[Product Review] Tico Bricks!

If there's something that can keep me away from spending too much time on the computer and mobile phone, it has to be this.

And I am sure you guys will love this new product as much as I do ; especially after reading this post.

Presenting to you...

*drum rolls*

TICO BRICKS!!!!

If you are wondering what Tico Bricks are, they are actually small bricks (measuring at only 3.9mm x 3.9mm x 4.9mm) that you can build many cute things out of them. They have many series that feature different themes, one of which the latest one is the Amusement Park series!

I was really thrilled when the lovely folks from Play Distribution had kindly sent me a set of Tico Brick from the Amusement Park series over for the review. It took me a long time before finally selecting the Ferris Wheel design because EVERY single one looks so adorable!

Initially, I was not sure if my patience would lead me to complete it as it does seem complicated to build - but hey, I DID and was even so engrossed in it that I did not realise that the time was passing so fast.

I have documented my process to share with you guys, and I do think it's pretty amazing to see the bricks taking form with each step! (Please pardon me if the photos are not very well-taken as I was literally making and taking the photos all by myself at the same time)

What's inside the box: - 

Two packets of small bricks, two bigger square bricks that are meant to be the "grass patch", and one instruction manual (step-by-step)

As the bricks are pretty small, I had to be careful and ensured that I had everything in place inside the box. 

                                 

 Let's begin by connecting the two "grass patch"together!

Every brick here was joined together after referring to the instruction manual (Don't worry, the manual is very clear-cut. All you have to do is follow step by step)

And here was the first step done! Still looking nothing like a Ferris wheel yet...

Slowly... Omg, see the colourful-looking small blocks there? Those were actually meant to be human figures that would soon be admiring a Ferris wheel before them. SO CUTE, RIGHT?!?!

And 4 trees were planted...

Here's a picture of how it looks like from the side view:-

It's slowly taking place.. AT THIS STAGE, MY EXCITEMENT GREW. 

You know the feeling of building something using your own bare hands? I was enjoying every single minute of this.

It's starting to take shape now!! *squeals in delight*

And here came the crucial part of the bricks. I had to build the "rod"first before attaching it to the main parts.

Build 4 of the same "rods" and we have this:

  I would say the MOST difficult part would be putting this set of bricks together to form a circle for the wheel. I spent quite a lot of time on this part as the position of the bricks kept shifting when I accidentally touched it while I was trying to secure them during the process. 

There were 3 layers of bricks here to secure them- and it was pretty good at this stage as the bricks were nicely fitted.

Here's a close-up of how the 3 layers of bricks look like :

After completing the wheel, I placed it aside to build the "carriages".  Each "carriage"is a different shade of colour and there are 14 of them in total. This part would require a bit of time too as the bricks would not be really secure until they have been fitted to the wheel.

 Arrange the "carriages" nicely together and combine it with the wheel that was built earlier..

Ta-da! Here we have it.

Now I've gotta join this part to the first one that I did. Gosh. Gosh. I got so anxious that my hand was trembling in excitement. I JUST COULD NOT WAIT to see the Ferris wheel taking full shape.

Pardon that the wheel was not really looking that round in this picture - I had adjusted it afterwards.

AND TA-DA... PRESENTING TO YOU THE FINAL PRODUCT..  I HAD FINALLY, FINALLY COMPLETED IT. 

I am not trying to exaggerate, but I could feel tears of joy when I saw the full form of the Ferris wheel. Did I... Did I... just build it myself?!

The sense of achievement is too overwhelming.

AND DID I MENTION THAT THE WHEEL IS ACTUALLY MOVABLE??! I know I may have said this a thousand times, but THIS IS TOO CUTE.

(I have posted this in my instastory as a teaser and my friends have been commenting about its cuteness)

This is how the Ferris wheel looks like on the whole. And in order to show you guys in live form, I have done a short video that captured the moments. Enjoy!!


Video here:

 Let me show off a few more photos of the ferris wheel. I am so proud to call it mine!

Enjoy the ride, my little humans!

