Saturday, January 31, 2015

Latest Obsession

WHY HELLO 

Been a long time since I last blogged. I miss it and I do try to blog more but I always end up saving it into my drafts and forget all about it.

I haven't been up to anything new, to be frank. Been going to classes as usual and been fasting for most of this month so there really isn't anything new. Azam and I have declared a Puasa London for 2 months so that's for all of January and February. Hahaha so we're behaving and staying put in Bristol. I don't mind actually 'cause I love Bristol and it's so chilled for me so I don't mind not going to London for a bit.

My parents are very happy also, I'm sure hahaha

It's Friday now and I've just finished all 3 of Shonda Rhimes' shows (that's Grey's Anatomy, HTGAWM and Scandal). Scandal, for me, was the BEST of the three just 'cause it had a lot more going on than the other two. But still lovin' it in Shondaland. I still haven't watched the latest of Suits though. But I'm still glad that all of them are back! I look forward to my Fridays even more now yayayayayyyyy

Also, if you don't follow me on Twitter or on my Snapchat then you won't know this but...

... guys...

... I am obsessed...

... with Korean dramas...

... SLAP ME NOW!

But guys, I gave in. And watched one drama. And then another drama. And then another drama.

AND IT'S SO GOOD AND IT'S SO ADDICTIVE!!!

I've even gotten my sister to watch it and she's like crazy over it also!!!! Sampai tahap she's actually properly planning a trip to Seoul this August hahahahahahaha

I don't know how else to say it lah because the majority of my friends who will read this would just roll their eyes and go "omg nadia don't go on to the dark side, don't turn kpop!" but guys, ferreal.

I, myself, didn't know I was going to be so into it! It all started with Running Man and then from then on, I just allowed myself to watch ONE  tiny episode of ONE tiny drama and one thing lead to another and now, I find myself Tumblr-ing 'Kim Woo Bin' and typing in "Korean dramas of 2013/2014" on Google.

Everyday.

Haih.

I'm crazy over it.

I love it. 

Call me whatever but I don't care because it's THAT good! I'm sorry to all the people who I've rolled eyes at at the mention of 'Korean' anything because I take it all back!!! It's like, my life now. And like, I'm not even ashamed about it no more.

I was actually surprised to see how good the dramas were. From the acting to the script to the music to the filming all. I guess they kinda have to be because their entertainment industry is so prominent now and it's such a huge thing. I'm just late to the party and I'm only realising it now but as my dad would say when he drops me off to school like half an hour late, "BETTER LATE THAN NEVER".



(My life now)

I've only watched like 2 so far but am looking forward to spending my days and nights watching more so if you have any recommendations, do tell! 

(and like over the course of idk 3 weeks, I've cried more for these dramas and the characters more than anything lah, what the hell man)

Ok bye going to continue watching Doctor Stranger and School 2013 and Running Man and Roommate now haih I just love the weekends

xx

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

I turn 22!

Alhamdulillah, I am 22 !

What a lovely day, I was overwhelmed with the amount of love I got from the people I love most in this whole wide world!!! Very bersyukur and super grateful, masyaAllah.

I love birthdays because it's a celebration of life and it's the celebration of you and your existence to the people around you. Your family and friends celebrate you and that don't come always, don't it. So I took in as much of my birthday love as I could. 

I have always always always known that I've been blessed with the BEST company and the best life I can possibly wish for and ask for. I sound like a damn broken record but honestly, genuinely, I don't know how else to describe just how much I look at my life once in a while and see just how much this world I live in has given me, and the people I'm lucky enough to call my family and friends.

I started my 22nd birthday with my grandparents call and I mean, what a beautiful start already. I'm very close to my grandparents and I see them as my 2 pillars of strength and motivation and there are to me, the image of love and joy and I aspire to grow old like how they've grown old and to emulate their kindness and generosity into my life. I hope they know that I love them and that having them as my grandparents make my heart so full and I am very lucky to have grown older with them right beside me, teaching me on life and love and happiness every step of the way. 

