hoarders

  - The hardworking housewife

  

• Gifts for the Dad

  - For the noble breadwinner

  

Gifts for Her

For the clothes lover, giving her the latest trendy pieces would totally make her day, and where better to shop for such clothes than browsing stores online? I like to look through Carousell and Zalora and personally i've never experience any problems with them and gotten tons of clothing there. Carousell is community based and clothes you're getting can range from second-hand to brand new. Pre-orders are guaranteed brand new and most of the trendiest clothes can only be pre-ordered ( or, instocks are usually sold at much higher price ).

Below are some pretty pieces that are really trendy at the moment, take down some notes!

Black off shoulder choker top | pic credits to owner

Army green parka | pic credits to owner

Some other clothing ideas:

Shoelace top, Crop sweater, Halter neck top, Ripped Jeans, Suede button down skirt, Satin bomber jacket, Baseball cap, Calvin Klein loungewear, High-waisted skater skirt, Curved hem dress.

These clothing are easier to find and much cheaper to get on Carousell, depending on which seller you're getting from. I don't recommend finding pre-orders as they can take anywhere from 1 week to 3 weeks to be shipped to Singapore and the chances of getting scammed are much higher. The safer and faster way is to search for instocks and meetups ( some only restrict to mailing which is fine, just that they're not liable for lost mails ), you pay the person when you meet and get your items immediately. Remember that there are no exchange or refunds, so ask for real life photos (to make sure you're getting what you see) and get the correct measurements.

You can try shopping on Zalora, where the clothes can range from indie labels to well-known brands such as Mango, Zara, Dorothy Perkins. The UI is really simple to maneuver and navigate with separate sections and columns to help you find specific style of items quickly.

Zalora Women section homepage

The quality of the clothings on Zalora is no doubt better and higher than those listed in Carousell, however you're also paying the price for it. When you see an item you like, put it on your wishlist and constantly check back to it. Sometimes there are super sales and you could get the items you want at much lower prices.

Some of the clothing that can be found

Don't worry about getting the wrong size or a shade you didn't like, two of the many perks of Zalora includes refunds and free exchange. There's also a "Cash on Delivery" payment option where you can choose to pay for the items when they're delivered to your doorstep, fuss-free and convenient.

For the makeup enthusiats, she may be skeptical about you going about and getting her makeup products as fake or cheap products can cause undesired effects on the skin. However, you can almost never go wrong with these general makeup products.

Colourpop is well-known for their cheap yet effective makeup products. Their Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks are sold for $6 each and the pigment
 and color pay off  is really good. However choosing the right shade would be the challenging part. Most lipsticks are known to appear different than the colour on the product itself when tested on the skin or applied to the lips.

If you're planning to get lipstick for her, i would suggest getting a nude shade (nude: skin color) or a dark red shade. Bold and bright red can be dangerous as they're really attention-seeking and may not be suitable for her so a subdued shade like nude will be a much wiser choice.

You can order Colourpop products directly from their website or search for resellers on carousell. Do note that although the lipstick is $6, the shipping fee to Singapore can add up to $9-$10 and waiting time would be 1 - 2 weeks.

Carousell shops that resells Colourpop and other makeup products:

- @ beauux 

- @ corneliachou

Other brands to also consider:

- Jeffree Star Cosmetics ( Expensive )

- Kylie Cosmetics ( Middle priced )

- Innisfree ( Middle priced )

Gifts for Him

For the fashionista, honestly i feel sad for guys cause their range of clothes is so small. Nonetheless, a great crew neck tee paired with shorts can really seal the deal. Personally, i would buy a comfortable and good material t-shirt from H&M or Cotton On to gift  or a button down shirt from Zalora to gift to a guy.

Button Down Shirt | pic credits to owner

Watches, necklace and bracelet could also spice up his wardrobe. I would opt for something simple yet classy, like the watch design shown in the photo. Neutral colors such as black, brown or grey would be the safest choice as they're the easiest to pair with other clothing. Otherwise, you can opt to go for his favorite color.

Other than that, you could get him perfume, belts, sunglasses, fake glasses, wallet, laptop envelope cover, razer mouse ( for the gamers ), snapbacks, hair pomade, converse shoes or just for fun ( since guys get chapped lips often ) get him a lip balm too.

For the athlete, sport shops are your bestfriend. Honestly i don't have much knowledge in this area neither do i want to say much, lest i get roasted by enthusiastic sneakerheads. So i would recommend just asking him what he wants, the surprise factor is gone but at least you don't get him an item that he doesn't want. You can also consider water bottles or shoebags, for the runners getting them earpieces that would stay on while they run would be a great idea.

Gift for the Mom

For the shoe hoarders, you might want to ask her to browse through some shoe designs online so you get a rough idea on what she wants. Keep in mind the comfort level of the shoe over the design, you wouldn't want to get her shoes that she'll wear only once due to nasty blisters.

