So Many Instagram Worthy Spots At This Year's Singapore Garden Festival 2018

Hi Huneybees,

Over the weekend, we were at Gardens by the Bay for the 7th edition of Singapore Garden Festival 2018. Being Asia’s premier tropical garden and flower show, there were more than 70 garden and floral displays at The Meadow, Flower Dome and the Supertree Grove, displaying a fiesta of creations from the world's top award-winning garden and floral designers. 

There were many different spots this year that covers most part of the garden and this year, they even had buggy rides together with drinks and food stalls scattered along the grounds. It is a very nice touch of addition to the weather was a killer this year. It seems to be so much warmer than previous years and even though I was dressed as cooling as possible, I was still melting and perspiring uncontrollably.

Stepping into the SGF grounds, we were welcomed at a beautiful tent area that houses the 13 Floral Windows to the World where colourful and vibrant cut-flower displays and floral masterpieces with stunning set design and lighting by notable floral designers from around the world are displayed. 

There's also the new non-competitive Floral Windows to the World Installation featuring a kaleidoscopic display of blooms created by Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz, Best of Show (Floral Windows to the World) designers for SGF 2016. It gives so many ideas to how we can introduce greenery into our living space and how much floral can brighten and be manipulated.

We spent the most time at the 13 Fantasy and Landscape Show Gardens for the top award-winning 80 sqm creations gardening luminaries from around the world (Australia, France, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States of America) got us snapping photos away. 

Every creation is a gorgeous Instagram worthy photo and the one we loved the most is the Precious Land by Tom Massey (UK) where the landscape turns from day till night with a glowing sun and dark waters to represent Singapore's vulnerability towards warmer climate change and the threat of rising sea water levels.

The main event has got to be the Orchid Extravaganza in the Flower Dome. Not only do you get to hide from the sweltering heat, you can also get to check out the world's largest family of flowering plants, Singapore's heritage - Orchids in full bloom.

 

There are countless species of orchids gathered here and every corner in this dome, makes a great backdrop (*except for the busy crowds) for your selfies, especially when this year’s orchid display is creatively conceived by award-winning Singaporean filmmaker Royston Tan.

Huge beaded Nyonya beaded shoes accompanied the orchids with Singapore's signature Peranakan shophouses in the back, welcomes the tourists to our strong Asian heritage and culture. It's as though Emerald Hill was shifted right into the dome...

Of course there are other places to explore too, like the 8 Balcony Gardens that features colourful and inspirational displays for home and apartment owners. Visitors can see how these designers transform 3m by 3m spaces into a soothing retreat. 

The new ASEAN Garden - a special feature to mark Singapore’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2018, showcasing a myriad of colourful blossoms symbolic of Southeast Asian nations, including lotuses, hibiscuses and orchids, just to name a few. NParks also displayed a series of gardens with different themes featuring plants such as fragrant flowering edibles and plants with visually cool colours and pleasant scents.

If you are keen in learning more about gardening or learn some greenry tips, there is also the Learning Garden, displays by the Floral Designers Society (Singapore), Singapore Penjing & Stone Appreciation Society and Singapore Gardening Society, as well as various educational talks.

So, come on down to the Gardens by the Bay before it ends. Not only does it make a good spot for photography, you can also soak up the sun and breathe in some fresh air. It's nice to take a stroll amongst the greenery, admired the beautiful and colourful flowers, spot some pretty dragonflies & butterflies, whilst picking up some tips on how we can introduce green ecosystem into our homes...

The Singapore Garden Festival 2018 is till 3 August and tickets can be purchased from the Gardens by the Bay Ticketing Hub as well as from www.gardensbythebay.com.

For more information, visit www.singaporegardenfestival.com or follow SGF at www.facebook.com/SGGardenFest and www.instagram.com/SGGardenFest.  

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Toast To Singapore's National Day This August With Baijiu At Spice World Hotpot

Hi Huneybees,

In conjunction with Singapore's National Day and World Baijiu Day (both falls on the 9th of August), Spice World Hotpot has come up with a some Baijiu promotions and Lucky Draw incentives to celebrate in style during the month of August. 

Baijiu, China’s national liquor is infamously known as Firewater. It is distilled from sorghum and rice; water, sugar, and yeast are added to the ingredients, then fermented in clay jars buried underground. It is then distilled and aged for anywhere between six months to years, sometimes even up to 50 years. It is commonly consumed during festivals, weddings, celebrations, and business meetings, usually served neat in a shot glass and drunk in one gulp.

Spice World Hotpot, the latest Sichuan hot pot franchise to hit Singapore with their popular Teddy Bear Hot Pot (more about it here), hosted key journalists in the appreciation of three of China’s most popular Baijiu brands - Moutai, Wuliangye and National Cellar Guojiao 1573, in collaboration with the Singapore China Baijiu company and top Chinese Master Taster Ms. Xu Huan. The masterclass session also included a DIY Baijiu segment whereby journalists got to create their own liqour using individual distilling kits.

At Spice World Hot Pot, they stock a full range of Baijiu for their fans to enjoy it with their Hot Pot. Toast to a good meal this August with Spice World Hot Pot with promotions on Baijiu - Moutai at $329 (usual price $369), Wuliangye at $329 (usual price $369) and National Cellar Guojiao at $299 (usual price $329).

Additionally, every diner stands a chance to win a free meal if they draw their table number from Spice World’s lucky draw box. To further encourage imbibing, Spice World Hot Pot has also redesigned their outdoor patio with custom-made tables and chairs from China, specially curated for more conducive drinking and chilling especially when there are long queues at the restaurant.  