And then after that, I got an Oovoo call from my best mates who gathered earlier before I joined the conversation and sang me Happy Birthday which was beautiful although I'm sorry guys that you had to sing 3 times! 

I feel so loved and I'm overjoyed with everyone's text messages to me and I can't get over just how sweet everyone is to me. 

I was just in the best of moods today because I was constantly receiving beautiful birthday messages from everyone that I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. 

Alhamdulillah, God has blessed me with the most amazing company and every day I thank Him for that but today, I spent a little longer praying to Him for all the wonderful wonderful things I have ever received in my life from the second I was born up to this very minute. It's truly humbling to know I have the best people around me and I really don't know where to begin to thank everyone for their kindness and love and warmth for lil' ol' me. 











xx

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Tanners Turns 19!

I love that I have lots of very good friends around me. Both girls and guys. I will always have a group of friends whom I'm close enough to laugh stupidly and to pour out my heart to.

But my #1 bestfriend since birth is my darling darling sister, Tania or better known with me as Tanners. 

She turns 19 today and it feels pretty surreal because I was 19 almost 3 years ago and I was in KY then and omg time just whizzes by, don't it.

I looooove my sister and that's an understatement. She has been my roommate since forever and I love her to bits and pieces. She makes me laugh the kind of laugh I don't think anyone knows of and she and I are the only two people on this planet Earth who have seen the ugliest of the ugly of each other and we're so proud of it hahahaha 

Tania is honestly one of the funniest person I know and she doesn't even try. She can say something so absurd and stupid and I can laugh to the brink of bursting my gut! She makes my days and nights and what are sisters if not for our fights. We can have World War 3's at home and go on for not talking to each other for about half an hour and we're back to our normal selves. We've pulled each others hair, we've called each other names and we've screamed at each other and we've always wanted to strangle the other but we also have sister duets in the car, we discuss our future plans however ambitious they may be, we've planned our weddings and birthday parties way in advance, we are in sync with our music and movies and we cry over every little sad commercial, we've poured our hearts to each other even when lights are off. 

She has accomplished so much at her age and I'm very envious of what she's done but more than anything really, I'm so proud. Because she is one helluva determined and driven girl and even though she's younger than me, I look up to her always. For her drive and for her ambitions and for her vigour in life. She amazes me every single time and I'm very proud to be her sister.

I foresee many many beautiful things ahead of this girl and for every ups and for all her downs, I'll be by her side through and through. I don't make a lot of promises but I promise to always and forever be the best sister I can be for her because she deserves the ridiculously bright future she's working very hard for. 

You are my light and my stars and my moon, Tanners. You are my #1 best friend and will forever and ever be.

Promise.

May Allah bless you and grant you with all the things that you wish and desire in life and may He always protect you. 

Happy Birthday, Tanners you amazing person you. Love you beyond words can describe. 




Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Amsterdayumn

I'm done with my January papers and I have a week 'til classes resume so I have a week to burn and relax and be in bed and sleep all day and eat all night and watch Running Man allllll I want and allllll I can.

Bliss.

I'm going to blog about my recent trip to Amsterdam with my main girl, Marissa! It was absolutely lovelyyyyy, I had such a great time and to be honest, unexpectedly so. I thought I'd enjoy Berlin more! I mean, Berlin was equally amazeballs but Amsterdam took me by surprise!

So we arrived early morning and we took a cab to our hotel.

I loved our hotel SO much that I don't mind going there again on a weekend SOLELY for the hotel. I loved it. It's such a quaint little place but the pillows were heaven, the staff wonderful and the overall service was just so impressive for a small hotel.


This was our room. Every room is said to be "dressed like a model" and all 61 rooms are all differently designed which makes it that more special. We took the 3 star bedroom and it was MORE than enough for us. Loooooved it. It's called "Hotel The Exchange" and go ahead and look it up for your next trip to Amsterdam!


It's SUPER strategically located as well because just a few doors down there was the City Sightseeing shop/office so we bought our tickets there and the first stop was just a 4 minute walk ahead. And it's really close to the Dam Square and Red Light District. We didn't need to take any form of public transportation and on our third day, we realised how close it was to the Anne Frank Museum! 


