Its close to 2 months of Nook's opening.

One word to describe: Thankful

It still feels like a dream that i finally did it.

Over the past 2 months,Nook have grown from nothing til now having a 1.4k facebook likes!

To be honest,it wasn't easy at all.

There are many times i don't deny i really does feel like giving up.

Especially at the start of the 2nd month,we didn't do any online marketing at all and sales dropped so badly its so upsetting.

But yet,deep down i know i can't let this concept died just like that without trying even harder.

I knew its a great concept and theres so so much room for growth. 

And so i pushed on.

Now,things are stabilizing and looking great.

Best news of all, Nook is engaged to do an outdoor event for KFC tomorrow!

But nothing was easy,especially FNB.

I work 24/7 everyday.

-Marketing personel,Hr,PR,cashier,waitress,chef,Manager.(Everything imaginable)

For a 23 year old,yes,my stress level is unimaginable.

My overheads every month can be 5X more than the salary of another 23 year old fresh grad.

And no,i wasn't complaining.

In fact, i feel thankful because i've never been so determined before,to hold on to Nook and make sure it grows. Just like a mother gingerly looking after her child carefully.

Nothing stops me from doing the best for Nook.

And you know they always say,bad stuff always happen together?

yup.My relationship failed just at the time Nook's sales was going downhill.

Maybe when i was much younger.I would have spend a long while in sorrow trying to get over a heartbreak.

But not this time round.

My reply when someone asked how i feel was,

"I have no time to be upset over anything at all".

To my staff and partner,

"From now on,i will take over everything.Rest assured,i will make sure everything goes well.Teach me if i don't know anything."

No i wasn't cold-hearted,im just goal-orientated.

Especially,now my workload is doubled.

My determination is stronger too.

And to that close friend,thanks for helping to make Nook grow.

Really appreciate it and all the best.

Alive and kicking!

We are live on Facebook guys!

Do follow us here for latest updates!
http://www.facebook.com/nookpancakes.sg

xoxo,
Dawnie

That night.

Time checked.

3.15 am.

Just like any other night when insomnia kept me awake,I turn to my trusty macbook for companionship.Thats when i randomly came across this blog "thebigsheila.blogspot.sg" and as i read her article,I was inspired by her to write a story of my own too.

.

.

Its been almost 6 months since i last boldly announced to the world that i've chosen to pursue my life long dream to start my own food business.I remembered that very night i made this decision to resign from my comfortable flying job,i was in maldives.It was a usual tiring flight and i was so tempted to lie down and sleep away.But the waves of the water crashing along the shore,eventually lure me to the beach bar.Now i can finally have some time alone,sipping a cocktail with my ipad on my hand.I took in the smell of the salty sea water and the breathtaking view of the dancing light shadows on the clear blue sea.

Thats when i turn to my ipad,open the notes section.And i started writing...

Things I've accomplished so far

*Travelled almost half of the world

*Have tons of fun,partied hard.

*Indulged in different cuisine from all over the world.

*

And thats when i stopped.Because i've got nothing more to fill up the space.

I suddenly realized,"shit..I'm turning 23,and honestly i've no technical skills neither do i have any experience in working for the corporate world.Do i really have to fly til i'm 40 and get retrenched because my skin is starting to sag and my colleagues are all little sweet young things."

THAT NIGHT i decided to take a great step forward.

I've always been telling myself this" Life is too short".The last thing i wanted is to lie down on my deathbed one day,regretting all the things that i ended up not doing because i procrastinated too much.

And so half a year later,doing countless research,consult numerous helpful FNB industry friends and many MANY failed attempts at " pancake batter" making. PS:I guess that should give you a clue about the restaurant that i'm going to open.

Presenting to you:

Oh yes! We are a DIY PANCAKE HOUSE ! You get to cook your own pancakes with 20 over toppings  and 20 sides to choose from and have a great fun time with your family and friends! And thats not all,there are even more exciting things to look forward to in NOOK-This i will share in the later part,closer to opening!

Now we are in the ending stages to sign the lease of our new restaurant space.And i really really can't wait to tell you guys where it is..but not til the space is firmed' up.

Til then,

I will continue working hard to better improve my Pancake batter!

Speaking about which,me and trusty partner have recently came across a secret ingredient which i named it " Magical X" because once added,the pancakes instantly "poof" and become fluffier!

We did a victory dance in the kitchen because we FINALLY did it after 6 months of experimenting!

With that,

Good night preeps!

xoxo

Dawn L

closer.

Its getting closer.
Finally.

The Sweden Story.

Come walk with me in the park.

And we will walk beside the green shrubbery.
On the cold side walk.
Walking in nothing but our socks.

Sweden is ,probably by far, the most peaceful and quiet place I've ever visited.