If you guys are fans of bricks building too, I am 100 PERCENT positive that you will love what Tico Brick have to offer. I admit I got hooked to my first set that I am considering to purchase more.

Here's a happy me with my Ferris wheel.

If you were to ask me what do I love most about it, I would definitely comment on its quality. The bricks are really defined - not those cheap and fragile kind. (I read that the bricks are actually originated and manufactured in Taiwan which are made of toxic-free Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene 

(ABS) plastic. Whoa, chim... but if you feel the material physically, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised by its quality, too)

Most importantly, the final product will be something that you can be proud of. 

Different series have different level of difficulty - but the completion will certainly give you a sense of achievement. This may sound hilarious, but I admired my Ferris wheel so much that I spent almost  five minutes staring at it in awe.

Here are some of their other awesome designs from the same series - I am sure you can tell
why I had such a difficult time trying to choose one. Every single design is LOVE.

In case you are unaware, the recent Starbucks and Toast Box mini bricks are actually made by TICO, too. These little exclusive cuties can be found in-stores at Starbucks and Toast Box!

Look at their designs - How could anyone NOT love them?!?!

For more information and details on how you can purchase and make your Tico Bricks like I did, do stay tuned.

I can assure you that they will be able to provide you with hours of fun! :)

[Review] WheeloveSpree - Overseas Online shopping made easy!!!

If you are a mega online shopaholic like me, I suppose you would have heard of shopping sites such as Taobao, Amazon, etc.

(In case you haven't, those are overseas shopping sites)

Yes, many of the items are SO, SO superbly and unbelievably cheap  that it is IMPOSSIBLE not to be tempted. Unfortunately, it wasn't really an easy process trying to ship them over and the shipping fees would easily cost more than the items themselves.  It didn't help that online transactions can be a real hassle, and some sellers stubbornly DO NOT ship to Singapore despite how badly I wanted to purchase items from them. *(#*$()#*$

*starts hurling vulgarities*

"WHY AREN'T THOSE SELLERS BASED IN SINGAPORE?!?! WHY??!" I would often ask myself in agony.

I have wished for a simpler solution to these.
....

It was not until I heard of agent services that seem to be the best solution for struggling shoppers like me.

 I just simply have to make direct payment to the agent via local banking and they will take care of the processes.

In other words, they act as a local middleman by helping me to purchase the items and have them shipped over to me safe and sound. It's like having someone to oversee and take care of my overseas transaction!!

Honestly, I had my doubts and reservations initially as I wasn't sure if everything was as easy as it sounded. I felt it was important for me to find out how it works.
As the saying goes, "You never try, you never know", right?

I have put one such agent service to the test - So now ... Let's see.

This review is based on my personal experience and I have attempted to record down my processes (from Day 1 when I placed my orders to the day I received my package)

WheeloveSpree

When I entered the site, the first thing I did was to study how the flow works. Apparently, it seemed easy.

Here's an illustration chart they came up with on their site:

I was damn excited when I came to know that they are able to provide shipping from various countries as well (China, U.S, Taiwan, Korea, Japan...) I need not worry about the limitations of sellers, too! 

Being a frequent Taobao window-shopper, I decided to shop for my loots there through WheeloveSpree and see how it would go.

Personally, I would come up with shopping lists and make multiple purchases so that they can be shipped together at one shot. It's more worth it this way as its like combined shipping!

After much browsing around the site (I almost fainted from all the chinese words), I decided to get a MP3 player (for my dad), microSD card and 3 apparels.

So the next step... Entering order details on the agent site, WheeloveSpree! 

The instructions listed on their site are pretty clear and clear-cut. 

Just ensure that you enter your details correctly!

My item order details - I entered my 4 items accordingly into the list.

After submission of my orders (I was quite excited at this point), I received an e-mail on the same day with the calculated cost.

 I love it how everything appears to be so simple and transparent - I could see clearly what I was paying for. 

The stated SGD78.41 was considered my first amount to be transferred to WheeloveSpree as part of my purchase confirmation. 