This was the common area just outside of our room. The WiFi was a bit of a slack in our rooms so we would always hang out in the common area to get WiFi which was super super super fast so it was as bit weird how as soon as you shut the room door close, WiFi is cut off. But nevertheless, gorgeous hotel! 

So our first day! 

We got our tour tickets (personally, I've always always favoured hop on hop off buses when on a holiday, 'cause that way you get to check off all the touristy places without having to trouble yourself with 'How to get there?' and 'What number train?' and essentially wasting precious time. And on our second day, we were somewhat familiar with the city and we just walked around from then on. So it's not like you're not exploring the city anyway) and got on the bus but not after buying yummy fries with cheese! 


And we basically toured the whole city and went to the museums. We went to the Rijks Museum first and there were a hella lot of things to see. I personally really love museums and I take my own sweet time reading every plaque and looking at everything so it was really nice. It was really huge as well! 






This was especially cool. It's just a library within a museum and there were actually people, down there as you can see, reading and studying! In a museum! How cool.

And then we went to the Van Gogh Museum. We weren't allowed to take photos but man, that museum was so cool. To see his history and his work and there was even one section when you can listen in on the letters that he would write to his brother was something. It was so inspiring to be in this museum to be honest, it lets you in on every brush stroke and colours and painting techniques and on the methods he employed for every art work. Art enthusiasts everywhere and anywhere should make it a point to visit this place.

And then we stopped by this waffle place. Hahahaha I've told this on my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and everything. 

Do Marissa and I a favour and at any time you decide to make a trip out to Amsterdam, go to this small kiosk with the. best. waffles. ever. It's by the 'i amsterdam' sign and on the way to the Van Gogh museum. Serves the best waffles, get the ones with grilled sugar and you are on your way to waffle heaven. We loved it so much that we went a second time on our last full day in Amsterdam. 



And then we got back to our hotel to rest for a bit. Hahahaha Marissa is seriously my IDEAL traveling partner because only we get each other. For me, holidays are meant to be for relaxing. Given you have to still make an effort to go sightseeing but for me, it has to be on your pace and time because then where's the fun in everything if you're always on a rush and on a schedule? Set a not-so-ambitious agenda for each day and just do all that first. That's why I like loooong holidays where's there's no rush in anything. Marissa, you da real MVP for coming back to the hotel that day at like, 4pm and slept til 9pm hahahahaha 





We went to explore the city by ourselves and it was ideal because there weren't many people around so we could take nice photos. See how empty! We went to Red Light District also that night and went into an erotic museum........ which was a disturbing experience. But an experience, nevertheless. We went quite late so it was just the both of us in the museum. Hahahhaa such weird vibes but oh well. 

We went for dinner at this Italian restaurant nearby and had some good ol' pasta. I've deducted that the best Italian food I've had have all been in Malaysia. I've not been to Italy yet so I can't say how it'd be there but seriously, Italian food here is just tak sedap. 

Day Two

Second day, we resumed our tour around but not before having breakfast at the little cafe attached to our little hotel.



... which served the BEST green tea. It was so so so so so good and you're probably thinking how the hell can green tea be 'SO' sedap but it really was. It was so fragrant and didn't taste like paper at all. I actually Googled where to buy it and lo and behold, Selfridges Food Hall! Was so excited to get it (which I did!) and try it out on my own. 

We went to Anne Frank's museum which was the highlight of my whole trip! I loved it. It was so SO chilling and I don't know how else to describe it to you. It was just something that was so unbelievable. Like how the narrow staircase up to their rooms was blocked by a book case and the book case was actually STILL there and the celebrity photo cut outs from magazines that Anne Frank had stuck on her wall were all still preserved and there which was beyond for me. To finally read and understand her story was a whole other level for me. I left the museum being very VERY grateful that I never had to go through that kind of hardship in my lifetime thus far. It was pretty brilliant and I would honestly go there again. What an experience! And we were lucky enough that we didn't have to queue AT ALL. There's been a pretty big fuss about long lines and that you have to book online for  tickets in advance to save yourself from being kept in line so long but when we went there, I thought the whole place was shut for the day because not a single soul was lining up. It depends really, I guess on your luck and on the day itself. 