It's recommended to get kitten heel shoes or flats for them as they're the easiest to walk in and really comfy to wear. If she wants some height, opt for wedge heels or block heels as they add more stability, lowering the risk of her spraining her ankle by accident. While you're at it, pick up some anti-blister sticks in case the shoe still hurts despite all the precautions taken. Remember that she's not very young anymore, heels that are high and thin can cause her to use more effort while walking, causing strains and adverse effects on her body.

Example of kitten heel | pic credit to owner

Types of heels | pic credit to owner

I don't recommend getting shoes off Zalora, yes they're trendy, naise but i've encountered bad experience with their shoes. The designs are great but apparently comfort isn't included in the package. However this is just my personal experience which you may or may not encounter but it'll be good to keep in mind.

For the hardworking housewife, making and putting together a pamper jar would be great. Get a big mason jar ( Ikea has cheap ones ) and fill it items that'll help her relax.

Some ideas are hand lotions from Crabtree and Evelyn, face mask from Innisfree or The Face Shop, foot mask from Sasa, steam eye mask from Watsons or Sasa, clear nail polish from Sally Hansen or O.P.I, roll-on perfume from Sephora, candle from Yankee Candle, Maybelline baby lips lip balm from Watsons or Sasa.

Pamper jar | pic credits to owner

Gifts for the Dad

For the noble breadwinner, getting a little gift to show your appreciation would do the trick. For my dad, i would get him a wallet, a dri-fit top or a pair of sport shoes. For dads who work in office i think leather suitcase, neck tie, cuff link, fountain pen or a work top from G2000. He doesn't need your gift because he can afford them himself, so it's honestly the thought process that counts.


If he likes eating, treat the whole family for a good meal. This is a good opportunity for a nice sit-down meal and get together amidst everyone's busy schedules. I would recommend all-you-can-eat buffets like korean BBQ or japanese buffet as you get the most for your money and you get to spend a lot of time together. My family usually go to Kiseki japanese buffet restaurant ( one at Orchard ) or Seoul Garden ( one at Tampines ) and i highly recommend them!

Kiseki has a wide range of food from seafood, cooked food, sushi, tempura, takoyaki, hotpot, cakes, ice cream and a lot more desserts. If you're planning to go there, remember to book a reservation three days in advance on their website or by call if not you have to wait really long outside by first come first serve basis.

Seoul Garden is a korean bbq buffet restaurant. There are cooked food and there are marinated ingredients for you to cook yourself. Cooked food range from fries, chicken and sushi while marinated ingredients range from squid, chicken and beef. I believe it's halal as i saw lots of malay / muslim families dining there.

That's about all, thank you for reading through ❤

❤ My Social Handles ❤

❥ Instagram: Iamkeemchi

❥ Snapchat: Kxmberlyxuxh

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Haji Lane ( Dog Cafe + Chill )

So my friend and I decided to spend a relaxing day together at Bugis, where we made an impromptu visit to a dog cafe filled with adorable cuddly pups and explored the vintage shophouses in Haji Lane.

DOG CAFE

We visited WTF ( We are The Furballs ) located at the open rooftop garden on the 7th floor of Bugis+. Days prior to this outing, we were set on going to bugis to spend our day there together but we just didn't know what to do so we decided to duck it and wing it. During the train ride there, my friend excitedly told me that she heard of dog cafe located in bugis and since we're already planning to spend our day there, why not drop by for a visit?


The dog cafe opens at 1pm and kids age 10 and below are not allowed to enter. Once we entered, we were greeted by the friendly staffs running the cafe and asked to exchange our identification cards for visitor passes ( identification pass is required for verification of age, and plus students get to enjoy discounted entry fee of $9.50 from Monday - Thursday. ) The entry fee includes a free drink of your choice ( premium drinks need to top up ) and allows you to stay for 2h strictly. Once everything was settled, i couldn't contain my excitement with the thought of cuddling with fluffy pups heh. We placed our bags in the shelfs provided and proceeded to try and touch the pups.


Talk about being realistic, the puppies wouldn't come near you or let you touch them unless you have treats ready for them to nom on. You can buy dog treats at the counter for $3 per small bag and almost instantly the dogs would come scurrying to you in hopes of getting some rewards for their overflowing cuteness.

Lola, a mini pomeranian

Meet Slinky, my favourite pup in the cafe ❣

One tip i picked up myself during my stay at the cafe was: don't give your treats all in one go. At some point in time, you might get tired of the number of dogs climbing all over you trying to get a treat themselves. Save some for later, after all you're granted 2h there.


We had our fun playing with the pups and desperately trying to get each one of their attention but we needed a break, really. One cool thing about the cafe is that it provides free boardgames for you to play at an area designated and cordoned off from the pups playing area, you just have to approach the counter and ask!