I guess it somehow acts like a deposit. 

Afterwhich, they would proceed to place my orders with the merchants and all I needed to do was to SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR MY ITEMS TO BE ON THEIR WAY!! =D 

I waited for approximately 2 weeks (can't be blamed as my items were all from different China merchants and I guess it probably took time for those deliveries before they were eventually sent to Singapore)

When I was informed that my items were finally on their way, I was so thrilled.

And YES, did I mention that WheeloveSpree has one of the best customer services ever?!

I received a revised calculation of the total cost via e-mail indicating that I have overpaid during my first payment and I would be refunded accordingly.

(If let's say my first payment was underpaid, I would be required to top up. BUT since I paid more than I should during the estimated calculation of my first payment, I would get a refund.) 

I was shown the breakdown of final cost: - 

(As I had indicated my bank account details in the order form earlier, WheeloveSpree would be transferring my refund to it)

A trustworthy agent, I would say!

So it all boils down to anticipating the arrival of my items now!

 The delivery guy finally arrived on a Sunday (I opted for Home Delivery). 

AND HERE IT IS!!! You have came a long way, baby!

*squeals like an excited little girl*

Even though I already knew what were contained in the package, I was still feeling anxious. 

Slowly and steadily, I unwrapped the package to reveal its contents.

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Perfect condition and exactly what I expected!

WheeloveSpree namecard!

I love their tagline as it is indeed true: Shopping Just One Click Away.

Since I am not writing a review for the items I have purchased from Taobao (I am only reviewing the agent services of WheeloveSpree), I shall not go into details of the quality of items. Even if I were to write about it, I have to say that they are indeed in great condition nonetheless!

I would say that it is a positive experience using WheeloveSpree's services (Just so you know, it was my FIRST time and I am really glad everything turned out so well).

Looking back at how I used to have headache of overseas online shopping, I am amazed how simple and hassle-free the whole process has became after engaging their services.

Why didn't I know about them earlier?! It would have saved me tons of trouble!!

I feel that such services have improved the lives of online shopaholics so much, especially if you are one who isn't really familiar how to shop on Taobao or other overseas websites. Imagine those language barriers!

The amount of web shops they support is really amazing - You can check them out on their website. It's like most of the well-known web shops are listed there!

I have had friends asking me how to shop on Taobao before, so there - One of the best solutions I have found so far. I am reviewing its services through my real-life experience, so you can be rest assured about its credibility.

When have I ever lied to anyone on my blog before anyway huh?!?! I always share the good stuff! :)

Thank you,  WheeloveSpree ,for taking such good care of my purchases and providing me efficient customer service - There is nothing I can complain here. 

Now I know who to look for when it comes to future online shopping sprees!

AND YES, my dear readers... here's a little perk - WheeloveSpree has kindly agreed to come up with a special discount code just for my readers!!

 It will definitely come in handy if you are intending to try out their services which I think you should!!

Here's the discount code you can use when entering your details in the Order Form:

CAT1019

You will receive a $2 OFF Agent Fee for your first purchase!

For Malaysians, you will receive RM 5.00 OFF Agent Fee for your first purchase!

If you would like to be updated of their latest updates, do follow their Facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/wheelovespree/

[Invite @ BeerFest 2013] I DON'T USUALLY DRINK BEER. BUT WHEN I DO, IT'S TAIWAN BEER!

Guess where was I on 16th June 2013?

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Well.. Probably you were there...

Yes, I was at BeerFest Asia 2013 - With thanks to the lovely fellows at Kaimay for inviting me over!

Our Complimentary 1-Day tickets handed to us by the lovely Ms Tachi from Kaimay. :)

Wrist tags:

And here we are, making our way towards the majestic-looking Taiwan Beer's booth!

We were invited to sit on the cosy sofa at the booth where we were revealed the most anticipated new flavors from Taiwan Beer:

(If you are a fellow Taiwan Beer fan, you'll definitely NOT want to miss this out. Guarantee plus chop!)