Then we walked around and we got ourselves to the Nutella Ice Bakery that Marissa had read online about. We managed to walk towards the shopping district and to the flower market which didn't really have a lot of real blooming flowers because it is winter and so we just walked around. Marissa got her waffles with Nutella and we took the cab back to our hotel and chilled for the rest of the night.








Day 3 

Day 3 was just a day to chill and yes, we actually went to the waffle place to eat our waffles again because we couldn't just leave Amsterdam without tasting what might be THE BEST WAFFLES EVER hahahaha I've been raving it so much, I feel almost like it'll ruin your whole experience because I've put such a high benchmark and expectations for you lolz 

And we took more touristy photos with the 'I Amsterdam' sign before going back to the city and walking aimlessly around and exploring the place even more. 










I looooove this city because the Dutch were just absolutely friendly and I was super impressed with how fluent they were in English! And the food we had was just brilliant all around and that was surprising also but EVERY place we went to eat, the food was just amazeballs. We questioned ourselves though whether it was just sedap because we were hungry and tired from walking everywhere but seriously, really good! 



We left for Berlin the next day and our train station was literally a 5 minute walk from our place which was such a huge plus point with our hotel again. I loved the place so much I actually even had the effort to write my review on it on Tripadvisor because I felt like they deserved it! 

Amsterdam was beautiful and so so so lovely, I'd love to go again! And to know it's just a 45 minute plane ride from London is so appealing and I'm so tempted to go there again over the summer! 


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Celine Belt

Anyone who knows me knows that once I get a nice handbag, I use it 'til its death. I don't like the idea of changing handbags every so often because then you'd have to transfer the contents from one bag to another and it's just very troublesome and I'm wayyyyy too lazy to colour coordinate my handbag with my outfit. Which would explain why my last 192819382 handbags have always been black.

But today.

Today, I am in love. I am so deeply ridiculously crazy in love. IN LOVE.

With the Celine Belt handbag.

Ok.

Let me just gather myself and pull myself together and breathe.

I need to breathe.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Guys.

I am insanely in love with this handbag, I don't think I have ever wanted anything more in my life (in terms of a materialistic context of course) (I still want the love of my life to appear soon lah but I mean, let's be real here).

Also, if you know me, you know that I am obsessed with the colour 'tan'. Anything tan I'm all for it. Tanned coloured anything, I'm into. Even with make-up.

So can you just imagine. A tanned coloured handbag.

And that's not even the best part, guys.

I mean, if it wasn't already so freaking beautiful in its structure...

... iT FREAKING HAS A PINK INTERIOR.

I mean.

SERIOUSLY. I AM CRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I. AM. CRYING.

IF I WAS A HANDBAG THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LOOK LIKE OKAY!!!!!!

I wantttttttttt. This is my idea of a PERFECT handbag.

I mean, look at how it's so structured but not too office-y with its dangling loose ends. And the colour is just absolutely stunning. It's so classy and so timeless, I can see myself wearing this for YEARS ON END.

I can see myself toting this to the office. I can see myself carrying this on a date night. I can see myself using this to pick up my kids from school. I can see myself using this handbag ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE FULL STOP END OF THE STORY GOODBYE.

And I mean, to top it all off with the pink interior is just the ultimate deal breaker for me. 

It is seriously, THE most beautiful handbag I have EVER seen and I might just cry if I touch it (and then I'd caress and cuddle it obviously). 

Dude, not funny.

This is THE handbag for me. 

And I don't usually dedicate a whole blogpost on an item so you HAVE to know how special this is to me.

I'm going to start saving up for this because I don't think I can live without it. Ok over gila but can't help it this is too beauts and you guys might not understand and might not like it but leave me be!!!!!