Spice World Hot Pot

Address: 3B River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-06/07, 179021  Tel: 6265 9777

Opening hours:

Sunday to Thursday 10:30am to 4am

Friday And Saturday 10:30am to 6am

*Open on public holidays.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiceWorldSingapore/

Instagram: @spiceworldsg #spiceworldsg #spiceworldhotpot

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🍕 Uncomplicate Your Cheese Cravings With Pizza Hut's New Cheesy 7 Pizza 🍕

Hi Huneybees,

Calling out to cheese lovers, Pizza Hut has launched a brand new cheesy addition to their pizza range; 7 molten kinds of cheese 🧀 topped on their pizzas all the way to the edge of the round delightful dough.

Hot on the trail of the improved Pan Pizza recently, Pizza Hut Singapore continues to usher in affordable everyday luxuries in "Your Slice of Simple" journey, with the new Cheesy 7 Pan Pizza. 7 best-loved cheeses from Switzerland, United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands (Swiss Emmental, English Cheddar, Italian Parmesan, Dutch Edam and Gouda, Italian Mozzarella, and English Cream Cheese) mixed with the alchemy of heat in the oven brings a heavenly ecstasy onto my taste buds.

Pizza Hut prepared a delight for me and I got to try out the new Cheesy 7 Pizza before it was launched in their restaurants. Came in a Big Variety Box was my Cheesy 7 Pan Pizza paired with Pasta, Chicken Tenders, Honey Roasted Wings and Cinnamon Breadsticks in a Big Variety Box version. 

I shared the Pizza and snacks with hubby and family members. Burping stomachs full, we can't help gorging on the cheesy pizza, pulling on the cheesy strands, having slice after slice. I like how the crust is baked to crispiness with the cheese topping and every bite is filled with cheese, I even forgo the cheese flakes, which I normally "flood" my pizzas with. 

I've already had another round of the Cheesy 7 Pizza at their restaurant and if you are a fellow cheese lover too, note these Cheesy 7 variants as they roll them out in 2 phases.

• From 26 July to 12 September, Cheese lovers can enjoy the Cheesy 7 Pizza available in Original, Hawaiian and Chicken Pepperoni variants.

• From 13 September to 7 November 2018, Cheesy 7 Pizza will be launched in a new variant - Meaty Medley Trio, and Cheesy 7 Original will still be available.

Below are the deals they are running for it...

Regular 9” Cheesy 7 pizza are available for dine-in at $23.50 and delivery or takeaway at $25.50. Large 12” Cheesy 7 pizza are available for dine-in at $29.50 and delivery or takeaway at $33.20.

Enjoy your cheesy delights and do share which is your favourite flavour.

I can't wait to try the 2nd phase flavours...

Visit https://www.pizzahut.com.sg.

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The Sephora Playhouse Was Disappointing

Hi Huneybees,

So, it's Sephora Singapore's 10th Anniversary and they have created a First Beauty Playground on the grounds of Ngee Ann City for 10 days. The moment I was sent an invite for it, I already 'choped' for my slot and was looking forward to it. 

From the way Sephora described, I was thinking this might be sort of like a Beauty Con, where you get to see and buy exclusives, perhaps even meet and greet the founders behind the brands right? But right from the moment I arrived, Sephora fans and I were disappointed already.

We were told to reserve a session right? I did but I still had to queue upon reaching. If not for being a Gold Member, I wouldn't have gotten the 'fast pass' queue. So, what's the reservation slot for?

Also, we were told we can bring 4 friends along to the Playhouse, but what's troublesome is that every single of you have to download their Sephora App to be allowed access, that's why there's a hold up at the queue. It feels like a recruitment drive to achieve more app downloads and this could actually be easily resolved just allowing me access by flashing the app and my friends (in this case, my hubby) be tagged with a coloured paper strip on the wrist right?

From the map it looks like there's lots of activities in each brand's booth, perhaps play with their products, get a makeover, get introduced to their brand and perhaps somehow score yourself some samples. Isn't this a great opportunity to gain customers?

But no, what happened at most booths are just photo worthy backdrops, which you have to queue up for. Except for the Sephora Collection booth, you can get a lip makeover; or at Fresh booth, where you can get introduced to their mask range and be advised what's good for you. The only best thing you can get complimentary Strongbow Ciders and Evian Mineral Water.

The other times you want to hopefully win yourself some products or samples are only during the workshop where hopefully they hold a lucky draw like what Too Faced did, or when you leave the Playhouse, you get a lucky dip...

For the workshops and supposed meet and greets, there's not even a schedule shared to let us know what time each brand will be presenting. I checked with the staffs at the entrance, they were unsure too. It's only minutes before they begin, then they will announce who's on stage next. Which in the end, alot of the attendees just end up sitting on the bean bags provided, not letting up the seat for others.

I was all ready to have my wallet bleeding by the end of the Playhouse, but when I was there, the products at the Retail booth was a letdown. Only Too Faced and Estee Lauder was clever to prelaunch their Peaches & Cream range and Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream respectively. The rest were items not selling fast in stores or just leftover Sephora merches. 

Isn't this the best time to be selling exclusive vault sets or even just Sephora Playhouse collaborative products? You know like during San Diego Comic Con, you can only get SDCC exclusive figurines, in special shades etc, making a nice collective to reward their die-hard fans right?

All in all, I think the Sephora Playhouse is just a nice place for you makeup fanatics to hide from the sweltering heat and have some nice Insta-worthy photos with your BFFs. I hope if Sephora were to have another Playhouse, maybe they can take in some of my pointers. Ok, I'll end off the post with my photos at each booth, my vain vain time...

Benefit has the most people queuing for photo session, but note, the ice creams that matches their popular shades are for purchase, not for free sampling...

My favourite? Kat Von D and Too Faced of course! I'm so extreme right? Hahahaha!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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