But then again,it was a sunday when i visited so practically all the shops are closed.

I guess i would need another visit to find out what is the real Sweden like.

But nonetheless,i enjoyed myself still.

It feels like i was teleported back to the olden countryside days.

Where vikings still roam the streets and the villagers dances along to the music under the moonlight.

 The breathtaking pastoral beauty left me yearning more.

-Intense green countryside,impenetrable forests,towering castles and Sweden's famously clear blue water.

If i were to choose a country to retire,i would probably choose Sweden.

Away from the city living and bustling streets,maybe i would took up farming and growing apple trees?

(Nah..im just joking,I would never surrender my Apple IPAD for an APPLE TREE.)

PICTURES TIME

                                       
                                          The streets of Sweden

Asking for directions from a cute swedish receptionist working in the hotel.

 First real life castle I ever seen in my life at Malmo konstmusuem.

The majestic architectural building seems to emit a mysteriously creepy aura.

I was secretly hoping that Count Dracula would emerged out of that building so that i can proudly go back to sg and spread the news that" VAMPIRES DOES EXIST".

But that is if he doesn't lay his teeth on me first.

                                           My happiest moment of the whole trip!
FINALLY saw a real life APPLE TREE with countless of fresh red apples lying on the floor.

We literally took the apples from the table,wiped them clean with our shirt and munched into them just like that.( Apple thief spotted in the picture!)

This guy is totally in his own world,listening to his music and feeding the ducks alone.

Dinner time

 Beautiful restaurant

The picture above is  a stand where Swedish meatballs are sold.We spend a longggg time asking the locals for direction to find the meatballs. Im very determined to find out how the real swedish meatballs taste like and not the ikea ones in sg.

Believe me. Its WAYYYY Better then Ikea ones.
The meatballs are juicy and make out of fresh meat and the cranberry sauce are just so fresh and sweet!
Thumbs up!

And the last picture on my lovely and awesome colleagues who make the Sweden trip awesome!
Thank youuu!


-Dawn L

Wolves does exist!

Today's blog post of the day is to educate woman on:
 Toilet safety


What a topic? Yeah i know right!


Anyways this happen to a really close gf of mine and i find it so annoying angry that i find that i must share this with the rest of the girls population.


Anyway this happened in Plaza Sing Toilet.
Let's call my gf "A".
A walked into the cubicle with her gf.
Seconds later,her Gf came out looking a bit worried.
A asked what happened only to realise that a PEEPING TOM has just used a handphone to snap pictures of her gf in the cubicle.

They started shouting at the only locked cubicle but Mr Peeping Tom just refused to come out.

What happened next was classic.... and disgusting.

The policemen arrived to be greeted by.. SHIT. LOADS OF IT.Apparently, P.Tom in an attempt to cover up his actions,tried to force shit out of  his butt and left it all around the cubicle.And thus,when the policemen arrived.He tried to lied and claim he was in a girls toilet because he wanted to take a dump.


Hello? Are you dumb or what.
The guys toilet are just beside.
And who in the right mind,shit all over the cubicle?


If you think this is horrifying enough,listen to this.
1.This scrawny looking malay peeping tom ACTUALLY WORKS AS A CLEANER IN PLAZA SING! -Imagine how many girls have fall prey unknowingly to his perverted act.

2.He's so "PROFESSIONAL",he purposely" blinged'' his phone with crystals to look like a girl's one.

3. He stuck THUMBTACK under his slippers so that when he walked into the cubicle.It would give off a" tapping sound" as though a lady had just walked in wearing heels.


What a lowdown act!

Therefore,Girls..do be careful when you sit through your performance in the toilet.
Scan around and be extra cautious!

Because you never know who's peeping on you.

Oh hey there she is!

Oh hello back.
Yes.Im guilty of not paying attention to my blog.
The reason is plain simple.
Firstly,I honestly didn't thought i would have any readership and secondly,yes im plain lazy too.

And so i left it dying for a while...

Until weirdly, i started getting many feedbacks from my friends and some not-so-close friends that i bumped into recently.

So thats how the conversation goes:
Friend:"Hey..Ive been reading your blog,how have you been?"
Me:''Oh serious? You actually read my blog?''
       (Meanwhile feeling guilty for not writing on it for 1 month)
Le bf evil-ly jumped in to tease me and exclaimed" Stay tuned guys,i will update!.. But she never did"
And so i answered back sheepishly:"ahhaha..I really didn't thought anyone would read it."


Well,anyway im back now.
But with a different perspective.
Blogging is not about getting readership or earning money.
To me,I feel that blogging gives me a space to share some interesting stories that i encounter in my life.
And i really does enjoy telling my stories to others.
And so..
''Lets care and share people!"

     
-Dawn L.