I spotted this Graffiti wall and thought it looked artistic!

(I found out from Ms Tachi that one of the staff at the booth actually drew them all by herself! Impressive huh!)

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And... Here they are:

*drum rolls*

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The latest 2 flavors - GRAPE FRUIT BEER and ORANGE FRUIT BEER!

*pours*

Are you excited yet??!!

Both Pei Wen and I were given the opportunity to have a taste of them - and I have to admit that we were COMPLETELY in a state of euphoria when we tasted the Grape flavor.

I still remembered the distinct taste when I had my first slurp and went excited over it.

I looked at Pei Wen and exclaimed "OMG, this tastes really good!"

Hahaha, and she reached over enthusiastically to take a slurp too.

Her expression was priceless.

No kidding, it became both of our instant favorite. Not to mention that the grape flavor blends in really well with the the slight alcohol taste.

(Don't worry if you are not a fan of alcoholic drinks. Taiwan Beer is unlike other beers.. And even non- alcoholic drinkers will tend to love it!)

As for the Orange flavor, it tastes really refreshing!

However, I would say that the taste of orange isn't that strong though.

If you are one who is more towards the taste of alcohol but YET not too much, the new Orange flavor will definitely be something that you will find satisfying.

Don't believe me? Keep your eyes peeled for their appearance in the leading supermarkets and convenience stores near you and give them a try yourself!

Overall, both are seriously a great addition to the Taiwan Beer series. I'll bet you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

And one thing about the those beers - They taste awesome when chilled! So keep them in your refrigerators for maximum pleasure.

Well.. Moving on to blog about my happenings at the event:

We were given a mini fan each, and it's soooo cute!

(I heard they were the only exhibitor that came up with this idea at BeerFest..And it's no doubt that they are very thoughtful as the weather has been very hot these days. (Actually... ...he word 'hot' is an underestimation!)

Flipping it around to the opposite side:

Awww..

Well, see that Facebook logo over there? 

Go LIKE it if you will! :)

And here, I proudly present you my FAVORITE air float (I don't actually know what it is called) but I have been falling in love with it since the day I spotted it at previous events. LOL:

The beer bottle float is very cute right! I really hope Taiwan Beer will be giving this out as part of their promotions with purchase. Haha, but I heard that they did give them out during the first few days of BeerFest  and the response was good!

Camwhoring time:

These are actually Styrofoam stands that were transformed into a temporary "table" to hold our drinks:

I loitered around the booth, trying to take as many photos as I could. 

Now, look at those bottles! Stop salivating, I know you want em'. Haha.

Pick one:

I don't know why but I think I look kinda greedy here - in an unglamorous way. LOL. But just for entertainment value, I'm gonna post it!

Both Pei Wen and I took a walk outside and I was still holding this beer float everywhere in my hand. HAHAHA. There were beer promoters from other brands that had wanted to approach me but they stopped when they saw me holding this.

My beautiful bff  - Thanks for coming along with me!

Trying to act like some superstar but turned out look more like an auntie:

That's Jolin Tsai, Taiwan Beer's official ambassador!

(But of course I am not talking about her physical self. It's just a photo banner of her. Hahaha)

YAY! I'm holding the new Grape flavor in my hands! 

And last but not least.. My favorite photo *trying to act demure*

:

Ah, it has always been lovely meeting the nice people from Kaimay again. 

Thank you for inviting me to your events! 

You know..

"I DON'T USUALLY DRINK BEER. BUT WHEN I DO, IT'S TAIWAN BEER!" 

- Catherine

This line has been popping up in my mind after I came back from the event. LOL.

Thanks to the lovely peeps at Kaimay for the generous sponsor of Taiwan Beer! #ijustcantgetenoughofyou

You rock!

Alright...Before I end off this entry, here's something that you should check it out (Go "LIKE" it if you haven't):

http://www.facebook.com/TaiwanBeerSG

They will be posting updates every now and then, so be sure you'll be one of the first to find out more details and information about the beers!