The area cordoned off from the lil puppies

My friend and I played 2 rounds of Game of Life and chatted a little bit while sipping our drinks ( which you can redeem at the counter anytime, just keep your receipt safely and present it to claim your drink. ) It was about 2 - 3pm in the afternoon and we wanted to go off and explore Haji Lane, so we grabbed leftover treats from earlier on and once again began the impossible mission of getting affection back from the pups.


I was rather lucky, getting snuggled in by my favourite puppy Slinky for a while and getting some attention from other adorable pups. When i first got my treats, i told myself i would give them out sparingly but once those puppies stare at you with their huge puppy eyes, you simply can't resist.

One good thing to keep in mind is to avoid wearing black. Their furs will stick on your clothing.

Some shots taken while these puppies came to me ❤

  Shortly after, we made our way to Haji Lane but it was our first time going there so we were kinda, a little ( maybe very ) lost.

HOW TO GET TO HAJI LANE

A map that i've made to help those who wants to go to Haji Lane

Landmarks to lookout for that will help you get to Haji Lane: Raffles Hospital, A school ( i forgot the name, sorry! )

This was how we went: We crossed the traffic light to Bugis Street and turned left. We walked along the straight path until we saw Raffles Hospital in the distant ( this will let you know that you're on the right track ). Keep walking until you come across a traffic light that still goes straight ( It should be at Ophir Road ), you should be able to see a sign that says Arab St in a short distance and be at the entrance of a plaza/mall. From here, you can cut through the mall and walked across it ( literally straight from how you entered ) or walk straight till you reach the sign Arab St and turn right. Keep your eyes sharp and open, Haji Lane is one small street and can be hard to find, but you'll be able to see a sign. We took about 10-15min to reach there by foot.

HAJI LANE

You know you're in Haji Lane as soon as you stepped in as you'll be greeted by the sight of many tourists crowding around taking photos or visiting shops.


There are photo opportunities everywhere within the rows of vintage shophouses that screams the 60s era vibes. Lots of indie clothe brands set up their shops within these shophouses and you could also be expecting to see shops that sells little trinkets and artworks. Haji Lane is just one stretch of road, that's all. To make the best out of your stay, try to visit every shop that's open.

Do follow my instagram @iamkeemchi as i posted a photo there too!

Haji Lane has bars, bistros, cafes, clothe shops, trinket shops and even skincare/makeup shop. I spotted a stairs that led up to the 2nd floor of a shophouse with a sign enticing people that says something along korean skincare and makeup products and of course i had to dragged my friend along.


It's a dainty little shop, once you enter you can see the whole shop and its products neatly placed on the shelfs. They carry products like 3CE, Nature Republic, Innisfree, and many more. They boast
products that are not easily available to get in Singapore and products that are directly shipped from the authentic company which retails at low prices. My friend and I both bought a sheet mask from Nature Republic at $2 ea. Although we bought only a mask each, we were both given a pretty paper bag!

The one i bought, in Green Tea.

We kept QiuQiu's ( Clicknetwork's Budget Barbie host ) advice in mind and kept an eagle eye lookout for clothing racks or clothes piled up in luggage bags as those clothes could go as low as $5 each and could still be a quality product. My friend sieved through clothing from a luggage and took home two pieces for $10 altogether.

Selfie Coffee ( Cafe )

After lots of exploring and photos, we found a cafe to rest our tired feet. We landed upon Selfie Coffee, a cafe that can print your selfie onto your cup of coffee, how amazing is that? While there wasn't any practical use of it and my friend pointed out that poking the straw and drinking out of our faces was kind of "evil", we have to admit that it was a fun and innovative idea, the first cafe we've heard or came across that offered such a service in Singapore.

I opted for warm Butterscotch Coffee while my friend chose the selfie frappe. We chilled at the second floor of the cafe, jamming to music and talking about our aspirations. The cafe gave me a sense of comfort and i felt really cosy while sipping my coffee there. Overall the atmosphere at the cafe was really nice and we were essentially alone most of the time ( afterall, it's a weekday. ) It was nice to relax and spend your day at with your friend, however if you're thinking of spending there alone reading a book or studying, you might want to reconsider if you're the type that can't concentrate well with semi-loud music playing. I was not kidding when i said we jammed to the music.

That pretty much concludes my day with my friend at Haji Lane, it was nice to kind of relax once in a while amidst my schedule, juggling between work and cca. Thank you for reading ❤

❤ Links and information of places mentioned ❤

❥ We are The Furballs: https://www.facebook.com/wearethefurballs/

❥ TWC Korean products: https://twccompany.sg/

❥ Selfie Coffee: https://www.facebook.com/selfiecoffeesg/

❤ My Social Handles ❤

❥ Instagram: Iamkeemchi

❥ Snapchat: Kxmberlyxuxh

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