#saveforCeline
#tabungCeline

BRB while I scour for coins in my room.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

January 2015 Favourites



I just realised this doesn't make sense. That I'm doing a 'January Favourites' when it's only so early on in January hahahahha ok total fail. Just look at it as what I've been enjoying for the past month lah k. I'll correct it next month hahah

To be quite honest, I have not stepped out of the house AT ALL since the 29th of December when I got back from London.

So I guess you can say, I haven't really seen 2015 out yet.

Which really questions my social life.

I have exams in a couple of days so I've been occupying myself with my Economics book and lecture notes and all that boring jazz. After my last paper on the 12th, I have a week off 'til classes start again. I'm not really looking forward though because my schedule is ridiculously hectic. I have so many 9am starts which is far from funny because geez, even the thought of walking that steep uphill is making me tired. Hwaaaaa cry me a river, everyone.

I'm doing this Favourites blog post a little earlier because I reckon I'm going to do my last-minute revisions on the 7th (what's new, really). I mean, I could do it later but I've been itching to blog now so figured why not at 5 am in the morning zzz

Music

Don't have any new favourites because I'm really very boring when it comes to music so I've just been listening to the same ol' tunes. I have, however, been listening to random music on Spotify because I wanted to do a little holiday video compilation so I needed some background music and some that I've found were really up my alley

Lindsay Lowend's 'GT40'
Blackbird Blackbird's 'Happy High'
Harrison's 'Still Anticipating'
Teams vs. Star Slinger 'Punch Drunk Love'

Give them a listen because they're all such good music to chill out to and just really gives good vibes. Lahv itt!

(Edit : Jessie Ware. Jessie Ware. Jessie Ware. Dare I say the female version of Ed Sheeran? Yes. I'm so glad for the existence of Spotify because I wouldn't have known about her! Amazing. My favourite is 'Say You Love Me'. Just give it a listen and thank me later please thanks xx)

Movies

'13 Going on 30'. Puchee slept over my place the other day and we watched this movie and I've forgotten just how much I love this movie! In fact, I think I love it more now that I'm a bit older to understand. I mean, I've always thought it was a great movie but damn, when we rewatched it, we were just IN LOVE and Jen Garner is ridiculously so underrated, she's such a good actress. Mark Ruffalo tu jangan cakap lah, he can act anything and still ace everything lah. But yeah, this movie is definitely up there in my list of favourite chick flicks ever.

Fashion x Shopping

I don't know why I've only gotten on the whole leather jacket bandwagon. I've only got one that's in light pink but I'm digging the style. Obviously, it's too cold to wear one now but I think I might get myself one for the Spring/Summer climate soon (which btw I'm counting the days to, heck, I even Googled, 'when exactly does it get warmer in the UK?' but damn it, 'March and April' is not good enough of an answer, Google!!!) and pretend I'm all bad-ass with my black leather jacket....

.... I can almost hear laughs from here, guys....

I'm also slightly frantically obsessed with co-ords and an all-white ensemble. So chic and so effortless and anyone and everyone just looks good in a tailored white shirt and trousers.




So put-together and so timeless this trend is! 

Tumblr

I've mentioned this in my last Favourites blog post but I've taken a lot on my dad when it comes to his personal aesthetics - that of minimalism. In this case, less is always always more and clean lines and structures are so God damn attractive to me! I even have a document folder on my laptop for all these photos for future references hehe








Who wouldn't want to come home to a place like this?!?!?!

__________________

Now that school has resumed, I think everyone might be on their post-holiday depression phase still. I know I am! I've even checked when my next holidays are and have been mentally taking notes on where I wanna go for the Easter break. Hahahaha such a long way to go (and so many horrendous 9 am classes away) but a girl can dream... and organise ahead!!!

I have Vienna and Budapest in mind because they look absolutely stunning in photos so I can only imagine how beautiful they really are up close. I'm also looking to go on an all-girls getaway.... but we'll see how that goes hahahaha

Hope you're well and cheers to a bloody good year ahead!

xx